Before coming to this show, I knew it was going to be a pretty interesting night. It wasn’t just because the awfully underrated and super-legendary Floridian progressive metal masters Cynic would once again be supporting a band that they helped create, but it’s because I heard that they would be premiering out a new tune. Considering the fact that their latest masterpiece, Traced in Air (Season of Mist), came out 15 years after their landmark debut Focus (Roadrunner), I was more than happy to get a fix of brand-new Cynic songs.
I didn’t make it in time to check out most of Scale the Summit’s set. From what I caught, these guys played instrumental guitar music. I wouldn’t call this metal in any way. In fact, I wasn’t even into it. Sorry, but guitar-heavy instrumental music isn’t for me. I will give props to these kids, though. They can definitely rip on their instruments.
Up next was another legendary figure: Canada’s Devin Townsend. The former Steve Vai singer and Strapping Young Lad frontman is back after retiring from the music industry for some time—and he’s more whacked out then ever. I never understood his music or his sense of humor, so I guess that’s why I didn’t really enjoy his set. While I was walking around the venue, I heard a lot of people who came specifically for him and were super stoked to see him. His onstage banter reminded me of Mike Patton and Frank Zappa, but even more intense. Tonight’s crowd definitely worshipped “Heavy Devy.”
Cynic was up next, and I don’t think my love for this band needs too much of an introduction. They were a band so far ahead of their time that it was ridiculous. Even today, I feel that they are criminally overlooked. With that said, I must admit I was pretty disappointed with the band tonight.
Why? First, they only played only one song from Focus. I know singer/guitarist Paul Masvidal is a very spiritual person, but that doesn’t mean the fans—the people who truly find solace in his music—don’t want to hear his classic songs (even if they were written 16 years ago when he was in a different mindset). Cynic only has two albums, each of them clock-in at about 35 minutes. I’m sure if they cut the live segue samples a little bit, they could’ve added two or three more songs from Focus. I was extremely shocked that they didn’t even play “How Could I?” That’s like Slayer not playing “Raining Blood.”
The new song, whose title I did not catch, really got me thinking. The direction was more straightforward and more in the lines of Paul and drummer Sean Reinsert’s other project, Aeon Spoke. It was definitely a song that I need to listen to at home in order for me to get the most out of it. Right off the bat, I got a latter-day Katatonia vibe, which was awesome, though not exactly “Cynic”-like. Perfomance-wise, the band was on fire, as usual. Bassist Robin Zielhorst held it down and second guitarist Tymon Kruidenier played his leads as fluid as ever.
After a disappointing set, I decided to catch some of Between the Buried and Me. I couldn’t help but notice the band’s eclectic crowd, with fans ranging from hardcore tough guys, teeny-bopper MySpace girls, Berklee College of Music rejects and the occasional old-timer who probably heard about the band in the New York Times or the Village Voice. I’ve read a lot about this band and even checked out some of their latest material, but I never got into it. I was hoping I would at least enjoy them live. Not surprisingly, I was wrong.
Usually, when I don’t enjoy a band, it’s almost always going to be that the music is not for me. However, there are cases where I will see a band live and get so blown away by their energy that I will go back to their records and actually enjoy them, which happened with Sweden’s Nifelheim.
Between the Buried and Me do not fall under this category—and it’s nothing against the band. These guys are so unbelievably talented it’s ridiculous. In particular, I must call out drummer Blake Richardson. This guy is an incredibly fluid and dynamic drummer. I’d like to say he’s the Dennis Chambers of progressive metalcore.
Overall, it was the night for Between the Buried and Me and the sold-out crowd showed it. The fans might have gotten their money’s worth but I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth. This just shows that Cynic need to finally do a proper headline tour so that will give their music justice. In a perfect world, I would love for them to co-headline with Atheist—the band who sparked the reformation of Cynic. Maybe that will give Paul the type of energy to whip out “Uroboric Forms.” —Henry Yuan
Amon Amarth set to tour the states this April with support coming from Holy Grail & Eluveitie
In continuing support of the band’s 2008 release Twilight of the Thunder God, AMON AMARTH have announced a spring, 2010 North American headlining tour, which marks the band’s first tour in the states since their April/May 2009 run with Goatwhore, Skeletonwitch, and Lazarus A.D. The scheduled 15 date trek kicks off on April 8th at the House of Blues in Hollywood, CA. Support on the AMON AMARTH tour will come from Pasadena, California’s Holy Grail and Switzerland’s Eluveitie.
Amon Amarth comments: “We’re extremely excited to be hitting North American shores again for a final run of the Twilight of the Thunder God tour. We’re also happy to bring two great bands, Eluveitie and Holy Grail with us.”
AMON AMARTH Tour w/ Holy Grail and Eluveitie
04/08 West Hollywood, CA House Of Blues
04/09 San Francisco, CA The Regency Ballroom w/ Fear Factory, Dirge Within, Holy Grail, Eluveitie
04/10 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre
04/11 Seattle, WA Showbox At The Market
04/12 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre
04/14 Calgary, AB McEwen Hall University Of Calgary
04/15 Edmonton, AB Edmonton Event Center
04/16 Saskatoon, SK Odeon Event Centre
04/17 Winnipeg, MB Garrick Center
04/18 Saint Paul, MN Station 4
04/19 Chicago, IL Logan Square Auditorium
04/21 Toronto, ON Opera House
04/22 Montreal, QC Metropolis
04/23 Quebec City, QC Imperial Theater
04/25 New York, NY The Fillmore
Twilight of the Thunder God features several high-profile guest appearances including Entombed singer L.G. Petrov (on ‘Guardians of Asgaard’), Children of Bodom guitarist Roope Latvala (who shreds a fierce solo on the track ‘Twilight of the Thunder God’) and Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica (a guest appearance on ‘Live For The Kill’).
Hardcore metal act Converge have announced a headlining spring tour in support of 2009’s critically heralded, Axe To Fall. In an epic kick off, the band has invited labelmates and friends Thursday, who are currently out supporting their 2009 release Common Existence, to join them on the road for the first week of the tour. Converge will be joined by supporting acts Coalesce, Harvey Milk, Gaza, Touche Amore, Lewd Acts and Black Breath on various dates throughout the rest of the tour (see tour routing below). Tickets are on sale now.
Converge Tour Dates:
Apr 30 – Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero (w/Thursday, Touche Amore, Lewd Acts)
May 1 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium (w/Thursday, Touche Amore, Lewd Acts)
May 2 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance (w/Thursday, Touche Amore, Lewd Acts)
May 3 – Williamsville, NY – Club Infinity (w/Thursday, Touche Amore, Lewd Acts)
May 4 – Washington, DC – Black Cat (w/Thursday, Touche Amore, Lewd Acts)
May 5 – Norfolk, VA – Norva (w/Thursday, Touche Amore, Lewd Acts)
May 6 – New York City – Santo’s Party House (w/Touche Amore, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 7 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop (w/Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 8 – Detroit, MI – Magic Stick (w/Coalesce, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 9 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge (w/Coalesce, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 10 – Lawrence, KS – Bottleneck (w/Coalesce, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 11 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theatre (w/Coalesce, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 13 – Seattle, WA – Nuemo’s (w/Coalesce, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 14 – Portland, OR – Satyricon (w/Coalesce, Gaza, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 15 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s (w/Coalesce, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 16 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Downtown Brew (w/Coalesce, Gaza, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 17 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction (w/Coalesce, Gaza, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 18 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre (w/Coalesce, Gaza, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 19 – Phoenix, AZ – The Clubhouse Music Venue (w/Coalesce, Gaza, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 21 – Austin, TX – Emo’s Outside (w/Coalesce, Gaza, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 22 – Dallas, TX – Trees (w/Coalesce, Gaza, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 23 – Tulsa, OK – The Marquee (w/Gaza, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 25 – Memphis, TN – Hi Tone Café (w/Gaza, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 26 – Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall (w/Gaza, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 27 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In (w/Harvey Milk, Gaza, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 28 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (w/Harvey Milk, Gaza, Lewd Acts, Black Breath)
May 20 – Baltimore, MD – Sonar (w/TBA)
“Untitled 5/05,” a track from Burzum-esque lo-fi black metal artist Xasthur’s recently reissued (via Hydra Head Records), 2005 Demo, is now streaming at this location.
The perfect soundtrack for winter’s dismal isolation! Enjoy!
Red Fang is the formation of long time friends and collaborators Bryan Giles (Last of the Juanitas, Party Time), Aaron Beam (Dark Forces, Lachrymator), David Sullivan (Party Time, facedowninshit, Shiny Beast) and John Sherman (Party Time, Bad Wizard, Trumans Water, All Night).
Unleashed on New Year’s Eve of 2006 in Portland, Oregon, Red Fang stormed out of the gates, introducing a sweaty, seething basement to a new kind of unforgettable fist-pumping, beer-chugging rock music. Since that night, the band has continued with the same intensity, energy, and intimacy to quickly become a touring juggernaut, playing shows all over the US with bands like The Melvins, Big Business, and The Sword, to name just a few.
Residing somewhere between Black Flag and Black Sabbath, Red Fang recall a time when rock was more urgent and horrifying. Synthesizing a variety of heavy music influences into their own distinct musical identity, the band easily shifts from barn-burning punk to mid-tempo, hyper-distorted bass destruction all while maintaining a cohesive sound.
Red Fang create gigantic rock songs that are easy to listen to (not easy listening, mind you) and qualify the simultaneous usage of both the thinking and the banging head, which are usually mutually exclusive. Their instrumentation is fluid and effortless, and the vocals are delivered melodically and forcefully, with enough rasp and effect saturation to fit nicely within the music. Paired with elemental imagery, the lyrics are immense and satisfying without any pretense.
Red Fang’s self-titled debut full-length will be released on Sargent House in March 2009.
The unrelenting Norwegian duo, Darkthrone—featuring drummer/lyricist Fenriz and guitarist/singer Nocturno Culto—will welcome a new decade with a new album, to be released on Peaceville Records. Circle The Wagons, a creative feast of metal and punk, will initially be released on vinyl on March 8th, through the Peaceville Records webstore, as an exclusive taster for the legions of metal supporters out there who still care about great music delivered the classic way. The vinyl will also include a link to download a digital version of the album, which will be available when the regular and special edition CD versions of the album are released on April 6th.
The vinyl edition can be pre-ordered now at www.peaceville.com/darkthrone. The packaging and contents of the special edition CD will be announced shortly, and will be available to pre-order from the Circle The Wagons mini-site, which will launch on February 12th.
Circle the Wagons was self-recorded at Necrohell II Studios. Artwork for the album comes once again courtesy of Dennis Dread, notable for his talents on previous Darkthrone albums, F.O.A.D and 2008’s Dark Thrones and Black Flags.
From their thrash and death beginnings to their ascension to the pantheon of black metal greats, Darkthrone has always refused to stand still. They continue to embrace and explore their roots and capture the real spirit of sonic greatness on Circle the Wagons.
Darkthrone sails against the tides of trend and disposable metal, uncompromising and defiant as ever, an ideology expanded upon by Fenriz, when explaining the meaning behind the title.
“The new metal decade starts with our album. It is a message to the invaders of our metal domain to circle their wagons! With our own brand of heavy metal/speed metal-punk we are a constant ambush on the modern overground metal traitors. Join us in our fight against instant gratification, and let’s see who stands when the smoke clears.”
SKELETONWITCH will play two free Scion shows this week; Wednesday the 10th in Atlanta and Thursday the 11th in Los Angeles. The Ohio group will appear at both shows with Massachusetts’ Doomriders, who feature members of Converge and Cave In. The shows are all ages and free, but you must RSVP to attend. Get there early as attendance is not guaranteed. Both shows will be ragers! CLICK HERE TO RSVP NOW!!
Here are the details:
2/10 Masquerade- Atlanta, GA, 8pm, All Ages
2/11 The Roxy- Los Angeles, CA, 8pm, All Ages
SKELETONWITCH’s latest full length, Breathing The Fire was recorded with legendary producer, Jack Endino (Nirvana, High On Fire, Soundgarden). The album was released by PROSTHETIC RECORDS on October 13 and debuted at number 151 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.
