LP Review: "Prophets From The Occultic Cosmos" by Excuse

Prophets From The Occultic Cosmos

Being the proud papa that I am, after skating lessons last night, the video of my daughter doing crossovers got spread around.

A friend of mine commented about how much more opportunity there is to play the sport of hockey nowadays compared to when we were children.

He was absolutely correct, but it's more than just hockey...or any other sport for that matter.

Humanity, much to the chagrin of many in the population, has leaped forward. We are capable of improving at dizzying speeds.

Take Excuse. They're a progressive thrash metal band from Finland.

Their debut album is nearly perfect. The musicianship is miles ahead of any thing Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, or even Megadeth did on their first couple of records, and this is a debut.

This record is akin to a goalie tossing a shutout in his first start in the NHL. The last goalie who did that was Jordan Binnington who won the Stanley Cup in the same season. So, no pressure, Excuse. I just expect you to continue making thrash metal masterpieces like this one.

RELEASE 8/2/19 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK 

Pizza Pie Do or Die with Billy Myers III of Glorious Rebllion

Glorious Rebellion

This past March, Glorious Rebellion took their first step towards immortality by releasing their third EP: Scholars of War.

This third one is the one, and it's not that this writer simply made an assumption that was incorrect. Hailing from Orlando, FL...

One has to wonder how much of a chance they have of becoming Florida Man...and I'm not trying to deflect from that earlier non-mistake.

This three track EP clocks in at 20 minutes...and it's progressive and thrashy. Looking to get it on?

Look no further, well, no further than BANDCAMP anyway. Now, let's talk to them about the symbolism in their latest release coupled with the backdrop of an impending World War III.

Nah...it's time to talk about pizza.

Vinyl Review: "Fight The World" by Motive

Fight The World

Music is a personal thing and beucause of that it's time I got a bit more personal with you, my readers.

On September 12, 2015, my cousin died. Jamie was more than a cousin to me. He and his siblings were like brothers and sisters to me due to how we grew up.

Jame and Al were constant sources of new artists for me. From them, I learned about Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Slayer, Metallica, Morbid Angel, Carcass, Napalm Death, Iron Maiden, and countless other bands.

Jamie died the day after Slayer's last album, Repentless, was released. It's funny, but one of the first things I thought of was, I hope he got a chance to hear that new Slayer record before he left us.

Well, that answer I don't have.

But, in the early 90's, before I'd ever grown out my hair, seen a show, smoked anything extra-legal, or even enjoyed a beer or a bourbon, Jamie introduced me to an indie band called Crucible.  The next week, I saw them open for Agnostic Front and I picked up a T-Shirt and a cassette tape. (It was the 90s.) That was my first introduction to independent music.

Video: "Rapture" by SystemHouse33

Oh man is this too heavy or what?

Because today's the day their album drops, let's check in with a metal band that's heavily influenced, get this, by the Book of Revelations in the Bible.

Anybody who's read that book knows that it's showing some pretty damned metal stuff.

So, if you're up to it, LIKE them and ORDER their music.

Beer Thirty with Archangel A.D.

Archangel A.D.

Growing up, it was always time to bang my head. The only issue with that was when we thought that Quiet Riot was telling us to literally bang our heads on the walls....which we did...once.

Thinking about heavy, fast music, it's all about that thrash. Don't we all have a soft spot in our cold, black hearts for thrash metal? It was the first kind of metal to drop the heavy label. It was  years later when heavy came back to metal.

Then things were just brutal....but let's talk about a band from Southern Texas, Archangel A.D.

Last month they birthed their debut, Warband, in the world of the living by releasing it on CD. You should get over to BANDCAMP  and check that out.

Or, if you fear commitment, you can always put them in your friend zone on FACEBOOK.

In the mean time, we're talking to one of our new friends about beer. Our young man gives us beer tales below....

LP Review: "Hymns For The Hollow" by Leach

Hymns For The Hollow

It might be well past time to add a slight separation to the Thrash Metallers.

Looking at the Big Four: Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax., and see the one who's a little different than the others?

Somehow, Anthrax's vocal style has become more associated with Thrash to me than the others and it's less than pleasing to me.

Leach has thrown their lot in with Slayer and Co. The vocals are shouted, grunted, and forced out with reckless abandon and a complete disregard for melody.

It's significantly refreshing because, well, thrash can be very dry. So how does a band give a new take on one of the eldest heavy metal subgenres?

Instead of vocal melody and musicality, there's a strong focus on the riffs and the interplay therein. Looking back at the works of the elders, there's strong riffing, but little time is spent with the instruments working in concert, at least in the beginning.

In a time when I shy away from any music bearing the word thrash, Leach has made me a believer again.

RELEASE 1/18/19 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK

LP Review: "Theater of Despair" by Violblast

Theater of Despair

If January is any indication, 2019 is going to be chock full of some truly amazing thrash.

This isn't one of those subgenres I dig into too much, because well, it's all been done before.

Enter Violblast. (Let's be honest, that's a difficult name to pronounce.)

These Spaniards have returned to restore my faith in the eldest of the sub-genres. They've recently signed to Hostile Media and we're now on the cusp of their first album for their new imprint.

Theater of Despair has a classic looking album cover with a slight modern update. It features classic imagery and coloration.

We've seen the undead on covers before and the woodcut style of of artwork. Even their logo is heavily influenced by their forebears. But instead of just black and grey, there's the infusion of red. The red makes the dead king's visage more horrible, more conspicuous, and more ghastly.

It's the perfect allegory for the music contained herein. Their guitars sound almost exactly like Slayer's Seasons In The Abyss. It's the thrash metal sound of perfection, but the riffing has death metal complexity and dexterity.

Violblast has hit us with a classic album but they've attached their vessel to modernity and it's bliss.

RELEASE 1/11/19 PREORDER FACEBOOK

"Daño Colateral" by Centauro

Daño Colateral

Metal has always been a bit rundown in the vocals department. How many times have you heard people say that they can't understand the words?

Well, Centauro is fun for me because it's in Spanish.

Unlike most Americans, I speak Spanish alongside my English, though English is my mother tongue and Spanish is not.

But I can understand parts of it here and there. There's more to love about this record than simply the language though.

This is an indie thrash record. If you're looking for some Pantera/White Zombie inspired grooves, this isn't it.

Metallica style progressiveness, keep walking. But if you're looking for a record that's going to kick ass six ways till Sunday, these are the droids you're looking for.

That goes double if you like music that surprises you. Check it out.

6/30/18  |  Independent  | Facebook  |  Bandcamp

Interview with Home Style Surgery

Home Style Surgery

Let's be nice and honest shall we? In the United States, we don't really think about Finland. Say what you want, but unless you're watching Olympic Hockey, you know what I'm saying is true...and Teemu Selanne isn't playing on that team, you probably don't watch it.

The first time I realized Finland was a thing was from the Monty Python song of the same name. It's nothing personal, but Sweden and Norway get all of the attention if we're being honest.

That's probably because Sweden has their death metal scene, and do we have to say anything about Norway's own scene? The one that sparked an international sensation? For clarity's sake, we'll say it: it's Bobbysocks!, naturally.

So, let's take a trip across the Atlantic Ocean, head a bit north, cross the fjords, and learn more about Finland's finest thrash metal band, Home Style Surgery. Jussi Keränen took some time with us and here's what we shook out of him....

LP Review: "The End of Mankind" by Adversor

The End of Mankind

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away...

Well it may not have been all that long ago, and the galaxy wasn't that far away either. In fact, it's probably appropriate to say that the galaxy was just a subdivision on the other end of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

In the years when your friend here was discovering that Iron Maiden wasn't the heaviest band in the world, many days (and nights) were spent at my best friend's house in his basement.

We listened to Metallica. He tried to teach me how to play both the guitar and the bass and both in vain. We watched live concert videos.

It was an oasis in a chaotic time for me and even though we're no longer in contact, those times are still very special to me and have been coming up in ways lately, especially while listening to Garage Inc by Metallica that was recently acquired on vinyl....

EP Review: "Victory is Mine" by Lucifer's Hammer

Victory is Mine

It's become apparent to me that I have been digging a rut for quite some time around here.

Normally, my reviews go in cycles and never really encircles one thing. My lack of specialization is source of great pride, but that's not been the case for awhile now.

This site has been working, insidiously I might add, to become another doom/stoner metal site.

That's not what we are all about.

So, for at least a little while, the focus will shift away from this glorious music scene and refocus on others.

Doom shan't be abandoned, but it's got to be one of many voices heard around here instead of the main voice heard. So, with all that said, here's the latest doom metal....sorry, habits are hard to break...

Concert Review: Metallica at Busch Stadium in St. Louis June 4, 2017 -Words and Photos by Danny Nichols

In August 1986, when I was nine years old,  my family took a summer trip to Fox Springs Resort in central Missouri.  While there I made friends with an older kid named Doug Shirley who had brought some cassettes with him which were considerably different than the Olivia Newton John and Barry Manilow my mother had subjected me too.   Principal among this stack was Metallica’s “Master of Puppets”.    Before the opening track "Battery" had finished a paradigm shift in my musical interest occurred which would severely impact the rest of my life. 

LP Review: "Kneel Before None" by Death of Kings

Kneel Before None

We all come to music a little bit differently. Some of us are lucky enough to have parents that share music. In fact, that's the type of parent I'm trying to be.

Some of us have older siblings, or friends.

My journey largely started with my cousins. When we were at a very young age, music was a big part of our lives. So, when those formative years cross my mind, there are always stories from my youth with Jamie and Al.

There was a time before Thrash Metal was widely recognized as anything. (Naturally, it was a thing, as this was the mid to late Eighties.)

We were sitting on their front porch while I was visiting. Plenty of Marlboros lit and burning. There was talk of heading out to this place called Candyband. As this was utterly foreign to me, I asked, what do you do at Candyband?

7" Vinyl Review: "Hell Comes To Life" by Death of Kings

Hell Comes To Life

Today we're talking about 7" vinyl.

In all of our vinyl reviews this is the first, but it won't be the last as we have a small pile of 7" records to review.

Last week our vinyl review was that of a record without the sleeve, so there wasn't an unboxing video. In this case, and with future 7" Records, there still won't be any unboxing videos. It seems, just kind of wrong to do so, but the same sort of packaging discussion will be all over the review itself.

In the past, we have done reviews on digital 7" releases, but this will be our first go with the real McCoy as it were.

You may recall our friends, Death of Kings, from an earlier interview. They gave some great information about who they are and what they do. You may wish to refresh yourself here. They have had a few 7" releases in the past and this one is on Boris Records.

Their full length debut will also be out later this year on Boris Records. You should make sure you check back by for the review.

Vinyl Review: "Hardwired...to Self-Destruct" by Metallica

Hardwired...to Self-Destruct

There are a great many bands in the world that are referred to as mighty, well in the metal community anyway.

Metallica is one of those bands whose superlatives are many and possibly too few at the same time.

Let's look back to the 90's when grunge and alternative were king of the roost. What a strange time that was.

A large refrain heard over and over again by the likes of Soundgarden et al. was that they couldn't listen to songs about Dungeons & Dragons.

This was something that I really didn't understand in 1992 because the metal in my ears for years had been about serious issues: corruption in the legal system, televangelists stealing from the masses, the death penalty, etc.

Concert Review: Slayer at the Pageant in St. Louis September 22, 2016 -photos and words by Danny Nichols

Slayer guitarist Kerry King

After a thirty five year career which has included twelve albums (four of them gold), achieving legend status among the thrash metal scene, being a principal influence for the death metal scene, inciting constant controversy and enduring the recent loss of two of their founding members (one through death and one through departure), Slayer still show no signs of slowing down.





Their rabid fanbase shows no sign of letting them. This bombastic celebration of all which is brutal rolled into a sold out Pageant Theater in St. Louis, Missouri.

Slayer delivered twenty relentless songs, with barely a moment for one to catch their breath.  The violence of their lyrics was matched, to some degree, by the spontaneous mosh pits which kept forming during their songs.  The band didn't waste too much time between songs, excepting when bassist/singer Tom Arraya paused to inform us the next song was going to be a love song, before hurling full steam into the decidedly unromantic "Dead Skin Mask".   The attack was fierce and fast, exactly as we wanted it.

Slayer bassist and vocalist Tom Araya

The most noticeable thing about Slayer's sonic onslaught was the volume of Tom Araya's bass guitar.  It rattled your bones and shook the rafters. Periodically, a strip of confetti left over from some previous show at the venue would shake loose and float down into the crowd.

The following week I was back at the Pageant for a show by Ghost and saw one final piece of confetti float down during their performance and wondered how it could have possibly survived the Slayer show.

Concert Review: Anthrax at the Pageant in St. Louis September 22, 2016 -photos and words by Danny Nichols

Frank Bello and Joey Belladonna of Anthrax

On a Thursday night in September St. Louis, Missouri witnessed two of the Big Four of thrash metal, Anthrax and Slayer, on a night which both celebrated the long tradition of the genre and showcased the newest material from these legendary bands.  

This was the fifth time I had seen Anthrax, and once again they delivered with authority.  Anthrax are touring in support of their new album and the set list reflected this, with four of the nines songs they played coming from "For All Kings".  

A fifth song came from the also recently released "Worship Music".  By the time they played the two covers they made famous, "Got the Time" and "Antisocial", this left only two songs left from which to represent their massive catalogue of influential and beloved music.   Yet in many ways this was exactly the point.  Anthrax is more than their epic backstory. They continue to be relevant,writing and performing songs as well as at any point in their history. 

Scott Ian

Concert Review and Photos: Death Angel at The Pageant in St. Louis September 22, 2016

Death Angel's Rob Cavestany

With the evening's lineup featuring three champions of thrash metal; Death Angel, Anthrax and Slayer, the Pageant was sold out. Befitting their place among the heavyweights of the genre, the venue was nearly at capacity in time for the first notes of the opening act.

Death Angel were treated like conquering heroes by an audience who does not get to hear this band nearly often enough. The set list was blistering, furious and intense, but tragically only six songs long.  

Death Angel took the stage with an abbreviated version of "The Ultra-Violence" from their debut album of the same name. This segued into a pummeling rendition of "Evil Priest", also off the first album.  

Vocalist Mark Osegueda

Album Review: "Present Day Plague" by S.N.A.F.U.

In the early 1970s there was an R&B and funk rock band of very minor renown called Snafu.  This is not your father’s Snafu.  The present day S.N.A.F.U. and their latest release Present Day Plague are a violent trip through a post-apocalyptic landscape of human decadence.

I am not sure there has ever been a band to so seamlessly merge the hardcore punk sounds of Napalm Death with the thrash mastery of Slayer as S.N.A.F.U has done here.  The comparison to Napalm Death is obvious. The songs are each a short, explosive bludgeoning of charged anger.  Yet the lead breaks and vocal cadence called to mind Reign In Blood era Slayer.   

There are moments when Present Day Plague settles into methodic crunchy riffs of doom, but they are short lived before inevitably searing into rapid fire thrash riffs reminiscent of Metallica's Kill ‘Em All played at double time. 

Album Review: "Mass Confusion" by Dust Bolt

In many ways thrash is the subgenre of music which permanently put heavy metal on the map in the United States.  Sunset Strip glam metal was hugely popular and slightly preceded thrash.  However, many argue glam metal is not true metal and it has clearly fallen out of favor.  (I believe glam metal is true metal, it has never fallen out of my favor, and I continue to worship at its altar regularly, but realize it has its detractors).   

The Florida death metal scene was also an American contribution, and has a tremendously devoted fan base, but has failed to produce any genre transcending iconic bands.  

Thrash on the other hand, having hit its peak during the height of  American metal interest in the late 80, produced some of metal music’s few undeniably metal household names, such as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax.  In addition, thrash has remained a viable genre, with new thrash albums blasting their way into our ears regularly.