Whisplash 2007

I am now done with posting Overkill videos. The last one made a point: you can still play good thrash metal from the 1980s in 2007. Here's another proof: Metallica's “Whisplash” at Werchter. The audio-only version has really good sound.



“Sick of the Studio” was good news for the people who lived close to the tour locations, and good news for people who have seen and joyed Metallica live. Their Reading concert a few years ago was good, even though they were touring “St Anger”. Metallica are rightfully sick of the studio: their recent studio stuff is interesting, but it is not good (“Vulturous” has potential, which lasts 15 seconds and then dies in useless vocalisations and a monotonous arrangement). But their tours are still good! And I think that “S & M” carried the insight that their old stuff is good enough to enjoy several cycles of innovative recycling. Thrash has many lives.

On a different topic, the cable that goes from my computer to the hi-fi is badly damaged and I get sound through only one speaker (left). The funny thing is that it gives me the opportunity to listen to records in a different way. Caravan's “Golf Girl” in mono is funny, because the horn at the beginning is completely killed, it's only guitars, drums and vocals!

Overkill frenzy, last episode

Watching Overkill at Wacken 2007 perfected my knowledge of the band, which is impressively good on stage. Their new drummer is absolutely fantastic. Here's “Wrecking Crew” with muffled yet enjoyable sound:



And the unforgettable “Rotten to the Core” live, again!

Post-rock by friends

I had never thought that one day I would come to lik bands of which I know members personally. Because I am picky and because local bands do not get much support, I thought this would never happen. Of course, my reasoning is flawed by the fact that every band was once a local band; my dichotomy is inconsistent.

My hometown is Grenoble, France. The two 'proximal' bands I listen to on a regular basis are:

- High Tone, a dub band from Lyon (good website by the way). I have seen them play at the Eurockéennes festival a long time ago. Their work is just excellent. I even came to work briefly with people who themselves work with their label, Jarring Effects.

- RIEN, a very good post-rock band from Grenoble of which I happen to know a member; we spent time in the same class in high school. The label is the Amicale Undergound, and the two albums happen to be… free. Isn't that perfect? Go and listen to it.

Overkill

You learnt about Overkill yesterday. I have done my video-homework and can now testify: Overkill is one of those rare bands which managed to preserve their 1980s identity through the 1990s, despite the deadly nature of this decade for high-pitched voices and clear snare drums. Here they are, playing 'Rotten to the Core' in 2004 as if it were 1985:



The guy who uploaded the first piece puts it this way: 'fuckers are still killing it.' Enough said.

Also enjoy 'Coma' live (n.d.):

Two Doors to Thrash Metal

Here are two interesting entry points to the thrash galaxy.

1.

“Coma” by Overkill. The video is in fact the studio version collated to a variety of concert extracts:



2.

“Burnt Offerings” by Testament. I cannot seem to find a decent live version. This will have to do:



… but please go and find the album version.

Where was this music born? Check this foggy picture of the San Franscisco bay.

These songs are interesting entry points to thrash metal because they tell you what to expect (catchy guitar riffs, terrific drums) and what not to expect (interesting lyrics, innovative song structures). For some reason the album versions of the songs seem more interesting to me.

My own introduction to thrash metal was unconventional, since I first heard of it through Metallica's S & M -- not exactly a traditional thrash record.

So What?

Led Zep

You can't really miss the bootlegs and video material. Two stills can help me make my point, however. Here's the Zeppelin in 1969 for a live in Paris:



And here's the Zeppelin in London, 2007:



Let's agree that the visual performance is probably less fun. But the sound, the sound, is still great from what I can hear!

Notes from the week

• Blackfield, “II” is not bad. Now I can see where Opeth is coming from (some tracks are very similar as far as the general harmonics are concerned, especially if you listen to Opeth's acoustic masterpiece).


• Faith No More, “The Real Thing” is quickly importing from the CD. Let's see. Isn't “War Pigs” a song by Black Sabbath? HA–I knew it!


• My longlasting love story with French hard rock from the eighties continues: I just bought H-Homb, “Attaque” on iTunes (the funniest band ever), and Trust, “Répression” is now the most listened album in my library, right after…


• … The Chemical Brothers, “Dig your Own Hole” -- because this album is simply one of the best electronic music albums I have ever heard.

Minimal techno heaven

Kinosport has the best minimal techno available for free. Check their posts about my hometown, Grenoble! And the music is excellent, that is, if you are into very minimal techno (Stephan Bodzin, for instance).

Favorite minimal techno artists so far: Plastikman/Richie Hawtin (Closer), Stewart Walker (esp. Live Extracts), Joris Voorn (Fuse).