You are infatuated with what consumes you

The fact that I live in New Zealand has always been a gigantic problem when it comes to seeing bands that I love. It is rare that anyone cool will actually make the journey over the Tasman Sea from Australia, so when I heard that a new festival was coming to town and that it was devoted entirely to heavy metal, I was fucking stoked. For years, the only festival NZ had was Big Day Out, but now I had something new to look forward to...No Sleep Til Auckland. It is a pretty big deal for a little Kiwi like myself, and the line up was fantastic. The day started with all the brilliant NZ bands like Leeches (see here for more), Outsiders and Antagonist AD. Next, Canadian Vikings 3 Inches Of Blood were more electric than I ever could've imagined and Suicide Silence were fucking heavy. Katatonia, Parkway Drive and Alkaline Trio were the other great bands from the afternoon. Just as the sun was setting, GWAR took the stage and everything got brilliantly fucked up! With their demon costumes and theatre-like performance, they were the most entertaining act of the night. I managed to get covered in fake demon blood that sprayed from the neck of a monster they decappitated on stage. Some of the bigger acts were a little boring, like Droplick Murphys and NOFX, but the main event blew me away. Megadeth were celebrating their 20th anniversary of Rust In Peace and they were just as good as they have ever been. The shredding was phenomenal and the vocals were fantastic, they played through the entire album in order, with the high point being their monster hit, Holy Wars...The Punishment Due. Despite all the amazingness of that festival, the greatest set I saw that day (and the #1 reason I wanted to go to No Sleep) was August Burns Red! ABR are a christian metal band from Pennsylvania, USA but don't be fooled by the christian tag, they are fucking heavy. Promoting their new (and fucking awesome) album, Constellations, they played an intense set of 8 songs that were the best thing about the entire festival. Even though it was just a 50 minute show at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of a big festival, I still rank ABR as one of my favourite shows of all time. I fought my way to the front of the crowd the second they started playing and at the end of the show I was rewarded when Jake Luhrs gave me the setlist from the show. It is pretty ripped up and trampled, but that just shows the essence of the show. (p.s. the date on the setlist is wrong, apparently the boys in ABR are a week behind us all).

August Burns Red. 09/12/2010. No Sleep Til Auckland, ASB Showgrounds, Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand Music Month 2011

This is a dedication to all the great New Zealand bands out there today in honour of New Zealand music month 2011. Even though the comedy gala has overshadowed kiwi music in the month of may in NZ, I still think NZMM should be properly appreciated, so here are 4 amazing bands that everyone in the world should know about...




STREET CHANT

These guys are a heavy pop trio from Auckland, New Zealand formed in 2007 that sound like bubble gum with the liquid centre, and getting punched in the face. The band consists of Emily Littler (vocals/guitar), Billie Rogers (bass/vocals) and Alex Brown (drums). Their debut album Means is the best record to come out of NZ in 2010 and they have played some amazing shows including Big Day Out '11 and the We Means Kudos tour with Surf City and The Transistors. I was first introduced to their music when they opened for The Dead Weather in March 2010 and have been addicted ever since. Their live show is a unique and energetic experience with elements of the grunge/punk 'fuck shit up' attitude, they are truly the best band around these days.

Best Songs: Scream Walk, Less Chat More Sewing, Blister, Yr Philosophy.

POPSTRANGERS

This band is the trigger that started my obsession with New Zealand music. An Auckland trio consisting of Joel Flyger (Vocals, Guitar), Adam Page (Bass) and Elliot Rawson (Drums), they exploded onto the scene in 2009 with their unique combination of grunge, punk and noise. Their debut self-titled EP was flawless with every track just as brilliant as the next. I first saw them when they opened for Peaches at the Transmission Room and then a day later at Big Day Out '10, with one of their most notable shows being opening for MGMT in 2011. After the success of their first EP, they began work on their next record with new drummer, Jimmy Mac and in 2010 they released Happy Accidents which was another fucking brilliant EP. These guys would be the second best band around these days.

Best songs: 1000, Take It To The Grave, Happy Accidents, Arrest Your Body

THE DRAB DOO-RIFFS

An Auckland-based bluesy, surf punk five piece fronted by Karl Steven (Lead Vocals/Harmonica and former member of Supergroove). They are a band that is just focused on being themselves and having fun, with other members including Caoimhe Macfehin (co-lead vocals and percussion), Marcus Joyce (Bass), Mikey Sperring (Drums) and Lucy Stewart (guitars). The true essence of this band can be found at their live shows where their spastic and crazy energy is on display. They are committed to making lots of music, choosing to release their music on EPs because they are small and fast and playing as many live gigs as possible, including opening for The Cult in 2010 and MGMT in 2011. The DD-R's are a band that wants to be Spock and releases music as fast as a mongoose – what more could you ask for?

Best Songs: Hot Tanya, Ill Equipped, Broke It Up, Gold Coin

LEECHES

An Auckland-based hardcore punk band featuring members from many other NZ bands including The Bleeders. Forming in 2010, they have been playing shows and gaining momentum with the release of their self-titled EP in 2011. The band is made up of Angelo Munro (Vocals), Sam Crocker (Bass/Vocals), Ian King (Guitar/Vocals), Dan Brenndorfer (Guitar/Vocals) and Rob O-Conner (Drums). As all the members have come from other successful NZ bands, there was no hesitation when they erupted on the scene and they found their rhythm very quickly. Some of their more notable shows included opening for Cancer Bats at The Kings Arms and playing No Sleep Til Auckland in 2010 along with 10 other legendary bands.

Best Songs: Damnation, Never Forget, Already Dead

Check Out New Zealand Music Month 2011 - Part II