Tag Archives: annex

Valentine’s

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It’s been so long since I’ve had a blog post. I have been so busy with life, children, taking time for self care, you know the usual. Anyway, enough with that. Lets get on to cool stuff. Our friend Robert Sullen is hosting another year of San La Muerte fest. Sadly, we were not able to attend last year or the year before but we are planning to go this year. One of the reasons I love going is because it’s like a little getaway for us, also we love Texas especially San Antonio. This year it will be held again in Austin. WHY? I’m really not a fan of Austin anymore, it’s so congested and busy but I will manage. San Antonio is super mellow, I believe the city motto is Keep San Antonio Lame. I really like that motto, I’ve always been the underdog and never the popular person, so I feel like I fit in more with San Antonio, I digress.

So far Ana Curra and The Vanishing have been announced to play SLM2020. Also, Virtigo from Santa Ana will be DJ’ing the event, so we need to represent.

I’ve seen The Vanishing many times, I have been going to shows for what seems like forever, they were very popular here during the white belt phase of the Locust. I seriously remember them being kind of wacky dark.

Go to http://www.sanlamuertefest.com to purchase tickets.

I also wanted to take this moment to talk about Annex from RGV Texas, I really feel a kindred spirit with Nikole from Annex / Her Corrosion. I was so excited when I heard that they started playing again after a bit of a hiatus. They even went on a little tour and played a last minute show at Johnny Germ’s house in Santa Ana. I was so glad I got to go, because it’s very hard for me to get a sitter around here. Anyway, they were amazing they were actually better than they were before and they were already great!

Also Nikole has brought back Her Corrosion zine in printed format which is amazing! I love stuff so it’s great to be able to have something tangible in your hands to look at rather just on our computers and phones.

You can order Her Corrosion here https://hercorrosion.weebly.com Nikole is currently working on issue #2.

Ok so now with some news about the label and what’s going on. I have taken a lengthy break from releasing records. It’s been very nice and stress free. What people don’t talk about publicly about doing a small DIY label as that it is a labor of love and there is NO money to be made at all, you don’t even break even. It’s just something you do because you love the music and you want to be supportive. As I’ve taken this break I have seen so many of my label friends also stop releasing records. I think it’s due to a number of factors. One being record store day really screwed things up for small labels, the plants put our releases on the back burner for extremely long completion times, this led to bands getting frustrated and releases being released through online formats or tapes and that just really has an impact on the demand for the vinyl release. I also think that not many people are buying records as much as they did in the past. I know this to be true as I was a big time record collector bordering on hoarder. I remember years ago going to a PCH records swap and spending $1000 in an afternoon, I mean I buy records just not as much. I think we have changed how we consume music, I spend time in the gym desperately trying to lose my baby weight listening to music on my headphones. When I am at home I am listening to people’s spotify playlists and working or gardening. Mostly just dancing along to https://www.instagram.com/aranivah

So with all that said I don’t see myself releasing records in a vinyl format for the time being. I think that bands should release their own material in vinyl format if they truly want to have a release. You get to invest in it and then tour on it and it just seems like a better way to distribute records. When people go to shows they want to be supportive they want to have a souvenir from the show so they are more prone to buy your record right there. Anyway, this is super nerd record stuff that is not that interesting to many people. I still plan on keeping the website and picking up releases from bands and labels I love to distribute and also still sell the releases I have in stock. http://massmediarecords.bigcartel.com I also plan on offering free domestic shipping on all items.

Oh and one last thing I came across Obscura Undead on instagram. I really like what these ladies are doing. Check them out https://youtu.be/t6C2WrN963g

That’s about it for now. I plan to be more active on this more. Hope everyone has a super Valentine’s Day! Keep Goth Cool!

February 2017

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Greetings.  I wanted to continue our last post with news that Nikole from Annex has a new project titled Her Corrosion.  You will find a nice collection of interviews and news in the current dark arts scene.  Please go to Her Corrosion

Nikole worked very hard on the site and it’s quite a task to compile and design a site like hers.  Also, if you would like to submit or contribute please contact Nikole at nikole.wave@gmail.com

Also, Annex released a new cover single on their bandcamp, The Cure’s “One Hundred Years” you can listen, buy, or stream.  Annex are also working on their follow up LP to DESPUÉS DE VI LP, it will be released on Occult Whispers (Chicago).

Her Corrosion features a great interview with Cait Autonomy, a long time friend and contributor to Mass Media.  You’ll find out all about her history and her current endeavors, which includes playing bass in Shadowhouse.  YAY!  Which we are finally happy to announce a limited repress of their debut LP “Hand in Hand” will be shipping in April.  You can pre-order HERE.

We are also running a spring set special for a limited time. 5 LP’s for $40 The Ladies Spring set includes all female fronted / driven bands:

Masses “Moloch” LP // Annex “Despues de Vi” LP // Masquerade “Blood is the New Black” 12″ // Totenwald “Wrong Place Wrong Time” 12″ // Wives “Devoted to You” LP  we actually only have a few copies left of certain titles so it is limited.  We are making room for our 2017 releases so please support us!

Nikole & Migas of Annex “Top performances of 2015”

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Shadow Age – Richmond, VA

We saw Shadow Age in Richmond, Va. Shadow Age’s performance had the perfect ambiance for their melodic and haunting sound. With just the right amount of fog filled air, they were f*cking (not surprisingly) perfect. Aaron Tyree has such a smooth voice and their set was more of an experience rather than a performance because of their super tight musicianship. Typically, we stray to the harsher side of post-punk, yet Shadow Age was so captivating and real that there is no denying that they easily take out a lot of the post-punk bands emerging in the world right now.

Shadow Age live in Los Angeles at Part Time Punks.

shadow

Cemetery – Chicago, IL

Cemetery played at San la Muerte Fest in San Antonio, TX. As most of us know, Cemetery is one of the best modern deathrock bands in the U.S. Their live performance was amazing to say the very least. The Texas crowd was thirsty for Cemetery and immediately detonated once they started playing. Desmond and Sam kept their guitar sound solid despite all the action. This performance was especially near and dear for us because we got to experience Cemetery with both Tricia and Cameron from MMR. I think we are all still having withdrawals from Cemetery’s set that night and, well, from the entire fest in general.

Cemetery live at San La Muerte fest, San Antonio, Tx.  Photo by Robert Flores “Sullen Serenade”

cemeterylive

I can not agree more, Cemetery seriously blew my mind live.  I had an out of body experience through their entire set.  I just wanted them to play over and over again like for the rest of my life. Do not pass up a chance to see them live.  They are incredibly fucking powerful, best band in US hands down!  – Tricia //

Cemetery “Demo” LP limited screen printed cover

Survival – New York City, NY

Survival played at Latino Punk Fest in NYC during August. We played right before them at LPF’s Post-Punk After Party at around 3:30 am inside of Rudy’s Barbershop. The night had turned into a dance party as soon as the first note kicked in. Survival was refreshing and super killer. Jess P.’s vocals and moves were fresh AF. Survival’s beats and guitar sound were perfect for blazing and dancing in NYC. This was one of our favorite sets at LPF.

Wrung – New York City, NY

Watching Wrung reminded us of what some dark punk / post-punk bands try to do but don’t get quite right. They had well constructed songs and a sound that was catchy yet goth. We hadn’t heard Wrung before we watched them because they hadn’t recorded any material yet but that didn’t matter once they started playing because it was kind of cooler to just get to see them live first. Wrung represented NYC so well. They were gritty, quirky in a really dark way and Steven Raftis’ stage presence was truly intriguing. Wrung has recently recorded so we’re really anticipating hearing the final product. We hope to see more of Wrung in the future.

Muerte – Mexico City, D.F.

Muerte played the main stage at Latino Punk Fest in NYC. Muerte encompasses the raw dark punk sound that’s emerged from Mexico. The intensity of their live performance was just blistering and straight forward. Dark melodies and fast hardcore punk progressions, easily gave the crowd what they had anticipated. They are one of the biggest dark punk bands in Mexico and easily were one of the biggest highlights of LPF 2015.

I want to thank Nikole and Migas for taking the time to contribute their top performances for 2015. There is nothing better than seeing a live performance by a band, their enthusiasm, personality, and depth as musicians can really leave a lasting impact on people.  So with that said, go to shows even if you are tired and it’s cold outside.  It takes a lot of work and effort to play in bands, so lets all support each other.  Our scene is what we make of it!  Please go see Annex if you get a chance, their performance at San La Muerte Fest was one of the best, they brought such power and fury, they are just amazing!  Also, please buy their releases.  Labels can not maintain themselves if everyone is just downloading music, the physical format is everlasting and a true archive.  Annex LP is still available through us and Imminent Destruction Records UK and Annex also has a new EP out on Occult Whispers ran by Dez of Cemetery.  xoxo Tricia

September news 1.0

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Where has the time gone?  Seriously, I feel as though I am still recovering from San La Muerte fest that went down the last weekend of August in San Antonio, Tx.  We came back home to record breaking heat and mounds of work from our day jobs as well as plenty of label work to catch up on.  Anyway, it’s good to be back home and I’m glad we were able to take the time off to go to Texas.  My only complaint really is that I gained like 10lbs back from what I lost before I left for the trip.  Continue reading →