HIGH ON FIRE to headline SXSW showcase

Austin, TX based ACTION! Public Relations is proud to announce the details for its 2010 South by Southwest (SXSW) showcase. The showcase, presented in part by Decibel and Stereogum, will be held on Wednesday, March 17th at Mohawk (912 Red River St., Austin, TX) and will feature world-renowned power trio HIGH ON FIRE in its only SXSW appearance of 2010. This all ages event will be open to the public as well as SXSW badge and wristband holders.

In addition to HIGH ON FIRE, the ACTION! PR SXSW Showcase will feature live sets from critically acclaimed bands PRIESTESS (Montréal, QB), ZOROASTER (Atlanta, GA), THE GATES OF SLUMBER (Indianapolis, IN), BISON B.C. (Vancouver) and NAAM (Brooklyn, NY). Additionally, fast-rising IA psych rockers MONDO DRAG have been added to the showcase and will kick off the evening of music. The official event flyer can be viewed online at this location.

The set times for the 2010 ACTION! PR SXSW Showcase are as follows:

HIGH ON FIRE: 12:15 – 1:30
PRIESTESS: 11:15 – 12:00
ZOROASTER: 10:30 – 11:00
THE GATES OF SLUMBER: 9:45 – 10:15
BISON BC: 9:00 – 9:30
NAAM: 8:15 – 8:40
MONDO DRAG: 7:30 – 8:00

* About the showcasing artists:

– HIGH ON FIRE (www.myspace.com/highonfireslays): Universally recognized as one of the most potent acts in music today, HIGH ON FIRE creates “bad-ass” modern metal. The band’s hotly anticipated new album Snakes for the Divine was released on February 23 and debuted at #62 on the Billboard Top 200 in its first week of sales. The group is fronted by Matt Pike, a founding member of the famed underground band SLEEP and one of Rolling Stone’s “New Guitar Gods”. Check out the Stereogum premiere of the new track “Frost Hammer” at this location and the SPIN premiere of the album’s title track at this location.

– PRIESTESS (www.myspace.com/priestessband): Electrifying Montreal-based hard rock band PRIESTESS has just released its long-awaited sophomore album, Prior to the Fire. The record has met to shining fan and critical acclaim in the weeks leading to its release, being called “pure enjoyment” by The Onion, “a heavier, angrier hammer” by Decibel and “awesomely adept” by SPIN. Check out Pitchfork’s world premiere of PRIESTESS’ “Ladykiller” video now at this location.

– ZOROASTER (www.myspace.com/thezoroaster): The Atlanta-based group has been called “one of the U.S.'s most promising metal bands” while drawing stark comparisons to Godflesh, Sleep and the Melvins. ZOROASTER has met to shining praise for its deafening power, intriguing mysticism and unique take on heavy music. The band’s live show has been described as “an obliteration of the senses”, earning the three piece the title of “Atlanta’s loudest band”. ZOROASTER’s as-yet-untitled new album will see release this summer via E1 Music.

– THE GATES OF SLUMBER (www.myspace.com/thegatesofslumber): The critically acclaimed doom metal trio encapsulates the metal experience for true believers. tGoS’ decidedly throwback sound both pays homage to and builds upon “Heavy Metal” in its truest form. The band has been hailed as “a breath of fresh air within the doom / true metal underground” and its latest studio album Hymns of Blood & Thunder (Rise Above) is in stores now.

– BISON B.C. (www.myspace.com/bisoneastvan): BISON B.C. is a heavy rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The group is signed to California based Metal Blade Records and is known for its especially intense live shows.

– NAAM (www.myspace.com/naamdestroysfaces): Brooklyn, NY heavy psych rock trio NAAM has just released its self-titled debut album via Tee Pee Records. NAAM’s high-voltage power and addictive sound has found favor with both metalheads and psychedelic rock fans alike, all of whom have talked up the group’s thundering musical muscle. The band’s new music video — for the red hot track “Skyling Slip” – can be viewed now at this location.

– MONDO DRAG (www.myspace.com/holyrocks): Merging exciting psychedelic rock with an electric blues edge, Iowa’s MONDO DRAG delivers a sound that references the past while pushing forwards towards the future (Jimi Hendrix, Pentagram, Blue Cheer and even Pink Floyd are part of the band’s musical lexicon, while Sonic Youth hints to its current references). With a hulking wall of sound, an arsenal of guitars and a head full of clouds, MONDO DRAG is on a rock n’ roll mission. Check out MONDO DRAG’s Daytrotter Session now at this location.

For additional details on the 2010 ACTION! PR SXSW Showcase, please visit the ACTION! PR website: www.action-pr.com and the SXSW website: www.sxsw.com.