Podcast #164: Spooky

Bad-ass Dio Jack O'Lantern tribute by Shawn Feeney (shawnfeeney.com).Yes, it's that time of year again, so join Genghis & Ragman as they go on their annual Halloween zombie hunt. While the boys are taking care of the undead, they also take time out to discuss the states of death, horror and black metal; fad or here to stay?

Next, the boys get a call from David Henzerling for an update from the Southwest, as he informs the boys of the infestation in Arizona as well as what we can expect from his latest solo project, Steelshine.

Later, the boys also get a call from vocalist Sean Peck who checks in with an update from the West coast and gives us the lowdown on his latest project DeathDealer and their debut Warmaster.

Beer of the Show: Dead Guy Ale (Rogue Brewing Co.)
	Appearance: 3.0 Aroma: 3.5 Palate: 3.0 Taste: 3.5 Overall: 3.5	"We couldn't have Halloween without our favorite seasonal treat. So well-balanced, it goes with just about anything."

2nd Beer of the Show: Pumpkin Ale (Horseheads Brewing)  Beer Rating: 3.5

Featured Tracks: Mercyful Fate - The Oath; We As Human - Zombie; Type O Negative - Wolf Moon; King Diamond - Abigail; In Flames - A New Dawn; Steelshine - Devil Moon, Paparazzi, Rock n Roll Has Made a Man Out of Me, Ain't Getting Any Younger, and Laughing; Omnium Gatherum - New Dynamic; Between the Buried and Me - Lay Your Ghosts to Rest; Blood Ceremony - Witchwood; James LaBrie - Undertow; Gwar - Falling; Deathdealer - Head Spike Wall, Deathdealer, Children of the Flames, Hammer Down, and Warmaster; Dimmu Borgir - Progenies of the Great Apocalypse

- Ragman can't believe he and Genghis survived another year...

Podcast #164: Spooky

Týr - Valkyrja

These boys from the Faroe Islands make some really bad ass Viking metal, you better believe.Ah, the rich subgenre of viking metal. It lies somewhere in between black and folk metal but has a sound all its own, as its fans know all too well. And while I can't say I'm one of those fans, I can tell good metal when I hear it. Týr's latest effort, Valkyrja, is their seventh studio album and tells the tale of a Viking warrior striving to battle his way to worthiness for his beloved goddess Freyja, The Lady Of The Slain. Oh yeah, this is the real deal. And for a nice touch, Leaves' Eyes vocalist, Liv Kristine, joins lead singer Heri Joensen on the track The Lay of Our Love, lending a haunting beauty to the atmospheric opening arpeggios. Great stuff.

BONUS: The album has a really bad ass cover as well.

But ultimately, what's impressive is the cohesiveness of the storyline/songwriting and how it all feels like an epic tale being handed down to some new generation of Viking youth. It is said that the traditional music of the Vikings - none of which is recorded anywhere - is passed on through oral tradition and kept alive and well in Týr's native country, from which they heavily draw inspiration for their music. So, if nothing else, I must salute these Faroese sons for their intense national pride and sense of heritage. It doesn't hurt that this is some pretty bad ass metal to boot. Epic/Power metal fans should definitely give this a listen.

NOTE: This release also includes two amazing covers of Iron Maiden's Where Eagles Dare and Pantera's Cemetery Gates, should you doubt Týr's non-Viking metal related skills. Also, shame on you!

The Bottom Line: Týr has made a pretty solid concept record in homage to their Norse heritage, replete with all the staples of viking metal; thundering bass, torrential drumbeats, choral harmonies and lightning guitar work. And, yes, more Norse mythological themes than you can shake Mjölnir at. So, fans of the genre come and ride the lightning!

Tracks That May Cause Explosive Beard Growth: Hel Hath No Fury, The Lay of Our Love, Grindavisan, Lady of the Slain, and Valkyrja

- Genghis thinks Týr should write their own soundtrack to that new Thor movie...

The Nearly Deads - Zombie EP

Yeah, it's yet another chick-fronted modern rock band, but these kids got moxie.Thanks to bands like District 97 and lead singer Leslie Hunt's exhilarating vocals, my itch for female singers in a heavy rock setting has been scratched for a while. But along comes The Nearly Deads' Zombie EP with its heavy pop/modern rock rhythyms that back up a blonde chanteuse with great stage presence and the voice to back it up. Having started in Florida, they've since moved to Nashville with every intention of making it big by constantly writing and performing to hone their chops.

The band themselves seem to have a diverse set of influences, but they all collectively love 90s era grunge and claim to want to fly that flag - though I don't really hear that in their music. The music on this EP sounds more along the lines of modern rock, or heavier pop music (probably sounding so because of Theresa Jeane's vocals) with a enough attitude thrown in to make it fun without becoming the self-parody most neo-punk tends to be - even though the Evanesence-style remix Never Look Back (Reanimated) teeters on the edge.

The Bottom Line: Imagine Kelly Clarkson singing for The Foo Fighters and you start to get the idea of what you're in for with The Nearly Deads, a band that's working their asses off to make it as a modern rock band on their terms, and I have high hopes for them.

- Genghis really did like that zombie video for Never Look Back...

It's that time again, folks...

Uh, baby, I think you maybe need to touch up your lipstick a little bit, m'kay?Time for Genghis & Ragman to do their part to keep you safe from the shambling undead that threaten your existence each year. This go around, we've gotten reports from listeners about strange goings on near an abandoned hospital in Baytown.

It's all the usual stuff about ghostly images of people in hospital gowns soaked in blood, and even the occasional spirit child, a little girl, showing up out of nowhere with ominous warnings for the intrepid urban explorer.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this won't be any trouble at all...The weather report says it should rain all dang night, but that's never stopped the lads before. They're loaded for bear with John and Bane in tow (including calls from our fellow zombie-hunting, celebrity correspondents from around the country), and - assuming they survive the night - they'll return soon with a recording of their adventure to thrill and rock you like...some sort of natural disaster.

So, keep listening and keep those horns up!

- Genghis is not thrilled about this ghost kid stuff (creeeeeepy)... 

Onslaught - VI

Crimeny this is some bad ass thrash metal from across the pond. There's apparently a strong surge of thrash bands kicking ass and taking names in the merry old land of England, but fuck if I've heard of them. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they aren't any good. Case in point, Onslaught and their sixth studio album, simply titled VI. If this is the sound of the modern thrash movement across the pond, then holy shit!

Their name couldn't be more appropriate, as their music is well described as a hardcore onslaught. This is great, brutal thrash metal as you might expect from Europe: heavy and fast, but with a certain working class grittiness that makes you want to instantly down several beers and start moshing in your Doc Martens. Hard.

To their credit however, it's not all just blast beats as tracks like Children Of The Sand break up the attack with atmospheric vocals that add just the right touch of exotic sophistication to these down and dirty proceedings. And 66'Fuckin'6 begins with a suitably creepy, horror movie music box intro that quickly gives way to an anthemic chorus that should play huge in a club show. With any luck they'll make a US tour soon.

The Bottom Line: If you like headbanging and moshing like there's no fucking tomorrow, this is the album for you, hands down. The energy Onslaught puts out on this brutal thrash masterpiece could fuel a fucking rocket to Mars. 'Nuff said.

Tracks That Present A High Risk Of Neck Damage: Chaos Is King, Slaughterize, 66'Fuckin'6, Dead Man Walking, and Enemy Of My Enemy

- Genghis wonders if these guys play guitar all classy with their pinkies extended...