We are an artist-run label formed in 2013. All the work, good or bad, is done by the people in the bands.

The Austerity Program – Black Madonna


This is the original promo description. We didn’t write it, but we’re putting it here for posterity.

In discussing the great musical duos of the past half-century — Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Ike & Tina Turner, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock — you hardly ever hear anyone mention the Austerity Program. That is, until now. Not only are the Program’s Thad Calabrese (bass) and Justin Foley (guitar/vocals) personally responsible for freeing ODB from counterfactual incarceration; they also recorded a pretty awesome EP for Hydra Head back in 2003 entitled Terra Nova. No one bought it. But that’s their loss (the people who didn’t buy it, that is). And yet Calabrese and Foley have soldiered on, undaunted in the face of commercial adversity, to bring us their unstoppable debut full-length, Black Madonna.

Here are a few things you should know about it, other than the fact that it rules:

1) The title Black Madonna is not necessarily a reference to an imaginary African-American version of the famous pop star/exhibitionist, nor is it necessarily a reference to the Virgin Mary’s decidedly impure twin sister, Betty. It’s also not a code name. Then again, it just might be. (We actually have no idea.)

2) Like those on Terra Nova, the songs on Black Madonna are untitled. The Austerity Program would prefer it if you filed this detail under “your problem” as opposed to “their problem.” The Austerity Program actually have very few problems that they’re willing to discuss with you.

3) These guys are DIY like a motherfucker: They play all of the songs on the record. They wrote the record. They recorded the record. They bought the shit to do the recording. They bought and read the books to tell them how to use that stuff. THEY BUILT THE STUDIO IT WAS RECORDED IN — concrete to drywall, all the way up through shades of paint and lighting design. It’s like, “Enough already, dudes — aren’t you supposed to be playing shows or something?”

4) Terms like “industrial-strength power dirge” and “mechanized punk fugue” don’t really suffice where Black Madonna is concerned. So please come up with some other shit when you write about it. We’d give you a really enticing description here, but you’d probably just steal it—and then you’d probably add something about Godflesh.

credits

released August 21, 2007

Thad Calabrese – Bass
Drum Machine – Percussion
Justin Foley – Guitar, Vocals

Recorded by the Austerity Program at Kerguelen Studio, Astoria, NY on and off from August 2006 to January 2007.

Mastered by John Golden at Golden Mastering
Preproduction assistance by John Hastie
Additional Engineering by Jon Wright
Photos and Art Direction by the Austerity Program
Photo Production Support by Nathan Baker at BlackPoint Editions
Design by A. Turner
Construction by James O’Mara

Thank you: Matt Shobe, Aaron Turner, Mark Thompson, Abby Moskowitz, Jill Gallant-Foley, Hydra Head, John Hastie, Jon Wright, Ben, Max, Noah, John Miller, James O’Mara, the friends and family who have supported us and strangers who’ve provided us with advice, time or appreciation.

CBR Store Is Live

Okay, everybody just calm down! The Controlled Burn Records Web shop is back up and running. Our shopping cart has been completely revamped, so, if you have bought directly from us in the past, your old login credentials will not work anymore. Never fear, the new shopping cart is much easier to navigate and use.

That said, everything here is new to us too. Please be patient as we work out the kinks. If you have any issues, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Welcome to the New Controlled Burn Web site

We have just revamped everything at this site and are slowly coming back on-line. The store will be up soon, as will some big announcements.

Unfortunately, we have had to completely scrap our old Web site. If you have purchased from here in the past, your old account along with your order history is gone. Sorry about the inconvenience, but the new shopping system is going to be a lot better as soon as we get it completely set up!

Nonagon – They Birds

Nonagon’s first full-length LP, They Birds, released on March 3rd, 2021!

  • Featuring eleven songs!
  • 12″ vinyl record is pressed on ultra-high quality 180g vinyl!
  • Purchase includes FREE digital versions of all the tracks on the record (Bandcamp download card included)
  • Vinyl LP also includes a twelve-page booklet entitled They Birds: A Comprehensive Field Guide to the Magestic Creatures of the Sky

The Austerity Program – Bible Songs 1

They’ve been together over two decades and this is more panic-inducing than anything they’ve done yet.  Yes, the songs are based on Bible verses, so feel free to play it at your scripture reading circle and write to us about how that turns out.

All of the wrath of god and none of the salvation.

Recorded nearly live at Kerguelen in Astoria, NYC.  Full frequency analog recording for those who like their pit-scraping noise rock to sound pristine.

In Europe? Save money and [ order from Throatruiner ].

Next Austerity Program LP Is Recorded

The Austerity Program finished recording their next record back in December.  Here’s the master tapes, ready to go to Ventura, CA.

Six songs long, clocks in at about 25 minutes. I know that’s not very long for a band that hasn’t put a record out in five years but it’s pretty intense so you’ll get your fill.  

Currently working on pressing details, cover art, setting up shows. Expect this thing to come out in June.