light at the end of a fucking tunel

So most of my days are spent listening to music that honestly 65% isn't worth even reviewing because well there's a lot of crap out there. The highlight of day is getting to review a band that has a unique sound, complexity and fucking balls about them. which happened about 20 minutes ago as I was listening to "Destroy All Operating systems" which for this week is my light at the end of the awful music tunel.

Destroy all operating systems isn't just fucking original, that's practically a moot point to the very complex music arrangements they bring to their style of music. Hard, fast, but still enjoyably interesting...is that too much to ask for? well considering I was more than pleasantly surprised by this band...then apparently yes. They are a joy and trip to fucking listen to. If your willing to listen to something that is challenging then look no further than Destroy all operating systems. your missing out if you don't at least check out their myspace.

shit worth checking out:
Interview with Jake from Converge
http://www.lambgoat.com/features/articles/converge.asp
Interview questions by Mark Keraly, John Lambgoat, and Alex Lambgoat

Hardcore punk cover show
December 12th at 6PM
FREE SHOW
CD Heaven (118 Wyse Road)

INFEST preformed by LAST LAUGH
http://www.myspace.com/infestband
http://www.myspace.com/lastlaughthrashcore

NEGATIVE APPROACH preformed by HIGH CRIMES
http://www.myspace.com/negativeapproach
http://www.myspace.com/highcrimeshalifax

AUS-ROTTEN preformed by INFECTION
http://www.myspace.com/ausxrotten
http://www.myspace.com/infection902

LEFTOVER CRACK preformed by TOTAL BASTARDS
http://www.myspace.com/leftovercrackofficial
http://www.myspace.com/totalbastards

25 tipss for the independent band
http://mashable.com/2007/11/08/tools-independent-musician/

T-shirts, The things they carried, and fun bits

So this weekend I listened to some songs from a band called "the things they carried" I unfortunately was not that impressed. Though for what they do, they are okay. they really just didn't have a harsh enough, or hard enough style of music. It's mostly melodic. which can be nice to break up a song a bit, while still keeping it tyed together...but this was more of a weird mix between the radio, coheed and cambria, and Mars volta. Though I will say that in-spite of it being on the melodic side of things. I will still probably listen to their music from time to time. Lyrics weren't a huge hit with me, but other than that they were still pretty enjoyable. Just a little disappointing when it came to the level of brutality. "less fun than being dead" starts out promising enough, but within seconds falls back into weak melodic sound with out a very flattering transition. certainly not a favorite, but still worth checking out. To be fair had I been expecting something more melodic...I probably would have had better things to say.

-MG


below is a sample of the future Mouth Guard T-shirts. This one is a custom design for Ryan Morgan of Misery Signals. Be sure to keep your eyes out for availability of shirts. they should be ready before x-mas

If your like me you probably enjoy stuff like the G3, and anything else that involves the unnecessary. You also probably find yourself debating if something being totally cool is worth learning to do even if it is completely useless. About a year ago a friend of mine who is a huge metalica fan sent me a link to a video they had stumbled upon, the hilarious part is that one of the guys in the video is a friend of mine, this is the kind of crap that I live for. It's also a pretty good mood enhancer.


and on that note, I hope you enjoyed this video, and I hope your dreaming of t-shirts, and buttons

-mg

Pacific drums Platinum series, and new releases

I recently had the privilege of playing on one of these sets. It was a fucking blast. The sounds are incredibly satisfying. the kick drum's blunt thud maintained this deep yet crisp sound to it. It was beautiful.

Similar drum kit that Jordan Mancino from As I lay dying plays. reasonably priced apparently.

8 ply all-Maple shells, dual-oval tube lugs, STM (Suspension Tom Mounts), True- Pitch Tuning System, drop throw-off, Heads by REMO U.S.A., and pro-cut bearing edges. All wonderful aspects of this series.

-MG

New Releases
My top 3

• Fight Amp, Manners and praise, on Translations loss records(10/27/09)
• Atreyu, Congregation of the Dramned, on hollywood records(10/27/09
• Destrophy, s/t, on Victory records. (10/27/09).

And for some other releases

• 3, revisions, metal blade records,(10/27/09)
• Before there was rosalyn, The fuhrer: An allegory of a history of deception on victory records. (10/27/09)
• between the buried and me, the great misdirect, victory records(10/27/09)
• Ideaman, may you live in interesting times rotten records(10/27/09)
• jodis, secret house, hydra head records(10/27/09)
• Murder death kill, Fuck with us and find out, mediaskare records (10/27/09)
• Pelican, what we all come to need, southren lord records (10/27/09)
• Pyramids with Nadja, Self titled,hydra head records (10/27/09)
• Raise the red lantern, self titled, at a loss records(10/27/09)
• red chord, the, fed through the teeth machine, Metal blade records (10/27/09)
• Rise and fall, our circle is vicious, deathwish inc (10/27/09)
• Saviors, accelerated living, kemado records (10/27/09)
• Stray from the path, make your own history, sumarian records (10/27/09)
• suffocation, The close of a chapter: live in quebec city, relapse records (10/27/09)
• transatlantic, whirlwind, metal blade records (10/27/09)
  

Bad Cat amps, nostelgia, and architects

I'm a little bit of a nerd when it comes to gear. So I thought I would talk a little bit about Bad Cat amps not only because of some decent bands/musicians that are endorsed by them (to name a few: New Found Glory, The used's Quinn Allman...and Green Day's billy joe armstrong) but also do to the initial inspiration which was Matchless and the modifications Bad Cat made to their ideas.

Originally when Matchless amplifiers (la based) went out of business. James Heidrich finds out and does a little research about starting his own company and talks to people at matchless about the process, and they even directed him on where to buy materials, and designed their business plan...the differences was in the build though. For example Matchless mounted their power transformers halfway into the chassis and Heidrich wanted the transformers to be completely outside for better parts layout on the capacitor bank and better shielding. Then as he will claim he came up with a a way to mount the power tubes that is different from anybody else. These are the sort of things that excite me. I just needed to nerd out for a moment

.MG


This weekend I had been laid up around the house due to a recent mugging I endured. (all is well sore and I have a black eye...but ultimately I am okay. though I was stiff and cranky this weekend) However as a result I had a lot of time on my hands as I laid about the house listening to music. So as a tribute to the bands that help me get through the weekend I just wanted to do a little something something.


Of course Earth Crisis, albums I listened to were Destroy the machines (1995, victory) and Gomorrah's season ends (1996, also on victory). Destroy the machines is still one of my top albums so I may have listened to it a few extra times.This was easily a band the band that me and my brother could easily agree on. The albums on play were: Milo goes to College ( sst 1982) and Cool to be you (2004 fat wreck records.) Cool to be you may not be a crucial release, (though considering their last release before that was in 1996 Everything sucks with Epitaph, definition of crucial may vary) it's still an album dear to me if for no other reason then the song 'merican which is just an incredibly cleverly written song.

what weekend of being completely immobilized would be complete with out of course listening to fugazi. (though on a side note...I was so pumped about hearing all these albums again...that it was a bit depressing listening to them laid up in bed) albums on play were: steady diet of nothing (1991 dischord), 13 songs (1989 dischord) and repeater (1990 dischord...of course)

so in a steady dose of these albums I managed my way through what would have been a painful weekend and am back and at the game.

-MG




Before I knew their music I knew that these guys where supposedly incredible dudes. As declared by my friend Ryan Morgan who toured with them in the UK who had nothing but positive things to say about them, then I heard their music one day as me and a co-worker blasted their music after the doors were locked, the sign was off and we closed up shop at a local cafe here in town. Then they restored my faith in live metal shows in Halifax.

The gentleman from Architects were not only incredibly generous about what they had to say about their show in Halifax. But after years of all ages shows I had felt that the all ages scene here had lost their love of music, and remained with only a love of being seen on the scene...but the night architects played the pavilion I had completely changed my views 180. the crowd had more energy than I had seen in so long. the only other show vaguely close was that of last years October show with Bane. their live performance was incredible and the energy they delivered was bang on and incredibly enjoyable. Also on the bill was Barn Burners who were incredibly charismatic on stage and were very very entertaining, plus they threw down some amazing music. It was one of the better shows I have been too in this entire year!

Another awesome music video from Evergreen terrace

I'm not huge into music videos. there's maybe a handful of them that I enjoy but for the most part I don't really care, especially since most them fall into so many annoying cliches. unfortunately it's also a way for bands to get exposure, which is why so many put out music videos...there's no doubt that they are excited to do it, but I'm convinced that most bands end up just forcing out an idea and the result is a lousy music video.

HOWEVER there's one band that puts the standards of music videos to a whole new level. Which is evergreen terrace. their last music video "Chaney can't quit riff like helmet's Page Hamilton" put their own standards up pretty high, and this new music video "sending signals" meets it at full speed. The actual quality of the music video is beautiful, and I'd like to know who the locations guy was for this music video because all the scenes are incredible and work to deliver the right vibes. the lighting in what appears to be a storage unit is nicely done. those giant boxes are usually the type of lighting you see in basements...but in this a lot warmer, will still maintaing an industrial edge. the actual storyline of the music video is super basic and easy to follow and is totally a classic theme. Underdog gets shit kicked out of him loses girlfriend, then goes into training to kick the shit out of them. Revenge on the dudes, and by waking away from his flakey girlfriend...revenge on the flakey girlfriend. It's fun to watch, and I can only imagine fun to be in. I am giving this music video 4 1/2 stars.

Offsides, and trust

Offsides is one of my favorite female lead bands. I'm always really surprised when people I know who are big into punk or hardcore haven't heard of them. I feel like they deserve all the exposure they can get.

Lead singer Danielle is a total brutal power house. She certainly holds her own in terms of energy and conviction. I interviewed her back last year for my zine xx, about being female, lead singer, and straight edge in the hardcore scene. Talking with her you realize she's about as real as real can get. As for the rest of the band. the riffs are so fucking catchy. The drums and rhythm of their music not huge into the lyrics for "at zero" but the rest of it is probably my favorite out of all their music I have heard. the intro is perfect for a instant break down in the mosh bit. "taking it" would be the song I recommend to get a good idea of what Danielle is capable of as vocalist.
awesome guitar riffs. great timing with the drums, the build ups are wicked and mind blowing. this is a band that I insist people check out





Trust is also high up there on my favorites list. All female, Argentina straight edge hardcore band. How fucking bad ass is that. their songs are fast and brutal. Nathalia's vocals are so awesome and sort of remind me of a female version of the singer from Youth of Today. these women play hard and fast. There's actual conviction in their vocalist, in spite of the speed and intensity these women remain tight and still very clear sounding. Not just a mess of noise. But one solid brutal force of music. my only complaint is that the sing alongs aren't in a language I speak. but that's not something I'd want them to change either. this is a band I would go to argentina just to see them preform live