Hellbound Give-away

For those who aren’t in the know, Hellbound has partnered with Relapse Records to offer a pretty sweet pre-Christmas give-away.

Check out the Hellbound post for details.

Dawn of Death Fest

Heaps of Dead — Nov 20, 2009 with Deamon, Disgust, The Unborn Dead, Strings of Ares at Sin City

This is my first time at Sin City. It’s a great venue, but it’s doubtful that they’ll have another metal show any time soon. Security was pretty worried about the moshers.

All the bands played well, and the crowd was decent (if a little thin.) Unfortunately we had to take off before Heaps of Dead because of the long drive back to Toronto from Peterborough.

I did score 3 setlists though.

Strings of Ares

Disgust

Deamon

Metal Girls v2

We’ve finally gotten a few of the pics from the photo shoot with the Toronto Strobists back. (Yeah, it’s only been a week, but I’m impatient.) In case you haven’t read my earlier post: I have recently joined a group dedicated to promoting metal chicks as real metal chicks rather than slutty-emo-goths. For those who are curious, I’m the most blond one.

Check out the Real Metal Models group on facebook, and the photographers on Fickr Toronto Strobists. The models were me, obviously, Nicole (who organized the whole thing), Zelda, Jenna, and Timara

Here are the things I learned from the photo shoot:

Modling is harder than is seems. I was at a loss for poses

I’m old! One of the models had to back out because she wasn’t old enough to sign the release form. Two were only just legal to drink, and the other was close to their age.

Some of the photogs were awesome, and some were a bit lacking in enthusiasm.



Overall, it was a great time, and I’d love to give it another go.

Manners and Metal

Most of the shows I attend are peopled by your basic fun loving headbangers, but every few shows, I run into some jerk that almost ruins the night for the rest of the crowd.

We’re a pretty easy-going folk, and most of us aren’t bothered by much. Some things, though, are just not acceptable. So here is my list of etiquette dos and don’ts for those metalheads who don’t quite get it. (In no particular order.)

Pay Attention: As comfortable you are in your own metal scene, be aware that every metal sub-genre and every city has its own social codes. Keep an eye on everyone else’s behaviour. Don’t worry about mimicking the others; just be aware.

Hold your Booze: If you become a giant jerk after a pint or two, then for our sakes and yours, don’t drink at shows. (Yes, your sake too, because there are many BIG metalheads who won’t put up with your antics.)

Know your Place: There are several basic areas at every show: High Action (up front), Mid Action (a few people away from the pit), Low Action (the bar or smoker’s pit). Don’t chit-chat loudly near the stage. Go to the bar. Seriously. If you’re getting angry at people knocking into your girlfriend, move her somewhere else. I don’t understand how people can’t figure this out.

Pit Properly: Don’t go looking to injure someone. Don’t mosh against people clearly not interested in joining in. Leave your beer/drumsticks/other random crap with a buddy instead of bringing it with you.

These are just four basic things that shouldn’t be too difficult for even the biggest dope. Ok, I’m done with my ranting for today.

If you have anything to add to this list, or disagree with some of it, just leave a comment on this post.

Borealis

Borealis — Nov 14 with Crimson Shadows, Exile and Maridian at The Hard Luck Bar

This was my first time at the Hard Luck Bar. It’s just the right size for a local show.

It was my first time seeing Maridian. They have an interesting sound, but need another year or two to tidy it up.

Exile were awesome! It was my first time seeing these guys too. They play my favourite sort of thrash. They also had free demo CDs with Fade Away and Seven

Crimson shadows and Borealis both played up to their usual standards.

I also snagged two setlists:
(Maridian)

(And Exile)

Great times, overall

Vader

Vader — Nov 10, 2009 with Decrepit Birth, Warbringer, The Amenta and Augury at The Mod Club.

This was my first time out at the Mod Club. I have to say that it’s miles ahead of both the Opera House and the Wreck Room. It’s a great layout with a decent A/V setup.

We arrived just a few minutes into Augury’s set. Between Forest’s amazing bass solo, and them ending with my favourite song, Alien Shores, I was thrilled with their set.

I was disappointed to hear that Swashbuckle weren’t able to make it across the boarder. They weren’t exactly right for this bill, but I just love pirate metal.

The Amenta (see pic above) were my memorable band of the night. Their first song in, I wasn’t quite in the right mental area, but by their second tune, I was hooked. Check them out if you haven’t heard their stuff yet.

Warbringer were their usual rocking selves and get two thumbs up for the Patrick Loisel t-shirt.

This was my first time seeing Decrepit Birth. They were good, but just not my thing.

Vader, as one would expect, were excellent. The put on a great show, and got the crowd going.

Overall, this show was awesome. The venue was awesome, the bands played wonderfully, and the crowd was enthusiastic. For some cellphone pics from the show, check out my twitpic account.

Chroium Dioxide

(pic stolen from http://chromiumdioxidemetal.blogspot.com)

Chromium Dioxide, for those not in the know, is a brand-spanking-new metal mag coming out of Toronto. They’re just into their second issue, and I’m getting in while the getting is good. (please excuse the cliche. I’m sick, and grumpy and can’t think right.)

I am lucky enough to be married to a guy who’s “in the know”. (yep, sick, cliche, etc.) He made it out to the release party of the first issue, and I get access to the mags through him. (I just sneak them off of the bookshelf when he’s asleep or at work.)

When I first heard about this mag, I kinda expected them to lose momentum after the first issue. I’ve seen a lot of keen guys with great ideas and no follow-through, so I don’t ever get my hopes up.

I found the second issue of Chromium Dioxide on the coffee table one morning, and figured that these guys seem to be serious about what their doing.

Scroll down for my professional artistic critique, but keep reading for my average joe (*cough* see, still sick) critique.

My first impression of this magazine is that it looks like a comic book. WTF?! I love comic books! … and it’s clearly metal. That’s two pluses (+2) before I’ve even opened the cover. Way to go boys.

About two paragraphs in, I had a pretty strong impression of the style of the mag. Frankly, I loved it. Everything is written very personally. CD gives a very comfortable, friendly read. Stylistically, Chromium Dioxide is right on the mark. It reads like your talking to your buddy who has some great info on a new band. I could do without the cursing though. Yes, swearing is metal, but it takes some authority away from the writers.

Content-wise, I found that it was a good mix of interviews, label profiles, album reviews and random editorials. And in the snarky mood I’ve been in lately, I was thrilled with their “Sh*tty Album Covers” section.

I love the look of the whole mag, but wish that the type was bigger. (more on that later in the post.)

Overall, Chromium Dioxide is more than worth the $6 cost. Go out and buy a copy.

Harsh Artistic Critique

*Disclaimer — After 6+ years of formal art education, I can’t make a post about anything without acknowledging the aesthetic merits and pitfalls. I try to moderate my comments when discussing work created by someone without a Fine Art B.A. (after all, no one can take a brutal critique like we can.) Critiques can hurt but are intended only to help the, um, critique-ee. These comments probably belong on my Design Blog, but laziness overcame me.

Ok, it’s print, so let’s start with typography. A mix of typefaces is expected in a grunge style, and CD pulls this off nicely. While the typefaces are all good body types, they aren’t all the best for metal. (Venetians are just too dated for such a modern topic.)

I have a big problem with the point size. It can’t be more than 7pt, possibly even 6pt. To compound the problem, only one or two articles had proper leading. Most pages were cramped.

I assume that the type point is uber-small because of the enormous amount of content that the guys are putting out. My advice: cut-back or save up the content and let your type breathe a little.

In terms of graphics, I couldn’t give any suggestions for improvements. The 80’s toon style illustrations is perfect for this feel. Graphic elements are heavily used through the mag and give each page a good balance. The illustrations themselves beautifully blend experience with raw energy.

Overall, Chromium Dioxide is a great mag. A few slight shifts would make it amazing, and I am sure that as the mag grows, those small changes will work themselves in to make CD amazing.

Aging in Metal

I was browsing through Shopper’s when I noticed a young metalhead who was complaining to her mother about the high price of band shirts. Her mention of $50 shirts lead me to believe that she’s just starting down the metal path and has yet to discover the underground bands.

I started to consider my own place in the community. I used to consider myself one of the news kids, but it seems that I’ve outgrown that position. I certainly haven’t gained the distinction of being one of the old guard. So where do I fit in? I’m stuck between the bright-eyed bushy-tailed kids and the laid-back guys with the enviable, ancient shirts.

I suppose that it doesn’t really matter how I see myself in the metal generations as long as the metal keeps coming.

Dethklok & Mastodon

Dethklok — Oct 23, 2009 with Mastodon, Converge, and High on Fire at the Sound Academy.

So the hubby and I got a pair of tickets as a wedding gift, and were thus able to attend the show. The obscenely high price plus the unbelievable Live Nation service charge were the only thing keeping us from the show. We were very lucky to get these tickets. (I was uber-sad when I saw how much they wanted. Thank goodness for HeavyMetalAdam who gave us the great gift of tickets.

Going into the show, we expected a whole lot of brats. Both Dethklock and Mastodon are uber-popular, and thus draw out the jerks. Surprisingly, just about everyone behaved themselves (except for that one girl who thought that headbanging means falling backwards, and that one other very large girl [I thought it was a dude with a large ski jacket at first] who shoved us aside)

I saw High on Fire in London when the opened for Opeth, so I wasn’t too focused on them. Converge were more hardcore than we initially thought, so we were a bit disappointed. (the Hubby was especially looking forward to them, and thus doubly disappointed.)

Mastodon were Magnificent. I never really gave them a chance before, and wasn’t very focused on them for this show, but they drew me right in. They stole the show. I went for Dethklok, but if I had money for merch, it would have gone to Mastodon.

This was my first time seeing Dethklock, and I was very excited. I was a bit worried that my impression of them from the cartoon wouldn’t translate well to a live setting, but they really pulled it off.

I was familiar with some of the Music Video animations from the DVD’s, but some of the newer songs (i.e. Hatredcopter) I’d never seen, so that was good times. I enjoyed the bridging animations, but I’d heard that they were recycled from last time they hit the city. I enjoyed it all, but considering the ticket price, I’d have been PO’d if I had seen the last show with the same animations.

Overall I had a great time. The idiots that I expected in the audience never materialized, and I was unexpectedly enthralled by Mastodon.

3 inches of Blood

(according to the hubby ’cause I couldn’t make the show)

“Hallows die were good, but are still on the road to being awesome. Second band was sorta nu-metal/metalcore. Third band was great. 3 inches of blood was great.

“Also, some members of Dethklock and Mastodon were there.”

My own view: when top-notch bands watch random other bands when the have a night off = awesomeness that speaks very highly of the international metalhead community.