Band Review: Sabaton

Medieval Armor Footwear (Sabaton)

 No, we're not talking about some medieval armored footwear. We're talking about a relentless war machine coming all the way from Sweden to show you that not only Trolls and really pissed off Death/Black Metal comes from such a frozen land.


Sabaton is a Power Metal band of the interesting kind, back when I heard them somewhere around 2009 it came to me as an interesting project. This is a Power Metal band talking mostly of World War 2 and a bunch other wars most people have forgotten through time or don't want to remember, like the Six Day War or the Vietnam War, and every time they've surprised me again and again.

Sabaton, the Power Metal band from Sweden

First they had a bunch of covers they recorded into their debut album called Fist for Fight, quite original yes, then they made their own material and called it Primo Victoria, so far so good, with a nice keyboard combining powerful long power chords, then they went for Attero Dominatus, with an impressive intro song called as the album it wasn't lacking at all, then they progressed to The Art of War, which talks about Sun-Tzu, and let me tell you this was one of the best records I had heard so far until the release of the all-mighty and powerful Coat of Arms, again the power they deliver through their album is massive and I'm still debating between The Art of War and Coat of Arms but still I'd recommend anybody to pick both up or pick all their material up for that matter.

In brief, awesome band from Sweden that doesn't growl or tune their guitar lower yet has powerful vocals, no falsetto screams by the way, and excellent music that any headbanger would enjoy. Check them out on YouTube and do yourself a favor and get a physical copy if you'd like to listen to their music, the band is well worth the price of their albums in my personal opinion.

Gig Review: Warbringer @ El Divan de Alicia

Warbringer loot!

It's 11:30PM and I know Warbringer is already playing at El Divan. My relay at work was supposed to arrive at 10 and he was nowhere to be found and I knew I was way late for the show so I pressed the eject button and arrive as fast as I can there.

It is midnight.

And they're still playing.

I greet the Legion, the crew that's always there, and grab a beer and a smoke then finally settle down to enjoy the show.

How was it?

The whole thing was good, from what other people told me, and unfortunately there wasn't that many people in there since it was Sunday but alas what can one do when a date is given and it's not negotiable.

How was Warbringer?

It was good, again what I managed to catch up to, and they gave us the privilege to listen to a never before played live song, which the head bangers were happy with and gave the place some creed, BUT what turned it from good to great was the last song.

I've seen huge pits, the size of a parking lot back in '07 with Trivium, I've seen the Mosh Pits and the "Dancers" in Hatebreed, I've seen, and been hit, by a fuck ton of body surfers specially in Danzig, I've seen the brutal pits of Slayer and the post-effects, I gazed first hand the mighty power of Raining Blood, completely baffled by its power, which gives me shivers every time I remember it, I was on the front row for Lamb of God wall of death, which is another memory that makes me shiver, and quite fondly remember telling Randy, the vocal of Lamb of God, to go fuck himself after he told me to join the wall of death, he just laughed at the comment and probably thought I'm a fucking pussy for not smashing my head against some huge head banger that's as tall as a tree and hard as a rock, I don't have the constitution for that shit, and I mention this because I moshed at Cannibal Corpse and I got beat the fuck up, by a chick that looked like a TANK and had enough metal on her face to raise the alarm of any metal detector in a ten mile radius.

Regardless, I'm getting away from the subject at hand.

Even though there were only a handful of people the vocal managed to get nice circle pits going around and a mini wall of death which turned into what I call "the blender".

What is the blender?

What happens after you do a Wall of Death? You start beating the shit out of everything in your way because you're pumped with adrenaline. You start jumping all over the place and then people start spinning fucking angrily and fast like a horde of wasps. That's the blender, the post-effect of a well performed wall of death, and if this doesn't happen and people can freely go back to wherever they were originally located then you didn't do it well.

I feel proud to be honest, and I mentioned this before on another review, for being able to see bands like Warbringer and Cruel Hand down here in Tijuana and not in the US. It's different to the local scene, obviously, but regardless of that the point is that bands from another country are coming here which speaks a lot about us, as Mexicans, our nation and El Divan de Alicia.

I didn't take pictures, I got one taken though but I don't know the person, aside from the one above which doesn't count but I got fond memories of the event, specially those of alcohol... lots of alcohol... but more importantly we got to chat and the guys are an interesting bunch, really interesting bunch.

So in brief, an excellent show, awesome supporting crowd, for coming out on Sunday nonetheless, good times and good friends. Catch Warbringer on their oncoming tour if you have a chance, you won't regret it!

Dates below for your commodity:

Date	Venue	Location	Tickets
	Jun 18	Cobalt Cafe	Canoga Park, CA
	Jun 24	The Blue Lagoon w/A Band of Orcs, Hatchet, Exmortus, Witchhaven	Santa Cruz, CA
	Jun 25	Slaughter By the Water Fest - Craneway Pavillion	Richmond, CA
	Jul 08	Metaphor Cafe	Escondido, CA
	Jul 09	The Vault	Temecula, CA
	Jul 16	Famous Sports Bar	Thousand Oaks, CA
	Jul 22	The Starline	Fresno, CA
	Jul 23	Thrashocalypse - Melody Ballroom	Modesto, CA
	Jul 24	The Vault	Hollister, CA

Recommendation of Today: Candlemass - King of the Grey Islands

All songs written by Leif Edling

1. "Prologue" - 0:56
2. "Emperor of the Void" - 4:29
3. "Devil Seed" - 5:44
4. "Of Stars and Smoke" - 5:38
5. "Demonia 6" - 6:23
6. "Destroyer" - 7:52
7. "Man of Shadows" - 6:17
8. "Clearsight" - 6:52
9. "The Opal City" - 1:13
10. "Embracing the Styx" - 8:19
11. "Solitude" - 5:58 (Bonus track on digipak)
12. "At the Gallows End" - 5:22 (Bonus track on digipak)

Review:

For those of us that like Doom Metal this is probably, in my opinion, one of the best out there although Epicus Doomicus Metallicus is still the number one in my list.

Even though I feel it goes a little faster this time and that solos could be avoided, yet again my opinion, it all gives it some really nice flavor to this album. The bonus solitude song is a really nice addition to the album but again, I'd rather have my music in that crude state in which you find the first Candlemass album.

All in all the general Doom theme is ever present in this malevolent album and even if you're not into Doom you still may want to check it out since there may be a thing or two you could end up liking here.

Gig Review: Megafest @ El Divan de Alicia

Holy fucking tits now that was a good gig and when I say good, son, I mean it.

The event started a bit late, or at least I think it started late, which will explain a huge dissapointment that will come at the end of the review. First let us go straight into the bands.

First, Wasted, no comments here to be honest and people weren't drunk enough to actually start caring about starting a mosh. Decent, but that's about it.

Then comes Rebirth by Fire which was better than expected, at least for me since I've heard only songs on MySpace, and fuck if I didn't start a pit in that mother fucker. RBF has good structure and has what I would call the Pantera/Lamb of God effect... highly recommended to check/add their Facebook AND that you check out their MySpace so you can enjoy their music. Good show guys, keep it going!

Afterwards we have Contrafuego; I created hype for them because as I've previously mentioned on another review they are fucking awesome. Great show, great energy, awesome solos and riffs but most importantly a nice pit where I got my shit beat up for going around in circles waiving a gray shirt like some fucking african tribesman or a helicopter, your choice there. And yes, a Dreamtheater cover was called into the game again with a surprise song which consisted of Crazy Train.

This is what the fuck I'm talking about.

A while later after their awesome set I got a Demo, excellent, and will be performing a review of said Demo after I've digested it out. Remember to check 'em out on Facebook and MySpace.

Following up, State of Denial. This is fucking Hardcore son and it's coming here to kick you hard in your fucking balls like you have no idea and that fucking Sepultura Cover, War for Territory, was superbly performed and in general it is a band that I would go see again and again and expect to see you in the fucking pit when the guy is growling so hard you think Satan himself came out of fucknig hell. Can't seem to find their FB or MySpace so if anyone can provide it I'll add it.

Arkangel was the last band to play, their power metal is good, ohh yes good, and that cover of Hallowed be Thy Name was fucking sweeeeeet as hell but unfortunately since everything started late, everyone took their sweet fucking time and Arkangel decided to go into stage, not dissing though, so there was no secret tribute...

WHICH MEANT NO FUCKING SLAYER

Collective FU- from all the headbangers at the bar.

Regardless, it still was a really good gig and it was worth every cent... that I didn't pay because I'm always early you lazy bums.

On an important side note but kinda related there will be a repetition of the previous metal school bus mayhem that will probably happen on the 20th and will end on the 21st. Those interested in joining visit El Divan de Alicia Facebook for more info.

Cheers you crazy fucks and good show!

Band Review: Circus Maximus

I am not exactly sure how to describe this but a band whose name is Circus Maximus makes me think of something really fucking bloody and deadly like a true Circus Maximus, fucking Nascar of the Roman Era.

Like Nascar only with chariots and more crashes

So it suddenly comes to my attention that there is a band with said name but even though it follows the standard theme per say it is not as violent as... Ex Deo for example which goes balls deep on putting a good representation/show of the Roman Empire in their videos and lyrics.

Now Circus Maximus as I mentioned I don't personally feel it drops into this category but regardless of that it is awesome... awesome in the sense that it is progressive in many ways but I'll let you again be the judge of that by this 11 minute masterpiece.

FOR THE GLORY OF THE SENATE AND THE PEOPLE OF ROME

Album Review: Crisis in Utopia

THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS!

WUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAGH!!!

Ok, if you haven't listened to Holy Grail album Crisis in Utopia then you should and not because you're a Heavy (True) Metal fan but simply because it is fucking awesome!

As I said before I was digesting the album and so far the first half is my favorite although I don't think there's any song that I don't like in this little piece of gold... and to think I missed this band.

Fuck my life...

Anyway point and case, go listen to this and this, chant the songs and try to get as pitch high as our dear friend screaming at the top of his lungs on Fight to Kill.

This album easily gets a 10 out of 10 on the scale of heavy fucking metal and it is must have inside your collection, if you can get the vynil album then do it because being honest this deserves to be stamped in old school LPs and Audio Casettes but alas we are in a digital era and that shit just doesn't fly anymore "grandpa".

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!

Band Review: Brujeria

First of the word Brujeria translates directly to Witchcraft; you know this shit gets serious there and that's just the beginning.

I've seen vague mentions of Brujeria here and there, one that I can remember right now is a review by Sergeant D, my lost twin, on Metal Sucks.

Why would I bring Brujeria up anyway if it's been reviewed and the mystery about satanic drug traffickers has been revealed (Booo!) as nothing more than a scam, in a way because to be honest one could have sworn that if they came from Baja they were actually narcs, and whatnot.

The reason is simple; it was one of the first metal bands I ever heard. When other kids were into Korn, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Britney Spears, Metallica and so on I was listening to this group of tough mexican fuckers talking about satanic rituals (using white people as their victims), drug trafficking (and selling it to white people), crossing the border (to kill white people). Did I mention the hatred for white people?

Best of all was the "all-star" line-up which recently has become more of a "true" all-star line-up with Jeff Walker for starters, they had Billy Gould from Faith No More before, and Adrian Erlandsso which used to play in At The Gates and Cradle of Filth, they had Raymond Herrera of Fear Factory before until shit got blown over and Brujeria went into a grind if not literally stopped for years.

There's also another interesting topic here and that is that the band is meant for Mexicans that live at the other side of the border or inside Mexico on it's northern border. Not dissing anyone but with songs like Killing White People (Matando Gueros), Cross the Border I and II (Cruza la Frontera/La Migra) and Hated Race (Raza Odiada) just to mention a few, are meant to be understood by said Mexicans on the border.

But can you enjoy the music itself? Mucho yes si.

If you don't enjoy it the Brujo will force you to, gringo...

In brief; it's almost 20 years since this band came out on the public eye and caused a commotion with the cover of their first album and their Satanic Drug Dealing Rituals. My recommendation to you is just to relax, enjoy and beware that creepy giant mexican with a machete that you pay to clean your house.

Album Review: Byzantine, Oblivion Beckons (2008)

Byza-who-the-fuck?

Byzantine mother fucker, do you speak it... no wait that's wrong, the Byzantines spoke fucking Latin or Greek.

Anyway, point and case is fucking Byzantine is awesome but underrated as fuck and I'll never understand why. Just hear at this song from their album Oblivion Beckons and tell me it ain't fucking awesome, yeah you take that and shove it down your pipe mister because you know this is awesome.

Go check the rest on their MySpace site, or is it My______ now?

And for the love of whatever you like buy them something, they need it to record more fucking awesome music or well maybe not but damn it give them money.