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Live Review: Napalm Death w/ The Golers, Zukuss and Gross Misconduct, October 27, 2011 – The Rickshaw Theater, Vancouver, B.C.

October 29th, 2011 Filed under: Reviews - Live by Editor in Chief

(CLICK TO ENLARGE | Photo – Chris McKibbin)

Live Review- Napalm Death, w/ The Golers, Zukuss and Gross Misconduct
Thursday, October 27, 2011
The Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, B.C.

The opening bands were a fairly standard array of local talent. The first band, Gross Misconduct, performed a solid set of thrash, but lacked in conviction or presence. They need to remedy their charisma deficit. Second on the bill was Zuckuss, who played a blistering blast of grind that suffers that common grind flaw: none of their material is memorable in the least, buried as it is in speed and short songs. There isn’t enough time to get a Zuckuss riff stuck in your head.

Then The Golers came on and actually warmed up the crowd. This is a band that honestly deserves to be much more of a name on the global metal scene. Their blend of thrash, speed, and death metal is as rare as it is skillfully executed. Simply put, The Golers are far more than just a local metal band- they kill at what they do. Even a band as passionate and energetic as The Golers had nothing on the headliners though.

Napalm Death hit the stage like a bomb, and delivered a relentless set of death/grindcore comprised of new material from their most recent album (the absolutely skull-crushing Time Waits For No Slave), classics from across their career and a few cover tracks.

Grindcore is an odd genre. In a twist of irony so severe it’s basically straight up hypocrisy, this most brutal of metal styles takes an extremely delicate touch to get right. Too fast and too short, no one will remember anything and it becomes disposable. Too slow and too long, it’s not grindcore anymore. The balance point is rarely achieved, but Napalm Death has long mastered the exact mix- and they showed their dominance in style.

Vocally, Barney is at the top of his game. He’s achieved a horrifying degree of vicious passion, and lately his range has improved as well. The man just bludgeons the listener with his voice. Complementing this perfectly is guitarist Mitch Harris’ accent backing vocal shrieks, which are reminiscent of Alan Dubin of OldLadyDrivers (Remember them?). The twin juggernaught of Embury on bass and Herrera on drums is an intestine-shaking force- it was simply awe-inspiring to witness.

Vancouver ate it up too. The crowd at the newly renovated Rickshaw Theater was near capacity, the pit was relentlessly violent, and there was even some crowd surfing (something that seems rare at Vancouver metal shows these days). It was good to see, especially when we were treated to such gems as a Cryptic Slaughter cover (no one ever gives these guys the credit they deserve for their influence on Grindcore music), a Siege cover, and a Dead Kennedys cover, not to mention the sneak peek at the new Napalm Death album, in the form of the new track, “Quarantine”. Judging from this song, it sounds very much like Time Waits For No Slave wasn’t just a one-off fluke in Napalm’s history.

A superb show, one that easily eclipses their gig at the New York Theatre with Carcass, Cathedral, and Brutal Truth (the last time this particular reviewer saw them). This is how it should be, bands getting better and better, not peaking and coasting on “they-were-awesome-when” memories.

By Keith Durocher

WANT MORE LIVE REVIEWS? CLICK HERE

Copyright © 2004-2011 ABORT Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of this publication, in whole or in part, in any form or medium without express written permission from Abort Media Publishing Corporation (AMP Corp.) is prohibited. All use is subject to our Terms of Use.

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KONTEST: Win A Chance To Meet NAPALM DEATH! Plus ND Concert Tickets and More!

September 23rd, 2011 Filed under: Exclusive!, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

We are giving away a prize pack, 1 Winner will receive:

One (1) Pair of Tickets to see NAPALM DEATH October 27th, 2011, at The Rickshaw Theater in Vancouver, BC
Backstage access to meet the band
An autographed poster

Email kontests [at] abortmag.com and put “I LOVE THE SMELL OF NAPALM” in the subject line and you could WIN!

All winners will be selected by random draw and notified by email.

Contest closes Thursday, October 24th, 2011 at 5 PM PST

_________________________________________

NAPALM DEATH presented by The Invisible Orange

Tickets $25 in advance on sale now at Ticketweb.ca and Friday July 29 at Scrape Records, Zulu Records.

Doors: 7:00 pm

Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings, Vancouver BC 604-681-8915)

19+

BUY TICKETS HERE

Brought to you by ABORT Magazine and The Invisible Orange

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RoadTrip: KMFDM Tour North America This August

July 27th, 2011 Filed under: News/Calendar/Industry, Road Trip by Editor in Chief

(Photo – Ester Segarra)

KMFDM, the legendary German electro-industrial outfit helmed by Sascha Konietzko, embark on their first North American tour since the April release of WTF?! on Metropolis Records.

“We are putting together one hell of a playlist for this tour with lots of fresh material from WTF?! as well as some killer classics and maybe even a surprise or two,” Sascha shared.

Joining KMFDM on the WTF?! tour are Army of the Universe, 16Volt (Aug. 3 to 14 only) and Human Factors Lab. Army of the Universe, an Italian industrial duo, recently released their debut album Mother Ignorance on Metropolis Records. The band features renowned European DJ Albert Vorne aka Trebla. Chris Vrenna (Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM), will join Army of the Universe for a handful of dates (noted below). 16Volt released Beating Dead Horses, the Portland band’s seventh studio album, in May. Human Factors Lab will be debuting their new EP We All Fall Down on the tour.

William Wilson of Legion Within is performing with the current KMFDM line-up of Sascha, Lucia Cifarelli (vocals, keyboards), Jules Hodgson (guitars), Andy Selway (drums) and Steve White (guitars).

KMFDM also recently released a collection of their best known tracks in a single disc version titled Würst and a double disc edition called Greatest Shit. Both releases feature songs from their time spent on WaxTrax! and Metropolis/KMFDM Records.

WTF?! tour dates:

August     3              Seattle, WA                        El Corazon
4              Portland, OR                      Wonder Ball
5              San Francisco, CA            Regency Ballroom
6              Anaheim, CA                     Grove of Anaheim
7              San Diego, CA                    Belly Up Tavern
8              Los Angeles, CA                The Mayan*
10           Denver, CO                         The Summit Music Hall
12           Minneapolis, MN                First Avenue
13           Milwaukee, WI                   The Eagles Club
14           Chicago, IL                         The Bottom Lounge
15           Detroit, MI                          The Crofoot
16           Toronto, ON                       Phoenix Concert Theatre
17           Boston, MA                        Royale*
18           New York, NY                    Irving Plaza*
19           Philadelphia, PA                 Theatre of Living Arts*
20           Baltimore, MD                   Recher Theater*
21           Cincinnati, OH                    Radiodown
24           Salt Lake City, UT              Complex
25           Boise, ID                             The Knitting Factory
26           Vancouver, BC                    Rickshaw Theater
27           Victoria, BC                        Sugar Nightclub

* = Chris Vrenna joins Army of the Universe

www.kmfdm.net
www.facebook.com/officialkmfdm

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TONIGHT! June 18th, ABORT Is Proud To Sponsor: THE RICKSHAW THEATRE’S 2ND YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY

June 18th, 2011 Filed under: ABORT Presents..., Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

The Rickshaw Theatre is proud to present

the RICKSHAW THEATER’S 2ND ANNIVERSARY PARTY

featuring

BISON BC
BLACK WIZARD
HAGGATHA

Join us Saturday, June 18th to celebrate our 2nd year in business. Tickets available at the DOOR ONLY for a measly $5.00! This is our customer appreciation gig so cover is dirt cheap, beer will be on special all night and the entertainment speaks for itself. DOORS 7PM, get here early to secure your spot.

THANK YOU VANCOUVER FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

FACEBOOK EVENT

rickshawtheatre.com

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SHOOTING GALLERY: FORBIDDEN Tuesday, June 14th, 2011 – Rickshaw Theater, Vancouver, B.C.

June 17th, 2011 Filed under: Shooting Gallery by Editor in Chief

CLICK TO VIEW SET | All photos – Chris Mckibbin)

www.flickr.com

ABORT MAGAZINE’s FORBIDDEN: Live In Vancouver photoset

cmckibbinphotos.com

WANT MORE SHOOTING GALLERIES? CLICK HERE

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Live Review: Front Line Assembly with Cyanotic and guests Monday, June 13th, 2011 The Rickshaw Theater, Vancouver, BC

June 15th, 2011 Filed under: Reviews - Live by Editor in Chief

Photo: Front line Assembly Promo

Live Review: Front Line Assembly/Die Krupps/Dj?Acucrack/Cyanotic
Monday, June 13th, 2011
The Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, BC

Charisma. It’s important to a band performing live. This show was a nigh-textbook example of why compelling and dynamic performers are so critical. This will become more apparent as this show review goes on.

Cyanotic was on first – these guys are a razor sharp force, full of menace and snarling distortion. Clearly they put a great deal of effort into making sure their live performance is flawless. Sadly, the early start time restricted the crowd size and Chicago’s heaviest electro-industrial project was left howling to a small (but appreciative) audience. Welcome to Vancouver, lads.

Dismantled were up next, even though they weren’t actually on the bill- for some reason that wasn’t explained, Die Krupps didn’t show. Again. This is the second time Front Line and Die Krupps were supposed to share a stage here, only to have something or another prevent it from occurring… Last time, we were deprived of seeing NUMB too. At any rate, Dismantled put on an energetic show, but as a band the sum total is significantly less than the individual components. Lots of passion, zero charisma.
Dj?Acucrack actually stole this show. This one man and his laptop. He had energy and passion, but he also connected with the crowd- he has charisma. Incidentally, he also redefines the term ‘Dj’, and as a result his 30-minute set was amazing. A dizzying blur of electro-industrial mashup set to a pounding Drum-n-Bass rhythm that even let a little dub-step in occasionally. Phenomenal.

Then we got the headliners, Front Line Assembly. This is basically the Bill Leeb show, except that he doesn’t have the strength of personality to carry a one-man show. Sure, there were others onstage- Jeremy and Jared (both of Left Spine Down), and a nameless drummer. Interestingly, Chris Peterson (one of the longest-lasting members of FLA) wasn’t present.
Smoke, smoke, and more smoke, backlit to oblivion, leaving a visual feast of silhouettes and little else. This effect doesn’t work for the Sisters of Mercy, and it doesn’t work for Front Line either. If you can’t really see the band, how can you tell what their performance is like? What can be seen is how rarely Bill Leeb will actually face the crowd- all of his calisthenic hopping about does nothing to conceal the fact that most of the time he faces away from those who’ve paid good money to see him live.

Did they sound good? Actually, yes- the Rickshaw seems to be a venue that is quite forgiving to electronic-industrial music. However, considering how little of the band could be seen, you might as well have been listening to some mp3’s blasted through the house sound system. The highlight of their set was when they brought out Sean from Cyanotic to sing ‘Resist’.
When all is said and done, this was a show most notable for how good the Dj was. Do NOT miss Dj?Acucrack the next time they’re through. Hopefully they’ll bring Cyanotic with them too.

frontlineassembly.com

By Keith Durocher

WANT MORE LIVE REVIEWS? CLICK HERE

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Live Review: Destruction w/ guests – April 26th, 2011, The Rickshaw, Vancouver

April 30th, 2011 Filed under: Reviews - Live by Editor in Chief

CLICK TO ENLARGE | Photos – Chris McKibbin)

Live Review: Destruction w/ Destroyer, 666, Warbeast, Infernal Majesty
Monday, April 26th, 2011
The Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, B.C.

There is something about the old school of thrash that seems to really appeal to Vancouver crowds. One might be tempted to say that’s just a reflection of an aging metal scene, all misty-eyed for the ‘good ol’ days’, but that’s a little too glib- the crowd last night at the Rickshaw for Infernal Majesty, Heathen, and Destruction boasted plenty of acne-bursting youths going berserk in the pit, enough to make this old metalhead a little verklempt…

Truth be told, the show was a disaster insofar as sound is concerned. The Rickshaw is a finicky venue at the best of times, but it was clear the tour soundman for Heathen and Destruction had absolutely no clue what he was doing with this room, and thus the entire affair was a muddy, distorted, feedback mess. Excellent performances by all three bands were heavily marred by the lack of aural quality.

As for the performances themselves- Infernal Majesty were great. The vocalist lacks passion and charisma, but the rest of the band are a tight unit who really define that classic Metallica lyric, “Leather and Metal are our uniforms”. Clad in spikes and armour, this band has an image that perfectly matches their old-school Euro-Canadian thrash sound. Comparisons with classic Slayer come to mind, except that Infernal Majesty actually has balls to their guitar tone. Why these guys aren’t arena-huge overseas is quite confusing. They certainly deserve to be.

Heathen were next on the bill, owing to the fact that Warbeast couldn’t get over the border. Now, this is a classic name from the old guard of Bay-Area thrash metal that somehow managed to never actually make it past the ears of this crusty old journalist. The sound issues really began in earnest when they took the stage, but to their credit they powered right past the issues and delivered a blisteringly energetic performance. Frontman David White is a dynamic force onstage, and has a rare gift for interacting with the crowd. Their set was sadly cut down to a mere four songs, owing to the incredibly unprofessional behavior of founding guitarist Lee Altus. Halfway through the first song, he stormed off the stage and back to the tour bus, coming back just long enough to demand the set end after just a few token tracks. Kudos to Heathen for soldiering on in the face of adversity, and many frowns of disapproval to rock star prima donnas.

This night belonged, of course, to Destruction. Their domination of the stage was absolute, and their position as the Kings of Teutonic Thrash Metal is unquestionable- they are an unstoppable live force. Vocalist Marcel “Schmier” Schirmer is arguably the single most charismatic frontman working in metal today- and all he has to do is stand in place. His presence is such that you cannot take your eyes off of him, simply due to his imposing stature. That his vocals are as bulletproof as tank armour is just an additional bonus to the casual observer. Guitarist Mike Sifringer is an understated virtuoso, with an elegant ability to shift between caustic riffing and leads faster than you can follow. The new guy, Wawrzyniec Dramowicz on drums? That lad blasts his kit like two rabbits fucking.

Sound issues notwithstanding, Destruction still managed to bludgeon the crowd with passion and intensity, and the frothing berserks in the pit were proof of their efficacy. Do not miss this tour when it comes through your town, and make sure to spend some damn money at their merch-booth you cheap bastards.

destruction.de

By Keith Durocher

WANT MORE LIVE REVIEWS? CLICK HERE

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Live Review: The Contortionist w/ Suffokate and guests, March 5th, Vancouver B.C.

March 6th, 2011 Filed under: Reviews - Live by Editor in Chief

(CLICK TO ENLARGE | Photo – Dustin Wood)

Live Review – Contortionist, Suffokate, Between Seas, and Deadbolt
Saturday, March 5th, 2011
The Rickshaw Theater, Vancouver, B.C.

There are always those shows that just are NOT meant to flow smoothly, which is unfortunate because this bill had a lot of potential. The original scheduled called for headliners The Contortionist with Last Chance to Reason, Within Ruins and Suffokate taking up the opening act reigns.. Many a metal-head arrived at the venue only to be disappointed with a last minute change in the lineup. Within Ruins and Last Chance to Reason both dropping off the bill, with the latter falling off the entire Western Canada leg of the tour. The large gap left was none-the-less filled with eager local artists showcasing their talent.

Vancouver locals Deadbolt hit the stage with some very energetic breakdowns and a very familiar lead vocals. Deadbolt frontman Dominic Alvernaz also takes the reins of metal/death core band, Doom Cannon, also hailing from the rainy city who may have been a little more suited to the nights lineup. Between Seas (formerly Asphyxia and Of Absence) took the second vacated spot on the stage after a very quick set change. The entire band moshes to breakdowns simultaneously while lead vocalist Brendan bounces around the stage like a maniac, with no fear of jumping into the pit and having fans help scream the lyrics.

Unfortunately for everyone expecting Suffokate’s usual technically sound set were in for yet another disappointment (they say they come in threes) this set was constantly troubled with off hit bass kicks and less than perfect timing. Vocalist Ricky Hoover started off by informing everyone that drummer Lars Diaz was forced to fly home after receiving news that his wife was very ill. Bummer. A quick rundown off musical chairs, guitarist Taylor Jones filled in on drums, Bray Almini filling in on Guitar. Perhaps just to get the crowd on their side after the unfortunate changes, Ricky announced it was his 26th birthday, which started a crowd chant of classic metal tune, Happy Birthday. A definite first at a metal show, that’s for sure. Despite everything, the set went quite well considering the circumstances. The fans still got to hear their personal favourites “Not the Fallen” with a recently released music video, and “Slaughter your Enemies”, from their first album ‘Oakland’. Ricky’s vocals talents have increased dramatically since that albums release and he really showcases that talent in their most recent album “No Mercy, No Forgiveness” as well as at the show tonight.

The Contortionist ended up being the only band of the night either on the original touring bill or playing with all their members. Barring some unfortunate mishap, the rest of the night was going to start running smoothly. The Contortionist closed up the show. Playing material from the recent release of their new album Exoplanet The Contortionist have been touring North America, starting in their home state of Indianapolis last August, sucking everyone in to their progressive metal charm. However, tonight it would seem as though most fans had come to see the opening acts as a good half of the crowd had completely cleared out of the Rickshaw Theater by the time the contortionist hit the stage. Those who left missed out on a incredibly technical performance by some incredibly talented musicians.

By Dustin Wood

WANT MORE LIVE REVIEWS? CLICK HERE

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Live Review: Kataklysm w/ guests March 4th, Vancouver, B.C.

March 5th, 2011 Filed under: Reviews - Live by Editor in Chief

(CLICK TO ENLARGE | Photo – Chris McKibbin)

Live Review – Kataklysm, All Shall Perish, Conducting from the Grave and Galgamex
Friday, March 4th, 2011
The Rickshaw Theater, Vancouver, B.C.

Dark times were upon us. The mighty ‘Galagmex’ had begun ‘Conducting From the Grave’ chanting that ‘All Shall Perish’ in a bloody writhing terrifying ‘Kataklysm.’

The end of days as we know it? Or was it another face-melting metal show at the Rickshaw? Turns out, lucky for all of us, it was the latter. It may not have been the apocalypse that night, but the earth shaking performances and beautiful brutality of the mosh pit minions brought the raw energy to a level of epic proportions. It was a memorable night of Death Metal indeed.

Two Death core bands hailing from California framed by two Canadian acts. It was a night of guttural roars and double kick. Not just double kick pedals, we’re talking two bass drums for each kit of the night. That’s a lot of big skins and low mesmerizing palpitation. The “core” of Deathcore. Like the rapid collective heartbeat of the writhing pit of demons before me, the drums set the rhythm. All obliged, in a pulsating mass of metal.

We awoke to the heavy sounds of Vancouver’s own Galgamex. Heavily armed with their mighty axes, they set the tone of the night. A great band to warm up a crowd with no shortage of pent up energy to release. The loose but brutal mosh pit instantly sprang to life, like a demonic orgy.

Rising to the stage from six feet under, Conducting From The Grave grabbed at the souls of an already captivated audience. Their beats commanded the rhythmic pulsation of heads and fists and they were determined to not let the energy in the room die down. They came prepared, too. Their light show mirrored the deathly sound emanating from the impressive system at the rickshaw, casting ominous shadows on the ceiling of the theatre. The stage was filled with a hazy manifestation and the music tore its way through it like a beast.
All Shall Perish hit the stage and the hair went flying. The atmosphere above the crowd was all whirling hair and pounding fists, an impossibly mesmerizing scene. A heavy pulse and a six string bass guitar tend to do that.

Just when it seemed the crowd couldn’t take any more, the proud Canadian band Kataklysm took to the stage. If revenge is a dish best served cold, Kataklysm is a band best served loud. A group of astonishing musicians, especially the drummer. A kick so rapid, not even the flash could keep up with his foot tapping. The flawless percussionist was watched in awe, no doubt the whole crowd wondering how he can maintain a facial expression as if it were effortless. These guys were tight. The aptly named band finished off the night in an explosion of energy.

We came, we conquered, we thrashed. When all was said and done, the theatre took on the post-apocalyptic feel of a death metal aftermath. The bodies of hundreds of beer cans lay mutilated on the battleground and the buzzing silence hummed like smoke in the air.

By Cat Ashbee

WANT MORE LIVE REVIEWS? CLICK HERE

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Live Review: Emilie Autumn and The Bloody Crumpets, Feb 26th, Vancouver B.C.

February 28th, 2011 Filed under: Reviews - Live by Editor in Chief

(CLICK TO ENLARGE | Photos – Scott Alexander)

Live Review – Emilie Autumn & The Bloody Crumpets
Saturday, February 26th, 2011
The Rickshaw Theater, Vancouver, B.C.

There was glitter everywhere. A large round screen, lit from behind projecting a giant plague rat. There were crumpets and cupcakes, teapots and saucers; and Emilie’s special blends of tea that would be poured all evening and spit out at the audience. A sword, which would later be used in a duel with a violin bow, along with cardboard cut-outs of stars and moons. A trapeze scarf hung, suspended from the ceiling, a harpsichord and of course, the rest of the troupe, “The Bloody Crumpets”. The whole stage was littered with various props waiting to be used in some part of the production. Then of course the emergence of Emilie Autumn.

A production it was too; kind of a cross between Alice Cooper, Cirque du Soleil and a burlesque cabaret show. Included in this act were fire-eating, fire-twirling, and a hoola-hoop ring of fire. The latter featuring Captain Maggot as she danced seductively twirling the blazing hoola-hoop around her body. Contessa defies gravity with her trapeze act and Veronica (another one of the “Bloody Crumpets”), performed a kid-friendly version of a burlesque fan dance which was stunning. Yes, some of the over-acting was somewhat bad, but for this particular style of farcical comedy that is part of the appeal.

The costume design was an overdose of eye candy; having a Neo-Victorian look to it that could have been used in a production of Sweeny Todd or possibly a risqué version of Alice in Wonderland; burlesque style corsets, be-jeweled bras along with striped stockings, petticoats and ostrich feathers. After one costume change, Autumn counted the pieces of the costume since she usually doesn’t quite have time to get all of the pieces on. This time she got 11 which was a record for her and that particular costume.

Really impressive was Autumns’ singing. One could say that there is a touch of Nina Hagen or Siouxsie Sioux deep within her haunting vocals. There wasn’t a band with this show; it was all about the production, with all of the vocals including Autumns’ using a backing track. Kudos to one of the stage hands that quickly realized that Autumns’ mic had stopped working and ran onto the stage and fixed the problem without the performance missing a beat.

Emilies’ violin playing was both startling and remarkable, and done without accompaniment. Her solo, which she claimed was a pathetic attempt to prove that the violin is the new guitar, would put any guitarist to shame. Her fingers danced along the fret board without effort as she played the captive audience into a frenzy with her music. The applause and cheers afterwards showed her how appreciative they were.

The evening came to a close with an impressive interpretation of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which was vocally amazing and to which most of the audience joined in to sing. “Thank God I’m Pretty” was the encore; followed by one final ‘Rat Dance’ between Emilie and Naughty Veronica. With that, they poured more tea, Captain Maggot spitting it out into the crowd. As the troupe left the stage the crew began throwing the leftover cupcakes and crumpets into the audience. All in all it was a great performance, and I was extremely grateful that I wouldn’t be the one to clean up after the show.

emilieautumn.com

By Karla “KHAOS” McLeod

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