Metal Hammer

LIVE REVIEWS Corey Taylor’s solo career has lift-off PRESS/STEVE THRASHER METALHAMMER.COM 101

LIVE REVIEWS Justin Bonitz: nu core’s ARMORED SAINT breakout star THE WHISKY A GO GO, HOLLYWOOD TALLAH “This is our tour right here,” says WILLOW GLEN STATE PENITENTIARY, PENNSYLVANIA frontman John Bush as Armored Saint plunge into Mess early on in their record Pennsylvania’s nu core pack-leaders take no prisoners release livestream performance. Such are the times we’re in, unfortunately. COMING IN LIKE a wrecking ball, erupt amongst a display of spinning However, true to their heritage, the PRESS kicks, placing the band somewhere band are on fearsome form, during Tallah’s genre-disfiguring modus between early Korn and Code Orange, a 12-song set that obviously introduces operandi was established with their unapologetically splicing the precise some 2020 material, but balances this debut full-length, Matriphagy. Its nu metal chaos of yesteryear with with well-loved moments from the brutally near-the-knuckle concept of modern-day hardcore. past. Opening with new track Never psychological-cum-physical parental You Fret, there’s subsequently no let-up abuse, set against a backdrop of sonic Brief, stroboscopic flashes of in the fire and venom. The Saint even delirium, proved not to be a debut for nightmarish visuals break up the go back to their 1983 Armored Saint EP the faint-hearted. The Pennsylvania setlist, but venomous raps and for On The Way, which is dedicated to now-sextet have somehow managed to frenetic riffing are the filthy order their late guitarist, Dave Prichard. John up the nu core ante, with this gloriously du jour on downtuned bangers Kungan Bush again shows he’s among metal’s twisted audio-visual menagerie and Overconfidence, the former’s finest singers and bassist Joey Vera is performing the album in full from the seismic beatdown encouraging any all action, while the twin guitar axis dingy confines of a state penitentiary, slam-loving connoisseur to froth from Phil Sandoval and Jeff Duncan for maximum nerve-jangling effect. from every orifice. Max Portnoy’s is blazing, yet also capable of subtlety skin-pounding onslaught remains when required. Gonzo Sandoval is Right from the jump-off, it’s a sight a constant, but Justin’s vocal a drumming maniac. The four tracks to behold; frontman Justin Bonitz is gymnastics are highlighted during played from their latest album Punching hunched on the floor of the makeshift the goth-tinged The Silo and We, The The Sky stand up well, with Standing On stage next to a heavily made-up, Sad, veering seamlessly between The Shoulders Of Giants surely destined macabre-faced keyboardist/DJ, while enamel-peeling shrieks and melodic to become a cornerstone of future live his cohorts twitch fitfully to the restraint before the deranged pace shows. This has a sparkling bite. The unsettling strains of opener [redacted] picks back up for Cottonmouth and band end with two classics in Reign Of before No One Should Read This drops seething closer Red Light. It’s a slick yet Fire and Can U Deliver. A fitting climax with all the force of a grenade. As the spiteful, thoroughly sense-shattering to a tremendous 80 minutes. camera zooms in on grime-ridden trip back to the future. soft toys hanging from ceiling chains, MALCOLM DOME Justin’s cries of ‘Look up to me!’ SOPHIE MAUGHAN VOYAGER YOUTUBE LIVE It’s Sunday lunchtime in the UK and in Perth, Australia Voyager are beaming their livestream from a massive, empty gig venue. “This is like when I was 10 years old, singing in front of the mirror, imagining thousands of people,” quips singer Danny Estrid. After a few technical glitches that cause a late start, the sultans of synth appear in a haze of stage smoke and light shards; behind them a huge backdrop emblazons their name. It doesn’t matter that guitarist Simone Dow – who, it transpires, has an injured shoulder and a migraine – is sitting down to play; her riffs on Severomance are incendiary. Danny’s new romantic vocal tones complement the djenty crunch of Scott Kay and Alex Canion’s technical groove on Brightstar and Misery Is Only Company, before the primal thump of What A Wonderful Day makes you yearn to be in the front row. In between mic duties Danny whips out his keyboard skills, but it’s the dark maelstrom of Disconnected that gets the chatroom virtually moshing and by closing fan fave Ascension they’re practically weeping into their coffee mugs. Signing off with a “Thank you, goodnight cosmos!” brings this surreal but powerful virtual show to a close. HOLLY WRIGHT 102 METALHAMMER.COM

PRESS ENSLAVED LIVE REVIEWS YOUTUBE LIVE Enslaved: turns out it’s pretty misty in Bergen’s Viking voyagers chart an the upper echelons electrifying new course METALHAMMER.COM 103 SINCE PLAYING USF Verftet in Bergen in April, and with two shows as part of their Cinematic Summer Tour under their belt, Enslaved are no strangers to livestreams. Now, as the ‘tour’ concludes with Utgard, The Journey Within – presented by Summer Breeze and us here at Hammer – the band proudly usher in their new era. Unlike the usual practice of livestreamed shows where bands do their best to replicate a show in yesteryear’s normal times, this stream feels much more intimate and personal. With splashes of cinematic interludes and the simplicity of the band performing in a circular stance, the focus is very much on the Norwegians’ ability to premiere new material from their brand new album, Utgard. And whilst tonight’s showing is short in length, the streamlined nature of the material on show here helps the band make a lasting connection. Opener Jettegyrta is a strong opening number thanks to some wonderful clean vocal deliveries from keyboardist Håkon Vinje and ethereal riffwork laced with the Scandinavian frost, but it’s with Homebound where Enslaved really start hitting their stride. Slick riffing from Ivar Bjørnson and Ice Dale keep the pace flowing at full-throttle, and frontman Grutle Kjellson’s harsh vocal works cut through the mix remarkably well. But the real star of the show here is drummer Iver Sandøy, who dispatches gorgeous cleans to really help the song soar, especially in its finale. Urjotun is the most vibrant and unique cut on show here. The near-Oranssi Pazuzu levels of musical insanity – thanks to a synth-heavy, hypnotic groove – really display the more experimental side to Enslaved that we’ve not really heard before. In this live setting, the performance cuts an extra level of immersion thanks to bursts of strobe lighting as if detonated by the beat, while Flight Of Thought And Memory feels akin to the Enslaved of old thanks to hefty tremolo riffing and shrieking vocals. As the stream concludes with a neat little ‘encore’ of two cuts from the band’s previous two streams, one thing is clear: confident and oozing class, this live rendition of Utgard kickstarts a wonderful new chapter to the Enslaved story and reaffirms the band’s position within the upper echelons of our world. JAMES WEAVER

LIVE REVIEWS Fever 333: defying the INSOMNIUM powers that be, and gravity SF SOUND STUDIO, LEHMO, FINLAND FEVER 333 There’s a three-course meal of metal VEEPS ONLINE being served up in Finland as Insomnium sandwich their main course of last year’s Inglewood insurrectionists fail to let the music do the talking Heart Like A Grave album played in full between a ‘VIP only’ stream of brand- IT’S RELEASE DAY for Fever 333. Jason Aalon Butler does new material in progress and an acoustic PRESS/ STEVE THRASHER Fever 333’s heavy lifting set to finish. Whilst the VIP starter goes Their brand-new EP, Wrong Generation, off without a hitch, technical difficulties has been out mere hours, and to There are a few musical highlights in accessing the main portion of the celebrate the band are performing to be had here; Made An America is stream force the band to play an their latest livestream gig… or ferocious, and new song Supremacy, additional aperitif of tracks from their ‘demonstration’, as they prefer to call a weak point on the new EP, manages back catalogue while issues are rectified their live shows. The new EP highlights to work well live against all of the odds. – not that anyone complains about many of the problems that have always But, ultimately, the most inspiring hearing extra material. Once they finally existed in Fever 333; while the message parts of the Fever 333 demonstration is kick into Wail Of The North, the following is undoubtedly a good one, their when the band stop playing and Jason hour is a luscious smorgasbord of riffs, approach tends to be too neutered, too speaks between songs about his year, harmonies and some of the best melodic simplistic, with not enough meat on his family, his intention for starting death metal to see the light of day in the bones to back up the grandeur of the band and whatever else is on his recent years, with the debut airing of their intentions. mind. There you see a sensitive, Twilight Trails and the first full live passionate, intelligent and articulate experience of closing number Karelia These criticisms are brought into man desperate to evoke wider change just two of the many highlights. There sharp focus when you experience the – all things that, sadly, can get lost are surprises during the acoustic section band live – albeit through a screen amongst the bluster of his music. as well, such as a premiere of Lose Tonight – where frontman Jason Aalon Butler in amongst more recognised tracks can really let loose. He remains one STEPHEN HILL like The Promethean Song and One For of the most life-affirming focal points Sorrow. Considering the wobble at the of any band in modern music, and, he beginning, Insomnium manage to turn carries Fever 333 on his back almost things around in fine fashion, fully single-handedly. Opening with new whetting the appetites of all those who song Bite Back, surrounded by police have tuned in. in riot gear who disperse as the song’s chorus explodes, Jason throws himself ELLIOT LEAVER around the cuboid stage the band have set themselves up on with scant OBITUARY regard for his own body. Behind him, images of riots, war and divisive ESI PRODUCTIONS, TAMPA, FLORIDA political figures are flash-projected like a Clockwork Orange/Newsnight mash-up; A fun aspect of livestreaming is the if you’re looking for a subtle message live chat running alongside. Reading then Fever 333 are not the band for you. witticisms and salutations is much more palatable than having spittle-flecked opinions blasted into your ear canal. So when severe sound clipping plagues the opening of Obituary’s performance of their 1990 classic Cause Of Death, we’re relieved to be witnessing the mass fit from afar. Thirty technology-tamed minutes later, the death metal stompers lay into the opening trifecta of Infected, Body Bag and Chopped In Half with gusto. Backed by full backline and stage production, the lights and quick edits add an air of rapid- fire movement to their casually venomous performance. After a cover of Celtic Frost’s Circle Of The Tyrants and a fan photo montage during Dying, they loosen up and have more fun with the situation. Sidelong glances, increased hair whipping, actual smiles and guitarist Trevor Peres’s random hoots and hollers give the performance a convivial feel, not least during the cobbled-together encore. As the commentary congratulates Obituary on their fine form, the entire exercise demonstrates the power of a landmark album to withstand technological blips, newfangled environments and the goddamn plague. CONNIE GORDON 104 METALHAMMER.COM

COMPETITION AGYAWSIOBINGSINUNOGEDNNUSGSG GUITAR! To celebrate the release of the new AC/DC album, Power Up, we’ve teamed up with Gibson and AC/DC’s label, Sony, to give away a Gibson SG guitar, signed by Angus Young himself! Power Up is the long-awaited 17th studio album from AC/DC and the first following the death of founding member and guitarist Malcolm Young. “This record is pretty much a dedication to Malcolm, my brother,” Angus Young said recently. “It’s a tribute for him like Back In Black was a tribute to Bon Scott.” Power Up will be released on November 13 via Sony. To be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize, head to the web address below and correctly answer the following question: The Gibson SG was first launched as Gibson Les Paul SG in which year? 1971, 1958, 1961, 1967 http://bit.ly/angusSG

What’s the worst thing about being FIVE MINUTES WITH the Glassjaw in a band? album, which is “The most obvious answer would be JEREMY still huge for me, dividing your time between home and BOLM then At The Drive- the road. It’s a grass is always greener In, The Blood Brothers, situation, isn’t it? When you’re at home TOUCHÉ AMORÉ that Cure album… you miss the road; when you’re on the The singer opens up on the I was obsessed with road you miss home.” pressures of soundtracking his work from about people’s grief, and working with 1995 to 2002. Then you What’s the best piece of advice you’ve the one and only Ross Robinson learn all of this folklore surrounding been given? WORDS: STEPHEN HILL • PORTRAIT: GEORGE CLARKE the guy, and I still had that impression “Don’t discount what someone tells in my head when we met him, that he you, but take everything with a grain would be this intimidating presence. PRESS of salt. So, if I have someone come up When we heard that he was interested and tell me that they didn’t commit in working with us, we had to do it. suicide because of our band then that’s You have to go for those experiences a really heavy thing to hear. I don’t and, honestly, I wouldn’t want to discount that, but, for my own change it for the world.” mental wellbeing, I also have to be aware that people say things to make You’ve released three an impression. That really helped me poetry zines. How out a lot when I was struggling to hear different is writing poetry a lot of those stories.” from writing lyrics? “Poetry is less risk, it’s When was the first time you felt like my way to exercise my a rock star? brain when I’m not “I’m gonna go ahead and say I’ve never writing a record. I don’t felt that. Look at my bank balance, that really enjoy writing. should back my story up…” I don’t do it for pleasure, it’s a big task and it takes When was the last time you cried? me a long time to get it “The day Riley Gale passed. He and right. Doing those poetry I were talking three days before.” books was just a good way to keep me working. It is different What’s been your worst experience in that I can write something, feel on drugs? good that I got it out and I don’t have “Never done drugs! Straight edge.” to perform it. Here’s six lines that feel good to get out of me, now I can Presumably you’ve had an experience forget about it.” with someone else’s drug taking that’s not been so great? 2016’s Stage Four album was so “Being in LA, I’ve had my fair share of personal [it was written about Jeremy’s being around people on cocaine and mother’s cancer battle] and connected my instinct is always to immediately deeply with so many people; it must walk in the opposite direction. I can’t be difficult to have conversations handle loud people, so loud people on relating to that with your fanbase? cocaine? I’m out.” “It is. The new album touches on the corners of it; the daily messages I would How intimidating was it working with get, or conversations I would have with Ross Robinson for the latest album? people after the show where I hear “Very intimidating. He’s been a part of about their pain. I struggled with that. my musical journey since I was a kid; I feel guilty having a hard time of it.” when I saw the music video for Blind by Korn, that was an awakening to heavy Why? music for me. I learned about Ross after “Because I know why people are that, and, with this being pre-internet, talking to me about it. I get it, I’d do the any time I saw that he produced an exact same thing. Someone has written album it felt like a sign of quality, so something that means something to I would buy it. Once I shifted into you and you connect to, so you want to listening to more hardcore stuff, he did show that you appreciate it. But, for me, it was a constant struggle. I could “LOUD be having a perfectly nice day and then PEOPLE ON the conversation goes that way and COCAINE? I end up feeling sad, because I don’t I’M OUT” have advice and I really don’t know how to help that person.” LAMENT IS OUT NOW VIA EPITAPH 106 METALHAMMER.COM



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