Terrible fotos of Carcass, The Grand Ballroom 3/26/2009

Terrible fotos of Destruction, Slim's 3/23/2009

2008 Neckbreakers

Vader - XXV
Darkthrone - Dark Thrones and Black Flags
Motorhead - Motorizer
Testament - The Formation of Damnation
Opeth - Watershed
Keep Of Kalessin - Kolossus
Unleashed - Hammer Battalion
Grand Magus - Iron Will
Disfear - Live the Storm
Enslaved - Vertebrae
Hollenthon - Opus Magnum
Destruction - Devolution

jury still out: Gojira, Ihsahn
not worth mentioning: Nostradamus

Midnight! Six Sixty-Six

Cronos interview

















Venom - April 5, 1985 - Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, Illinois
pretty damn rough quality. DIE HARDS only. (note: open the exe dl in winrar )

Blind Illusion - Phoenix Theatre, Petaluma, 10/3/08

Carcass at The Grand Ballroom, SF

CARCASS-THE GRAND BALLROOM, SAN FRANCISCO, CA. 9-19-08



killer show. this vid is almost devoid of vox but they were 50% of the mix out front. GB is a nice place, sound was decent despite reports to the contrary but it was a total sweat box. they were mopping the floors towards the end of their set. Guess the old rug cutters didn't work up quite as much steam as the pit does.

Pucker Flame

ha. too much. the new YM cover.

Tidalwave 2008

McLaren Park Sat 7/5/2008
A couple of my better pics from the day.

Holt and Hunting
















Hirax and the DePena spellcaster move.




killer afternoon show in the park. way more packed this year thanks to Exodus (thankfully Gary brought the whole band this year). but damnit bring back ZETRO. a true mad dog thrasher (as evidenced at the Testament show and also with Laaz Rockit). this nu dood's only good lines are lifted from Baloff in the Another Lesson... recording. I swear if he does one more "I'm from NYC but this is my second home now" BS i think i'll puke. The braveheart scene worked really well in the pit though i have to say and I will give the guy 1 pt for taking Altus' gtr from him and knocking out some halfassed but almost good solo, but his one dimensional voice has not improved. not looking fwd to hearing him on the BBB rerecording. don't even ask about the chick playing electric fiddle to A Lesson in Violence (amazing jaw dropping lead! but gawd awful cacophony in the rhythm secions. egad.)

Angelcorpse - B.O.T.H.

Bottom of the Hill - 6/15

all the hits: Wolflust, Into the Storm of Steel, Sons of Vengeance
amazing show. Pete, Gene and JR ripped. new 2nd gtr player on rhythm.

Bay Area Thrash Metal Month 2008

SF Bay Area Thrash Metal Month - Feb24-Mar 2008

Just by some total fluke Feb24-Mar 30 2008 in SF was Bay Area Thrash Metal Month. Check out this lineup.

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Exodus - Slim's - Feb 24/08

Of course you HAVE to start off Bay Area thrash month with the greatest thrash band of ALL TIME!!! It was my first time seeing Tom back on the kit since his return. He still totally rips!!! Of course! He hasn't lost a damn thing. The Hunting beat returns!!! Gary's line was "you can call him Tom or "The Best Drummer in Thrash Metal!!!". Well "THE thrash beat" is pretty much all his. Some of Baloff's cremains were on stage for the encore. Seriously! Gary is donating them to become part of a metal bar in Brazil. That'll be nice vacation for Paul. I'm still take it or leave it with the new guy but he is starting to settle in. He sure knows the bay area are his toughest critics and the "i'm from NY but this is my second home now" did nothing to win anyone over. Some old school locals beyhind me weren't haven't any of it though. The perfectly timed "you fucking suck!!!!" gang shouts in the audience participation parts of Blacklist were absolutely hilarious.

/ Iconoclasm / Funeral Hymn / And Then There None / Children of a Worthless God / Pirahna / Deathamphetamine / Blacklist / Gary's long welcome back intro / A Lesson in Violence / Strike of the Beast / Shovel Headed Kill Machine /
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War Is My Shepherd / Bonded By Blood /

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Fucking around: You're In Love(Ratt), Motorbreath, Phantom of the Opera, Burn, Walk / Toxic Waltz

'Don't tell me Winnepeg Canada are tougher than you!" - Gary Holt

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Forbidden - Slim's - Feb 29/08

I was really stoked for this one. THROUGH EYES OF GLASS!!!!! The recently reunited thrashers did some small town warm up gigs during the week but the two Slim's shows opening for Death Angel were the real deal reunion shows. The original "Forbidden Evil" album lineup minus Bostaph plus Gene Hoglan. Russ' range is a little narrower but hey, he's a guy would could stand to lose a little of the high end right? (just a little). It's good to see Gene back to playing some real metal for a change. He stayed mostly true to the original Bostaph parts with just a touch of Hoglan thrown in. Alvelais ripped but his gtr coulda used a little more on the fader.

/ March Into Fire / Out of Body, Out of Mind / Feel No Pain / Twisted Into Form / Off the Edge / Through Eyes of Glass / Hypnotized By The Rhythm / One Foot in Hell / Phat / Step by Step / Infinite / Chalice of Blood /

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Death Angel - Slim's - Feb 29/08

This was the original CD release show until the announced a 2nd show on the Thursday night after this one sold out. A full set of Forbidden's full-on metal stylings made this set just a little too rock. I think they ripped harder at the Slim's show that they opened for Destruction. I guess that had to prove their metal more that night or something. Tons from the new album here of course.

/ Lord of Hate / Evil Priest / The One Who Waits / Dethroned / Carnival Justice / Voracious Souls / Soulless / Worlds Collide / Kill As One / Seemingly Endless Time / God vs God / Devil Incarnate / Thrashers / Steal The Crown / 3rd Floor / Bored / Thicker Than Blood / Sonic Beatdown /
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Resurrection / Machine / UltraV intro / Thrown to the Wolves

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Sadus - The Independant - Mar 30/08

If you're a fan of the last album (like me) then this was your show. Check out that setlist. They followed up Viscious Rumours and Laaz Rockit (who were lame until "Mad Dog" Zetro got on stage to sing his fav tune and showed their Seinfeld-esque singer how to fucken attack a stage) so something darker was certainly welcome. They ripped it! Steve even had the minimoog out for NoMore. I need was more gtr where i was (in front of Darren) but everytime he stepped away from mic there was some excellent bleed through. This was my first time seeing them. They need to play more bay area gigs.

/ Out for Blood / Can't Bring Me Down / No More / Sick / Freedom / Sadus Attack / Lost It All / In Your Face / Eyes of Greed / Certain death (FAST!) /

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Testament - The Independant - Mar 30/08

SKOLNICK! SKOLNICK! SKOLNICK!
Same venue as last time but with Bostaph behind the kit. Things were a little looser this time than with the super sonic insaniac Barker at the helm. The band is still at the top of their form though which is so great to see. They're certainly more than ready for the Priest/Sabbath/Motorhead tour which was announced shortly after this show. Zetro made an appearance on stage this time (following some coaxing from Chuck). His total mad dog approach was in full effect this night. Get this guy back where he belongs. Please.

/ Over the Wall / Into the Pit / Apocalyptic City / Practice What You Preach / The New Order / Low / Trail of Tears / Henchmen Ride (new) / The Evil Has Landed (new) / Souls of Black / The Preacher /
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DN fucken R / Three Days in Darkness / Alone in the Dark (w/ Zetro) / Disciples of the Watch /

Darkane Guitar Tracking

Yes! Inside the guitar sessions for the new Darkane album.
ENGL eh? sounds sweet as usual.
2008 is shaping into a nice year for metal.

The Return of Hollenthon!!!

With Vilest of Worms to Dwell was one of the best releases of 2001. A seven year break is absurd, but I'm not complaining. Welcome back!

This is an interesting tune. of course! It's just diff enough from the first two albums but still obviously Hollenthon. I was already damn stoked to hear album and certain they wouldn't disappoint. The production is sounding pretty damn fine too.

Son of Perdition

Whiplash Neckbreakers 07

Anvil - This is Thirteen

This suckers still in the mail but damn just hearing that title track reserves first place for the Canuck Metal Prime Ministers

highs: T.I.T., Ready To Fight, Bombs Away

Exodus - The Atrocity Exhibition

Why so heavy? Crushing! Just crushing! The definitive thrash team of Holt/Hunting back in action! The vocalist bores the shit outta me (see "As It Was..") but that doesn't even matter...These riffs are thrash metal defined.

highs: Children of a Worthless God (lose my shit at 0:51-1:18 every fucken time, heaviest recorded thing this year), Riot Act, Funeral Hymn, Bedlam 123

WASP - Dominator

Still rips my head off 10 months later. "There ain't no way out tonight!"


highs: Mercy, The Burning Man, Heaven's Blessed

Darkthrone - F.O.A.D.

"Fucken listen to Venom's Acid Queen!"

highs: These Shores Are Damned, FOAD (Algy Ward to a tee in those first two lines), Raised on Rock!

Arch Enemy - Rise of the Tyrant

sure most of these harmonies sound like they were lifted from a day time soap opera, but they work fine when folded into all these vicious riffs. possibly their best ever but certainly good enough to make me forget the last two.

highs: Blood on Your Hands, The Great Darkness (an homeage to"Entombed's Chief Rebel Angel" or what?), Vultures

Devin Townsend - Ziltoid The Omniscient

something is seriously wrong with this record. humour in metal is toxic for me, but damnit this album just works. i've never been a fan of this guy's work either which was an even bigger surprise. hawkwind + floyd + starwars + muppets w/ metal gtrs and drums = an enthralling hour long space battle that all takes place in a coffee shop.

highs: the whole journey. it's hard to listen to this in installments

Prong - Power of the Damager

what a surprise, but this really made me remember why their BTD and PYW albums were so great and it might actually be better than both. Coulda really done with a better drum production though.

highs: Messages Inside of Me, The Banishment, 3rd Option, Looking for Them, POTD

Entombed - Serpent Saints

LG!!!!

highs: Serpent Saints, Masters of Death, Ministry, Warfare Plague Famine and Death

Dark Tranquility - Fiction

crushing riffs, endless harmonies and totally infectious tunes. DT never dissappoint and overall this could be their best yet (minus the experimental album closer ).

highs: Blind at Heart (thrash!), Nothing to No One, Empty Me

Naglfar - Harvest

A very nice replacement for the D666 vacancy this year. not familiar with their older stuff but this one is bloody ripping!

highs: The Mirrors of My Soul, Way of the Rope, Breathe Through Me

The Hidden Hand - The Resurrection of Whiskey Foote

The godfather of the sludge guitar returns. It's quite a trip. Who let the other guy sing? That's blasphemy!

highs: Dark Horizons, Majestic Presence, Purple Neon Dream, Spritually Bereft (all the Wino tunes)

Mors Principium Est - Liberation = Termination

masters of super speed riffing. well it sure aint making the list for the club beat breakdowns/intro and "tinkle tinkle" kybd bits. WTF dudes!? alright back to the fireball riffage and ultra noodlely shredding. \m/ GO! \m/

Highs: Terminal Liberation, Sinners Defeat, It is Done (scale riff insanity), Finality

Megadeth - United Abominations

as close a return to form as you could possibly hope for. a little too overtly political at times, small price to pay for some pure Mustaine venomous gold though. the gtrs just rip on most tunes.

highs: Sleepwalker, You're Dead, Washington

Dimension Zero - He Who Shall Not Bleed

as you'd expect this is riff central! I coulda sworn this was a new singer. pretty lack lustre in the vocal dept. a little blacker than before but they're more insignificant overall. whatever, THRASH!

highs: Unto Others, Paler Shade of White, Hell is Within, Deny

-----------------------------------------------
???:

Scarve - The Undercurrent

damn. loved the last one but i just aint getting this one.

Mediocre at Best:

One Man Army (and i aint even gonna say the rest) - Error in Evolution
some of the worst lyrics recorded this year. too bad cause the riffs are decent.
Dimmu - In Sorte Diaboli:
less orchestral for sure which is a needed change but still too same ol', same ol' otherwise.
Impious - Holy Murder Masquerade
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. oh cool riff!!!! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.oh.yeah!\m/...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Utter Disappointments:
Akercocke - Antichrist:
You can't record the follow up to WTGU DTGU in a cardboard box. There could be some good stuff in here but it's just so damn hard to listen to this thing.

Nightrage - A New Disease is Born:

those bubble gum vox are inexcuseable. No wonder Lindberg left.

Simply Embarassing:

DimZero - Staying Alive
piss off!!!

Most overlooked of 2006 :
Dissection - Reinkaos

this thing is a masterpiece. woulda topped my list last year if i'd only known.

The "let's have an album already" awards '07:
Morbid Angel - let's have a full on FLA transam death metal album w/David Vincent. like now!

Destroyer 666 - gawdammit. get in the freakin studio. looks like it might finally happen in '08.
Hollenthon - thankfully they're back from the brink this year. another shoe-in for '08

Get Your Straightjackets On Tonight!!!!

RIP - Kevin Dubrow

damn. this was some real crappy news last week.

I caught two shows with the re-united MH lineup (Elmo and Reverb) and an earlier one with KD and Carlos.KD was always stellar. A true RnR frontman in every sense. At the Reverb show he had to match the volume of Carlos' gtr which was insanely screaming that night. i can't imagine this guy ever putting on a bad show cause he surely was in it for the love of music. it's hard to miss that razor sharp voice (Blackie's only competition).


i missed the best foto-op ever at the corner of queen + bathurst when the entire MH lineup came walking down the street and stood on the corner directly in front of me just in front of the pizza pizza. wow! Kirb can back me up on this one. he witnessed it while crossing the street and we shared the HOLY SHIT THAT's QUIET RIOT!!! moment.

i must've played Breathless and MH 10 times in the last few days. if there was a QR show tomorrow i'd be goin. damn. later dood. we'll miss ya.

Attack from the Sepulchre!!!

Malhavoc - Age of the Dark Renaissance (1987)

H.P.Lovecraft, Bathory and Celtic Frost were the prime inspirations for Malhavoc in '87. Spine chilling riffs with the creepiest vocal style ever created. The intro is just killer and that first riff is never to far back in my sub conscience (kind of a variation on Instellar Overdrive). The gtr tone has always reminded me a little of Kill 'em All though the music is light years away. There are so many killer riffs on this but my fav riff has always been the one in Fey at 1:42. Also known as "The Riff That Never Dies!" Throw out yer meter cause the drums are real slop in places, but it only adds to the frankenstein effect in the end. I cut alot of gtr teeth on this demo and still consider these tunes to rank with the best of that era.

Unfortunately, Malhavoc abandoned their classic style a couple of years later after an failed attempt to release an album, Shrine, on Toronto's ever inept Fringe Records. Thankfully some of these recordings were tagged on as bonus tracks to later Malhavoc releases, but here are the demos in all their raw tape-hissing glory. Unfortunately I'm missing Dunwich Horror (a very key track) due to a tape malfunction.(yeah, they used to do that sometimes). Though I might be able to resurrect it with a little re-agent in the lab.

check it out: Malhavoc-AOTDR-1987

WASP - Dominator

Gawdammit! This thing opens with some killer chuggin four on the floor fist banging mania that builds up some serious intensity by the end of the first verse. (blood curdling vocal tone on) "You got no prayer, nowhere! There ain't no way out tonight!" (blood curdling vocal tone off). We get a slight musical reprieve before Blackie kicks in the first chorus of the album. A chorus that makes me wanna rise up like Apache Chief and sweep aside everything in my way. EnukChuk!

After seeing WASP at WOA2001 and some pre-festival research on what Mr. Lawless had been up to since his 80s heyday, I was pretty well hooked. That voice! Holy shit! Crushing! His go for the throat vocal style is in full effect through this whole album. The context of the lyrics is American imperialism but it's far from blatant and you're certainly not beaten over the head with it if you don't give a shit. Though you might be seriously confused into thinking this album was about domestic abuse. ha! yeah it's a pretty damn good metaphor. Blackie's certainly no slouch in the venomous lyric category and there's a buncha instant classics on this sucker. "Feed your children to the hellbent war machine!".

Of course there's a good mix of tunes on this thing too. A couple ballads of sorts, some crushing chuggers and a full on rock'n'roll closer. I've played this shit outta this thing, more so than any record in recent memory. It's a pretty good testament to an album's staying power when you wake up daily with these tunes stuck in yer brain. My only complaint is i can't play this damn thing LOUD ENOUGH!!! I guess I just need a live fix, complete with the Giger Harley Pogo Mic Stand.

highs: Mercy (ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!), Long Way To Go, The Burning Man, Heaven's Blessed

Mercy live (sans GHP Mic Stand)

wasp-mysp

Tapping in to Hell's Computer!

WOAH! infuckencredible! BLIND ILLUSION RISE AGAIN! far beyond stoked!

.::THE TIDAL WAVE
Saturday July 7th / Sunday July 8th, 2007

MC LAREN PARK, AMPHITHEATER

SF FREE!!! 12PM - 6PM

http://www.thetidalwave.org

hear the greatness.

http://myspace.com/blindl

alongside Dimension Hatross my fav album of '88. brilliant!

now if i could just get my hands on The Medecine Show demos.

Mordred - Bottom of the Hill, SF, 4/12/07

A Mordred reunion with a set featuring both lineups (yeah the funk infused one too). The classic lineup were up first of course, and the chainmail and swords on the singer helped emphasize the fact that the original Mordred incarnation was ALL METAL. Guitarist Danny White was nailing everything but whoops, gtrst#2 was a little negligent a fewtimes on the gtr harmonies. Old school early 80s riffs galore from a Gibson V. Awesome.

The funk lineup only played 3 tunes (this was part of a larger bill of locals). Singer#2 (Scott) really sounds alot like John Bush now. Maybe he did in 1990 too but I've forgotten or maybe it was buried in the "whacca whacca" gtr lines. They played Johnny The Fox for all the TL fans. Someday I too will be into Phil Lynott. I just know it.

btw that's the actual setlist. i'm not THAT big a fan but it was laying there for the taking. I really have to dig out the first record. There were alot of bells ringing while watching the set but it's been a very long time since i've heard these tunes. This was a good way to boycott the band formerly known as The Haunted at Slim's this same night, but damn I would've liked to have sees DarkT again.

Tap Into a Reunion Movie Clip

nice to see Nigel's doin well.
http://liveearth.msn.com/?wa=wsignin1.0

Megadeth/Sabbath - 4/24/07 - Shark Tank, SJ

MegaDave is running one damn fine tuned outfit these days. This show just smoked and was hands down the best Megadeth show I have ever seen. Mustaine stepped right outta 1983 for this gig. No puffy button down shirts tonight just lotsa headbanging and some seriously ripping guitars. The vocals were in fine form too which was a nice surprise. The tank was nicely populated (well the floor and first level anways) and most ppl right into the R.I.P and Peace Sells. It woulda been nice to hear Sleepwalker from the new record (that tune rules) it's more lively then WashingtonIsNext. Now while guitar tossings and fit throwings (see Gigantour'06 in Toronto) are nice to remind us that the pissed off Dave is still their under the reborn one, it was just great to hear the band total rip. Well except that White Lion bass player guy. I kept expecting to see him to do piruettes on stage and ruin the whole vibe.

setlist (not exactly in order and missed first 1 or two tunes):
...Take No Prisoners/Wake Up Dead/Hanger 18/Kick The Chair/Symphony/Tornado of Souls/Washington Is Next/Peace Sells/Holy Wars

Sabbath w/ Dio. Heaven&Hell (the song not the new lame $haron enforced moniker) was totally OTT in theatrics. Ronnie raised smoke up from below the stage. woah. Man some of their catalog though is just not stage worthy though. They shoulda busted out Symptom of the Universe or Children of the Grave to liven things up at several points. The encore Neon Knights was totally worth the admission price though. except for Captain Slow Poke Lazy Stroke behind the kit coating each tune in in 3 layers of molasses. damnit he wanted to drag every tune down to a standstill and only charlie watts coulda played fewer hihat hits.

missed openers Machine Head while the damn venue try to cram several thousand floor ticket holders through a single door in the back. WTFF!? No big loss though, while the new MH album makes some good strides to being a decent record, you still have to listen their horrible original (old?) new metal style on all the even #'d tracks. uggh. i got no time for that crap.