Jucifer is an American doom metal duo, which was founded in 1993. The band's members are Gazelle Amber Valentine on lead guitar and vocals, and her husband Edgar Livengood on drums. Jucifer is notable for the extreme volume at which they perform, and the gigantic wall of amplification used for Valentine's guitar, as well as the dichotomy that has existed between much of the recorded material and their live shows. They are also notable for incessant touring beginning in the mid-1990s. In 2000 Jucifer moved into an RV and became completely "nomadic in nature", preferring to tour constantly, living in their tour vehicle, rather than following the normal practice of album release/tour/time at home.[2]
The husband-and-wife duo were starring in a film by Derek Cianfrance titled Metalhead, a drama centering on a drummer suffering from hearing loss and learning the meaning of silence. Livengood and Valentine play as themselves acting a fictitious story in the film. The film was in production since 2009 but was cancelled few years later. Cianfrance would later executive produce Sound of Metal, which is a rework of Metalhead co-written and directed by Darius Marder. Although Cianfrance used Jucifer as inspiration for his original plot, which in turn inspired the reworked version, neither film is biographical.
In 2015, Jucifer previewed teasers for a "music video biopic" called NOMADS: Build To Destroy which features tour footage and documentary materials filmed and assembled by the band. Livengood is credited with photography and Valentine with editing. The film was slated for a 2017 release.[3]
History
Valentine performing with Jucifer in 2010
Jucifer was formed in 1993 by Gazelle Amber Valentine and Edgar Livengood, who, according to Valentine, coined the band's name from a statement he heard during O. J. Simpson's trials for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman: "If he's guilty, then he's the devil and The Juice is Lucifer." Previous to Jucifer the band had performed under several other names including Starbuck, Satan's Cheerleaders, and Battle Star.[4] In 1994 Jucifer self-released a demo EP on cassette, Nadir. In 1995 a 7" Superman / Licorice was issued by fan run indie label Crack Rock, which also released Jucifer's first studio album, Calling All Cars on the Vegas Strip. After this release, they signed to major label Capricorn Records, which reissued the album in 2000.[1] With Jucifer still signed and awaiting release of its second album recorded in 1999, Capricorn officially went out of business. However a skeleton staff continued under the name Velocette Records, which released extended play EP Lambs in 2001 I Name You Destroyer in 2002 and War Bird in 2004.[5][6] For their fifth release, If Thine Enemy Hunger, Jucifer signed to Relapse Records,[7][8]
In March 2008, Jucifer released the double album, L'Autrichienne,[5] which was recorded in July 2007.[8] To support the album, Jucifer embarked on their first tour through Europe.
In 2010 Jucifer founded its own label, Nomadic Fortress Records, and signed a distribution deal with Relapse Records for its output. The band continues to tour constantly, both across North America and returning to Europe in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019.[9]
The album Throned In Blood was released in April 2010 by Nomadic Fortress Records on CD, and on vinyl by Alternative Tentacles. This album channels the raw hostility, black metal, death metal, and especially doom qualities which have dominated Jucifer's live show but more rarely been heard on earlier albums.[10]
In 2011 the demos EP from 1994 Nadir was mastered by Scott Hull and reissued by the digital-only Grindcore Karaoke label. In 2012 Nadir was remastered for vinyl by Brad Boatright and issued on limited marble LPs by Mutants of the Monster.
On July 17, 2013 Jucifer released the album За Волгой для нас земли нет via Nomadic Fortress and Mutants of the Monster. The concept record about the history of Russian city Volgograd (focusing especially on the Battle of Stalingrad) was issued on double vinyl by Alternative Tentacles in October 2013.
Jucifer's studio album entitled District of Dystopia, was released on CD and digital formats by Nomadic Fortress in December 2014. It is a concept album based upon various atrocities committed by the United States government. The album was recorded, engineered, and mastered by the band inside their RV. In October 2015, District of Dystopia was mastered for vinyl by Brad Boatright and released on LP format by Alternative Tentacles.
Jucifer remains nomadic. Their 2013 "Twenty Years Slaying Ears" tour included 32 countries. In 2014 the band performed in the U.S. and U.K. and, in 2015, Jucifer toured the West Coast of the U.S. for the first time since 2012.
In January 2019 Jucifer's EP Futility was released. In July 2020 Jucifer announced a new album, called نظم (Nazm) will be released in November.
Jucifer's album نظم was released on November 7, 2020. It is a concept album about "the stories of Valentine’s life, the lineage of women in her family, and the struggles and resilience of women in every place and time. The ambitious, sprawling double album is also Jucifer’s spin on Central Asian and Arabic music" [11]
NPRAll Songs Considered selected نظم for their Best Music of November 2020 and described it as "beautifully deep music drawn from an ancient and ever-present bloodline, from one of the heaviest bands on Earth".[12]
L'Autrichienne (2008, Relapse Records, 2xLP via Alternative Tentacles)
Throned in Blood (2010, Nomadic Fortress Records, distribution through Relapse Records, LP via Alternative Tentacles)
За Волгой для нас земли нет (2013, Nomadic Fortress Records, Mutants of the Monster, Alternative Tentacles)
District of Dystopia (2014, Nomadic Fortress Records: 2015, Alternative Tentacles)
نظم (2020, Nomadic Fortress Records)
EPs
Nadir EP (1994, four track demos, self-released)
Lambs EP (2001, Capricorn Records)
War Bird EP (2004, Velocette Records)
Autocannibalist EP released as split cd w/Show of Bedlam (2009, Choking Hazard)
Nadir reissue, 1994 demos EP (2011, Grindcore Karaoke, 2012, Mutants of the Monster)
Futility (2019, Nomadic Fortress Records via mp3 and 7" vinyl)
Live DVDs
A Partridge In A Pear Tree DVD (2004, AmberVillain Films)
Veterans of Volume: Live With Eight Cameras (2008, Bare Ruined Films)
Related Research Articles
Monster Magnet is an American rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded in 1989 by Dave Wyndorf, John McBain (guitar) and Tim Cronin ; they have since gone through several lineup changes, leaving Wyndorf as the only constant member. Monster Magnet has released ten studio albums to date, and they are best known for their 1990s hits "Negasonic Teenage Warhead" and "Space Lord". The band has also been credited for developing and popularizing the stoner rock genre, along with Masters of Reality, Kyuss, Fu Manchu and Sleep.
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label established in 1979 in San Francisco, California. It was used by Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles". After realizing the potential for an independent label, they released records for other bands as well. Dead Kennedys guitarist East Bay Ray and vocalist Jello Biafra formed Alternative Tentacles, but Biafra became the sole owner in the mid-1980s. Alternative Tentacles no longer owns the rights to Dead Kennedys recordings after a 2000 lawsuit.
Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of Choking Victim. The band is currently signed to Tankcrimes for CD releases, and Alternative Tentacles for vinyl releases. Leftöver Crack spans several different music genres including hardcore punk, ska, and crust punk. They write mostly political lyrics of a radical leftist nature, opposing religion, capitalism, and authority. Members of Leftöver Crack reside in the C-Squat on 155 Avenue C in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Natives of New York City, band members have a well-documented history of back-and-forth conflict with the NYPD which precedes the band's formation. The name "Leftöver Crack" is explained by Stza as being "an oxymoron", based on the idea that crack cocaine addicts are known for vigorous use and are unlikely to have any "leftover" crack.
Subhumans were a Canadian punk rock band formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1978.
Tsunami Bomb is an American punk rock band from Petaluma, California. They were formed in 1998 by bassist Dominic Davi, with keyboardist/vocalist Oobliette Sparks and later joined by drummer Gabe Lindeman. With vocalist Emily Whitehurst aka "Agent M" they would become a staple of Warped Tour and toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan, going through a number of lineup changes until they disbanded in 2005 after releasing two full length albums and a number of EP's. In 2015 the band reformed with new vocalist Kate Jacobi and later guitarist Andy Pohl and has remained active since, touring and appearing on a variety of festivals.
Rotten Sound is a Finnish grindcore band from Vaasa, formed in 1993. The band comprises vocalist Keijo Niinimaa, guitarist Mika Aalto, bassist Kristian Toivainen, and drummer Sami Latva. The band has released eight studio albums and "earned a reputation for being one of the most intense bands on the Scandinavian death metal/grindcore scene".
The Coast Is Never Clear was the third album released by indie rock band Beulah in 2001. Originally planned for release on Capricorn Records, the label was folded into Island Def Jam Records along with many of its artists including 311. However, Beulah, The Glands, Jucifer, and The Honeyrods were not sold along with the other properties of the label. Former employees of Capricorn formed Velocette in order to release albums by the displaced bands, forcing the release date to be pushed back until September 11, 2001.
ASG is an American stoner rock/metal band signed to Relapse Records, originating from Wilmington, North Carolina. It is a four-piece band, with Jason Shi on vocals and guitar, Andy Ellis on bass, Scott Key on drums and Jonah Citty on guitar. The band has acquired an underground following, as a number of its songs have been featured in skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding videos.
0:12 Revolution in Just Listening is the third studio album to be released by American metalcore band Coalesce, which was released on November 16, 1999 through Relapse Records. The album was recorded and released posthumously, as the group broke up prior after touring troubles and made the album as they were obliged to do so by contract. Hydra Head Records issued the vinyl edition of the album, and in 2008 Relapse released a remastered version of the album under the title 012:2. The album was included in Decibel Magazines "Hall of Fame" in 2008.
Cream Corn from the Socket of Davis is the second studio EP by American punk band Butthole Surfers, released in October 1985. All songs were written and produced by Butthole Surfers.
Butthole Surfers is the debut studio EP by American rock band Butthole Surfers, released in July 1983. It is also known as Brown Reason to Live and Pee Pee the Sailor. All songs were written and produced by Butthole Surfers.
Midnight Juggernauts were an Australian band from Melbourne, composed of Andrew Szekeres, Vincent Vendetta, and Daniel Stricker. The band has been described as anything from 'prog dance meets cosmic film scores', to 'slasher-flick disco' to 'deadpan landscape'. Following the release of numerous 7" and 12" singles, and limited edition EPs, the band released their debut album, Dystopia. After playing festivals and headlining tours worldwide during late 2007–2008, the band finished working on their follow up album The Crystal Axis, touring around its release mid-2010 at festivals and headline shows around the globe. After a few years' break, the band released a third album Uncanny Valley in mid-2013. Members have individually collaborated with various artists including Kevin Parker, Justice, Solange Knowles and Sebastian Tellier. The group also runs the label Siberia Records, through which they release their own music and others including Kirin J. Callinan and Forces.
Weathered Statues is an EP by the American hardcore punk band T.S.O.L., released in 1982 through Alternative Tentacles. In comparison to the band's previous material, its experimental nature and melodic leanings confused some of their fans and presaged the creative direction they would take on their second studio album, 1983's Beneath the Shadows. The material from Weathered Statues was later re-released on the compilation albums Thoughts of Yesterday: 1981–1982 (1987) and T.S.O.L. / Weathered Statues (1997).
Embalmer is an American death metal band from Cleveland, Ohio.
L'Autrichienne is the fourth album by the American metal band Jucifer. It was first released on March 18, 2008.
You Kill Me is an EP by Canadian punk rock band Nomeansno. Recorded in 1985, it is the first Nomeansno record to feature the band's three-piece lineup, with guitarist Andy Kerr joining founding members Rob Wright and John Wright. Originally issued on the Undergrowth label, it was later re-released on CD with the Sex Mad album on the Sex Mad/You Kill Me compilation CD and cassette released by Alternative Tentacles.
Would We Be Alive? is an EP by Vancouver punk rock band Nomeansno. Its title track is a cover of a song by the avant-garde group The Residents, from their Intermission: Extraneous Music from the Residents' Mole Show record. The EP also features a new version of the song "Big Dick" from the Nomeansno album Wrong, as well as two new tracks.
I Name you Destroyer is the second album by the band Jucifer released in 2001 through Velocette Records.
Calling All Cars on the Vegas Strip is the debut studio album of the band Jucifer, originally released in 1998 through the independent label Crack Rock records and then in 2000 after have signed to Capricorn Records label. The album contains a mixture of metal, punk, hardcore, doom, sludge, alternative elements and scratch disk sound effects between track to track. This style wasn't explored by many bands in the late 1990s, was part of their sound during the 2000s, until the release of Throned in Blood in 2010.
If Thine Enemy Hunger is the third full-length studio album by American metal band Jucifer. The album's title is a reference to a phrase used in Romans 12:20.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
