During the early part of March Mayhem I had the opportunity to check out some newer North Carolina Extreme Metal bands. Here are three of them for you to check out.
Band Name - COLUMNS
From - Boone/Winston Salem, North Carolina USA
Genre - Death Metal
I saw this band recently at a Brewery show. Yes I was at the Brewery and I haven't been surrounded by that many virgins since fuckin grade school. I was only there to check out another band who were supposedly Black Metal. So I purposely went there late in the hopes of missing any opening bands. Unfortunately when I walked in there was this horrible "emo/screamo" band on the Brewery's sparse stage. Thankfully I only had to hear the end of their set. But they still drove me to drink faster than usual. You can always gauge a band by how many trips you make to the bar. For a good band you stay and watch em but for the bad ones you turn your back on. And for this one band, who I will not give a free plug by mentioning their name, were "mall core".
The band which came up next, COLUMNS, was a surprise for me. They're a four piece who blasted old school Death Fuckin Metal. Nothing fancy just straight in your face (literally, the singer got off stage and into the crowd) Death! Another thing about COLUMNS is that they're not doing this modern "Tech Death" shit. Well yeah they are a young band (early 20s?) so they could just evolve into one in a year or two. But honestly they were not your cliche type of new Death Metal. These guys sounded like they were weened on old MORBID ANGEL or CANNIBAL CORPSE. They have a new guitarist who's only been with em since the Fall of 2007. But you couldn't really tell since they ground down the kiddies in the audience like a well oiled death dealing machine.
I say give them some more practice time. Let em play to more stranger filled audiences (on this night you could tell that they were playing in front of all their friends). Get some gigs opening up for some semi-bigger named bands. And then look the fuck out because these guys are doing something that fans of old Death Metal want. Fuck the flashy shit just get on stage and kick every goddamn ass in the fucking audience.COLUMNS has a few demos out and if what I said interests you. Then go check em out at:
http://www.myspace.com/columnsmusic
http://www.purevolume.com/columns
Band Name - FAITH IN ASHES
From - Cary, North Carolina USA
Genre - Black Metal
This is the band I went to the Brewery to see. I was told about FAITH IN ASHES (not to be confused with FROST LIKE ASHES, a black metal band on Open Grave Records) by a friend and he said they were a local Black Metal band. Of course since I'm a extremely jaded bastard, the "?" mark popped out. Ok I'll be the judge on that one. I checked out their site page and listened to some of their songs. And they sounded like something worth while to check out. Their site says "epic black metal". Also there was something strange about their band photo. At the time I couldn't put my finger on it. But there I was at the club and my friend introduced me to one of the band's guitarists, Adam, and their vocalist, Micah. Then they finally got on stage and it was then that I figured out what so weird about their band photo. Adam, who was wearing glasses when I met him but had them off while on stage, looks like a younger Euronymous. I swear if you put this guy in corpse paint and in a leather jacket you would think that you were staring at the ghost of Euronymous. Whoa what a freaky moment I wanted to ask the guy if he was born in Norway or at least conceived there in say 1988? But hey I didn't want to offend him right off the bat.
Musically, well their opening contained a pre-recorded taped sample of some classical piece. A few seconds later the band starts shredding some good sounding melodic Black Metal. I liked their vocals, Micah's raspy screams were fuckin exciting to listen to. Also his presence on stage was very into the crowd's face with his neck veins popping out for good effect. Guitars and Bass sounded great also although I would like to hear the band in a bigger venue. Their stage presence needs some work. The other guitarist, who also contributes backing vocals, is a lefty which is very cool (follow the left hand path). But dude leave the DIMMU BORGIR shirt at home. Your up on stage trying to raise demonic beasts from the fiery pits of Hell, not advertising that you shop at Manic Panic. Another thing that stuck out like a Pope's Hat at a BLACK SABBATH concert was the drummer wearing a red t-shirt and I could swear he started the gig off with a baseball cap worn backwards.
Were they "Epic"? Not unless they add a keyboardist and were backed by the North Carolina Symphony. I wanted to close my eyes and just listen to them but obviously I couldn't do that where I was. Some audience "mall rat" would look at me and say to his buddies, "Look some one's dad is passed out in the corner!" Also I saw some of these "mall rats" practicing their "high kicking" moves before the music started. Yeah that's all I needed. There I am standing against the wall with my eyes closed listening to FAITH IN ASHES crank out some melodic blackness. And the next thing I know some kid slams his size 7 sneaker clad foot into my nut sack by accident. I'm there to check out the band, not to be brought up on charges of manslaughter.
Anyway as I write this I'm also on the FAITH IN ASHES site listening to the 3 songs which are on it. I can honestly say I like them better live since on that night the majority of their material sounded like Blackened Thrash from the 90s. They reminded me a little of AURA NOIR or even some DESTRUCTION then say EMPEROR But on their site, the recorded songs sound like these guys have listened to their share of COF. As far as right now I'll take em live and hopefully when they record a proper CD, their producer will de-produce the melody out of them. That harsh live sound of theirs is where they need to be. Deep in the depths of the black.The band doesn't have any merch out right now but you can check them out at:
http://www.myspace.com/faithinashes
Band Name - LEGION OF THE FALLEN
Home - Chapel Hill, North Carolina USA
Genre - Black Metal/Death Metal
If someone asked me in what North Carolina city or town would a decent sounding Black Metal band would emerge from. I'd would not have guessed Chapel Hill. Actually I would've said Lizard Lick or one of the bigger cities. But here we have LEGION OF THE FALLEN from Chapel Hill the musical home of Indie Rock and Jangly Pop. Sure I've been using the label "chapel hell" for years but only to exemplify my hatred for the place. One wonders what could the town have in common with Bergen or Oslo, Norway that could spawn some decent sounding Black Metal? Hmmmmm? Well for starters the people in Chapel Hill act like sheep ready to be slaughtered wholesale. They're politically liberal and have Christian religious leanings in name only. The people walk around with congealed smiles of ignorance. Well except for the weather I'd say there's a connection.
I caught LEGION OF THE FALLEN recently at Volume 11 when they shared the bill with SOILENT GREEN and MUNICIPAL WASTE. I was very interested in seeing this band since I had heard that they put on an impressive show. And hey, I was not disappointed. Also I was expecting to see a four piece on stage since their site states that their lead guitarist was also the vocalist. But on this night they had a lead vocalist. A friend said that the guy just got out of prison. Wow, for what, church burnings? This guy was a great vocalist and front man for the band that night. I was hoping one of those "juggalos" who came out to see MUNICIPAL WASTE would've jumped on stage to do a dive. Then the singer from LEGION OF THE FALLEN could've slammed the asshole with that huge spiked gauntlet he was sporting. Blood and Iron is the taste you'll get when you climb up onto their stage.
Actually throughout LEGION OF THE FALLEN's set they had the crowd in their grip. I was watching the their reaction and these people were in awe. And to be totally honest with you so was I to "epic" proportions. They'll be playing Volume 11 on May 24th with SATAN'S HOST and DRAWN & QUARTERED who by the way are on Moribund Records. Which is a great Black Metal label. They are one of my favorites and who knows, maybe those two bands will put in a good word in about LEGION OF THE FALLEN to the label.
The band does have a demo out of material from 2003 to 2007. It's pretty damm good but I'm looking towards the future. They're feet are firmly planted on the well worn path of past Black Metal greatness. You can check out LEGION OF THE FALLEN at:
http://www.myspace.com/legionofthefallen
