Happy New Year metalheads! 2011 was a good year for the underground, with lots of solid and promising releases by newer and unknown bands, but for the old guard it wasn’t such a hot year. Lots of disappointments for me personally (Morbid Angel, Anthrax, Mastodon, Opeth etc….) but one of the sadder announcements last year
notes from the coast: Sanctuary. Club Nokia 01.07.12 Read More »
For as long as I can remember, the name Golden Voice has been pretty synonymous with great punk and metal shows. I believe my first ever punk show (GBH/The Accused) was a Golden Voice sponsored tour, so when I showed up at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Sunday night I was proud to be
notes from the coast: Golden Voice 30th Anniversary 12.18.11 Read More »
Max and Igor Cavalera, the two famed metal brothers who formed the legendary Sepultura, have been playing together for the last few years as Cavalera Conspiracy, after not even talking to each other for over 10 years when Max left the band. For those unfamiliar with Cavalera Conspiracy, their sound falls somewhere between the classic
notes from the coast: Cavalera Conspiracy. 11.02.11 Read More »
This was supposed to be the show of the year. The brilliant Enslaved supported by the two biggest metal darlings of 2010, Alcest and Ghost. I got my ticket months ago, was looking forward to seeing all three bands and had the night off of work. However, because of some visa problems or some bullshit,
notes from the coast: Enslaved/Alcest. 10.14.11 Read More »
Hanoi Rocks. Most know them only as the band whose drummer was “the guy Vince Neil killed” in his 1985 vehicular manslaughter case. But Hanoi Rocks were far from nobodies. This was a band on their way to stardom when tragedy struck down drummer Razzle and ultimately doomed the band to the annals of the
notes from the coast: Michael Monroe. 10.20.11 Read More »
Technical Death Metal. It’s a sub-genre that has a rabid, dedicated following. But for others like myself, many find it very hit and miss. There is no doubting the sheer brutality or the dizzying technical chops these kinds of bands have, and there are certainly some I love. But my problem with most is that
notes from the coast: Decapitated. 10.10.11 Read More »
For all the old school metal diehards out there, these lyrics need no introduction. For those who arn’t familiar, these are the opening lyrics to one of the greatest metal anthems ever, Denim and Leather, from one of metal’s greatest and most enduring legends, Saxon. One of the first of the original NWOBHM bands, Saxon
notes from the coast: Saxon @ The Key Club, 9/28 Read More »
Cruelly underrated and overlooked throughout the history of rock, there are five names that should always be mentioned when talking about one of the greatest rock bands EVER. They are Phil Moog, Michael Schenker, Pete Way, Andy Parker and Paul Raymond, otherwise known as UFO. With the thunderous rhythm section of Way, Parker and Raymond
notes from the coast: UFO @ The Key Club, 9/24 Read More »
Like two Viking Knarrs silently washing up onto the Santa Monica shore, The Black Path of America Tour glided into town and dropped off Norwegian crews Vreid and Kampfar to pillage the Whisky Friday night. Admittedly these two bands hadn’t fully grabbed my attention until both released albums that will almost certainly be among my
notes from the coast: Vreid @ the Whisky, 09-09-11 Read More »
The Power of the Riff kicked off its second year in L.A. with a line-up that would make anyone on the East Coast blind with envy. As if that full day assault of brutal hardcore, metal and crust wasn’t enough, Southern Lord brought their genre and generation crossing festival up the coast with stops in
The Power of the Riff 2011 Read More »
