TOURISM: ULCERATE, ZHRINE, AND PHOBOCOSM TO ERECT “SHRINES OF PARALYSIS” IN NORTH AMERICA

I don’t do a very good job posting about new tour announcements, even when I’m really excited about them. But I’m REALLY excited about this one, and happened to have a few free minutes to help spread the word.

The name of the tour is Shrines of Paralysis, and that’s a well-chosen name because the tour is headlined by New Zealand’s Ulcerate and will also include Iceland’s Zhrine and Montreal’s Phobocosm. And that is one hell of a line-up.

Several of my NCS comrades and I had the pleasure of seeing both Zhrine and Phobocosm at this year’s edition of Maryland Deathfest, and both were among the true highlights of the festival (as discussed here and here, with photos). In addition, the most recent releases of both bands are outstanding (see our review of Phobocosm’s Bringer of Drought here and our premiere of one of the new Zhrine songs here).

I haven’t yet seen Ulcerate in the flesh, having missed their first appearance in Seattle last year, but their recorded music is stunning, and I heard tremendous praise for their last live assault in the U.S.

Here’s the list of confirmed dates — I hope you’re in striking distance of one of these locations, because this really is a don’t-miss tour:

Nov. 2 Los Angeles, CA @ Complex
Nov. 3 San Francisco CA @ Elbo Room
Nov. 4 Portland, OR @ Panic Room
Nov. 5 Seattle, WA @ Highline
Nov. 6 Vancouver, BC @ Astoria
Nov. 8 Oakland, CA @ The Golden Bull
Nov. 9 San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick
Nov. 10 Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Tap Room
Nov. 11 El Paso, TX @ Mesa Music Hall
Nov. 12 San Antonio, TX @ Limelight
Nov. 13 Houston, TX @ Acadia Bar
Nov. 15 New Orleans, LA @ Siberia
Nov. 16. Gainesville, FL @ Atlantic
Nov. 17 Tampa, FL @ The Brass Mug
Nov. 18 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Nov. 19 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
Nov. 20 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Nov. 22 Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
Nov. 23 Boston, MA @ Great Scott
Nov. 24 Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar
Nov. 25 Toronto, ON @ Coalition
Nov. 26 Detroit, MI @ Corktown Tavern
Nov. 27 Chicago, IL @ Reggies
Nov. 28 Pittsburgh, PA @ The Smiling Moose
Nov. 29 NYC, NY @ Saint Vitus