My secret you'll forever be

Unearth were coming to Auckland and they were putting on a big show for metal fans. They had multiple local bands opening up for them and they were bringing melodic death metal band, The Black Dahlia Murder over with them as well. I hadn't seen any of the local bands before but they were all quite impressive, except one band that was really horrible. Awaiting The Storm were the first act to play and they were very young but extremely good for their age. The Dauntless and Mark Of Man played brilliant sets that really got me hooked on their music. It was an awesome couple of hours of NZ metal but now it was time for the international acts to take the stage. I had heard a little about The Black Dahlia Murder before this show but I had never really been exposed to them before. There seemed to be endless amounts of people wearing beautifully illustrated and coloured BDM t shirts though, so they must have been good to have such a cult following. As the night went on, I would discover that they were more than good, they were FUCKING AMAZING! The Black Dahlia Murder took the stage and blew my fucking mind. They were thrashing heavy metal music at a blistering pace but there was an underlying melody created by some inspired guitar riffs. The lyrics were complex and morbidly fascinating, while the atmosphere of the band was so playful and fun. Lead vocalist, Trevor Strnd was a demonic puppet master as he psyched up the audience and pumped his fist in the air. They were so quirky and had such a party attitude, but their music was genius and fucking exciting. I fell in love with this band that night and I have been obsessed with them ever since. After their set I was hugely satisfied but to my utter delight, Unearth were about to take the stage. They played another hour of brilliant metal to the point where they were thrashing so hard, Drummer Derek Kerswill broke his drumstick during Endless (which he then threw to me). It was a heavy night filled with amazing bands and life changing discoveries.

Unearth & The Black Dahlia Murder. 29/05/2010. Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland, New Zealand.

The Black Dahlia Murder set list

Running schedule w/ Unearth guitar pick

Top Ten - The Best Heavy Metal Albums

This is a list of my favourite heavy metal albums of all time. I first started getting into the heavier forms of rock 'n' roll when I got my first Linkin Park album, Hybrid Theory, and ever since then my love for the genre continues to grow. I am only a part-time headbanger though, despite what my long hair and the black t shirts may suggest. But please, no one get to upset about specific genres and sub-genres, I've never been one to give a shit if something is metalcore or deathcore, I just don't care at all. To me, metal is metal, and that is what this list is all about: The Greatest Metal albums that were ever made...in my opinion.

10.   Maximum The Hormone - BUIIKIKAESU

I was first introduced to this band through the opening and closing credits of the Japanese anime, Death Note. I had to order the album all the way from Japan just to get my hands on it, but it was extremely worth all the effort. This album is such a symbiotic combination of heavy metal and J-pop, it really brings the intensity of thrashing guitars and screaming vocals but also has catchy pop beats and clean, female vocals. The 2 styles juxtapose each other brilliantly and really bring the fun back to metal, this album just makes you want to bang your head and dance at the same time.

Best Songs: Buiiki Kaesu!!, What's Up, people!?, Koi No Mega Lover, Chu Chu Lovely Muni Muni Mura Mura Purin Purin Boron Nurururerorero

9.   The Black Dahlia Murder - DEFLORATE

This was the second BDM album I ever heard, but I was already madly in love with this band before I heard it. It is their fourth full length, studio album and their first with guitarist, Ryan Knight. Knight has a much more technical style and really brings a whole new level to the solos and instrumentals on this album. It has all the usual appeal of an album made by The Black Dahlia Murder but this album is perhaps their best on a technical level and it is the most well produced and finished. It really proves that their is a strong evolution in this bands style and it just keeps getting better.

Best Songs: Black Valor, Necropolis, I Will Return, Death Panorama, Christ Reformed

8.   August Burns Red - CONSTELLATIONS

Don't be put off by the 'christian' tag this band has, their faith only makes their music that much better. This is probably one of the heaviest bands I listen to, purely due to the fact that ABR completely abuse the use of breakdowns to assist their music. Even though my favourite ABR song ever, Composure, is on an earlier album called Messengers, I feel that this album is a much more complete piece of work. It is strong from start to finish and really has a good flow that leads from one song to another. The cover art is extremely beautiful as well.

Best Songs: Marianas Trench, Thirty And Seven, Existence, White Washed

7.   Arch Enemy - DOOMSDAY MACHINE

I am only a fan of the Angela Gassow era of Arch Enemy, I never saw the appeal of their previous vocalist, but I have loved them ever since I first heard Angela's powerful and demonic voice. I had a tough choice between this album and their 2007 album, Rise Of The Tyrant. ROTT was the first Arch Enemy album I ever heard so it has a lot of nostalgia attached to it, but I feel that this album is a much stronger example of their unlimited potential. The amazing vocals coupled together with the electrifying guitars is what makes this the best album AE has made to this day. Right from the opening instrumental, it explodes into the beginning of the album and stands strong.

Best Songs: Enter The Machine, Taking Back My Soul, Nemesis, My Apocalypse

6.   Trivium - ASCENDANCY

I remember when I was much younger and the fantastic Alt TV was still on the air, I would stay up all night and just watch all the cool and strange videos that they would play. This is where I was really exposed to my first bit of heavy metal, when I saw Trivium's video for Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr. At first, I wasn't even sure if I liked it or not, I was quite young and hadn't been exposed to vocals like that before but as time went on, I fell more and more in love with that style of music and here we are today. This is easily their best album to date, it has all of their greatest songs and is so signature to the Trivium style. Matt Heafy creates a great balance between clean and death vocals with the instrumental work being out of this world.

Best Songs: Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr, A Gunshot To The Head Of Trepidation, Rain, Like Light To Flies, Drowned And Torn Asunder

5.   Lamb Of God - ASHES OF THE WAKE

LoG is one of my favourite bands ever, so it was unbelievably hard to pick which albums were going to make the list. I would've loved to have included As The Palaces Burn, New American Gospel and Wrath as well, but I had to make a choice and this was the clear option. AOTW is LoG's 4th album, but it also has a much more memorable/catchy element which makes all the songs that much better. The album slightly fades over the last 2 songs, but the beginning is so explosive that you could almost use the break from thrashing riffs and timeless songs.

Best Songs: Hourglass, What I've Become, Omerta, The Faded Line, Now You've Got Something To Die For

4.   At The Gates - SLAUGHTER OF THE SOUL

This album is one of the godfathers of Swedish Melodic Death Metal, along with Dark Tranquility's The Gallery and In Flames' The Jester Race. A landmark album for the genre, it was the fourth and final from ATG. As it was recorded so long ago, the quality of the songs is not up to today's high standards, but it is that slightly rough element that makes it sound so unique and powerful. It is a brutal album from start to finish (with a couple of slightly out of place instrumentals) and with most of its songs being no longer than 3 minutes, it really is a fast paced, high energy experience. The lyrics are so intense, you can really feel the emotion and the hate flowing from this album. The high point is definitely the first few seconds on Suicide Nation, where a gun is cocked into the microphone before the band explodes into the song.

Best Songs: Slaughter Of The Soul, Suicide Nation, Cold, World Of Lies

3.   Burn The Priest - BURN THE PRIEST

The album that came before Lamb of God. Now I am not one of those people who gets all defensive about the difference between BTP and LOG, I believe that they are pretty much the same band, just with a different name. When it comes down to it though, I absolutely feel that BTP was the strongest period in the history of Lamb of God. Burn The Priest is the most stripped back and raw version of the band that there ever has been, it is a savage and brutal album of destructive songs and rip-your-face-off vocals. It is the best vocal performance I have ever really heard from Randy Blythe, or anyone for that matter. It is a lot heavier, faster and more intense than any other LOG album and that is why I love it so much.

Best Songs: Bloodletting, Dimera, Resurrection #9, Departure Hymn

2.   Nightrage - A NEW DISEASE IS BORN

This was the dominant album of my 2007/8 and it completely redefined my taste in music. It was truly the first metal album I ever fell in love with and became obsessed with. It's extremely memorable riffs and powerful vocals were mind blowing. The only problem with this album was that it was a one off event in the history of the band, because the vocalist would leave after this album (It was the only album he performed vocals on). It was the perfect line-up but never again will it happen, so now I just choose to pretend that the other Nightrage albums don't exist and I listen only to ANDIB. It's a strange way to live my life but it suits me just fine.

Best Songs: Spiral, Scathing, Death-like Silence, Drone, Reconcile

1.   The Black Dahlia Murder - NOCTURNAL

Easily the best heavy metal album, in my opinion. There is no doubt in my mind, I discovered this band last year when I went to see an Unearth concert and BDM was co-headlining. Ever since that day, I have been obsessed with every piece of music BDM have released. This album is absolutely perfect, from the first song all the way through to the last. Those 10 songs are everything that is good about the previous 9 albums all together in one. Trevor Strnd is my favourite vocalist, his voices complexity is astonishing, the way he goes from blood curdling scream to a deep, demonic growl is amazing. The guitar and instrumental work is so catchy but drives the album along with its blinding pace and brutal intensity. The song writing is some of the best I have ever heard, especially on songs like Deathmask Devine, where Trevor manages to create the most beautiful and horrific tale of love and obsession. LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM!!!

Best Songs: What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse, Deathmask Devine, Everything Went Black, Nocturnal, Climactic Degradation, Virally Yours

The Social Music Revolution II

The previous Social Music Revolution post was based on my entire history with the website and the charts that were provided were for my overall play count. To achieve a better understanding of my music taste, I thought it would be helpful to include my charts from over the last 6 months, it is a much more accurate compilation of my current musical taste.

1.     The Black Dahlia Murder                    1427
2.     The White Stripes                                 870
3.     Queens Of The Stone Age                   728
4.     The Kills                                               675
5.     Them Crooked Vultures                       510
6.     Mos Def                                                464
7.     Trivium                                                 446
8.     Lykke Li                                               432
9.     T. Rex                                                   375
10.   Arch Enemy                                          371
11.   The Drab Doo-Riffs                              312
12.   Leeches                                                 292
13.   Marina & The Diamonds                      291
14.   The Distillers                                        289
15.   Street Chant                                          283
16.   The Dead Weather                                272
17.   Nightrage                                              253
18.   August Burns Red                                250
19.   Lamb Of God                                       246
20.   Kanye West                                          242
21.   BEASTWARS                                     232
22.   Bikini Kill                                            230
23.   Crystal Castles                                     210
24.   Karen Elson                                         196
25.   Sex Bob-Omb                                      161
26.   Liam Finn                                            144
27.   The Mint Chicks                                  142
28.   The Velvet Underground                     140
29.   Foo Fighters                                         137
30.   Hole                                                      125


Come Visit Me! http://www.last.fm/user/Harrison1630

Check out the original The Social Music Revolution

The Social Music Revolution

Last.FM is a social networking site that focuses on peoples addiction to music. In my opinion, it is the greatest social networking site out there, because it allows you to communicate and befriend people with similar musical interests as you. The most addictive quality of this website though, is the fact that it 'scrobbles' all the music you listen to on your computer/iPod and displays your music habits in the form of charts. It is a pretty rad feature that can get anyone really addicted to this site and even slightly obsessed with perfecting their music charts so that they accurately reflect how you rank your favourite bands. The scrobbling can be slightly inaccurate though, my Last.FM charts never match my iTunes play count, but that is just something you have to overcome, otherwise the obsession to perfect your charts will slowly consume your soul. I have been a member since the 16th of February, 2010 and I have never looked back since. In that time, I have scrobbled over 50,000 plays and this is how my Top Artists chart looks overall:

1.     The White Stripes                     3906
2.     T. Rex                                       3484
3.     The Black Dahlia Murder         2408
4.     Lamb Of God                            2377
5.     The Dead Weather                    2261
6.     Robert Johnson                         1961
7.     Led Zeppelin                             1865
8.     Queens Of The Stone Age        1758
9.     The Velvet Underground          1743
10.   Them Crooked Vultures           1597
11.   Marina & The Diamonds          1595
12.   The Kills                                   1482
13.   Trivium                                     1312
14.   A Tribe Called Quest                1185
15.   August Burns Red                    1146
16.   Nightrage                                  1128
17.   The Distillers                            1123
18.   The Mars Volta                        1072
19.   Alter Bridge                               994
20.   John Mayer                                936
21.   Arch Enemy                               885
22.   Yeah Yeah Yeahs                      862
23.   Street Chant                               848
24.   Karen Elson                               795
25.   Popstrangers                              792
26.   Lou Reed                                   702
27.   The Raconteurs                          671
28.   Foo Fighters                              654
29.   The Drab Doo-Riffs                   628
30.   Maximum The Hormone           609

Come vist me! http://www.last.fm/user/Harrison1630

Check Out The Social Music Revolution II

New Zealand Music Month 2011 - Part II

This is part II of my New Zealand Music Month tribute, it will be dedicated to all the slightly lesser known bands that are currently out there being awesome. I limited my first post about NZMM to only four bands because they are my absolute favourite New Zealand bands, but there are so many more that the rest of the world needs to know about.



LISA CRAWLEY

She is a charming songstress from Auckland who plays a beautiful mix of indie pop music. She is backed by her band, The Conversations, who feature a wide variety of instruments including trombone. Lisa is an extremely talented songwriter and vocalist with mesmerizing skilled on the piano, guitar, glockenspiel and many other instruments. She currently has 2 EP's out called Shoot The Night and Hello, Goodbye and Everything In Between, and she has also opened for Jools Holland and John Mayer. Currently recording her first full length album.

Best Songs: Brother, Back To You, These Friends Of Mine, Birds

TAINTED

A death/thrash metal band from Christchurch, these guys are one of our most brutal and technically proficient exports. I first saw them open for Iron Maiden back in 2009 and since then they have opened for such legendary acts as Metallica, Trivium, Unearth, The Black Dahlia Murder, Chimaira and Arch Enemy. They have become one of the best live acts in New Zealand metal with their dynamic energy and brutal sound which landed them a place in the line up for Big Day Out 2010. With 2 outstanding albums under their belt (The Awakening and Carved and Created) they are still a strong force to be dealt with on the NZ metal scene, leaving most NZ cities bruised, battered and desperate for more.

Best Songs: Beneath The Veneer, Say What You Mean, Tyranny, Scars

CAIRO KNIFE FIGHT

The most dynamic and explosive two-piece to come out of New Zealand ever. They play a unique style of rock that has numerous twists and turns that develop and evolve as their songs unfurl. Their live performance can only be described as hectic and intense, with Nick Gaffaney on drums, keyboard bass and vocals simultaneously, while sometimes operating the loop pedal to keep things interesting. He is supported on stage by the charismatic Aaron Tokona, whose infectiously rhythmic guitar playing is electric and yet, somehow sexual. These two set up their equipment to face each other on the stage so that they can build off of each other as the songs develop and grow. Always starting a gig on a suspense filled note, with long droning sounds of feedback and building to a destructive climax of rock brilliance. With a fantastic eponymous EP out now, they have opened for legendary bands like Queens Of The Stone Age, Foo Fighters and Them Crooked Vultures.

Best Songs: Big Face, The Happy Couple, This Is Love, All I Ever Wanted

OTHER HONOURABLE MENTIONS:


BEASTWARS
The Mint Chicks
Die! Die! Die!
The Dauntless
Cobra Khan
Nathan King
Ladyhawke
Goldenhorse/Kirsten Morrell
Liam Finn
Antagonist AD
Oilbarrons
The Transistors

+

Flight of the Conchords
Shihad
Split Enz

Check out New Zealand Music Month - Part I

This is the story of the birds and the bees

The month of May has not been kind to my creative inspiration. The weight of university has been pulling on my coattails for some time now and it is becoming quite a struggle to find the motivation for my own personal artwork. Hopefully in June when all of my assignments are handed in and I have a few weeks of personal time then I can really get back into updating this blog with my own drawings, paintings and other work. But until then, I think I will just use this baron period of artistic block to work through my backlog of concert photos and memorabilia. Live music has always been a passion and when there is a good concert to look forward to, it becomes the focus of all my obsessive quirks. I have seen a great number of amazing concerts over the last few years (all of which can be found on my Last.FM account), unfortunately there are not too many shows in the future that I can get excited about. I mean, I will be seeing Gary Numan in 4 days, but after that there is just a lot of empty space. I will just have to pray that some fucking amazing bands will announce in the near future, such as Alter Bridge, The Kills, The Black Dahlia Murder or Foo Fighters.

For now, I will just tell you about Katy Perry's California Dreams Tour. She played 2 shows in Auckland, New Zealand about a week and half ago and I was lucky enough to get pre-sale tickets (which was made especially easy due to the password being 'Firework') to the first show on Saturday night. The smell of candy floss was in the air and the stage had an extremely over-the-top candyland theme with a very well-dressed live band. The lights went dark and on the video screens began a tale of girl living in a world that repressed her happiness and freedom until something magical happened and just like in the Wizard of Oz, she was swept away to a whimsical world of candy with her cat, Kitty Purry. The band started to play and out came Katy in a dazzling costume, she opened with Teenage Dream and didn't look back from that point on. She played all of her hits and had a really solid set list, although I have never been a fan of California Gurls. Her numerous costume changes were always impressive, especially during Hot 'n' Cold, where she must have changed her out fit approximately 15 times. I think Katy's voice was really strong live, I loved hearing it free from any electronic altering or mixing. There was a part in the show where she slowed things down and it dragged on for quite a while, but the pyrotechnic display during Firework really made up for that. The only real problem I had with the show was that her audience (consisting mainly of tweenage girls) seemed to be more interested in staring at their phones, updating facebook and texting their friends than actually paying attention to the stage and Katy Perry's brilliant performance.

Katy Perry. 7 May 2011. Vector Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.

Katy Perry California Dreams Tour 2011

Katy Perry aka Kitty Purry

Not Like The Movies

Peacock

Teenage Dream

Katy Perry vs. The Bunny

Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

It's raining leprosy and acid.

On the 23rd of February, I saw Amanda Palmer (The Dresden Dolls) at the Kings Arms Tavern. The KA's is one of my favourite places, it is just perfect for hosting the smaller, slightly less popular bands. It is quite an intimate venue so you always get a chance to have a drink and talk to the musicians. Ive seen quite a few shows there before, including The Black Dahlia Murder, Unearth, Cancer Bats, Cairo Knife Fight, Street Chant, Cobra Khan and The Dauntless. But on that night, I was blown away by AP's opening musician who was a man named Jason Webley, a Seattle-born singer-songwriter known for playing a mix of gypsy, folk, and punk. He is the most badass piano-accordionist I have ever seen and his performance was violently beautiful. Needless to say, I highly recommend you check this guy out. That's him down there, he loves sweaty hugs right after a show.

My favourite song of Jason's is a post-apocalyptic tale of remorse and destruction called 'Dance while the sky crashes down', it is fucking amazing. But it really got me thinking...and now it has become my life's purpose to dance while something epic is happening in the background. It is a repeating theme that occurs in the music I listen to and I've decided I can no longer ignore this message, surely it is a sign that this will be my destiny. So just as Jason Webley dances as the sky crashes down, Lamb Of God dance as the palaces burn and The Black Dahlia Murder dance by night and drink the blood of a child's broken neck, I too, will one day achieve this epic feat

It is my calling.