Mp3 exclusive: Black Helicopter

When Thurston Moore signed a deal with Universal to distribute his Ecstatic Peace label, veteran bullroarers BLACK HELICOPTER found themselves -- alongside labelmates Sunburned Hand of the Man -- as Boston's newest, and most unlikely, major-label artists. It couldn't happen to a cooler bunch of guys. They've been flattening audiences for more than a decade in bands like Kudgel and Green Magnet School, but their forthcoming Invisible Jet is a huge step forward from blast-furnace head-fuckery: it's actually kinda pretty and restrained at times (Mission of Burma's Roger Miller guests on piano for a song). Though -- dude -- not on this particular slice of stone-age grindery, which kicks acres of ass. "We would never have accepted a deal from a big label if it wasn't through someone we trust. We're too old and grizzled for that," says BH's Zack Lazar, pointing out that one-half of the Ecstatic Peace org, Andrew Kesin, was in the Boston band Bob Evans in the mid-'90s. "These two guys are just too goddamn amazing to say no to. Also, if there was never a Sonic Youth, there likely would never have been a Kudgel, Green Magnet Schoo, or Black Helicopter."

This is part one of a rare OTD trifecta: today we're gonna bring you exclusives from three out of the four bands playing the Abbey Lounge tonight. Mostly, this is a coincidence. But it's also a sign that you should really go to this show. Up soon (as soon, in fact, as we can upload them): exclusive downloads from WITCH (J Mascis psychmetal alert) and NEPTUNE. Check back this afternoon!

LISTEN: Black Helicopter, "Buick Electra" (mp3)