NEW MUSIC

NACHTMYSTIUM – “Addicts: Black Meddle PT. 2”  Chicago’s own Nachtmystium is back with one of the best and strangest metal albums of the year. Blake Judd (vocals, guitars and bass)  and Pat Clancy (guitars) have mixed together psychedelic rock, droning ambient sounds, dance floor industrial and ’70s rock with advance black metal without forgetting where it came from, calling it “Black Metal Disco.” Songs like “No Funeral,” “Addicts,” “Nightfall” and “Blood Trance Fusion” stand out as some of the best experimental metal songs I have heard in a while.

GOATVARGR – “Black Snow Epoch.” A harsh journey of sound structures from the deepest caverns of hell, presented by Nordvargr and Goat.

THE OTHER – “New Blood.” Germany’s most popular horrorpunks.

SETHERIAL – “Ekpyrosis.” Black metal from Sweden, great album cover.

MELVINS – “The Bride Screamed Murder.” The 18th album from this stoner/sludge metal pioneers. This time around they are using more progressive overtones an inspired experimentation to come up with one of their best in years.

BLACK BREATH – “Heavy Breathing.” Real good thrash/sludge metal from Seattle.

ROWLAND S. HOWARD – “Pop Crimes.” Legendary (R.I.P.) guitar player for The Birthday Party and These Immortal Souls last album.

SOULFLY – “Omen.” Max Cavalera is back with more tribal metal. Get the deluxe edition it has a great cover of Excel’s “My Life.” 

SECRET CHIEFS 3 – “Satellite Supersonic Vol. 1.” New songs and re-arrangements of songs of several 2007 ep’s. Trey Spruance’s (Mr. Bungle) avant-garde side project that mixes surf-rock, death metal, electronic and jazz.

AEON – “Path Of Fire.” Technical death metal from Sweden.

ROSETTA – “A Determinism Of Morality.” Experimental post-metal from Philly, so called “Metal for Astronauts.”

MARC ALMOND – Variete.” English cabaret goth-rock singer from Soft Cell.

LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH – “Extra Dimensional Wounds.” Black/thrash metal from L.A.

DEW-SCENTED – “Invocation.” German thrash metal.

BLACK TUSK – “Taste The Sin.” Swamp/thrash metal from Savannah.

STARKWEATHER – “This Sheltering Night.” Death Metal from Philadelphia.

GRAILS – “Black Tar Prophecies Vol. 4.” Instrumental post-rock from Portland.

MONDO GENERATOR – “Dog Food.” Punk metal from L.A. featuring Nick Oliveri.

DIABULUS IN MUSICA – “Secrets.” Symphonic metal with gothic elements from Spain.

THE DEVILS BLOOD – “The Time Of No Time Evermore.” Occult Dutch rock.

HORDE OF HEL – “Bloodskam II.” Industrial black metal from Sweden, pretty fucked up beliefs.

SUICIDAL ROMANCE – “Shattered Heart Reflections.” Electronic/industrial from Estonia.

SHIV-R – “Hold My Hand.” Dark industrial/electronic music from the UK.

GODLESS RISING – “The Trumpet Of Triumph.” Satanic death metal from New England.

MDC @ 3 KINGS TAVERN 6/04/10 DENVER-CO

Millions of Dead Cops, Millions of Dead Children and Millions of Dead Christians (personal favorite) are some of the names that MDC stands for.  Out of the slums of Austin- Texas, they play a style of pure classic hardcore punk, the way it should be. Formed in 1979 under the name The Stains, later changed to MDC, they have toured the world with some of the best punk bands like The Dead Kennedys and Bad Brains. They write great punk anthems that are very political, anti-establishment, anti-reagan and anti-cop like “John Wayne Was a Nazi,” “Violent Rednecks,” “I Hate Work” and “Born To Die.” Vocalist Dave Dictor has reunited with original members Ron Posner and Al Schvitz to tour again in 2010 and they wil be in Denver tearing it up.

Also playing: Decay – punk/thrash metal crossover from Colorado, Well Well Well – punk/thrash from Arkansas and Sons of Disobedience – hardcore punk from Denver.

CHEMLAB @ HI-DIVE 5/28/10 DENVER-CO

Industrial rock/metal  band Chemlab will be at Hi-Dive bringing The Midi Ghetto Tour. Hailing from Washington D.C. they have been in the scene since the late 80’s playing with such bands as NIN and KMFDM. They play so-called “Angel-Dustrial”  a mix of experimental sounds with rock and metal, led by Jared Louche in albums only and different players live. They have had many former bandmates like Charles Levy from Thrill Kill Kult, Greg Lucas from The Final Cut and William Tucker. With a vast catalog of songs like “Codeine, Glue and You,” “Jesus Christ Porno Star” and “Chemical Halo”  this is a show not to be missed. 

Also playing: 16 Volt – Industrial rock from Portland, Eric Powell one man studio project. Left Spine Down – Cyberpunk from Vancouver.

THE GATES OF SLUMBER @ THE LION’S LAIR 5/25/10 DENVER-CO

Indianapolis own The Gates of Slumber, are back in Denver playing a headlining show at The Lion’s Lair. Drilling from the veins of heavy metal they deliver doom in its purest form, staying real to the “Circle Of True Doom.” The band consist of Karl Simon – guitar/vocals, Jason McCash – bass and “Iron” Bob Fouts on barbarous thunder (drums). And remember kids, KEEP DOOM ALIVE!

Also playing: Black Sleep Of Kali – Stoner metal from Denver, CO.  Speedwolf – Metal from the Mile High and Black Acid Devil – Psychedelic metal from the republic of Boulder, CO.

DEADBOLT @ THE BLUEBIRD THEATER 5/25/10 DENVER-CO

Deadbolt the self proclaimed “Scariest Band in the World”  hailing from San Diego, California,  play surf rock, goth, psychobilly and blues all mixed together that they called  “Voodoobilly.” They have been touring all over the world since the late 80’s with original members Harley Davidson on voodoo guitar/vocals, 3rd Degree Burns on bass/vocals and Badtime Charlie on drums. If you can do not miss this show it will scare you to death.

Also playing: Whiskey Throttle – trashy surfabilly from Denver and Mighty 18 Wheeler – Dirty rock n’ roll from Denver, CO.

TOXIC HOLOCAUST @ THE MARQUIS THEATER 5/24/10 DENVER-CO

Toxic Holocaust from Portland, Oregon play a style of blackened thrash metal with punk attitude. Since forming in the  late 90’s  they have been touring non stop through the world, led by Joel Grind who writes and records all the music and hires a live band every tour.

Also playing: Zombie Hate Brigade – Horror grindcore from Littleton, Colorado. Fit For The Gallows – Drunken punk from Denver and Ulysses Lion – Black metal from Denver.

R.I.P. JUHANI PALOMAKI

Juhani Palomaki was found dead on May 15th, 2010 in his home in Finland. Vocalist for funeral doom metal band Colosseum, they created a mix of the darkest kind of funeral doom with dark ambient and orchestral works. Rust in peace Juhani.

DYING FETUS @ THE MARQUIS THEATER 5/21/10 DENVER-CO

Legendary brutal death metal band Dying Fetus from Maryland will be in Denver destroying the Marquis. Being one of the few death metal bands with outspoken political views and great at composing intricate pieces of music, they are recognized worldwide in the metal community. Formed in 1991 they have gone through many lineup changes, their current is John Gallagher on guitar/vocals, Sean Beasley bass/vocals and Trey Williams on drums. They have released 6 albums, 2 ep’s an a couple of demos, with such great classic songs like “Skull Fucked,” “Blunt Force Trauma” and “Kill Your Mother/Rape Your Dog.”

Also playing: Arsis – Death metal from Virginia.  Misery Index – Death metal/grindcore from Baltimore. Annotations Of An Autopsy – Death metal from the UK.  Conducting From The Grave – Melodic death metal from Sacto.

ISIS 1997-2010

Really?  The best fucking metal band out there is calling it quits? That’s just fucking bullshit!

IAN CURTIS

Ian Kevin Curtis, vocalist, songwriter and lyricist for Joy Division hung himself 30 years ago May 18th, 1980. He was a tortured soul who suffered from epileptic seizures and depression from wife troubles. All this came through in his music, which is some of the best post-punk ever created. His writting was filled with imagery of death, alienation, emotional isolation and urban decay. Joy Division created two of the best albums of our time “Unknown Pleasures” and “Control,” with such great songs like Dead Souls, Disorder, Transmission, Heart and Soul, Insight, Isolation and Atmosphere. They’ve  influence such diverse artists like The Cure, Psychic TV, Interpol and U2. Like so many talented artists that have died young, Ian is missed. “At this very moment, I wish I were dead. I just can’t cope anymore.”