Pure Molten Metal

Well, here we are, about to jump into another summer season of hopefully great tours. This is the time for bands to really shine, to prove that everyone should be out there and buying their albums. Putting on great performances leads to more album sales, more merch sales, bigger tours and more chances to play in front of adoring crowds. I recently went to see Dying Fetus, Arsis, Misery Index, Annotations of an Autopsy, Conducting From the Grave, and No Living Witness and it was incredible. Opening up the night was local band No Living Witness who had great stage presence and a very good sound, just unfortunate that there was barely a crowd to witness otherwise they would have gotten a bigger response. The next 2 bands, AOAA and CFTG, were not my style preferring to play the much maligned deathcore brand. While having a lot of energy, I just could not get too into them. Up next was the incredible Misery Index, a band birthed from former members of Dying Fetus, and they completely slayed the crowd. Following them were the powerful Arsis playing their brand of thrashy melo-death that melted the collective crowds' faces. And finaly Dying Fetus came to the stage playing such classics as Pissing in the Mainstream and Skull Fucked. The pit was churning, the crowd was loud, the band was intense, and the overall show was amazing. They continue to be one of my favorite bands.

What I am getting at with this short concert review is that to get the true metal experience one must see the spectacle of the live perfromance. You get to witness the power of the vocals, the thunderous beat of the drums, and the wizardry of the guitars and bass that make up your favorite albums. In addition to this, you get to discover new bands. There have been several shows where one of the opening bands completely steal the show from the headliner and I walk away with their shirt on my back. It allows local bands to perform along with the bands that they look up to and allow them a chance to be discovered as well. There is the camaraderie between you and your friends that all go to the show, between the countless people that you can meet at the show, and even the bands themselves because many of them spend time at the merch booth and even at the bar just hanging out. Going to shows is integral for every metalhead and the summer-time is a perfect chance for everyone to go to shows. This summer bands such as Saint Vitus, Soilwork, Death Angel, Orphaned Land, Immloation, Nile, and countless others are making the rounds and I will be at as many shows as I possibly can.

See you in the pit!!!

Ronnie James Dio - July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010

As we all have undoubtedly heard by now, one of the pillars of the metal community has past on. Ronnie James Dio, the man with the incredible voice who had the undeniably difficult task of taking over the vocal responsibilities for Black Sabbath after Ozzy left the band, has succumbed to stomach cancer after being diagnosed less than one year ago. This is one of those monumental times where you will never forget where you were when you heard the news of his passing. In my opinion, this ranks up there with the deaths of Hendrix, Morrison, and Cobaine. With a career that spanned four decades, his presence has been felt by several diffierent generations. His work with Elf and Rainbow were the kickoffs for his illustrious career but it was when he got the call in 1980 to join the heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath that he really became a household name. The albums Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules were classic albums that helped regenerate Sabbath as a power in the music world. He then continued his success with his solo career and put out one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time with Holy Diver. It was and continues to be a pinnacle in metal, one that every metal musician aspires to achieve.

Even as he went on in years, his voice never faltered, his enthusiasm for performing never waned, and his dedication to his fans continued to grow. He was the consmate front man and, from everything I have ever read about him, he was a genuinely kind human being. This is a great loss for metal and we will never see a man like Dio ever again.

Rest in peace Dio, you are gone but never will be forgotten.

Week 2 Playlist

Here it is, the new playlist format. Come check out some great death, folk, and black metal. Enjoy and keep up the horns!!!

Urgrund – Saga of Redemption

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQitgGSirO8

Ignivomous – Noneuclidean Maelstrom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pucsXy3qgS4

Melechesh – Ladders to Sumeria

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSgIclwhNgo&feature=related

Eluveitie – Thousandfold

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb8WGig0MLU

Coldworker – Reversing the Order

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xZqcloVRr8

Krisiun – Combustion Inferno

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRBy2_Un_zY

Resurrection – Pure Be Damned

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNGx_vXow8k

Dying Fetus – Pissing in the Mainstream

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Suhc5FfF8YQ

Nile – Papyrus Containing the Spell to Preserve Its Possessor Against Attacks From He Who is In the Water

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq_KJnb7djY

Zimmers Hole – When You Were Shouting At the Devil….We Were In League With Satan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpAA-NBUqYk

Correction

So my idea for having a playlist did not pan out because I cannot find a way to put a media player on the blog, so stay tuned for some new ideas to show you all some great metal. Keep those horns up!!!!