Concert Review: T.S.O.L., Toxic Energy, Knocked Down and Blunt Force Trauma at the Brentwood Emporium (11/10/2024)

 

    For those living in the Bay Area, it is always enjoyable to see a show promoted in a city where you don’t have to deal with chaotic traffic, costly parking fees, crackheads throwing cups at you with unknown liquids and of course, douchebags breaking your car window. When I saw that Southern California punk legends T.S.O.L. were going to be playing in Brentwood at the Brentwood Emporium, I knew this was a show I did not want to miss. 

    I had previously attended a show at the Brentwood Emporium back in March of this year and really liked the venue’s setup. Plus, the venue puts on all ages shows, which is great to see since a decent number of all ages venues have gone away in Contra Costa County over the years. What I noticed right away about this crowd when I first entered the venue was that you really did have fans of all ages, so to me it sort of spoke to how punk music can connect with a extremely diverse group of people. 

    I thought the three opening bands did a solid job supporting T.S.O.L. as well as getting the crowd going from the very beginning. The first opener, Blunt Force Trauma, is a local Bay Area trio that mixes metal and punk together to come up with some crushing riffs, while also turning up the intensity to get the people moving. Definitely could hear some hardcore influences at times, along with a few slow doomy metal sounding riffs thrown into the mix to get people to bang their heads. For a young bands I thought they played tight and their singer/bassist really had strong stage presence when interacting with the audience. They’re definitely a band that I feel will benefit from having more opportunities to play live, which will allow them to better develop their sound. Overall, I was very impressed by their passion, and I could tell the crowd was enjoying the band’s set that even included a killer cover of “Bloodstains” by Agent Orange. 

Blunt Force Trauma

    The 2nd opening band was another trio called Knocked Down from Stockton, CA. This group of punk rockers had more of a pop punk sound, so right away I will address that their music was not exactly something that I personally listen to. However, I am not as judgmental as I've gotten older and decided to listen to their entire set. They seemed to be playing with a lot of exuberant energy and during their performance a young fan was frantically rocking out with his dad in front of the stage. Actually, I must admit that the members of Knocked Down seemed to really appeal to this young punk who was constantly banging his head to their songs and throwing up devil horns. Seeing kids like that having a great time listening to music in the front of the stage is a truly awesome sight, unlike seeing a drunk woman in her fifties grabbing at Wayne Hussey of The Mission’s mic stand until the venue security finally has to escort her out. 

Knocked Down

    After Knocked Down finished their set, the third band took to the stage and started setting-up. Coming all the way from Orange County, Toxic Energy brought the raw old school sounding punk rock spirit with a ton of killer angsty hardcore punk songs. The band's frontman had tremendous stage presence and knew how to whip up the crowd when delivering his vocal parts. One of the band’s guitar players even had a wireless guitar to where he would jump off stage and start playing in the pit and then quickly run back on stage. As much as a liked the band’s originals I was extremely impressed by the two covers they did of, “Neat Neat Neat,” by The Damned and, “Just What I Needed,” by The Cars. I particularly liked, “Just What I Needed,” because they took this classic song and infused their own style to give the song a more punk rock vibe. All of the members seemed to be having a killer time and the audience was very receptive to their music as well. 

Toxic Energy 

    The final band of the night which caused everyone to make a rush to the front of the stage, was the mighty T.S.O.L. that I consider to be an extremely important part of punk rock history. Their debut album, “Dance with Me,” is a truly brilliant release with its mixture of punk and deathrock. The band opened to a thunderous cheer from the audience as they tore into the first song and the pit started moving. Jack Grisham is an amazing frontman and looked like he was having a blast up on stage and wore a jacket with The Creature from the Black Lagoon on the back. Also, he is a funny dude and his comments in-between songs definitely drew out some laughter from the audience. Ron Emory’s guitar playing was a sight to behold as he jammed away at such classic riffs on song like “Sounds of Laughter," “Dance with Me” and “World War III.” The drummer and bass player did a solid job, and I respect the drummer who was having to battle issues with the monitor volume while Jack was busting his balls about it. For their encore the band played, “Code Blue,” and seeing people singing along to song about necrophilia is a glorious sight to behold. I think my only complaint is I wished they could have done a few more songs, but I thought that the set they played sounded solid from start to finish. 

T.S.O.L.

    In the end, I definitely felt as though all the bands delivered, especially when I look back at home the crowd responded throughout the night. Now, I did notice that the show ended earlier than most shows, but I can understand that since the show was all ages and Brentwood has a curfew law for minors. Then again, I respect the venue and promoter for putting on an all ages show that offered a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone in attendance. All around, the spirit of punk continues to be fueled by the desires of those looking for something that rebels against the system and can be appreciated by people of all ages. 

Yellowcake "A Fragmented Truth"

 

The savage Arizona based d-beat/crust punk band, Yellowcake, continues to show beyond a doubt why they are one of the most sadistic sounding bands around with their new release, “A Fragmented Truth.” Following up their profoundly vicious debut release, "Can You See The Future,” the band dives even further down into the entropic sounding anarchistic punk abyss to unleash a punishing firestorm of distorted hostility. 

Right away, I would consider the songs on, “A Fragmented Truth,” to be even more intense, more antagonistic sounding and just down right deafening. "Can You See The Future,” in my opening had an extremely impactful sound, as well as captured the band’s ferocious nature perfectly. I felt as though on this release the band was a little bit more untamed at times and that allowed the feverish instrumental compositions to really buildup this overwhelmingly fearsome momentum. In terms of the vocals and how they were executed, I think the band’s singer once again delivered a strong performance, and from the first track you become instantly hooked by her undeniably confident presence when emphasizing lyrics. 

Once again, the band’s drummer hammers out some monstrously primitive rhythms from behind the kit to give songs like, “Maelstrom” and “Blood Soaked System,” an extra boost of raw aggression. Also, I thought the riffs on this new release ventured in some different directions at times, like on the song, “When Night Comes Around,” which had a slight crossover punk/thrash sound. On the fifth song, “Vinyl Chloride Rain,” the bass player and drummer slowly built-up the music with a catchy sounding jam that gets eventually washed away by an incinerating hardcore sounding onslaught. The singer injects a tremendous amount of rage while shouting out the lyrics over the chaotic soundscape, which I must say allows you to easily remember the title of the song. 

The last song, “Mind Scabbed Over,” happens to be the longest track on the release with a total run time of 3 minutes and 15 second. Yellowcake does not need an extensive amount of time to make an impact and that can be proven with their debut demo as well as these new songs. I thought, “Mind Scabbed Over,” was a crushing old school sounding hardcore offering that will appeal to wide range of ravenous punk fanatics. My only complaint is that I wish there were more songs and I look forward to the day Yellowcake compiles enough songs to make a full-length album. 

My final thoughts on this new Yellowcake release, “A Fragmented Truth,” are that the band shows no signs of stopping their fiendish push to offer up some blistering sounding hardcore/d-beat/crust punk tracks, while coming up with ways to hit the listener straight in the gut with a fistful of sonic devastation. Still, “Visage of the Flame,” is the best Yellowcake song to date in my opinion, but the songs on the new release definitely do not disappoint and I bet will be utterly insane to hear when performed live. I'm glad Yellowcake was able to still demonstrate that uncompromising mentality on this new release, as I do believe that their unrelenting mindset in terms of writing and recording material will really propel them as they fight their way into the future. 

Listen to "A Fragmented Truth" below via Felopunk's Youtube Channel :

Link to where you can buy/order the album :

https://totalpeace.bandcamp.com/album/a-fragmented-truth

Yellowcake Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/yellowcakephx/

Yellowcake "Can You See the Future?"

    From a pandemic to now the threat of nuclear war, the world is completely falling apart and chaos seems to be lurking around every corner. Sometimes you ask yourself, “Is there even going to be a future?” I think that is what caught my attention right away when I came upon this new EP titled, “Can You See the Future,” from the Arizona based hardcore punk outfit Yellowcake. This band comes along at the right time to offer listeners a blistering hardcore punk release.  

    Yellowcake’s sound and presentation is not over the top and the band does not write cryptic dribble to impress scholarly minds. The band’s raw aggression is perfectly recorded on each track, while also maintaining that savagely destructive hardcore punk mindset. On each track you find yourself listening with great interest as the bombastic arrangements come crashing out of your speakers like an explosion from a neutron bomb. 

    Musically, the band plays with a fiendish energy which can be heard on every riff throughout the EP. The band’s drummer adds a massive amount of pulverizing d-beat rhythms, and the first song, “Can You See the Future,” is an unbelievably loud onslaught that hits you right in the face. Along with the tight sounding instrumental arrangements, I really liked the vocal delivery by the band's singer. There is relentless passion, raw anger and honest artistic expression behind every lyric. For example, the screams on the song, “Eradicated Peace,” are extremely haunting and perfectly compliment the frantic guitar riffs. 

    Another track which features some utterly vicious sounding riffs is, “Indiscriminate Shelling.” During the opening of the song the band unleashes a merciless attack by coming up with a hellish galloping style riff. One again, the singer provides simple and straightforward lyrics to emphasize the song’s profound message. On the following track, “Visage of the Flame,” I was extremely impressed by how the band came up with such a scorching piece of music. For some reason the singer’s vocal delivery during the song reminded me of Penelope Houston the singer from classic SF punk rockers, The Avengers. There is this inner ferocity that comes bursting out and infuses itself with the vividly distorted sounding chaos. 

    Although the EP is not very long, which is pretty typical for hardcore punk music, the band proves to be more than capable of getting their point across and laying down some deafening tracks. If you are fan of punishing hardcore punk that strikes without any remorse, then you need to check out this EP. The future does look pretty bleak right now, however, I hope Yellowcake is able to put out another monstrous release before the skies turn to ash and those of us who survive have to walk around wearing hazmat suits. 

Check out the full EP below: 

Link to Yellowcake's Bandcamp:

https://yellowcakephx.bandcamp.com/releases

The Lousy "Shut Up I’m Talking!!!!"

    Hardcore punk/thrash metal savages, The Lousy, simply don’t just demand your attention on their debut demo, “Shut Up I’m Talking!!!!,” they literally come charging at you with a baseball bat looking to unload an unapologetic beatdown upon your skull. 

    The Boston, MA based band’s debut demo tape sounds like the ultimate sadist and raw sounding concoction with its mixture of Motörhead, Cro-Mags, Cryptic Slaughter, Toxic Holocaust and DRI. This release instantly caught my attention and when Sentient Ruin announced that they would be releasing the demo on cassette July 15th, I right away wanted to know more about this band. From what I’ve read the members in the band seem to be very active amongst the Boston underground extreme music scene, and you can definitely tell when listening to this demo that the band has a tight overall sound and unbelievably malicious creative vision. 

    Each of the five tracks featured on this demo are recorded in such a vicious and uncompromising manner. Once the band cranks up the volume and tears into a hellacious sounding rhythm, there is no escaping the rebellious chaos that completely engulfs you. The band keeps it simple, yet very powerful when they start hammering out an arrangement like on the opening track, “Demons on Parade.” You are instantly greeted with a bombastic explosion of brain crushing distortion along with some agonizing vocals. This band’s singer really compliments the overall sound by delivering the lyrics with a tremendous amount of unforgiving and vile energy. 

    On the next two tracks, “Brain Saw” and “Murder Hammer,” the band continues to destroy all that stands in their path by dealing out more pestilent sounding hardcore punk/thrash riffs. You get this feeling that the band does not wish to deviate too far from their core sound and they seem to have this mentality where the music is all about expressing how disgusted they are with society. My favorite track off of the demo, “Live for Violence,” vividly captures the band’s destructive nature and features some savage guitar playing. I was extremely impressed by the guitarist’s tone as well as the lead parts that were thrown in at the right moments to give the music an extra boost of sadistic attitude. Also, I really liked the last song on the demo, “Shut Up I’m Talking!!!!,” because once again this group of musicians seems to just have a solid presence that does not yield, or conform to any expectations. In the end, The Lousy simply desires to turn up the volume on their amplifiers and create a decimating sounding landscape for listeners to completely lose their sanity. 

    Overall, I think that this is one of the strongest sounding demos I have heard all this year, and the band leaves me wanting more. If The Lousy plan on doing a full-length album, I can already envision them in the studio slashing through some more merciless hardcore punk/thrash compositions. In times like this when the world seems to be falling apart, you need an act like The Lousy to help you vent your frustrations by headbanging along to some ferocious sounding riffs. 

Check out the full demo below: 

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/

Sentient Ruin Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/SentientRuin

Mentor "Wolves, Wraiths and Witches"

     You might consider the new release from the band Mentor to be the perfect soundtrack for Halloween, because based on the album’s title alone this is one horrifying extreme metal release. “Wolves, Wraiths and Witches,” is the band’s third full-length album to date and tells haunting crypt dwelling tales with a merciless blitzkrieg of brutality. 

    The Polish based band goes straight for the jugular on this release by throwing together some sinister sounding blackened thrash metal with a violent kick of old school hardcore punk. Out of the nine tracks off of this album I can tell you without hesitation that each piece of music comes charging at you like a machete wielding lunatic looking to unleash havoc. Probably what stood out the most on this release was the bombastic off the wall and into the bloody pit type of energy, which is captured extreme well throughout the release in terms of the recording quality. 

    

    Out of the nine face shredding tracks on this album, picking a favorite will be an extremely difficult task simply due to the fact that each song flows with a feverish sounding aura. From the opening song, “Equal in the Fire” to the final track, “Sealed in a Tomb,” the riffs coming violently blasting out of the speakers, while the band’s drummer unleashes an onslaught of rhythmic destruction. Also, the bass playing on this album is perfectly captured throughout the entire release and provides an extra boost of sickening devastation to the overall sound. Songs like, “Fed After Midnight” and “The Great Grave in the Sky,” are presented with a very old school hardcore/thrash mentality, which is always nice to hear when done right.  

    A significant amount of metal bands have explored this style of extreme metal before, and the bands that tend to excel are the ones that are able to make it their own. Mentor is not trying to reinvent the wheel by any means, but this group is definitely determined and has a strong passion for the music that they record. Songs like, “Creature Feature,” “Dance of the Dead,” and “A Night So Grim,” blend the worlds of horror and metal together for a slaughterhouse full of ear bursting insanity. Lyrically, I thought the band created some vivid sounding tales of terror to accompany the gruesome sounding instrumental compositions. 

    Mentor is a band that I believe can appeal to a fair amount of extreme metal fans, especially those who wish to throw on an album that conjures up a wicked and raw sound. “Wolves, Wraiths and Witches,” is a release that has very little flaws, mainly because this band has a confident and passionate drive from the start of the album until the very end. Overall, I would say this is an extremely solid release, which is highly worth checking out if you are into ghoulish lyrical themes and bone crushing arrangements of nightmarish proportions. 

Check of the track "Equal in the Fire" below: 

Mentor Bandcamp:

https://mentor3.bandcamp.com/

Last Agony "The Imminent Slaughter"

   As the world burns and the foundation of our existence begins to crumble, Last Agony shall be the ones playing the soundtrack to our ultimate end. These Canadian noise-punk maniacs launch a feverish attack with the release of their first full-length album, “The Imminent Slaughter.” 

   By now whenever I receive a promo from Sentient Ruin, I already know that the band is going to be extremely unforgiving and capable of dealing out a savage sounding release. Honestly, I was not ready for the passionate sounding hardcore drive and pure hateful sounding nature that Last Agony was able to conjure up on their debut album. This album is a hellacious sounding punk release and digs deep into the blackened depths of unapologetic artistic expression. From the ear shattering guitar riffs to the ravenous rhythms, these musicians have their sights set on unleashing apocalyptic chaos throughout the world wide extreme music community. 

   For around 18 minutes, I can guarantee you that this band deals out 100% effort and never succumbs to that generic hardcore mentality which kills so many albums. The eight tracks featured on this album may not be long in terms of length and are packed full of technicality, but they sure as hell deliver a punching amount of musical brutality. The first track, “The Imminent Slaughter,” does a tremendous job introducing the agonizing songwriting style that Last Agony sets out to establish with this album. Ear piercing feedback followed by a sinister sounding guitar onslaught pulls you right into a war zone of instrumental chaos. The singer’s vocals spew out pure hatred and venom to compliment the aggressive sounding arrangements that show a band fueled by disillusionment and disgust. 

    Another area of this album worth mentioning is the bass playing and how the bass parts inject an extra boost of bombastic sounding hostility. On the song, “Diabolism,” you can vividly hear the bass notes complimenting the crushing drum parts, thus creating a seismic shockwave that hits you right in the gut. Also, on tracks like, “Maniac” and “Hacked to Pieces,” you hear these musicians playing with such ferocity that even though the arrangements sound completely chaotic at times, the raw and unforgiving mindset is extremely compelling. 

    There is no bullshit with this band and on the last two tracks, “Unbridled Lunacy” and “Propaganda Bleeds,” I was highly impressed by the fiendish sounding guitar riffs. “Propaganda Bleeds,” is a very thought provoking track and the overall atmosphere during the song was like a firestorm scorching all that stood in its path. 

    Last Agony’s, “The Imminent Slaughter,” is probably the most raw and intense sounding album that I’ve heard so far this year. These musicians really know how to write catastrophic sounding hardcore punk. Trust me when I say that the destruction that Last Agony brings to the table is imminent and once this album comes out on May 7, 2021, there shall be no place to hide once this band is unleashed!

Check out the song "Diabolism" : 

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/the-imminent-slaughter

Hallucination “S/T Debut Demo”

   Philly-based hardcore punk outfit, Hallucination, throws down a barbaric beating and shows no mercy on their self-titled debut demo. Talk about one dark sounding offering of blistering hardcore punk that is raw to the bone! 

   On this debut demo Hallucination carves their own sickening path of hardcore chaos and in doing so, displays a tremendous amount of savage energy from beginning to end. The intense d-beat rhythms and unapologetic approach creates an atmosphere of unfathomable sounding terror. You definitely feel this band’s negative energy as they violently tear through their songs. My only complaint is that I wish the demo would have been longer, because I was really starting to become possessed by the band’s vicious presentation. Then again this is hardcore punk, so what an album lacks in terms of length is made up for by the band’s deafening and abrasive sound. 

   The song, “Hallucinations,” definitely sets the tone by unleashing a landslide of musical disorder. Right away the band’s guitarist lays down a bludgeoning of ear-shattering distortion, while the drumming is feverishly precise with each strike from behind the kit. However, I believe that the band’s vocalist is the one who provided the winning ingredient to this destructive sounding creation. The vocals demand attention and inject a vivd rush of emotion into the overall mix. On the song, “Combat Conditions,” the band once again wastes little time in expressing their terrifying hardcore punk vision. These musicians may not write long technical sounding compositions, but they sure as hell know how to leave an impact!  

   I really enjoyed the song, “Progress?,” and consider the track to be one that truly relates to the current state of our world. Also, the band’s style and approach during the song reminded me of classic hardcore punk bands that paved the way by writing music that was simple, yet opened people’s eyes to the cruel realities of present day society. The final song, “Ride Off in the Sun,” is the longest track on the demo and the song is about 3 minutes and 43 seconds. With a little more time than usual, the band deals out a blistering riff assault. Overall, you feel lost in a world of devastation, yet you start to accept the harsh environment as the music reaches the very abysmal end. 

   Sentient Ruin will be releasing this demo on cassette March 5, so if you are a hardcore punk enthusiast who enjoys collecting killer sounding tapes, then you should definitely add this demo to you collection. I really viewed this demo as a strong introduction to Hallucination and hope they continue to bring this same level of energy and passion on future releases. I cannot find much to complain about, and from what I’ve said before, this is a release that did not disappoint and might fuel more young bands to push themselves in terms of writing more aggressive sounding releases. As our world continues to regress due to human ignorance, we need more bands like Hallucination around. 

Check out the full demo below:

Pre-Order the demo here:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/hallucination

Unlucky Theta “Debut EP”

    Back in the 80’s Los Angeles was ruled by dudes with big hair and spandex that wrote songs about sex, drugs and cherry pie. Unlucky Theta is looking to help people forget about that period of time with their new self-titled six song EP.

    These Southern California based musicians are an anomaly in the world of rock and metal. To try and define this band’s sound is definitely not an easy task. I bet a writer for Rolling Stone would suffer a panic attack because they could not process how atypical Unlucky Theta compares to the garbage Rolling Stone tries to pedal upon the mindless masses. I have been fortunate enough to see Unlucky Theta live, so I can appreciate this band’s bold vision to step outside the mundane box that leads so many bands down a road of repetitive generic bullshit. 

    There is a bit of sludge, punk, thrash, death and even folk incorporated into this band’s dynamic style of songwriting. The first song off of the EP, “Thrown Off Olympus Mons,” is a massive sounding planet colliding piece of music. Right away bassist/vocalist Daniel Goodman and guitarist Nick Kontje  unleash a storm of juggernaut sized riffs while drummer Ariel Bleiberg deals out a Stone Cold Steve Austin like ass whooping from behind the kit. Once you get to the middle section of the song where Daniel starts shouting out bellicose sounding lyrics, you feel as though you are being crushed by a mountain of pure bone crushing brutality.  On the second track, “Parthian Shot,” the band begins with more of a classic punk approach and then turns up the insanity by conjuring up a flurry of catchy sounding rebellious riffs. 

    Track number three, “Venus,” hits hard and leaves a wake of destruction in its smoldering path as the band keeps pushing the pedal down in terms of raw artistic expression. Also, the band sort of changes course about midway through the song thus allowing Daniel to offer up a groovy sounding bass composition. After all this ravenous rock and metal music you would not expect Unlucky Theta to drastically change course, but they decide to take a departure and add a really pleasant sounding acoustic song with Ariel taking over on vocals. The acoustic arrangement is extremely heavenly sounding and the entire production is simply flawless in my opinion. Overall, the song is an exceptional piece of music that demonstrates the diverse musical backgrounds of these musicians. 

    The album ends with the song, “The Monolith Falls,” and I truly believe that this was the perfect choice for the album’s last song. In the beginning of the song the band focuses on this trippy sludge like riff that evolves into a space odyssey of mind bending sounds. I thought the unconventional arrangements created such a unique atmosphere filled with hypnotic splendor and mesmerizing rhythms. 

    Unlucky Theta’s debut EP is a tremendous release from start to finish and contains a plethora of musical creativity. Now, there are bands who claim to be musically diverse and end up sounding like Yoko Ono on PCP, which is definitely not the case with Unlucky Theta. These guys are extremely talented musicians who really put thought into their recordings, so I highly recommend people check this EP out. Unlike those bands who are not extremely talented musicians and dress like ugly drag queens, Unlucky Theta is a band that is worth your time! 

Unlucky Theta bandcamp:

https://unluckytheta.bandcamp.com/

Unlucky Theta Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/unluckytheta

Jackal - Self Titled 7”

    Pure savage hardcore punk aggression is what Jackal delivers on their self-titled 7” EP. The Florida based band brings some rancorous sounding riffs to the table and makes a short yet extremely effective statement on this new release.

    The band’s sound reminds me of classic 80’s hardcore punk, while conveying a confident and raw attitude that transcends beyond simple hardcore worship. There is a sense of fearless musical creativity which is simply uncompromising until the very end. The release starts out with a burst of merciless aggression and maintains a feverish presentation of gritty sounding hardcore.

    The EP may not be a lengthy release, however, the tracks that are featured on it definitely leave an impact. Kicking the album off is the track, “Jackal,” which is an all out assault of terrorizing riffs and pissed off sounding vocals. The next track, “Robbed Life,” starts out with some thunderous drumming and ignites a fuse of hard hitting musical insanity. Track number three, “Help Yourself,” does not allow you to take a breather, because the band continues to hammer out some furious sounding compositions. The final song, “Cornered,” concludes the chaotic hardcore onslaught with each musician doing a great job to build this wall of raw hardcore attitude which eventually comes crashing down once the song ends.

    If you were to ask me what people can take away from this release, I would say that listeners are given the opportunity know what Jackal is capable of creating and I think the band leaves quite an impression for such a short release. I definitely look forward to more music from Jackal and I really would like to catch them live. The band unleashes such raw attitude on each track, so seeing them live must be like getting thrown into a tornado of hardcore strong enough to rip your face off.

    Also check out the youtube channel “No Deal,” which has tons of great hardcore releases! Also, don’t forgot to check out Jackal’s bandcamp where you can buy the songs. Support the artist!

Jackal bandcamp:
https://jackal.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-7

Kicker "Rendered Obsolete"

    The world is changing rapidly and seems to be getting crazier everyday. Instead of acknowledging the chaotic world around them, people are more interested with what celebrities have to say on Twitter, while also posting endless amounts of selfies. Luckily there is one thing that shall not change, and that is the rebellious nature of hardcore punk music that will always flip the bird at those who follow the system of mindless rodents. Kicker reminds us all that punk is eternal and no matter how old you get, one will never trade-in their punk attitude for some fancy pair of pants and membership to the local yacht club. 

    For their sophomore album appropriately titled, “Rendered Obsolete,” the Bay Area punk veterans in Kicker continue to crank out old school hardcore punk hit with each tune. Just like with their previous release, “Not You,” Kicker is speaking from the perspective of aging punk rockers who try and maintain their angry nonconforming spirit in this modern world. The new release is written to where I think the band connects with a variety of listeners who find themselves not being able to adapt to this evolving technology obsessed society. As someone who really enjoyed the band’s last album, “Not You,” and has seen them live a couple times, I find Kicker’s music to convey plenty of pissed off sounding attitude that allows listeners to forget everything around them and just unleash their inner punk. 

    The new album begins with a classic sounding kick ass punk song called, “You Can’t Take Me Anywhere.” I can relate to the song, especially when I am with my family and friends who must endure my sarcastic sense of humor. Kicker really crafted a solid piece with, “You Can’t Take Me Anywhere,” and it is a strong track to open the album. The next song, “Shit At Kicker,” deals with those who can’t play the table top soccer game and find themselves drinking in shame as their friends keep scoring the goals. Pete “The Roadie” demonstrates great personality when singing the lyrics and maintains his top notch punk vocal delivery. Track three, “Soggy Dad,” is a chord blitz of hardcore fury and the gritty vicious sounding punk guitar sound is achieved by one of the underground’s top players, Matt “Mauz” Parrillo. Also, Dave Ed provides plenty of impressive bass lines and drummer Toby Bitter lays down a furious drum sound. 

    All these guys are veterans and once you get to the middle of the album, you realize that there is not one dual moment. Take the title track for example, it begins with this passionate speech railing against the technology obsessed society while the riff slowly builds up in the background. The lyrics deal with someone who hates their soul sucking job and eventually gets terminated once their employers decide to use machines to handle all the work. A robotic sounding voice actually tells Pete during the song that he has been terminated since they now have new advanced robots to do the work. Luckily there is no software program that can replace Pete’s brilliant punk vocals...(Android Punks Coming to a Store Near You!)

    The song “Brown Bread,” takes a break from the high energy classic punk formula and has these unconventional chord progressions. Also, the bass lines create this unique sounding atmosphere which sounds hypnotic at times. Pete seems to be loosing his mind and humorously babbles about dying and then going to a big bar in the sky. The following song, “Full English,” returns to the fast paced pissed off punk sound that has grown to become unmistakable when listening to Kicker. “You Suck” and “Timeless Cliches,” are a couple enjoyable tracks that feature more angry sounding jams and memorable lyrical moments. The backing vocals stood out more on this album compared to the band’s previous release, which I think added something extra to certain songs like the verse and chorus parts on, “Timeless Cliches.” 

    The final song, “Plastic Button,” was sort of bitter sweet. I enjoyed the old school punk attitude and sound of it, but I felt like there should have been more tracks to follow. Compared to their first album, this release seemed shorter in length. However, even though there are less songs than the previous release, each song on “Rendered Obsolete,” is memorable and you won’t be disappointed if looking for a solid punk release. So turn up the volume, grab yourself some lager and chips, and enjoy this new release by Kicker. Seriously, get a copy now! They have a vinyl format colored the same as Dave Ed’s hair! 

Kicker "Rendered Obsolete": 

Kicker Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/kickerpunks/?fref=ts

Concert Review: Melvistock at the Phoenix Theater (July 29, 2016)

R4ID

    Well, I think there is much to be said about this past Friday night’s show at the Phoenix Theater. I mean, where do I begin? You had four bands who all conveyed that rebellious spirit which makes punk such a great form of artistic musical expression. Eventually the artistic expression would take a turn down chaos street and looked more like an ECW wrestling event. Still, Nor Bay Pyrate Punx delivered a solid benefit show with good music and very interesting moments. 

    The bands billed were R4ID from Ukiah, Sonoma County locals The Quitters, Modern Enemy who came up all the way from Orange County, and then Elderly Abuse from the East Bay. Right when I arrived at the Phoenix the skateboard punks were tearing it up on the ramps inside the venue. A venue known for its down to earth atmosphere, I have always admired the Phoenix for giving people a place to go and not feel restricted by overbearing house rules. Most venues would not even let you bring a skateboard in let alone actually do some tricks while the bands are performing. Of course there is a limit to how much you can get away with at the Phoenix and I will discuss that a bit later. 

    Opening up the show was R4ID who I had seen before play at the Phoenix with my friends in Amnesia back in June. I was quite impressed by these young punk rockers who reminded listeners that the music is all about playing fast, simple and not giving a damn about the shitty world around you. For a young band they really have a tight sound and all around seem to be solid players. They brought that same energy they did when I first saw them and kicked off the show with a big middle finger full of unapologetic distorted angst. The trio ripped through killer song after song while people were skating around the venue floor. The band’s bassist and singer Phoenix Lewis was extremely fired up during the set and guitarist Boden Vogus hammered away at the fast paced riffs. Drummer Daniel Young not only offered up a strong performance behind the kit, but also provided some solid backing vocals. Overall, R4ID put together a killer set and I believe these dudes are a band to be on the look out for in the world of punk.  

    Switching from young punks to veteran punks, The Quitters took to the stage next and unleashed their sound of no-nonsense attitude. These locals looked as if they had rocked the Phoenix before and seemed very comfortable while cruising through their songs. The audience was divided with those in the back watching the band and then those in the front of the stage skateboarding around. If you thought mosh pits were dangerous try dodging skateboarding punks doing tricks and coming up with different ramp ideas. One guy was literally taking wooden boards and tables trying to create some unique ramp. The Quitters played a decent set that sounded good for the most part and went over well with the audience. 

    Third up on the bill and driving a long way to play was, Modern Enemy. These guys must be really dedicated and passionate about the music to drive all the way from Orange County. When they turned up the volume and tore into their first song the audience started to put the skateboards down and actually mosh. The band’s singer had great stance presence which added the band’s vicious old school hardcore punk sound. Also, they have a solid twin guitar attack and heavy sounding low end. Their bass player even had a cordless bass, so he was frantically running around the stage during songs. One of my favorite songs from them was, “True 300,” which had a very simple straightforward classic punk sound. Towards the end of their set they played some really wicked covers with one being D.O.A.’s “Fuck You.” I truly respect the fact that they drove from far away to rock the Phoenix. Plus, the crowd’s response once they finished their set showed how much the audience appreciated their crushing performance. 

    After three bands and a rather humorous raffle for some of the stuff that they were giving away, the final band started setting up. Elderly Abuse from the East Bay not only has one extreme sounding name, but their stage antics are over the top. The band’s singer acted as if he were just released from solitary confinement and wanted to fight anyone who came near him. He started the set off right in the middle of the venue and welcomed anyone who wanted to come and mosh near him. Well, alcohol and moshing can lead to some interested things and the singer eventually started tackling people. I was really digging the guitarist’s tone and thought the drummer did an amazing job holding down the rhythm during all the chaos in the pit. Just everything kept taking a turn for the worst. People started throwing cans and bottles around the venue like it was a game of dodge ball. Then all of a sudden people were bringing out steal chairs and tables. Once I saw a trash can go flying in the air, I knew the owner was not going to be happy. Sure enough the owner came out turned down their sound and told them to get the hell out. 

Elderly Abuse

    I understand Elderly Abuse wants to have that no limits punk rock attitude, but they should have respected the venue and realized the liability issues of having objects like steal chairs being thrown around. I thought it was hilarious that the singer started shouting, “Fuck the Mystic Theater,” as he left the stage. Luckily the chaotic situation was diffused and some people from the audience even helped pick up the cans and bottles. Punk is all about rebellion and sticking it to the authority, however, the venue that allows you to play your music should be treated with a bit more respect. I would like to hear Elderly Abuse with less chairs, tables and bottles being tossed around, because they didn't sound to bad before all the mayhem broke out.

    Even with the out of control finale, I must say it was an enjoyable evening at the Phoenix Theater. I always love coming to this venue because there are few places around that give bands like this a chance to play. However, some people need to maybe tone down their behavior and think before acting at times. For my usual cheesy closing statement I say...the bands that play this style of music do it for the passion and love of the music, so let's make sure we do our best to support them and also respect the venues where they allow this type of music. 

Concert Review: Thought Vomit, Sean Rivera and Contortion at Gale's Central Club

    After attending a killer punk and metal show the week before, I found myself returning to Gale’s Central Club in downtown Petaluma for yet another crushing evening of live music. The line-up consisted of Sean Rivera from MSG, Contortion and Thought Vomit. Also, there was no cover charge for this show, so those of you who are tired of paying outrageous ticket prices at the movies, need to start dragging your lazy dimes down to these shows. 

    Even with the weather being extremely poor and there being very little promotion, there still was a decent turnout. I am glad that someone sent me a text the day before, otherwise I would have been unaware of this event. Arriving at the bar, I could see the punk and metal crowd already enjoying some music from guitarist/singer Sean Rivera, who also plays in a rock band called MSG. Using a pedal board, Sean was able to change up his guitar sound which complimented the change is his vocal tone. He could really hit those high notes at times. Most of his songs fell into the hard rock category with a few metal like riffs here and there. I was impressed by his fingerpicking piece that contained a pleasant chord progression. For a solo artist he did a solid job, especially opening for more extreme bands, with one being know to create insane mosh pits where dogs will somehow end up in the pit. 

    Following Sean's set, Contortion started bringing their gear into the bar. This four piece metal band was from Southern California, and they were currently on tour. Their music conveyed quite a few political messages that expressed disillusionment with certain aspects of the American system. They had one song that raised issue with how America has the largest incarceration rate for a first world country. Musically, the band played a very basic form of metal that didn’t sound horrible, but was not anything new. For a two guitar attack, I felt like they offered up more generic riffs than dynamic leads. Then again, some people are more into just writing simple and catchy headbanging riffs. Contortion’s drummer was really destroying behind the kit and looked like he was giving every ounce of energy he had during their set. For the most part the band put on an enjoyable performance, which the crowd seemed to enjoy since a few people were beginning to push and attempt to get a pit going. 

    After Contortion finished up and passed a tip jar around to get some money to help out on their tour, Thought Vomit began setting up. I have seen these fanatical punk thrashers numerous times before, and writing reviews about them is always fun, because there are some many memorable moments during their performances...like a dog in the mosh pit. Tonight the band seemed ready to turn the place up side down which the crowd was ready for. Singer Spencer Clark was in the zone once the band started playing their opening song, “Wreck Shop.” Guitarist Chris Meyer cranked out brutal riff after brutal riff, while bassist Jordie Hilley hammered away at his instrument. Drummer Clay Prieto maintained the thunderous beat, while hit his cymbals with wicked force. Unfortunately, Spencer’s mic kept cutting out which made it hard to hear his vocals at times, but he did not let the problem prevent him from screaming his heart out and soldiering on throughout the set. Also, shout-out to Jordie Hilley for throwing in some wicked bass solos. For those people who think bass players only know how to follow along to the rhythm, Jordie showed some impressive skill traveling down the neck. Since this was a twenty-one and up show, I am going to say that the pit was not as large as it could have been. However, the songs were great and the crowd responded well, especially to the new material. 

    So, there is another account of the awesome music that this area has to offer. Keep your eyes and ears open, because these shows are worth attending. Plus, the bands who played last night are definitely worth checking out. Again, affordable entertainment that does not cost an arm and a leg, along with the chance to see solid punk and metal talent right in front of your eyes. Who needs 3-D movies when you have members of Thought Vomit literally walking and running around in the middle of the crowd...Thought Vomit 3-D concert movies...could be a big deal...

Thought Vomit Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/THOUGHT-VOMiT-57563949068/

Contortion:
https://www.facebook.com/ContortionTheBand/?fref=ts

Concert Review: Nor Bay Pyrate Punx Presents "Amnesia, Cheap Squeeze, End All and Heap of Stone"

Amnesia

    Sometimes looks can be deceiving and a small dive bar can be the optimal setting for a crushing hardcore punk, sludge and doom show. Gale’s Central Club, located in downtown Petaluma, happened to be the best place for an earsplitting and exciting show on a Sunday night. 

    The bands who played were Amnesia, Cheap Squeeze, End All and Heap of Stone. This would be Amnesia’s first live show and being past guests of my radio show and really good friends, I made sure to show up and give my support. Also, I was interested in hearing the other three bands live and seeing what they had to offer. Upon arriving at the venue fairly early looking to get out of the pouring rain, I noticed that there were already some crusty looking punks gathered inside ready to unleash some pent up rage. I was hoping that compared to my last punk/metal show experience at Gale’s where I saw two fights with one guy getting body slammed, that the crowd would be able to keep themselves in check. Luckily, there were no violent altercations and just some top quality up and coming acts.

    After moving the pool tables to the side and laying down the carpet for the bands to play on, Amnesia began setting up for their first official live set. The Santa Rosa, CA based sludge band takes influences such as Negative Approach, Eyehategod, Saint Vitus, Acid Bath and simply has fun experimenting with a variety of extreme compositions. Guitarist Luis Olguin began hammering right away at ominous sounding chord progressions, while drummer Chris Olney Burnett pounded on his drums with plenty of brutal force. Singer Alex Hernandez took the mic and became possessed by the wicked sounding instrumental compositions to where he knew exactly when to come in with his unforgiving harsh vocal style. The band sounded unbelievably tight, especially during the quick hardcore punk mixed with grindcore parts. Chris was playing at break neck speeds and even when a drum stick flew out of his hands, he was able to maintain the rhythm while grabbing a new one and recovered quite impressively. Best song during their set in my opinion was, “Hallowed Voices.” The band turned up the extreme dial and Alex channeled his inner Mike IX. Once finished the crowd gave the band a thunderous applause and congratulated them on a smashing first show. 

    Following Amnesia was Cheap Squeeze, another local Sonoma County band. Cheap Squeeze definitely offered more of a classic hardcore punk sound and I think the fans appreciated it, because I saw a few people feverishly nodding their heads and digging the punk instrumentals. Their sound reminded me of groups such as the Subhumans, Agent Orange and Black Flag. Their drummer and bass player did a solid job providing a strong rhythmic backbone. The band’s guitarist/singer seemed to be on the money with his riffs and vocal presentation. I thought they had a few songs with very catchy choruses and the backing vocals provided by the drummer and bass player amplified the lyrical content with an extra pop of energy. 

   Third band after Cheap Squeeze was End All. These guys drove up from Martinez, CA to demonstrate their aggressive and vitriolic style of hardcore punk that had some metal elements thrown in here and there. Using minor chords to create a sinister intro, the band then exploded into a furious onslaught of extreme noise. The level of energy that was coming from their music definitely took people by surprise. I thought they had a solid sound and exhibited tremendous passion. Their singer would scream into the microphone while staring straight ahead and had such a hellish vocal delivery. During their set they announced that they had free demos which caused one guy from outside to come rushing with enthusiasm. I made sure to grab one myself before that guy could come back and take them all. Towards the end of their set it was no surprise that the crowd wanted an encore, and End All was generous enough to play a couple more for the ravenous demo crazed fans. 

    The last band to play was Petaluma locals, Heap of Stone. When I saw their guitarist bring in an Orange Amp, I knew these guys were going to unleash some doom upon the crowd. Heap of Stone cleverly combined doom, sludge and progressive metal elements to put on a devastating performance. Also, for a trio they had a full and powerful sound which I think is impressive for only three dudes. At times they would go into these long Sleep like instrumental jams and knowing that there were some Sleep fans in attendance, Heap of Stone was truly playing to crowd's musical preferences. I think their singer/drummer was feeling a bit under the weather, because I could not hear the vocals that well. Although, his drumming was still spot on. By the end of the set all three members looked dog tired from riffing away on loud and solid pieces of doom. 

    For a free show at a dive bar on a Sunday night, all three bands played great and there was a solid turnout. It is sad that there are not shows like this more often, so give credit to Nor Bay Pyrate Punx for getting these four bands together. Also, I would really like to see these bands keep playing live gigs. Their hard work stood out the most and if they keep working at coming up with killer songs, who knows what they might be able to achieve down the road. So, if any of these four groups is playing in a city near you, I recommend making your way down. Even if the venue is not exactly a five star establishment, the music and atmosphere will be something that you will never forget. 

End All

Amnesia:
https://www.facebook.com/AmnesiaSludge/?fref=ts

End All:
https://www.facebook.com/endalleastbay/

Cheap Squeeze:
https://www.facebook.com/CheapSqueeze/?fref=ts

Heap of Stone:
https://www.facebook.com/heapofstone/?fref=ts

Recommendation: Negative Approach "Tied Down"

    For all my hardcore punk people out there... I have a recommendation for you! If you are not familiar with Negative Approach then you need to tie yourselves down and read this recommendation.
    I discovered this band through no other than Mr. Tankcrimes himself, Scotty Heath. Actually, the first time I heard music from Negative Approach was live at the Tankcrimes Brainsqueeze 2. They played the second day of the festival and were one of my favorites bands who played that night. After that performance I listened to the band's first EP and their LP Tied Down. Recently I bought a copy of Tied Down, so I thought maybe I can influence more people to check out Negative Approach.
    Considered one of the iconic old school hardcore punk bands and highly regarded amongst some in the metal community, Negative Approach is a fierce musical outfit from Detroit. Their unforgiving style of hardcore is fast, aggressive and full of vicious attitude. Compared to other hardcore punk bands there is this bold nonsense approach that the band demonstrates. At times on Tied Down I hear some moments where the music takes on this Grindcore vibe. Their singer John Brannon is in my opinion the embodiment of a brilliant hardcore punk frontman. His attitude and lyrical presentation is raw, so raw that you hope to never piss off John Brannon if you happen to meet him face to face.
    The album begins with the snarling title track, “Tied Down.” Negative Approach offers speed and aggression with this opening song. The guitar and bass playing is equally as extreme as the lyrics. Track number two, “Hypocrite,” bursts through the speakers with a crushing riff. Following it up is the song, "Evacuate.” Here Negative Approach slows down the tempo and creates this really gritty slow piece of music.
    “Said and Done” and “Nothing,” continue the vicious assault. “Nothing,” is probably my favorite song from the Negative Approach catalog. The lyrics demonstrate a quality of honest musical expression and seem to be a reflection of what these guys were feeling at the time. Growing up in Detroit might have been tough, especially during the eighties, so the words and instruments represent that feeling of possible disillusionment.
    Side B of the album for those who buy the LP version, is just as intense and raw compared to that on side A. “Your Mistake,” begins with a rapid drum attack and is quickly followed by the adrenaline pumping chorus that is shouted out over the blasting guitar distortion. The song, “Live Your Life,” is one of those uplifting punk anthems for anyone who is feeling down in the gutter.
    “Friend or Foe,” buzzes with rage and features some catchy guitar playing. Right after the song finishes, “Dead Stop,” begins with a strong main verse along with a very classic hardcore sound. Closing out the album is, “I’ll Survive.” Negative Approach’s hardcore punk mentality always stayed consistent and the final song was a great finishing touch to such a powerful release.
    Out of all the hardcore punk bands I have listened to over the years, Negative Approach was one that took me by surprise and gained my respect. Maybe because I am more of a metal guy than a punk guy, I tend to gravitate towards them since their vicious sound reminds me of early thrash and grindcore. Overall, these guys are a great band who I highly recommend checking out. So untie yourselves from your computers and start running around while blasting to some Negative Approach!
   

Protestant-"In Thy Name" LP

Band: Protestant
Album: In Thy Name

Review:

   
    Take chaotic sounding black metal, throw in some heavy grooving hardcore punk and the final result is Protestant’s, “In Thy Name.”    
    The extreme furious sound that can be heard on this Milwaukee band’s new LP is unbelievably stunning. Their unapologetic style of musical expression constantly demands your attention. When listening to this album I was left speechless at times because the music is very compelling. Protestant perfectly blends fierce sounding black metal with aggressive hardcore punk. Each song delivers in crushing form and there is plenty of dark passion behind their music. When the singer presents the words in his vicious style, the emphasis he puts on each word is tremendous. Musically this band knows how to combine intense sounding riffs with massive sounding rhythms. There are times on this album where the music is extremely chaotic, and then there are some areas where they can alter the tempo to create really hard grooving parts.
    Protestant starts the album off with a ferocious track called, “Vengeance.” The intense guitars tear away into a black metal onslaught as the singer begins his harsh vocal delivery. I really like the lyrical phrasing and find that it works well with the instrumental arrangements. The following track, “Carrion,” takes on a more straight forward aggressive approach. There are times during the song where the drummer really pounds on his kit to achieve an enormous thunderous sound. Mix his style of drumming with the guitars, and the sound is monumentally loud. Track three, “Never More,” demonstrates the band’s ability to strategical alter tempo which keeps the listener not knowing what to expect next. 
    Songs like “Vultures,” “Blood” and “In Thy Name/ Hell’s Insanity,” feature plenty of raw sounding emotion. Protestant maintains a solid intense sound and the band never relinquishes that extreme unforgiving mentality. After track seven “Forfeit” finished, I sat in my car hoping there would be another track because the band had me hooked by that point. Luckily for me there was an eighth and final song called, “Delusion.” Probably my favorite song on the album, “Delusion” closes in ultimate chaotic style. The guitars furiously attack and the distortion sounds like a gigantic ocean wave crashing against rocky sea cliffs. Protestant continues to bring that relentless extreme sound until the last guitar note slowly fades out.
    These guys really know how to create extreme meaningful music. Their aggressive style of expression and raw unforgiving sound makes “In They Name” a must listen for all fans who enjoy extreme music. With this album you will get sinister sounding black metal and intense hardcore punk all rolled up into one chaotic ball of nonstop fury. Warning: Protestant is not for those who like non-meaningful bubble gum type music. This is music for those who want to release their inner rage and not feel like a sheep trapped in a hollow controlled society. Easily one of my favorite releases of this year right now, and I can’t wait to hear what Protestant will do next.
https://www.facebook.com/PROTESTANTMKE