1 - Back in around 2005 I was at a Clutch/High on Fire show. It was here that I got the inspiration for my lovely Death Card: The Drug Zombie. You see, I was rocking out merrily when this fine young gentleman with light brown hair and a trim beard fell onto me. Now, I don't mind generally, but when I turned to see what was up, I see this -- fine young gentleman -- with his eyes lodged up in the back of his head, and he was starting to fall backwards. It was rather scary, but it was then, in the super slow horror movie style that I look down wide eyed his lifted shoulder and long arm that sloped down... to his clutched hand... gripping my sleeve. He started to fall back into the pit and I can see the tumult behind him, and I try to shake my hand free, but its here that I discover that his fingers are locked. I shake harder as he tips back more and I then proceed to kick at his legs stamping my foot down to get some leverage for me to pull back on. Finally! as I start to get pulled in towards the chaos my then boyfriend, Ken, sees this and grabs the guy by the shoulders, lifting him, and throws him into the pit. Somewhere in the mix he looses grip of my jacket and cheerfully I turn back to the stage after watching the pit swallow him up. The pit is a fickle being though, and it literally spit him back out to us. Landing him on Ken's back and again he pushed him back into the pit and once more he came back, and now he was laying with his face on Ken's back passed out. One of the Drug Zombie's friends came rushing over and was screaming is he awake? And the next thing I know is my Drug Zombie is being quickly carried off by his friends who huddled around him while he sat on the floor. Since this day I have seen the drug zombie on numerous accounts, but never again as "The Drug Zombie"
2 - The irony of this story is while I haven’t had the chance to work on the nearly completed, but now confirmed, Drug Zombie card I did see my Drug Zombie at the Dying Fetus show! Ken was with me and I gasped and shook his arm pointing in horror, yelling: THE DRUG ZOMBIE!!! He giggled, and then some Death Metal rolled across our faces. Enfold Darkness was who I saw first, followed by Suffokate, Beneath the Massacre, and Dying Fetus. The Faceless was the headliner but, I’m a snob apparently and after Dying Fetus-- dude I was full and hungered for no more.
Enfold Darkness was an interesting band. The singer’s enthusiasm and dancing skills were noticeable and most certainly entertaining. I particularly enjoyed how he held out his hand and bounced it at the crowd. It looked as if he was somewhere in between bouncing his low rider awkwardly, and casting a spell on your punk ass. The played some songs off their new album Our Cursed Rapture and if your into high pitched mind searing vocals, over fast harmonizing riffs, with a ride cymbal double bass maniac, it might be a good investment. A solid mix of death with a hint of black metal, Enfold Darkness is nothing you haven’t heard before, but they certainly do it right. As for Suffokate, I’m still working on how they didn’t get the memo about there being a band in the same genre called Suffocation being around for the past twenty years, but whatever, they must hear that all the time. Live they are a sweet band to see, the singer has an amazing voice, super deep dry lung. The drummer is a beast as well, its definitely metal, but it’s made for break down riffs, reminiscent of hardcore, bringing out the hardcore kids to mosh.
It was during this band that this bitch in the pit decided it would be a great idea to walk up to this kid who was dancing and punch him in the back of the head. Needless to say I was pleased that his girlfriend saw it and shoved her clear across the room. Yet, she looked at the girlfriend like she was the bitch. So I must get this off my chest: No sweetheart, you are a bitch, learn to wear a shorts bra or something with a single degree of support if your gonna mosh, cause I don’t care about your boobs bouncing in the pit, it’s distracting and frankly looks like it hurts when they are flopping around so much. I thank my lucky stars she wasn’t in the Fetus pit making everyone awkward messes. Also, I’m pretty sure the drummer from Suffokate said some shit to her after their set (after she tried to jump the rail). She went off cursing and there’s a big old chunk of me that hopes that she went off, and the drummer made her cry. I digress. Suffokate: great live, and if you like hardcore, then even better!
Now I come to Beneath the Massacre who I thought Ken was going to cream himself when he found out they were playing. I wanted not to like them cause I think that name is goofy and makes no sense but I couldn’t! Crisp sound, thick juicy huge whomps of bass live that sounded somewhere in between the alien ship coming down and power to the whole world dimming. The singer is a metal man trapped in a body builders body, so for the record I love him, because I’m pretty sure he could rip me asunder. Beneath the Massacre is heavy for sure, with an intelligent and solid balance of breakdown riffs and tight complex death metal. They are like a factory that only produces rage in sound form. Well worth a listen and if they are in town, just go to see them, they are saweeeet live.
As for Fetus, what can I say, I love them, I love their pits, I love their fans. I was expecting the dredges of society but yet there’s always one random legitimate looking body builder. I guess lifting cars over your head is easier with Mr. Gallagher in your ear. I was shocked to see that Dying Fetus is now a power trio, where the hell did everyone go? Fetus is almost notorious for so many line up changes and lack of bodies in studios etc. but this is getting ridiculous. Not to knock anyone but seriously I want someone else playing guitar or singing opposite Gallagher, I had no clue the bassist sings too now. As for pits, the anticipation of the fists flying at me made me move back a little, which was wise. The venue was a vintage looking place (the Blender aka Grammercy), which brought out the vintage in the crowd. Circle pits happened several times throughout the evening and the pit was brutal for Fetus, everyone having a great times, the young buffs and the old, leather clad, gritty men pushing around just as much. I love death metal shows there’s nowhere else you can see so many bands in such a short time for so cheap and still feel satisfied and full by the end of the night. As for the Faceless, sorry I left guys :/ if it makes you feel better I missed the train—- in more ways then one I’m sure.
3 – Freelancing out fire dept portraits and house "portraits" for the moment, I freelance to you for the right price
4 As Always: <3 <3