FOR THE LOVE OF METAL
If the cataclysmic, earthquaking rumble beneath Japan was felt stateside, it was surely through Yob’s bottom-heavy, Sabbath-via-Cathedral-and-Sleep riffs. Their music and vocals and presence were passionate and ritualistic. Because of the repetitive nature of the riff-driven madness, the songs stay with you long after they’ve finished playing, bouncing around from synapse-to-synapse in your tenderized gray matter.
He and Decapitated have been through more than anyone should ever go through, so the fact that they’re back and as tight as they sound is a testament to their tenacity. And, of course, it’s great news for death metal fans across the globe.
RIP Vitek. Acknowleding the past as well as their unyielding obsession for death metal, the logo on some of Decapitated’s new merch aptly reads, “From Pain to Strength.”
“Not long after pulling up we saw a guy shoot something into his arm about a foot from the van, and within 20 feet there were people smoking crack.” This is one of several bizarre anecdotes offered as Jay H. Gorania returns with another installment of his tour diary with Cephalic Carnage.
June 15-21: Spain, Portugal, France On Barcelona’s quiet streets on Sunday, bus driver Fred waved a baseball bat and scared off a couple…
Bah, humbug! Christmas has come and gone, and hopefully next year King Diamond’s wish will come true. No presents for Christmas… It’s been a…
Tomorrow’s big game is against the Alouettes once again, an opportunity for the ultimate revenge, and surely, the metal gods will lead the Riders to victory tomorrow. Real men listen to metal, and real men eat wheat. Go Riders!!!
“Late afternoon in Helena, members of several bands embarked on a hike toward some lush, mountainous terrain next to a lake. Granted, a sign did indicate the lake was technically closed, but we drove up the hill quite a distance before getting out to hike. When we finally arrived at the lake, it was beyond satisfying. It wasn’t the most breathtaking body of water by any means, not that it was bad, but compared to the daily atmosphere of a smoky bar with ear-exploding metal music, the serenity offered a welcomed change of pace.”
Jay H. Gorania returns with another installment of his tour diary with Cephalic Carnage. In today’s feature, he discusses Denver businessmen, the landscape (and womanscape) of Salt Lake City, vigilante justice and campfire stories. Enjoy!
“Indeed, while nonsense and debauchery had definitely gone hand-in-hand with the entire Summer Slaughter tour, it wasn’t all fun and games, as some might assume. With a ten-band package, shows were early. Very early. Load in times were normally around one, doors were normally 3-ish. This means that almost immediately after shows were over and odds and ends were sorted, it was time to embark upon the journey to the next town (and the tour’s routing had been far from perfect, to say the least).”
Hellbound’s Jay H. Gorania joined Relapse Records’ Cephalic Carnage for a leg of their North American tour, and gave us an inside scoop on vehicle breakdowns, public change rooms and inter-dimensional contact.
After battling the cancer that he was diagnosed with late last year, Ronald James Padavona (better known to his passionate fans as Ronnie James Dio) succumbed to his illness earlier today. He was 67 years old.
His self-deprecating nature, dark sarcastic/satirical humor, and brilliant wit lent to his lyrical genius and powerful onstage persona. He was fearlessly politically incorrect, and brutally honest. His bass playing and songwriting meshed the class of The Beatles with the bottom-heavy bombast of Black Sabbath. And of course his bass/baritone vocals were distinct, powerful and memorable. No one sounds like Type O Negative, and no one sounded like Peter Steele. And yet their influence upon heavy music is simply immeasurable.