Metal Reviews

Soul Asylum in March (not metal, but fuck it. Black Gold was the jam back in the day). Testament, Black Dahlia Murder and Municipal Waste last weekend in April. Tool in mid June.

Arcturus are live streaming a show right now. I dunno, these live-from-quarantine things are okay, but I always have to force myself to give them more than like, ten minutes, because my attention wanders in a way that it doesn't when actually at a gig. There's a real lack of atmosphere when you're trying to get a live Facebook stream in HD on your shitty laptop and dealing with lag, or watching it on a phone about the size of your hand. I know it's not the bands' faults, and I have brought a shirt from Arcturus today to try and Do My Bit, but ugh, I really can't wait until this pandemic fucks off and we can go back to being in rooms full of enthusiastic drunk people bumping into each other as far-too-loud sound systems destroy the intricacies of a Sverd Johnsen keyboard line.

I can see how that would decrease one's interest. On my 26 inch desktop monitor I've found them quite enjoyable: was totally into the Oranassi Pazuzu one and got a kick out of participating in the live chat. Thanks for letting me know about the Arcturus one, can't wait to check it out.

Speaking of Vreid, they're doing a live stream this Saturday night from the Norwegian countryside, looks unique enough to be worth a try.

https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2020/06 ... e-session/

Enslaved streaming right now what would have been their Roadburn festival set, Code Orange going unplugged in a few hours. I can't complain.

They just played a track off of Frost and now they are playing 793-Battle of Lindisfarne. Are you kidding me??

Now I'm sorry I missed this! Will have to catch up, busy evening, but those early tracks are fire and ice.

It was free on youtube so I think they will post it later. Great show and solid set (5 of the 7 were fan voted), 2 tracks from RITTIR and nothing from In Times was a little unfortunate, but oh well.

Enslaved streaming a concert again next week. An entire album. The choice? Below the Lights.

I will definitely see this! Forgot about the previous show, something to catch up on in the meantime! Thanks for letting me know.

Awesome. I will have to donate or buy a shirt. Time and date reminder here: https://www.bandsintown.com/e/102263320?affil_code=js_enslaved.no&app_id=js_enslaved.no&came_from=242&utm_campaign=event&utm_medium=web&utm_source=widget

Streaming the whole album live now
https://youtu.be/ua_SagpwyS4

Of course Youtube didn't remind me, despite telling it to! But caught the latter half; love their set-up, and obviously the tunes hold up...

Well at least you caught half of it. I think the other half is or will be made available shortly. Below the Lights isn't my favorite but the performance was really good. I did get drawn into a new Opeth vs old Opeth argument in the chat however. Next time just gotta go fullscreen and ignore the chatter.

It might be exclusive; I never did find a link to that earlier show of theirs. But yeah, Youtube is cancer when it comes to comments!

Fortunately the new show is available herehttps://youtu.be/ua_SagpwyS4 I'd hate to miss Queen of Night, my favorite track from that album. But sadly you look to be right on the earlier show. Such a shame because Battle of Lindisfarne was really something else.

I'll check it out, thanks!

https://www.behemoth.live/

Behemoth and Imperial Triumphant playing in a church two weeks today, if you want to shell out $20 or whatever it is.

Yeah, I see ticketed stream shows becoming popular. I'd rather them be for free and then donate/buy merch, but who knows how many actually do.

It's win-win for the bands; basically taping them rehearse a live set, but with better production values and they can market it as akin to a genuine live experience, which it definitely isn't. No blame to the bands for trying to claw back some earnings in these times, but as someone who doesn't really like "live from quarantine" shows I'm not enthused by this.

I never go to concerts to watch bands play. I go to get in the front row where it's loud as fuck or when I was younger drink beer and get in the pit and headbang.