Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 @ Auditorium Shores and Red 7, Austin, Texas, November 4-6, 2011
Jay H. Gorania reviews the 2011 edition of Fun Fun Fun Fest, which happened in Austin, TX in early November.
The Tangent – COMM
This is what the Tangent does best: bringing stirring music and real-world ideas together. They’re working class heroes, in a way. Prog rock fans aren’t used to being confronted by such blunt lyrical statements, but that’s part of the challenge that this album threw at me. Once I got in tune with its approach, COMM became a rewarding listening experience.
Mayhem/ Keep of Kalessin/ Hate/ Abigail Williams/ Woe @ The Opera House, Toronto ON, November 10th 2011
However controversial and dark, Mayhem is still incredibly important aesthetically and culturally. It’s also relatively rare the the band successfully crosses borders, making this a rare Canadian appearance.
Rodney “Anonymous” Linderman of The Dead Milkmen: The Hellbound Interview
Rodney “Anonymous” Linderman is on the phone. And he’s not sure he’s reached the right Hellbound. “I’ve looked at your website and I just see death metal bands” he says. “I don’t want to be a Justin Bieber in a group of Glenn Danzigs.” Hellbound assures him he’s reached the right publication and that we want to speak to him. And why wouldn’t we? As vocalist and keyboardist of The Dead Milkmen, Linderman played a key role in 1980s American punk rock and was among the first underground artists to be featured on MTV. He dissed Motley Crue when glam ruled metal and made subversive songs that somehow got radio play.
Napalm Death + guests @ Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver BC, October 27, 2011
Vital and blistering on stage, and with a new album scheduled for February release, Napalm Death laid waste the Rickshaw and Vancouver’s grind-starved crowd.
Cynic/ 3/ Scale The Summit/ The Ocean @ The Wreck Room, Toronto ON, November 10, 2011
An eclectic line up was the order of the night in Toronto at the Wreck Room. Prog metal legends Cynic with 3, Scale the Summit and a recently added The Ocean were to play this showcase of musical talent.
Threat Signal – Threat Signal: Album review & Audio Interview
Jason Wellwood reviews the new self-titled third album by Threat Signal and then interviews Jon Howard about the new album, touring internationally and their upcoming tour in 2012 North American tour with Children Of Bodom.
Book Review: The Bloody Reign of Slayer
Overall, a fine, well-researched read, worth getting for the amazing story of Slayer’s support slot with the mighty Venom, which brings new meaning to the phrase ‘taking the piss’!
Thrall – Vermin To The Earth
Vermin to the Earth is a bleak, vicious, and razor-sharp swipe at the gut. No warning bites here, Thrall make it clear they will not rest until they see/bring forth complete annihilation.
Scythia – …Of Exile
Scythia have outdone themselves on this record. One listen to it with your headphones on and you’ll be humming the oboe parts to ‘For The King’ and quite possibly singing it over a pint of mead down at ‘Hobarth’s Inn’. …Of Exile is a fun, rollicking ride and I suggest you strap on your leather armour and your bastard sword put on this album and lose yourself in adventur