Update

Some delays made the blog have to be put on hold.  Will be back soon!

2010 Band Of The Week Rundowns

Enjoy!

Oct 25 - 2010 - GUITAR WOLF

Oct 18 2010 - TOTIMOSHI

Oct 11 2010 - X JAPAN

Oct 04 2010 - CAR BOMB

Sep 26 2010 - KILLING JOKE

Jul 12 2010 - MICHAEL MONROE

Jul 05 2010 - ANCHORHEAD

Jun 28 2010 - WOVENHAND

Jun 21 2010 - SLEEP

Jun 14 2010 - BUZZOV•EN

Jun 07 2010 - AGE OF TAURUS

May 31 2010 - CAULDRON

May 24 2010 - TT QUICK

May 17 2010 - ELF

May 10 2010 - UNEXPECT

May 03 2010 - SKELETONWITCH

Apr 26 2010 - HOLY GRAIL

Apr 19 2010 - PORN

Apr 12 2010 - JOE BUCK

Apr 05 2010 - POSSESSED

Mar 29 2010 - PRETTY MAIDS

Mar 22 2010 - DEATHCHARGE

Mar 15 2010 - WHITE WIZZARD

Mar 08 2010 - ANNIHILATION TIME

Mar 01 2010 - WARTHANE

Feb 22 2010 - HEATHEN

Feb 15 2010 - TENET

Feb 08 2010 - ALTAR OF PLAGUES

Feb 01 2010 - CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED

Jan 25 2010 - HAIL

Jan 18 2010 - HELLSHOCK

Jan 11 2010 - BUCK-TICK

Jan 04 2010- MANIMAL

Band Of The Week - Ilsa

Ilsa are a metal-punk hybrid band straight out of Washington DC.   Fun stuff!  Check 'em out at their myspace page here!

Tuesday's Metal Releases

Metallica/Slayer/Megadeth/Anthrax - The Big 4 - Live from Sofia, Bulgaria [5 CD/2 DVD Box set] (Warner Brothers)

Slash at Terminal 5 - 9/15/2010

Not many acts can haul my ass over to Manhattan's west side venue Terminal 5.   The venue is a former night club (anyone remember Exit?) and the massive main floor and 3 tiers of balcony do not foster the right environment for a show.  BUT, when the act playing T5, it's time to suck it up and make the trek over. Slash hit the stage to a jam packed crowd; the floor was packed from front to back (I peeped Samantha Ronson rocking out in the balcony). The touring lineup of the band consisted of Bobby Schneck on rhythm guitar, Todd Kerns on bass, Brent Fitz on drums, and Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge fame behind the mic. Not being an Alter Bridge fan myself, I really didn't know much about Myles other than the few songs he sings on Slashs solo album. Well, I was blown away. He managed to morph his voice in such a unique way that he successfully sang material from Slash's Snakepit, GnR, and Velvet Revolver. This is not even to mention that Slashs solo album features a diverse group of vocalist who Myles all nailed. They opened up with Slash's "Ghost" (sung by Ian Astbury on the album), and then switched gears into a slew of GnR songs including an awesome version of Civil War. As the set went and and flipped from Velvet Revolver song to Slash song and back, I couldnt help but to be really impressed with Myles the whole way through.
OH, and then on top of that, there was Slash to enjoy. Hidden behind his classic top hat and glasses Slash does 'Slash' like no one else. The man is cartoon character of mystery and talent and at Terminal 5 he was both. Highlights of Slash's personal performances for me included his outstanding guitar-work on "Rocket Queen" and a bad ass guitar solo that was about 10 minutes long and somehow not boring. The show concluded with "My Michelle" and "Paradise City" and left everyone wanting more.  I have to admit the venue actually didn't seem as bad (the sound quality was a lot higher than I had heard it at past shows) and overall Slash's solo show proved to be one of my tops for 2010.

Todd Kerns

Todd, Bobby, Slash and Myles respectively

The man of the hour

1.Ghost
2.Mean Bone (Slash's Snakepit)
3.Nightrain (Guns N' Roses)
4.Sucker Train Blues (Velvet Revolver)
5.Back From Cali
6.Civil War (Guns N' Roses)
7.Rocket Queen (Guns N' Roses)
8.Do It For The Kids (Velvet Revolver)
9.We're All Gonna Die (With Todd Kerns on vocals.  On album, Iggy Pop sings.)
10.Nothing To Say 11.Starlight
12.Just Like Anything (Slash's Snakepit)
13.Guitar Solo
14.Godfather Theme
15.Sweet Child O' Mine (Guns N' Roses)
16.Rise Today (Alter Bridge)
17.Slither (Velvet Revolver) Encore:
18.By The Sword
19.My Michelle (Guns N' Roses)
20.Paradise City (Guns N' Roses)

New Band Of The Week - Deathspell Omega!

Deathspell Omega are a French black metal band that formed in 1998 and largely began off with a very tradition, lo-fi form of black metal along the lines of bands like Mayhem and Darkthrone.  As a fan of that style of music, there is nothign wrong with the early albums, but for me Deathspell really stepped into their own skin in 2004 with the release of the Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice which explored choral music, hi-fi production and overall more experimental and technical level of playing from the band.  Since then, the band has only pushed this sound further with Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum (released in 2007) and most recently, Paracletus (2010).  These last two albums are the first two of a set of three, with the third's release date still unknown.  The trilogy explores the subject of man's relationship with God and Satan.
Part of Deathspell's charm is the air of mystery that surrounds them.  Although there is a myspace page to keep listeners informed, it's only fan-run, and there is no official website online.  The band members are unknown, the fan page does claim:

There is no concrete information on the enigmatic members of the band; only rumours. The main one is that Hasjarl and Shaxul teamed up to form Deathspell Omega after the split of Hirilorn in 1998. Mikko would have eventually joined the band to replace Shaxul on vocals in 2003 for the recording of SMRC.

Interesting.  Check them out below!

Happy Halloween!

I love it when Halloween falls on a weekend - we get a legitimate 2 nights of living it up without having to wake up in the morning.  ...unless you are one of those poor bastards who works on Saturday and Sunday.  So to help get in the spirit today I made a playlist of songs that seemed to me to be both good rock and metal songs, and also Halloween-ish.  A bunch of the songs are pretty obvious (Helloween's 'Halloween' and Alice Cooper), but note the first song which is a Marilyn Manson  cover of "This is Halloween' from Nightmare before Christmas, and the last 3 songs which are an epic tale of pre-christian England delivered from none more creepy- Sunn O))) .

NYC Concert Listings

Be wary of any shows at Santos Party House.  As of now, the joint was shut down do to drug use, which I can say is not very shocking.  Still, as much of the drug use I saw there it was never the staff, only the costumers... so that does suck for the establishment (Andrew WK co-owns the joint).  More news on that, and where the sceduled shows there will be held as it comes to surface.  Speaking of Andrew WK please note a new Long Island show. 
Also new is Cradle of Filth's tour to support their new album out Tuesday, Darkly Darkly, Venus Aversa.  They'll hit NYC with Nachtmystium (who seem to support everyone live) in March.

 OCTOMBER

-10/30 - Randy Jackson of Zebra @ The Crazy Donkey (Farmingdale, Long Island)
-10/30 - The Cult @ Starland Ballroom (Sayreville, NJ)
-10/30 - [early show] A.G.E., Hellshock, Atakke @ Knitting Factory (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
-10/30 - [late show] Krieg and Woe @ Knitting Factory (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
-10/31 - Black Crowes @ Nokia Best Buy Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)

NOVEMBER

-11/02 - Black Crowes @ Nokia (now called Best Buy) Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)
-11/03 - Everytime I Die, Trap Them and Howl @ The Studio in Webster Hall (Manhattan)
-11/03 - Nile, Keep Of Kalessin, Ex-Deo @ The Crazy Donkey (Farmingdale, Long Island)
-11/04- Black Crowes @ Nokia (now called Best Buy) Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)
-11/05 - Mahogany Rush with Frank Marino @ BB Kings (Times Square, Manhattan)
-11/05 - Black Crowes @ Nokia Best Buy Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)
-11/05 - Where Angels Are [Randy Piper and Chris Holmes of WASP] @ Karma (Patchogue, Long Island)
-11/06 - Mad Sin @ The Studio in Webster Hall (Manhattan)
-11/06 - Atreyu @ Starland Ballroom (Sayreville, NJ)
-11/06 - Firewind @ Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)-11/06 - Black Crowes @ Nokia Best Buy Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)
-11/06 - Overkill with Forbidden, Evil, Bonded By Blood, Carcinogen, and Ruppthritis @ Karma (Patchogue, Long Island)
-11/07 - Powerman 5000 @ Starland Ballroom (Sayreville, NJ)
-11/07 -  Rik Emmet [Triumph] and Dave Dunlup @ City Winery (Tribeca, Manhattan)
-11/08 - Jason Bonham @ Nokia Best Buy Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)
-11/08 - Dimmu Borgir, Enslaved, Blood Red Throne and Dawn Of Ashes @ Terminal 5 (Manhattan)
-11/10 - Powerman 5000, Killcode and Dead Superstar @ The Crazy Donkey (Farmingdale, Long Island)
-11/11 - Ian Hunter [former Mott The Hoople] @ Highline Ballroom (Manhattan)
-11/11 - All That Remains @ Nokia Best Buy Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)-11/12 - Oceano, Chelsea Grim @ The Crazy Donkey (Farmingdale, Long Island)
-11/12 - Asia @ BB Kings (Times Square, Manhattan)
-11/12 - Oceano, Chelsea Grin, Attila, In the Midst Of Lions, Monsters, Doomsday Mourning @ Crazy Donkey (Farmingdale, Long Island)
-11/13 - Darkest Hour @ Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)
-11/14 - Suicidal Tendencies, Cro-Mag, Underdog, and Death Before Dishonor @ Terminal 5 (Manhattan)-11/19 - Epica @ Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)
-11/15 - Alesana, Our last Night, Vampires Everywhere! @ Crazy Donkey (Farmingdale, Long Island)
-11/19 - Cannibal Corpse with Dying Fetus and Vital Remains @ Santos Party House (Manhattan)
-11/20 - Overkill, Forbidden, Evile, Bonded By Blood @ Starland Ballroom (Sayreville, NJ)
-11/20 - Andrew WK @ Crazy Donkey (Farmingdale, Long Island)
-11/20 - Blind Guardian, Holy Grail and Seven Kingdoms @ Nokia Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)
-11/23 - The Sleeping A@ Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)
-11/23 - Ian Anderson @ City Winery (Tribeca, Manhattan)
-11/24 - Bring Me The Horizon and August Burns Red @ Nokia Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)
-11/26 - Bring Me The Horizon, August Brings Red @ Starland Ballroom (Sayreville, NJ)
-11/26 - Get The Led Out [TRIBUTE] @ Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)
-11/29 - James Labrie @ Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)

DECEMBER

-12/02 - Watain and Black Anvil @ Santos Party House (Manhattan)
-12/03 - Nonpoint and In This Moment @ Santos Party House (Manhattan)
-12/03 - Ozzy @ MSG (Penn Station, Manhattan)
-12/03 - Killing Joke @ Irving Plaza (Manhattan)
-12/08 - Soulfly @ Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)
-12/11 - Kix @ Starland Ballroom (Sayreville, NJ)
-12/11 - Inside Hollow @ Ace Of Clubs (Manhattan)
12/11 - Rammstein @ Madison Square Garden (Manhattan)
-12/12 - Misfits with Juice Head @ Crazy Donkey (Farmingdale, Long Island)
-12/13 - Joe Satriani @ Nokia Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)
-12/14 - Joe Satriani @ Nokia Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)
-12/16 - Job For A Cowboys @ Santos Party House (Manhattan)
-12/16 - Attack Attack and Emmure @ Irving Plaza (Manhattan)
-12/17 - Attack Attack and Emmure @ Irving Plaza (Manhattan)
-12/17 - Trans Siberian Orchestra @ Nassau Coliseum (Uniondale, Long Island)
-12/18 - Shadows Fall @ Santos Party House (Manhattan)
-12/18 - Trans Siberian Orchestra [Matinee and Evening shows] @ Prudential Center (Newerk, NJ
-12/21 - Paul Di'Anno [30th anniversery tour - performing Killers straight through] @ BB Kings (Times Square, Manhattan)
-12/24 - Dee Snider performs final performance in the musical Rock Of Ages. (began Oct. 11)
-12/24 - Ray West @ Ace Of Clubs (Downtown Manhattan)

JANUARY

-01/01 - Glassjaw @ Nokia Best Buy Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)
-01/04 - Johnny Winter @ BB Kings (Times Square, Manhattan)
-01/11 - Johnny Winter @ BB Kings (Times Square, Manhattan)
-01/18 - Johnny Winter @ BB Kings (Times Square, Manhattan)
-01/25 - Johnny Winter @ BB Kings (Times Square, Manhattan)
-01/28 - Gamma Ray @ Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)

FEBUARY

-02/02 - Death Angel with Moth Eater @ The Crazy Donkey (Farmingdale, Long Island)

-02/21 - Deicide @ Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)

-02/26 - Finntroll and Enisferum @ Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)

-02/27 - DRI @ Starland Ballroom (Sayreville, NJ)

MARCH

-03/03 - Cradle of Filth with Nachtmystium, Turisas, and Daniel Lioneye @ Nokia Best Buy Theater (Times Square, Manhattan)

-03/14 - Godspeed You! Black Emporer @ Terminal 5 (Manhattan)

-12/01 - Ozzy @ MSG (Penn Station, Manhattan)
-12/01 - Chaimera, Impending Doom and Daath @ The Chance (Poughkeepsie, NY)-11/01 - Project Object @ BB Kings (Times Square, Manhattan)

Slayer/Megadeth/Testament at the Izod Center (Aug. 12, 2010)

Being the first leg of the American Carnage Tour this half features Testament as the opening act, while they will be replaced with Anthrax for the last half.   Starting punctually at 7pm, Testament delivered a incredible 40 minute set to a somewhat empty crowd.  Granted by the end of their set the seats were filling up, but attendance-wise the start was slow.  And let me emphasize that this only is attendance-wise.  No matter if Testament are playing to 10 people or ten thousand people, they always seem to give it their heart.  They opened with "More Than Meets The Eye" (following it's musical intro song, "For The Glory Of") the single off of their latest album From Formation to Damnation.  Sprinkling some new song in between older standards they easily proved throughout the set that the new material stands up to older classics like "The New Order" and "Trial By Fire".

Up next were my personal favorites, Megadeth.  Even for those who aren't total bitches for Megadeth like myself, the band still caught every one's attention due to two major factors of tonight's set - the band performed classic album Rust In Peace in it's entirety and featured Dave Ellefson back on bass. There was essentially NO banter from Holy Wars... The Punishment Due to Rust In Peace... Polaris when my angel Dave Mustaine declared "So, that was Rust In Peace!".   The continuity of set made the show surreal, but sound problems during the first few songs did set things off to shakier start.  Nothing tragic like mics or speakers blowing, but the sound wasn't crisp and the vocals were hidden for the first few tracks.   By the encore the sound guy had gotten his shit together and the band came back with a nice mix of new and old including "Trust", "Headcrusher", "A Tout Le Monde", "Symphony Of Destruction", and "Peace Sells" in that order.

Closing the night out Slayer hit the stage to a roaring crowd with "World Painted Blood" and "Hate Worldwide and then proceeded on with the entire Seasons In The Abyss album straight through.  Technically, the sounded great. Dave always kills it behind the kit, Kerry King did his Kerry-king-headbanging-neckthrashing-thing, and Jeff guitar flopped happily over his growing Buddha belly.  The only difference really was Tom Araya's stage presence, which was a lot stiff and more controller than usual due to his recent back surgery.  No surprises here though.  They followed formula with Megadeth and ended with a encore of classics and new old.  Even though Megadeth are my easily my favorites on the bill, Slayer took the night for me.

Wovenhand at The Knitting Factory, 10/04/10

Not too long ago I crowned Wovenhand as band of the week.  Well, to verify that they deserved the honor, I saw them live when they hit Brooklyn in early October.  The show was intense and powerful - words I would not often use to describe folk music, which generally makes me think of a lighter, more playful vibe.  It was a great show.

Tuesday's Metal Releases

Daath - Daath (Century Media)
Firewind - Days Of Defiance (Century Media)
Forbidden - Omega Wave (Nuclear Blast)
Ill Nino - Dead New World (Victory Records)
Kings X -(Live Love In London) (EMI)
None More Black - Icons (Fat Wreck Chords)
Senses Fail - The Fire (Vagrant Records)
Therion - Sitra Ahra (Nuclear Blast)

THOUGHTS:
Ill Nino delivers another album of nu-metal, with that tribal/latin flair that makes them stand out just a bit from other similiar bands like 36 Crazy Fists or .  You can listen to the whole album for free here.  Jersey boys, Senses Fail's The Fire is still not my cup of tea, but it seems to be a stronger album than their last.  The first song is really catchy, and then rest of the album follows along that path.  It seems like the subject matter of the songs is still largely based around drinking.   ...and not in the fun Buckcherry way, but in a daker this-is-a-problem way.  There is also a deluxe version of the band which includes a dvd with live footage and interviews.
Also - a nod goes to Forbidden for fast, technical, thrashing comeback album.
Band Of The Week:
None More Black - firstly for having an amazing band name, and secondly for getting back together to record an album.  Thier last release before this was in 2006 (This Is Satire), and then the band parted ways and guitarist Paul Delaney went on to form black metal trio Black Anvil.  Icons is a solid album that sounds different from their older material.  It feels heavier to me but also includes elements of rockabilly.  Interesting stuff.
Band Of The Weak:
I am going to wimp out this week and pass on naming one of these releases Weak.  Although I am not a huge Senses Fail fan, there is nothing pathetic about this album, so I wouldn't label them.  I guess this is a good thing for music..?
Branching Out....?
If you are looking for a fun, but non-rock/metal release than check out Buddy Guy's Living Proof.  Electric Blues!

New Band Of The Week - Guitar Wolf

Guitar Wolf are friggin hilarious thus have made it as Band Of The Week.  A little history on this garage rock trio is that they come from Nagasaki, Japan but have established a decent following here in the USA mostly because of a B movie based around them  - Wild Zero.  Wild Zero is a campy horror movie that features the band as the heros.  Why is this so well known here?  It's become a cult hit a a movie that is also a drinking game.  Each time you hear the band shout "ROCK N ROLL", comb their hair, or anything shoots fire, ya sip.

Latest news - Muse blows a fuse at Nassau Coliseum

Thanks to my buddy Adam who is currently at the Muse show at  Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, I have some real-time news on the band.  It seems that this trio, known for making sound that is friggin BIG, has blown a fuse at their show tonight.
It turns out it was not a set ending tragedy, but rather a minor 'pause' in the set that caused the song 'New Born' to be brought to an abrupt stop.  The song did continute..... but imagine seeing a fucking coliseum going dead?  That is nuts!
If you don't know this song, check out the video below:


According to my buddy the fuse blew at "the most epic part of the most epic song", I wish I was there for this!

Lemmy goes acoustic and blues' it up!

Check out this UK advertisement for Kronenburg 1664 with Lemmy performing 'Ace Of Spades'.   This is a pretty badass commercial!

There is nothing Lemmy won't do for beer....

.....and here is some behind the scenes footage:

Slayer Goes to Church

I first saw this video what seems like forever ago, but I just now realized I never posted it here.  Now, for your viewing pleasure every church goers headbanging to Slayer.