Metal Riot

I hate this mindset of human beings as human resources. It’s dehumanzing
terminology. Because people are SO important. We believe everybody is born
gifted. The life is the location of your God gift and the selfless execution
of your gift. The idea of personal sovereignty, that each and every one of us
can be King or Queen when we exercise our true will. Spiritually,
biologically, lovingly. – Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke.

I just saw the subversive as fuck Laetitia Sadier of legendary Stereolab
deliver a powerful yet so controlled set at a venue (the wonderful BSP Kingston) in my Upstate, NY city.
Always an activist in her music over the years, demanding and getting as much
attention from an audience or out of a subtle or quiet and poetic song as some
bands do through hollering, it was truly inspiring. One thing Sadier said in
her soft spoken but deep way at the show was how one of her songs “Find Me The
Pulse Of The Universe” was about how despite how small and perhaps immaterial
we may seem compared to the vast universe sometimes, we are all unique. She
brought real conviction to her show, whether discussing wealth disparity, how
it is good to nurture a long distance relationship in healthy ways if you
really love someone or pining for “glimpses of a world of pure thought that
few will ever know.”

Noise rock and post/punk or at times industrial metal legends Killing Joke
embody the idea of the unique personal and musical quest more than many other
bands combined, these same principles of fighting for actual creative and
human value that Sadier was espousing on stage in my town tonight. “New Cold
War” on brand spanking new rager Pylon is as relevant and emblematic of their
drive and style as anything in the group’s storied career (which dates back to
the year I was fucking born, 1978). Yep, Yankees won the world series. Killing
Joke was born and so was I, hahaha. 78′ was a good vintage!

The idea of knowing it is your absolute right to protect and fight for
your art and your right to experience the world through the lens of your own
journey and creations, to not settle for having the passion stomped out of you
by a dull or draconian society, is something I have spoken of at length lately
with some of the most amazing people I value most in my life, from avant garde
noise music/female comet Yasmine Kittles of Tearist via inspired
correspondence that has blown my mind and made me feel like the luckiest
person lately to a series of amazing artists like Brooks Blackhawk from the
very dark Atriarch or my dear, hard working friend (and former DIVEST bandmate) Sean Paul
Pillsworth of pop punkers The Red Owls dishing in a recent piece called Don’t
Break The Oath that we ran on this site about never giving up your vision.

Killing Joke have always stayed at the forefront of relevant political
discourse, cutting edge post-punk squall with hypnotic, throbbing bass and the
madman from the pulpit apocalyptic lyrics and truly unique voice of Jaz
Coleman. They have refined their sound to the essence of potency and it is
very apparent on the swirling, climbing ladder of growing intensity that
weaves through Pylon.

A composer, Permaculture advocate and avid student of philosophy who is
unafraid to chase his own demons where they take him, Coleman is a towering
figure of the underground.

Read more BELOW.

Ken Schalk, well regarded percussionist from Brooklyn’s Candiria once said something to the effect that “heavy” can be as much about feel and  vibe as another distorted guitar cowboy screaming over a mosh part. I often have thought back to that quote and paraphrased it over
the years.

Montreal’s  BIG|BRAVE will likewise seep into your bones and deliver a
listening experience rather than a cheap aggro fix. Whether floating amidst ethereal
drone akin to the wake up chill of a cold wind on a mountaintop or bashing
the listener with tribal beats akin to loops, the trio deliver in full on
Southern Lord release Au De La.

Brian from respected blog Meat Mead Metal even went so far as to say that ,“there’s not another band that possibly could replicate what Big | Brave achieve on this record”. It’s true that some avant garde or truly post-punk bands just have their own sound, be it Killing Joke or Tearist or Swans. Or some films you could sort of describe, such as Lars  von Trier’s Depression Trilogy or, I dunno… the space herpe in Ice Pirates. You could do half assed justice trying to explain, but some things just need to be experienced.

Jessica Moss of Thee Silver Mount Zion Memorial Orchestra lends guest violin to the record, but the beating heart of this band is in the guitar and drums interplay and liberated vocals. The band know the space between the heart beat or down hit on a drum is as important as the moment of explosion, and can say as much.

Robin Wattie, in house banshee, checks in to answer my questions on what else she had to say with this record BELOW.

I spend a lot of time being grumpy at the state of the world and listening to Slayer or Run The Jewels, smoking joints. I especially like the “I’ll tea bag a piranha tank” lyric from RJT2, as it inspires me to bravely go make coffee and face what the day brings. In a world of crime, racism, poverty and where even Bernie Sanders voted yes on the Cyber Security Act that lets whistleblowers get shut down, I know I can at least rely on a handful of artists to create powerful works that will stand the test of time until the world blows up. I want to be optimistic and do indeed preach love and tolerance each day, except when trolled too hard by emo fans.

Finland’s Wolfheart are a band who I can proudly point at and say they will undoubtedly be reliable as heck. Tuomas Saukkonen’s track record as well as the sheer scope of the band’s new record Shadow World are as inspiring as discovering some of the greats like Primordial or Soilwork, bands who have soldiered on year after year. I truly hope all metalheads can embrace Wolfheart’s cause and dare say few will not be moved by the intensity and range of dynamics from guttural screams to pummeling heavy melodeath or piano to stir the soul. It might not win the 2015 weird and spooky award like Locrian or be reinventing the wheel, but Wolfheart have a lot to be proud of.

In a world where time seems scarce and we don’t want ours wasted, metal can trust in this band.

Enter the shadow world BELOW.

In a time when metal and rock fans seem split between compassionate human beings and those who accept trolling and bullying or outright violence (as in the freshly raging Deiphago controversy and the idiots who are anti-Kim Kelly as some “SJW Anti-Christ” types), I am as always inspired by Jill Janus and her band Huntress. From the start the band just came out co-ed and no apologies roaring and while Jill was often not taken seriously enough for her looks or called gross names, she continued to forge ahead and play to bigger and bigger crowds alongside her bandmates.

A blend of classic early 80’s metal and power mad hard rock plus serious astral projection/occult leanings and horror/sci-fi or even power metal themes, this band is just pure heavy metal.

I’ve wanted to communicate with Jill for years now and while I was sad to learn that Huntress had to cancel their September dates because Jill is still resting after BEATING CANCER (see that positivity, young witches and warlocks?!!), it was cool to learn she grew up near Oneonta about an hour from I live. Let’s go to the Iroquois Museum sometime, Jill! It’s really amazing!

Anyway, Huntress have made one of the years best ragers with new album Static. From the assertive vertigo of “Mania” to the strong title track, it is a ruler. You can find out all about it as we discuss crystals, cool hashtags and troll slaying BELOW.

Rise To Power, mother cluckers.

I finally interviewed Battlecross, one of the fastest rising bands in modern groove/thrash.

Read it BELOW.

Sorry kids, but the buck doesn’t stop at Converge. As much as I am a HUGE fan
of J. Bannon and the gang, it didn’t even completely start there. Any early
Today IS The Day or Starkweather fans out there? Yes, Converge are for many
the go to band for a mix of some of the most extreme metal, hardcore and noise
with DIY heart out there. They have earned their stars as scene generals
through serious drive and are an example of “you reap what you sew” in a GOOD
way!

For me, it is thrilling to find bands who are unafraid to tread a bold path.
Myrkur comes to mind as a total “no fucks given” type who is making really
cool music out of combined aesthetics. I’ll even say I personally think the
latest Liturgy record is totally ingenius and you can call me a hipster while
I ignore you and really enjoy myself. It’s ok, I like Dissection’s records as
well (even as a bi sexual male…God, that was such a fucking shame).
Look, We’re all gonna die someday so make the art you want to. Have you HEARD
how rad the new Tribulation is? Seriously!

You really want all of mom and dad’s cash to go towards you being another mall
emo clone band or strictly “commercial” hard rock radio (in a pretty much post
radio age, lmao) sound? It’s pretty commercial to me that Fear Factory, Cattle
Decapitation and Lamb Of God are posting the best chart numbers of their
careers, even if it is easier to chart high these days by selling a few
thousand records in the day of music entitlement. I’m all for shared
experience and sampling and content trade and mix tape culture but also see
the music being given out on platforms artists never signed up to be on or
used to sell Youtube ads. Don’t pretend all your reasons for wanting free
music are pure. It fuckin’ makes it really hard on working creatives so cut
the shit.

That said, a punk rock non whiny spirit is also important and here are some
bands that don’t get discouraged easily and do their own thing SO FUCKING
WELL.

See the list BELOW.

Quality live albums have somewhat, frankly, become a rare breed. Sure you have Iced Earth’s Alive In Athens which was made in 1999 (not THAT long ago) but these days it’s far more common to have a golden live moment caught on Youtube, be it a funny blooper, a raging Black Label Society set or Florence & The Machine filling in for Foo Fighters (no pressure) yet still easing into Glastonbury this year like she (Welch) was reclaiming a mystical throne whilst blowing away the uneven Kanye set. Dax Riggs bootlegs are always reliable for bluesy psych/glam rock from the ex-Acid Bath singer. Tearist released a live debut for a full length and it really shook up the noise/art rock scene and created amazing possibilities anew. There’s standbys like Nirvana or Alice In Chains Unplugged. The new Rotting Christ 2x live bad boy is streaming HERE.

Maybe I’m showing my age here but I’d argue though that I have yet to be knocked on my ass by a live release
from many newer bands (here’s a DVD exception). Most of the ones on this list of mine are still more
established than not. Maybe I’m wrong but it seems to be a hurting art form. Cuz bands fuckin’ fake shit in the studio, hahaha.

Here are twelve true bangers, IMO. Some of these even have accompanying footage! Cuz, y’know…we can do that stuff now!

See which twelve artists made the list BELOW.