0iD0iD(õÿ¿š1 2007 November | Metal Injection

November, 2007 Archive

Reviews

CD Review: SEVERE TORTURE - Sworn Vengeance

Posted by Cosmo Lee on November 30th, 2007

severetorture swornvengeanceSevere Torture has come a long way since "Decomposing Bitch."  That, um, composition graced its first record, 2000's Feasting on Blood.  Essentially Cannibal Corpse clones then, the Dutch band has improved in musicianship and vision with each album since.  Sworn Vengeance offers nothing new for death metal, but it's Severe Torture's most assured work yet.

The main change from before is streamlining.  Severe Torture is now a well-oiled machine.  No note is out of place.  Guitars and drums mesh in perfect lockstep, recalling the synchronicity of early Fear Factory.  Such efficiency is almost sterile, as the band lacks the rawness that made its debut so tasty.  The clear, compressed production is heavy and edgeless.  If the sound was a bloody steak before, it's a gourmet burger now.

"Lean and mean" also describes the songwriting.  Previous album Fall of the Despised had occasional bouts of Morbid Angel-esque weirdness.  Those are gone now in favor of focused riffing.  However, surprising subtleties often pop up.  They've just shifted from the guitars to the rhythm section.  "Buried Hatchet" and "Sworn Vengeance" have charmingly odd bass runs.  "Countless Villains" has crafty, offbeat accents, while "Dogmasomatic Nausea" complements its rising melodies with turbocharged blasting. 

The lyrics are more mature, too, ditching the gore of before.  Now they address psychological issues and the state of the world.  They don't always make sense ("Painful be my destiny / To kill nevermore / Irresistible urge to revive / Every life I took"), but they're a step up from, say "Feces for Jesus."  Like at Abu Ghraib, this Severe Torture is cold and very much calculated.

7/10

Severe Torture on MySpace
Earache Records

Ask Me...I'm Right

ASK ME I'M RIGHT: New questions about ass kickings, ass rashes and wienerphobia

Posted by RobInjection on November 29th, 2007

Ask Me...I'm Right

That stud machine of a man is me, Greg Weeks, and I’m the bassist of the Red Chord. Want to ask me about my band, your band, or the ongoing crisis in the Middle East? Don’t hesitate to popup your mail program of choice and send me a question to askmeimright@metalinjection.net and I’ll be sure to respond with some life-changing advice.

I have an orphaned sock which I believe  may be Mikes. What should I do with it? See you next time you are in El Paso.

Greg's response:
Dear God woman. Back away from the sock. That man rarely changes his socks. It could be radioactive. It probably walked out of the van and into your house all by itself. I'd incinerate it. There's nothing more deadly than a Gunface sock.

Dear Greg,
I dont know if you remember me but I was right in front of you at the cannibal corpse concert october 3rd at the 930 club. Just to let you guys know you guys fucking killed it, you guys were by far the best band there (even though I had to leave after black dahlia because I told my grandmother I was going to the mall).I almost had my head fall off rocking out to you guys so much. I had the turqoise happy birthday!!! red chord shirt and I was right infront of you. And Guy put me on the spotlight which was very cool.  I'm sure you'll be interested to know I beat the shit out of that drunk heckler who thought you were the whole band and thought the rest of the band was shit. During the Black Black Dahlia set I was rocking out real hard to them and the dumbass was trying to take up my space up front. Then I was rocking out way harder than before(i n Black Dahlias set) and I guess the du mbass got jealous and grabbed my neck. Next thing the drunk bastard knows he gets his face pounded and thankfully for him a security guard came to his rescue and carried him out of the club and some fellow metalheads had to pull me away and calm me down. (And oh yea this all happened literally in front of Blach Dahlia Murder, I could see the singer and one guitar player watching it happen). Then I just went to the moshoit and whooped some ass and got ass whooping, and then had to leave after bdms set (cause it was kind of getting a little late to use that out to mall excuse). I have 3 questions for you:
1. Whats the best way for me to get to hang out backstage with you guys next time you come to DC?
2. How often do you get these hecklers on tour?
3. Do you think turqoise is my color?

Much love to you and the rest of the Red Chord,
Robert, silver spring,md.

p.s
be sure to tell Guy I whooped that Red Chord haters ass.

Greg's response:
This is a very long story sir. I actually liked the guy whose ass you kicked because he enjoyed me and no one else. Oh well, I guess he was a drunk idiot.
1. Have you seen backstage at the 9:30 club? I can barely "hang out" there. The best way to see us off stage is around the club or by the merch booth. We're rarely just backstage doing nothing. We're usually out and about.
2. We got heckled a lot on the Gwar tour. The best thing to do is heckler back in an intelligent way. Make the heckler look like an idiot and have everybody laugh at him and not you.
3. Yes.
By the way, I like the mall excuse.

Hi, gregg.
I have a friend who I'm starting to think is in love with me. I probably should have realized it sooner but, I'm kind of oblivious when it comes to signals and whatnot.
He's super nice to me but, I don't see us as anything more than good friends.
I feel like I'm leading him on.
What should I do? How do I let him down gently?

Love, Regina.

P.S.
My Grandpa is fascinated by the concept of 'ass-rashes'.

Greg's response:
Regina,
I love the avanteness of your question. It's shaped like bad poetry and I think it's great. In a lady man relationship there is usually one side that is attracted to the other side and it makes thing difficult to deal with on a friendship field. You should start talking about a dude that you're into. Throw him off the scent. He will be bummed but it's not your fault. He'll either get over it and you guys can be friends or he'll slip into years of depression and self loathing. You woman have no idea what powers you have over us. Good luck with that. Also, your grandfather sounds like a very intelligent man, ass-rashes….

hey Greg,

My name is Alli i met you last night at the Tallahassee show. I don't expect you to remember me, I am sure you meet tons of people being on tour. I would have talked a little more instead of being a dumbass with a camera phone…but i get shy…dork is in my blood. quick sum up: Name is alli. From Rhode Island. Love the red sox and Pat maybe a little too much. Will kick anyone with a yankees hat out of my house. also i hate using grammar in email…as you can prob tell. Well I know I have to think of a question…that's my excuse to talk to you. :) No but seriously I had never heard of you guys till last night and honestly i was REALLY impressed. You guys are truly talented. I love the way you can tell you are being yourself on stage. I guess what i mean by that is sometimes a lot of musicians put on such an act(i'm not hatin) and then when you meet them you see there true self. It's not like there is anything wrong with this but I find it really cool that you are smilin, almost laughin one min and the next min you are all hyped up. oh I forgot to say that you have lots of talent too! ok so for my question…..

how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?

..you said you are always right so you best go getchu a tootsie pop…i recommend the blue wrapper. no cheating now. you can sit on the couch, watch some TV and stick the lollypop stick in your beard and just lick. you'll be done in no time..

Greg's response:
Hey Alli, I remember you. Thank you for the kind words. I guess we all look like we're enjoying ourselves because we love what we do. I hate when bands act tough on stage and then they're pussy cats off stage. Just be yourself and all that crap I guess. We were probably all smiles that night because it was our second to last show after a month and a half on the road. Onto your question. No one knows, not even me, how long it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop because we are all impatient ass holes that half to eventually bite it. As did that stupid owl. Go sox!

Dear Greg,
Since your last show I have found myself becoming less and less metal as the days wear on, I have only listened to your collective works (the red chord and beyond the sixth seal as far as i know) only twice this month. See the problem stems from a serious party foul i may have inadvertantly commited, I was in the pit and saw this dude fall into the crowd and i instictively went to pick him up, the only problem was he was already up and i grabbed his junk.  I wanted to ralf and it totally ruined an otherwise awesome night, I couldn't even stay for Cannibal Corpse i was so upset. Am I being overly hard on myself?  Or just too homophobic (I did wince at writing hard on)?  I come to the manliest man i know, humbly seeking advice from a near demigod of masculity on this delicate subject.
Please help
Afraid of Weiners in AZ

Greg's response:
Dear afraid,
This is the best question I think I've ever received. I needed a minute to  laugh for a bit before I could start typing. This question has really made my day. Woo! Well obviously you're gay. No amount of avoiding metal is going to help your case. I see many men in your future "pitting" it up with you. Hey man, once you accept this then and only then can you be happy with yourself. I wish you the best of luck and I hope next time around you'll introduce me to your new boyfriend. I hope his name is Sebastian. When I was in high school my friend and I went to see Maiden play. Fear Factory opened up and it was real cramped. My pal had his hands by his side and suddenly the crowd moved. I felt something touch my special parts downstairs. I yelled "I think you just touched my junk" real loud just as the song ended. Everyone heard it and turned to look. You should date my friend.

About to do something regrettable  but need that extra push? You can get advice from Greg Weeks. Just email askmeimright@metalinjection.net

Latest News

MESHUGGAH Non-News: Tracklisting for next album announced

Posted by RobInjection on November 29th, 2007

 

Tracklistings always come off as n0n-news to me. Who cares what you named the songs I haven't heard yet? But when it's about MESHUGGAH's upcoming  release "obZen," it's news to me! The album has yet to have an official release date (early 2008 is all we get) but at least they are far enough along where they are releasing track names. PUT OUT THE ALBUM ALREADY, DAMN IT!! Here is the tracklisting:

01. Combustion
02. Electric Red
03. Bleed
04. Lethargica
05. ObZen
06. This Spiteful Snake
07. Pineal Gland Optics
08. Pravus
09. Dancers To A Discordant System

Tour Dates

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE ringing in the new year on tour with Dillinger Escape Plan, Every Time I Die and Parkway Drive

Posted by RobInjection on November 29th, 2007

Killswitch Engage

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are not a band that just takes breaks and hangs out. They are already planning on having a busy 2008. Just announced is a pretty big headlining tour with EVERY TIME I DIE, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, and PARKWAY DRIVE:

January 9 - T.B.A.
January 10 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 CLUB
January 11 - Pittsburgh,PA @ Club Zoo
January 12 - Cincinatti, OH @ Bogart’s
January 14 - Miami, FL @ The Fillmore
January 15 - Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
January 16 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
January 17 - Raleigh, NC @ Disco Rodeo
January 21 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
January 22 - Nashville, TN @ City Hall
January 23 - Little Rock, AR @ The Village
January 24 - T.B.A.
January 25 - Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
January 26 - St. Louis. , MO @ Pageant
January 28 - Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion
January 29 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
January 30 - Ft. Wayne, IN @ Piere’s
January 31 - Rochester, NY @ Harro East
February 1 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
February 2 - Richmond, VA @ Toad’s Place
February 4 - Johnson City, NY @ Magic City
February 5 - T.B.A.

Reviews

CD Review: SEBASTIAN BACH - Angel Down

Posted by Cosmo Lee on November 27th, 2007

sebastianbach angeldownUnlike many rockers turned pop culture celebrities, Sebastian Bach isn't overexposed.  This is probably because his star turns are so strange.  While Bret Michaels has sunk to reality dating, Ozzy Osbourne is busy dismantling his legacy, and Gene Simmons, is, well, Gene Simmons, Bach has popped up in unlikely places - Gilmore Girls, Trailer Park Boys, MTV's infamous Celebrity Rap Superstar.  He's done Broadway in The Rocky Horror Show and Jekyll & Hyde, as well as the musical Jesus Christ Superstar.  One almost forgets Bach is an actual rock singer.

Angel Down is his first solo album in eight years.  It's his first significant musical statement since Skid Row, as his previous solo work comprised mostly covers and live cuts.  It's also surprisingly strong.  The record gracefully updates Bach's hair metal past with modern production and songs that qualify as actual metal.  The closest reference point would be Skid Row's heaviest album, Slave to the Grind.

A big part of this heaviness is Bach's backing cast, which includes producer Roy Z, as well as metal Swiss Army knives Metal Mike Chlasciak, Bobby Jarzombek, Steve DiGiorgio, and a guitarist improbably named Johnny Chromatic.  The result is perfectly played riffs that are alternately fierce and generic.  With its hired guns and various songwriters, the album slightly lacks coherence.  In this way, it recalls Rob Halford's solo efforts, which incidentally also feature Z, Chlasciak, and Jarzombek.

But like in Skid Row, Bach's voice makes everything OK (well, it couldn't save Subhuman Race).  Though it lacks the clarity of his youth, its range is still formidable.  On a steroid-fueled cover of Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle," his voice soars so high, it's almost transcendent.  A fellow named W. Axl Rose also guests on the song.  Yes, Bach has done what no one else has in 14 years - released a studio recording from Axl Rose.  The dreaded one adds backing harmonies to "Back in the Saddle," "(Love Is) A Bitchslap," and "Stuck Inside."  He sounds like Axl Rose.  Meaning, he still sounds great.  [Insert Chinese Democracy joke here.]

With so many cooks in his kitchen (Desmond Child contributes a predictably treacly ballad, and former sideman Ralph Santolla (Deicide, Obituary) turns in an oddly Beatles-esque stomp), Bach still dominates his record.  His melodies ride riffs memorably, whether they be Eurometal ("You Don't Understand") or cock rock ("(Love Is) A Bitchslap").  "American Metalhead" isn't quite "Youth Gone Wild," but it's not far off.  Bach is pushing his voice, going for anthems, and often hitting the mark.  Angel Down is about four songs too long, and it noticeably flags near its end.  But for its first 40 minutes, Bach is back as one of rock's most powerful voices.

7.5/10

Sebastian Bach on MySpace
Merovingian Music

Latest News

FALL OUT BOY cover PANTERA's "Walk"; metalheads over-react

Posted by RobInjection on November 27th, 2007

Above is a clip of EVERY TIME I DIE vocalist Keith Buckley joining FALL OUT BOY for a cover of PANTERA's anthem "Walk" and the real story here, is not that they totally didn't play the drum solo, but rather, metalheads completely overreacting to the non-story. Here are various comments left on the clip's Youtube page and on the Blabbermouth post of this video:

Not only is that, well, disrespectful, but what the hell is Keith Buckley doing with Fall Out Boy? And how do that pop-star wannabes of fans even know that song?

News Flash bub: PANTERA is a mainstream band. Granted they are no FALL OUT BOY, but I'm pretty sure more than 3 people have heard of them, and especially have heard Walk which is their "Enter Sandman". And wouldn't covering a band you like be the complete opposite of disrespect?

Wow Kieth just lost some big points. Im not going to watch the video at all, just knowing that stupid goofy bass player is probably on stage smirking and wooing 12 year olds with his over sized fake teeth is killing me. That dude should be tortured cannibal ferox style. I really cannot stand those guys at all, Im even disturbed by my thoughts regarding those dudes. Pure hatred!

Get some sunshine, man!

that i don't even know where to start.

surely this is a harbinger of the end of the world.

no one wearing an emo hoodie should be allowed to play a pantera song.

no one currently dating one of the simpson sisters should be allowed to play a pantera song.

no one who knows what a chi is (and owns one) should be allowed to play a pantera song.

for that matter, no one matching the above criteria should theoretically even know who the fuck pantera WAS….which is the truly bizzarre thing.

how on earth did this abomination occur???? seriously, WTF.

The thing that struck me as odd by this commenter is just how much he knew about Pete Wentz, a  dude he hates. You know this kid has all the Tiger Beats with Pete on the cover.

It can't be said enough, it's just fucking blasphemy! I can't believe how many stupid Fall Out Boy fans actually are singing along, a bit scary.

I'm  pretty sure those Fall Out Boy fans would also be Pantera fans if they knew the words wouldn't it? Thus making Pantera ::gasp:: main - stream?

And of course, leave it to a Pantera fan to go absolutely too far in critism:

oh, and they have murdered dimebag once more. fucking blasphemers.

Tour Dates

THE FACELESS announce mini-tour

Posted by RobInjection on November 27th, 2007

The Faceless have lined up the following headlining shows with Arsis and At The Throne Of Judgment:

December 10th Pittsburgh, PA - The School BCA
December 11th Tinley Park, IL - Mojoes
December 12th Milwaukee, WI - Miramar Theatre
December 13th St. Louis, MO - 2 Cents Plain
December 14th Salina, KS - The Blue Goat
December 15th Ft. Collins, CO - Aggie Theatre (Feat. The Faceless only)
December 16th Logan, UT - Club NVO (Feat. The Faceless only)

Go see this band! They will blow your mind. More live footage here.

Reviews

CD Review: GLORIOR BELLI - Manifesting the Raging Beast

Posted by Cosmo Lee on November 22nd, 2007

gloriorbelli manifestingtheragingbeastYet more Latin-loving French black metal - if I'd known I was going to be a metal writer, I would have studied Latin in school.  Glorior Belli is somewhat of a supergroup, sharing members with Black Flame, Slavia, Merrimack, and Obscurus Advocam (whose latest record Metal Injection reviewed here).  Since vocalist/guitarist Infestvvs helms the latter, Glorior Belli (which means "to pride oneself in time of war," according to online translation) naturally has similarities, particularly in slower, heavier passages.

However, some have bellyached about a stronger influence - Deathspell Omega.  The resemblance is definitely there, especially in how guitars drape dissonance across upper strings.  But Deathspell Omega moved on to the land of the weird on their latest record, Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum.  No one would confuse that album with this one.  Glorior Belli avoid (or perhaps fail to reach) Deathspell Omega's quasi-religious qualities in favor of grounded aggression.

Manifesting does have its luminous moments.  The opening track is a beautiful exercise in atmosphere and restraint, staying at an imperial march and resisting the urge to blast away.  "Sinister Resonance" mines the same martial feeling,  pounding out a simple but evil two-chord riff.  Album closer "Altered Verses" aims skyward with a keening, swooping solo.

But for the most part, this record is straightforward.  Drums blast with precision, guitars churn out mournful chords, Infestvvs howls apocalyptic verses.  For black metal, the production is surprisingly full and punchy.  The sound is appropriate, though, for an attack based on skill, not rawness.  On one hand, the presentation is so smoothly professional that the album lacks edges.  On the other hand, the performances are so tight that they coalesce into a singular, hypnotic whole.  The beast may be raging, but it's wearing a perfectly tailored suit.

7/10

Glorior Belli on MySpace
Southern Lord Records

A/V

MARCO MINNEMANN rapes drums and cymbals everywhere he goes.

Posted by RobInjection on November 22nd, 2007

This whole week, we've been posting live footage from this year's Summer Slaughter tour, but I need to take the time to post about the above clip of Marco Minnemann absolutely destroying the drum set for a solid 10 minutes! He's the new drummer for NECROPHAGIST and has made quite a name for himself in his own right. Check out all of our Summer Slaughter clips right here.

Reviews

CD Review: HIGH ON FIRE - Death Is This Communion

Posted by Cosmo Lee on November 22nd, 2007

highonfire deathisthiscommunionHigh on Fire's Matt Pike is one of metal's most idiosyncratic guitarists.  Much of his style probably comes from necessity.  As the singer and only guitarist in a trio, he must both fill space and preserve it.  Thus, Pike mostly avoids single-note picking in favor of strumming power chords.  His use of palm-muting is light, so his playing isn't percussive so much as textural.  The effect is like black metal; minus the drums, the guitar doesn't attack, but engulfs.

Yet High on Fire very much attack.  This is due to drummer Des Kensel, one of metal's hardest hitters.  While Pike strums away, Kensel provides the pulse underneath.  Thrash and d-beats cannonade from his kit with force and precision, punctuated by the band's trademark three-over-two accents.  In the middle is distorted bass, High on Fire's revolving door.  Here, Zeke's Jeff Matz fills the role with perfect synchronicity.

Death Is This Communion outs Kensel as the band's not-so-secret weapon.  He gets his own tribal-flavored interlude ("Headhunter"), and the production highlights his playing.  On previous record Blessed Black Wings, Steve Albini's warm, natural production made the drums sound booming.  Here, famed Seattle grunge producer Jack Endino's knob-twiddling yields tighter, more streamlined sound.  The punchier percussion makes this High on Fire's hardest-hitting record.

It's also the band's most diverse one, thanks to majestic, Middle Eastern-sounding acoustic passages.  Pike's voice is stronger than ever, so now he sings actual lines.  This makes for actual songs.  Before, the band sometimes slipped into stylistic autopilot, paying homage to Motörhead, Black Sabbath, and Slayer.  With memorable melodies now, High on Fire have fully synthesized their influences.  These horsemen may only be three, but they're plenty apocalyptic.

8/10

High on Fire on MySpace
Relapse Records

In the News

And now for something completely different…

Posted by RobInjection on November 19th, 2007

5 Stars! 

METAL Injection

SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR - Live footage being posted all week, right here on METAL Injection

Posted by RobInjection on November 19th, 2007

It may be getting cold inside, but Metal Injection will warm you down with an entire week of coverage from this year's Summer Slaughter, the hottest tour of the summer. All week long we will be posting live clips featuring NECROPHAGIST. DECAPITATED, CEPHALIC CARNAGE, CATTLE DECAPITATION, THE FACELESS, AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK, ION DISSONANCE and BENEATH THE MASSACRE. In addition to all that insanity, we will post a bonus clip of Marco Minnemann demolishing the drums in a 10 minute drum solo.

Here is a sample of whats online:

Currently available to view, are clips featuring The Faceless, Beneath the Massacre, Ion Dissonance and As Blood Runs Black.

Tuesday we will post DECAPITATED performing "Spheres of Madness" as well as two live clips from CATTLE DECAPITATION

Wednesday we will post two sick clips of NECROPHAGIST and two clips from CEPHALIC CARNAGE

Thursday we will post the remaining footage including 2 more songs from NECROPHAGIST and a drum solo from Marco Minnemann that will blow your mind!

Watch all the insanity at right here!

tr00 and False

tr00 and False: The week's best and worst stories examined by the editors of MetalSucks

Posted by RobInjection on November 19th, 2007

It’s hard to be tr00. In this new Metal Injection feature, every week, the editors of MetalSucks.net, Axl Rosenberg and Vince Neilstein, will dissect the week’s stories and decide which stories are deemed worthy of the title “tr00″ and admonish all posers who are false and upset the metal gods.

tr00

VAN HALEN

Rocking arenas across the country with David Lee "Bar Mitzvah Band Leader" Roth for the first time in 22 years, the band is looking and sounding great. Roth is jump kicking like the days of old, and Eddie reminds us why he's the most influential guitar player in heavy metal in the last… oh, wait, ever.

QUEENSRYCHE

Because Axl Rose was apparently NOT the first one to wear spandex biker shorts on stage, and because this band fucking rocks… and you all seemed to highly agree with the latter.

TOM MORELLO

Serenaded the striking writers in Hollywood to much affair. Now if only he could somehow magically write the remaining unfilmed episodes of Lost, Season 4…

ALICE IN CHAINS

Jerry Cantrell announced that the band is working on some new material and plans to release it in 2008 with William Duvall, who has been handling vocal duties on the road, singing. Will it be any good? Time will tell.

False

GIBSON

Gibson announced a guitar that tunes itself, signaling the dawn of the apocalypse in the form of thousands of useless hacks playing guitar. In addition to Metalcore, that is.

COURTNEY LOVE

Continuing her blog updates of excellent spelling, prose, and grammar, Love confessed to having to deal with the all-dreaded Fica score, all the while slamming Madonna and praising Radiohead. What do these have to do with each other? Fuck if I know.

KORN

Hired Army of Anyone drummer Raz Luzier, marking the 4th drummer to play in the band since May of this year. This band is OVER.

VINCE NEIL

Says Tommy Lee IS in the band after all, despite contradicting statements from Nikki Sixx. As if any new output this band releases will be any good anyway.

Latest News

MASTODON destroy Portuagl; new video diary available

Posted by RobInjection on November 19th, 2007

MASTODON always know how to have a good time, especially, when they play Lisbon, Portugal, opening for METALLICA and 50,000 of their friends. This diary shows just hard it is to be in a band on a major label on the road. We feel for you, MASTODON! If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, we're here.

Issue Oriented, Podcasts

IO episode 26 - Greg Attonito/Shanti Wintergate and Virgil Dickerson

Posted by RonenKauffman on November 19th, 2007

Ronen talks to Bouncing Souls frontman Greg Attonito and actress/musician Shanti Wintergate about their new children's book; and to Virgil Dickerson of Suburban Home Records/Vinyl Collective about indie survival and much more. Includes previously unrecorded songs from Greg and Shanti!

Page 1 of 41234»