Take me to the top of the hill, where the birds refuse to fly

My latest obsession in the New Zealand music scene is a Wellington band called BEASTWARS. They are a four piece sludge metal band and their debut album has just been released on CD and Vinyl. This album is the best thing to come out of NZ all year and it is my new favourite NZ metal album. The droning, ritualistic vocals of Matt Hyde is a phenomenal display of darkness. The way his deep voice strains and breaks is beautifully demonic, it truly oozes the dark emotion in the songs. The instrumental work is magnificent, it is like an apocalypse in your ears. Raise your fist, bang your head and obey the riff.

Best Songs: Damn The Sky, Lake Of Fire, Red God, Daggers, Call Out The Dead

BEASTWARS w/ Cobra Khan. 28/06/2011. The Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland, New Zealand.

Cobra Khan

BEASTWARS

BEASTWARS - Matt Hyde

BEASTWARS - Matt Hyde

BEASTWARS. - Call Out The Dead

Signed setlist

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.