Metallica. Slayer. Anthrax. Megadeth.
That title says it all, I guess. For the first time EVER the four fathers of thrash will be converging on the same place to damage the hearing of people half their age, and as usual it is happening in place where most of us won’t be able to take part (thank god hail satan for YouTube, I guess).
But, you hipsters are thinking, why should I care? Well, hipsters, let me tell you. It’s because these bands were indie once, and most of them are pretty indie still. Just because they don’t come over all twee and long for the days when people were sepia tone or “romantic” it doesn’t mean they don’t deserve your attentive ears. Metallica released Master Of Puppets when they were in their early 20s. What were you doing then?
I’d like to see a return to the independent, extraverted “fuck you” attitude in music, rather than the pervasive introversion that is currently trendy. There are still some bands around that carry this torch - Fucked Up, Mastodon, and The Black Lips come to mind - but I really think JP said it best on last weeks Some American radio podcast. Where are the balls?
And yes, in the spirit of disclosure, I am a bit biased. I started with this type of music (Kill Em All changed my life), but I do think, in spite of all odds, these bands with their chest beating, machine gunning, “feelings is bullshit” songwriting still have something much more to offer the world.
Check out some footage below, see if you’re with me:
And this:
I wanna hear it for bullet belts, long hair, and loud guitars. Of all people, I think Dave Mustaine may sum up my feelings best:
“If there are any heads left who haven’t banged, then they don’t belong there.”
Metal up your ass, Dave.
