You'd think bands are less active when they're breaking up...

So in mid February Shai Hulud posted a big update and because we're so on top of things we let you know now. Click below for the full text of the post, including news on a new Derek Hess picture disc, the band's retrospective CD, a DVD, possible European dates and more.

Derek Hess Picture Disc
Have you ever looked at Derek Hess's artwork? I mean really looked at it? It's truly fantastic. We are thrilled to have this special disc come to fruition. That he agreed to work with us was truly an honor. So what's the status? We receive the test presses this week. Once we approve it, the limited run of 1000 will be pressed and ready for enjoyment. I'm hanging one on the wall, myself. Keep checking here for details on The Consummate Picture Disc's release date. In the meantime, take a look at some brilliant Derek Hess artwork, and his new clothing line here: www.derekhess.com
Retrospective CD
Shai Hulud's retrospective CD entitled, A Comprehensive Retrospective, Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Release Bad And Useless Recordings is coming along nicely. We work on the layout this Thursday with the help of our dear friends at Eyeball Records. The CD goes to press soon, and the release date? Sometime before we all die. Where have you heard that before? Stay tuned. More information on the disc's actual content and date of release will be posted here only moments after we nap for a few days, scratch ourselves incessantly, nap some more, look up Star Trek and Thin Lizzy stuff on Ebay, flirt online, and have a nap. What a pathetic lot we are.
Madball / H2O / Shai Hulud at The Chance - Sunday, March 14
It was on. It was off. It may have been back on. It was off - reminds me of when I was pregnant. The good news is it's on again! Only one change, unfortunately Chad Gilbert, formerly of the legendary Backscatter, will not be able to join us for this fantastic show. In his stead, we have America's favorite Dutchman, Geert Van der Velde, returning to the microphone to strut his Dutch stuff. Originally, 3 shows were booked in the North East with Chad fronting Shai Hulud. Shortly after the shows were booked, Chad was notified of other prior scheduling he had no choice but to attend to. This was no fault of Chad's, and he truly regretted not being able to play these shows with us, as did we. Great friend and King of Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, Juan Diaz of Rhythm Den Productions, called to ask us to still play even without Chad. He was convinced the show should go on: The Chance Theater being in our hometown Poughkeepsie, and the inclusion of 2 legendary hardcore bands? Didn't really take much to convince us. Where do you think we would be if Madball and H2O were playing The Chance, anyway? Take 3 guesses. At The Chance of course!!! Like we would miss watching those bands, much less passing up the opportunity to play with them. So, to be clear and concise - please come see Madball, H2O, Shai Hulud, and Poughkeepsie heavyweights My Bitter End at The Chance Theater on Sunday March 14, 2004. If you ask me - which you didn't - that's one hell of a show. Many thanks to Chad Gilbert for setting this wonderful show up for us. He will be there in spirit. Our sincerest apologies for not being able to play the other dates that were booked the weekend of the 14th. If there is any confusion as to where we are or are not playing, please check our tour section. We do plan on playing more dates on the East Coast sometime this year. It's all a matter of coordinating many different people's busy schedules. We're working on it! Thanks brothers and sisters.
A European Mosh?
Hey, all ya'll abroad? Looks like you talked us into it - well most of us, anyway. Here's the dilly, yo. Right now Germany's Avocado XXX Booking is looking into dates, and tentatively booking shows for a European tour roughly around the month of July. 4 out of 5 once Huluds have agreed to romp around abroad for a month. Drummer Tony Tintari will not be able to join us. We are trying to call in every favor owed to us to enlist a drummer for this final and potential European mosh. Providing we can find someone willing and available to pound skin (not that skin, perverts) for a month, we will be leaving our blood, sweat, and fingernails on your soil this July. Just to be clear, we are working to make this happen, although there is a chance it will not be possible. Keep checking this very incomplete website for new information. We will keep you posted. We'll nap after we inform you. Promise.
Japan and California Obliterated
Don't blame us; we just followed Godzilla's lead. And Lex Luthor almost obliterated California long before we set foot there. But, seriously folks. I could write novels about how special both these brief tours were.
Trying to accurately depict our experience in Japan with my limited intelligence and vocabulary would be an insult. I can tell you Japan is a lovely country with some of the wisest, most respectful people we have ever met. Had Shai Hulud formed in Japan, we would not have had a profound hatred of man, that's for sure. Not much to hate over there - unless of course you hate respect, politeness, and sincerity. The Japanese culture is outstanding, and their hardcore scene is a dream come true. We miss our new Japanese friends dearly. Trying to name and thank all the lovely people we met is nearly impossible. We are indebted to those responsible for our beautiful experience. Much love and respect to our tour mates Naiad, Daiki / Alliance Trax, and Gia / Empty Man. Without the aforementioned we would have been lost in translation. Ha. We will be raving about Japan and our new friends for many more updates. The warmest thank you to every person and band we had the utmost pleasure of spending time with. Our time with you was precious and will never be forgotten.
Upon arriving at the Los Angeles airport, a honk welcomed us as soon as we stepped foot on the parking lot. "WELCOME BACK, YOU SORRY M@THRF@CK#R$!!!" the honk bellowed, as its warm and gentle tone almost forced us to rip the hand from the arm that pushed the hand on the horn. Ah, home sweet home. Aside from our less than pleasant welcoming back to The US, our stay in California was indeed wonderful. But those horns.
California has always been very kind to us, and these shows were no exception. We sure received one hell of a send-off. The collective energy given reminded us why we always justify being broke to our mothers who can't understand where they went wrong. Oh Moms, you didn't go wrong. Money isn't everything, you know. By the way, can I borrow a $20.00? Sad but true. In all seriousness folks, we are very grateful for the love and support that was shown to us these past outings. Obviously Shai Hulud has been important to us, but we thank you for validating our existence. Our recent time in Japan and California left us speechless, flattered, and very humbled. Thank you kindly / Totemo arigato.
Shai Hulud DVD
A Shai Hulud DVD is now in the works. The DVD will feature a lot of various footage from the band's many different incarnations, plus whatever extra crap we can find or come up with. Matt Fletcher, and I will even provide what will certainly be an asinine commentary - mainly to make ourselves chuckle. We expect the DVD to surface late 2004 / early 2005, so check for it on your local record shop's shelves sometime in 2010. Just kidding. The DVD is just in its beginning stages. Always check back for info. We may be asking you for items we don't have but know are floating around out there somewhere. More info after a few naps. Mad props to our incredible friends at 3B Studios for taping our recent ass kickings in California.
Zombie Apocalypse kills Guns 'N' Roses
Just a brief note for the friendly undead. An MP3 of Zombie's cover of Guns 'N' Ross' classic (classic?) Welcome to the Jungle is available for your listening pleasure or lambasting. Check it out via Zombie's homepage if you are so inclined: www.mortiviventi.com
X With Honor and Still Crossed X
We always give props where props are due. Let's be honest, rarely are they due. That said, it is our pleasure to show some love to Connecticut's With Honor, and Ohio's Still Crossed who joined us for our four California shows. They sure gave everyone a walloping what for. We were thrilled to share the stage and spend time with these lovely fellas of the edge. It isn't often you can tour with bands where you enjoy the company of each and every member. Do yourselves a couple of favors and check out both bands' new albums. Out with the old and in with the new. www.withhonor.com / www.stillcrossed.com
True 'til death, my friends. True 'til death.
Contacting Shai Hulud
Please feel free to send us all the love and hate mail your fingers can muster. We always read every email, and take every word and comment to heart. What we don't always do is reply in a timely fashion unfortunately. We sure try to. We love to meet new people and stay in touch, and we'd love to hear from you. We only ask anyone that writes to please understand if we take an incredibly long time to reply. We do try to answer every email. If you have something you would like to say to us, send it on over. As I said, we do read and appreciate every email. Now stop yer bellyachin' and GET IN TOUCH!!
Looks like that's all for now. Should be enough methinks. Let me know if I forgot anything. I will now begin to post this here update to the sweet sounds of Condemned to Suffer, courtesy of Poughkeepsie's finest, All Out War.