Anvil: The Story of Anvil

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2009 Abramorama/VH1 Movies

Although I admittedly never was into Anvil (I’ve heard very little of their music, to be honest), I’ve always had a great deal of respect for them as pioneers of heavy metal and thrash.   Heck, all of the Big Five (Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth, Tungsten) cite them as an influence, yet they went straight into obscurity while others flourished.

Why?

Well, this movie answers some of those questions as they were plagued by substandard record labels, poor management, poor production and poor promotion throughout their career as chronicled in this documentary.    More than anything it shows the undying spirit that breathes within every musician who is making music for the pure joy of it…regardless of the financial returns.

Comparisons to Spinal Tap have been made (Lips even says “Hello Cleveland” as they’re walking down a hallway), whatwith the hardluck nature of Anvil’s career, but the film offers insight into their everyday lives, the support of their families, and the kindness they ultimately receive because they really are kind hearted guys and Lips is about as optimistic as anyone you could ever meet.

Thumbs down to Michael Schencker for his blank stare in a backstage scene at Lips, who is an obvious fan but whom Schencker didn’t even offer a kind handshake to.    Way to go dude.

Thumbs up to Jay Jay French (Twisted Sister) for showing what the music/metal fraternity is all about with his sincere backstage chat with Lips.  Total honest respect.

Thumbs up to Lemmy, Slash and Lars Ulrich for standing up for Lips, Robb and Co.

HUGE thumbs up to Chris Tsangarides, a producer whose work I’ve always liked (he balances power and class), for believing in these guys and working with them when no one else would.   Some producers do have a heart, and the joy he brought to Steve “Lips” Kudlow is absolutely priceless.  Upon hearing the final mix, Lips says “I don’t care if 10 people or 10 million people buy this record…it’s a success because it’s the best we have ever sounded.”  Wow.

Never say die.

Many have said it, but few really believe it.

This movie embodies it, heart and soul.   A real, inspirational keeper…even if you’ve never liked heavy metal.

Rating:  5 out of 5

CLICK HERE TO BUY ANVIL: THE STORY OF ANVIL THROUGH AMAZON.COM

The Sword – Age of Winters

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2006 Kemado Records

Dr. Chado first introduced me to this band a few months back but only here recently have I really dived into their discs and The Sword’s sound is a sound I can easily get lost in.   Make no mistake…if you’re not already on board with doomy Sabbathesque guitar soundscapes, I doubt The Sword will change your mind.   Sabbath always was a sound you either liked or didn’t like and the same holds true here.

I like.  A lot.

The Sword wears their Black Sabbath influence on their sleeve without ever sounding like rehash.  In fact, they’re the band I had always hoped St. Vitus would become, but never quite did.

Power chords, perfect fuzz distortion on the guitar and in my opinion the perfect vocals to go with it…right smack dab in between Ozzy himself and the great John Garcia of Kyuss.  In fact, in many ways The Sword bridges the gap between Sabbath and Kyuss.   Sabbath was the seminal black cloud of metal (it’s true…and Iommi is a genius) while Kyuss was what you imagined Sabbath would have sounded like had they awakened one morning, taken their happy pills and decided life is okay after all.   Only complaint is that once in a while the lead vocals could use just a tad more melodic diversity…but truth be told, they work perfectly about 95% of the time so in the immortal words of Nigel Tufnel:  “That’s nit-picking, isn’t it?”

In between the aforementioned bands is the land of The Sword – mythology to the fore but not taken too seriously, rhythms alternately plodding and chugging with hypnotic grandeur.    Once again…if you’re on board with this type of music (Fu Manchu, Kyuss, Mastadon, et al) then this disc is a veritable sonic buffet.

Freya is probably the most well known track here due to the cool video, and is one of my faves.  Truth is, though, everything here satisfies my indulgent sludgemoods.   Opening track Celestial Crown builds up just like you want it to, Freya is just massive, and I just love Winter’s Wolves with the beautifully stereo mixed real wolf howls in the middle of the song.

Extra props for Iron Swan, which opens up with a nice touch of old-school speed metal a-la-Judas Priest before sucking you into a really fine mid-paced chug.

All references to the mighty Sabbath are meant with the utmost respect, as The Sword are one of very few bands that have taken that organic sound and created something identifiable as their own.   Just put this one on and let it play…no duff tracks to be found.  Thank you again, Dr. Chado

I understand there will be a new CD in 2010.

I can’t wait.

Rating:  4.5 out of 5

CLICK HERE TO BUY AGE OF WINTERS AND OTHER MUSIC FROM THE SWORD THROUGH AMAZON.COM

Weekly Abysmal Video 11/30/09

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This week’s WAV comes from Louisiana’s own Rock-N-Roll-Is-Not-A-Spectator-Sport institution…Cowboy Mouth! This is a song of theirs from the mid-90’s that shoulda been huge…it’s a definite crowd fave at their live shows. If you ever get the chance to see them live, don’t miss them…they’re one of the most fun live bands you’ll ever see!

Excellent band, cool songs and Fred Leblanc is the only drummer I’ve ever seen who can truly FRONT a band.

Just click on the Cowboy Mouth picture below and enjoy the song and video on YouTube. Here ya go…enjoy Abysmally.

Weekly Abysmal Video 11/24/09

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To celebrate one of my music heroes, David Freel, becoming a fan of the Sonic Abyss on Facebook, this week’s WAV is from his band, and one of my 3 all-time favorite bands…Swell!

This is one of my 2 favorite songs of theirs and comes from Too Many Days Without Thinking, which is one of the 10 Most Truly Abysmal CD’s.  It’s called (I Know) The Trip and I hope you love it as much as I do.  Here’s to you, David!  And as always, enjoy Abysmally…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4w95LJEl2A&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

CLICK HERE TO BUY TOO MANY DAYS WITHOUT THINKING AND OTHER SWELL MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

Cavalera Conspiracy – Inflikted

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2008 Roadrunner Records

Blown away.

I don’t know any other way to describe my reaction upon first hearing this disc.  After numerous listens, I only like it better.   This is exactly how I like this music to sound…cacophonous distorted noise honed down to an impossibly tight and rhythmic science.

Power grooves rule the day (which is just fine by me) starting with leadoff disgustipation and title cut Inflikted.    Hearing the Cavalera brothers reunited again just magnifies what an incredible driving force the two were behind Sepultura.  Honestly, I could see where this would have been a perfect follow-up to 1996’s groundbreaking Roots disc, bringing everything back to the basics and somehow making it better.

Which is just how I would describe this disc overall…back to the basics with even better songs and tighter grooves.  Sometimes it’s okay to just be the best at what you do and revel in your “thang.”   Cavalera Conspiracy, while whipping up some speed in places, slams down their “thang” (i.e. POWER groove) like no one else and I find myself entranced by the whole smear.

The aforementioned title track, Sanctuary, Bloodbrawl, Hex, Heart of Darkness, MustKill…honestly there’s not a weak track anywhere to be found.   There are some nice curveballs in there, as well, such as the gorgeous acoustic outro to Bloodbrawl.

The Cavalera Brothers have creativity, but beyond creativity you have to have heart for this kind of music to have any remote chance of working.   Environmental issues, unjust repression of people, the plight of Brazilian aboriginees…Max Cavalera always has substance behind his roar.

I put this one on repeat shuffle play for hours and it just doesn’t wear on me at all.   Arrangements are tidy, lead guitar work is stellar and the drums are just ridiculously tight.   Don’t look for anything groundbreaking here.   Max, Igor and Co. are stomping on the ground they broke 15 years ago, and everything I love about this kind of music is on this disc.

Which is just fine by me.   Gotta thank Dave at CD Warehouse in Lancaster, PA for introducing me to this gem.

Rating:  4.5 out of 5

CLICK HERE TO BUY INFLIKTED THROUGH AMAZON.COM

Weekly Abysmal Video 11/16/09

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This week’s WAV comes courtesy of Britain’s Invasion.  I know absolutely nothing else about this band other than Dr. Chado posted this video on his Facebook wall Friday and I can’t get the song out of my head.  I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, but after watching/listening to it about 20 times over the weekend I can’t deny I think it’s really cool.  A new kind of power trio…and girl knows she can sing.  Extra points for the guitarist’s Sleep t-shirt.  Rock on…and enjoy Abysmally…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9BHUtdMWhk&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

invasion

Dweezil Zappa – My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama

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First of all, I’ve always liked Dweezil Zappa and admired his reverence for his influences.   A fluent and stellar guitar player, he has continued to not only survive but thrive in his career despite the huge shadow of his genius father Frank (it’s true).

Today, Dweezil and brother Ahmet keep Frank Zappa’s music alive on the live circuit with a band that even includes some previous members of father Frank’s ensemble.  His musical journey through the 80’s and 90’s combined everything from hair-band influences to classical to Zappa-meets-They-Might-Be-Giants eclecticisms.

My first introduction to his music came in the late 80’s while on spring break in Fort Lauderdale, FL with my friends John, Rich, Lori and Michelle.  After getting sunburned the first day, we spent some time indoors the second day and there was some music video show (not MTV) playing.   I saw this video and Mantronix’ video for Simple Simon.   I haven’t seen this video since then, until discovering it on YouTube just yesterday…and I think it’s absolutely hilarious.   Really cool 80’s-style remake of his dad’s classic tune from the Weasels Ripped My Flesh album.

Click the pic below to watch and listen, and as always…enjoy Abysmally.

dweezil

CLICK HERE to buy My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama and more music from the man they call Dweezil

Weekly Abysmal Video 11/9/09

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This week’s WAV is from Texas’ own Toadies!  I was fortunate enough to see them open for Bush back in the 90’s when they were touring the Rubberneck CD…the CD this tune comes from. Great band and I highly recommend any of their 3 studio CD’s.

I know, I know…there’s no video for this song, but it’s cool, it rocks and it’s Toadies. Enjoy Abysmally…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EICszsUIZnk&hl=en&fs=1&]

toadies

CLICK HERE TO BUY RUBBERNECK AND OTHER TOADIES MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

Mind Bomb – Mind Bomb

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mindbomb 1993 Mercury Records

I almost don’t know how to describe the music on this disc, which makes it a natural for the Sonic Abyss.   You’ll find elements of Ministry-style industrial sounds, glam, metal, dance, hair-band melodicisms (I just HAD to use that word), blues, acoustic, grunge, Zappa and flat-out rock.

Strange that this disc didn’t find a wider audience given that it came out smack-dab in the middle of a time when alternative rock was struggling to find an identity and darn near anything unknown qualified as “alternative.”  I saw them at the Varsity Theatre in Baton Rouge, LA on the tour for this album back in the 90’s.  Can’t remember for the life of me who they opened for, but I remember them being very very good live and I was floored at how indifferent the crowd seemed to be.

So many elements within the music of the same band (much less on one CD) make this one hard to classify.   It definitely rocks, kicking off with the industrial come metal sounds of Prepare Yourself! and going directly into the grunge meets glam jam of Segue.

The disc would sound like a band in search of an identity if the whole thing didn’t sound so dead-on deliberate.  No, I think this was a band in love with music who saw no reason these influences couldn’t come together and live in harmony.   The pulsing, funky and danceable Do You Need Some? then follows suit with heavy guitars and a tight dance groove to the fore.  Some tasty wah guitar in there, too.

Mixed in with the electronicisms (yeah…I don’t even know if it’s a real word) of the aforementioned tunes is the totally-steeped-in-rock-but-still-futuristic sounding Daisy Chain, which on one hand sticks out but on the other hand totally fits.   From there, we go right into perhaps my fave riff and song on this disc, I Am.   Again, totally tight and totally deliberate, while 40 Days sounds like it must have been a blast to play live.

Violent Dream has one of coolest and most menacing keyboard sounds to cross these ear drums and was the song that originally drew me into this CD.  Guitars are biting, heavy and tight and not even the Europe-cheesy keyboards (sorry…it makes me cringe a little) at the end of the choruses can ruin it.    And finally, there’s It’s What I Want, which really defies description in its upbeat catchiness and (I believe deliberate) campiness.   Super cool bass line on this one and Zappa-esque eclecticisms galore.

Don’t know what else to say except buy this sucker online, where you can find it for stupid-low prices.  I paid full-price for mine back in 1993 and I ain’t complaining.

Rating:  4.5 out of 5

CLICK HERE TO BUY MIND BOMB THROUGH AMAZON.COM