

“I am a pink guitar and threaten grown ass men”
So I was on the old Fartbook today when I saw a post from the band Lecherous Nocturne. Always thought they were pretty decent from what I had heard, though I was definitely a casual fan and not an expert on this group. I noticed the band had made a statement they were going to stop using Facebook. Due to censorship.
Fair game. Facebook and a lot of tech companies are VERY bad at actually moderating their platforms for homophobia, doxxing or all manner of shit. They have algorithms which can’t tell the difference between Murphy’s Law and fuckin’ Skrewdriver. I will be the first to acknowledge that. I even know someone who wrote about a type of dessert they didn’t like and caught a Facebook ban for it! Not even joking.
My own gf the psych folk artist Globelamp was a Swiftie who was doxxed by Taylor Swift fans on Twitter for “turning on her” by criticizing Taylor headlining Amazon Prime day during a worker’s strike (among other things). Oh, and for trying to get Taylor not to work with a label conglomerate – Secretly Group- and their outrage selective ladder climbing artists (cough…Skeevy Bridgers, Cherry Glazzer, Bright Eyes and many more) which help lend cred to labels that shield her “alleged” – I have to include that phrase even though I know he is a complete fucking scumbag – abuser. Instead she lost her account for blocking too many of them and for them reporting her in bad faith- with no appeal- even though she was verified. And tons of people from the ‘silence breaker’ fandom were mocking her abuse story and saying she was a liar and Taylor doesn’t know that label…which she now has collabed with like three artists and counting from for indie clout. Fuck y’all.
So suffice to say, my partner cares a lot about freedom of speech and is more wary of deplatforming than I am. I am all for it in the case of a Milo or some other fash apologist, though I also think we should have paths to redemption in society for truly apologetic people… as long as they weren’t whining on Bill Maher too many times, haha. Cuz that dude has become a fucking joke and an edgelord slob compared to his better days (Bill, not Milo. Milo has always been fash trash).
AND I fully understand all the nuances around the debate that sometimes people like Bernie or whoever will go on not the best platforms, not so much to lend them revenue or credibility, but to try to reach people who they hope they can change the minds of with info that cuts through their usual propaganda bias consumption.
But anyway, back to Facebook. So then I notice that some trucknuts in the Lecherous Nocturne comments leaves them a response: ‘Woke culture is AntiMetal. Stay Brutal.” Which I am pretty sure a band member liked.
Stay brutal?
Oh Jeez. Fucking gimme a break, dorks. Here comes some brutal truth. If ‘Woke Culture’ is killing your metal boner by pointing out we can be more inclusive and evolve and fucking not be stuck in 2nd wave black metal forever or pornogrind mutilation of women art like we just freshly popped zits on our faces and the pus got all over the severed booby drawings on our 6th grade class binder in 199-wank, maybe you actually just aged into the Cialis-bracket anyway.
I am sorry, for the 8 millionth time, that D666 fans might have to have some self-reflection these days before cheering when the singer calls people ‘pooftahs’. Fuck off.
A gay man named Rob is more metal than any of the rest of us will ever be. Literally ever.
Fact checking Donald Trump for blatant disinfo is not the same as your rights being taken away, however. And yes, I am aware that it can also lead to abuse of power if a precedent was set and suddenly someone decided to say the sky is orange and not blue and fact check me if I say it is blue, but then I would advise my confused friends to…look up.
Sorry you might get called out in 2021 if you try to have a fucking Confederate Flag on your merch or guitar, kids. That doesn’t mean their aren’t metal lefties like me who have seen Gwar sixteen times and can put their jokes into context (except for, y’know, touring with Madball during a pandemic. They must really want to end the human race after all, hahaha). What? That’s offensive? How do you propose we solve this?
I have been a hot mess many times in my life and guess what? Have worked hard to improve. Being criticized for something doesn’t mean all metal is suddenly your wimpy idea of a vegan, or something…which, it frankly should be. Nothing goes against the status quo more than NOT participating in the factory farming, chemical induced destruction of the world and celebrating a primal respect for nature.
I was reading about how comics legend Frank Miller was dropped from Thought Bubble due to participants rightfully remaining uncomfortable with his abysmal Holy Terror Islamophobic rabid dog-era. A time when he really lost the plot and caused serious harm.
I was a huge Miller fan for years and met him at a signing around when the first Sin City came out. Caroline Keene Kelley is my favorite (and the first female) Robin. What I am saying is people can do good and bad in their lives. and even get better over time or come back from bad decisions. Or make new, inclusive art. Cursed for Netflix was terrific and I am bummed it was over after one season, for example.
Anyway, this utter fucking dipshit at Bleeding Fool (wow, what an original name) wrote some clowncar piece saying how everyone against his convention appearance had pronouns in their bio. Jamison Ashley writes: “Could there be any correlation between those who virtue signal their preferred pronouns and the easily triggered, emotionally immature, adult-children who require public safe spaces?”
I am linking to it above because I actually want you all to see how fucking dumb they sound and also not be accused of “keeping them down” or being a coward, but suffice to say some of it is triggering to some, if not more so just annoying af and idiotic.
First of all, ‘virtue signal’ is a fucking alt-right seeded phrase to discredit the importance of social justice movements as trivial and disingenuous. Secondly, even Miller has said he can barely look at Holy Terror anymore and not see it as consumed by anger and that he also wasn’t thinking well during the time he attacked Occupy Wall Street. Last I checked I was AMAB and am an enby person currently GROWING FUCKING TITS and when I look under them I can still see the faded Sin City Miho tat taking up my entire ribs on the right side of my body . S/O to Devon Aoki. But GUESS WHAT?!! It is easy to admire some of Frank’s work and also to not be cool with Holy Terror, which was a toxic shitshow.
I donate monthly to Ilhan Abdullahi Omar and think she is one of the most important politicians in modern society and I can still appreciate some of Frank’s Daredevil run and also be disgusted by Holy Terror. See how that works?
Stop generalizing. You edgelord fucks hate it when people do it but then you perpetuate it with your ‘the woke mob’ bullshit. No group of people is a monolith. Most do some good and some bad, but aren’t all exactly equivalent in evil. AND in many cases you are called out for being an asshole, which is social consequences. Metal doesn’t mean no one will ever think you are a prick if you…are one?
Chances are you might not even be ‘cancelled’ forever if you genuinely aren’t just a defensive shit.
If you think metal is dead because of inclusiveness and ‘woke culture’ you clearly haven’t noticed that the best black metal lately has been indigenous or trans or includes cis women or is Zeal & Ardor. Seriously, shut the fuck up and listen to more Feminazgul.
And yes, even Gwar.
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FULL OF HELL have announced Garden of Burning Apparitions (LP/CD/CS/Digital) out October 1st on Relapse Records. Check out the blistering and brazen abrasive song “Industrial Messiah Complex” HERE, another micro anthem for you noise loving bastards!
The band state: We are proud to announce our latest full length album, Garden of Burning Apparitions. Produced by Seth Manchester at Machines With Magnets in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and featuring artwork by Mark McCoy. Stream our new song, “Industrial Messiah Complex”, and pre-order the album now at orcd.co/foh-goba
*Mailorder exclusives come with a 24×24 album art poster*
RIYL Napalm Death, DeafBrick, Dead Cross.
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In the wake of the Matt Damon self-own and the All That Remains singer not getting why normalizing the F slur “in another context” is still harmful, it was concerning to hear the new Limp Bizkit song “Dad Vibes” kind of sound like it drops the F slur in the chorus. It is hard to make out.
Does Fred say ‘Sag’ or ‘FxG’ in the chorus? The infamous Nu Metal band’s set at Lollapalooza was fun and almost weirdly wholesome, the part with Durst in full Beastie Boys “Sabotage”-mode dancing with the sign language guy was frankly endearing. So I hope the new song played to the crowd over the PA didn’t blow all that up. And that Fred isn’t planning to smirk and say he meant a cigarette or some shit. We aren’t going back to the ’87 Cro-Mags bullshit.
It would especially piss me off as I was just defending Bizkit as John Scher’s unfair scapegoats for all the many problems of Woodstock ’99 in the new HBO documentary. Scher is a complete gaslighting shitbag throughout the doc (and I am a lifelong Woodstock kid who grew up there). Scher also victim blames women for their assaults as if nudity was, y’know, never a thing at Woodstocks. Fuck off.
But back to the present…Frankly, after DaBaby rightfully was dropped for horrible Aids comments, it would be pretty racist to let Limp play if they were gonna just play a song that uses the word ‘F+g’ in the fucking chorus to a huge crowd of adrenalized potential Delta carriers, but what do I know?
Other than that, the set was pretty off the hook and so I hope I am wrong. “My Generation” will always be a bop.
Anyway, stream “Industry Baby” , Russian Circles (I remember when Underoath supported George Bush, yuck) and Apricitas, ttys.
Legendary bassist (and swell animal advocate) Rudy Sarzo is returning to glam rockers QUIET RIOT! The band has also been playing with Type O Negative/Danzig’s thunderous Johnny Kelly and the idea of him and Rudy together is very exciting. It is great in the wake of Kevin DuBrow and Frankie Banali’s deaths in recent years and the recent return of Jizzy Pearl that the group still will have a pretty rock solid line-up currently (which I by no means mean as a slight to Chuck).
Gracias Enchilada 🤘🏼😎🤘🏼 https://t.co/Rd5iYVcULN
— Rudy Sarzo (@rudysarzo) August 2, 2021
By now it is safe to say most metal fans are counting down the days to August 27th when the new Jinjer release drops. The band have always been cool but the new material finds them considerably upping their game, technicality, intensity and emotional impact to new heights and dark depths. You’d have to be a pretty cynical fucking snob to not be able to grab ahold of some of the intensity of this banger and get taken for a thrill ride. Precision, groove, melody and even some Gojira-worthy clobber…it’s all there!
Jinjer state: “With years getting older, we often realize that the world around us is far from what we expected it to be. Through the eyes of a kid everything seemed way more colorful, better and optimistic, didn’t it? When did it all turn wrong? When did it all turn so gray? Is this really the world’s fault? Or it is only about us chasing the wrong goals… the wrong careers, ambitions and achievements, rather than embracing one important truth… Rephrasing John Lennon, if one chases something else other than happiness, then they didn’t understand life at all …”
No word yet from Tatiana Shmaylyuk and company if, as Sepultura and Metropolis have taught us, the “Mediator” Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart. We’re too dumb from headbanging right now to be philosophical!
Add to My RadarTrue believers: #MEDIATOR is out now!! This is the second single taken from our upcoming album #WALLFLOWERS, out August 27, 2021 via Napalm Records. 😈👊🏼🤘🏽/// LISTEN – SHARE – MEDIATOR IS HERE!!
FULL VIDEO:https://t.co/ehiDgta8h6#jinjer #jinjer4 #newsong@NapalmRecords pic.twitter.com/TQfF3vyBp8
— JINJER (@jinjerofficial) July 28, 2021
It has been a heavy few days for rock and metal fans with alumni of ZZ Top, Metal Church and Slipknot crossing over, but today we have a little bit of good news. Let’s celebrate life and ambition today with a progressive rock album announcement about possibility.
Dream Theater, giants of prog metal, have announced their 15th record. A View From The Top Of The World is the name of the newest from this esteemed act of tireless creators, due via InsideOutMusic/Sony Music on October 22.
“We just love to play our instruments,” says guitarist John Petrucci to Louder Sound. “That never goes away. I love to be creative, write, and exercise that part of my mind. We’ve been able to do this for a long time, and we don’t take it for granted. Whenever we get together, we know we can’t disappoint ourselves or our fans, so we manage to try even harder.”
“We approach every album like it’s our first,” adds frontman James LaBrie. “It’s been such a great ride, but we’re not going to stop.”
1) The Alien (9:32)
2) Answering The Call (7:35)
3) Invisible Monster (6:31)
4) Sleeping Giant (10:05)
5) Transcending Time (6:25)
6) Awaken The Master (9:47)
7) A View From The Top Of The World (20:24)
“We’ve been able to do this for a long time, and we don’t take it for granted” – @JPetrucci
“We approach every album like it’s our first. It’s been such a great ride, but we’re not going to stop.” – @jameslabrie
New album A VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD out October 22 2021! pic.twitter.com/k250j6XX2p
— Dream Theater (@dreamtheaternet) July 28, 2021
Add to My RadarTOP OF THE WORLD TOUR with special guests @arch_echo
Tickets/more info: https://t.co/xQvoKuJE5G#DreamTheater #TopOfTheWorldTour pic.twitter.com/cSojMXIqAs
— Dream Theater (@dreamtheaternet) July 28, 2021
Wow, fucking shitty week for metal. Heartbreaking news, fam. I just learned on Acey Slade’s Facebook that another great has left us for the great gig in the sky. Shit, man. This feels unreal. RIP Joey Jordison. Numb with shock.
The original drummer and a founding member of Slipknot, has died. He was 46. Nobody played like that dude and with all due respect, no one can quite replicate him.
The heavy metal artist’s family announced Jordison died in his sleep on Monday, July 26. His cause of death was not disclosed.
“We are heartbroken to share the news that Joey Jordison, prolific drummer, musician and artist passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 26th, 2021,” they wrote in a statement.
“Joey’s death has left us with empty hearts and feelings of indescribable sorrow,” Jordison’s family continued. “To those that knew Joey, understood his quick wit, his gentle personality, giant heart and his love for all things family and music.
“The family of Joey have asked that friends, fans and media understandably respect our need for privacy and peace at this incredibly difficult time. The family will hold a private funeral service and asks the media and public to respect their wishes.”
Fucking crank this now. Right fucking now. Fuck!!
— SINSAENUM (@SINSAENUM) July 28, 2021
This is hard. I'm at a loss. I met Joey on @Ozzfest when he still played in @slipknot. He was so kind. When I needed a drummer for #HouseOfSecrets I reached out & he eagerly agreed to play. He & I lost touch over the years & I regret that. So much. All the love to his ppl 😢💔 pic.twitter.com/c4Jsj8xJlz
— 👑 OTEP SHAMAYA 👑 (@otepofficial) July 28, 2021
Rest In Peace Joey Jordison. You changed the game with Slipknot. Brought the blast beat to the mainstream! Gave kids a groove like no other. Perseverance would’ve never happened had it not been for Joey & the Slipknot camp. Condolences to his family, friends & fans. Gone too soon
— Jamey Jasta (@jameyjasta) July 27, 2021
We are saddened by the news of the passing of our dear friend, Joey Jordison. From being able to share the stage with him numerous times throughout the years to Matt standing alongside him for the Roadrunner United album. He was always super gracious to all of us in Trivium. pic.twitter.com/LS8E06QT0A
— Trivium (@TriviumOfficial) July 27, 2021
Add to My RadarR.I.P Joey… :/
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) July 27, 2021
photo by Morgan Y. Evans at The Chance in Poughkeepsie
We are very sad to convey that the energetic, funny and incredible Mike Howe of METAL CHURCH has died.
The band posted the following yesterday: “It is with our deepest regrets that we must announce the passing of our brother, our friend and true legend of heavy metal music. Mike Howe passed away this morning at his home in Eureka, California. We are devastated and at a loss for words. Please respect our privacy and the Howe family’s privacy during this most difficult time.”
Mike Howe was Metal Church‘s vocalist between 1988 and 1995, and then again between 2015 and present day.
Our resident biggest Metal Church fanatic Andrew Johann Datoush (‘Drewdas Priest’), who covered the band for us a few times over the last decade, has some touching words about Mike:
I am absolutely devastated right now and I can’t believe that I’m actually having to write this. This sucks so much. The metal world lost a true giant today. An incredible front man with a voice unlike any others. I’ve said it many times over the years that METAL CHURCH was always a top favorite band, even with all their singer changes over the years, I always remained a hardcore fan. The Mike Howe albums were especially instrumental in converting me to the ‘Church’ when I picked up my first album of theirs on a whim at our local FYE Store. That first album for me was Blessing In Disguise , and that opening track “Fake Healer” immediately smacked me in the face and hit like no other band I was listening to at the time ever had before.
I recall getting it shortly after I had entered the 8th grade. I remember that well because it was Mrs. Cooke, my 8th grade science teacher, who started writing me up for listening to music in class rather than listening to her go on about whatever the hell she was talking about. From there, I got every album I could get my hands on, which at the time weren’t very many. A couple with David Wayne singing, but the Mike Howe albums were the ones that really did it for me at the time, and those were sadly limited to only a few albums. (We didn’t start getting METAL CHURCH albums again til the mid 2000s, but nothing involving Mike’s voice again til 2016!).
I was fortunate to meet Mike Howe a few times over the years, and he was always a pleasure to be around. Always willing to stop and shoot the shit with fans, take pictures, and even be accepting of that overgrown starstruck fanboy who went right in for the hug immediately upon meeting him. I had no idea I was even doing it until we were right in the midst of it, and he laughed it off, patted me on the back and joked “so this is how we’re doing this, huh?” Really funny moment for me that made my awkwardness in meeting him ok.
The next time I met him, it was the Nuddy in Poughkeepsie. They were having a pre-show meal. I was finishing up and paying my bill when I saw them, and walked past just saying hello, and when Mike looked up, I jokingly said “I’ll get you on that repeat hug later”, which he laughed at, and he mentioned it to me again later after the show when I went up to get some merch signed. “I guess you’re here for that hug, right?” So, I guess that kinda sums up my personal relationship with Mike. Grow up idolizing his band, eventually see him when he comes back to the scene, make an awkward but hilarious first impression, meet him every time he’s in town since, and have a series of jokes about an awkward hug every time we met since. While I am deeply saddened that the party is over, I’m overly thankful to at least have been accepted into the party at all. Mike Howe was a tremendous talent that leaves behind a hell of a legacy. – AJD 7/26/21
RIP my sweet friend. I have no words for this loss. Love and respect to you always. #mikehowe #metalchurch #legend4ever pic.twitter.com/CfZczC1g4h
— Todd La Torre (@ToddLaTorre) July 27, 2021
So sorry to hear of the passing of Mike Howe from @metalchurchis1 I can’t say I knew him well, but I did spend a weekend with him and the band in the studio while they were recording his first album with the band (Blessing In Disguise) back in 1988. Gone way too soon #RIPMikeHowe pic.twitter.com/EpzuSR8nFz
— Mike Portnoy 🤘 (@MikePortnoy) July 27, 2021
RIP Mike Howe @metalchurchis1 & deepest sympathies to his bandmates. Such a great guy & talented singer. 💔 pic.twitter.com/V4RN4P6kcr
— Don Jamieson (@realdonjamieson) July 27, 2021
So #sad to hear the #terrible news of the passing of the one and only #MikeHowe of @metalchurchis1. Such a big loss!
What a great guy and fantastic singer! You will be missed sooooo much! We will never forget you!
R.I.P., my #friend!!
❤️🙏❤️😭❤️
Much #love, #Doro pic.twitter.com/POChaiTC5W— DORO (@DoroOfficial) July 27, 2021
Add to My RadarSo sad to hear of the untimely passing of Mike Howe (centered) of @metalchurchis1. I finally met him for the first time this photo was taken in Vegas 04/19. Condolences to his family, friends and fans! pic.twitter.com/C9yIx0iH2J
— Jeff Scott Soto (@jeffscottsoto) July 27, 2021
Taking a break from enjoying Henry Rollins camp it up as Tri-Klops to give you all a little death metal fix for your weekend. I had never heard BIZARRE from Spain before this morning and am really enjoying the mix of melodic soloing with the plague ridden corpse-like weight of the marching and oppressive main, rougher sound. This band crushes!
I was especially struck by the ominous might of the beastly vocals of Mark Berserk (APOSENTO), certainly some of the most head turning death metal vocals I have heard in awhile!
Transcending Obscurity will continue their tradition of high quality releases and merchandise with the gift of darkness that shall arrive when Invocation Codex is birthed upon the unsuspecting world! You will head bang! Check out ‘Ex Oblivione’ today (or also peep the Lovecraftian death of “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” on the label Bandcamp. Along with Crypts Of Despair and Revulsion, Bizarre prove that Transcending Obscurity is right near the front of the pack in upholding the oozing, pungent legacy of death metal in 2021!
Photo credit: Bob Hannam
Those zany MELVINS (one of my all time biggest influences) have announced a huge upcoming acoustic release, Five Legged Dog. WAY cooler than Five Finger Donkey Punch! I never thought I would type the phrase “acoustic Night Goat”, but here we are. Strange pandemic times, indeed. Fear not, shit is going to rule. I love how the aforementioned “Night Goat” (below) still has Dale basically wailing the shit out of his drums in parts at full volume. Some of the tunes on here I literally cannot imagine acoustic, classic barn burner “Revolve” or solid wall of heavy grooves “Anaconda” among them. Rad to see “Lovely Butterfly” included from Honky. I can imagine that getting warped and mutated into something really cool, as the original was already a total headfuck.
Five Legged Dog (Oct. 15, Ipecac Recordings), a 36-song newly recorded, acoustic collection featuring a career-spanning collection of songs, from 1987’s Gluey Porch Treatments to 2017’s A Walk With Love & Death, the entire gamut of the legendary band’s catalogue is represented.
“I knew I wanted to do something ridiculously big,” explains Buzz Osborne of the band’s first ever acoustic offering. ”36 songs reimagined by us acoustically is certainly ridiculous but it works. The magic of the songs is still there regardless of it being acoustic. Since we weren’t touring we had the time to do something of this size. I’m very excited about this record. Dale and Steven did a fantastic job on this. I think it’s a very special record. I can’t think of anyone else who’s done something like this.”
The band previews the impressive offering with the release of “Night Goat” (https://youtu.be/v61lPiqCr-w). Dale Crover noted: “I think people will be surprised that we can do an acoustic version of a song like ‘Night Goat’ without losing any of the heaviness. We also worked hard on the vocal arrangements. People are going to freak out!”
The collection, which is available for pre-order now (http://lnk.to/MelvinsFLD), will be released digitally, as a double-disc CD, both on Oct. 15, with a 4LP colored vinyl release arriving on Jan. 28. |
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Five Legged Dog track list BELOW.
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Author Jeff Wagner is set to release his new book, Destination Onward: The Story Of Fates Warning.
Says Jeff: “Here’s what I’ve been working on for the past couple years (or three?). The book cover was based on an idea of my own, executed and made reality by Scott Hoffman and Patrick Crawford.
“‘Destination Onward’ is based on many hours of exclusive and recent interviews conducted with all members of Fates Warning past and present. I also interviewed various friends, roadies, family, peer musicians and record label folk. It’s a fun, serious, nerdy, and occasionally hilarious look at one of the greatest metal bands of all time.
“Writing ‘Destination Onward’ was a total labor of love. Fates Warning’s music has captivated and nourished me since 1985. I know some of you share this devotion.
“More info forthcoming in the weeks and months to come!”
Pre-orders for Destination Onward: The Story Of Fates Warning will not be available until mid-autumn 2021. There will be an eBook version to follow sometime in 2022.
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