Photo Credit - Jeff Longo

Tim Lambesis 32,lead singer of popular Christian based Heavy Metal act As I Lay Dying, was arrested Tuesday in Oceanside, CA and charged with 3 Federal counts including- solicitation of another to commit murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit crime, according to the San Diego County sheriff’s department.

“Information came to us last Thursday, we decide to initiate an investigation immediately,” Jan Caldwell, a spokesman for the San Diego sheriff’s department told ABCNews.com. “We worked it around the clock until the arrest was made at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.” Caldwell said that Lambesis was arrested without incident.

On Tuesday, Lambesis solicited an undercover detective to kill his wife Meggan Lambesis,San Diego police said that they received a tip on May 2 that Lambesis was soliciting an individual to kill his estranged wife, who served him with divorce papers in September 2012.

As I Lay Dying were scheduled to tour with Killswitch Engage starting in June in Philadelphia, PA. Not so sure that’s gonna happen now….

Photo Slideshow with tons of more photos – Click here
Ghost B.C. Haze Over North America Tour Dates – Click Here

Standing amongst the unwashed masses at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco Thursday evening, amidst Swedish occult-rock band Ghost B.C.‘s backdrop of stained glass cathedral windows featuring lewd imagery, one couldn’t help but wonder; “Am I about to take part in a Satanic ritual?” The answer- a resounding yes, with songs like ‘Satan Prayer’ & ‘Depth of Satans eyes’ Ghost B.C. leaves little to the imagination regarding their choice in deity.

As each Nameless Ghoul took his (or her) place in the dark Sanctuary, the mixed SF crowd of dirty metal heads, and college hipsters stopped exchanging dirty looks and began cheering in unison for their favorite diabolical clergy. Front man Papa Emeritus II took the stage to the Gregorian style chants of Infestissumam, the title track opener, and began acknowledging the crowd like a priest during Sunday morning mass waving and clasping his hands together while nodding his head gently.

Rocking through a mixed set of tracks from their debut Opus Eponymous, & their latest release Infestissumam, Ghost BC were loud, precise, and tight like seasoned pros on top of their game. Often times bands with theater production, and costumes can put the quality of their music on the back burner, such is not the case with Ghost BC as displayed during their instrumental track Genesis.

The Nameless Ghouls tore through the piece sans Papa patrolling the sanctuary, keeping the crowds attention with their gifted chops. The members clearly understand how to mix rock and theater, evoking thoughts of Brian de Palmas rock opera classic Phantom of the Paradise, Alice Cooper, and Mercyful Fate all at once.

To look around the Regency Ballroom midway through the show you couldn’t help but notice a smile on every ones faces, though dark and evil in content, the delivery has tongue planted firmly in cheek making it an interactive horror experience akin to a walk through a haunted house on Halloween.

Ghost BC inspires great fervor for both their fans, and detractors there is no middle ground here; love them or hate them it seems they are here to stay for a while. My advice, have some fun in this short life and enjoy some sinister sombre rock theater via Ghost BC, if you dare…

Ghost B.C. formed in Sweden and exploded on to the metal scene with their debut album “Opus Eponymous”, Their much anticipated followup Infestissumam debuted at #28 on The Billboard 200 chart selling over 14,000 in the U.S. in its first week. For more info click here.

Setlist-

Infestissumam
Per Aspera ad Inferi
Con Clavi Con Dio
Prime Mover
Depth of Satan’s Eyes
Elizabeth
Secular Haze
Stand by Him
Death Knell
Satan Prayer
Genesis
Year Zero
Ritual
Encore-
Monstrance Clock

Photo Credit: ©Jeff Longo

“Something Wicked This Way Comes,” that’s right folks the wait is over, your favorite Swedish satanic rock-pop band Ghost aka Ghost B.C, kicked off their  “Haze Over North America 2013″ tour last weekend. Starting with two psalms (or shows to the uninitiated) at Coachella  in Southern California last weekend, Papa Emeritus II and the Nameless Ghouls will trek across the U.S. and Canada ending in Pittsburgh on May 18th.

Celebrating their sophomore release, Infestissumam out on April 16th which debuted at #1 on the iTunes Rock Album Chart. Joining them will be Ides of Gemini. The venues are much bigger than their previous U.S. tour which was relegated to small clubs and bars, so expect a highly theatrical stage show.  Ghost can be best described as “Blue Oyster Cult soaked in Satan”, not sure who first coined this phrase but it does describe them pretty nicely. We highly recommend you attend.

Ghost B.C. Tour Dates

4/12 – Indio CA, Coachella
4/18 – Denver CO, Ogden Theatre
4/19 – Albuquerque NM, Sunshine Theater
4/21 – Indio CA, Coachella Valley
4/23 – Tucson AZ, Rialto Theatre
4/25 – San Francisco, CA, The Regency
4/26 – Portland OR, Wonder Ballroom
4/27 – Seattle WA, Showbox at the Market
4/29 – Vancouver BC, Commodore Ballroom
4/30 – Calgary AB, Republik
5/01 – Edmonton AB, Starlite Room
5/03 – Winnipeg AB, Garrick Centre
5/04 – Minneapolis MN, Mill City Nights
5/06 – Toronto ON, Opera House
5/07 – Montreal QC, Corona Theatre
5/08 – Quebec City QC, Theatre Petit
5/10 – Boston MA, Royale
5/11 – New York NY, Webster Hall
5/12 – Philadelphia PA, Trocadero
5/13 – Washington DC, 9:30 Club
5/15 – Milwaukee WI, Turner Hall
5/17 – Detroit MI, St. Andrews Hall
5/18 – Pittsburgh PA, Mr. Smalls

Lamb of God @ The Electric Factory Philadelphia 11-24-12

A list of Stubble’s top 20 albums of 2012. Don’t like it? Make your own list. Presented in no particular order since every single one of these releases absolutely kick-ass and deserve your immediate attention.

The Sword – Apocryphon – (Razor & Tie)
The highly anticipated fourth studio release from The Sword is kick-fucking- ass.  Apocryphon is heavy, melodic and packs more fuzz than your filthy lint trap. Perfecting their blend of Sabbath meets Thin Lizzy via a Pot filled Texas BBQ, the Sword is solidifying their throne atop the hard rock world. Standout tracks: The Veil of Isis, Cloak of Feathers, and the title track Apocryphon. Must see live!

HIGH ON FIRE – De Vermis Mysteriis – (E1 Music)
A concept album from Oakland, CA heavies involving Jesus Christ’s time traveling twin brother, Chinese black lotus serums, & all around madness. With production by Converges Kurt Ballou, this album is raw, unflinching and heavier than anything ever put on wax. One iTunes customer reviewer had the following to say about Pike & Co.- “If you don’t like High On Fire, you don’t like Heavy Metal.”

Graveyard – Lights Out – (Nuclear Blast)
Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue (cheer). These Swedes know how to write a hook with a familiar sound, without getting stale. Proudly carrying the torch to light the giant bowl Sabbath left behind, GRAVEYARD are sure to get mustaches throughout the world nodding in unison to such future classics like ‘The suits, the law, and the uniforms’. Righteous.

CONVERGE – All We Love We Leave behind – (Epitaph Records)
No signs of slowing here. Brutal double bass attacks (Trespasses) to trippy Mastodon-esque riffing (Coral Blue) Converge wears their influences on their sleeves, sewing them together seamlessly without sounding contrived and soulless. A solid album from a band that continues to grow and stay ahead of the curve.

FOXY SHAZAM – The Church of Rock ‘n’ Roll – (IRS Records)
“That’s the biggest black ass I’ve ever seen, and I like it, I like it!” so caterwauls Foxy Shazams wildly energetic front man Eric Nally on the bands single I like it. A bluesy stomp rock ode to large black derrieres. Throw this record on at a party and watch the sparks fly. Good time Rock ‘n’ Roll done right, Hallelujah. Check out our interview with Foxy Shazam at Warped.

PIG DESTROYER – Book Burner (Relapse Records)
The highly anticipated new full length from Virginia grind meisters Pig Destroyer doesn’t disappoint. Misery Index drummer Adam Jarvis joins the folds and lays waste to his kit. Play this one full fucking blast.

OM – Advaitic Songs – (Drag City)
Om doesn’t have time to write half assed 3 minute album fillers to satisfy cranky label execs stuffing their faces with cocaine and under aged prostitutes. Instead they craft opus sized hymns and psalms full of molasses thick bass lines, backed by chants, cellos and whatever else Mr. Cisneros and company deem fit. Take the trip, its worth the ride.

Lamb of God – Resolution – (Epic/Roadrunner)
If you didn’t like LOG before, then Resolution will probably make you cry more than you already do. Fourteen tracks of the pure American metal you have come to love from LOG along with a little Doom Metal (Straight to the Sun), acoustic interludes (Ghost Walking and Bararosa), and spoken word (King Me) to keep it fresh. Standout tracks Desolation, Invictus, and Grammy nominated Ghost Walking. Check out our show review and pics from of Lamb of God at the Hollywood Palladium.

Job For A Cowboy – Demonocracy – (Metal Blade)
So you think JFAC are a trendy “mall metal” band? I really don’t give a shit. I’m a grown man; I’ll listen to whatever the fuck I like. Adding two new members to the fold, JFAC have taken another step into becoming a well oiled metal machine One of the best of 2012 for damn sure. Check out our interview with Job For a Cowboy at Slim’s.

OFF – OFF! – (VICE Music)
Keith and company deliver 16 more tracks of no bullshit, blue collar punk fucking rock. These guys deserve your attention, give it to them now.

Smashing Pumpkins – Oceania – (EMI)
Oceania is spacey, guitar driven, modern rock at it’s finest & can hold it’s own against the pumpkins extensive and aging back catalog. This only made the list due to the fact they played the entire album live on the supporting tour and it was bad ass. Standout tracks: “Quasar”, “Panopticon”, and “Violet Rays”.

Neurosis – Honor Found in Decay (Neurot/Relapse)
Oakland California sludge metal pioneers made us wait five years since landmark “Give in to the Rising” blew our minds and it was worth the wait. Strap in for the first three “movements’ that clock in at just under thirty minutes. A roller coaster of sinister, gloomy, groove sludge metal deliciousness peaking with the anthem “In a shadow world, in a shadow world”. Stand out tracks – “We All Rage in Gold”, At the Well”, and “My Heart For Deliverance.”

Aborted – Global Flatline – (Century Media)
Belgium based death grinder’s ABORTED release a zombie apocalypse themed album for 2012, likely a nod to end of the world rumors. Songs like Fecal Forgery, & Of Scabs & Boils are sure to keep you moving while packing your 2012 survival kits.

Unsane – Wreck – (Alternative Tentacles)
Stripped down, heavy and in your face; in another words everything you’ve come to expect from the NYC noise trio who’ve been pounding the pavement for 20+ years. Their first album since 2007’s Visqueen, finds the boys on Jello’s Alternative Tentacles label rocking monosyllabic titles and all.

PELICAN – Ataraxia/Taraxis (Southern Lord Records)
Chicago based instrumental rockers PELICAN deliver an EP that has something to do with parallel planets. Perfect for throwing on while reading your favorite comic book, or novel.

Cancer Bats – Dead Set on Living – (Distort)
Cancer Bats walk a delicate line between metal and punk that is aggressive, dark, and fucking heavy. Shit these guys did a tour as Bat Sabbath playing an entire Black Sabbath set., what’s not to love? Check out our interview with the Cancer Bats at the Oakland Metro.

Between The Buried and Me – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – (Metal Blade Records)
BTBAM continue the idea set forth on their 2011 EP The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues. What is that idea you ask? Go buy the fucking albums cheap skate! The enigma that is BTBAM is on full blast here, musical candy for the ears, sometimes Danny Elfman like, and others cave in your skull between your ears crushing. Well worth the hour or so you will need to commit to these pair of gems. Check out our interview with Between the Buried and Me at Slim’s.

The Shrine – Primitive Blast – (Tee Pee Records)
The Shrine sound like Ted Nugent quit hunting, picked up skateboarding , dope smoking and listened to nothing but SST era skate rock.  Balls to the walls American rock ‘n’ fucking roll for throwing on while you’re carving up the sidewalks in your town. Crack a Pabst and grab this one for sure.

A Band of Orcs – Adding Heads to the Pile – (Itchy Metal Ent.)
They’re not misunderstood, they’re evil. The debut album from A Band of Orcs, yes they are really Orcs, hail from the planet Hirntodia, but now claim Santa Cruz as home, live to eat your brains & crush your skull with brutal death metal ala J. Double R. Tolkien style. “We’ve come to your realm to summon the apocalypse,; burn this miserable mud ball,” snorts vocalist Gogog Bloodthroat. Listen to this now or die! Check out our interview with A Band of Orcs.

A Life Once Lost – Ecstatic Trance – (Season of Mist)
Philadelphia heavy groove metal pioneers smash the mold with a very different sound than previous releases. Repeat listens will have you thrashing till your head falls off. Check out our interview with A Life Once Lost at the Kung Fu Necktie.

Written by Josh Kutras & Jeff Longo

Warbeast – Bobby Tillotson
The Regency Ballroom
1-20-2013 – San Francisco, CA
Interview & Photos by Jeff Longo & Josh Kutras

Where does one go to find a Warbeast? Just follow the homeless guy to the giant dumpster in the back alley of San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom of course! Stubble caught up with Bobby Tillotson (a.k.a. “J.R.”) of Texas thrash metal band Warbeast while on tour with Down supporting their new split EP War of the Gargantuas (with Phil Anselmo and the Illegals) . We discuss gun control, their upcoming release Destroy (out in April 2013 on Housecore Records), and their first ever appearance at the Metal Masters.

Stubble: Welcome to San Francisco
Bobby: Right on thank you man.

Stubble: So you guys are on the Weed and Speed tour with Down…
Bobby: That’s right man, they bring the weed and we bring the speed dude. We’re all fucked up.

Stubble: Warbeast is signed to Phil Anselmo’s Housecore Records…
Bobby: Housecore Records man, best on the planet.

Stubble: How would you explain Warbeast to the uninitiated?
Bobby: Well basically man fuckin’, if you’re of the sluggish nature and coming in yawning and shit, prepare to get your head ripped off because Warbeast is full out assault. Me and Scott Shelby, the other guitar player, we like to call it fuckin’ precision metal. We don’t fuck around, we get us there and we really like to attack and give it straight to you. Be prepared to Mosh.

Stubble: It’s pretty heavy…
Bobby: We had a cat in a wheelchair in the mosh pit last night. They were rolling him around the pit. So basically, if you like metal, if you’re into Slayer, Pantera any type of thrash you’ll love Warbeast.

Stubble; You guys did your first release in 2010 “Krush the Enemy”, and just recently you released War of the Garganuatas a split EP with Phil Anselmo solo?
Bobby: Yeah it’s Phil Anselmo’s solo project it’s called ‘Phil Anselmo and the Illegals’. It’s pretty cool. Actually our drummer Joe Gonzalez plays drums on those tracks as well, He recorded that album with Phil. It’s two songs of his (Phil Anselmo and the Illegals) and two songs of ours, of course Joe plays on all it lucky bastard.

Stubble; You songs (Warbeast) are “It” and “Birth of a Psycho”, which is an autobiography of Bruce Corbitt’s life?
Bobby: Bruce would like to say he wrote it about himself “Birth of a Psycho”, I mean anyone can be pushed to that point.

Stubble: So how are the shows been going and how are fans responding to the new material?
Bobby: This is our third leg of the Down tour of course we did the east coast, we did the European and now we’re doing the west coast. We’ve been kicking asses and the crowd has been kicking ours as well. As far as this west coast leg, I don’t know man, we’ve had a few crowds that were a little sluggish and just kinda looking at you like your stupid, but overall its been pretty happening.

Stubble: How was the shows in LA vs the show in Sacramento last night?
Bobby: Sacramento was probably, to me the best one. We played at the Grove and that was pretty kick ass, to me that to me was the pinnacle maybe even the biggest show of the tour. Last night was good to man, last night the crowd was so energetic we do an intro coming out and they were already hitting on the intro…i was like God Damn we didn’t even start anything they’re already fucking going nuts. The crowd I think last night was the best, Ace of Spades.

Stubble: Does Phil come out on any of your songs?
Bobby: He usually comes out during “Scorched Earth Policy” like you can see if on youtube and shit. Everyone’s been a little bit under the weather so he hasn’t been coming out with us the last few shows, but he might come out, sometimes he’ll surprise you just to fuck with you.

Stubble: So Warbeast has another full length coming out later this year called “Destroy”
Bobby: That’s right its called Destroy. It’s supposed to be out hopefully March probably April. Its probably some the best shit you’ll hear from Warbeast, thus far. In metal and anything you always try to out do yourself and sort of kick the last records ass but this one is definitely up there, I think people are really gonna dig it. We stand behind it and we’re really proud of, and we play quite of few new ones live.

Stubble: So what’s coming up for you guys?
Bobby: Man you never know. The road’s hard maybe people might want a break or whatever, but other than Metal Masters in May…They do like an annual deal like a clinc, they do a show at the end. it’s a real honor for Warbeast to open the show. We’re going to be playing all of the Destroy album, we have alternate tunings on the record, we’re gonna bust out different guitars. Gonna try and nail it front to back you know, it’s some intense shit we’ve got our work cut out for us to live up to the Metal Masters.

Stubble: So what do you do when you’re not doing Warbeast
Bobby: Like all of us we work day jobs, I’m in the service industry, some of us have trades, you know some of us keep doing music like production shit like that. We’re not to the the point where were paying our bills just yet off this but everyone pretty much has day jobs.

Stubble: You’re from Texas right?
Bobby: Yep.
Stubble: Do you have a concealed weapons permit?
Bobby: Nah.
Stubble: Ever thought about getting one?
Bobby: Not really.
Stubble: Do you think the government is trying to take our guns away?
Bobby: Nah, they won’t man. The more things change the more they stay the same, Machine Head, but it’s true dude…I mean fuck it dude, people are going to own guns and if you need anything bad enough your gonna get it.

Stubble: God Dam Right, anything you want to add?
Bobby: Request Birth of a Psycho and It and any other Warbeast songs on Liquid Metal, buy the new War of the Gargantuas CD and look out for the brand new album Destroy coming out in March or April.

http://www.warbeast.org
http://www.facebook.com/warbeast1
http://www.thehousecorerecords.com

Stubble caught up with Black&Blue Records‘ progressive country band Jesse & the Hogg Brothers at Hogg HQ as they regroup for the second leg of their mid west tour that featured a stop at the Redneck Olympics, yes this exists. Jesse Braintree and family are keeping old school, real country alive; think CB trucking songs, odes to America, mud wrestling, etc.; if you can’t get enough of the crude Southerner comedy meets 1968 Grand Ole Opry country music then check them out.

Listen to Jesse & the Hogg Brothers on Jango – click here.

Stubble: How about we start with some introductions.
Jesse Braintree: My Name is Jesse Braintree with me is my cousin Stevie Joe Hogg he plays banjo and guitar we got my cousin Bufard Hogg Slide guitar, and over drinking beer at 10:30 in the morning, as usual, is my long standing cousin Buzz Hogg (bass, guitar, vocals).

Stubble: How did you guys get started?
Jesse Braintree: Well were all related, so actually what happened my dad died when I was young. He was in the military. He ended up being AWOL, we really don’t know what happened to him. So I ended up growing with my cousin buzz and my cousin Neil. Their father Pappy, he kinda raised us, he taught us how to play, so we’ve been playing music ever since. As every generation of Hoggs come up like the youngsters here they’ve joined us. Its one big family act. Best way to say it.

Stubble: Being a country band do you have any musical influences you want to talk about?
Jesse Braintree: Liquor for Buzz but, I don’t know, we grew up listing to Buck Owens and other people on Hee Haw and all the artists there whether your talking Hank Williams Jr, Roy Clarke, Johnny Cash, George Jones they’re all big, big influences on us. We just learned to love traditional, Ole Opry style country music and we try to add that element to our music.

Stubble: What do you think of today’s country music?
Jesse Braintree: For the most part I don’t. Its just pop music with a twang. I like Hank III and there’s plenty of people playing good country music in fact some artists play a little bit of both., but for what’s on the radio, I would say no I don’t listen to country radio. Its not what I like.

Stubble: Is there genre that you like besides country?
Jesse Braintree: Sure, we’re on a punk rock or metal label, we’re open to any kinda music. In fact whats funny one of our songs Biker Ann, a film maker approached us about a year ago and asked us if we’d be interested to turn that song into a movie. So that’s the plan right now we don’t know if its really gonna happen but supposedly we’re writing a script based on the song. The guy who owns the record label is writing a script along that so I have no idea if its going to have anything to do with the true story, bu we’re hoping to film that some time in 2013 and I’m real excited about that.

Stubble: You don’t have accents.
Jesse Braintree: I’m gonna answer this the only way I can. We’re from Texas, but we didn’t spend our whole lives in Texas. So I grew up mostly up here…We work for Yankee money, you saw our CD it’s called ‘Working for Yankee Money’ and we’ve been Working for Yankee for a long time. As much as we’re in Texas more than anywhere else, we’re up here too. So I guess I don’t sound as Texan as someone else but I’m a Texan and very proud of it. Normally when people say that to me I usually get pretty upset, especially when I am in Texas and some Texan says I’m not from Texas I don’t think that’s very respectful.

Black & Blue Records.com
Facebook – Jesse & the Hogg Brothers

Photos of Sylosis performing at the Palladium in Hollywood California on Halloween. By Jeff Longo

Sweden’s melodic metal veteran’s In Flames played main support and seemed to have a little more fans present. The show kicked up a notch as the light show went into full effect and In Flames proceeded to do their thing. The crowd seemed more engaged but not nearly enough for lead singer Anders Fridén as he let us all know, “See these guys in the yellow shirts they are just waiting to catch you mother fuckers, we want to see you people, our drummer want to smell you”. This is Hollywood, be careful what you ask for!

See also: Photos and show review: Lamb of God Review @ The Hollywood Palladium 10-31-2012

www.lamb-of-god.com
www.hatebreed.com
www.inflames.com
www.sylosis.com

Photos of Hatebreed performing at the Palladium in Hollywood California on Halloween.

Next up was hardcore mainstays Hatebreed who do exactly what you pay them for, kick ass. They sounded tight as Jami Jasta lead the chants to a greatest hits set. The good news is Hatebreed has announced a January 2013 release date for their upcoming album “The Divinity Of Purpose” their first in three years. I only saw one idiot hardcore dancing and he got smashed early in the set by Beetlejuice. Happy Halloween.

See also: Photos and show review: Lamb of God Review @ The Hollywood Palladium 10-31-2012

www.lamb-of-god.com
www.hatebreed.com
www.inflames.com
www.sylosis.com

Photos and review by Jeff Longo

What kind of candy do they hand out on Halloween in Hollywood? The metal kind of course. At least for the three thousand that lined up outside the Palladium in Hollywood to see the long awaited return of Lamb of God. Although I saw plenty of clowns only a few showed up in costume to do the demon dance with a bill that also that included In Flames, Hatebreed, and Sylosis.

In case you were on another planet or follow mainstream media here is a quick re-cap: after releasing their fifth studio album “Resolution” earlier this year, police arrested lead vocalist Randy Blythe as he entered the Czech Republic during the European Summer tour. He was held for thirty days, charged with manslaughter for an incident in 2010 that accuses Randy of allegedly pushing a guy who (repeatably) jumped on stage during the show, and as a consequence of falling he died sometime afterwards. Fast forward a couple of months and Lamb of God is back on tour in the states with In Flames, Hatebreed and Sylosis.- click for tour dates

England’s Sylosis was a very good choice for an opener. Heavy, thrashy, death metal band I never heard of but after their set the rowdy crowd was plenty warmed up and I would say they gained a few fans. Check them out if you get a chance.

Next up was hardcore mainstays Hatebreed who do exactly what you pay them for, kick ass. They sounded tight as Jami Jasta lead the chants to a greatest hits set. The good news is Hatebreed has announced a January 2013 release date for their upcoming album “The Divinity Of Purpose” their first in three years. I only saw one idiot hardcore dancing and he got smashed early in the set by Beetlejuice. Happy Halloween.

Sweden’s melodic metal veteran’s In Flames played main support and seemed to have a little more fans present. The show kicked up a notch as the light show went into full effect and In Flames proceeded to do their thing. The crowd seemed more engaged but not nearly enough for lead singer Anders Fridén as he let us all know, “See these guys in the yellow shirts they are just waiting to catch you mother fuckers, we want to see you people, our drummer want to smell you”. This is Hollywood, be careful what you ask for!

While we waited for Lamb of God to finally hit the stage the crowd was worked further into a frenzy as the entire crowd started chanting “Take it off, Take it off”, stage left balcony a couple of ladies scantily dressed as playboy bunnies or whores teased the crowd with some boobage.

When the lights went down it was time for some real fucking metal. The openers did their job as you could feel the pent up rage seething over the barricades as the return of Lamb of God for their first California show in over 2 years was only moments away. The drum riser was flanked by two large video screens with a huge Lamb of God Resolution banner in the middle.

The lights went out and the place went fucking nuts. The video screens came to life as video footage of buildings and bridges being demolished flashed while Chris Adler appeared and the drum kit erupted as the rest of the band joined in for openers “Desolation” and Ghost Walking” off Resolution both of which come off way heavier than I expected and were great openers.

Vocalist Randy Blithe burst on to the scene like a savage animal with black war paint stripped down his face ala Braveheart and sporting a black CREATURE T-shirt, “Happy Halloween mother fuckers!” Guitarist Willie Adler rocked the holiday as Kenny “Fucking” Powers and a “Shut The Fuck Up” muscle tee. Hilarious. Chris Adler, Mark Mortan, and John Campbell all apparently came as themselves and looked just like them too.

A definate highlight was hearing 11th Hour (2003 As the Palaces Burn), which hasn’t been played live in over five years. Has it been that long? A special video presentation played during “Now you’ve got something to die for” off of 2004′s Iraq War inspired Ashes of the Wake, flashing fan submitted pics of loved ones currently serving in the Military or who have given the ultimate sacrifice. I have to say i was moved and it did give a different dimension to the song.

11/8 Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room
11/9 Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
11/10 St. Paul, MN @ Myth
11/12 Louisville, KY @ Expo Five
11/14 Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
11/15 TBA
11/16 New York, NY @ Roseland
11/17 Silver Spring, MD @ Fillmore
11/19 Orlando, FL @ House of Blues

dates w/ Hellyeah
11/20 Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
11/21 Charlotte, NC @ Fillmore
11/23 Wallingford, CT @ Oakdale Theater
11/24 Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
11/25 Boston, MA @ House of Blues
11/26 Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theater
11/27 Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
11/28 Richmond, VA @ The National
11/30 Chicago, IL @ Congress Ballroom
12/1 Detroit, MI @ State Theater
12/2 Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion (no Hellyeah)
12/3 Grand Rapids, MI @ Orbit Room
12/4 Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
12/6 Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
12/7 Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom
12/8 Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
12/10 Denver, CO @ Fillmore
12/11 Farmington, NM @ McGhee Park
12/13 San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
12/14 Medford, OR @ Medford Armory
12/15 Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
12/16 Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO

Horrorcore’s only full live band Kung Fu Vampire has embarked on a full US tour to promote their new release “Love Bites” that will literally hit every region on the country. So you have no excuse, see tour dates below. Kung Fu Vampire is the vocalist of the musical group of the same name. He has toured and/or performed with 2 Live Crew, Naughty By Nature, Lyrics Born, Blackalicious, Tha Alkaholiks, Digital Underground, Mars, Esham, Violent Femmes, and Kool Keith.

11/04 – Berwyn, IL – Tiger O Stylies
11/06 – Pontiac, MI – The Pike Room
11/07 – Kalamazoo, MI – Shakespears Lower Level
11/08 – Columbus, OH – Bernie’s Bagels and Deli
11/09 – Salamanca, NY – Wildwood
11/10 – Worcester, MA – Club Oasis
11/11 – Allentown, PA – Crocodile Rock Cafe
11/13 – Wilmington, DE – Mojo Main
11/15 – Orlando, FL – TBA
11/16 – Jacksonville, FL – The Roc Bar
11/17 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
11/18 – Louisville, KY – The Vernon
11/20 – Sauget, IL – Pops
11/21 – Beardstown, IL – The Old Zone
11/22 – Frankfort, IN – American Legion
11/23 – Tulsa, OK – Eclipse
11/24 – Dallas, TX – The Door/Prophet Bar
11/25 – Houston, TX – The Orbit Room
11/26 – Austin, TX – Red Eyed fly
11/27 – Lubbock, TX – Jakes Backroom
11/29 – Gallup, NM – The Juggernaut
11/30 – Tucson, AZ – DV8
12/01 – Phoenix, AZ – TBA
12/02 – Santa Clarita, CA – Howie’s Pub
12/06 – San Miguel, CA – The Ranch
12/07 – Fresno, CA – The Babylon
12/08 – San Jose, CA – The Blank Club

San Jose, CA – Experimental Hip-Hop artist Kung Fu Vampire is set to hit the road to promote one of the most highly anticipated albums in the underground “Love Bites” with a massive 40 date tour. Kung Fu Vampire, who’s performances include a full band hit the touring circuit in 2010 with Psychopathic Records artists Twiztid on their “Slaugtherhouse” tour and has since performed along with the likes of legends like Tech N9ne, Xzibit and too many more to list, not to forget that he has also performed for Hugh and the Bunnies at The Playboy Mansion. He recently made a cameo on E-40′s “Zombie” music video featuring Tech N9ne and Brotha Lynch which boasts half a million views on YouTube in just 3 months. Also this past year Kung Fu Vampire’s hit single “Dead Girls Don’t Say No” was featured in The movie “Mother’s Day” directed by Darren Bousman (Saw,2,3,4). With the buzz and anticipation brewing from his new album, the “Love Bites” tour looks to be one of the biggest runs in the underground to date!

Also joining Kung Fu Vampire on this tour will be Mad Insanity Records label mate Mars and former Strange Music artist Liquid Assassin. Mars who MTV once called “The most controversial artist in America” got his big break when Psychopathic Records added his single to their “Tunnel Runners” compilation and invited the young artist to tour with Insane Clown Posse instantly making him a favorite to the Juggalo crowd. Liquid Assassin was signed to Strange Music with his group Graveplott in 2008 and quickly made him a star when he collaborated with Tech N9ne on the song “Psycho Bitch 2″ on his “Killer” album. The “Love Bites” tour will be sinking it’s teeth into the United States this fall and spreading the dark sounds of Gothic Hip-Hop to a city near you!