It might not be a full album stream, but I had fun flying through the samples from Charlemagne: The Omens Of Death, the second heavy metal release from legendary badass, Christopher Lee. Even Lee himself says that the record is “one hundred percent heavy metal.” And I always believe everything that Christopher Lee says. Bonus? Charlemagne: The Omens Of Death, will also be pressed into a double gatefold vinyl edition.
And, if that still isn’t metal enough for you, the record comes out on May 27th, the same day that Lee celebrates his 91st birthday.
These Post-Punk/New Wave superhero mashups are the work of Brazilian artist, Butcher Billy. Deep down, I think we all knew that Siouxsie Sioux was really Wonder Woman.
In celebration of Friday’s arrival, please join me in bidding a good riddance to this past week. And, as I’m not one to dwell on days of bullshit past, check out my latest very metal roundup of new releases from San Fransisco band Orchid, the pride of Savannah, Black Tusk, and UK band Tracer, and many others over at Curious Tracks. This weekend I’ll also have the pleasure of sharing laffs and good times on The Movies About Girlspodcast. This week we shift our cinema gaze to the boob tube for TV Shows About Girls. Episode #166 has your favorite gang of teenage losers getting nostalgic for the year 1982 while watching the thankfully Chrissy-less Season 7 premiere of Three’s Company, ‘A Night Not To Remember‘. Dig it!
A Friday The 13th documentary, ‘Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th‘ will be out just in time for the end of summer camp season this August. So maybe stay out of the canoe this year. And the lake. And the cabins. And definitely don’t smoke pot, get drunk, or have sex in a hayloft.
The Gossip, Heavy Cross. A gilded Beth Ditto included…
The first time I saw The Gossipwas at the Capitol Hill Block Party in 2000. Beth Ditto was all over the stage, shaking it in a half-shirt. After their set, I passed by Ditto as she gleefully skipped down the street, still emitting the same joyful, punk rock energy she gave away on stage. Ditto’s sense of style may be more sophisticated now, but the bands music is still as potent and poignant as it was then.
Of all of the completely metal collectables up in the Baroness Relief Auction, my hands-down favorite has to be this custom, one of a kind, Red Fang beer holster (above). The current bid for the most metal accessory ever, is a mere $156 (beer not included). Funds raised by the auction will benefit Baroness’ band members and crew that were injured last year when the bands bus tour bus plunged 30 feet off a viaduct in wet condition near Bath, England.
Queens of the Stone Age, I Appear Missing. A very troubling, animated video.
Happy Friday fellow headbangers! I’m still reeling after seeing Kvelertak and Black Tusk last weekend. In a world filled with mediocre metal, it was a real shot to the ears to see two bands this good on the same bill. A word to the wise, DO NOT miss this tour when it blows through your town.
Speaking of good metal for your ears, check out my latest new release recommendations over at Purple Dog Records music blog, Curious Tracks. I also had the pleasure of being a guest on the MAG Down Under Variety Hour podcast. Look for the 90 minute episode here, this weekend.
Now, here’s all the metal things that happened this week…
In my world, it’s always Motörhead day. But back in 2011, the mayor of Austin, Lee Leffingwell, decreed May 8th ‘Motorhead Day‘ in the city of Austin. Here’s a photo of the fancy, official proclamation, and a much cooler photo of the very metal proclamation being held by Mikkey Dee.
Not much makes my eyes pop out of my head these days (you’ll see what I did there after you watch the video), but David Bowie’s new video for ‘The Next Day’ did. It’s three fun-filled minutes of blood, boobs, Gary Oldman as a creepy priest, actress Marion Cotillard as a prostitute with a stigmata problem, and Bowie pretty much being Bowie. In this case, Bowie is the lead singer of the demented church/prostitution ring’s house band.
Via: Everyone who sent this to me while I was still asleep this morning.
Here’s the official video from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and their show-stopping live performance of ‘Mermaids‘ at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles earlier this year. The highly praised show featured the voices of a children’s choir from the Silverlake Conservatory. Stunning.
Rest in Peace, Jeff Hanneman. Vintage Monsters of Rock footage of Slayer performing, Raining Blood.
Like everyone else, I’m still stunned that guitarist Jeff Hanneman, a founding member of Slayer, passed away yesterday of liver failure at the age of 49. Back when I was a younger metalhead, I was lucky enough to see Slayer at a small club in Boston called The Channel. It was terrifying. The pit was a thrashing mess of hair and sweat, that would randomly pull onlookers into it’s chaos. The band was in full-tilt rage mode, as they slashed their way through songs from Seasons in the Abyss, like professional serial killers. There were many times during that show that I fought the urge to run out of the club, feeling I’d be safer outside, than inside. It was complete madness, and unlike anything I had ever seen. Until that day, I thought I knew what heavy metal was. But Slayer set me straight with their satanic, aggressive perfection. Thanks for the very metal memories, Jeff Hanneman. The world is now a lot less metal, and a little too quiet without you.
San Fransisco band Orchid sounds more like Black Sabbath, than Black Sabbath sounds like Black Sabbath. And if that sounds better to you than listening to the new Sabbath record, you should stream Orchid’s new record, the super psychedelic, “Into the Mouth of Madness“, here.
