This is the first time I've put pen to paper, so to speak, since then. It's ironic that it's the pet column, which had to be suspended this summer after my kitten, Floyd, died.
More than anything, this is simply a small reminder that everything is temporary and we should be having the times of our lives every day.
BUT...this is about Dividing The Element's Chris Van. He has a strange, and slightly large cat as near as I can tell. The photo up there seems a bit fuzzy, or perhaps it's fuzzy because of these delicious Midwest Coast IPAs by Urban Chestnut Brewing.
Dividing The Element is one of the few, the proud, the African Metal Bands.
They're based in Zimbabwe. I'd heartily suggest checking out their BANDCAMP page here. You can get your stream on or purchase their debut album.
It's likely to leave you hungry for more.
Now, let's find out about this oddly shaped cat.
1. In my house, we have three cats named Wickett, Louis IX, and Jiji. How many do you have and what are they called?
This will be the third Ace Frehley album I have done a review on. My review of Spaceman created quite a flurry, but I'm brave! I'll go again.
If I'm being honest, there's no scenario that comes to mind where I'd be less excited to listen to this. His last album was a train wreck and the previous LP was the first covers record, which would have made a great EP.
Upon hearing about this one...many of the same guests, doing songs by many of the same artists, and well, Ace's vocals have deteriorated to nearly unlistenable. The single for Space Truckin though... it was quite good.
Then we found out this track was recorded during the Anomaly sessions. My personal opinion is the inclusion of this track made Ace to leave his "is that good enough" attitude at the door.
All signs pointed to this album being his Ghostbusters II, but instead he turned in The Empire Strikes Back.
I'm tired of all the food that's around my house in South St. Louis, except that Shaved Duck. It's been too long since I've gotten a smoked half chicken.
So, my comfort food has become literal food. It sucks when something metaphorical becomes literal and your existential crisis is exacerbated by the fact there's no McDonald's close enough to get the fries home quickly enough to eat them.
So, today we're talking to a Seattle band called Draemora. They rock that progressive death metal there. As a Gen X'er who's been at war with Seattle since 1993, it's nice to hear some extreme metal out of that city.
Whilst you're getting hungry reading about what they're eating, check out their latest VIDEO.
It's time for another installment of the column that's totally not about me being lazy and not having to format a text interview. This is about learning about the artist from their own mouth.
Totally it. While you're considering whether or not that's true, you can always check out the vaunted Grimgotts BANDCAMP page.
They just dropped their latest EP last week. Earn some metal cred buy purchasing an EP in Great Britain Pounds.
Also, check out the man below.
We're still neck deep into the pandemic and I dunno about you, but I'm drinking beers to help me deal with this bullspit.
So, along with Pandemic Dispatches, it seemed only appropriate to reactivate the Beer Thirty Column. Not only do I love beers, my readers love beers, and what self respecting metal head doesn't enjoy a good beer?
Today, we're talking to a Calgarian from Calgary, Alberta. I mean, that was obvious wasn't it? Anyhoo, Illuminated Minerva is totally into beer.
But what about their music I hear you thinking.
They play some instrumental prog metal. You can hear it over at their BANDCAMP page.
But for now, BEER!
Lafayette is one of the cities in Louisiana that I wouldn't be able to name, so, you win Tico Torres.
You win this round.
Whilst their working on their debut LP, they have recently dropped a digital 7". You can check that out over here on their BANDCAMP page.
It's just about the right length to listen to whilst reading below...
1. Listening to Black Sabbath's eponymous debut the night I got it blew me away. What's the album that sounds the best on vinyl compared to digital sources?
It's probably the most answered one I have done.
For some reason, it really seems like Musos wanna talk about Music.
I mean, who knew??? Anyway, you can buy their new record on wax HERE.
1. My favorite kind of album is the concept album. The Wall is my absolute favorite. Beyond the amazing songs, it has spectacular nostalgia for me. What's your favorite one and why?
For me Alice Cooper automatically comes to mind. I would say he is the king of concept records. Welcome to my nightmare is a classic.
Well, here's a good chance for you to find out more about Djoom Metal. Surely this can be done well right?
Admit it, you're interested now. In your mind, you're starting to wonder if these two opposite ends of the metal spectrum can exist in the same space.
Find out HERE.
While you're finding out, check out what Jekyll thinks about how they started it all.
1. Is there an event you can point to you that made you say, wow, that's the instrument I want to play? Not like guitar or drums, but the reason why you play the model you do?
Those guys need to have their high horses taken down from beneath them. Flyover Country forever! (Until I move to either San Francisco or Philadelphia.)
So, let's talk about today's metal band from (checks notes) Los Angele...oh balls.
Check their music out on BANDCAMP.
In fact, I believe these fellows have a new record in the offing. Hell, you can order that stuff now on BANDCAMP.
1. Let's not pretend. Fast food is delicious. What is your favorite fast food joint?
- Chick-Fil-A. It pulls apart like real chicken. For someone that really doesn't eat fast food very often, that makes me feel better about myself and my terrible decision.
Check out their latest video HERE.
1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such?
We are all located in the Seattle and Los Angeles area where the stay at home orders have been very strict.
They have been allowing people to get back to work under certain conditions and requirements, but there are definitely no music venues opening and there is no expectation for that to happen anytime soon.
There's an old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words, but what about a video? This video features at a minimum 2,000 photos. Toes that mean that this video is worth TWO MILLION words even though there's nowhere near that many spoken?
Anyway, who cares about my waxing stupid about nothing, let's talk about the band shall we?
Should you be of that persuasion, and you're interested in some betwitching tunes, you might wish to check out the BANDCAMP.
But let's let Simon handle the talking...
My personal computer died a few weeks back when I spilled beer on it. I've now unlocked hoosier level 5 I think.
Anyway, here's to being back happy and writing hard.
Today, we're talking to Evertrapped again. It's fun to get to know these bands in a new and odd way.
They've gotten in on our Pandemic Dispatches and Classic Spins, but let's find out more about these Montreallers on the eve of the Montreal Canadiens returning to the NHL Playoffs.
While you're reading, might I suggest a bit of reading music? Check their latest VIDEO.
Mask UP.
Check out this VIDEO from BADGUYSWIN and see how they're dealing.
1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.
Canada has had a pretty lucky go, especially where we are in Vancouver BC. with a limited amount of cases and the new “phase 2” coming into action allowing bars and pubs to open has reopened social life for us here in BC.
Although, we still don’t get live shows, the community has gotten together harder than I think I’ve ever seen it. Everyone is hungry, everyone is itchy… this is the type of zeitgeist we’re experiencing, the NEED for a show is brewing and coming soon!~
We sheltered collectively for about a month, one of the 3 of us was what was deemed an “essential worker” so he really got the short end of the stick.
AND I’d say that whole on work/off work situation has been very complicated; but we’ve come together as a crew… knowing that we were able to rely on each other the same way we did, as we were on tour, relying on the simple chemistry of the band.
It was super refreshing to deal with each other on such an honest level… that's bein’ a band baby!!
WORST QUESTION hahaha… for real tho, we as well as many other bands had so many things cancelled this year; we lost 2 Canadian tours this year and are waiting on baited breath for JAPAN, we’d love to go back or get to our buddies on the east side of our great country (Villain, Skullfist, Luger, etc)…
Some great local shows, Flotsam and Jetsam was scheduled for May 28… haha the more I bring up , the less I’d like to do this question… Let's pass for now, are we allowed to pass it on to next year ??
Writing songs of course!! when your jam space is huge, and your only a 3 piece… you can social distance safely and rock out hard as well…
We’re a clean and generally healthy bunch; can’t say we were to stressed here, to be honest… BC , especially, Vancouver has seemed to dodge the worst of COVID19 thus far...
Oh, the Priest is always ready… but on a less “band pragmatic stance” , we like to have fun, writing together is fun for us… we do the best working together, we simply took the time to find what worked the best.
I could answer this all day long
For real though, what do I splurge….. hmm well we’ve been cooking up a DVD, a TV show, a NEW album amongst MANY other ideas… with all the time, we’ve talked about going in about every direction we can think of going. let's take things to the next level
How do we build a scene?? let's take this thing to the next level, how do we progress past covid19? as a global/musical population??
