THE BR00TAL TR00TH - KIM

[photo by Elizabeth Bruneau]

What could possibly be better than two blonde chicks writing a metal blog?  Bringing a third one in to join in on the fun, of course.  Ladies and gentlemen:  the one, the only, ‘Grim’ Kim Kelly is in the building to weigh in on life overseas, her seldom-seen girly side, and her amazingly br00tal, yet tiresome schedule.  Check her out at Terrorizer, Hails and Horns, Noisecreep, Metal Injection, MetalSucks, and about 1093596 other places, too.  How she managed to squeeze us in, we’ll never know.

How many different places have you lived over the years?

At this point, four. I was born and raised in a tiny South Jersey town smack dab in the middle of a nature preserve; that’s right, in the fucking FOREST - I’ve been practicing my Immortal impression since I was barely old enough to croak. It’s called Chatsworth, NJ, and by some bizarre coincidence, is also where Pitchfork/Show No Mercy/my buddy Brandon Stosuy grew up! We had a total “whooooa” moment about this when we realized that not one but TWO black metal nerds had managed to escape from that backwoods redneck stronghold. I moved to Philadelphia for college, spent a summer in Brooklyn, went back to Illadeph, then landed in North London about six months ago. I’m back on the East Coast in September for my last year of school, and who knows after that! I’ve got my sights set on NYC, New Orleans, and London, but knowing me, I’ll end up in a cave in Kuala Lumpur with the guy from Striborg. 

When did your grimness first manifest itself?

I’d pinpoint the first time I heard Bathory’s Under the Sign of the Black Mark as the exact moment that I realized that I was never going to be a respectable member of society. I was about 16 or so, and had just gotten my first Emperor record a week or so before (which was Emperial Live Ceremony, randomly enough). Those first windswept seconds of “Nocturnal Obeisance” and ensuing filthy black genius heralded the beginning of a lifelong love affair with all things ugly, raw, and underproduced. The rest of my high school career was spent worshipping bands like Horna, Satanic Warmaster, Vlad Tepes, Tsjuder, Moonblood, Beherit, and the like, and I’ve only gotten worse!

What metal-related things are you working on right now?

I’m currently writing for Terrorizer, Hails & Horns, Noisecreep, Metal Injection, Pure Grain Audio, and the exhumed web version of Metal Maniacs, as well as contributing occasional guest columns to Metal Sucks and Metalasfuck. I also own and operate a PR company called Catharsis PR that represents a variety of extreme metal artists and labels, including Cormorant, Blood of the Tyrant, Noctis Imperium,  Litany for the Whale, and Give Praise Records. When I’m in the US, I book doom/black metal gigs in PA/NYC, and also DJ a specialty extreme metal show on WKDU 91.7fm called Dawn of the Apocalypse every Weds. 5-7pm. I love to DJ, and have done so at various events and clubs in Philly/NYC. My newest project is a specialty vinyl label called Saturnine Media, though which I’ll be releasing the vinyl version of Cormorant’s Metazoa album later this year. No rest for the wicked, right?

Does metal ‘journalism’ really even exist anymore?

It’s hard to say, though I like to think it does. For all the freeloading syncopants and know-nothing egoists infesting the metal media, there are still a handful of true believers who genuinely do care enough about this music and about our scene to be honest, fair, and knowledgeable and to stay true to their principles, who remember what it was like to be “just” a fan, before the free CDs and guest list spots started rolling in. The ones that remember that it is a PRIVILEGE and not a right to be given the opportunity to spend time talking to people whose work you respect and writing something meaningful about this music that means everything to millions of people across the globe. The ones that remember that their purpose is to strengthen our scene, not divide it or water it down. Over the years, I’ve met some incredibly inspiring people as well as some absolute scum; metal journalism exists, it’s just been rendered nearly extinct. As long as there are people who really care, though, we’ll be alright. 

Any quality interview stories from over the years?

The first time I interviewed Eric from Watain, I got to hear him dead seriously tell me that his band aimed to “set the world on fire,” after which I almost got thrown out of the gig for being underage (but finagled my way back in anyway). There was the time I interviewed Shagrath and he spent the whole time blowing cigar smoke in my face…or the time I flew to Antwerp to hang out with Amebix and stayed up ‘til 4am hunting for Belgian fries with Rob and Roy…or the time I took Municipal Waste record shopping and ended up getting my palm read with Tony Foresta…or the time I interviewed Corpsegrinder and spent a half hour talking about George Lucas…or the time my recorder broke mid-interview while I was talking to Ihsahn and he graciously volunteered to speak very, verrry slowly so I could write down every word he said (total class act, that guy)…every interview’s a story, some better than others. Word of advice to bands everywhere: if you’re being interviewed, don’t be a dick to the journalist or we WILL call you out on it later. 

What is you drink of choice?

Dixie Whiskey, of course.

What is your favorite thing to order when eating Indian?

Tandoori chicken, pilau rice, plain naan - my tastes aren’t exactly what one would call “adventurous,” but goddamn do I love me some curry.

How much weight can you bench?

I used to be able to do like 150, but have sadly become way less burly now that I’m not lifting with football players and throwing shotput anymore (not that 150’s that impressive anyway, but fuck you, I’m a girl). I’ve retained my gnarly right hook, though; a delicate flower, I am not.

Who are the hottest men in metal?

Ben Falgoust, hands down. The things I’d do to that man…also, my heart skips a beat every time King ov Hell, Aaron Deal from Salome, Hoest from Taake, Dolk of Kampfar and Alex from Necrophobic take the stage. Southern boys and Scandinavians, basically. Yowza!

What are the three best concerts you’ve ever been to?

Angelcorpse, Watain, Nachtmystium, March into the Sea on the Antichrist Vanguard tour at the Northstar Bar in Philadelphia, 2007. Eyehategod with Crowbar in New Orleans - 20th anniversary gig, 2008. Enslaved “True Norwegian Black Metal” tribute set with Nocturno Culto, LG Petrov, and Attila Csihar at Hole in the Sky fest in Bergen, Norway 2009. *Tied honorable mention: Wolves in the Throne Room with Witchcraft in Brooklyn, 2007 and Agalloch and Dornenreich at the Underworld in London, 2009.

What one band have you seen live the most times?

Either Goatwhore or Nachtmystium - I’ve known the guys in both bands for a few years now, and since they both tour like motherfuckers, I can’t help but see them every few months or so. I’m totally okay with it, though, ‘cause they both rule hard!

What one band would you like to have exterminated?

Four-way tie between Whitechapel, Iwrestledabearonce, Abigail Williams, and In This Moment - to call them an ‘abomination’ is an insult to abominations everywhere. 

CONFESS! What is Grim Kim’s favorite chick flick?

Ten Things I Hate About You! I love chick flicks. I’m a gigantic pussy, honestly.

Always important…baldies or beardos? How hairy are the men in your life?

BEARDS! Long hair and untamed facial hair are the way to go. The thought of hairwhipping side by side with my boo makes me weak in the knees. I just can’t get down with a shorthair - it  feels wrong. If you’ve got hair longer than mine, you’re in; if your hair’s on the short side but you’ve got a flowing beard or are rocking a Grutle-esque chin shrub, we might be able to work something out. 

Who’s better? US metalheads or UK metalheads?

Metalheads are the same everywhere, really, though the ones inhabiting metal-starved areas are of course more appreciative and/or fanatical about the bands they love. UK metalheads are spoiled compared to their US brethren, what with their close proximity to the continent, easy access to festivals like Bloodstock and Supersonic, and the quality of bands that pass through Blighty, but that should just be an incentive for more Americans to travel overseas for gigs! Europe really isn’t that far away, I promise.

Chunky or smooth?

Smooth, baby.

Who else in the metal community do you think we should grill?

Liz Ciavarella-Brenner - not only has she been a part of the scene for decades and a past editor of Metal Maniacs, she co-runs Earsplit PR, writes for a million awesome metal mags, and is the sweetest, smartest, most unspeakably rad metal lady ever. Also, Jill Mikkelson from Terrorizer Magazine- she’s the most badass Canadian you’ll ever meet, and her love for Tony Choy and weedly weedly riffs is nothing short of legendary.

If you are a metal musician, blogger, photographer, DJ/VJ, roadie, merch dude, etc. (GUYOR GAL!), and would like to get probed by two cool chicks, please send us an email at: reigninblonde@gmail.com.