Always A Six, Never A Nine is the second album and the follow up to the 2006 self-titled debut from Portland, OR aggro wreckers Black Elk, whose psychotic brand of crushing, noise-rock influenced heaviosity is a return to the unhinged underground rock force of bands like Jesus Lizard, Melvins, Black Flag and Hammerhead.
This new album features ten songs of seething weirdness, with the dissonant, crushing riffage, lunging rhythmic push and awesome freaked out, Yow-esque vocals of singer Tom Glose that made their debut a fave among anyone who remembered the days when Amphetamine Reptile ruled the underground rock scene, but with some interesting new elements (bleak guitar ambience, piano, etc.) that add new shadows to Black Elk's ferocious sound.
Always A Six, Never A Nine will be coming out through Crucial Blast on October 21st and will be available as both a CD in deluxe gatefold packaging and digital download, with touring to coincide with the release. Black Elk will stampede down the West Coast beginning this week, bringing their Pacific Northwest style of wickedly mangled headfuck-rock to some lucky towns. Check to the Tour Dates section to see if this tour is coming to a town near you.