BEOWÜLF.

The Mid-Eighties Crossover / Thrash phenomena has always been a favorite of mine - I'm not afraid to admit that. As a culture-locked teenaged skate-punk growing up in mid-Michigan in those days (I think I've mentioned that before), those bands just spoke wholeheartedly to me.

For me, bands like Beowülf fueled many a heated session, or a long late-night road trip to infiltrate spots in cities far away. While they may have been overshadowed by the infamy that was garnered upon that "other" band from Venice, these guys slung a mean vato-loco thrash-style somewhat akin to the likes of, say, Motörhead meets Discharge, but definitely with that "gangsta flava" that Venice Beach is famous for.



Beowülf - Beowülf

Link in comments.

SEPSISM.

When I was a little shit of about 4 or 5 years old, I remember seeing an advertisement in a Thor comic book that featured a poster of a long-haired biker on a chopper wearing a denim vest with a skull and a rocker below it that said, "Pacoima".

I've never been there, but I do know that it's a tough little town on the edge of Los Angeles that claims some high poverty levels, mucho gang activity, etc. It's a very Latino community as well, claiming bad-ass actor Danny Trejo & "La Bamba" Ritchie Valens as residents.

That's your history lesson for today.

Sepsism also claim Pacoima as home, and are some bad-ass motherfuckers in their own right.
They put an unrelenting Southland twist to the vintage NY Death-Grind style; touches of Suffocation, Malevolent Creation, etc. yet they are no clone, mind you. Lots of nice chugging riffs, heavy breakdowns, hoarse gutturals, etc.
There is also plenty of blasting going back there on the drum riser, but they also have no problem slogging around in the viscera, ala' Devourment. You'll either love it or hate, you know how it goes around here…



Sepsism - To Prevail In Disgust

Link in comments.

CONVULSE.

Quite possibly the unspoken Kings of Old-School Finlandia Death Metal, Convulse always give me that rare feeling of aural bliss & contentment that I get from like bands such as Repulsion,Terrorizer, Morbid Angel, & Incantation.

While these guys don't really sound like any of those guys, they do bring tasteful/powerful elements of the aforementioned, along with that same kind of unbridled aggression that really warms my innards - mid-tempo drumming that leads to the heaviness, chaotic/buzzing distorto chugga-chugga riffing for days, & a thick-and-chunky guttural growl slathered over the top that brings about a foreboding darkness to your ears...



Convulse - World Without God

Link in comments.

FANG.

Okay, so maybe I haven't been so prolific at posting as of late, but I have been prolific as fuck in my beer consumption - plus I had old homies in town for the last week, my son celebrated a birthday, work is WORK right now, etc.

No excuses, but seeing as I feel the need to come out of the gate on a strong note for March - a week late, I realize that - here's a seriously fuckin' KILLER-sounding set from the Kings of Berkeley Heathen Scum back when they were at their best, tearing the "Bluegrass State" a new one.

You're welcome.



Fang - 09.18.1984 Jockey Club, Newport, KY

Link in comments.

SLAYER.

* Today's post is a special one for me in that it marks THE 500TH. POST here at Lo-Res Viscera *

Not much needs to be said when it comes to Slayer - for me (as for many others, I'm sure) - they were a "gateway" band to the genre of music that I still enjoy the most on a daily basis.
Many folks call bullshit on Thrash/Death/Crossover these days, but honestly? They're just listening to the WRONG bands.

While I may not entirely celebrate very much of their catalog beyond 1990, they are indeed one of the true greats of the more "mainstream/successful" death/thrash metal heavyweights. Kudos to Tom, Jeff, Kerry, & Dave for going on 29 years of doing what they do best - I'd also like to personally thank shred-lord Jeff Hanneman for giving me "a noticeable ring" in my right ear that dates back to a November of 1998 gig at Harpo's in Detroit featuring Overkill (ugh!) opening for Slayer, with Motörhead to follow - that was EASILY one of the greatest shows I have ever seen - no regrets!

The show posted here is from early on in their career - 1984 - and is definitely a show I wish I had attended - much of my favorite material gets played, Araya is quick with the banter, the guitars sound like banshees from hell, the screams are high & curdling, Lombardo gets his rumble on, etc. In one word - RAW!!!

Enjoy, and thanks (as always) for stopping by & sharing your stories/comments/info/links/memories, etc. with me...



Slayer - 01.30.1984 Wolfgang's, San Francisco, CA "Fuck the Slayer"

Link in comments.