Gaskill / Birnam Wood / Oxblood Forge / Arctic Horror
Midway Cafe (Metal Matinee), Jamaica Plain, MA 9/17/16
So I just left the Roslindale Porchfest a few minutes ago. A nice quiet punk show in a driveway about a mile away, with a P.A. system that would be fine for Bingo Night at the local Elks Lodge.
And now I’m thrust into a wall of noise, this being the Midway Metal Matinee. This being the Sparta benefit organized by Greg Alonge to aid veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This being my teeth being rattled up into my skull while my scrotum retracts it’s connected machinery in what it senses must be nuclear fallout.
Aw, it’s just Arctic Horror. You guys can come out now! Or stay hidden for all you’re used.
I’ve described seeing them (Arctic Horror- not my balls) as “one second you were stunned with this heavy sludge of intense sound and the next moment, jerked forward by music that could cause you ecstatic whiplash.”
And they’ve rightly tagged themselves as “black metal/ crust/ hardcore/ grindcore/ thrash.” But I’ve also tagged them with “guts, passion, integrity and excitement.”
I tell you all this because when I walk in they are playing their last three songs. But what I do see fits well with these descriptions including “not comforting and tranquil but rips you hard and pure and raw.”
Did I mention that Greg is their lead singer and that in my opinion, and Andy’s, he is one of the best front man in the local metal/hardcore scene? And that this is potent metal music of the present and future?
Well, now I have.
Now I’ve seen this name, Oxblood Forge, on our concert report- Scene News- many times and I have wondered- pray tell, how may they sound?
Well, they describe themselves as “heavy” but then I think, in weight, so am I.
But more concisely “heavy rock/ metal with a generous helping of classic rock, doom and blues.”
I think that fits them better than anything I can write. They start with a great, heavy instrumental and the first thing I notice is the singer’s t-shirt that says, “God is great, Satan is super.”
Couldn’t agree more and once he does start singing (the singer, not Satan) I notice he has a mix of a higher melodic voice and a lower, growly one. This is indeed, more like traditional metal but still, keeping the best of those traditions moving forward. I feel they play an excellent set.
And now I notice how the Midway staff is dressed. I congratulate Derek, the soundman/doorman, for his Motely Crue t-shirt. As he says, “At least I tried.” But Jill, the bartender, is dressed in rockabilly gear is met with my utter derision, albeit with my complete admiration for her beauty, as well.
Birnam Wood is next to play, a band I’ve seen, along with Bang, before. And though I feel that Andy felt they were too traditional for his liking, for me, I love their doom-y Black Sabbath influenced sounds.
Stoner Hill described them as the “missing link between Sabbath and Sleep (the band),” and I feel that’s pretty accurate.
Even the vocals have a lot of that abrasive Ozzy touch. But even though they may be a more traditional sounding metal band, I still think they sound great and they turn in a terrific set.
Gaskill is the last band to take the stage today. They call themselves “psychedelic thrash” which sounds very inviting but I would put them more into the metal/hardcore category. But without the usual, gruff death vocals having a more emotional vocal tone.
And the singer’s actions back this up as he is very expressive in his movements, almost theatrical in a way.
They mention Slayer as an influence and I can see that, too. Basically, I see them as an intense, headbanging, modern metal band that musically falls into the metal/hardcore genre but vocally is very unique.
However you slice it or dice it, this is a potent band that just played a powerful set.
Now that I’ve enjoyed my midday Midway metal matinee snack. (One beer, two slices of pizza.) I’m off to the main course of the day- a punk show in Salem, Japan.
And I’ve got to set sail as I’ve been told, it’s far away. Though I know it’s only an hour drive.
Thanks to the bands that played this great benefit, (including OffWorld and Pripyat Is Lost) and thanks to the great turnout of fans. Our fallen hero, Keith Brooks, suffered from this disease- and special thanks to Greg for organizing this show- it raised $1900.
I’ve got two shows, two beers and seven bands down.
One more show to go.
(Slimedog)
