Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

February 5th 2015, Los Globos, Los Angeles CA: 14-string guitar virtuoso Felix Martin has developed a reputation for his talent on the instrument and for blending metal, jazz and other elements together in his compositions. After touring as opening for legends such as Steve Vai and showcasing his skills in guitar-centric events, Felix Martin has embarked on his first ever full US tour. The Los Angeles-based guitarist started out this run with a hometown show at Los Globos last Thursday February 5th, along with touring support act Barishi and local openers Suns Of Orion, for a show put together by the trifecta of Thee Static Age, Church Of The 8th Day and Musicians Institute. Having never seen this guy perform but based on the quality of his 2013 debut effort ‘The Scenic Album’, I was intrigued by this opportunity to finally do so. Continue reading “Felix Martin Begins First Ever US Tour In Los Angeles”

By Andrew Bansal

February 2nd 2015, Five Star Bar, Los Angeles CA: Purveyors of all things evil and extreme in the Swedish metal underground since 1991, Unpure finally got an opportunity to carry out their first ever live ritual in the United States. This would be Unpure’s one and only US gig on this trip, and Hate War Productions brought it to the Five Star Bar in downtown Los Angeles, in front of a set of eager, excited fans. Aptly christened “a night of total death”, the event also featured Infinitum Obscure and Coaccion from Mexico alongside California black metal group Volahn, and promised to be an entertaining outing for all in attendance. Continue reading “Swedish Extreme Metal Band Unpure Plays First Ever US Show At Five Star Bar”

By Andrew Bansal

January 31st 2015, The Airliner, Los Angeles CA: Cleveland, Ohio’s extreme metal/hardcore punk perpetrators Nekrofilth have steadily risen as a force to be reckoned with in the genre’s underground during the six years of their existence thus far, not only across America but all over the world. On the strength of their devastating 2013 full-length debut “Devil’s Breath” on Hells Headbangers, they’ve been an actively touring entity. Nekrofilth embarked on a three-week US West Coast tour in mid-January with Denver black thrashers Weaponizer whom they are sharing two members with. Towards the end of this mostly DIY run, the two bands arrived in Los Angeles for a gig at the Airliner, organized by the ever-industrious folks at Poor Kids Radio. Even with a major mainstream so-called extreme metal show occurring on the same night in a very different part of town, the LA metal and punk underground was expected to be in full attendance for this potentially epic rager. Continue reading “Nekrofilth, Weaponizer & Maggot Colony Smear The Sleaze Over LA”

By Andrew Bansal

January 30th 2015, Billy O’s, Ventura CA: Having played host to countless shows featuring punk rock and metal bands for the past few decades, including groups representing the region’s world-famous Nardcore movement, Ventura-based live music venue/pizza joint/dive bar Billy O’s is closing and relocating to a new address in early March. As a celebration of everything it stood for over the years, a final weekend of free shows was announced, and the first of them, headlined by Nardcore innovators Ill Repute, took place last night. Being a small part of the Night Demon juggernaut for the past few months, I started feeling myself getting associated with the Ventura/Oxnard music scene to a certain extent, and upon returning from the most recent US tour with the band, I decided to stay in Ventura an extra few days specifically to get a taste of the local community. Little did I anticipate what I and fellow attendees were in store for, as the evening turned out to be a complete contrast to what was expected. Continue reading “Ventura’s Old Billy O’s Comes To Anti-Climactic Close”

Review by Darshun, photos & videos by Matt Nielson

December 29th 2014, The Observatory, Santa Ana CA: As soon as Oakland sludge/doom legends Neurosis announced a trio of year-end headline shows in California including a gig at the Observatory in Orange County, fans were chomping at the bit to purchase tickets and readied themselves for another religious Neurosis experience, a little over a year after they headlined the same venue with tremendous opening acts Yob and Bl’ast. This time Neurosis brought with them an entirely different support cast featuring Tragedy, Author & Punisher and Kowloon Walled City, and the prospect of this lineup was an exciting one for all involved. Continue reading “Neurosis Plays Year-End Headline Show In Orange County”

By Andrew Bansal

December 26th 2014, Whisky-A-Go-Go, West Hollywood CA: Even though many rock ‘n roll bands have carried the tradition of playing at or around Christmas over the past several decades, San Francisco Bay Area thrash veterans Death Angel certainly were never one of them. But to change that fact, the band announced two late December headline gigs in Los Angeles and San Francisco. They arrived at the Whisky-A-Go-Go, their most favored LA venue, for their first ever Christmas show last Friday December the 26^th. Having been an ardent follower of Death Angel’s fortunes for the past six years and bearing witness to the consistent progress they’ve continued making in this ‘revival’ period, I knew they would have something special up their sleeve for this occasion, and expected them to not only pull out rarities in the set list but also bring up a guest or two. Although, I was hoping against hope that this guest would not be Kirk Hammett.

Continue reading “Death Angel Celebrates Christmas In Los Angeles; Jams With Chris Broderick”