Ghost Cult Keefy found himself working next to Colin Young of Knotfest.com’s Hardcore Podcast:Stories from On Tour with Bo Luders of Harm’s Way, also of the band’s God’s Hate, Twitching Tongues, and Deadbody! We decided to chop it up at the end of the weekend of a festival to talk shop and compare notes. Colin shared his journey from band dude to full-time podcaster, he talked about new music from all of his bands, and a bunch of other fun stuff with us! Twitching Tongues has recently announced a comeback too!
Ghost Cult begins our “2021 End of Year Guest Post Extravaganza” with a slew of posts from bands, industry, PR pros, and more! We’ll be sharing lists, memories, and other shenanigans from our favorite bands, partners, music industry peers, and other folks we respect across the globe. In this edition, Rick Giordano of The Lion’s Daughter (Season of Mist) shares his top albums of 2021. Purchase and stream music from The Lion’s Daughter including their new EP Turbo Covers, here: https://thelionsdaughter.bandcamp.com/music
Well, God’s Hate has gone out of their way to make sure you don’t confuse their sophomore LP with anything else on the rack. You know the one, God’s Hate (Closed Casket Activities) featuring the track ‘God’s Hate.’ And yes, that was a record store joke. If you don’t know what that means, ask your parents. It’s fitting too considering that the stuff on God’s Hate recalls an era before streaming or even iPods and Zunes (okay, really ask your parents).
Day 3 of The New England Metal And Hardcore Fest drew to a close with a lot of diehards in attendance, but a little less of the fanfare of the previous two days. When you go to a music festival or any show really, typically you are familiar with the bands that you go to see. But just like tape trading was back in the 80s, and downloading a decade ago, a music festival is a great place for music discovery, checking out new bands, and getting outside your comfort zone for fun. A lot of this happened today.
By day three of anything, a comic-convention or a destination music festival, people are spun out a little from the last few days of action. Industry folks, (most of) the photographers and the vendors were a lot more relaxed on day 3 with the lighter crowd. I chatted with Matt Bachand (Shadows Fall/Act of Defiance) about his new venture, Manshark Entertainment. It was cool catching up with him and other people from the scene I usually see at these things. At the same time you have to give it to the staff of a venue that has seen an endless stream of people come in and go out in a weekend, metal fans from all walks, and still have them keep their shit together, and do a great job. I gotta give it up to the staff of the Palladium for the work they put in keeping everything moving and everyone safe.
Exalt, by Meg Loyal Photography
Sunday is traditionally the “hardcore” day at NEMHCF and the the early bands brought that vibe. There were some killer early performances on Sunday from the likes of the more hardcore bands such as Oath, Living Laser, and Ghost X Ship, the nu-metal stylee-o of Gift Giver, and the phenomenal performance of Lorna Shore. They had their own crew of fans repping New Jersey in the house and I even saw some WSOU shirts on a few people that got me open! Also of note was a killer showing from New York’s Brick By Brick, now fronted by Ray Mazzola (Full Blown Chaos), for a sick set of ignorant (in the best way possible) hardcore and metal. Their set truly was a moshfest!
Brick By Brick, by Meg Loyal Photography
Later in the day following excellent performances from Sworn In, Vanna, The Color Morale and Cruel Hand on the small stage, Motionless in White took the stage as the final band of the weekend. Putting on a show that an amazing visual spectacle, stellar goth rock showmanship, the band owned the night. Their fans, many I met whom waited all day and checked out all of the bands before them, fell rewarded by a captivating show. The fans sang every word, jumped up and down when Chris Motionless said to jump, and generally yelled fuck you at all the appropriate moments, two middle fingers to the sky. It was a fitting close to a fun weekend. See ya next year Metalfest!
Day two at Metalfest is usually more like a marathon than a sprint. It’s about going hard or going home, but also taking care of yourself too. You gotta stay hydrated when you’re hot and sweaty, take a breather from time to time, and not eat like crap the entire weekend. I made sure to fill up on some terrific energy boosting organic juice at the Paris of the 80’s Cafe next to The Palladium. Because juicing is metal!
Saturday is also where I spent a little more time with the upstairs bands. While the main-stage has more of the metal bands that I favor, the upstairs is for real warriors. Hardcore is still loveless to the mainstream. Nobody plays this style of music for riches and fame. So there will be violence in the pit, there will be glorious pile-ons, sweaty hands grabbing the mic, and there will be shout-a-long choruses. Catching acts such as No Zodiac, Disgrace, Gods Hate, and the mighty Wisdom In Chains, you can see the past meet the future of music, and the fans who care deeply about these bands.
Shattered Sun, by Meg Loyal Photography
The first main-stage band I caught on Saturday was Texas-bred Shattered Sun. While they are opening the Dark Roots of Thrash II tour for tonight’s final acts, at Metalfest they hit the stage at about 2:30 PM. They whipped the early crowd into a frenzy with their modern take on neo-thrash. As I was jamming out, I look over to my left and there was GaryHolt (Exodus/Slayer) giving his seal of approval, banging his head.
The main-stage was so good this year, it was hard to peel away for some grub. Worcester (or Woostah if you are local wildlife) certainly has some decent food options, including the stellar Kenmore Diner within walking distance to the venue. I’d love to see some food trucks participate in future years, considering how many awesome ones we have locally.
After catching parts of good sets from Thy Will Be Done and The Agonist, it was time for some more death metal. We haven’t had much classic death bands of late here, so it was cool to see Incantation and Vital Remains on the bill. While the later band is immensely popular here, Incantation ruled supreme. Lots of people were seeing this great band for the first time today and they slayed.
Nails, by Meg Loyal Photography
The most talked about band before metalfest the last two years has been Nails. Their set last year may never be topped for intensity. Moving down to the main-stage, the entire floor did not devolve into a violent pit of epic proportions as I predicted. However, there was one large circle pit in the middle and some rough stuff up front, but for the most part people were able to enjoy the band and not die, which was good. Nails crushed it hard. That new album cannot come fast enough for me.
Nuclear Assault may be going into retirement, but not before hitting the road and ripping us a new one. They sounded fresh as ever, especially John Connolly’s chirping high screams. I’m looking forward to their new EP in June.
Exodus, by Meg Loyal Photography
Exodus is another band that has gone through some changes. With a recent album, Blood In Blood Out (Nuclear Blast) and a returning Steve “Zetro” Souza on vocals, the band sounded tight. I was happy with the set list, which included some of their more recent stuff, and of course classics like ‘Toxic Waltz’ and ‘Strike of the Beast’. Props to security for handling all the crowdsurfers and moshers without the usual nonsense I see at other venues.
Testament, by Meg Loyal Photography
Testament closed things out in style with a stage set right out of Iron Maiden’s playbook. And why not? Testament is one of those legacy (pun intended) thrash acts. They had a huge production with creative lights, billows of smoke, and the crazy bursting strobe lights that were a little overpowering frankly. Although they had a slightly over-loud sound mix, the band was incredible as they played only their first two albums, plus ‘Practice What You Preach’. With all of their talents, Testament is like The Avengers, and they are thrash metal’s mightiest heroes.
Friday April 17th Between The Buried And Me The Red Chord Cavalera Conspiracy Corrosion of Conformity Jasta Code Orange Overcast On Broken Wings Within The Ruins Fit For An Autopsy The Atlas Moth The Banner Black Mask Homewrecker Discourse Phinehas Downpour Boris The Blade
Saturday April 18th Testament Exodus Nuclear Assault Nails Turnstile Indecision Incendiary Suburban Scum Incantation Vital Remains Allegaeon Rivers of Nihil The Agonist Wisdom In Chains Disgrace Gods Hate Thy Will Be Done No Zodiac Extinction AD Vice Absolute Suffering Shattered Sun
Sunday April 19th Motionless In White For Today The Color Morale Vanna Death Before Dishonor Cruel Hand Sworn In Lionheart The Plot In You I Declare War These Streets My Ticket Home Rude Awakening Lorna Shore The Last Ten Seconds of Life World of Pain Shark Ethic GhostXShip Living Laser Brick By Brick Nasty Gift Giver Oath Exalt Unity Eternal Sleep Jagged Visions
Southern California extreme metallers God’s Hate is streaming “Father Inferior” off their limited edition seven inch single of the same name, out in late April, below. Recorded at The Pit in Van Nuys, California by Taylor Young, and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audioseige, this A-side destroyer is the perfect introduction to God’s Hate ssacrilegious, low-end thunder they so dominantly deliver, influenced by the likes of Merauder, Stigmata and Hatebreed.
The impending Father Inferior will be a limited 7″ single, pressed in a run of 500 copies and made available in late April. Stand by for additional release details on the single and following LP, entitled Mass Murder — which is currently being recorded by the band — both to see release through Closed Casket Activities.
The band has booked a string of upcoming shows. Mar 27: The Canal Club – Richmond, VA (United Blood IX) Apr 12: Amityville Music Hall – Amityville, NY (w/ Disgrace) Apr 13: Bogies – Albany, NY (w/ Disgrace) Apr 14: Sala Rossa – Montreal, QC (w/ Disgrace) Apr 15: SHIBGB’s – Toronto, ON (w/ Disgrace) Apr 16: Ocean Garden – Buffalo, NY (w/ Disgrace) Apr 17: The Voltage Lounge – Philadelphia, PA (w/ Nails, Incendiary, Disgrace) Apr 18: The Palladium – Worcester, MA (New England Metal & Hardcore Fest)
The 2015 edition of United Blood Fest lineup is now set for March 27-28, 2015 at The Canal Club in Richmond, VA and will feature:
Judge Breakdown Terror Cold World Down To Nothing Code Orange Crown Of Thornz Rotting Out Harms Way Bracewar Criminal Instinct Give Stick Together Barge Blistered Broken Teeth Break Away Forced Order Freedom God’s Hate Hardstripes Heavy Chains Malice At The Palace Malfunction Mizery Snails Pace
Friday, April 17th: The Red Chord The Atlas Moth Phinehas Code Orange Discourse
Saturday, April 18th: Suburban Scum Allegaeon Rivers of Nihil The Agonist Disgrace God’s Hate Thy Will Be Done No Zodiac Extinction AD Vice Absolute Suffering
