Top 10 Best Massachusetts Heavy Bands, According to Hometown Heroes Caspian
This is a special year for instrumental post-rock behemoths Caspian. Not only does it mark 20 years since the recording of the Massachusetts band’s debut, The Four Trees, but today sees the release of a new album (released on Wax Bodega) that they named after themselves. More than five years in the making, the sixth album by Caspian – featuring Philip Jamieson (guitar and synth), Calvin Joss (guitar), Jonny Ashburn (guitar), Jani Zubkovs (bass) and Justin Forrest (drums) – marks the longest stretch between studio releases in the band’s career.
Here’s a taste from Caspian’s new release:
The Bad Penny recently touched base to pick the brains of Caspian – born and bred in Beverly, Massachusetts – on what they consider to be the top 10 bands hailing from their home state. (The band member that vouched for each act is listed in parenthesis.) Conspicuously absent from the list is Converge, but we’ll let that slide since they ranked Mission of Burma above Aerosmith.
(For their own part, Caspian came in at #5 on The Bad Penny‘s recently crafted list of best instrumental bands.)
1. Mission of Burma (Phil)
2. Aerosmith (Phil)
3. The Hope Conspiracy (Justin)
4. American Nightmare (Justin)
5. Piebald (Jonny)
6. Cave In (Jonny)
7. Morphine (Jani)
8. The Modern Lovers (Jani)
9. Isis (Cal)
10. J Geils Band (Cal)
Check out Caspian on tour in the following cities on these days:
Tonight: Manchester, UK @ Academy 2
Tomorrow: Glasgow, UK @ The Art School
10.19: Paris, France @ Le Trabendo
10.20: Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje
10.22: Wiesbaden, Germany @ Schlachthof Wiesbaden
10.24: Prague, Czech Republic @ Rock Café
10.27: Segrate, Italy @ Circolo Magnolia (Indoor)
10.28: Breda, Netherlands @ Mezz Breda
10.29: London, UK @ Electric Ballroom
10.30: Dublin, Ireland @ Opium
10.31: Galway, Ireland @ Roisin Dubh
12.3: Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus Bar
12.4: Boston @ Paradise Rock Club
For more on Caspian, and to pick up their self-titled record, visit the wordless quartet’s Bandcamp page. Stay tuned for a review of Caspian’s new full-length.
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