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Heathen Apostles New Live Western Gothic EP

Heathen Apostles Western Gothic EPThe Heathen Apostles have had to postpone one US tour and one European tour (as well as several shows) this year due to COVID 19. The European tours have been rescheduled for May/June and September 2021, and in the meantime the band are pleased to announce the release of their new Western Gothic EP Prayers Before The Plague, out this Halloween on Ratchet Blade Records. The songs were recorded, and filmed, live at the band’s headquarters/compound/home The Devil’s Doghouse in Echo Park, Ca., and it is produced and mixed by Chopper Franklin. While nothing can replicate playing in front of a fanatical audience, they really poured themselves into these songs.

The Heathens will be releasing four videos from the performance, the first (Without A Trace) coming out today, October 23rd, which is also when Ratchet Blade Records launches the pre sale. You can preview and pre order their Western Gothic EP HERE.

“It would mean a lot to us it if you could check it out and help support the band any way you can as we complete Bloodgrass Vol. III and finish booking these tours. We always appreciate when you spend your hard-earned cash to join us on this dark journey, especially now, as we realize times are tougher than usual,” the bands says.

Prayers Before The Plague
1. Without A Trace (Live)
2. Death’s Head (Live)
3. Drowned In Trouble (Live)
4. Two For The Road (Live)
5. The Reckoning (Live)
6. Paint The Stars (Live)

October 23, 2020 | Categories: Releases | Comments Off on Heathen Apostles New Live Western Gothic EP

Heathen Apostles’ 2020 European Tour Postponed

The Heathen Apostles’ 2020 European tour in September has been postponed due to the COVID 19 crisis, the band announced recently. Whenever possible the dates will be rescheduled to September 2021, several have already been confirmed, check back for announcements. The band will also be touring in Europe before that, Kurt DeBont of Rootstown Bookings is taking offers for May and June 2021. You can contact him by clicking HERE.

Here is the announcement that was posted on social media:
“The Heathen Apostles are sorry to have to announce we are canceling the dates of our 2020 European tour due to the COVID 19 crisis. We are happy to announce that we will be coming back to Europe in May/June 2021 and September 2021, we hope to see all of our European heathens at one or both of the tours. Beast wishes and wear your damn masks!

If you have a venue you can contact Kurt at bookings@rootstown.be to get in on either tour. We will be announcing some good stuff in the near future, stay tuned….”

Heathen Apostles' 2020 European Tour

September 5, 2020 | Categories: Live Dates | Comments Off on Heathen Apostles’ 2020 European Tour Postponed

Heathen Apostles – Cowboy Goth Bandanas

Heathen Apostles - Cowboy Goth BandanasHeathen Apostles - Cowboy Goth Bandanas

From the Heathen Apostles Facebook page: We hope everyone is doing well, we can’t wait to get back on the road and see you all! We’ve had a bit of a run on our Vince Ray cowboy goth bandanas; bandanas seem to be the easiest way of protecting ourselves and others, especially worn over a standard mask. We’ve been trying to figure out how to get them over to Europe with cheaper shipping, for now we’re recommending them as an add-on item, and, as always, we refund the difference if you are charged more for shipping than it costs. We are throwing a a digital copy of our latest release “Born By Lightning”, and a Heathen Apostles sticker; click HERE to check them out.

Stay safe and we hope to see you all soon! We are finalizing the dates for our 2020 European tour, check back for updates. photos by Mather Louth

May 26, 2020 | Categories: News | Comments Off on Heathen Apostles – Cowboy Goth Bandanas

Heathen Apostles’ Dark Acoustic Tour Postponed

The Heathen Apostles and Speedbuggy USA Dark Acoustic West Coast Tour has been postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis. It was to take both bands up the US West Coast and back during the last two weeks of April. The bands are hoping to reschedule for June 2020, but of course everything is up in the air right now. Check back for more info on this tour, and all upcoming dates (the Heathen Apostles’ European Tour in September is still looking like a good possibility), and the band wants to convey to their fans to stay safe during this crisis.

Heathen Apostles Dark Acoustic Music

April 2, 2020 | Categories: Live Dates | Comments Off on Heathen Apostles’ Dark Acoustic Tour Postponed

Heathen Apostles & Speedbuggy in Heavy Americana Tour

Heathen Apostles - Heavy Americana The dates are being released for the upcoming Heathen Apostles / Speedbuggy USA West Coast Gothic Rodeo Tour, taking place during the second half of April 2020. The two bands will be bringing their unique brands of Heavy Americana through California, Oregon and Washington, and both bands will be playing special stripped-down acoustic sets. Check back for ticket links and more info.

Friday April 17th – Mercury Lounge, Goleta, CA
Saturday April 18th – Surf City Billiards, Santa Cruz, CA
Sunday, April 19th – Winter’s Tavern, Pacifica, CA
Monday, April 20th – TBA, San Francisco, CA
Wednesday, April 22nd – Dante’s, Portland, OR
Thursday, April 23rd – Lovecraft, Portland, OR
Friday, April 24th – TBA, Olympia, WA
Saturday, April 25th – Black Cat Cabaret, Seattle, WA
Sunday, April 26th – Hotel Albatross, Seattle, WA

Heathen Apostles - Heavy Americana

March 8, 2020 | Categories: Live Dates | Comments Off on Heathen Apostles & Speedbuggy in Heavy Americana Tour

POTBH and Mather Louth in Hard Country Collab

Hard Country music

Mather Louth

The Phantom of the Black Hills are back in the studio to record a new Hard Country album, and once again they will be collaborating with Mather Louth, the lead singer for the Gothic Americana band the Heathen Apostles. They previously worked together on Wild Witch of the West (you can check out the wild music video for the song HERE), the lead single from their last album, 2017’s Scalped.

This time Mather will have a bigger role in the project, singing and writing on several songs on the new album. The new album is roughly scheduled for a Spring 2020 release on Ratchet Blade Records, and will once again be produced by Chopper Franklin (Heathen Apostles, The Cramps, Mau Maus).

Phantom & Mather Louth - Hard Country music

WILD WITCH OF THE WEST
(lyrics by Phantom of the Black Hills and Mather Louth)

Drag me to hell, and howl it up all night
A haunted heart, got the feeling right

Trigger finger warm, her blood runnin’ cold
A sunken sun, time to bring the show

Your death is her fascination
Sent to hell to stay; well, hell, she’ll show the way
She’s serving up some damnation
Badder than the rest, the Wild Witch of the West

Spells in the wind, crows fill up the sky
She’s so gone, can’t be rectified

Drums beatin’ dark, corpses in the street
Her eyes wild, guns spittin’ heat

She’s bringin’ your devastation
Yeah, she’ll mark your grave, and send you on your way
Your grief is her incantation
Bringin’ all the best, the Wild Witch of the West

Hex taking aim,
It’s you I’ve come to claim
One last bone to pick
that bears your name

I’m crossing over the threshold
Sweeping off the ashes and the brimstone
You’d best not find yourself alone
Every story ends the same,
Another moth caught by the flame

January 8, 2020 | Categories: News | Comments Off on POTBH and Mather Louth in Hard Country Collab

Heathen Apostles – Dark Blues EP Review

Heathen Apostles - dark blues “So far here we have reviewed a Folk album, a Punk album and a sort of Bluesy compilation album so none of our usual uptake and that doesn’t change with this review of the latest dark blues EP from Heathen Apostles. They play a sort of Gothic Americana Blues crossed with alternative alternative country. Born By Lightning comes hot on the heels of their recently released album Dust To Dust, their fifth to date, and five new songs of what one reviewer described as “the bluegrass of Bill Monroe put into the woodshed with the Gothic tendencies of Siouxsie And The Banshees”.

Born By Lightning - dark blues Label mates to of one of my all time favourite bands Phantom Of The Black Hills, they tread much the same path but definitely in a more accessible way to yer average Joe. Fiddle and banjo aplenty here while Mather Louth’s beautiful yet powerful voice shines above all else.

Starting off with the slow Country styled Gothic ballad ‘Death Bell Blues’ a tribute to the legendary Howlin’ Wolf before leading into the dark ‘Chosen One’ which shows the Apostles at that catchiest best. The title track ‘Born By Lightning’ sees them back in darker country again with an intense ballad that builds on Mather’s voice with the rest of the band restrained before here. A million miles away from the Grand Ole Opry! The last two songs have a much harder edge, ‘Devil Comes For All Of Us’ is self explanatory while ‘Scarecrow Blues’ take us far away from traditional Country and into the realm of the ‘murder ballad’ with its tale of a social misfit  being burned out of his house only for the vigilantes to burn down the entire town while it slinks and slithers to the beat of the blues!

A Country-Bluesy-Punky affair (the band have long wanted to do a Blues style release) and with Born By Lightning they have managed to stay close to their roots and something that would also appeal to more traditional music fans too. Signed to Ratchet Blade Records which specialises in ‘Dark Roots Music’ where you can find out all you need to about this glorious genre.”

You can read the article at London Celtic Punks HERE.

December 20, 2019 | Categories: Reviews | Comments Off on Heathen Apostles – Dark Blues EP Review

Heathen Apostles “Death Bell Blues” Heavy Blues Music Video

Heathen Apostles - heavy blues musicThe Heathen Apostles have released a lyric video for Death Bell Blues, the first song on their new dark blues Born By Lightning EP, available now on Ratchet Blade Records. The band went in a heavy blues direction for this release, casting the same dark spells they use on bluegrass and country onto the blues.

Heathen Apostles - heavy blues musicThe video features footage shot long time collaborator Jorge Jaramillo, who in the past has worked with the Heathen Apostles by directing their Paint The Stars and Deadly Nightshade music videos. You can preview the Born By Lightning EP HERE.

“Whereas DUST TO DUST put the bluegrass of Bill Monroe into the woodshed with the gothic tendencies of Siouxsie & the Banshees, BORN BY LIGHTNING slinks and slithers to the beat of the blues, with plenty of shouts, hollers, and heavy slide guitar.”

December 12, 2019 | Categories: Video | Comments Off on Heathen Apostles “Death Bell Blues” Heavy Blues Music Video

Phantom of the Black Hills – Heavy Western Tribute

Here’s a great run down of the 5 Phantom of the Black Hills albums by London Celtic Punks. Their website states: “The London Celtic Punks are a group of people living in or with connections to London. We are dedicated to the promotion of Celtic-Punk music. That’s the traditional folk music of the Celtic nations (Ireland/Eire, Isle Of Man/Mannin, Scotland/Alba, Wales/Cymru, Cornwall/Kernow, Brittany/Breizh, Galicia/Galiza and Astures) mixed with rock’n’punk.” They really get heavy western music, here’s the introduction they wrote for the piece, you can check out the full article HERE.POTBH - heavy western music

Phantom of the Black Hills are one of the most innovative bands you will ever hear that has a banjo! This isn’t the Country music of Nashville or the Grand Ole Opry instead its angry polemic over bluegrass banjo, mandolin and upright bass mashed together with raucous punk guitar, blistering drums and dirty, snarling distorted vocals with extreme sound effects and movie dialogue samples. They are one of my favourite bands so I thought I’d attempt to convert a few of you lot too.

The Black Hills are a mountain range in South Dakota famous for the Mount Rushmore memorial of the four presidential heads of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln carved into the granite. It’s also an area where large populations of Scots and Scots-Irish settled which may explain the areas fondness for moonshine. Production of illegal alcohol that is still widespread today. Another possible by-product of the Celtic on the local population is widespread mistrust of all government. Many see themselves as outlaws and in the Black Hills you are unlikely to find a Vegan coffee shop or demand for stricter gun control laws. Phantom Of The Black Hills are a band that shy away from publicity. From the bandana’s that hide their faces in their videos and photos to their Web-Site and Facebook page that are very careful not to give away any clue as to their identities. 

December 5, 2019 | Categories: Reviews | Comments Off on Phantom of the Black Hills – Heavy Western Tribute

Heathen Apostles – Gothic Country Blues EP Out Today

Born By Lightning - gothic country blues

Born By Lightning, the follow-up to the fifth Heathen Apostles album Dust to Dust, contains 5 new songs that explore yet another facet of Gothic Americana: gothic country blues. Available digitally everywhere today on Ratchet Blade Records, the EP presents tried-and-true musical territory with the title track and the jangly “Devil Comes For All Of Us”, while expanding on the Heathen sound with a trio of hard-hitting sonic lightning bolts: “Death Bell Blues”, “Chosen One”, and “Scarecrow Blues”.

Heathen Apostles - gothic country bluesWhereas Dust to Dust put the bluegrass of Bill Monroe into the woodshed with the gothic tendencies of Siouxsie & the Banshees, Born By Lightning slinks and slithers to the beat of the blues, with plenty of shouts, hollers, and heavy slide guitar. Singer Mather Louth explains: “My identity as a singer has always been deeply rooted in the blues, and Chopper and I knew for some time that we wanted to delve into the genre (since it is very much a part of American roots music and thus under the collective roof of Americana.) But being the Heathen Apostles, we had to bring things to the dark side, and I feel that Born By Lightning manages to marry our signature Gothic Americana sound with the blues in a way that feels natural.”

Guitarist/Producer Chopper Franklin adds: “We’ve been waiting to do a blues-based record for a while, and we’re very proud of Born By Lightning. I remember seeing The Gun Club back when they were playing small clubs in Los Angeles and that dark, haunting sound was what we were going for with Born By Lightning.”

Heathen Apostles - gothic country bluesThe first single, “Death Bell Blues” (a tribute to band favorite, the legendary Howlin’ Wolf) opens the EP, inviting the listener to toe the murky waters of the Heathens’ blues as a narrative of the impending Apocalypse unfolds. “Chosen One” serves up a more demented and modern interpretation of the genre, pushing boundaries as it forewarns the folly of religious zealotry. The brooding “Born By Lightning” marks the halfway point, churning with the discomforts of facing one’s own shadow, as the subsequent “Devil Comes For All Of Us” brings the tempo back up to a gallop with the Devil blazing a path of indiscriminate death and destruction. The EP closes with the scorching murder ballad “Scarecrow Blues”, a tale of vindictive townsfolk taking fire to the home of a social misfit, only to burn the entire town to the ground.

The Heathen Apostles have always been defined by a balance between experimentation and reverence, and with Born By Lightning (their third release this year alone), the band offers up a powerful and focused new collection of gothic country blues songs to their already impressive hymnal.

You can preview and purchase Born by Lightning HERE.

November 15, 2019 | Categories: Releases | Comments Off on Heathen Apostles – Gothic Country Blues EP Out Today

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