Metal Reviews

That is really bizarre, man, for someone who is as into music as you are. You're basically missing half of the music scene. But regardless, at least now you're going to see Rush

yeah, that's weird as fuck. Live music completely reshapes the way you listen to music, the live experience is where it's at. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a band then gone back and listened to an album from that band and fallen in love with that band like I did recently with Dimmu Borgir. Before I liked some Dimmu but now I love all their shit and am stuck on them.

I saw Xilentium and Baphometic Fire 2 nights ago, local black metal.

Live music is kinda overrated imo (especially rock/metal/punk shows that are too loud and go way past my bedtime. I FEEL SUPER COOL SAYING THAT. I like live shows but I haven't been to one in a year or so and it doesn't bother me much) but still weird to never have been to a show.

Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak Rush were brilliant.

I can say the same about Amon Amarth last night!

Guitar Wolf were great. Super high energy. GW's English was not so hot, and I couldn't understand a word he was saying other than "rock and roll!" They had something like four encores. Guitar Wolf (individual) climbed on top of a pyramid of fans on stage, but could only get out one line before they collapsed. There was a lot of mosh, but a few too many skinheads more than my liking (which is zero). Drum Wolf was the coolest man in the room.

Hate that so much. Saw Dresden in Defense and Silo last night.

saw Barn Burner, 3 Inches of Blood and Cancer Bats on Thursday night. Barn Burner was pretty good, but 3IOB stole the damn show. Cancer Bats still suck.

Saw a local band called TOAD last night which is really cool.

I saw Dillinger Escape Plan Friday night. I had to drive three hours to Louisville but it was worth it. Pucciato is a beast. Just climbing up the speaker towers and jumping the security gap to crowd surf. Like I knew coming in they were going to be intense but it was so awesome to actually see it. Mind you that having become famous there seems to be someone always there to keep the speaker towers from toppling over entirely as Weinman hops up on it simply to jump ten feet down. They only played like 7-8 songs but I screamed so much that my vocal chords got crazy fucked. Highly recommend. I had actually planned to see them exactly a year ago but got into an argument with the old lady at the time and ended up simply staying home with her. Finally mended that mistake.

setlist which was amazing:
MONA LISA SMILE
MILK LIZARD
PANASONIC YOUTH
CHINESE WHISPERS
ROOM FULL OF EYES
Gold Teeth On A Bum
BLACK BUBBLEGUM
SUNSHINE THE WEREWOLF
43% Burnt

Kylesa and Hour of 13 on Tuesday. Fuck. I just realized had plans to go to a Reds game with friends. I may skip Kylesa if I can't postpone the game plans. I've seen Kylesa twice already in the last year. And yeah they'll be awesome finally headlining a show but no major deal.

I was like that for a couple years when I got out of metal.

I've been like it pretty much always.

That sucks. I've had some really great times at concerts. It sucks when your feet are tired as hell and your still waiting to see your favorite band though because they're playing last.

Been there, especially when your stoned off your ass!

I've gotten in the habit of wearing earplugs to concerts. Shit gets too loud. Damages the hearing. I'd rather keep it for as long as I can.

All my friends who play in bands use ear plugs. I don't do it consistently enough to worry.

Saw Kylesa, Hour of 13, and Beneath Oblivion last night. Beneath Oblivion is a local cincy band that plays doom metal and they are seriously writing some of their best material so far of their career. They've been around for six years or so and always kinda stuck to static funeral doom but are now picking it up a little at times being dynamic with some Candlemass moments in terms of great riffs and drumming. Hour of 13 was kinda blah Dio and Diamondhead worship. NWOBHM just doesn't really do it for me beyond the quintessential acts. Kylesa, though, was fucking incredible. It was the third time I had seen them in I guess eight months but always as a support act. With them headlining, they pulled out all the stops. Giant spirals projected all around the venue, playing most of the great songs off of Static Tensions and Sprial Shadow (I'm confused why they don't go farther back than that), Cope was playing like a thermidor (the noise/music box thing), they cut the epic psychedlic drum track which kinda made me sad. I was also kinda far from Laura which is also a real bummer. Cope is great but Pleasants is easier on the eyes. Great show, though. I'm excited to see if they get more support from Earache. They're playing at Bonnaroo in a week and I wonder how they'lll frame their sound to that audience. And the drumming as always is stellar. I love the two kit sound.

Wish I lived in Leeds. Lucky rio, Ulver, Godflesh, Decapitated, Shining...!

Exodus and Death Angel added to Heavy TO line-up.

Bands worth seeing:

Megadeth
Slayer
Exodus
Motorhead
Anthrax
Diamond Head
Death Angel
Testament
The Sword

may see:

Rob Zombie
Volbeat
Children of Bodom
Opeth
Mastodon


avoid at all costs:

Billy Talent
Underoath
As I Lay Crying
Baptized in Blood


don't know:

Melissa Auf Der Maur
DevilDriver
Times of Grace

not a terrible line-up. Heavy MTL got Exodus and Annihilator. I'd much rather have Anni over Death Angel, but whatever.

not cool man