Blackhearts

It has been awhile since I have seen a documentary that has captured my interest as much as Blackhearts has recently.  Blackhearts is a documentary which follows 3 different black metal die hards, and their quests to play at various metal festivals in Norway.  Each musician finds themselves in situations that could potentially crush their dreams of performing in Norway.  One of the guys faces extraction from his native country from Iran, one faces jail time and the other offers to sell his soul to Satan to fulfill his dream of performing in Norway.

This documentary goes in depth with each of the stories.  It is pretty crazy the lengths of how far these guys go to make it in metal.  It's damn right honorable, but all of these guys make huge decisions, which will impact the rest of their lives.  One of the creepiest things in the video, is the guy who sell his soul to the devil to make it.  That said, all of these guys faced major obstacles, to pursue their dream and it paid off.  This documentary is for any music fan.  You don't have to be into metal to get into this one. 

Bottom Line: The quest for metal runs deep in many of us, but these guys take it to the extreme.  Be prepared to be engulfed for about 90 minutes.   This is a thorough documentary, that is not so much about black metal, but the will to succeed.  If you're feeling extra creepy, watch the 30 minute bonus of the selling of the soul ritual.  Creepy!

-Ragman was so inspired that he is going to grab Genghis for a pilgrimage to New York, to be on Sirius.  We we can do it.

Podcast #217: Green

Only fitting that Paul Mahon of The Answer visit with the lads on a special St. Patty's Day episode, eh?The boys try to make up for a little lost time with a little bit longer episode recorded on St. Patrick's Day replete (yeah, "replete", they went to college) with heavy metal discussion and plenty o' beer. Things get a little spicy when everybody's favorite Mexican leprechaun José McLucky drops by with some food and tales from the road.

Next, the lads get some talk time with Paul Mahon of The Answer who talks about the band's latest album, Solas, and what the lads are planning tour-wise. It's all fun and games until someone spills their beer... HORNS UP!

Video of the show: Testament - Live In London

Beer of the Show: Fascinating Bellman (Deep Ellum Brewing Co.)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 4.0 Palate: 3.5 Taste: 4.0 Overall: 3.5	"A very complex American brown ale aged in Jameson barrels is a perfect beer for St. Pat's with a nice kick."

2nd Beer of the Show: Sin Mint Temptress (Lakewood Brewing Co.)
	Appearance: 4.0 Aroma: 4.0 Palate: 4.0 Taste: 4.0 Overall: 4.0	"Lakewood's Temptress series of imperial milk stouts hits it out of the park with this chocolate mint extravaganza."

Featured Tracks: Gama Bomb - Drinkers, Inc.; Dokken - Dream Warriors; Operation Mindcrime - Healing My Wounds; Testament - Born In A Rut; Vescera - In The Night; Vanishing Point - Bring On The Rain; S.O.D. - Speak English Or Die; Dreamshade - The World In My Hands; Junius - The Queen's Constellation; The Answer - Pride, Solace, Tunnel, Beautiful World, Battle Cry, Cigarettes, and Regret

- Genghis really enjoyed those two fine beers, make no mistake...

Podcast #217: Green

We Are the Flesh

We Are the Flesh could go down as one of the most disturbing movies that I've ever seen.  And that's a good thing.  It takes a lot for me to be weirded out by a movie, and this one did it 10 fold.  We Are the Flesh is a Mexican arthouse horror film, about a hermit and a brother and sister.  It is dark, forbidden and taboo all at once.  This movie goes places that I've rarely seen in a horror movie, which makes it an amazing film.  It will shock you and entertain you all at the same time. 

We Are the Flesh, is about a brother and sister that have escaped from something.  They end up in what seems to be an old apartment building, where there is a hermit staying.  The hermit is a weird dude, that lives in the complex by himself.  He survives, food wise, by trading something that lives in the wall.  He trades a gasoline type concoction for meat and other things.  Well the brother and sister somewhat befriend him before he takes them down a very dark path.  The hermit, basically makes them both slaves, and forces them to make this cavernous type hell.  Long story short, shit gets really weird from here.  I don't want to spoil it.  This one captivated me and stained my psyche for life.  Again very taboo.  If you're a fan of experimental/out there horror, then this one is for you.

Bottom Line: A deep dark story that takes extremity to a new level.  A very good film, but not for everyone.  I could see this one offending many, but also leaving many applauding.

-Ragman is looking to get a lobotomy.

Jinjer - King Of Everything

Ukrainian groove metal quartet Jinjer's name is actually a variation on that "djent" sound.Right off the bat, you'd be tempted to think of Jinjer as a "female-fronted band" - which is true, of course - but, as its members will tell you, that is not what their identity hangs on. This Ukrainian quartet is a groove metal force of nature with influences that surpass the often loosely defined subgenre, ranging from Opeth to Slayer to Cypress Hill. Basically this is a band of talented musicians, with a real love of music in all its forms, that likes to rock the fuck out. And they do that very thing on their third studio album, King Of Everything.

Lead singer Tatiana Shmailyuk, whose non-metal influences show a love for soul, rhythm and blues, funk and jazz, can go from soft serenade to gutteral rumbling on a dime without a hint of gimmickry; this is just straight musicianship, and Tatiana is damn good. Prologue introduces you to her jazzy stylings in fine fashion giving a serpentine energy to the swelling rhythym. And the lads [Roman Ibramkhalilov (guitar), Eugene Kostyuk (bass), and Vladislav Ulasevish (drums)] who lay down said rhythym are no punks - especially when those aforementioned influences contribute to an inspired textural change. Tatiana's favorite tune I Speak Astronomy (dig the killer video when you get he chance) is a great example of how the band weaves different stylistic elements together so seamlessly. Гарна музика!

The Bottom Line: Call them progressive metalcore, R&B Djent, or whatever, but Jinjer has its finger on the pulse of some brutally heavy yet melodic and diverse rhythyms for your thirsty ears. Drink up!

- Genghis laments that he may not get to see this amazing band stateside (but hopes!)...

Without Waves - Lunar

Chi town gives us another great metal band, Without Waves, who know how to craft some tasty licks.Right off the bat let me tell you that Chicago ensemble Without Waves is an impressive outfit. You don't often encounter musicians talented - or bold enough - to fuse elements of jazz fusion, extreme metal, and stoner rock so well and in such a compelling way. As such, you can't really cherry pick from an album like their latest, Lunar (their first on Prosthetic Records), and get a true sense of the breadth of their sound.

Sewing Together The Limbs, the album's opener with a Mastodon-esque groovy chorus, is followed by the Damn The Machine proggy-jazz metal opening of Poetry In Putrid Air that gives way to the trippy, Opeth-y, clean tone groove of Us Against. And it just goes on and on, carrying the listener on the ebb and flow of the band's sonic ocean. It's just damn fine music that offers more than just variations on a core rhytymic style. Granted, that's sort of how your average band works, I know, but the bands that make stylistic diversity their signature sound while still maintaining a strong sense of identity really get my blood pumping.

The Bottom Line: Coming from a famous blues town like Chicago, Without Waves displays some very impressive musical ideas that are both sophisticated and laid back in a way that seems comforting and hugely satisfying. This is clear Spring morning, open the windows, and crack open a nice fruity IPA music for sure.

- Genghis really wants to have one of those mornings right about now...