Mayhem Fest: Blood, Boobs and Noxious Fumes

The Mayhem Festival has become the biggest and baddest summer tour that features heavy metal music. This was only the second year since it has existed and it has already blown the now defunct Ozzfest out of the water. In fact I think it is better than the Warped Tour despite its longevity and loyal fan base. This year the crowd was even bigger, more violent and more in to the music than any festival that I’ve ever been to. The legendary status of last year’s shows must have spread amongst the metal and hardcore scenes and during this deep recession, people find strength and release in music (especially this type). I don’t think I need to mention that most of the people that go to these shows are down to get smelly, dirty and violent (myself included). The line outside the show was a sea of black that included goths, hardcore punks, old school metalheads, metal nerds (like me), metal chicks and of course neo-nazis, rednecks and general scumbags.

Since the lineup included many different styles of metal, fans from these many scenes showed up to support their favorite bands and mosh in the hot sun. There are really only two types of people at these shows: open-minded people and diehard close-minded people. Now don’t get me wrong, I have no problem if someone only came out to the show to see Slayer. I do have a problem when people yell insults at other bands and act like the one band they came to see is the greatest thing on Earth. Slayer was pretty good but after they played these fans proceeded to insult Marilyn Manson and scream obscenities. They should have just left the show with a smile on their face instead of making Slayer look bad by proving how ignorant their fan base is. Diehard Slayer fans are the scum of the Earth and their close-minded, racist and bigoted slurs just supported this stereotype. The sieg heils did not help either nor did burning piles of trash and angrily dancing around it.

Even so, these people did not ruin my experience at Mayhem but they definitely annoyed me. The Mayhem Fest creators need to figure out a safe and effective way to stop people from burning piles of plastic trash. Not only were the fires themselves a danger to the entire crowd and venue but also the noxious fumes made breathing difficult, gave people headaches and burned eyes like acid. I was coughing up shit for several hours after the show and many of the fumes released from burning plastic are known carcinogens. I came to see some really good bands play music, not to increase my chances of getting cancer. I really hope people will complain about this problem because it is a serious hazard to health and nearly ruined the experience for me and my friends.

My other grievance with the Mayhem Festival is the fact that they give out free energy drinks all day but access to free drinking water was very difficult. We finally settled for sketchy tap water from a hidden water fountain since bottled water was ridiculously overpriced. They should both allow and encourage people to bring their own water into the venues or they should sell water at a reasonable price. They can still make tons of money selling bottles for $1 yet they charge $4 and the price of food and beer ($11) is more than enough of a profit margin. The free energy drinks are nice but they really dehydrate you and in the hot summer sun I am certain they caused several people to have heat stroke. Also, they shouldn’t be giving these drinks to younger kids (my friend saw a 3 or 4 year old drinking one). Access to water and shade would greatly add to the comfort and safety of the concertgoers and the costs would be negligible.

Still, I think that this is one of the better festivals because unlike the Warped Tour and Ozzfest, there is no way to miss any band (other than arriving late). The two side stages alternate so people can simply go from one to the other and the main stage bands don’t come out until the other bands finish. My advice is to get to the show early so you can get through the huge line and see all of the bands. My friends and I wound up being about an hour late and so we completely missed Whitechapel and Job for a Cowboy and only saw three songs of God Forbid’s set. The best thing to do is to arrive at the venue at about noon and tailgate with beers, water and food while rocking out to your own music. This way you don’t have to pay the outrageous prices and you can jump in line just before the gates open.

Whenever you go to a festival you want to get your money’s worth and as long as you’re open-minded you might as well go check out bands that you’ve never heard. I was familiar with the music of all the bands at the show so I got more than enough for the 25 bones that I threw down for lawn tickets. Hell, I would pay $50 just to see Marilyn Manson and I was able to see 9 other bands (since I missed 2), although the sets are a bit short at a half an hour for the side stage bands, about 40 minutes for the opening main stage bands (this year Killswitch Engage & Bullet for My Valentine) and an hour each for the two headlining bands (this year Slayer & Marilyn Manson). Festivals are a great way to see a lot of good bands in a short amount of time and the bands themselves are able to get wide exposure to many people that may have never otherwise heard their music.

I think the behavior of the crowd is a good indicator of the times. The crowd was very violent and I witnessed several people become very bloody after taking an elbow or stray fist to the face. All metal shows have a level of violence but it is also complimented by a sense of camaraderie since everyone is there for the music and to have a good time. As soon as a person fell down there would be 10 hands quickly lifting them back to their feet. I think the recession and the more difficult economic times made this show very important to the fans and so they were very passionate in their moshing and in their display of violence (and beer certainly helped). But with violence comes sex and metal chicks like to show their boobs; no show would be complete without seeing at least one pair of breasticles. This was a nice change especially after seeing a bunch of fat, hairy man-boobs jiggling around the mosh pits. Even with this level of intensity, I think the festival was quite a success and I had a great time. I will be discussing the bands performances in my next blog entry so stay tuned!!

All That Remains, Trivium, God Forbid

I’m going to the Mayhem Festival tomorrow in San Bernardino, CA and the lineup is definitely the best of all the summer tours. So, I decided to do another tripler and review three albums from three of the bands on the tour. Since I just wrote an entry about some of the best Metalcore bands, I’m going to continue with a review of All That Remains, Trivium and God Forbid. Although God Forbid was the only one to release an album this year, ATR and Trivium came out with incredible albums last Fall that I must discuss.

All That Remains is definitely one of the best bands in Metalcore and each album has a unique feel to it. All of their albums are extremely catchy and their guitarist Oli Herbet writes some incredible guitar riffs. Their most recent album, Overcome, is criticized for being their “lightest” effort but to say that they have sold out is completely wrong. Phil Labonte has become a vocalist with a great range of styles and showcases them on this album and he complements this with his excellent lyrics. Although it is more melodic and catchy, they still retain their pounding drums and excellent solos. I had the chance to see them live when Overcome first came out and they hit every note and chord perfectly. I think this would be a great album for Metalcore newbie’s because its lighter and melodic nature is simply easier to listen to for untrained ears. Interestingly the band has used Guitar Hero to gain many new fans and although some people criticize this type of promotion, I think it’s a great way to bring in new fans to more underground genres. I still must say that I like previous album, The Fall of Ideals, better simply because it has a perfect balance between heaviness and melody (a 10/10 album). Ironically I think that “Believe in Nothing” is the best song on the album despite the fact that it is very light; the lyrics are mind blowingly good and Labonte pours his soul into it. ATR fans will not be disappointed and I am very stoked to see them shred tomorrow!

Trivium has always been an interesting band and I love listening to their music evolve and change. The new album, Shogun, is their most eclectic release to date and showcases a mixture of the various styles they have used. Of course, they were heavily criticized for their album The Crusade due to its blatant imitation of Metallica. In fact, I didn’t like the album my first few listens but it really grew on me and I think it was a solid album. This album blows it out of the water though and is probably Trivium’s best album, although I love Ascendancy. The songs on Shogun are longer, better written and more technical than anything they have ever done. Their vocals are a perfect mix of screaming, harsh vocals and singing and their lyrics are brutal in the best of ways. My favorite track on the album is "Kirisute Gomen", which I think highlights the stylistic mix of the album. Even their drummer, Travis Smith, has gotten better (he was often criticized for being shitty) and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the band plays tomorrow. The Japanese influence of Matt Heafy makes for an interesting concept album and each track actually sounds different. The greater role of Corey Beaulieu’s backing vocals also helps complement the more eclectic style and he does some very aggressive death growls.

God Forbid is the most underrated of all the Metalcore bands that I’ve reviewed so far. I’m not sure why they have not achieved greater recognition and popularity but the latest album, Earthsblood, is, for lack of better words, fucking awesome. Let’s not forget how epic their previous concept album, IV: Constitution of Treason was with its very unique style and thought provoking lyrics. I would say this is in the same vein, but it isn’t really because I think they have progressed their own sound even further. This album has more thrash elements and an even better balance between brutality and melody. Byron Davis really goes all out with extremely passionate and powerful vocals and lyrics. The Earth’s blood he is referring to is of course oil and there is a clear environmental message as well as political criticism of war and capitalism, which comprise the album’s conceptual base. I think it is a very worldly album that is promoting a greater human consciousness of what we are doing to Gaia (Mother-Earth) and to each other. I think it has as much power as Gojira’s From Mars to Sirius that deals with similar themes at the same level of seriousness. And don’t worry kids, there are some decimating breakdowns and delicious guitar solos that complement the amazing passion of the band. I must mention the fact that most of the band are black, which is notable because metal is stereotypically a very “white” genre. This band along with KSE and others prove that it doesn’t matter what your skin color is, you can create amazing metal if you are passionate about your music. Unfortunately, they recently lost Dallas Coyle, who was a major part of the band, so it will be interesting to see how they perform tomorrow. Check out this interview with Guitaris Doc Coyle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PjB1t_rvUU

I’m going to give all three of these albums 9/10 and certify them Nasty! Amazing efforts by all of the bands and they have proven that they can evolve and innovate their own styles to make incredible records. I can’t wait to see them all tomorrow along with Marilyn Manson, Slayer and all the other bands.

Killswitch Engage, Darkest Hour, Unearth

Today’s entry is going to be a bit different. I’m going to review 3 albums from 3 different bands that are all juggernauts of the genre known as Metalcore. They will be short and sweet reviews because these are solid and well-known bands. I have seen them all live multiple times and they absolutely rock.

Killswitch Engage is perhaps the most popular Metalcore band and they certainly have attracted fans of other genres with their eclectic style. This album (Self-Titled), although not noticeably different from their previous releases, is solid and very catchy. Howard Jones brings such depth to his vocals (I used to call him the Opera man of metal) and his lyrics are usually motivational and sometimes about relationships. Adam D does a great job making some pretty catchy riffs and produces the album brilliantly. The thing I love about this band is how they can be very melodic; yet still utilize pretty heavy riffs. I think it is a better album than their last one, As Daylight Dies, but they don’t push the envelope or experiment much with style. If you are a KSE fan you won’t be disappointed but don’t expect anything groundbreaking. My favorite track right now is Starting Over since it often gets stuck in my head. The Self-Titled album debuted at #7 on the billboard 200, incredible for a metal band.

Darkest Hour has been on the metal scene since 1995 and has evolved from a melodic death metal style towards a more interesting mix of hardcore and metal. Their latest album, The Eternal Return, seems to explore their roots in death metal and is certainly heavier than their last album, Deliver Us. Honestly, this album fucking shreds and will likely bring a lot of attention to this consistently great band. They’re lyrics are amazing and I am always shocked by how good they are when I look them up. My only real criticism is of the vocalist, who has never been that interesting to me, although he is very passionate. I love the guitar solos on this record and I think it really showcases how great of musicians these guys really are. It is certainly darker in tone compared with their past couple releases and I really dig it.

Unearth is certainly one of the best Metalcore bands ever. I can still remember the first few times I listened to The Oncoming Storm and how much it blew my mind. Their live performances are incredible and they never cease to churn the mosh pit like their trying to make a shit load of butter. This is their fourth album and although it was released in 2008, I decided it is important and relevant to review it. The March is possibly their best album to date and certainly the most technical. Like all of the great bands in the world, they get better and better at playing their instruments and writing great songs. Their breakdowns are unparalleled in the Metalcore genre and you would be hard pressed to find a fan of the genre that dislikes them. With this album Buz Mcgrath writes even better and catchier riffs yet they retain their heaviness and as usual they hold it down with some colossal breakdowns. They also bring in some impressive guitar solos and Trevor Phipps pours his soul into his vocals and lyrics. He has a unique voice that is really fun to scream along with and perfectly complements the other instruments.

I’m going to certify all three of these albums as Nasty! Killswitch Engage receives an 8/10, Darkest Hour receives an 8.5/10 and I’m going to give Unearth a 9/10 because I think it is one of their best records thus far. I’m thinking of using this format once a week so that I can review more bands in less time. Content is king and I will continue to dish out quality reviews of the best bands and albums.

Broadcast the Nightmare – Twenty Twelve

This is my favorite new metalcore band and one of the best releases (so far) in 2009 in its genre. Twenty Twelve is their first album and it literally will knock your socks off with its immense and refreshing sound. I find it an incredible album to listen to anytime, but it is highly motivational so I often listen to it while working out. Broadcast the Nightmare is different and innovative for a metalcore band and although they use the standard elements of the genre, they do so in an exceptional way. The song structures are interesting and each track takes the listener to a different place, sometimes they utilize clean vocals and progressive elements. The great thing about them is they have not become formulaic; the album is solid from front to back. Unlike Killswitch Engage’s new self-titled album, which is more of the same standard metalcore formula (although it is a decent album), this band has set themselves apart.

They remind me of a lot of really talented metal bands since they are very technical and utilize their highly skilled musicianship to create crushing breakdowns and delicious guitar riffs. August Burns Red comes to mind as a metalcore band with excellent technical elements, but this band does a better job at straying from any formula. The pounding drums are spot on and that’s one of the reasons I recommend listening to this band while pumping iron or doing cardio. I have not seen them live but I bet that they have an explosive and rocking live show that would absolutely churn the mosh pit.

Their vocals are excellent and refreshing in a way I can’t really describe. Their vocalist, Justin Mazlik, has a great range and he varies where he places clean vocals within the strong structure and makes them stylistically different on every song (one song even reminds me of early Poison the Well). Of course, this band is rooted in breakdowns that would make for an incredible live show. If you aren’t a fan of breakdowns then you won’t like this band, although they are closer to Unearth’s style than to the ridiculous ever-present breakdown model of Bury Your Dead (although their new album is far more melodic than their previous releases). The point is that this band blends amazing melodies (in the vein of In Flames) with technical and annihilating breakdowns. This is the reason why I love metalcore so much, this elemental contrast is so compelling and beautiful sounding. They even have progressive and jazz elements in a few parts that are reminiscent of Between the Buried and Me.

I don’t know what else to say about this band except to check them out. I would talk about individual songs but I absolutely love every track. I haven’t been able to find a good site with their lyrics on it so if anyone knows, please link it up. I really like the lyrics in the clean vocals but I haven’t been able to make out the harsh vocals. I’m going to give this Twenty Twelve a 9/10 and certify the album Nasty! I would give them a 10 but I think they have so much potential that they will make an even greater album in the future. I also need to see them live to confirm their awesomeness.

A Day To Remember – Homesick

I really didn’t want to like this band since they are considered trendy and poppy by the more orthodox metal and hardcore fans. However, after I saw them live at the Warped Tour last weekend my mind has changed. I’ve been listening to their album quite a bit to figure out what is so catchy and remarkable about A Day To Remember. I realized that it is two things: the excellent way they blend seemingly opposing musical styles and the fact that they are clearly influenced by a lot of good bands. They certainly have the pop-punk sensibilities of some of the best and I hear (at least implicitly) the influences of Blink 182, New Found Glory, Taking Back Sunday and Good Charlotte. On the other hand they are clearly influenced by melodic hardcore and metalcore bands to generate their crushing breakdowns and they share similarities with Underoath, From Autumn to Ashes, Silverstein, The Devil Wears Prad and maybe a little taste of Unearth and Parkway Drive’s raw mosh power.

Their vocalist is up there with the best of the pop-punk bands and has more of a range since he does most of the screaming vocals as well. The guitar work on Homesick is amazing, the riffs are interesting and it is a real feat to be able to blend their heavy hardcore elements with very melodic and poppy choruses. The drumming is spot on as well and is the driving force of their live show, especially during breakdowns. My favorite track is “The Downfall of Us All” since it is extremely catchy and has an awesome breakdown. The heavier tracks that I really dig are “Mr. Highway’s Thinking About the End” and “Welcome to the Family”, so people who doubt the heaviness of this band should check them out. I also really like “I’m Made of Wax…” and “My Life For Hire” which have great catchy choruses yet still bring in heavier hardcore parts to the songs.

I’m sure a lot of people may criticize my opinion of this band as “trendy pop-core” but just think about that concept. You’re telling me that it is now trendy for bands to add hardcore elements to their songs…and that’s a bad thing? It’s not like this band was ever a pure hardcore band or a pure pop-punk band, they have always utilized a hybrid style that does set them apart from a lot of other bands. And nor is this style a “new” trend, this band is simply getting more attention because they actually do a good job at it and probably have excellent marketing. Even so, their live show and the response from fans is evidence enough that this band is very solid and will not be going away anytime soon.

If you’ve read this review, listened to the album a few times and still don’t like the band that is fine; I tried not to like them myself. But please analyze what it is that makes you dislike them and share your opinion. Also, think about other bands that have combined pop-punk attributes with metalcore that you actually liked (From Autumn To Ashes, Thrice, Underoath) and consider the differences. Or how about comparing their style to more recent bands like Chiodos, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Sky Eats Airplane, and The Devil Wears Prada. Some people consider the band to be "post-hardcore", I do not and I will discuss the concept behind this genre in a later entry.

This album is certified 8/10 Nasty! A Day To Remember have created an interesting blending of genres, although not exactly groundbreaking. The album is well written and has catchy melodic parts balanced with brutal hardcore breakdowns. It is a better album than their first two releases but if you like it, definitely check them out. What more could a fan of metalcore and pop-punk ask for?

Gallows – Grey Britain

This is probably the best hardcore punk album released in the past few years and this band will certainly be going somewhere. Every time that I listen to this album, I like it more and its highly motivational sound makes it great to listen to when you want to get pumped up. I think it is much better than their first release, Orchestra of Wolves, which I loved but lacked the outstanding musicianship of Grey Britain. I think the reason is pretty simple: Gallows got better at playing their instruments and being a band. This is certainly evidenced by the intensity of their live show that I recently described in the Warped Tour Part 2 entry.

Gallows hail from the UK and formed in 2004 out of the ashes of a couple of punk bands. Their first album got the attention of Bad Religion’s guitarist, Brett Gurewitz, who helped get it released in the U.S. on Epitaph Records. They turned some heads and knocked some socks off at the 2007 Warped Tour and began to get some serious attention (I saw them at Warped and loved them). I think this album is what is really going to propel this band into a hardcore scene legend.

I want to talk briefly on what hardcore punk is for those who may not know (most people outside the scene don’t have a clue). When I use the word hardcore or say “hardcore band” I am not using it as the commonly used adjective. I am making a reference to the genre of hardcore punk, which most people simply refer to as hardcore or hXc. Of course, it is a more hardcore version of punk rock, but it has a very specific style that has evolved dramatically over the years. I consider Black Flag and Bad Brains to be the first hardcore bands and their styles along with the genre itself has influenced nearly every punk or heavy band. In contemporary music the most obvious nod to hardcore is the breakdown, which powers the mosh pit! Find out more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardcore_punk

Grey Britain is one of those albums that stands out in the hardcore genre, especially during this time period. Some believed that hardcore would not progress anymore and would simply be abandoned for newer forms like post-hardcore or metal-core. This is simply not the case and Gallows is the reason! They are a band that isn’t afraid to utilize classical elements like symphonic samples and piano, yet nearly every track can make a mosh pit churn. The album’s intro opens up with a slow build of an orchestral sample, then pounding drums and the shriek of Frank Carter’s vocals. The next track is f*cking nasty! It is one of my favorites on the album and really moved the pit at the Warped Tour. It exemplifies their tough-guy, we don’t give a damn attitude, yet it is uniquely British and reminds me of pub fights and football hooligans. Lyrically Carter attempts to expose the deep-seated political issues in Britain but his dark tone is fueled by anger (very much a hardcore punk element). Sometimes the songs do not seem to go as deep but simply conjure up images of fighting in dark alleys in London’s rain soaked streets (listen to “Black Eye”). “I Dread The Night” follows a similar theme but the lyrics are much better and it is a standout track on the album, absolutely amazing live. The Vulture is perhaps the most stylistically different on the album and Carter actually sings, but it is a haunting and melancholy track. I would talk about every track but I honestly think they are all incredible and it is an album that is meant to be listened to from front to back.

So please check out this album, it is incredible and even if you’re not into hardcore it will probably grow on you. I am certifying this album as 10/10 Deliciously Nasty! It is a great achievement in hardcore punk rock and is only Gallows second album. This band will be huge, at least in the punk and hxc scene.

NOFX - Coaster

NOFX has been one of my favorite punk rock bands for almost as long as I have been listening to music. Their unique style of pop melodies mixed with grungy garage punk rock as well as their provocative lyrics and sense of humor has elevated this band to legendary status. Not to mention the fact that their frontman, Fat Mike, has his own label (Fat Wreck Chords) that is helping countless underground bands get exposure and has promoted DIY as an alternative to major labels. Although they will probably never top their pivotal album, “Punk in Drublic”, I believe that their entire catalogue is essential to anyone who really loves punk music.

This album is classically NOFX yet they always seem to be moving forward musically and lyrically. Fat Mike’s vocals seem to get better on every album and his diverse lyrics that deal with everything from humor and sex to family relationships and organized religion are quite thought provoking. What is truly amazing about this band is how each of their albums is very eclectic stylistically so they never run into the “every song sounds the same” problem. This album is a great example of this and each song sounds different AND deals with a different subject matter lyrically. The drumming by Erik Sandin is great and really keeps their fast and staccato punk rock style solid (in all their albums). The guitar work by their token Mexican El Jefe is outstanding and even Eric Melvin got more creative (and continues to do supporting vocals. As a band they have never sounded tighter and as usual pull off the fast and happy tone of punk rock in each song but the mood is distinct and matches the lyrical content.

Coaster opens with “We Called it America” and Fat Mike continues his liberal political commentary that he has become more passionate about over the span of their last few albums. It’s a great punk rock track and if you dig this song, you will probably like most of their music. The most emotional track on the album is “My Orphan Year”, which describes the year that Mike lost both of his parents; it is very serious and melodically delicious. The song ‘First Call” is an alcoholics anthem that is very funny and complements their other comedic song, “Creeping Out Sara”. This song is very poppy but very fun to listen to and jokes about meeting the band Tegan and Sarah and creeping them out with a conversation on drugs and sex. “Blasphemy” is a great anti-organized religion track that points out the ridiculousness of choosing faith over reason (although everyone is entitled to their own opinion). “Best God in Show” carries a similar theme but showcases their rendition of the reaggae/ska style. The whole album is great from front to back and closes with “One Million Coasters”, which nostalgically speaks of the end of old music mediums, notably the CD that has now become a mere coaster due to the domination of digital music.

I think this album perfectly reflects what punk music is in this day and age when many people think that it is dead. As long as NOFX keeps putting out amazing albums, it will certainly live on! It’s amazing that despite all the various trends in music, NOFX has always done their own thing and they do it better than most bands. I am certainly biased because I love this band but I am open to any criticisms anyone might have. Please comment!

Coaster by NOFX receives a 9/10 and is certified NASTY. It is definitely better than their last release and the different styles of each song make it a very enjoyable listen.