Phil Anselmo

Live Review: Superjoint at The Whisky

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Last night was one hell of a night. The last time I saw Superjoint was in 2004 at the Ventura Theater. I don’t really remember much about the show but, I do remember the sheer intensity that came pouring from the stage to the audience. Fast forward 13 years and that intensity is still pouring from the stage, only this time, it was a direct punch to the face. After being on a “hiatus” (I really hate that word) for the past 10 years, Superjoint returned with a sense of urgency and truth. Their performance this evening was beyond what I thought it would be and then some. But first let’s get to the other bands on the bill.

When I arrived at the venue and stepped inside, Child Bite was just taking the stage. I purposely didn’t check them out before seeing them, because I wanted to experience something I have never heard. Wow, was Child Bite superb. They had an energy and attitude about them, the permeated through the Whisky. Those that were there early got to witness a truly enigmatic performance. Singer Shawn Knight, is one hell of a frontman. He’s got the screams, cleans, and charisma that every frontman needs. Sean Clancy (Bass), Brandon Sczomak (Guitar) and Jeff Kraus (Drums) are tremendous and tight. The band is a very interesting group, as their influences range from Mr. Bungle/Faith No More to The Jesus Lizard, with a bit of Black Flag and a dash of Pantera. Child Bite are a band to look out for when they come through your town and steal the show.

The direct support for the evening came from Detroit, Michigan’s Battlecross. I have heard them before and Battlecross sure brought the energy. Ripping through their set, the metal was delivered. Their sound is a mix of thrash metal and a bit of metalcore. These guys know how to play and rock a stage. Battlecross are on the right track of flying the metal flag. I have to give them their due for the showmanship while playing. The guitar solos and bass solo really added a layer of enjoyment to their performance.

Now Superjoint was what the crowd was waiting for all night. Philip was looking in shape and ready to get back to doing what he does best, decimating stages and audiences. Joining Phil in Superjoint are long time guitarists Jimmy Bower and Kevin Bond and two newcomers Joey “Blue” Gonzalez on drums and Stephen Taylor on bass. Both Joey and Stephen are perfect fits for the band. From the moment the set began with the instrumental “Obilvious Maximus” you knew that Superjoint meant business. Ripping through songs from their first two albums and their new one, Caught Up In The Gears Of Applications, Phil and company have never been tighter. Not only that but, they genuinely looked like they were having a good time. Other songs like “Ozena,” “Waiting For The Turning Point,” “Fuck Your Enemy,” “The Alcoholik,” “It Takes No Guts,” and “Everyone Hates Everyone,” really stood out to me. The new songs played, sounded better live than on the album. Interestingly too, the evening’s show was being filmed for a future release. Needless to say, this was a special show. Superjoint was on fire and blazing. The crowd was into every minute of it. This was a truly great show not just for the band, but those of us who were there.

I also feel the need to mention something else. The Whisky, has really stepped up their game in regards to making the bands sound great. The new system they have in there, really makes all the difference. So, thank you to the Whisky for doing what was necessary. Next thing, is getting a credit card machine at the box office!

 

By: Brian Lacy

Soundtrack Only Songs: Pantera- Avoid The Light

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Back in 2000, Dracula 2000 was released. While the movie was pretty bad, the soundtrack more than made up for it. With songs from bands like System of a Down, Slayer, Disturbed, Static X, and Pantera, this sure made for a killer soundtrack. The Pantera song that was released on the soundtrack wasn’t on any of their albums or a B side to a single. “Avoid The Light” is a very eclectic song for the band. It harks back to their Cowboys From Hell days and shows where they were moving towards on Reinventing The Steel. Anyways, here is Pantera’s “Avoid The Light.”

 

Pantera- Avoid The Light:

Album Rank: Pantera

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As of late I’ve started listening to Pantera again. I needed to take a break from them for a while. Though if I had some aggression I needed to get out, I made sure that The Great Southern Trendkill (My favorite Pantera album) was near by. So with all this in mind, it’s time to rank all the Pantera albums from not the best to the best.

Reinventing The Steel:

Cowboys From Hell:

The Great Southern Trendkill:

Vulgar Display Of Power:

Far Beyond Driven:

Underrated and Influential: Vision Of Disorder

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I’ve been a fan of heavy music pretty much my entire life. There are certain genres within the heavy music world that I’ve really come to love over the years. In 1998 I heard a band that really stepped up the hardcore game. That band was Vision Of Disorder and the album was called Imprint. As I do with every band that I wind up really liking, I went out and purchased any other albums by the band. Flash forward many years later as the “MetalCore” genre started growing in leaps and bounds, it really got me thinking that VOD weren’t getting the due they deserved. Vision Of Disorder had a large hand in developing the “metal core” sound and perfected it with the right amounts of hardcore, metal, and melody. The first two VOD albums cement this theory, especially Imprint. Songs like “What You Are,” “12 Steps To Nothing,” “By The River” which featured Phil Anselmo, and “Jada Bloom” are exquisite examples of what the band stands for.  In 2001 the band changed it up a bit on their album From Bliss To Devastation. This album saw more structure and a more pronounced approach to songwriting. The band though grew frustrated by the lack of support from their label and thus Vision of Disorder went on extended hiatus and eventually disbanded. Singer Tim Williams and guitarist Mike Kennedy formed the band Bloodsimple (who released two solidly good albums). Brendan Cohen (drums) and Mike Fleischmann (bass) played in the band Karvnov. Over the years VOD would reunite for scattered shows, then in 2008 the band formally announced their return. The released a new album entitled The Cursed Remain Cursed in 2012 and are gearing up to release the follow up to that album called Razed To The Ground in later 2015.

Vision Of Disorder is a band that deserves the respect of the bands they helped pave the way for. They have a signature sound that sums up what the genre is all about. The music these gents create is passionate and headstrong. I’m happy to say that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing VOD live and they are intense and go for it all every time they are on stage. Do yourself a favor and pick up some VOD albums and see what you missed out on!

Vision Of Disorder:

Imprint:

From Bliss To Devastation:

The Cursed Remain Cursed:

 

Razed To The Ground:

https://www.facebook.com/VisionOfDisorder

You Might Have Missed: Iommi
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Finally in 2000 after nearly 5 years in the making, Tony Iommi released the be all end all of solo albums featuring guest vocalists. All of the songs on the album were written by Tony Iommi, producer Bob Marlette and each of the vocalists that appear on the songs.The album features Phil Anselmo, Dave Grohl, Henry Rollins, Billy Corgan, Serj Tankian, Billy Idol, Ian Astbury, Peter Steele, Skin, and Ozzy. According to Tony Iommi, he and Phil Anselmo had recorded three tracks together for the album, but only one was put onto the album. Phil had later on said that there was a chance that they might have done a full album had time permitted amongst other things. The album peaked at number 129 on the Billboard charts and its only single released, “Goodbye Lament” featuring Dave Grohl reached number 10 on the Mainstream Rock Chart. This album is quite a remarkable album, as it shows what Tony Iommi’s playing sounds like with different types of singers. Slash tried to do something similar with his first “solo” album, but to me he failed miserably mainly because he is overrated and picked the wrong people to have on his album. Tony Iommi is a true legend and master of his craft, and this album is a testament to his legacy

 

Iommi- Album:

 

Tony Iommi and Phil Anselmo- Invasion Of The Saviours:

 

By: Brian Lacy

Live Show Review: Down at The Wiltern

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It’s always exciting when a band in your all time top ten comes to town.  The sheer enjoyment and anticipation is beyond any normal show. With that in mind, I bring you a report from the Wiltern after seeing the mighty Down.

First band up for the night was Australia’s King Parrot. Their on stage antics were more memorable than their actual music. The singer kept enjoying mooning the crowd. Granted this was sort of funny, it was a real distraction. Their 30 minute set seemed like it would never end, especially when all their songs all sound the same. Though there were a couple highlights from their part of the show. The singer got in the crowd to mosh around with people in the pit, causing a bit of a frenzy and the last song of their set featured a very brief cameo from Phil Anselmo who was watching on the side of the stage.

Next up was the newly reunited Bl’ast. Playing their first gig of this tour, Bl’ast put forth a solid performance but it lacked a lot of energy. I saw them late last year open for Neurosis and they came out firing on all cylinders and actually left me wanting more. Joining the band for touring was, Nick Oliveri on bass and Joey Castillo on drums, both former members of Queens Of The Stone Age.  Perhaps it was just an off night for the band, but it sure didn’t resonate with the crowd very well. They seem better suited in playing smaller places with a more intimate vibe,

The last opener for the evening was London, England’s Orange Goblin. Their blend of Black Sabbath and Motorhead influence really shined this evening. The bands 40 minute set was entertaining and fitting, knowing that Down was next. I’ve only ever heard a couple of songs by Orange Goblin before tonight, and when they were done I made a note to go out and pick up their albums.

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Finally after 3 opening bands, Down took the stage to a thunderous roar. I’ve seen Down quite a few times over the years and they never disappoint. Their set though only 14 songs stretched to just over 2 hours. Material from their first 2 albums was the majority of the set along with a few newer tracks from their most recent EP releases. Sadly though nothing from their third album was played. Phil Anselmo was on his game this evening too. His banter in between songs came across as funny and charming. The band themselves were top-notch as well. New additions to the band Pat Bruders and Bobby Landgraf are perfect fits to take the place of Rex Brown and Kirk Windstein. Jimmy Bower and Pepper Keenan are still masters of their instruments. As usual when “Lifer” was played, Phil dedicated it to his fallen brother Dimebag Darrell. Other songs that really stood out, as they are favorites of mine were “Losing All,” “Ghosts Along The Mississippi,” “Temptations Wings,” and the new song “Conjure.” One other funny note from the show, the guys in  Down jokingly broke into snippets of David Essex’ ‘Rock On’ on two occasions, and sang it surprisingly well. For the encore “Stone The Crow” and “Bury Me In Smoke” were played. And as usual during “Bury Me In Smoke,” random friends of the band made their way on stage to help out. One friend that really caught my attention was Danny Lohner (formerly of Nine Inch Nails). Pepper gave him his guitar and the rest was history.

 

The evening as a whole was very interesting and spanned many different genres of heavy music. The main highlight though was Down. They really are the real deal. It is definitely a different beast seeing them live. There is just such passion amongst all the guys in the band and their chemistry really shines. This is one of the best Down shows I’ve seen yet.

 

Down Setlist:

01. Lysergik Funeral Procession
02. Lifer
03. Hail The Leaf
04. Witchtripper
05. We Knew Him Well
06. There’s Something On My Side
07. Ghost Of Mississippi
08. Losing All
09. Pillars Of Eternity
10. Temptation’s Wings
11. Conjure
12. Eyes Of The South

Encore:
13. Stone The Crow
14. Bury Me In Smoke (with members of King Parrot, Orange Goblin, and Danny Lohner)

 

Photos by: Levan TK (http://instagram.com/levan_t_k)

Book Review: Official Truth-101 Proof: Rex Brown of Pantera

I love to read biographies about bands and the people in them. One of the best things about these types of books are when they delve deep into the making of albums. While reading about that part I love putting the albums on and really invest myself in to what they were all about at that point. I recently read Rex Brown’s book about his time in Pantera. The stories were really interesting and it presented quite an interesting look into one of heavy musics most popular bands. The writing style was a bit juvenile but the content made it worth while. After reading the book I had more of an understanding why Pantera ended the way it did, and just how much Dimebag and Vinnie were immature. Rex really didn’t spare anyone. He blasted himself, Phil and the rest of the guys. One of the more interesting things was about how Dime and Vinnie’s father was collecting royalties from Pantera in the early days once they were signed to a major label. What a schmuck. This is a very fast read of a book and it packs quite a punch especially when it got to the murder of Dime and the other people at the Alrosa Villa in 2004. It’s well worth it if you are a Pantera fan. And even if you aren’t it shows a lot of how to deal with band dynamics and the do’s and don’ts. In a way this book is a great precursor to Philip’s book which should be out in 2015 and will undoubtably cause a lot of controversy I’m sure.

By: Brian Lacy

Great Guest Vocalists: Phil Anselmo

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Phil Anselmo has one of the most distinct voices in the heavy music community. He has lent his talents to a few bands over the years. Here are some of those.

Vision Of Disorder- By The River (From The Album: Imprint)

Iommi- Time Is Mine (From The Album: Iommi)

Anthrax- Killing Box (From The Album: Volume 8 The Threat Is Real)

Jarboe- Overthrown (From The Album: Mahakali)

 

By: Brian Lacy

 

A Second Look: DOWN (and 2 For Tuesday)

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Many “supergroups” have come and gone. Some have been great while others were put together to capitalize on the members names. One group that has always stood out to me is Down. During it’s inception, Down was meant to be a side project for the members during their downtime while in Pantera, Corrosion Of Conformity, EyeHateGod, and Crowbar. Comprised of Philip H. Anselmo, Pepper Keenan, Jimmy Bower, Pat Bruders, and Bobby Landgraf, (Rex Brown and Kirk Windstein have since parted ways with the band to focus on other projects) these gents have put together a formula of righteous heaviness. A lot of people pronounce Pantera as the holy grail of heavy, but I’ve always though that Down was the better band. Sure I get a lot of flack for this opinion, but I stand by it. All you have to do is listen to the songs. There really is something special about the music that these guys made. Not to take anything away from Pantera, Down just has had more of an impact on me.

Their first album NOLA, is quite a classic in todays heavy rock circles. Songs such as Temptations Wings, Stone The Crow, Losing All, Jail, and Bury Me In Smoke, all portray such vulnerability and strength in the delivery of them. After NOLA was released and a few shows were played, Down was put on the back burner until 2001. When Down reconvened, they did so at Phil’s home and transformed his barn into a studio and wrote and recorded their next album Down II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow in 28 days. While the album wasn’t as solid as their debut, there are still quite a few gems on the album such as Ghosts Along The Mississippi, Learn From This Mistake, Beautifully Depressed, The Seed, and New Orleans Is A Dying Whore. In 2002 Down toured as part of Ozzfest, only to take another break soon after. Then again in 2006 they reformed in the wake of the travesty of Hurricane Katrina and the death of Dimebag Darrell. The result was Down III: Over The Under which proved to be every bit of what fans would expect the album to be. It’s raw and filled with anger, remorse, sadness, and hope. Quick side note it’s also the only of their albums not to have any profanity on it. The album features some truly great well written songs including The Path, On March The Saints, Beneath The Tides, In The Thrall Of It All and the epic Nothing In Return (which has become one of my favorite songs ever). In 2012, the release of part 1 of their 4 EP set was released. The Purple EP was a slight return to the raw unpolished sound of their original material. Misfortune Teller the closing track on the album really showcases this return.  Down are now gearing up to release part 2 this year.

Down has been able to wrangle themselves into quite the group. They are honest musicians that create music that satisfies the savage beast in all of us. They can write songs that are heavy as heavy can be but also can take you on an epic trip. If you’ve never really given Down a listen you should really sit back and enjoy what they have to offer.

Nothing In Return: I love listening to this song to end my evening after a night out or just when I’m coming home from work.

Bury Me In Smoke: Another great song to end the night to, also a great song to just listen to while driving with the windows down.