October preview: Warbringer

Ending October will be WARBRINGER on their America Torn Asunder tour! They are consistently one of the best newer thrash bands live, so this is a must-see. Opening is Lazarus A.D., Landmine Marathon, Diamond Plate, and Marasmus. Great end to the month!

October preview: The Black Dahlia Murder

On October 21st, you have a decision to make between two concerts:

Second choice is the return of modern melodeath masters The Black Dahlia Murder to the Granada in Lawrence. They're bringing along All Shall Perish and Cannabis Corpse, while Marasmus will be opening. Shred!

October preview: Cavalera Conspiracy

On October 21st, you have a decision to make between two concerts:

First choice is the first time (I think?) that the legendary Cavalera brothers make their triumphant mark in Kansas City. This is the closest you'll ever get to seeing the original Sepultura line-up! Along for the ride is Otep, Earth Crisis and Mold Breaker.

October preview: Helmet

Helmet will be at the Riot Room on October 25th to decimate your eardrums with their heaviness. Don't miss these legends!

October preview: HAMMERWEEN 2!

The fest you all know and love is back for it's second year at the Beaumont Club on October 22nd.

Line-up:

HAMMERLORD
TROGLODYTE
At the Left Hand of God
the Roman Holiday
Marasmus
Malikai
Wrath and Ruin

After-party at the Riot Room (FREE with Hammerween ticket stub, $5 without)

The Cast Pattern
Ape Hanger
Koktopus

Hammerween is $10, or $6 with a costume. Alternatively, I will be handing out free tickets to this at most of the October shows I'm posting about. You just gotta find me. ;)

October preview: Freaker's Ball

I haven't really liked the past Freaker's Ball's too much, but this one is pretty good. Despite being headlined by Five Finger Death Punch, legends Anthrax along with Hatebreed, Rev Theory and one local, will play at the Independence Events Center on October 21st.

October preview: Anthrax/Testament/Death Angel

A crazy thrash tour is hitting the Cotillion in Wichita on October 18th! Legendary bands Anthrax, Testament, and Death Angel will be there to rip your face off! Insane line-up.

October preview: Death Angel

Death Angel will play their second show in Kansas City this year, after their magnificent performance in February, at the Riot Room on October 17th. They absolutely rip live, so don't miss them! Opening the show is Vanlade, At Your Throat and The Sybil.

October preview: Chimaira

Chimaira will be returning to Kansas City on a headlining tour at the Beaumont Club on October 16th. Opening will be Impending Doom, Revocation and Rise to Remain.

October preview: Ghoul

All the way from Creepsylvania, GHOUL is making a triumphant mark in Kansas City at the Aftershock on October 15th! You won't want to miss their unique take on splatterthrash and horrordeath metal! Opening is Troglodyte and Hellevate!

October preview: Melt-Banana

Not necessarily metal, per se, but Melt-Banana are an undeniable influence on hardcore punk, noise rock and grindcore. One of the best live bands ever with one of the craziest live shows! They'll be making a ruckus at the recordBar in Kansas City on October 9th!

October preview: Skeletonwitch

Skeletonwitch returns to the KC area and will be slaying the Jackpot Saloon in Lawrence on October 8th! Their new album, Forever Abomination, should be out by then, so go buy it! Opening the show will be Wrath and Ruin, who is using the concert as the release show for their new album, and The Cast Pattern.

October preview: Opeth

Here's a quick rundown of all the metal shows happening in October. There's a ton, so I'll try and recap them all one post at a time.

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First up on October 6th is Opeth at the Beaumont Club in Kansas City. I've heard they're not playing any "growling" songs on this tour, so take that how you want. Going to be packed for sure, either way. Katatonia opens!

Ares Kingdom -- Lawrence, KS -- September 4th, 2011

Ares Kingdom was really, really good. They have that old-school sound that only band members from the legendary Order From Chaos could replicate. The vocalist has the perfect live war metal vocals. And the lead guitarist, he could shred almost as good as anyone I've ever seen. The ratio of mindblowing solo's to song length was the best I've ever seen. Even when the bassist broke one of his strings and had to replace it during a song, he still did the vocals and the song still ruled! They also did a few covers which surprised me, but apparently they have a covers album coming out soon. But yeah, they ruled! Also one of the first "small" bands I've seen that used all full stacks.

1. Incendiary
2. Descent of Man
3. Destruction of Sennacherib
4. Silent Mortal Flesh
5. Ashen Glory
6. Firestorm Redemption
7. Die by Power (Slaughter Lord cover)
8. Ironclad
9. Tooth and Nail (Dokken cover)

Opening for them was Demized from New York. They played basically a version of brutal death metal that also had elements of black metal. And it was REALLY good. I was wondering if Ares Kingdom could do better. What really sealed the deal was that they covered Ov Fire And The Void by Behemoth and then ended their set with pretty much the perfect live song, Matando Gueros by Brujeria. I was grinning so big during that song. Great stuff.

set included:

Holy Wars (not a Megadeth cover)
Decay Amongst Society
Ov Fire and The Void (Behemoth cover)
Matando Gueros (Brujeria cover)

My buddy's band Elctrikchair also opened the show. The best way to describe their sound is thrash with literally elements of every other genre of metal music ever. And it's pretty good live! Andy is a great guitarist, but people were going absolutely bonkers over the drummer. One of the best drummers I've ever seen, hands down. Crazy stuff!

set included:

Dead Children
Crossroads

The first band of the night was a replacement, and really was the odd band out. El Canero is a straight-up old-school punk band. Songs about drinking and fighting and punk and what have you. Would've been awesome if they covered a cool old punk band, but they didn't. It was okay.

All in all, it was a good night.

Ares Kingdom: 8.5/10
Demized: 8/10
Elctrikchair: 7.5/10
El Canero: 7/10

Saviours -- Lawrence, KS -- September 2nd, 2011

First night of Saviours and Bison B.C.'s tour before they get with Weedeater for a larger tour. Weedeater/Saviours/Bison B.C. is a tour everyone should see.

1. Heathen Eye
2. Grave (new)
3. Fire of God (new)
4. Cretin (new)
5. Holy Slaughter
6. We Roam
7. ? (I think it was Cavern of Mind)

One of the loudest shows of the year. Saviours is a lot heavier than last I saw them, but when they kick in and go fast, it rules. Cretin sounded the best of their new songs, and We Roam was mind-blowing. Excellent stoner NWOBHM worship.

Bison B.C. opened and were great. Definitely fast and heavy. They fit in perfectly with Saviours.

Opening the show was Melting Point of Bronze, who were really good. They also fit in perfectly on this bill, kick-ass rock and roll mixed with deaththrash.

Overall, real good show. Gotta be up in 7 hours now!

Saviours: 8.5/10
Bison B.C.: 8/10
Melting Point of Bronze: 7.5/10