Thursday, May 10. 2007
I was anxious to get this album. Vinnie Paul gathered up a few of his friends from Mudvayne and Nothingface and created a NEW super group of metal. Not really a fan of the other bands involved, I automatically had a preconceived notion of the album. And from hearing from other people who got it, they did too. We were all a smidge wrong.
First off this is not Mudvayne, Nothingface, Damageplan and this is notPantera. That’s not saying it isn’t good, however, if that’s what you want it to sound like, save the $15 and go get a different CD. Yeah, some of it sounds like Pantera, some of it sounds like Damageplan. It should. It has a member of those bands. And yeah, you can hear parts of Mudvayne and Nothingface as well. It should, as there are members from those bands, too. This is a supergroup. It has influences from all areas.
While most people are drawn to the title track “Hell Yeah,� I find myself going back to “Alcohaulin' Ass,� which is just a heavy southern rock, feel good type of song. I also find myself drawn to the song “Thank You,� which instantly made me think of Dime. It gave me chills and choked me up. That’s ok, I’m female and that reaction is allowed. I was also really partial to the guitars on the song “Goddamn.�. Of the heavier songs, this was my clear favorite.
I think for fans of any of the bands involved in this project, there is something to enjoy. You need, however, to separate what you expect from those bands and what's in this band. Looking at this to be just like any of them it will disappoint you. Looking at it as a NEW act will be the deal breaker. Yeah, there is a ballad. GET OVER IT. People change and grow with life experiences. Vinnie is still pulling out heavy as hell drum beats. If you don’t believe it, check out the song “Matter of Time,� where they sounded just like a Harley warming up.
Wednesday, May 2. 2007
Slow, grinding and brutal. That would be the quickest way to explain the new Commandment. It's heavy enough to satisfy the most discriminating palate of death metal fans, but it seems almost normal.
Chris Barnes' vocals are, as always, pure death metal perfection. Demonic growls with an intelligible quality that is sometimes lacking from other bands. There is almost a "dying a slow death" quality to the whole album. This album has the potential to attract more than just death metal fans. Fans of the heavier stuff, who shied away, may find a new love in death metal. Rounding out the band is bass god Terry Butler, Steve Swanson on guitar, and Greg Gall on drums.
It's hard to pick the true highlights of this album because each song is damned solid. "Zombie Executioner" is probably my fave track vocally on this CD. Of course "Bled To Death" has all the evils of an excellent chunk guitar, blast beat, and strong base line, a combination of all things that make one helluva tune. I really also liked the guitar line on "As The Blade Turns." Definitely one for the live show. Lastly the drum line on "The Evil Eye" gets the blood going.
Old school or new style death metal fans will definitely enjoy this CD. Heavy enough to piss you off, yet the calming aspect I have always found in death metal.
Monday, April 23. 2007
Snooky
Nu Ethix Suspension
13 Pills
Moloko Shivers
So here's the deal. You run a popular gentleman's club that has a lot of live local music AND you're in a band. You're turning an unspeakable age. How exactly do you plan on celebrating your birthday? If you are DJB you invite a few other bands and a live suspension team, have a DJ there to fill in the breaks between acts, get your tattoo shop ( Sacred Skin) to pay for the food, and throw a huge party for anyone you can get in the door! So before I get too far into the review, let me tell B "Happy Birthday" one last time.
Snooky out of Racine WI was the first band. Most people know that since I'm not a musician myself, I tend to get hooked on the vocalists. There's one thing that will always draw me away, and that is an AMAZING BASSIST. Slap bass makes my day.
Bassist Eric Christian keeps the funk line going with out picking up a single pick. I was reminded of a young Robert Trujillo bass line. It sounded phenomenal live, however I can't wait to sit down and listen to the CD to hear it recorded! They are kinda funk, kinda metal, kinda pop, kinda heavy. They mix a lot of different sounds and influences to make a great sound. Vocals switch between a sweet sounding harmony and a Disturbed sort of strength. The song "Bring Out Your Dead" got stuck in my head for a bit. I liked the combination of aggression and sweetness on "Merrick." And also, how exactly can you go wrong with a song titled "Sucking the Thorny Cock of the Lord of the Hoary Host of the Netherworld"? With vocalist Terry Valdean doing a helluva Hulk Hogan impersonation as well as showing off his exotic dance skills between bouts of amusing sarcasm, Snooky put on a great show. In order to properly describe them for you, I must steal from the words of the great Mike Muir and simply say "Violent and Funky." By the way, did I mention the bassist was amazing?
Continue reading "Concert Review: Bash Your Face In at Heartbreakers"
Sunday, April 8. 2007
Face of Ruin
An Eternal Farewell
No Conviction
Writhen
40ozfist
Nothing like a little neighborhood hardcore show to drive away the cold and the rain. Been kinda quiet on the show front, so when the guys from 40ozfist invited us to come check out the show, we jumped at the chance. Unfortunately, they got moved from the Rave's basement venue to one of the side bar areas. Which also means the good sound of the basement was missing and we were left with a bad mix job with a smidge too much feedback. Such is life at the Rave.
Continue reading "Concert Review: 40ozfist and friends at the Rave"
Friday, April 6. 2007
KISS’ third and shortest-lived guitarist, Mark St. John, passed away on April 5 from a brain hemorrhage. Replacing Vinnie Vincent in the band on their album Animalize, St. John was forced to retire from guitar playing due to Reiter’s Syndrome, which is a form of arthritis that causes swelling in the hands and arms. Bruce Kulick replaced him in KISS. He did improve for a period of time, and was in a band called White Tiger with ex-Black Sabbath singer David Donato. He also teamed up with Peter Criss in the Mark St. John Project, which resulted in a limited release demo. He also released an instrumental CD in 2001.
After leaving the recording end of the music business, he returned to his pre-KISS life of guitar instruction in the Southern California area.
St. John was 51 years old.
Tuesday, March 27. 2007
Ahhh nothing says rock 'n' roll like naked girls!
Yep, you heard me right. Heart Breakers is an older neighborhood gentlemen's club and the manager, DJB, formerly ran the Rock Shop here in Milwaukee. I had all sorts of concerns and questions going into this one, but hey, we gave it a shot and had a damned good time. The venue is on the smaller side, but I have to hand it to DJB and the staff at Heart Breakers: It sounded damned good. And when going to a concert that's really all that matters. It was also very nice to get out of the sub-zero temperatures to a hot club for a night of music. Sets were short (four bands on the bill) with each band playing eight or so songs.
First up for the evening is an older Milwaukee band called Moloko Shivers.
Continue reading "Concert Review: Moloko Shivers, 2-West, 9mm Solution, Driven Milwaukee WI"
Friday, March 9. 2007
Brad Delp, the lead singer for the band Boston, was found dead in his home March 9, 2007 at the age of 55 of unknown causes. Police responded to a call for help and found Delp dead. Delp was alone at the time.
Police Lt. William Baldwin said in a statement the death was "untimely" and that there was no indication of foul play.
Delp joined the band in 1970, and is best known as the vocalist on Boston's 1976 hits "More Than a Feeling" and "Longtime." He also sang on Boston's most recent album, "Corporate America," released in 2002.
In tribute to Delp, the band has taken down their website, and one statement remains on a screen of black. "We've just lost the nicest guy in rock and roll."
Tuesday, February 13. 2007
Sean Farber of Daath at the Old Orchard Inn photo by staff photographer brian rampacek | Daath
See you Next Tuesday
Psyopus
Job for a Cowboy
Old Orchard Inn
Menomonee Falls WI
Never having been at this venue before we arrived early. Very early. And when I got there, I felt like I'd gone back to high school.
Brian and I spent the first hour just watching the kids. It was like a hot topic fashion show. One girl was sporting a "home-made" magic marker tattoo on her arm of an upside down cross, all while wearing a Norma Jean t-shirt. Every time I saw her, I wondered if she realized the confused message she was giving. Also, ballet slippers have apparently made a fashion comeback. As far as I can tell, the only thing ballet slippers are good for at a death metal show is broken and bloody toes. One of the teeny boppers commented on my combat boots as I walked out of the ladies room. I got my revenge later in the evening, as I saw them all complaining about their sore feets. Ladies, I know Doc's are still cool. Get yourself a pair.
Fox of See You Next Tuesday at the Old Orchard Inn photo by staff photographer brian rampacek |
The show, however was amazingly packed. While the venue didn't offer niceties such as a photo pit, it did have decent sound, and that was all that mattered to me.
Each band's set seemed incredibly short. The show started around 8 and by 9:30 we were already through the third set of the evening. A little taste of each flavor, leaving you yearning for more - so you run out and buy the album.
Daath is a band I was really looking forward to, after reading reviews of them from earlier in the year by Jeff and Tom, and checking out their myspace page. They have a very Seattle thrash feel to their music. Heavy as hell chunk with melodies reminiscent of Testament. Their solos had a polished and almost progressive sound to them. The drums were set a little too loud for my tastes at times, drowning out everything else. It was the guitars I wanted to hear. The solos brought back days of old, when thrash had virtuosos like Alex Skolnick and Marty Friedman. Not as complex, but still in the same vein. They did perform "Ovum" which is off the new album and can currently be heard on their myspace page. Daath was just signed to Roadrunner and will be releasing a new album on March 20 called The Hinderers.
Adam Frappolli of Psyopus at the Old Orchard Inn photo by staff photographer brian rampacek |
See You Next Tuesday was up next and it seemed the first night on the road was a bit overwhelming. They had a lot of long breaks between the songs while trying to get things working right. The high vocals came off way too piercing and the low growls were too quiet to hear. I would be interested in hearing a recording and see if I can chalk this up to first night on the tour blues. They do have a new album coming out on Ferret Records in April. The single most entertaining thing was the singer got a kid running the stage through the whole performance. Back and forth. Was pretty darned amusing if you ask me.
To say Psyopus is different is an understatement. The best way I can describe them is free form death metal. At times they are perfectly in sync with each other, and at others, the band as a whole does something that can best be compared to jazz fusion. The guitarist has some excellent technical skills and some insane speed behind those fingers. The 20 minute set was not enough to really get a grasp on the complexity of their sound. In a world where genres are heavily defined and sub categorized, they are bucking the trend and doing something very different. I would like to have heard a bit longer set. Their new album, Our Puzzling Encounters Considered, is coming out on Metal Blade Records on February 20.
Ravi Bhadriraju of Job for a Cowboy at the Old Orchard Inn photo by staff photographer brian rampacek |
Job for a Cowboy was up next. I wasn't really expecting that tight of a performance, since they just hired on drummer John "The Charm" Rice in early January. I was a tad bit wrong. Sounding to me as though they came right off the album, JFAC was tight and ready to go. This is straight up clean death metal baby and it was lovely. I did regret once again how short the set was. Playing older songs from the Doom release such as "Knee Deep" along side new songs from their upcoming spring Metal Blade release, such as "Burying the Serpent's Lamp" and "Embedded," they are ready to move on to the next level. I fully expect to see them on one of the bigger tours this summer. I was definitely impressed with their solid performance. Once again I was sitting there wishing for a longer set.
Tuesday, January 2. 2007
Primus
Drums and Tuba
The Rave Ballroom, Milwaukee WI
November 18, 2006
Les Claypool always seems to find an opening act that is unique. This time it was Drums and Tuba, a trio consisting of Brian Wolf on tuba, Neal McKeeby on guitar, and Tony Nazero on drums and lead vocals. I didn’t know what to expect from them, but after the first minute of hearing them I was pumped. The sound reminded me of the Screaming Trees combined with the guitar of Rage Against the Machine, all mixed in with the deep, meaty sound from the tuba. What a great sound.
This is my second time seeing Primus this year. As always The Rave seems to pack 'em in, the floor was nuts to butts by the time Primus was ready to take the stage. The lights came down and the chant started “ PRIMUS SUCKS.� As with all general admission shows, as soon as the lights come up, the crowd surges forward into the barricade. Less than a minute into “Here Come the Bastards,� the show came to a halt, a young kid was lifted over the barricade, and security enforced). Les stopped the show and had security bring the kid back to him. Les then brought the kid on stage and announced he would be watching the rest of the show from the side of the stage. Les Claypool loves the little people. Even the kids!
Primus is out on tour to support their latest release They All Can’t Be Zingers, a greatest hits CD of their work from Frizzle Fry up to Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People, as well as their new DVD Blame it on the Fish, an Abstract Look at the 2003 Primus Tour de Fromage. The show was amazing. Les Claypool’s style of bass playing is like no other. They started out with “Here Come The Bastards� and “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweakers.� Les brought out his “Whamola,� a stand up electric bass, and went into “Seas Of Cheese.� Then Larry brought out the banjo, and they played “De Anza Jig,� which I don’t think I’ve ever seen done live. The show continued with a great mix of songs like “Frizzle Fry,� “Jerry Was A Racecar Driver,� “Southbound Pachyderm,� and “Mr. Krinkle.�
And yes Primus did suck.
Saturday, December 23. 2006
Children of Bodom
Hometown: Espoo, Finland
Amon Amarth
Hometown: Tumba, Sweden
Gojira
Hometown: Bayonne, France
The Rave (Milwaukee, WI)
Dec. 13, 2006
I'm really starting to feel a little like Riki Rachtman in his days on the Ball in the 90s. Every review I write is a full of adoration and praise for the bands I just saw. Granted, I am not in love with each and every band, but perhaps I'm just blessed with the opportunity to choose who I review.
I was somewhat familiar with two of the three bands on the bill that night, and had a great time bouncing to the music, still missing the pleasure of a pit. I am so totally in love with the Euro-metal in all fashions at this point I can't stand it. I now know metal is back. With such great music starting over there, I expect to see metal take over the world again in the near future.
First up was Gojira (originally named Godzilla, but due to legal issues, they went with the untranslated version of the name) from France. This was the band that was new to me. The Rave basement was packed for the openers, which gave me a clue that all three bands were going to rock.
Continue reading "Concert Review: Children of Bodom, Amon Amarth and Gorija, Milwaukee WI"
Thursday, December 21. 2006
Johan Hegg, the vocalist from Amon Amarth, is surprisingly soft spoken and an all around nice guy. He chatted with club.kingsnake about the road, relaxing, and, of course, Vikings.
Special thanks to Johan, Sigi (their road manager), and, as always, Metal Blade Records for the opportunity to sit down and chat, especially with the chaos of a fresh starting tour.
Club: Your music is a tad different than most death metal out there right now, at least lyrically. Rather than singing about impaling bodies, you focus on telling stories through Norse mythology. Has that helped you guys, or hurt, do you think?
Johan: In the beginning I think it may have hurt us, being different, but now, it seems people really are into us being different. We really just want to tell a good story and have the story show our music. In the beginning it was a little bit of a problem. Our lyrics sometimes get confused with being either religious or political when they are not. We are not a political band or a religious one. We tell stories.
Club: Do you see a big difference between fans here in the US and fans in Europe. To us here it seems that the music scene is sometimes so much better over in Europe.
Johan: There really isn't as much of a difference between fans here and in Europe. Fans seem about the same everywhere. We have very loyal fans and we are very thankful for that.
Club: What can you say is probably the coolest thing about being on the road?
Johan: It is very cool to see the fans. Spend time with them. They are incredibly loyal, and that is great, and it is really nice to get to spend even just a little time with them. We can't do it as much as we would like, but that is probably the coolest thing. Looking and seeing them now wearing shirts from our first US tour here and the same over in Europe. Seeing people who have been with us from the start. That means a lot to us.
Club: How was Wacken?
Johan: It was GREAT. We played there this year. 2 am, 30,000 fans and a live Viking stage fight. It was amazing.
Club: I've wanted to go to Wacken since I was young. That had to be amazing. Have you noticed a major shift in the age of the fans? Here in the US for us, we tend to feel like fogeys at the shows, and we are in our early 30s. Have you noticed anything like that?
Johan: We noticed on our tour we just finished in Europe, that we saw a large range of ages. The kids in their teens but we are also seeing a lot of people in their 40s. It's kind of neat to see that.
Club: Have you noticed, at least here in the US, that there is a bit of a difference in sales with satellite radio hitting the market with a force? I have to admit, I first heard you guys on Hard Attack and I am finding more bands than I even remember to check out through what I hear on there.
Johan: We have noticed in the last few years that US sales have really gone up. I'm not sure if it is our being out there more on the road or the radio, but the last three years our sales have really jumped. That's a good thing because it means more people are hearing our music and liking it.
Club: How do you guys handle being together on the road? These are real close quarters and I would think you all would want to kill each other by the end of a tour.
Johan: You have to check egos at the door. There is no room for that here. We have been together for many years, and become such close friends that we do fine. We know how to work together. The biggest thing is you can not be an egomaniac. And you would be surprised how soundproof the bunks are. I always take a week or two off when I get home to just relax. You need that.
Club: What do you do on the road to keep yourselves entertained? What do you do for fun?
Johan: We can get on the internet from almost anywhere. Computer games, resting.
Club: No wild parties then?
Johan: Oh we still party, but we realized that people are paying good prices to come see us. We don't want to waste their money by being drunk when they come. We have been there and done that.
Club: What do you do off the road to relax?
Johan: I actually have a normal job and that is really nice. The first tour I just went home and sat around. But I need to have a purpose, I need to do something. I find it actually relaxing to have the job.
Club: I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to sit down with us. See you tonight at the show.
Sunday, December 3. 2006
Recently I sat down with Zakk (vocals and bass) and Jason (guitar) of New Society of Anarchists at their studio to chat about Turkey Vulture Records, NSOA, and good old fashioned thrash. I also got a sneak peak of their new album, For the Forgotten, coming out this winter. They don’t own any reptiles; birds and a pit mix are the most exotic animals the members of NSOA own. Jason used to have geckos and turtles. I spose the pit mix is kinda hard-core. At least until you meet them. Which is kind of how these guys are. They are the warm and fuzzy cuddle muffins of the hardcore community here in Brew City.
Continue reading "Interview: New Society of Anarchists"
Wednesday, November 29. 2006
Cannibal Corpse
The Rave Basement
Milwaukee WI
11/18/2006
Plus: Dying Fetus
Necrophagist
Unmerciful
We headed to the venue early to make sure that our spot was available (in fact it was hardly used). Good thing we went early. After our photo passes and tickets finally got straightened out (thanks, Paul from the Cannibal Camp for taking care of the issue and still keeping a smile on your face), I headed down into the basement. It's a smaller venue and used to be a bowling alley back in the day. Dank, dingy, dark and smells of stale beer and mildew. Where better to have a night of death metal?
The night's first act was Unmerciful. Classic death metal with a little too cookie monster vocals, but the boy had the guttural scream down pat. Oddly enough, the drummer really stood out for me. He was very powerful but didn't over power the music. The guitars reminded me at times of Pantera. They had a very bouncy feel to the music. I really liked the song "Mass Execution"
The second band, Necrophagist from Germany, had the whole place going nuts. No one knew who they were at the time, but their name started flowing like a rushing river. This was the most unusual and wonderful thing I'd heard in a long time. Critics of death metal often say it's for people who want to be in a band but cant do anything more than play fast. Well, critics, I suggest if you truly believe that, you take a moment to listen to these guys. I've never seen a death metal bad selling guitar tab books, and I wouldn't be surprised if they sold out. The chunky, growling vocals of death metal mixed with the extreme talent of progressive metal floored a room full of death metal freaks, me included. Amazing guitar solos, nothing like you usually hear. I honestly can't think of enough to say about these guys. My notes pretty much included a single word: Amazing. Listening back on myspace, I still say the same thing. This band spans genres and can bring a great crossover fan base for death metal fans as well as more mainstream acts. Oh yeah, and what better band to be reviewed here - they recorded at Iguana Studios.
Dying Fetus came up next, and they are pure classic death metal. I know I've seen them before, I just can't remember when. For those looking for true-to-form classic death metal with speed and aggression as well as the evil growl, this is a good place to start. An old favorite for the crowd, Dying Fetus ground through a 40-minute set, and it seemed like two seconds. Fast and furious. It was almost as if they didn't realize how much they got in. Listening to Dying Fetus is almost like a Zen experience. For some reason while they rile up most everyone, they relax me. Maybe their music saps me of all my anger and aggression
For those who have read my previous comments on Cannibal, you know I'm a fan. I'm an old skool fan. I have seen Cannibal at least ten times, and this was my second time with the boys this year. This was the single best show of any I've seen. I know the sound is better in the basement, but this was more than that. The whole show was tight. They sounded amazing. This is the best formation of the band ever, period. I cant believe I'm forsaking Mr. Barnes, however, there is no way those previous shows had the energy or feel that this one did. The song line-up was damned near a best of hits for them. Short of "Meat Hook Sodomy," I couldn't have asked for a better song line up.
Continue reading "Concert Review: Cannibal Corpse Milwaukee WI"
Thursday, November 9. 2006
I fell in love with Sharon Osbourne when she was fat and relatively unknown. I fell in love with her when, in defending her husband on the Howard Stern Show, she threatened to beat the living shit (I assume that was the word due to the bleep injected) out of BOTH members of the Insane Clown Posse.
Here is this old, short, fat woman who is so in love with her husband that she is shooting fire from her soul because they DARED defame him. I knew little about her other than she had been with Ozzy forever and a day and well - she had balls.
Years later, much of the world fell in love with Sharon and the rest of the Osbourne clan. It was hard hearing people who couldn't name a song that he wrote, let alone like him musically as I did, say how cool he was. Ozzy was taboo. Now the world loved him. They fell in love with his family and their antics. Sharon was crowned one of the most beautiful people in America by People Magazine, foul mouthed, obscene, full of laughter and love for her family. When we covered Ozz Fest this summer, I wished for the chance to meet Sharon and tell her, "Hey broad, I wish I had balls as big as yours!" Sharon would get the broad. She would understand it was a compliment. But alas, it didn't happen.
When I heard she'd written a book, lets just say I RAN to the store and picked it up. Couldn't wait for shipping.
What I learned is Sharon, in fact, is a hard as nails broad who loves her family more than life itself. I still can't for the life of me understand why she forgave her father. I wouldn't have. I can't believe she forgave Ozzy. I know I wouldn't have. But she also gave him back as good as he did. One of the things I learned from her book is that my mantra in life is good. "Fuck em if they can't take a joke." Sharon has lived her life on those terms.
I knew the book was supposed to be Sharon's story and nothing more. I thought, however, I would hear more Ozzy. Yeah, there is a lot Ozzy, but this is truly her story. Her start as a child in a very unconventional household, where love was bought and then taken away. Verbal abuse and an emotional wasteland. Her start in the music industry as a woman in a time where women were not in charge of things. The way her father used both Sharon and her brother and, well, everyone who came near him to advance himself, rather than give a hoot about family. She took her lumps and moved on, not lingering on the past other than to learn from the mistakes. Yes, she had a hard life, but damned if I could find a single note of regret. I found another thing in common with her. Yeah you are going to make mistakes, shit is going to happen, but don't regret it. Move on. Start again.
This was the first book in a long time that actually had me laughing out loud. It covers her birth in England to present day, with flashes to her preparations for Ozzy's first anniversary of sobriety in present time. She takes you through the sordid history with her father, his ties with the mob, betrayal by her family, her struggles with her weight, her relationship with Ozzy and their children, and through her cancer. And she is very honest. This isn't a warm and fuzzy life, but it is hers, out there for all to see.
Being a fan of Ozzy made me feel close to the story. A lot of what she was talking about, I knew or knew of. I remembered the bat, the dove, Randy's death, her almost murder, the million trips to rehab. I remember it all. But I remembered it from Ozzy's side. I remembered what the press released. I also didn't realize how involved she was with band management. Some of the names both she and her father worked with were impressive to say the least.
I was enthralled with the entire story, to the point where sleep has been minimal. Staying up until I couldn't see the words, getting up early just to finish. It took me a day and a half. My only regret is the book was too short.
I can't say enough good about this book. If you want to spend a few days alone with a woman who is full of love and laughter, and has a great big pair of grapefruits, get this book. You won't regret it.
Wednesday, October 18. 2006
Ex-Morbid Angel/Hate Eternal vocalist/bassist Jared Anderson died on October 14 of undisclosed causes at the age of 30.
He was currently working on a new project called As One that revisited his work on the Internecine album. It was to be a more matured sound. Jared worked with Morbid Angel from 2001-2002. He was an original member of Hate Eternal, providing the vocals and bass for their first two albums, Conquering the Throne and King of All Kings. Jared left the band due to a drug problem.
From Blabbermouth:
Visitation will take place Thursday, October 19 at the E. C. Nurre Funeral Home, St. Rt. 125 Amelia, Ohio from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. followed by Funeral Services Thursday, 11 a.m. at the Funeral Home. Interment Pierce Township Cemetery.
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