Metal Reviews

Hope you have fun.

Saw Enslaved, Insomnium, and Black Anvil tonight. Enslaved and Insomnium were really good. Black Anvil was decent.

Been seeing a shit ton of shows the last few years, but seeing Have A Nice Life and Ragana this Thursday in Chicago.

Also travelling to the UK this fall to see Ashenspire and KEN Mode open for Lingua Ignota. Much higher on the first two than LA. I just want to talk to Charles about Ashenspire tbh. Commie black metal that stole everything from A Forest of Stars.

I point this out about them everywhere I post online, which is still most places.

Behemoth/Danzig in 2 weeks, Bad Religion in October, and Depeche Mode in November

Might go see 200 Stab wounds in another week

Mr. Steve. Good to see you here, buddy. Behemoth must be blast. I saw them on their Demigod tour and gave Nergal and the rest of the band a few joints to smoke.

yeah Demigod was a long time ago, i was 14 when that album dropped.

Delayed Gratification Showcase in Cleveland tomorrow, after that looking to do Fulci/Drawn and Quartered and Nunslaughter in October.

Behemoth killed it they were consummate professionals to the end, while they didnt go as intense as the Demigod days (Nergal had Leukemia). They mixed theatrics and top tier musicianship with pummeling drums from Inferno. Highlights of the set for me were Ov fire and the Void and Conquer all.

Danzig wouldnt allow anyone to film but I managed to record Twist of Cain. He sounded great for his age but we only stayed up until She Rides on his album show. Great sound but yeah he's a dick IMO

Twin Temple aren't for me and I didn't enjoy their set, if you like 50's doowop or Rockabilly you might enjoy them.

Midnight- Speed/Black metal in the vein of Venom/Motorhead if you like classic 80s thrash/speed metal you'll love these guys. Hook after hook and an image that conjures up cheesy band photos in leather and pentagrams. I loved their set and was happy to finally see them after repeated missed shows in Cleveland.

Next up: Bad Religion, Nunslaughter, and Fulci/Drawn and Quartered/Hulder

Sounds like you had a great time, Steve, for the most part that is. I remember when I saw Behemoth, and I will tell you that the heaviness in the arena blew my head off. I could quite literally feel the airwaves of sound hitting hard on my entire being most specially on my legs. And Behemoth were absolutely devastating. Yes, I remember being completely stunned by Inferno's performance and by everyone's else's in band quite frankly. I know Midnight. They're a lot of fun although I have not seen them live as it has been a very long time since I've been to a live show.

Yeah i've seen behemoth 3 times. good live band.

I've seen them live only once but once was enough for them to be cemented in my memory for as long as I live.

Bit disappointed with local tour choices this winter, all a bit dull. Belphegor and Arkona plus a waay past their prime Atrocity...? Are they picking bands at random or...? Orphaned Land plus *four* anonymous support acts? Looking like Enslaved/Svalbard/Wayfarer next March is the next decent choice, unless the publicity for bands these days is so terrible that even someone like me who pays a fair amount of attention has missed it...!

And as for the Soilwork / Arch Enemy / In Flames tour just announced for next year... I get touring is ever tougher for bands but I really don't care about Arch Enemy in 2023 and you can guarantee In Flames will not play the half of their discography I'm interested in hearing live. Go for half an hour of Soilwork and hope Anders is in voice for however long I stick around after, I guess.

Yeah I completely understand your frustration. Planning on going to a Sleepytime Gorilla Museum (I liked their new single, new album should be interesting if nothing else) show in March with a couple of people I bonded with over turning on Code Orange so that should be fun. I considered Meshuggah/In Flames/Whitechapel in December but Meshuggah's setlist sucks for the most part these days, all newish stuff and boring Nothing tracks, usually NO Chaosphere, and your points about In Flames are valid.

Missed Wayfarer entirely but what I saw of Svalbard was decent and of course Enslaved blew the roof off. A nice mix of modern, psychedelic stuff and older classics. I'd have liked Cloud or something in there but Havenless, Dead Stare, Return to Yggdrasil and Isa still hit like a bomb, as does an encore of Allfadr Odin. Took wife and she had a great time too

Enslaved live is so powerful that I was taking steps backwards because of the sheer force of their music. Lovely your wife liked them too, as it is such a pleasure to share a profound love for a band which a significant other also shares in some measure. Very happy for you.

Cro Mags NYHC legends tonight

my next metal show with either be Internal Suffering/Stabbing or Vermin Womb

Incantation/Internal Bleeding/Ringworm is possible, but the gf has wedding preparations so IDK about that. Stabbing would really be sick though

Best wishes with your girlfriend.

Tool coming up in a couple of weeks then not much until possibly Cannibal Corpse/Immolation in September? Seen the New Yorkers before but never had the pleasure of CC so leaning towards.