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Tuesday, March 9, 2010 No Comments
Just got the word from the fine folks at Roadrunner Records that DragonForce is moving forward without the vocal prowess of ZP Theart.
“It is with great regret that DragonForce announce a parting of the ways with singer ZP Theart. This is due to insurmountable differences of musical opinion but the rest of the band sincerely wishes ZP great success with his future projects.”
The band has begun a global search for his replacement immediately: “We are looking for a powerful, melodic singer to write a new chapter of DragonForce with us.” said guitarist Herman Li.
If you have the chops to do this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jgrCKhxE1s
you should go here: www.dragonforce.com/audition.
Have a nice day. 
Saturday, March 6, 2010 No Comments
Hey so… so far 2010 has been relatively uneventful. Blame snowpocalypse… I do. Haha… sigh. Ok, so metal is not revving our engines right now… I know it’s just a drought. I, in fact, have plans to see Unearth in Richmond in two weekends, and Mastodon in April. The Mayhem lineup is looking, um, interesting – Lamb of God will be a fucking blast. Ozzfest may be coming back… we shall see. What I know is that I still support the scene and am waiting for the next thing about which to be truly excited. And when that happens, I will report it here first. In the meantime… Anima is alright. They kinda sound like Whitechapel. But… I prefer Whitechapel. Oh, and tonight I dedicate to Vehemence and God Was Created… and it looks like Howard Jones may have knocked up a pornstar. Whoa.
Monday, January 25, 2010 No Comments
I think I’m in love.
I can’t say I’ve enjoyed an album more in 2010 than Bangers, the Metal Blade debut from Montreal’s Barn Burner. Since it’s only the end of January, that statement may sound like a backhanded compliment – make no mistake: Barn Burner is the shit.
I foresee these dudes quickly rising to the very tippy top of the “stoner rock” genre, putting a couple notches in their belts in other musical categories as they climb. I find them to be way more palatable than The Sword and Fu Manchu, while still nestling in that kind of sound. Bangers has some of the best rock tracks I’ve heard in years, ripe with biting lyrics, badass grooves and familiar riffage. They don’t disappoint in touching on the typical topics of smoking drugs (“Holy Smokes,” “Beer Today, Bong Tomorrow”) and there’s that damn Wizard (thanks Sabbath) to whom so many of these groups feel the need to pay homage, but I adore the foray into redneck territory with “Fast Women.”
The musicianship is strong, the writing is solid, the melodies and lyrics are catchy – I can picture people across America driving in their cars, busting guts singing along with “Brohemoth.” Vocalist/guitarist Kevin Keegan, with nods in the direction of Page Hamilton–style vocals in dismissively spitting out what he really thinks, is already a pro; Marc Doucette and Nick Ball would have no problem engaging the QOTSA guys in a session and Taylor Freund’s timing makes me so comfy I want to sit in his lap.
These dudes can fuckin’ rock it out. I am desperate to see Barn Burner play live. So far no planned tours have been announced, but the boys will be doing a set at SXSW on March 18th at East End Tattoo, so if you’re in the Austin area, and can, GO. For the rest of us, this will have to suffice for now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv33mDo7kIA
It could be appropriate to see them hit the road with an Eyehategod or maybe Crowbar in my metal circles, and granted, they’ve warmed up Priestess crowds already… but I can most certainly envision Barn Burner opening for Mastodon by the end of the year. Who do I have to call to make that happen?
Check them out here and plan to pick up a copy of Bangers on February 16:
http://www.myspace.com/theinfamousbarnburner
Thursday, December 31, 2009 3 Comments
So it’s pretty sweet when you can listen to shitloads of new metal and then decide what’s great and what’s not so great… and then tell everybody. I love this gig.
You don’t have to agree with me on this. Or really on anything ever. But feel free to comment below if you’d like. And in no particular order (because honestly, it’s too hard to decide) my top 10 metal records of 2009 are:
Tombs – Winter Hours
The Black Dahlia Murder – Deflorate
Behemoth – Evangelion
Gaza – He Is Never Coming Back
The Red Chord – Fed Through The Teeth Machine
Revocation – Existence Is Futile
Job For A Cowboy – Ruination
Cannibal Corpse – Evisceration Plague
Goatwhore – Carving Out The Eyes of God
Cattle Decapitation - The Harvest Floor
What I CAN tell you is that of those top 10, the ones I listen to the most are the new Gaza and the new Red Chord. But those are more recent releases… so that may be why. I also fucking adore Mastodon’s Crack The Skye but am starting to feel like I can’t call them a metal band anymore. Tombs had the most interesting record and Cattle had the most brutal record in my top 10… and the rest are listed because they didn’t disappoint me. Or were actually pretty good.
Happy New Year to all, be safe in your revelry and thank the lord (whichever one you worship) that 2009 is fucking over. 2010 will give us a new Misery Index record and a new Whitechapel record… so we have something to which we can look forward.
Monday, December 28, 2009 3 Comments
American Carnage Tour
’nuff said.
Friday, December 4, 2009 No Comments
Why I’ve been sleeping on the new Red Chord album is beyond me. Fed Through The Teeth Machine is, simply put – great. The subject matter seems to be a bit random as the album plays on. From “Hymns And Crippled Anthems – “Just be forever faithful to the family that you love.” …interesting. (This is assuming I’m hearing any of the lyrics correctly, and quite honestly even if I’m not, Guy has upped the ante on his masterful vocal prowess regardless.) The musical writing, the performance, the overall intensity is all pure, good, old-fashioned Red Chord brilliance.
The sweet, dying sigh of the guitar line in “Ingest The Ash” is refreshing, while I don’t understand the use of Vari-Fi in the middle (aren’t we done with that plug-in yet?) I adore the screaming that tears out of it. “Embarrassment Legacy” is really smooth (the beginning tones somehow remind me of “11th Hour-”ish Lamb Of God.) That track is topped off by a very precisely played blast section towards the end, mostly due to the punishing assault of drums – this may be Brad Fickeisen’s best recorded-performance to date.
I like that their tracks average a little over 2 minutes, that they’re in and out, point made, no need to rehash… other than the repeated lyrical lines which have their individual impact on your soul… some of them angst-fueling.
“While I was counting hours, you were counting fists.”
“My life’s work, forgotten.”
The longest musical journey on the album is the final track, “Sleepless Nights In The Compound.” Feel free to get lost in it and let it drag you around. Once you finish, you could just kick it back to the second track “Hour of Rats” and unleash.
The new effort from The Red Chord, out on Metal Blade Records now, will sit strongly in their own album repertoire and is better than their oft-coupled tourmates’ “Deflorate.” If I had my way, I’d say next time Black Dahlia Murder and The Red Chord go out together, The Red Chord headlines.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 No Comments
Can I say I was tickled pink when I heard Gaza was coming out with a new album? I get all kinds of worked up over brutal, sludgy doom metal and I can’t think of a band that does it better right now than Gaza. Perhaps you guys remember me playing “Slutmaker” off of 2006’s I Don’t Care Where I Go When I Die on Liquid Metal, – now Gaza is back with a 14-track hook and groove tour de force called He Is Never Coming Back, out on Metal Blade Records/Black Market Activities on November 10, 2009.
Gaza is one of those bands I find so satisfying to listen to because as much traveling as the music does inside the songs, it always comes back to that deep, dark note of despair (“The Kicking Legs”) they’ve been dancing around for a minute and a half and when it hits, it’s like a flood of relief, a long-awaited homecoming of sorts. Sweeping, soaring guitar lines that fill up your ears a la Will Haven’s el Diablo, the grindier side coming out in sections of songs like “Carnivore,” Gaza does not force themselves into a genre, nay even a steady tempo throughout a piece.
“Windowless House” and “Canine Disposal Unit” showcase the band’s faster-paced brutality, but I still prefer the drug-induced swaying of the title track, a perfect example of what Gaza brings to the metal table. Continuing to crush the spirits of all Christians everywhere (or at least in their hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah) He Is Never Coming Back is a formidable expression of anger, dismissal of beliefs, and display of utter abandonment, a smack in the face to those who have committed themselves to long and widely-held ideals.
Gaza has outdone themselves with this one, a well-rounded album that will blast through my speakers for the rest of the year. Just don’t wait to put it on your Christmas list – that would be blasphemy.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 No Comments
I’m overworked and overplayed but the new Dying Fetus is not. Stamp of approval, although it’s not as brutal as I was thinking it would be and I find myself getting a little bored and slightly annoyed at some of the guitar work… I guess I’m still not much of a guitar solo kind of person. (Unless it’s Slash.) I do love the runs on “Shepherd’s Commandment.” The new drummer is pretty sweet though and John Gallagher’s vox still rule. The album kicks off strong with “Your Treachery Will Die With You,” but tends to wax and wane afterwards. The weakest song is unfortunately the title track.
Standouts: “Hopeless Insurrection,” “Atrocious By Nature” and “At What Expense.”
I wish I could remember which new songs I saw them play during Summer Slaughter this year… they’re definitely still maniacally awesome live. Headed overseas with Cannibal Corpse next… lucky Europeans.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 3 Comments
After the awesomeness that was Nocturnal, which came out in 2007, I’ve been waiting in high anticipation for the new release Deflorate by Michigans’s The Black Dahlia Murder. Although due to extenuating circumstances (seems like I’ve got a shitload of those recently) I missed BDM’s set at Mayhem this year at Nissan Pavillion (and in fact was SO late the only band I saw before the main stage started was Cannibal Corpse…which ruled. But I digress…) I did manage to find Trevor towards the end of the evening during the bands’ nightly bbq with spiked punch (which basically ruined me, wtf was IN that anyway?!?!) and it looks like we may be able to catch them for an interview when they embark on the next tour, headlining with Children of Bodom, Toxic Holocaust and Skeletonwitch. So, something for you knucklesfirst readers to get wet about…
Jason Suecof is back at the board: he covered mixing responsibilities and co-produced the effort with the Black Dahlia and Mark Lewis (who has done work with Deicide.) One of the first things I noticed (other than the superb playing and song structure) is how clean the production is. I must admit, I feel completely torn by this due to the fact that engineers (of which I am one) should ALWAYS be improving their sound and the sound of their bands so I WANT this album to sound amazing…but I think some of the brutality may be lost in the splendor of the sound – I’d love for the album to have a bit of the grit, the dirty, the raw, perhaps on the level of Unhallowed (which is ranked right up there with some of my favourite metal albums of all time.) I have no doubt that some of that grit will be experienced during their live shows. I promise not to miss them next time…
Although the title of the album Deflorate, by definition, means the point past the flowering state, post-pollen shedding, The Black Dahlia Murder is in no way past their prime bloom. Deflorate delves even deeper lyrically than Nocturnal, and with the addition of Ryan Knight of Arsis, we find BDM expanding musically as well. Shannon Lucas’s drumming is exceptionally brutal and supports the rest of the instrumentation without fail, while Trevor’s vocals, sitting nicely in the mix, scream and shriek and command our attention to his message. I know I find myself enraptured…
Standout tracks for me are “Throne of Lunacy” and “Necropolis,” which is the first single off the new record (check out Revolver.com for the video if you’d like…) “That Which Erodes The Most Tender” sounds the most like what I’d like to hear from BDM and the only truly odd spot on the record is “I Will Return.” As though Black Dahlia Murder wanted to dip a toe into the frigid waters of Viking Metal, the song reminds me of Amon Amarth’s “Twilight of The Thunder Gods.” A-B it yourself, I’m sure you’ll hear it too…
Don’t be afraid to budget in Deflorate from your next paycheck, the album drops September 15th and should become a part of your regular Ipod playlists as the seasons change and all the living green things start to wilt and die. A perfect soundtrack.
A note from Butters: Unlike Katie, I was able to see BDM’s performance at Mayhem Fest (Blossom – Cleveland), this was my first time witnessing their brutalness live (I changed my pants after). They did play Necropolis for us, because, we are awesome. Unlike Katie and her awesome BBQ outing, I had to wait in line to see them. Enough of my jealous rants, back to Deflorate! First round of this I immediately realized that this was going to an epic ablum. The new solos from Ryan Knight has taken this band to a new level. I believe I read somewhere that Shannon mentioned that this was his “Most Technical Album”. I couldn’t agree with him more. But yet again, they still are the fun boys that we’ve all grown to love (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’d recommend watching Majesty DVD) in the new music video for Necropolis (check it out here).
My two favorite tracks are going to be, Necropolis and That Which Erodes The Most Tender. I’m going to agree with Katie, this album is amazing, go buy this. Place it on your iPod and let your Mom listen. She’ll love it. If she doesn’t have her call me. Because, Black Dahlia Murder has yet again, amazed me. The new line up, is amazing, technical, and brutal. I’m highly looking forward to a possible interview, and face melting here in Columbus Ohio, on “Rocktober” 25th.
The Black Dahlia Murder Myspace
Buy Deflorate on 9/15 Here, and Here, and Here
Buy Majesty DVD Here!
Monday, August 31, 2009 No Comments
I will never quite understand why I do the things I do… perhaps I have a need to make things difficult…or just like things to be extra special. I decided I needed to break up the monotony of life in Northern Virginia (which everyone needs to do from time to time, regardless of where they live) and I had a couple hundred extra bucks so I spent it on a roundtrip ticket to my favourite vacation spot in the whole wide world… Las Vegas.
All in all, as much as I love my Vegas friends (one of whose couches I slept on while I was there) this was probably the worst vacation I have ever had. Bad timing coupled with stress, anxiety and lack of funds (which was plaguing ALL of us) forced me to gamble with strangers all day (who then became friends) and even though I managed to keep my blackjack money alive for hours and hours of play, I ended up losing it all… my budget, not my shirt. (I’m a responsible gambler…whatever that means.)
I did, however, drink for free for 3 days which can’t be beat… and I attended the Down show at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay on the last day of my vacation.
Down is out with the Melvins and Weedeater. Weedeater was UNBELIEVABLE. I adored every single song (“God luck and good speed”) the energy, the synergy – all fantastic. I will most certainly catch them on their next tour, regardless of which bands they may be out with on the road. I had never seen the Melvins before either, and they were rocking their two-drummer ensemble (which apparently means they’re not exACTly the Melvins that way) and I wanted to get up on stage and take over for one of them. (I played drums for 9 years and quit when I was living in dorms in college – no room for a set there.) But quite seriously, I may look into getting back into drumming soon…
One thing I’ve neglected to mention thus far is that even though I had four tickets to the show, none of my compatriots had shown up yet (due to all the reasons listed above…and some extra time at work for another one.) So, standing alone at the House of Blues, I was noticed for doing so and one kindly gentleman from the Air Force (Nellis is a rather large air force base near Las Vegas) invited me to come hang out with him and his friends so that I was no longer alone…which at first I thought was sweet. But then I realized how drunk this dude, Josh, was and I had to rename him Rapist Air Force Douchebag. I had to spend the entire set of Weedeater avoiding his hands and finally got away from him on the floor of the venue halfway into the Melvins set when one of my friends finally arrived… phew. Finally I settled in to watch the show.
Down started their set with “Ghosts Along The Mississippi” and within 2 minutes, R.A.F.D. was apprehended by two security guards for slamming into the people in the front row (moshing by himself.) But the two guards couldn’t get him under control, and he ended up being thrown out with force by five security guards. Scary.
I managed to secure a spot in the front row on stage left, literally five feet away from Kurt and often Phil (which if you know me = heaven.) Phil is back to rocking the Cowbows From Hell hair again (yes, I’m a girl, and yes I was drooling. I’ll stop that now.) So even though Down’s set seemed short because we have been spoiled with tours like an “Evening with Down” or whatever the fuck it was when they played for over two hours and included “Jail” in their setlist… the whole show was great. Phil did a lot of interacting with the audience, Pepper’s playing was right on point and you know Jimmy Bower always brings it… I’m not sure where Rex was, they had a bassist from Canada who filled in quite nicely… It’s funny that I fly all the way across the U.S. to see a show that I could see within an hour’s drive from my house… but I didn’t want to wait until September 8th to see them. And now, I don’t think I will even be making it to the Baltimore show due to complications back in NoVa – however I think YOU should go. You should ALL go. And don’t miss Weedeater.
Tue 09/01/09 Atlanta, GA Center Stage
Wed 09/02/09 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues
Fri 09/04/09 North Myrtle Beach, SC House Of Blues
Sat 09/05/09 Charlotte, NC Fillmore Charlotte
Sun 09/06/09 Knoxville, TN The Valarium
Tue 09/08/09 Baltimore, MD Sonar
Wed 09/09/09 Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights
Fri 09/11/09 New York, NY Nokia Theatre Times Square
Sun 09/13/09 Boston, MA House Of Blues
Tue 09/15/09 Hartford, CT Webster Theater
Wed 09/16/09 Rochester, NY Main Street Armory
Thu 09/17/09 Buffalo, NY The Town Ballroom
Fri 09/18/09 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Small’s Theatre
Sat 09/19/09 Mount Clemens, MI Emerald Theatre
Mon 09/21/09 Indianapolis, IN The Vogue
Tue 09/22/09 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
Thu 09/24/09 Omaha, NE Sokol Auditorium / Underground
Fri 09/25/09 Sauget, IL Pop’s
Sat 09/26/09 Mokena, IL Pearl Room
Mon 09/28/09 Louisville, KY Expo Five
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