NON-METAL (BUT KINDA METAL) INFLUENCES

I’ve been pretty mellow and low-key lately and I’ve been matching my music choices to my mood. There’s not a whole lot of mellow metal out there, at least not a lot I like (ugh ISIS, FML), so I’ve been channeling those moods elsewhere. Enter stage left, Johnny Cash.

Anyone that’s heard his cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” knows what I’m talking about here. I could listen to that song five times a day, everyday, and I think it would still hit as hard every time. And if “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die” isn’t just as brutal as “I wanna rip you wide open just to see what you’re made of”, I don’t know what is. 

More importantly, I don’t think there’s a metal band out there that doesn’t have mad respect for the OG Man in Black, if not notably influenced by him. We all know metal’s (bloody) roots lie in classical, blues, and jazz music, and most of us have musical interests outside the genre. It’s not a question of “What kinda of music do you like? …besides metal” but rather, what non-metal artists are actually kinda metal after all?

-Julia

GUITAR MEET FACE

When I first watched this I gasped really really loudly, and my face froze for a good 2 minutes…………..Then I laughed.

You’re welcome.

-Elise

JESUS SAVES, BUT HE SURE IS FLAMMABLE

(photo via Geekologie)

Just north of Cincinnati, Ohio was once a monument known as the “King of Kings” in front of some church. Well, as of this week the King is DEAD. And Norwegian Black Metal musicians and enthusiasts rejoice. 

A bolt of lightning hit the gigantic statue this past Monday, and it consequentially burst into flames. This has nothing to do with metal really, but when I saw it all I could think about was:

• “Brutal”
• “That would make a cool album cover”
• “I wonder if there’s a band out there named ‘Burning Jesus’ ‘Jesus Burns (in Hell)’ or anything combining the ideas of JC and FIRE”
• “There should be a metal band that gets something out of this. Bonus point if they’re from Cincinnati! I’d buy it!”

If you hadn’t noticed, I kinda like to find the metal in everyday life. It’s there if you’re imaginative enough. What’s the most metal part of your daily routine (aside from the obvious listening to music and/or playing it?)

-Julia

THIS IS WHY I DON’T DO VERY MANY INTERVIEWS

I’m really pretty selective about who I do interviews with on this site. Simply because interviews can often just turn into long, boring conversations. And why would I wanna put up with that? There are so many blogs nowadays, and certain bands will be interviewed by every single stupid one of them. There’s only so much that can be said after a while. As my buddy Jayson Shenk points out, this is how 90% of band interviews read. An excerpt:

Interviewer: You guys just toured. How was the tour?

Band: Despite the fact that we like saying that all humanity is a cancer and we pray to our dark lords to end this world, the tour was awesome. All our fans were great. Fans in City really tore it up. It was great to be out with Band (opener) and/or Band (headliner).

Interviewer: What are your plans for the future?

Band: We are going to play more music. We will also tour again and then return to the studio to record again. After that we will tour.

Again, this is why I stay selective and only talk to people who keep it real. So now I ask you guys this: Who is your favorite band to read/watch interviews of? Who is bringin’ the boring like you just read above? And who is your favorite interviewer? I like Matt Lauer. Srsly.

-Elise

HAPPY (PREMATURE) FATHER’S DAY!

I know it’s not for another week, but I didn’t want to let this one go. Courtesy of our brohans at The Number of the Blog, watch this little diddy. Predictable, but adorable. Wait for it during the last five seconds.

For all you metal dads out there, and those who aren’t (shout to my Luther Vandross/Aaron Neville lovin’ padre, Steve!) Happy father’s day!

-Julia

HOW LONG DO YOU GIVE AN ALBUM BEFORE YOU DECIDE IT STINKS?

Well, folks, we’re nearing the mid-point of 2010. And as I look over my list of music that I’ve grown quite fond of so far this year, I’ve began to notice that I barely have much of a list at all. I can honestly say I’ve been listening to/sampling as many things as humanly possible. I’m willing to give anything a shot. But for the most part, I haven’t been diggin’ what’s been coming out. I like to think that the problem is more *me* and that I’m just being picky, but lots of people have insisted that they’re feeling the same way, so…there ya go.

But alas, the show must go on, and I still have lots of crap to sit here and sift through so I can be the good little blogger you kiddies want me to be. But I can only give so much to each individual release. So where is the cutoff exactly? How long can I actually give an album to find out whether or not it’s actually worth my time? This is my usual test: I leave my apartment and hit ‘play’ on my iPod and I walk 4 blocks to the subway station. I swipe in, and I walk down a crap ton of stairs. If I’ve hit the subway platform and still haven’t heard anything interesting…game over. This walk usually takes around 6-7 minutes. Many of you will probably think that’s not enough time, but I’d have to say that six whole minutes of any band’s music should give me a good idea as to what they’re all about. If I’m not into it, I’ll put on something else and move on. If I’m feeling nice, I’ll give it another chance somewhere down the line…maybe.

So, how long do you give an album? Are you more cut-throat than me? Do you try to make it to the end? Tell me, tell me, tell me.

-Elise

THE LEAST METAL THING I’VE POSTED IN A WHILE

There was once a time where I LIVED for hilarious YouTube videos (my personal recommendation for those who haven’t seen it, Drinking Out of Cups). I haven’t come across a new one in a while, but this one ain’t bad. Unlike a lot of my metal comrades, I don’t have any tattoos… but I imagine that it’s really not as bad as this mess makes it out to be. Chick needs to man up. I hope she never has to give birth…

-Julia

FROM A GREAT LAKE COMES A GREAT BASS

A bass made out of driftwood from Lake Superior, at a craft fair in New Paltz, NY. Not something you see everyday, just disappointed that there wasn’t a matching drum kit made from the trash found in Lake Superior…

-Julia

TR00 LIFE: SAUDI ARABIA SHEDS SOME LIGHT ON THE ‘METAL’ EAST

True Life - MTV Shows

Last week, MTV aired a special episode of their documentary series True Life called Resist the Power: Saudi Arabia. I opted out of doing a post on it, figuring one of those “news”-ier type metal sites would cover it, but uhhh….no one did. Yes, for once MTV aired a show about something besides rich bitches and Jersey skanks (which I love, but most of you hate) and none of you decided to take any notice. Especially since this particular story featured some legit overseas br00tality.

The True Life crew followed four young people living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a place where Islam rules all. Genders are often separated in public places, marriages are arranged, “controversial” websites are blocked from view (I’m guessing we’re not popular over there), and the women are constantly covered up head-to-toe in long black abayas. Featured on this special, we meet Aziz: a hopeless romantic who is forbidden from meeting his female cyber companion in person, Fatima: a wealthy and educated young woman who attempts to introduce colored abayas to her community, Ahmad: a man fighting for women’s rights to participate in city council, as well as members of a Saudi Arabian metal band called Breeze of the Dying who struggle to be accepted or find a venue to play in, as their music is seen as “satanic.” A BOTD show is shut down early for “funny business” during the episode, because even the sight of gruesome logos on their t-shirts are seen as offensive.

So obviously I connected to this on two levels. 1) Being a fan of this so-called “satanic” music, and 2) being female. Real talk: Breeze of the Dying are not all that great, but if I had to live in that country, I suppose I would worship them by default. I hate to be all “look what we take for granted” on your asses, but as much as we all discuss how the music biz has gone completely down the tubes over here, these guys can’t even get an inch off the ground. And then picture me walkin’ up in that bitch. In a country where women are expected to do nothing but be modest and take care of their families, expressing interest in a music scene, especially metal, is completely off the radar. Jeez, you guys think shows are sausage fests here? 

Anyway, I mean no disrespect towards Islamic culture. Traditions are traditions, and I’m sure many people are perfectly fine with them. But I guess it’s safe to say I will be maintaining my right to wear cutoffs and listen to songs about whores.

I embedded the episode above, but incase you don’t want to have to see my ugly mug out of the corner of your eye the entire time, you can also view it here.

-Elise

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS- THE CHINESE FOOD/GRATEFUL DEAD EDITION

I love it when little glimpses of awesome make their way into everyday life. There’s a Chinese food place in Syracuse that we love because A) the food is bangin and B) the kids (literally the owners kids aged 7-12) are always there working the register and taking orders. When I walked in to get my order yesterday, an amazing conversation ensued between one of the kids and another customer. Observe:

Dude: Yo, can I just get two eggrolls?

Kid: Yeah, $2.60… What’s the ring? (looking at Dude’s hand)

Dude: Oh, it’s the Grateful Dead… they’re a band

Kid: Oh. 

(The Kid goes back to his computer, but the Dude leaves and returns 2 minutes later)

Dude: Hey, do me a favor and look up the Grateful Dead on YouTube

Kid: …Eh, I don’t feel like it.

Dude: (stunned) C’mon…

Kid: Fine… (Kid looks up GD on Google Image) The OLD GUY?

Dude: Well, yeah. They’re all old now, but-

Kid: What kind of music is it?

Dude: Do you know what a “jam band” is?

Kid: Epic fail.

The kid had the sarcasm and wit of a 20-something, and I got to watch him take down a hippie and manage a restaurant all at the tender (estimated) age of 12. Rock on, little boy New Garden, rock on. SLAAAAYYYYYEEEERRRRRRRR!

-Julia