Author: Andrew Risch

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GrimDad – “Hi Trve Kvlt. I’m Dad.”

Just by checking out GrimDad’s logo you can tell that this is not a band that takes itself in a serious matter. Grill spatulas, golf clubs and a wrench hang from a legible logo reminding most listeners to the least metal person they know…their fathers.

With “Hi Trve Kvlt. I’m Dad,” GrimDad takes the concept of dad jokes and pushes it to it’s extreme limits. With song titles such as Welcome to Chili’s, Kickstart my Heartburn and Dungeons and Drag-Dads, GrimDad takes a humorous approach to music genre that is not often depicted this way. The lyrics, like most dad jokes, will either give you a little laugh or cause you to let out a groan. I was surprised by the music itself. For a band that bills itself more or less a parody, they sound and feel like traditional black metal with it’s low fi production, blast beats and shrieking vocals. For me, Welcome to Chilis is the stand out track here and if happen to be a father that has ever attempted to take the family out to dinner, you know how brutal that can be.

If you are looking for something that is different and outside the norm and maybe something to give yourself a little laugh, GrimDad is what you have been waiting for.

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LADY BEAST – The Early Collection Review

 

And now for something completely different.

Here at Trve Kvlt Coffee we love our metal just like our coffee; Black as the grave and evil as fuck, but that dosen’t mean we can’t stray from our usual path of destruction on occasion. Lady Beast bring the power and the fury of traditional NWOBHM music with a heavy nod to Iron Maiden. And trust us, this is a good thing! The Early Collection collects some of bands best tracks from their first three studio albums.

The Maiden influence is strong throughout this release with it’s galloping beats, harmonizing guitars and operatic vocals. Lady Beast has an old school style that is simple, yet satisfying with it’s overly cheesy song titles such as Metal Rules, Heavy Metal Destiny and We are the Witches. They may be song titles that our 8th grade selves may have come up with but they are nonetheless fun and catchy. As with most compilations a cover is included and the band does a great job on Judas Priest’s Ram it Down.

What really sets Lady Beast apart from other bands in their genre is the lead vocalist, Deborah Levine. Not just a cliche female lead vocalist, Levine has the pipe power to make Lady Beast a memorable band. If you are looking for a band the captures the early 80’s metal scene with a fresh, yet familiar approach, Lady Beast is not to be missed.

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SLAYER “FINAL CAMPAIGN” Tour Review

 

When Slayer announced they would embark on their farewell world tour in January of 2018, the collective cry of thousands of Metalheads could be heard screaming, “Nooooooo!”. Fortunately, Slayer has had several legs on this tour giving their fans plenty of opportunity to say goodbye to one of Metal’s most legendary and enduring bands.

 

In November, Slayer began their “Final Campaign” portion of the tour with what promises to be their last EVER tour dates, Joining them on this leg are Phil Anselmno and the Illegals (performing a special Pantera set), Ministry and Primus.

 

I was able to make it out to their recent show in Louisville, Kentucky. To say there was excitement in the air would be an understatement as excited screams of, “SLAYYYYEERR!” began to fill the KFC Yum Center in anticipation for what may be the last chance for many to see the Thrash Titans. Finally the lights dimmed and the familiar pentagram logo began to float in front of the large black curtains. Flames and fury were heavy from the get go as the band exploded into “Repentless”, “Mandatory Suicide” and “War Enesemble.” At some points the pyro used for the show was so heavy, I thought the band may have actually opened a portal to Hell. There were enough flames to make the California wildfires blush.  This was fucking metal. This was fucking SLAYER! Slayer performed many songs from their over 30 year catalog.”Seasons in the Abyss”, “South of Heaven” and “Chemical Warfare” were huge highlights for me.  For fans who may have been lucky to see them before on their farewell tour, they added a few new classics to this set: “Jesus Saves,” and a rare performance of “Show No Mercy,” from their 1983 debut album.

 

Slayer hasn’t been much for chatting up the crowd in past shows and nothing has changed for this final run of concerts. Tom Araya prefers to let the brutality of the music do all of the talking. Kerry King with his imposing tattooed look nailed every classic solo with ease. Paul Bostaph was on par with original drummer Dave Lombardo, proving that he is worthy of the Slayer Legacy. Gary Holt with his “No Lives Matter” shirt looked and sounded like he has been with the band from the beginning. This is truly a group that is going out on top. And the fans could not have enjoyed it any more as furious pits broke out across the entire floor of the arena. The rest of the fans who had seats to witness this show stood, headbanged and screamed aloud as they could to bid a fond farewell to band that many have listened to their entire lives. People came out in droves to pack the house from the older fans who have been there since day one and the younger fans who may have just discovered the Slaytanic Army.

 

Closing with perhaps their greatest contribution to Thrash Metal, “Angel of Death”, the evening came to an end. The usually quiet Tom Araya took a moment to thank the crowd for their years of support and how important they have been to his life.

 

Can this really be the end of Slayer? Will they play any one off dates? Maybe another Big Four Show? We will have to wait and see. One thing is for certain there will never be another Slayer.