Reaction: Management Contracts, Mustaines, and Havok

While my opinion might be biased, I felt I had to add my thoughts on this matter. I have very little respect for Dave Mustaine after personally hearing a few stories from people involved with Megadeth tours and witnessing all of the arrogant bullshit that Mustaine constantly seems to spout online. Seeing the news of Havok being booted from the tour was enough to provoke a reaction and here it is:

As many are aware, Havok was slated to play with Metal Church, Suicidal Tendencies and Amon Amarth on an upcoming tour headlined by Megadeth. Honestly, I’m glad this tour didn’t stop anywhere near me as I would hate to miss Amon Amarth since a show of this size would be scheduled for a shitty venue with expensive tickets. And more importantly, since I basically refuse to support Megadeth. I skipped out on seeing Children of Bodom earlier this year when they opened for Megadeth and Children of Bodom will forever be one of my favourite bands. 

Havok has been dropped from the bill, due to contract negotiations that have gone awry. The management company in question is headed by Dave Mustaine’s son. My biggest problem with Megadeth lies in Dave Mustaine himself. Rumors abound that he’s a bit of an asshole. Rumors probably isn’t an appropriate word, and asshole is probably an understatement. His Twitter account over the last day or so regarding this issue reaffirms again that he’s an arrogant prick. It’s basically an inflammatory series of tweets  directed at those who’ve offended Mustaine by attempting to report on Havok being dropped from the tour. 

Havok put out a fairly guarded, and much more professional, account in the interest of informing fans that they will no longer be on the tour. While someone on the outside can’t know exactly what went on during contract negotiations, the impressions left during the aftermath definitely paint Havok in better light than the father-son Mustaine pair. (And Havok put on a disappointing performance and proved to be somewhat whiney and haughty once at a festival I attended, knocking my impression of them down a few notches). 

In a fairly tight-knit community, impressions tend to matter and Dave Mustaine continues to do things and become involved in arguments that do nothing to enhance his reputation. If the son is anything like the father, I don’t blame ANY band for not dealing with him or his management company. Without knowing contract specifics or without knowing anyone involved, most people will base their opinion on impressions and this doesn’t leave a good one for Mustaine Management. It probably would have been a better situation if Dave Mustaine had just kept his mouth shut, like he should have countless times in the past. There are so many more professional individuals in the music industry that he could take some tips from. 

Either way, it’s probably better for Havok to cut ties from anyone named Mustaine and find a new contract with a different company, keep touring and keep putting out music for their fans. 

Links:

http://www.metalinjection.net/latest-news/drama/havok-kicked-off-megadeth-tour-allegedly-due-to-dispute-with-mustaine-management

http://www.metalinjection.net/latest-news/justis-mustaine-speaks-out-on-the-megadethhavok

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/havok-removed-from-megadeth-tour-after-refusing-to-sign-unacceptable-management-contract/

Twelve Hair Metal & Classic Rock Albums That Have Stuck With Me

Again, this list was inspired by a Facebook post that circulated a little while ago. Instead of doing a dozen albums that have stuck with me, I've decided to break it down by sub-genre to create a more extensive set of lists. This one features classic rock, classic metal, and hair metal. Sticking with the original rule, I've only included one album per artist.

1. Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction
2. Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil
3. Alice Cooper - Love It To Death
4. Dio - Holy Diver
5. The Doors - The Doors
6. Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast
7. Skid Row - Skid Row
8. W.A.S.P. - The Last Command
9. L.A. Guns - Cocked And Loaded
10. Cinderella - Night Songs
11. Faster Pussycat - Faster Pussycat
12. Ratt - Out Of The Cellar

On The Radar: Eye Of Horus

I first caught Eye of Horus opening for 3 Inches of Blood and Goatwhore back in 2013, and was immediately impressed, One of my favourite local bands, they bring a tightly constructed style of melodic death metal. In the vein of Bloodbath and At The Gates, this is a band that should continue to do great things. They typically pack any show that they headline and become favourites at any festival they play.

'Infernal Calling', their debut album, was released almost exactly one year ago. Crushingly heavy, I would highly recommend it for any death metal fan. Eye of Horus have just released a video for one of the album tracks, "Hexagammatron".

Check out the official video here.

Metal Does NOT Have a Problem With Women

Once again, this bitter and ignorant article (that I hardly want to give credit to) has come up:

“Metal’s Problem With Women Is Not Going Away Anytime Soon” by Kristy Loye

(Appearing on the Houston Press website, written Nov. 15, 2015)

http://www.houstonpress.com/music/metals-problem-with-women-is-not-going-away-anytime-soon-7858411

I penned my own response to the article back in January, which can be found here.

Today while browsing Facebook, I noticed that the article, and several comments in response, had popped up on a friend's page. One response in particular is worthy of sharing:



Metal’s Problem With Women Is Not Going Away Anytime Soon?
Written by Cynthia Ann Briggs-Paulson

I have been in the realm of Metal and Rock for years now and have seen an increase in not only bands fronted with women, but also bands with more than just one female member. I have interviewed women not only about gender bias but also being called a “female fronted” band or an “all female” band. Their thoughts have been prophetic stating that it should not matter whether there is a man or woman in the front of the band, just that the music is moving to you. 

Kristy Love wrote an article that was in the Houston Press on November 11, 2015 titled, METAL’S PROBLEM WITH WOMEN IS NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON (http://www.houstonpress.com/.../metals-problem-with-women...), her article was scathing, bitter and to be perfectly honest, uneducated in the metal scene; period.

In her article, Ms. Love speaks principally about how women are getting the shaft in the metal scene how men treat female fans of metal. I am a fan, I am treated with nothing but respect. That respect comes from knowing what you are talking about, not by how many people that you can piss off because of your view of the subject matter that the music may be about. Many tracks in metal are about subject matter that most of us don’t think about on a daily basis; rape, incest, murder, violence and a host of other things. Most artists that I speak to regarding their subject matter have stated that their music is their release to things that can not talk to other people about, or might feel uncomfortable having a conversation about. This is their outlet to speak the truth, even though it might hurt your ears a little, it provides an inlet into that artist as a person. 

From a few men that have read this article, whom are in bands themselves.
From Matt Turkington (Animus Complex), “This article was so painful to read. I honestly have never considered metal a "men's only" club and 95% of metal bands I know of and have heard don't write degrading lyrics towards women. This chick is bitter as hell. When I see women at a metal show, I don't think, "someone's girlfriend", I think, "awesome, another body in the door, another fan!" While it is true, metal predominantly has a male fan base and male musician base, you don't see a whole lot of women actually picking up guitars, basses and drums or even vocals and aspire to be a metal musician. I can think of fantastic women musicians that have, but if you're honest with yourself, it just doesn't happen at the frequency it does with men. When you have a smaller percentage of women in the genre, their success is going to be a fraction to that of a man’s, that's just statistical fact.”

From Stevil Helmer (Helmer), “I agree with Matt. this article was written from personal resentments not actual truth. The article could have been an Alanis Morrissett song ! LOL. I have been a musician for 45 solid years myself. Huge respect for many musicians who are female regardless of genre. I’m a huge Bonnie Raitt fan !!!”

Fernanda Lira who is the bassist for the band Nervosa, stated in an interview with me in 2014, “I was raised in a metal environment since I was a kid, my all time favorite band is Iron Maiden. They represent a lot to me; they were one of the first bands that I listened to. They showed me when I was a kid a complete other level to metal music, lyrically, musically…how complete a metal band could be. Steve Harris is the reason that I learned to play bass guitar. He showed me the way to the instrument that I was to play.” This is so true of many other women that are musicians, their role models are the men of metal and or rock.

Metal is a lifestyle, metal takes everyone into its arms. Metal doesn’t need saving, nor do the women in it. They are perfectly capable of taking the genre to the next level, they are strong. They are not the girlfriend, or the “poser”. They are intelligent and they are not afraid. Metal is not about feminism, this is not the 1990’s, where Riot Grrrl music was needed to revamp Punk Rock. This is 2015, and Metal Women have a voice that can’t be silenced…just ask Fernanda Lira, Alissa White-Gluz and Mary Zimmer.

Grimner - Frost Mot Eld Review

Track Listing

1. Res Er Mina Söner
2. Eldhjärta
3. Normännens Raseri
4. Enhärjarkväde
5. Midgård Brinner
6. Vargarnas Tid
7. Mörkets Hem
8. Etter och Flammor
9. Muspelheims Härskare
10. Frost Mot Eld

Sweden has over the years proven to be a hotbed for metal of all types. Some of the best folk metal comes from Sweden and emerging artist, Grimner, is no exception. Formed in 2008, with their first full length release ‘Blodshymner’ coming in 2014, Grimner are relative unknowns ready to burst onto the scene. Grimner offer everything one could want in a folk metal band, conveying a sense of paganism evident in both the music and the band’s imagery. With a sound similar to bands such as Finntroll and Månegarm, yet uniquely their own, Grimner have released one hell of an album. 

‘Frost Mot Eld’ is inspired by Ragnarök which, put in simplistic terms, is the end of world of the old Norse gods. With lyrics sung entirely in Swedish, and the perfect melding of clean and harsh vocals, Grimner have created a refreshing folk metal album. “Res Er Mina Söner” opens with a sense of calm before the storm, quickly bursting into a more up-tempo track backed by a memorable flute melody. In fact, flutes are evident throughout much of the album, adding a unique touch to many of the songs. The pieces of ‘Frost Mot Eld’ flow together seamlessly, at times light and uplifting and at other times brutal and harsh.  The Swedish bagpipes in “Vargarnas Tid” provide a background of melancholic darkness to the track evoking emotions of hope fading away. The pace changes multiple times throughout the album, much like the emotions brought forth by the lyrical content and careful use of various instruments and vocal techniques. 

The story woven throughout ‘Frost Mot Eld’ is one of battle, one of hope and lost hope, one of acceptance of fate, and one of finality. It is a journey that feels as though it were woven by the Norns, telling a narrative of the end of days set to some truly evocative, brooding, and at times, jovial, melodies. 

Best tracks: Vargarnas Tid, Eldjärta, Frost Mot Eld

Twelve Thrash Albums That Have Stuck With Me

This list was spawned by a post circulating Facebook regarding the ten albums (of any genre) that have stuck with you, for whatever reason. A friend suggested creating one consisting of just thrash albums, and this is mine in no particular order:

1. Metallica - Kill 'Em All
2. Annihilator - Alice In Hell
3. Destruction - Day Of Reckoning
4. Kreator - Pleasure To Kill
5. Slayer - Reign In Blood
6. Sodom - M16
7. Tankard - A Girl Called Cerveza
8. Overkill - The Electric Age
9. Death Angel - The Dream Calls For Blood
10. Possessed - Seven Churches (more of a mix of death and thrash)
11. Aggression - The Full Treatment
12. Nervosa - Agony

The 69 Eyes - Universal Monsters Review

Track Listing:

Dolce Vita

Jet Fighter Plane

Blackbird Pie

Lady Darkness

Miss Pastis

Shallow Graves

Jerusalem

Stiv & Johnny

Never

Blue 

Rock n’ Roll Junkie

The 69 Eyes are perhaps one of favourites of the gothic rock genre. While they haven’t been an underground or lesser-known gem for some time now, ‘Universal Monsters’ is a throwback to those days. Touted as a return to the near-perfection found on the ‘Paris Kills’ album, this particular album does a pretty good job of capturing some of that magic. It is also reminiscent of the ‘Devils’ album in a few places. 

Full of the melodic qualities that one has come to love about the 69 Eyes, ‘Universal Monsters’ surpasses the last few 69 Eyes releases in terms of feeling unforced and natural. This album doesn’t have that strain to reach new audiences by changing characteristic sounds, which is likely something that the older fans can truly appreciate. It really feels like a return to the days when the 69 Eyes were known and loved in Europe, but not-so-much in North America. Personally, this is the era of the band that I fell in love with and have a hard time not comparing every subsequent release to. 

“Dolce Vita” and “Jet Fighter Plane” provide a strong opening for the album. The former is guitar driven, while the latter is slightly more melodic. Both tracks hold that very characteristic 69 Eyes sound. “Lady Darkness” is that one darkly romantic track on the album that really stands out as such. Jyrki’s vocals hit higher notes in this song which is something not often heard from the enigmatic frontman.  Not to downplay any of the talents of Jussi, Bazie, Archzie or Timo, but it is Jyrki’s vocals that do provide so much of that distinctive sound that this band has pumped out for over two decades. Tracks like ‘Miss Pastis’ and ‘Rock n’Roll Junkie’ add elements of some of the 69 Eyes earliest material, when they were much more of a sleazy rock band than a gothic rock band that the Helsinki Vampires are perhaps best known as. The opening to ‘Jerusalem’ introduces a very compelling keyboard section that continues throughout the song. It’s a little reminiscent of ‘August Moon’ from the “Devils” album in sound.  Overall, this album is a solid release, combining the best elements of every era of the band to date. 

Best tracks: Dolce Vita, Lady Darkness, Shallow Graves