Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

Review & photo by Andrew Bansal

March 11th 2015, The Whisky-A-Go-Go, West Hollywood CA: Motor Sister, a salute to Los Angeles cult heroes Mother Superior, comprises Scott Ian on rhythm guitar, Joey Vera on bass, John Tempesta on drums, Pearl Aday on backing vocals, and Mother Superior’s Jim Wilson fronting the band himself on lead guitar and lead vocals. The group recently came together for a one-off gig at Scott Ian’s fiftieth birthday party, but decided to record a studio album full of Mother Superior covers and play shows in public. Their ‘Ride’ album came out on March 10th via Metal Blade Records, and they set out to celebrate its release with two California shows, March 11th at the Whisky in West Hollywood and the following night at Slim’s in San Francisco. Their hometown debut gig was a much anticipated event for longtime LA metalheads, and attracted a fairly good turnout at the Whisky. Continue reading “Motor Sister Make LA Debut At The Whisky”

Review & photo by Andrew Bansal

March 10th 2015, Los Globos, Los Angeles CA: To mark the release of their third full-length studio album ‘Beneath California’ which came out on February 10th via Epitaph Records, Southern California hardcore punk band Retox embarked on a five-week US headline tour with Atlanta GA sludge trio Whores as main support, and arrived home in Los Angeles for the final show of the tour at Los Globos, put together by promoters Thee Static Age and also featuring local openers To The Point and Nomads. Taking place in the downstairs concert hall of the venue, the show drew an appreciable turnout on a Tuesday, and treated attendees to an interestingly diverse evening of heavy music. Continue reading “Retox & Whores Play Tour-Ending Show At Los Globos”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

March 6th 2015, El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles CA: Whilst several bands that have been in existence for two decades or more struggle to find inspiration to write new material as compelling and successful as their older albums and often find themselves at war with their own back catalog, two bands that have not put a foot wrong with their creative efforts in recent years are Norwegian progressive black metal veterans Enslaved and Eugene, Oregon doom lords Yob. With Enslaved as the headline act and Yob as main support, the two bands embarked on a three-week North American journey to present their latest albums on stage, along with Philadelphia’s Ecstatic Vision as the opening act. The tour began in San Diego on March 5th, and arrived at the El Rey Theatre immediately after, on a gloriously warm Friday in Los Angeles. Fans have been anticipating this gig ever since it was announced, and expectations were sky-high. Continue reading “Enslaved, Yob & Ecstatic Vision Perform At El Rey”

By Andrew Bansal

March 4th 2015, Five Star Bar, Los Angeles CA:  San Diego death/doom miscreants Ghoulgotha released their debut full-length album ‘The Deathmass Cloak’ and made a short drive north to play a gig at the ever-welcoming Five Star Bar in downtown Los Angeles, along with fellow purveyors of death and doom, Spectral Voice from Denver, Colorado and some local openers. This was an event put together by Alvin Alemoon of The Elegy Ensemble, and besides his expertise in cat pictures, he also invariably unearths great obscure metal talent through his shows, as was evident from the great turnout he garnered for this show even on a Wednesday night. Continue reading “Ghoulgotha & Spectral Voice Perform At Five Star Bar”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

March 2nd 2015, The Whisky-A-Go-Go, West Hollywood CA: Los Angeles-based punk rock quartet Barb Wire Dolls is a band with a story-and-a-half. Formed in Greece in 2010 but soon relocating to Los Angeles and being on stage around the world for an endless amount of time, Barb Wire Dolls gained widespread acclaim and after nearly five years of countless shows, they are coming full circle and back to their roots with a month-long Monday night residency at the Whisky-A-Go-Go this March. Fronted by Isis Queen on vocals and comprising Pyn Doll (guitar), JayJay Doll (bass) and Krash Doll (drums), they’ve played in Los Angeles several times, but for one reason or another, I was just never able to see them perform. The first show of their Whisky residency was the perfect opportunity for me to rectify that, and to finally experience a Barb Wire Dolls show firsthand. Continue reading “Barb Wire Dolls Begin Month-Long Monday Residency At The Whisky”

Review by Andrew Bansal, photos &videos by Matt Nielson

March 1st 2015, Los Globos, Los Angeles CA: Moorpark, California group Black Sheep Wall have been around for nearly a decade, propagating their own spin on all things sludge and hardcore. They released their third full-length album “I’m Going To Kill Myself” via Season Of Mist on January 26 2915, and played a record release show as a matinee gig curated by Thee Static Age and members of Colombian Necktie at Los Globos last Sunday. Black Sheep Wall stood out for the impact level of their live show even amidst 25 other bands at last year’s Scion Rock Fest, and along with five other worthy bands 16, Colombian Necktie, Teeth, The Love Below and Skinslip, they were well-poised to give it their all on this occasion as well. Appreciating an early outing on a Sunday afternoon, Los Angeles underground metal supporters lined up in expectance of a great show and the start of a trend of such events on a regular basis. Continue reading “Black Sheep Wall Play Record Release Matinee Show At Los Globos”