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We’ve had a busy year over here at The Radavist. From the return to being 100% independent, launching our Group Ride subscription service, our Rad Bazaar marketplace, and adjusting to being a small business owner again, my free time has been limited. Yet, I can thank a few products for making my job and life easier this year, along with the albums that became the backdrop for my rides, so let’s check out my Favorite Products of 2023!
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
When it comes to creating fantasy landscapes for bands like Sleep, High On Fire, Earth, Windhand, and Weedeater, there’s none like Arik Roper. His iconic imagery has graced some of the finest metal LPs, from “Blessed Black Wings” to “The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull.”
We pinged Arik earlier this spring to design a graphic for us to incorporate onto some merch items and it’s finally available via our webshop. Let’s look at this extremely limited edition drop in detail below…
True Norwegian MTB action coming from Rocky Mountain. Put on some Mayhem and enjoy!
Stephen’s Ride to the Hills Iron Maiden Plante Cycles Road
Photos by Kyle Kelley and words by John Watson
Everyone loves a good Maiden homage. When Stephen decided he wanted to tackle the world of custom framebuilding, he headed to Yamaguchi‘s school to learn from arguably the best. Back in 2015, he left his home of Rancho Cucamonga for Rifle, Colorado to attend Yamaguchi’s class. Along with him he brought a set of Paragon road dropouts and began learning how to cut, mitre, lug and fillet braze. The result is this “traditional” road bike. A 1″ steerer, non-oversized diameter tubing road frame, with a lugged head tube cluster and fillet brazed rear triangle.
Upon completion, Stephen sent the frame to Jordan Low with a note: make it Iron Maiden themed.
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All hail Bongripper!
What an incredible race promo video! Wait for it… See more at the Crampi Race III’s Facebook page.
All hail Bongripper.
One of the most metal alleycats ever is returning from the crypt this year in Sweden. The Svart Katt is coming… and if you’re able to make it, do so. In the past, this race has been insane.
Each year, my friends in the band King Dude roll through Austin for a tour of some sorts. Whether it’s a festival or just a quick stop through, I always look forward to having them around. Usually they crash at my house and we get to drink bourbon and hang out. I like to think that it’s a bit of a break from the chaos that is touring across the country in a van.
This tour in particular found them opening for Ghost, the Swedish stadium NWOBHM band. While I haven’t been into Ghost all that much, I will say I really enjoyed their live act and stage antics. They packed out Emo’s East in Austin and put on one hell of a show. The fans were sooooo into it!
Each of these bands have been busting their asses on the road for the past two weeks and tonight’s the first stop on their east coast tour. If they’re coming through your town, give them some love. Also, you can now pre-order King Dude’s newest record, Fear at TJ’s label, Not Just Religious Music.
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll notice that in lieu of Tuesday Teardown, I’ve started a #PiNPLP hashtag. I wish I could stay on top of reviewing music, but it’s been increasingly difficult over the years. What I have been on top of however, is expanding my catalog into some pretty strange and obscure acts.
Here’s a disclaimer first: PLEASE go out to your local record shop and have them order these albums for you if you’re interested in including them in your own catalog. They could really use your business.
This year’s Top 10 Albums of 2013 is hardly all metal but there are some very dark bands in there. I’m pretty stoked on this list, so check it out, in no particular order below!
Fuck it. This is too good to not share. Does this mean I’ll be doing Tuesday Teardowns every week? Maybe. But no promises.
ALL HAIL SLEEP
These racks take a lot of time to assemble. After each piece of stock is mitered and cleaned, it gets hand-welded. Alan posted this photo of a pre-welded rack. They’re pricey but if you want to bike the bullet on one, do so here.
But man, do they look rad!
“Local access only” is not to be confused with “locals only”. If there’s one thing to be said about Australians its that they love to show visitors how great their land is. Land is something that’s very ethereal these days. Tourism changes the way one interacts or engages with a place. For example, a surfer would have a very similar experience as a cyclist in Australia but a businessman or businesswoman might have a different perspective altogether.
As cyclists, we look for the most anti-social areas to socialize. No one wants to chat on a busy street. #NotBeachRd. We look at cities differently and while many people prefer the beaten path, some head out down roads with no KOM, no segments and no social scene. I’ve been very blessed to be given such a unique view of Victoria and over the years have met some great guides.
This roll of film was lost. Ok, not lost, just in the bottom of my film container in the fridge. It contains some moments from rides, a Black Breath show in Melbourne and some other randomness. Check out the narrated photos for the full story.
Tools of the trade:
Yashica T4
Fuji Pro400h
It should be “Full Backwards Circle”.
Ride whatever you want, when and how you want to. I think that’s the moral of the story here. Thanks to FYXO for the impromptu photo shoot. Check out more words and photos at FYXO. Oh and to the assholes who stole my bag in SF, die. I’m going to miss those jeans and that t-shirt.
Look, I know this is a very metal kit and some of you aren’t into metal. TOO BAD. Even Tracko wears this kit and he’s as hippy as they come. Since the last run of the Endo Customs-made Necronomicog kits, I’ve received a ton of emails asking to do another run. Well, you’ve got a month to pre-order this time and I even listed it close to payday.
You have until June 1st to place your order. Expect shipments mid-July (maybe sooner).
Click here for the jersey – $115
Click here for the bibs – $135
Click here for one pair of arm and one pair of knee warmers – $75
These kits are made in Los Angeles from only the best quality materials. Almost every kit I wear is made by Endo and I wouldn’t use anyone else!
It’s been a while since Patrick Seabase put out a video but it was worth the wait. The climb is serene and shit gets real around the 4:30 mark. Black metal and track bikes will always get a rise out of me. Well done man.
THIS is pretty metal and that’s one sick bag. Always good things coming from the REload camp in Philly! Who’s gonna win it at Monster Track this year?
Everyone that thinks Darkthrone was better when they had their brief affair with black metal might as well not even continue with this Tuesday Teardown. Back when F.O.A.D. hit, it was greeted with high amounts of cynicism from people expecting more of their death / thrash / black metal cross-over melee. F.o.A.D. marked a key point in Darkthrone’s timeline: they started to have (even more) fun with music. Then came Dark Thrones and Black Flags, one of the best punk / d-beat albums of 2008. Finally, in 2010, the band’s magnum opus, Circle the Wagons hit, blowing everything else out of the fucking water (I’m being a bit partial here). It is still one of my favorite all time albums. Ever.
Each of Darkthrone’s albums have experimented with metal in various states, so a NWOBHM album shouldn’t surprise anyone. That’s exactly what The Underground Resistance is pushing and I fucking love it. So far, the whole package looks great. The first single “Leave No Cross Unturned” is the last cut on the album and with a howl Fenriz and Nocturno Culto kick it into high gear. Typical of their previous releases (mention Sarke, mention Sarke), Fenriz wrote half of the songs and Nocturno, the other*. So far, I like what I hear! I ordered the vinly and t-shirt package from Peaceville last week!
The Underground Resistance was mastered by Jack Control at Enormous Door, here in Texas and the artwork was penned by Jim Fitzpatrick. Check out the first single “Leave No Cross Unturned” below.
