FOR THE LOVE OF METAL
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
Find out what HELLBOUND’s contributors have been listening to during the month of September. Almost every writer has submitted their Top 5 list and have an option to list a book and a film they are into right now too
“Vocalist Jonas Renkse is at once physically imposing and intensely vulnerable. He cradles the mic in his hands almost pleadingly, offering his voice to the audience. I found him completely mesmerizing. It was also a great joy to watch Anders Nystrom perform in person. He’s a wiry-framed and incredibly intense musician, his sinews as tautly drawn as guitar strings, fully embodying his instrument.”
Natalie Zed documents an evening of rather emotional music (in all directions) as Katatonia, Orphaned Land and Swallow the Sun recently invaded Toronto.
“During this performance, they behaved as though the stage was land they wanted to annex; they walked on as though their performance was an outright invasion. The crowd responded accordingly. While the vibe in the room had gradually ratcheted up from “polite and well-behaved” to “cheerfully aggressive” during the previous three sets, when Nachtmystium played, the crowd finally smelled blood.”
Natalie Zed reviews the Toronto visit from Nachtmystium, with support from Zoroaster, Dark Castle and The Atlas Moth. Photos by Albert Mansour
On Monday, September 14, one of my most anticipated shows of the summer arrived in town – the New Night Over America tour – consisting of the powerhouse lineup of Finland’s Swallow the Sun, Israel’s Orphaned Land, and Sweden’s Katatonia. By far one of the best shows of the year, I was lucky enough to be there to visually document the evening. A more detailed review of the show will be coming up shortly by Hellbound’s live review extraordinaire, Natalie Zed. Until then, here’s some photos to hold you over in the mean time.
“We follow the directions from google maps and we can’t find any sign of the club. There’s nowhere legal for us to park in sight. We pull into a bus stop and I try calling the promoter and the sound guy. Neither one answers. We’re starting to think this show might not happen. Edgar jumps out and makes an extensive reconnaissance while I stay in the driver’s seat in case we get harassed. He manages to find the club’s customer entrance, but no sign of the underground loading dock we were told to expect. Returns to me looking pretty hopeless. Tells me the club entrance is part of a pedestrian mall. We still don’t know if we’re supposed to drive into it, but he doesn’t think we can fit if we are. We trade places so I can go see for myself.”
“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.
Our good friends over at Collective Concerts have given Hellbound 2 pairs of tickets to see Nachtmystium on their Toronto stop of their North American tour! As the show is THIS Saturday (September 11, 2010), the contest will be open until Friday morning at 8am, so ensure to enter now!
“The best part of the show outside of a really awesome 20-song setlist was watching drummers Coady Willis and Dale Crover play. I’d seen the band in Detroit last year and even though the duo has drummed together for almost four years, Willis seemed more confident on this stop. Crover was still in command, but while they played mostly in tandem and both were decked out in what looked like vintage muumuus castoffs from a Liza Minnelli video shoot circa 1983, you could really see their different playing styles, and there were more individual flourishes evident in their new material than ever before.”
Laina Dawes reviews the September 1st performance by the MELVINS at Toronto`s Opera House. Concert photography by Adam Wills
“Only in death metal can you seriously announce that the next song is about the secret shadow-dwellers who live underground, have the room nod along seriously and then play a blisteringly brilliant song without a hint of irony. It’s damn fun to play mind-bogglingly intricate, complex music and still assert that the subject matter is inspired by psychic vampires. It is excellent, serious music delivered with charm, humour and monsters — there is nothing not to love.”
Natalie Zed reviews the August 28th Toronto performance by ABORTED, AUGURY and SYSTEM DIVIDE at Sneaky Dee’s. Live photos by Adam Wills.