Vegetable, Handicapitalist, Firebrand, Dick Janitor @ Raunch 06.29

The shows that Raunch Records hosts are consistently solid. The crowd is energetic and colorful, the bands kick ass and proprietor Brad Collins is a friendly, genuine dude. The audience, who had filed in to listen to Handicapitalist, Dick Janitor, Firebrand and Vegetable, didn’t know it at the time, but in the back parking lot of Raunch Records there was a sinister car full of kids who probably deserved a fine stomping. … read more

YOB @ Club Vegas 07.04

YOB is a three-piece band from Eugene, Oregon. Their sound emanates principally from the burly Mike Scheidt, whose guitar style is virtually unmistakable. It consists of huge, frequently grooving and throbbing guitar riffs made almost lush and orchestral not with distortion so much as thick dissonance. The result is a dense sonic mass which Scheidt continually cuts and tears asunder with a sudden ringing upstroke, which has become his musical signature. … read more

2011 Mayhem Festival Preview

Megadeth band members.

Since 2008, the Mayhem Festival has been a staple of North American touring metal fests, and its stages have been graced by such heavyweights as Slayer, Slipknot, Dragonforce, Lamb of God, Hatebreed and Killswitch Engage. Known for diverse lineups from subgenres all across the metal spectrum, Mayhem has raised the bar for their 2011 tour. Although there is no Salt Lake City stop on the tour this year, it will hitting the Nampa Ampitheatre in Nampa, ID on July 13th. … read more

Smoking Popes @ In the Venue 07.12

Snatched up by a major label in the wake of Green Day’s mainstream breakthrough, The Smoking Popes are one of the great under-appreciated punk bands of the ‘90s. They took the basic blueprint of Lookout! Records pop punk and filtered it through the romantic and soulful vocals of crooners like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, creating a sound that is truly their own. … read more

Napalm Flesh – I’m not old, I just don’t get your music.

Napalm Flesh has been busy lately. In the last few weeks I’ve listened to more pop music than anything metal, but for good reason: I’ve been attempting to understanding my teen daughter’s musical tastes. Also included this week is a rather short rundown of shows and some CD reviews from the likes of Dying Fetus, Corpsessed, Sepultura, Exhumed and Draconian. … read more

Kate Bush Director’s Cut: The Thrill And The Hurting

Imagine my surprise several months ago to find that s new album entitled Director’s Cut was forthcoming from Kate Bush. I was extremely intrigued to learn that this new release was a reworking of eleven previously released Kate Bush songs. Bush has retained her favorite parts of these tracks and completely re-recorded the drums and vocals so they more reflect her original vision. … read more

Dead But Dreaming: Rockstar Mayhem Festival 2011

The day started early, but already the summer sun was scorching the thousands of eager fans lined up outside the gates. The Main Stage was still being drilled and hammered together, so I followed the river of black shirts down a grassy knoll and to the huge side field where the Revolver and Jagermeister stages had been set up, one at each end, ringed by the merch booths of every band on the tour. … read more