Rolling 2020 Metal Thread

Day 3: Shore day

We went to Cozumel. It's very...touristy. all I did was drink.

Only a half day of shows but a great crop.

Flotsam and Jetsam: so glad i caught them. They mixed some of their last two albs in with Doomsday and No Place for Disgrace songs. Amazing set.

Atheist: about as good as the Orlando set in November. Very Piece of Time and Unquestionable Presence heavy.

Devin Townsend: the wind had gotten out of hand. Ihsahn's solo set was stopped three songs in. There were doubts Devy would get to play. But he persevered. He was very jocular as the wind kept fuckin' with his click track computer. He talked to ne at one point. He was chugging water and I screamed "Drink that fuckin' water!" and he said "I'M DRINKING IT, I'M DRINKING IT!". Setlist was much the same, but it was so communal and awesome. Lots of people hugging. Highlight for sure. Can't wait to hear more varied material in March!

At the Gates: The weather became untenable. Banners started to tumble from the rafters. We were evacuated to inside. The set was delayed an hour, til about 1:30 am. They broke into their Slaughter of the Soul set and it was just beautiful. Tomas was so excited up there. Wonderful set,band I caught an At the Gates pick.

After three days of getting blitzed, I am digging deep today. Orphaned Land into Suffocation up next.

Day 4

Fatigue was starting to set in. Fighting a third straight hangover, I decided the only way I would wake up a little is to....drink heavily again. More on that.

Skipped the rest of Orphaned Land after a few songs. I like them, but they were gravitating towards material I was less favorable of.

Archon Angel: Wasn't intending to see them, I was on my way to breakfast. Fronted by Zak Stevens, ex-Savatage vocalist (1993 - 2001). I came up as they were ripping through a cover of Savatage's "Power of the Night", and stayed to the end as they played two songs from Edge of Thorns, which brought me back to age 17, when I first discovered that album.

Suffocation: I was pretty toasted by this point, and this time, the sound was perfect. Switched up the setlist and gave us "Jesus Wept" this time. Absolute cracker of a set.

Brujeria: By some miracle, I missed only two minutes of this set. These guys are such incredible fun live. I moshed briefly with a guy who was dressed up as a banana as well as people dressed as sharks (it was costume day). Of course they ended with "Marijuana".

I headed to see Possessed again and on the way, actually ran into Zak Stevens, and took a pic with him. And then heard the news that Neal Peart died.

Possessed: The news about Neal Peart somewhat overshadowed the set, as my excitement as largely gone after such fucked news. It was an enjoyable set, but not quite as much fun as the one from Day 2. Too many Eyes of Horror songs, and honestly, I was just bummed out.

Soilwork: Sat on a lawn chair and fell asleep for the entire set. It was at this point that I realized I needed to stop drinking for the day, as my energy was gone. Just ate dinner and drank tons of water.

Candlemass: Now THIS was awesome. Kept dozing now and then, due to fatigue, but this was a Doomicus heavy set, with "Crystal Ball", "Under the Oak", and "Demon's Gate" all getting played, in addition to "Solitude". Johan Längqvist sounded phenomenal!

At this point, I could only bring myself to see two more sets, as I was gassed.

Emperor: Not quite as awe-inducing as first show, mostly because you never beat your first, but a phenomenal set regardless. Setlist somewhat changed up, with "Curse Ye All Men!" and "Majesty of the Nightsky" thrown in. It was on the pool deck in front of a fierce windstorm, which felt appropriate. At the end of the set, "My Heart Will Go On" played over the loudspeakers as the band took selfies in front of the stage.

Exodus: Now this was cool. Bonded by Blood front to back Souza's microphone was extra-layered with reverb this night to approximate Baloff sound, and everything was played at a much higher speed than on disc. I was started to get aggravated by Exodus fans rudely elbowing and shoving people and could tell my transition back to an old man yelling at a cloud was complete. one more Toxic Waltz ended things, with the band jokingly covering verse 1 of "Hair of the Dog" by Nazareth first.

amazing experience. I was sated. Exhausted now and recharging.

the new Rage album is fun.

damn, you make me wanna go on this cruise

The Darkspace bass player lady has a new project and the only time she mentions Darkspace it's in the past tense

http://www.invisibleoranges.com/apokryphon-interview-premiere/

Thanks for the in-depth report, Neanderthal.

As for Zorgh/Ophis, I hope Darkspace's next project is merely being kept on Alpine ice, but in the meantime I'm very curious to hear what Apokryphon has to offer.

i just recently discovered vulture and chemicide ... sickest thrash bands ive heard in awhile! any other ones i'm missing?

I'm not much of a thrash guy but Inculter easily made their way into my listening regimen last year.

Possessed - I had no idea Jeff Becerra is paralyzed. He gave every ounce of energy out there and constantly kept saying how awesome it was to be there. At one point there was a fan in the crowd in a wheelchair and everybody lifted him up in his chair so that he could lock eyes with Jeff. Amazing moment.

omg i'm crying

I'm a bit behind Bstep but thanks for the suggs re: thrash. looking for good stuff in that arena atm.

I quite liked last years Wraith album Absolute Power.

Myrkur has gone full-on Nordic folk on her new album, out in March. The cover could almost be from a mid '80s Laibach single:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EOQYzaSWkAAz7so.jpg

And this is the first song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=558TW8qVuNE

lol good look w/ the muslim invasion of europe stuff from the other year

More Myrkur is always welcome. And as pRoBLeMaTiC as her aesthetic may occasionally appear, she's also posted stuff like this in the past, which is more than can be said for most BM-adjacent musicians these days: https://www.instagram.com/p/BXtKsFrhRF6/

Tbf her comments about Islam were in reference to the way organized religions tend to treat women.

xp

metalhammer gave her the chance to walk that shit back and she completely ducked the question:

q: When you said you felt that Islam was ‘invading’ Europe, what were you trying to say? Many Muslims have grown up in and contributed positively to societies across Europe.

a: “Many Muslims have grown up in and contributed positively to societies across Europe; I agree. In Europe we have freedom to choose religion and you do not get persecuted for having the wrong religion, so of course it’s open to all and should remain that way.”

Many Muslims have grown up in and contributed positively to societies across Europe; I agree.

I can't think of many black metallers who would countersign this statement.

if my local listings are to be trusted, Horrendous has been added to that already-ridiculous Satan tour

all old school filth dogs get in here and wallow, this is absolutely the business

https://soulsellerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/old-old-death

Not bad at all, for a minimalist band there's some clever guitar stuff happening. I really like the subliminal ringing chords in the first part.

mmmm, surprise new Holy Fawn EP.

Sweet.

a dude from katatonia used to be in this band and isn't any more but this should still be of interest to people who like doomy metal with killer lines, though it's too fast to be doom

https://agoniarecords.bandcamp.com/album/garden-of-storms

VERY hard swerve from the style of the first track to the second -- the latter is melodic goth-metal & barely metal at all for half of it, really, but I'm into the guitarwork enough to just go along for the ride -- great tone, great direction

very good stuff in my view

:(

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/21/ozzy-osbourne-reveals-parkinsons-disease-diagnosis

Yeah. That's a major bummer :(

Dio's final four studio albums — Angry Machines, Magica, Master of the Moon and Killing the Dragon — are being reissued next month as 2CD sets with a bonus disc of live material tacked onto each. I never listened to any of them at the time, but I'm listening to Angry Machines now, and holy shit, this album rules.

oh hey there's a new Thy Catafalque out today

New Sacramentum (!) reportedly in the works.

Temperance is a really good melodic power-metal band. The new album came out today!

https://open.spotify.com/album/3rr2JHdaxZ7nVgMyXy5oYw?si=BANczLriS8eK-wkMXXbq0w

going back upthread to Myrkur, it still messes with me that she's doing metal now because I first became exposed to her singing hooks on R.A. the Rugged Man/Vinnie Paz songs, like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGiwITaso_g

oh hey there's a new Thy Catafalque out today

― bold caucasian eroticism (Simon H.), Friday, January 24, 2020 8:32 AM (four days ago) bookmarkflaglink

it's fantastic

oh hey thanks for the heads-up on Temparance, "Of Jupiter and Moons" was great!

new Thy Catafalque is indeed very good, eclectic in that wonderfully natural/unforced way his stuff generally is

New Kalmankantaja diptych, Nostalgia (I: Bones and Dust / II: My Kingdom), is a marvel. I have no idea how they manage to be so consistent (almost 40 releases in 7 years).

Angry Metal Guy describes this as 'a collaboration between Mercyful Fate, Celtic Frost, Agent Steel and Darkthrone circa Transilvanian Hunger':

https://youtu.be/2QtF80_z1qM

Here's the embed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QtF80_z1qM

HELLO MY BATSIGNAL

New Aktor next month, the guy from Dawnbringer/High Spirits/etc and Circle ppl doing weird proggy, AOR-influenced stuff w/synths

https://aktor.bandcamp.com/album/placebo

As much as I don't like Ghost I could imagine people who enjoy them digging this.

Not really my thing either but I'll sample a track or two.

Meanwhile, I highly doubt anyone still cares, but a new Sepultura will be out next week.

I'm always morbidly curious what they're up to. I was under the impression the last album was something of an upswing?

Last two albums

Cult of Fire are back shortly with a double album; here's a single

https://cultoffire.bandcamp.com/album/un-clean

Mercyful Fate confirmed for Psycho Las Vegas

I can't not go now

new perversion EP (detroit death metal)

https://perversionisdeath.bandcamp.com/album/archaic-death-metal

oh that Perversion has exactly the kinda ridiculous echoing vocals I can't help but love

I love Ghost, and the same goes for Dawnbringer, High Spirits, and Circle. And especially Aktor. So yes, it is possible for a person who enjoys Ghost to like Aktor.

😎👍

Archaic Death Metal? Sign me up. And yeah, those vocals are right up my alley as well.

some good ol powerviolence from last month:

Escuela Grind from MA

https://escuelagrind.bandcamp.com/album/ppoowweerrvviioolleennccee

Psycho Las Vegas full lineup

Psycho Las Vegas — 2020 Lineup
Danzig
Mercyful Fate
Emperor
The Flaming Lips
Blue Öyster Cult
Down
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Ty Segall
Warpaint
Mayhem
Satyricon
Watain
Blonde Redhead
Health
Obituary
Ulver
Katatonia
At The Gates
Poison The Well
T.S.O.L.
Crowbar
Exhorder
Wolves In The Throne Room
Thursday
Pinback
Zola Jesus
Drab Majesty
Boris
King Dude
Paul Cauthen
Amigo The Devil
Eyehategod
Pig Destroyer
Repulsion
Immolation
Midnight
Mgla
Windhand
Cursive
Brutus
Profanatica
Lower Dens
Black Joe Lewis
Intronaut
Boysetsfire
Death By Stereo
Curl Up And Die
Adamantium
This Will Destroy You
Khemmis
Mothership
Guantanamo Baywatch
Dengue Fever
Kaelan Mikla
Blackwater Holylight
Fatso Jetson
Wino
Creeping Death
Mephistofeles
Frankie and the Witch Fingers
Toke
Foie Gras
Flavor Crystals
Silvertomb
Lord Buffalo
Warish
Alms
Bömbers
Glacial Tomb
Relaxer
Black Sabbitch
Hippie Death Cult
Vaelmyst
Mother Mercury
DJ Scott Seltzer
Two Minutes to Late Night