Band Reviews that appeared in High Wire Daze under the surname of Count Goreboar

Snakes for the Divine

High on Fire

E1-Entertainment

Standing with axe and war-hammer in hand, breathing hard and heavy, surrounded by the conquered bodies of my enemies and fallen comrades in battle, but the cool winds bite my face and run through my heavy fur cape as the bruised night sky dissipates as the sun breaks the horizon line. The sorcerers gather to bless the fallen and breathe incantations of thanks to the Gods while the Father of all Creation smiles down on the victors of war. The serpents swallow the sacrifice as the divine sends them to retrieve their spoils. This is High on Fire. The legendary Matt Pike’s guitar playing is intense and powerful as powerful as his stories told in his raspy booming voice. His lyrics do not rhyme words force to fit stanzas that have no substance, on the contrary, his lyrics send you to a world; a world of old. On which battles are fought with swords, pikes, clubs, hammers, and shields. Where betrayers are dealt with the edge of a knife and the conscience of the knife wielder is consumed by doom. Yes, this sounds barbaric, but this is the world described by Matt’s lyrics, and I am very sure that they are just metaphors for something far greater or relevant to the happenings of our time.

 The intro of “Snakes for the Divine,” gives rise to an Iron Maiden feel, but curves immediately awakening a Motorhead vibe with its thunder and luster. The song is powerful, but so is the entire album, sure, it does not have the same concept base as Death is this Communion (an album that I highly recommend if you haven’t checked it out by now.), but why should it; that’s why it is a new album, and Snakes for the Divine stands on its own as well as it carries elements from the albums before. This power trio delivers, and if you are stuck on a particular sound; then I recommend that you stay where you are, but as for High on Fire, I will follow their progression, the music and lyrics need to grow or the band becomes stale. Sure, I agree with keeping with the integrity of their sound and tone, but they have to grow and shed their old skin while making room for the new, and the new flesh is as powerful as the latter. 

Jeff Matz’s bass lines are well structured as they groove with a punchy and thunderous tone.  I really liked his work when he played for ZEKE, but he definitely fits into the enigmatic sound that is High on Fire. The proof is in the pudding with the track “Bastard Samurai”, a song that has the touch of Black Sabbath and Amebix, and this track will pummel you. Des Kensel’s drumming has been a driving force with the band. Des beats the marches to battle and drives the accents to all of the riffs with rolls and stops. For example, listen to “Frost Hammer,” for Des’s driving force, and powerful hitting.  Jeff and Des add more to the sound with their backing vocals and filling the gaps. Definitely catch these guys live, but grab all of their albums, especially, if you like bands like: Amebix, Bathory, Black Sabbath, Cathedral, Celtic Frost, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Pentagram, Slayer, St. Vitus, and Venom. You will not be disappointed. “Snakes for the Divine,” just kick started my year and is breathing new hope for the music that is to come. For all the warriors raise your chalices, goblets, horns, steins, and mugs spill some for the fallen, and clink glasses. Cheers, and until next time. Take care and take control.

Contact info: http://www.highonfire.net/

Time Waits For No Slave

Napalm Death

Century Media (2009)

The legendary Grindcore Gods; Napalm Death are at it again with their latest release: “Time Waits For No Slave.” The blistering blast beats by Danny Herrera’s drums, complex riffs, shifting tempo changes, and fingering of Mitch Harris, Shane Embury’s low frequency assault, and the lyrical brilliance and execution of Mark “Barney” Greenway, will send you to a world filled with greedy consumers, multi-national death corporations and their survival tactics. The album hits you like a sledge hammer to the head. If you are not awake by the time you hit play; then you must be dead. The entire album is intense from the get go. You cannot pull yourself away from these addictive tracks. When the album was over, I still needed another fix like some zombie junkie craving the desires of his affliction tripping over his feet while tapping the vein. The lyrics deal with everyday life to feminist ideals. They are not pushing their views on anyone, but rather, making one aware of the current events, intolerances, issues as well as the subliminal ideals of Imperialism. Napalm Death is a band that scorches the barriers and awakens the stream of conscientiousness. I highly recommend this album; not because I am a fan, but because of their positive messages. Take Care and Take Control.

 

Contact Info: www.myspace.com/napalmdeath 

AT TIMES OF PEACE PREPARE FOR WAR

Line Up Your Lies

Sound Violence Music

Are you ready for an all out war or brutal assault on your senses?  Then your ears should be set for the sonic blast that is Line Up Your Lies! This trio from Hesperia, CA. takes you right into the battlefields with guns loaded and drawn. The Ak-47 rapid fire blast beats of Brent Ventimiglia’s drums tears up any atmosphere while the switch of Don Barber’s highs and Gio Trujillo’s low growl drive the war chants home, and not to mention the amazing blistering speed of the strings with technical changes and fist pumping chants. The entire album is a fierce soundtrack to war, starting with the sample of the first track (Dying for Life); especially, since it sets up the mood: “Men are going to get killed today, and I am going to kill them.” The sheer intensity of the music grips your neck and will not set you free until those nine tracks finish their course. The recording is very crisp and the clarity of the music is uncanny. I can hear all of the changes and the vocals are not muddied with the music but the union of the sound is very clean. It’s really hard to find metal bands that really pay attention to their sound; especially the local bands that cater to home recordings, but you can tell that these guys not only got professionals to record their album, but professionals to master it as well. .

Line Up Your Lies’s cover of Suffer the Children (Napalm Death) is not only their own, but the track compliments the integrity and sound of the great Grindcore Gods that is Napalm Death. They pay homage and do not disappoint. If you like Grindcore or extreme metal then I would advise you to definitely give Line Up Your Lies a listen. Take care and take control.

Contact info: http://www.myspace.com/lineupyourlies

HFATTM

(Hot F**k Action To The Maxxx)

NOCIXEL

Vomitcore Music

Have you ever been devoured by carnivorous insects, or broiled alive inside a crematorium? I am sure that Kevin Fetus of HFATTM, can make that desire blossom into fruition. The blistering soundscapes of HFATTM will simmer your cerebellum while the extreme electro acoustics crisps your exterior into a bubbling mess of fourth degree burns. The noise is very intense, but not ear shattering like the high frequencies of William Bennett and Peter Soto’s Whitehouse project, but a close rendition of Rozz Williams’ Premature Ejaculation or Stephen O’Malley’s Sunn 0))). The difference is that this insidious, vile, cringe driven world is piloted by, none other than, the infamous Kevin Fetus. His art, his vision, and his obsession; NOCIXEL is not an album for the weary, but for the extreme musicians and audiences that can appreciate, and has a desire to explore what’s beyond the norm. The sounds of creatures from a primordial absu have consumed my will to chronicle any further, so I leave you all to take care and take control.

Contact info: http://www.fetusk.org/

At Half Mast

The Scarred

Basement Records (2009)

At Half Mast is a fist pumping, slam dancing, pogo of a good time. The Scarred is street punk at its best! This trio captures the old school Orange County Punk Sound to the tee. There is a sense of nostalgia and nuance from: Social Distortion, Agent Orange, D. I., and The Adolescents. I would like to capture this energetic group live. The recording is crisp and all of the instruments are present. Although the recording is crisp, the sound is raw; I feel like I have traveled back to the eighties when the scene was alive and thriving. Killer work and Kudos to The Scarred and Basement Records! This is a good album all around, and you can’t help but follow along with all of the…oh…oooh…oooh’s.  I don’t know about you, but I like to throw back a couple with my friends and act the fool, and The Scarred is a fun listen, and reminds one to lighten up and let loose. Check them out if you like having fun. Take Care and Take Control. Cheers!

Contact Info: www.Myspace.com/SCARRED

No Reason To Live…No Reason To Die!

Internal Corrosion

Corrosion Records (2009)

Internal Corrosion is a cesspool of filthy toxic thrash that crawls under your skin and rots your flesh from the in and out. This is how metal should be written. I like my thrash dirty and fast. Hector pours his soul into the vocals, and you can feel the anguish as well as the madness that is imbued within the lyrical content. The lycanthropic creature wants to be unleashed, and Internal Corrosion is the portal.  The guitarists (Henry and Hector) shred like scraping your knees and elbows from a skateboarding accident. Chonce does not let up; you feel those pounding bass chords. Ian beats those drums like they owe him money.  It will leave you raw and bloody. This is metal for the brutal and not the squeamish. Do you like: Megadeth, Cryptic Slaughter, Wehrmacht, Sodom, Slayer, Death Angel, Exodus, or Municipal Waste? The influences are just an echo, and they have managed to create their own niche of the genre; as it should be. Take what you like, learn from the best, and create your own mold. I am glad to see that thrash and metal is making a comeback, and I believe that Internal Corrosion will be leading the pack.  The album is great, but do yourself a favor and catch these maniacs live. Let’s take the music back. Die, Kill, Beer! Take Care and Take Control.

Contact Info: Internalcorrosionmusic@yahoo.com

Designated - Vol. 1 (7”)

Bullet Treatment

Fat Wreck Chords (2009)

What do you get when you combine the elemental force of Chris #2 of Anti Flag, Johnny of Swingin’ Utters, Russ of only Crime/Good Riddance, Tim of Rise Against, Thomas of Strike Anywhere, and Sturg of Star Fucking Hipsters/Leftover Crack? You get a punk rock tour de force. Designated – Vol. 1 is an amazing collaboration of artist reaching the same common goal; real hardcore punk. When I say real hardcore punk; I am stating the intensity of what was and is: Black Flag, Bad Brains, Poison Idea, M.D.C., Battalion of Saints, Minor Threat, Adolescents, just to name a few. If you know your history and love that chaotic and powerful sound then do yourself a favor and jump on board this punk rock juggernaut that is Bullet Treatment! Chuck Dietrich (A.k.a. D.C.) is the master cylinder behind this project. You do not know if he is playing guitar, bass or drums, but whatever it is; you can definitely expect genius. Here is the crazy part; it is one song, but when fused with those great talents, it creates its own entity. That is right; I said it is one song: meaning one piece of music, but it is six separate tracks, and they stand alone as six songs; very Intense and a brilliant performance from all those who collaborated on this massive powerhouse. Bullet Treatment is complex, but you do not have to do the math; just sit back and enjoy this creative masterpiece. The guitar riff is extremely catchy; Pig Champion would be proud to have known that he influenced that jam (R.I.P.). So go out there and grab this album by all means necessary; you will not be disappointed. Take Care and Take Control.

Contact Info: http://www.myspace.com/bullettreatment

EVACUATE

Evacuate

Taang! Records

This Quintet shatters the boundaries of punk rock genres and unites the scene! Evacuate’s message is clear and powerful. These punks don’t sing about pimping beer and getting beat up by the bullies. There is a real message in their lyrics. From Wildfires, Ignorance, Greed, War, Poverty, the Hardcore Scene, to Bulimia. The power and lyrical delivery is as ferocious as that of Watty from the Exploited, and hints of Charged GBH. The musical intensity of a pissed off Johnny Thunders, but the beat-down power of Broken Bones and Poison Idea; this is real Hardcore Punk! Songs like: Mankind’s Disease, Give You Nothing, What Happened to Hardcore, and City on Fire grip you, shake you up, and toss you to the side like a dirty rag, but you can’t help but sing along. Evacuate is a powerhouse of pissed off aggression, and I highly recommend that all the posers EVACUATE; cause when the lyrical and musical bomb hits all will feel its intensity! There is no escape, so EVACUATE! Take care and take control.

Contact info: www.myspace.com/evacuatepunks

 

Let Them Burn

“Self Titled”

“Self Released”

By: Count GoreBoar

What can I say? Let Them Burn! The drive echoes the heavily rooted Slayer, Sepultura, and Cannibal Corpse (George “Corpse Ginder” Fisher era) influence. Rupert’s percussive elements remind me a lot of Obituary and Pungent Stench. The lyrics seem too personal and do not evoke a universal concrete as well as being sophomoric at times. The lyrics are very angst driven, but properly arranged with the timing of the music, and the music is heavy as it should be for a death metal album. The rhythmic patterns create a heavy groove at times, and the blast beats accent the fast riff changes, regardless if it is not a generic hybrid, but rather, another in the books of the Death Metal Genre. The influences speak for themselves and if you are really into death metal a la Corpse-grinder Cannibal Corpse then check them out. They are definitely worth a listen. Support the California Death Metal scene. Take care and take control.

Contact info: www.Myspace.com/letthemburnca

In Reference to Something Forgotten

Guppies

Guppies Music

By: Count GoreBoar

Smooth like margarine spread on an English muffin, and as psychedelic as a mushroom binge lost down the rabbit hole and complaining about being late. There is no time where we have voyaged the trip is soothing. The opening track, “Rabbits May Hide in the Forest,” has that shoe gazer element with a trance like quality to the looped sample, but it starts off with a strong ambient atmosphere.  “Jesus Fish Car,” swims through my mind as well as my living room. The riffs are rockin’ but very smooth, the bass lines walk and groove, and the drums are solid. Kudos to Sergio Argumedo’s solid drumming, and the whole band, for the strong atmospheric music; Leo Coronado’s tone is soft and airy but it adds to the overall feel of the structure of the album. Especially, in “Ghost in the Picture,” the soft sweep picking on the clean guitar is awesome as it gets drowned with effects giving rise to a Love and Rockets type of vibe and finished off with an acoustic guitar.  The guitar work between Leo and Oliver Dammasch are wonderful, they complement each other, rather than, compete. Eric Kempke adds a nice balanced heartbeat of rhythm that fills, instead of leaving gaps, but the sound effects, samples, and added instrument s do the same, but without those elements the band still sounds full, and I definitely recommend the GUPPIES; especially, for those who like Love and Rockets, Radio Head, Sonic Youth, Larsen, Eric’s Trip, Elliot Smith, and Nirvana.

The GUPPIES are an original act, but they do share some of the influences and elements of the latter. Please do not be discouraged by the gaggle of groups mentioned as influences or elemental substance. They are worthy of a good listen. The overall production is crisp and clear. The engineers of this production definitely deserve a thumbs up, for capturing the GUPPIES’ sound and performance. Check out their Myspace for show info, I have seen them live and they are great live as well as their recordings, and this album is a powerful effort by far, and until next time.  Highwire Daze does not promote the use of drugs, nor does this review promote any form of drug use. I take full responsibility for my reference as nothing more than an analogy of the atmospheric qualities of the music, and I do not condone the use of drugs. Take care and take control.

Contact info: http://www.Iloveguppies.com

www.myspace.com/losguppies

Johnny Cheapo

Misbehavin

Smut Records

Although Johnny Cheapo is a veteran punk rocker, he definitely puts the rock into his latest release: Misbehavin.  Misbehavin is jam packed with skilled musicians, the songs are full of catchy hooks, and late 70s punk nostalgia with nuances of the New York Dolls, Sex Pistols, The Jabbers, Misfits (Static Age era), Johnny Thunders, and The Ramones. The riffs are well structured; the tone remains warm and sets up a rockin’ atmosphere. The bass lines and drums pulse and pump like a heartbeat as it should. I just wish that the levels on the jams was raised a couple of notches because it seems pushed back a little. The very present vocals of Johnny Cheapo are like harsh commands that demand the attention of audiences; especially, in songs like: “Reckless Tonight, Rock ‘N’ Roll Queen, and Sleazeball Queen,” it’s not a bad thing, on the contrary, it suits Johnny Cheapo’s sound as well as fueling the fodder while: “Wayward Women, Hey White Girl, No Parking in L.A., Pourin’ Rain, and Desperado” are all fun sing along songs that keep the head bobbin’.

 Look, if you want a good disc to throw on while you take that long voyage through traffic, need music for background at a party, or just want that classic nostalgic feeling; then crank it up. The disc is fun, so sit back and enjoy. I highly recommend the song: “You Giveme the Creeps,” and since all of you do; I suggest you all take care and take control.

Contact info: www.Myspace.com/JohnnyCheapo

http://www.johnnycheapo.com/

 

Tracy G

A Frosty G Christmas

Spooky G Music

By: Count GoreBoar

“The Bells!”  Man that track is awesome! Riff by riff, the guitars sound ominous, the solos, and the overall production is not only clean, but sends one to a dark wonderland. This song opens up the rest of the multitalented Tracy G and his all-star musician filled album. The music is spiritually uplifting while maintaining the all around metal feel, but what can you expect with a touring guitarist of Dio, Motorhead, Goad-ed, and WWIII. This  Christmas album rocks on so many levels, and if you need a stocking stuffer, this will definitely be a treat, so throw back some eggnog, kiss that special someone under the mistletoe, and bang your head while throwing up your horns; just crank it up. This will definitely break the ice at a stiff Christmas corporate event, but all jests aside this album is fun for all ages. Especially, for those people who want to rock out while others want the more traditional approach, but it appeases both sides and is balanced.

Check out Larry Ramirez (Loaded Bomb Records, Audia, and Second Chance) rock out the drums on a killer version of “Silent Night.” The drive on it will definitely have Santa rockin’ from roof to rooftop. Merry X-Mas and Happy New Year. Take care and take control!

Contact info: http://www.tracyg.com/

www.Myspace.com/thetracyggroup