This is the end of the beginning...

Manufactura 2CD

2008-08-27T20:32:01Z

According to the plant I'll have the discs either Friday or Tuesday (it's vague due to the upcoming holiday weekend here in the U.S.)

So... yeah.. they're coming.

Thanks for the patience...

At Peace

2008-08-20T08:44:41Z

So.

I'm wondering.

Should I release the At Peace tracks on VampireFreaks.com for free?

It's been several months since "The Great Crisis" came out... and less than stellar mp3s are already in circulation on the file sharing sites... so, I'm thinking I may as well make those four tracks more widely available in a more legit and controlled way.

Besides, anyone who gets the CD late will still be able to get the lossless files for burning from the password protected directory.

I think I'll do this...

Quick update...

2008-08-09T13:58:16Z

The new Captive Six project should have the first demos posting to the MySpace page in the next week or two.

Also, projekt_malice will be helping me out for any future live shows that spring up under the Captive Six name.

Update.

2008-08-05T07:50:49Z

Thanks to all who contacted me... but I'm pretty certain I've found someone to help out with the new Captive Six project.

Between recording the first Captive Six album, the next C/A/T album and a new side project with Erica (Unter Null) I'll be quite busy for the next 6 months or so.

Details as things get finished, shows get booked and CDs go to press.

Thanks.

Looking for live assistance for new project...

2008-08-03T12:48:32Z

I'll preface this by saying PLEASE do NOT be offended if you do NOT hear back from me. "Many will enter... only 1 will win", etc. etc.

But.

I need someone to back me live for my new project, Captive Six.

Requirements:

* Must be 21 years old (or older)

* Must be willing to tour... possibly up to one month or longer at a time. This means you HAVE to be able to be away from work/school/home/whatever if needed.

* "On stage" experience preferred but not required

* Having your own gear is a "plus" but not required. It'll just cut down on the "training you on gear" thing if you have your own equipment you're comfortable with.

* Must be willing and able to have FUN on the road and enjoy things like going 2+ days without sleep with only booze and vending machine food to keep you going until the next show.
:)

This WILL be an act I plan on touring rather extensively with so I definitely need someone who meets the above requirements and has a relatively flexible schedule.

Interested parties can either respond to this bulletin or contact me @ crunchpod@crunchpod.com

http://www.myspace.com/captivesix - for a refresher course on what this project will sound like.

Carry on,

-Ben
C/A/T

A little birdie told me...

2008-07-29T20:01:21Z

That Crunch Pod Mail Order just re-opened a few days early... already has new stuff in stock and lower prices on almost all domestic releases in the catalog.

Updates...

2008-07-28T11:31:31Z

1. Crunch Pod's Mail Order should be fully up and running by Friday evening. I will be gradually adding back all of the in stock items (plus some new stuff that just came in while I was gone) over the course of this week. I'm still pretty road-weary so it'll take a few days. Thanks for your patience.

2. I did a remix a while back for the band Animassacre. And you can now download that track for free via some promotional/free EP they have just released on VF.com

3. Despite the tour with Unter Null being over... I know of at least two one-off shows currently being organized that involve both Unter Null and C/A/T. Probably more of those too before the year is out if all goes as planned.

4. I am guest DJing THIS SATURDAY NIGHT @ the opening (re-opening?) of Club Subversion in Sacramento. It's at Silk Too (Folsom & Bradshaw) and is 18+ and kicks off at 9pm. Come check it out if you're in the area... should be fun.

5. Since a few people have asked at the last few shows...

• The Great Crisis is OUT NOW on CD and you can buy the CD pretty much anywhere in the U.S. at this point. It's also up on all of the major digital sites (iTunes has it incorrectly listed under the band name "Cat").

• I did a free "EP" that is currently held in the "bonus area" on the website WeAreStillAlive.com. If you buy the CD version of The Great Crisis, the card inside the case gives you the direct link and password combination. I will likely release these 4 tracks for FREE via the VF.com site in early Fall to make sure the people who picked up the downloads still have access to the bonus material.

• Now that I'm home from the road, I'll be finishing off some remixes for some bands, writing a few exclusive tracks for compilations and then dive into the We Are Still Alive album which is set to release in April 2009.

• In late November of this year, I'll be releasing an album of remixes and alternate versions of Point Of No Return tracks. This remix/re-make album has more or less been compiled and I'm waiting on a few remixes to come rolling in and it'll be ready to go. And this (Yeah, I know I need to call it something soon) remix album will have nothing to do with the 51X trilogy of albums that began with The Great Crisis. It's mainly coming out because I got a bunch of incredible remixes of tracks from PONR and I have redone several of the songs for our live sets and want to be able to share studio recorded versions of those tracks with you as well.

• The live line-up is locked as a two person act with myself and Erica from Unter Null. I do like to throw some special guests up there once in a while though... so you never know. But, for all intents and purposes, I plan on sticking with this live line-up for the forseeable future.

• And last, but not least... Kat is doing well. She's officially in remission and we're all very happy here in the C/A/T camp to have received that news while out on the road a few weeks back. She still has a few months of chemotherapy to endure but that is a small annoyance to get the excellent result of "no more cancer". She is still very limited on her ability to travel but you should start seeing her out with me outside the Sacramento/SF area by October or so.

You speak... I listen.

2008-07-22T15:28:10Z

Artist: C/A/T
Title: TBA
Cat.#: CRUNCH058

Tentative Track Listing (in no order at the moment)

1. Numb (Understanding Impact Mix by Marching Dynamics)
2. Dead To Me (Fucking Liar Mix by Unter Null)
3. State Of Decay (XP8 Remix)
4. Smashed (Touched by FabrikC)
5. Music To Piss You Off (SAM Remix)
6. Numb (Desensitized Remix by Manufactura)
7. Parasite (BFQ Remix by Uberbyte)
8. Parasite (Caustic Remix)
9. Denied (Alter Der Ruine Remix)
10. Dead To Me (Bitch Brigade Remix)
11. Point Of No Return (Re-worked by [syndika:zero])

12. Parasite (C/A/T revision)
13. State Of Decay (C/A/T revision)
14. Shoot To Kill (C/A/T revision)
15. Persuasion (C/A/T revision)
16. Malice (C/A/T revision)

Maybe one or two more tracks (either stragglers that get their remixes done in time OR some b-side action).

500 ct. limited pressed CD run

Full unlimited release to all digital distribution sites

Tentative release date = November 2008

A Second Chance?

2008-07-22T00:50:43Z

So.

I'm going to be delaying the next C/A/T album until early 2009. I want to spend a satisfactory amount of time on it and I've got some touring opportunities both before and after the proposed release date (Feb./Mar. '09) anyhow.

But.

I have 8 - 10 remixes of tracks from Point Of No Return on hand right now. From bands like Unter Null, Caustic, XP8, SAM, Marching Dynamics, FabrikC, etc. I also have new versions of 4 of the Point Of No Return tracks that I could easily re-record vocals for. And maybe some leftover instrumental b-sides from that era.

If I released something like this... say by Christmas of this year...

Would you:

A) Want it on a real, pressed CD

B) Want it on a limited professional CDR (like the Caustic bonus discs/reissues)

C) Want it as a digital download on iTunes, Amazon.com, eMusic, etc.

D) Not be interested in something like this at all

Let me know... even if you pick option D... so I can gauge interest on this project.

Thanks,

-Ben
C/A/T

Not quite over...

2008-07-21T17:05:32Z

Two more dates for C/A/T

July 23rd in PORTLAND, OREGON
supporting Unter Null
@ The Fez Ballroom
8pm doors - $8 in advance, $10 at the door

July 26th in ORLANDO, FLORIDA
supporting Terrorfakt and with Cervello Elettronico
@ The AKA Lounge
10pm doors - $10 cover

Portland is the official "end" of the US Tour with Unter Null.

And I have something special planned for Orlando.

So, both are NOT TO BE MISSED!!! :D

I have an insane amount of C/A/T related news to announce over the coming months. The news ranges from more live shows, tours, releases and the new album information. Keep it locked...

Also, every digital distribution site so far EXCEPT Amazon.com has botched the band name for the new album. I have now found the album on iTunes and eMusic under the band name "Cat". So, they're there... I'd try searching for the album title "The Great Crisis" if you're looking for the album on any of those sites.

T-Shirt update

2008-07-09T00:10:31Z

Hello to anyone who pre-ordered a shirt from me -

I still don't have them.

I'm hoping they're here tomorrow... because after that it will be impossible for me to ship them until I am home at the end of July.

I never would have set them up for pre-orders if I knew it was going to be this much of a delay.

As it is, I may not have t-shirts on the tour until the Portland, OR show on the 23rd as I leave for the road again tomorrow night and have to be at the airport at 10pm to catch my overnight flight to NYC. Even if UPS delivers them tomorrow there is a very slim chance I'll have the time to pack up the pre-orders and ship-ahead shirts to the various cities. Even so, I will not be able to get them to the post office until after they close anyway as UPS always delivers here between 5-6pm.

So, if I don't have t-shirts on this tour, I'm really sorry.

I promise, I'll ship all of the shirts as soon as I'm home at the end of the month and I can't apologize to all of you enough about this.

-Ben
C/A/T

Caustic - I Am On Fire

2008-07-03T11:19:59Z

Caustic's "I Am On Fire" is finally in stock!

The pre-ordered copies of this re-issue have all been shipped.

Due to a change in my travel itinerary... I've decided to allow orders on this item up through Sunday night. All orders between now and then will ship this coming Monday.

http://www.crunchpod-distro.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=370

After Monday, Metropolis Mail Order will be the only place to pick up this disc until Crunch Pod re-opens in early August.

THUDfest is on Saturday!

2008-06-30T23:35:34Z

First show of the tour with Unter Null is THIS SATURDAY NIGHT in Boston, MA

Your chance to be THAT GUY (or GIRL) at an upcoming C/A/T show...

2008-06-30T03:27:52Z

So, getting ready to go on tour...

Right now all in print C/A/T CDs are set up for "tour pricing" - meaning if you buy from me between now and July 2nd you can get the same prices you will see on the road.

FREE SHIPPING on all C/A/T CDs to ANYWHERE right now as well.

Buy CDs here

And...

I've got the remaining stock of last year's shirt up on the site now... plus a LIMITED RELEASE of the brand new design for 2008. Now is your chance to be "that guy (or girl)" at the shows coming up and already have the new C/A/T shirt on when you arrive the venue! :D

FREE SHIPPING on all C/A/T T-Shirts to ANYWHERE also...

Buy T-Shirts here

Thanks and see you on the road soon...

Oh, and if you buy anything else from the mail order you'll have to pay shipping for that part of the order. The free shipping ONLY applies to C/A/T merch at the shop.

-Ben
C/A/T

At Peace... almost completed

2008-06-28T02:04:28Z

Track 4 out of 5 has just been uploaded for the free EP "At Peace".

Details on how to get this free release come inside the packaging to the CD "The Great Crisis"...

One more to go early next week.

Manufactura / Crunch Pod update

2008-06-24T06:30:43Z

Pre-orders for Manufactura's "Psychogenic Fugue + A Damaged Symphony for Depraved Dementia N.2" have begun!

We will be offering a special $15 price for this 2CD set until August 1st and the price will go up. The release date is looking to be mid to late August at this point.

Direct Link To Order

Manufactura has uploaded 3 tracks from this double album to the Manufactura MySpace Page.

===

ALSO, Crunch Pod mail order will be closed from July 1st - August first while I am on the road with C/A/T and to catch up on some inventory and restocking once I am home.

During this closure, pre-orders will NOT be affected but, pre-order items will be the ONLY items offered for sale on the site.

In other words, if you want anything besides the new Manufactura 2CD, order before July 1st or wait until August 1st. :)

T-Shirt Update

2008-06-21T03:56:12Z

So, there was a minor printing error on the t-shirts so they are being fixed at the moment. I've been promised I *WILL* have the new shirts in time for the upcoming tour.

I'll be keeping this design in print for a while so there will be a lot more of them once I'm home from the tour... and I'll have them for sale via Mail Order starting in August or so.

Lastly, we're just waiting on one more confirmation and we'll have the entire Unter Null / C/A/T US Tour dates set in stone. Hopefully by the end of this weekend.

Setlist - Gen-X Sacramento

2008-06-18T08:45:46Z

Faderhead - Dirtygrrrls Dirtybois (Modulate Remix)
Memmaker - Death Comes [request]
Caustic - Cock Blockin' Beats
Aesthetic Perfection - Living The Wasted Life (Machineries Mix)
Combichrist vs. Helltrash - Hate And Booze
Ashbury Heights - Penance
Necessary Response - Elements
[syndika:zero] - Deceit (2 Bullet Remix)
SAM - Catatonic Dreams (C/A/T Remix)
Noisuf-X - Hit Me Hard
Manufactura - The Absurdity Of Terms And Conditions
XP8 - Download Me (Modulate Remix)
Destroid - Run And Hide [request]
Uberbyte - I Am The Nation
C/A/T - At Peace

Updated event info. for C/A/T

2008-06-16T18:08:39Z

June 17th :: DJ SET ONLY @ Gen-X (Silk Club) :: Sacramento, CA

===

2008 Tour supporting Unter Null

July 5th :: THUDfest 2008 @ Machine :: Boston, MA
July 10th :: @ Rebel :: New York, NY
July 11th :: @ Underground Lounge :: Chicago, IL
July 13th :: @ Club Inferno :: Madison, WI
July 15th :: @ Hi-Dive :: Denver, CO
July 17th :: @ The Church :: Dallas, TX
July 18th :: @ Das Bunker :: Los Angeles, CA
July 19th :: @ Sadisco* :: Phoenix, AZ
July 23rd :: @ Fez Ballroom :: Portland, OR

===

[DESTRUKTION] 2 Year Anniversary

July 26th, 2008

TERRORFAKT, C/A/T & Cervello Elettronico

@ AKA Lounge :: Orlando, FL

===

More to come..

Multi-update

2008-06-02T01:52:35Z

June 17th - *DJ GIG by BEN ONLY* @ Gen-X (Silk Bar) :: Sacramento, CA

2008 North American Tour as support for Unter Null

Jul 5 2008
MACHINE NIGHTCLUB (Thudfest 2008)
Boston, Massachusetts

Jul 11 2008
Underground Lounge
Chicago, Illinois

Jul 13 2008
Club Inferno
Madison, Wisconsin

Jul 15 2008
TBA
Denver, Colorado

Jul 18 2008
Das Bunker
Los Angeles, California

Jul 19 2008
The Homme Lounge (Club Sadisco)
Phoenix, Arizona

Jul 23 2008
TBA
Portland, Oregon

These are the dates confirmed so far, with a few more cities pending. As always, if you want to book us in your city, we'd love to hear from you at untercattour@gmail.com

July 26th - @ [Destruktion] (support for Terrorfakt, C/A/T ONLY - NOT part of the tour) :: Orlando, FL

The Great Crisis releases on this Tuesday, June 3rd. All pre-ordered copies will be shipping out that day. You can still order this album Direct From Crunch Pod.

It's also now available for pre-order at Amazon.com.

With more buying options to come shortly... including digital download at all of the main sites starting likely in mid to late June or thereabouts.

Available on Tuesday!!

2008-05-31T06:06:36Z

C/A/T - The Great Crisis
CRUNCH053
C/A/T takes another step forward with this amazing new concept CD: The Great Crisis.

A soundtrack to an unfilmed scientific disaster, fans of C/A/T's earlier work like The Prisoner will enjoy this as well as those turned on to the more dancable fare of the ATF and Point of No Return CDs. This fully instrumental disc explores C/A/T's range of styles from very different perspectives, with music reminiscent of everything from Front 242's legendary Tyranny For You to idm-inspired rhythmic noise, yet all with a unique twist.

Accept no substitutes, and accept no (l)imitations-- C/A/T is back with another intense, contagious release.

Evidence 294
Evidence 699
Encounter X4I
Encounter X32
Escape > Wooded Area #6432
Escape > City Area #589191
Battle Data > 51X_67245
Battle Data > 51X_942
End Of Recording
Theme From The Great Crisis

Preview the new album NOW exclusively at VampireFreaks.com

Purchase directly from Crunch Pod

Album update.

2008-05-29T05:55:41Z

Hey, sorry for the delay on the delivery of the Great Crisis album. The June 3rd date is set as I've been told the CDs will be here by that date. And I'll definitely have them on the tour with Unter Null.

I'll hopefully have a shirt update for those few of you who have pre-ordered those soon as well. The shirt design won't be limited in any way so if I run out, I'll just have more made.

Thanks to everyone for their patience.

Tour merch?

2008-05-27T21:23:57Z

So... I'm putting together the tour merch for July.

Any suggestions?

Right now I'll have:

CDs (including The Great Crisis)
T-Shirts (the new design that I posted about a while back)
Stickers as I still have a few hundred left from last year
1" buttons/pins - as I still have some of those lying around here

Is there some other key piece of merch I'm missing out on?

I'm drawing a blank...

Live now!

2008-05-26T04:02:38Z

http://www.dnalounge.com/

We go on around 11pm... so in 2 hours or so.

Reminder

2008-05-21T17:40:16Z