Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

Review by Andrew Bansal, photos by Jerry Averill

December 12th, Loaded Rock Bar, Hollywood CA: Even with the year of 2014 coming to an end and the holiday season imminent, there’s no stoppage of live heavy music at Hollywood’s Loaded bar. Last Friday December 12, the venue witnessed the congregation of some of Los Angeles’ most exuberant, hardest working bands, put together by prolific local promoter Lara Gladstone. Featuring Brain Dead, Madrost, Tormenter, Ascendancy, Lethal Dossage and Sons Of Eli, the lineup for the gig undoubtedly carried a predominantly thrash vibe to it, and in the present-day scarcity of listenable bands in that particular genre, this event promised to reaffirm thrash fans’ faith. A healthy turnout comprising Friday night Hollywood regulars as well as supporters of all of these bands from elsewhere in the Los Angeles/Orange County area was expected. Continue reading “Local Thrashers Light Up Friday Night At Loaded Hollywood”

Review by Darshun, photo & video by Matt Nielson

December 11th 2014, Complex, Glendale, CA: San Francisco doom/sludge duo Black Cobra just concluded a ten-day US West Coast tour with support act Wolvhammer, including a Los Angeles area gig on Thursday December 11 at one of the most favored spots for underground music, Complex in Glendale. Ancient Altar and Arachnigod provided local support at this event put together by the local conglomerate comprising three great establishments Church Of The 8th Day, Thee Static Age and The Elegy Ensemble. Our writer Darshun was in attendance along with the man behind the camera Matt Nielson to capture the action for us through images and words. Continue reading “Black Cobra, Wolvhammer, Ancient Altar & Arachnigod Perform At Complex”

Review by Andrew Bansal, photos by Carsten Steinhausen 

December 9th 2014, The Palladium, Hollywood CA: Both hailing from Sweden but pursuing musical styles at completely opposite ends of the spectrum and having journeyed through widely different career paths, Opeth and In Flames are currently on the ‘Communion Of Sirens’ North American co-headline tour, with Red Fang as opening act. They arrived in Los Angeles for a gig at the Hollywood Palladium last night. Bringing together two very diverse sets of fans under this giant roof, Opeth and In Flames were limited to playing 75 minutes each, and had a point of prove in front of their own and each other’s devoted fans. For the Los Angeles faithful, it was an eagerly awaited event and the prospect of seeing how these bands put their best foot forward within their allotted times was enticing. Continue reading “Opeth, In Flames & Red Fang Perform At Hollywood Palladium”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

December 8th 2014, The Echoplex, Los Angeles CA: Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Cannabis Corpse are currently on a mission to spread their message of marijuana-themed death metal through a US headline tour along with support acts Mammoth Grinder and Inanimate Existence. Founded 15 years ago by Phil ‘Landphil’ Hall (Municipal Waste, Iron Reagan) and his brother Josh ‘Hallhammer’ Hall, Cannabis Corpse released their third studio album ‘From Wisdom To Baked’ earlier this year on Season Of Mist, comprising a set of death metal tunes with typically hilarious titles and lyrics. A week into the tour, the three bands arrived at the Echoplex in Los Angeles for a gig that was presented and promoted by local establishment DoLA and also included black thrash marauders Witchaven as local openers. Unlike Municipal Waste, Cannabis Corpse is the kind of band that enjoys more of a cult following, but there’s no denying that their fans are equally dedicated, and showed up in decent numbers, all in readiness with the whole range of paraphernalia appropriate for this occasion. Continue reading “Cannabis Corpse Gets Echoplex Baked”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

December 7th 2014, Loaded Rock Bar, Hollywood CA: Los Angeles stoner doom stalwarts Behold! The Monolith opened a new chapter in their life earlier this year, transforming to a four-piece lineup fronted by Jordan Nalley on vocals, with Jason Casanova on bass and original members Matt Price (guitar) and Chase Manhattan (drums) still soldiering on strong. Behold put forth a devastating performance at Loaded Rock Bar in the heart of Hollywood in September, and returned to the scene of the crime last night along with fellow Los Angeles doomsters Deathkings and touring Boston MA trio The Scimitar to treat Hollywood regulars and doom diehards to a heavy Sunday. Continue reading “Behold! The Monolith, The Scimitar & Deathkings Play At Loaded Hollywood”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

December 6th 2014, The Wiltern, Los Angeles CA: New Orleans sludgelords Down began a US headline tour on the 1st of December, aptly titled ‘The Punk Rock But Kinda Not’ tour, with Down and main support Orange Goblin bringing the stoner/sludge to the American masses and opening acts B’last and King Parrot blending in with the punk. The lineup looked absolutely stellar on paper, and it remained to be seen whether it lived up to its potential in reality. Down were on a mission to give fans one hell of a good time with a few tunes off of their two latest EPs and a selection of older material to go with it. Five days into the tour, Down and company descended upon downtown Los Angeles for a gig at the Wiltern last evening. The last time I saw Down was at this very venue in 2009, with Melvins, Weedeater and Danava. Down comprised a much different cast of members back then, and I was most looking forward to discovering whether the current version of the band would match up to the powerhouse that was their old lineup. Continue reading “Down, Orange Goblin, B’last & King Parrot Conquer Los Angeles”