Napalm Death - Maryland Deathfest - May 25, 2012

#1

Friday, May 25, 2012

Napalm Death

Maryland Deathfest

Sonar, Baltimore

We only got tickets for the first day, and spent quite a lot of time meandering down from Pittsburgh. Plus, it was super-hot and humid, so I'm not all that sorry that we missed about half of the day.

I primarily wanted to see Napalm Death, so I did. They played about an hour-long set of selections hitting every single one of their albums along the way. They played several songs off of their latest album and I'm looking forward to seeing them headline in the fall.

We also saw Artillery and Godflesh. The only other band I kinda wanted to see from the 2012 line-up was Morbid Angel, but that was on Saturday when we had other plans.

Napalm Death + Toxic Holocaust 05.05.2009

#25
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Napalm Death
Toxic Holocaust
Hawthorne Theatre, Portland, OR

So after meeting Capt. Phil in Albany, OR and not understanding how to get tickets to the Deadliest Catch viewing party featuring him and Jake, I headed back to Portland for the Napalm Death show. I was sad that I missed Coliseum but excited to see Toxic Holocaust on their home turf. I think they could be my new favorite band.
I skipped out on Kataklysm and watched Deadliest Catch in the front bar.
There weren't many people there for Napalm Death but enough of them annoyed me. The venue was OK - the all ages part of the floor is separated from the 21+ portion by the sound booth. The Napalm Death set was basically the same as Jaxx, though they didn't have any sound problems. At least Portland has good beer.

Napalm Death 04.12.2009

#14 Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009
Napalm Death
Kataklysm
Toxic Holocaust
Coliseum
Trap Them
Jaxx

This show was set to start pretty early so I went straight from work (which was thankfully also out early). I had no idea what was going on when I got there but Trap Them was already on. I never heard them say their name so I had to look it up today. The singer had neck tats - which was my only tweet about them.
Up next was Coliseum, a three piece from KY who kinda remind me of Mastodon. I really liked them and managed to get up off my fat ass to go stand up front. I'm looking forward to seeing them again when I catch this tour in Portland.
I wasn't really sure what to make of Toxic Holocaust when they were setting up. Frankly I was a little scared - what with the hair and the skinny jeans and all. However, I was pleasantly surprised that TH kicks fuckin ass! Thrash, speed metal, whatever you want to call it. Seemed like their set was a lot longer than the first two bands, although it was quite a good thing. They should have a good reception from their local crowd in Portland.
Ah Kataklysm, y'all have real purty hair. Musically, they're not really my thing but it was a fun set nevertheless.
Finally, with the curse of the PA, Napalm Death. The mic went out for an entire song but they didn't seem too fazed by it. They played a handful of songs from their latest album and then a mix of old old songs and other stuff. I've been reading the history of grindcore book and actually considered asking them to sign it, but maybe I should finish reading it first.

Review: 36 Crazyfists | Napalm Death 3.22.08

#9
Saturday March 22, 2008
Napalm Death
36 Crazyfists
Invitro
Jaxx

I got there plenty early this time because I didn't want to miss 36Cf and came in while Invitro was still playing while wearing luchador-style masks made of aluminum foil. Weird.

Then, for the first time in 5 years (for me) - 36 Crazyfists. They were voted "Most Underrated Band" in the UK and are even more underrated and unknown in the US but they're one of my favorite current bands. Their music is a mix of mostly hardcore and metal and has some good hxc vocals as well as some of the best singing you'll hear in any band. Plus they're a bunch of beardos from Alaska. Yay! The only downside was they only got to play for 30 mintues. And that fucking douche in the pit who kept falling on people. Oh yeah, and the Jaxx mics, which kept cutting in and out on the first song.

After that, another of my favorites - Napalm Death. They didn't get too long of a set either (DevilDriver was the headliner) but that was definitely the biggest crowd I've seen them play to at Jaxx. They played about half newer songs and half older songs. I would like to see them in their early days too, once my time machine to past shows is ready. The Jaxx sound system fucked up their first song too.

Not a bad Saturday night before Easter.

Review: The Nightmare Before Christmas 12.17.2006

#57
Sunday December 17 2006
The Nightmare Before Christmas fest featuring:
Napalm Death
Dying Fetus
Necrophagist
As Blood Runs Black
Sonar

I didn't find out about this show until after I had a ticket for last night's show, so I ended up going to both. I especially wanted to see Necrophagist again since I recently missed them at Jaxx (with Cannibal Corpse). The people who booked this fest are the same that put together the Fredericksburg fest back in the summer. The flyer I was handed for this show while leaving Jaxx on Saturday night lists 23 bands, though I don't know if they all played (for example, I couldn't find any evidence that Anal Cunt actually played...).
I ended up getting there just in time for Necrophagist. Yay! They play super-fast and super-technical death metal. I definitely enjoyed it.
After their set, I didn't go to the Club Stage to see The Faceless (though if I'd gotten there earlier I could have seen both The Faceless and Skinless...). Hmmm.
Baltimore's own Dying Fetus was up next on the Main Stage. It was good. Not really my thing, though their bass player certainly is an ideal man - beautiful hair, sexy arms, fancy bass. Yes, yes. Some really drunk girl who was sitting on her boyfriend's shoulders flashed the crowd. These two dudes standing next to me were discussing how they'd never seen that at a show before and I just stood there thinking that they must not go to the right kind of shows because I saw the same thing happen on Friday night...
I did check out As Blood Runs Black on the Club Stage. I thought they were alright, though I agreed with the mimicked yawn of another club-goer. I get what they're trying to do but it just wasn't that good. I think they need to practice more or get more sleep or something.
After that it was back to the Main Stage area to bother A Life Once Lost's guitarist and watch Napalm Death again. I was talking to one of the spanish-speaking Jaxx patrons who had also seen them the night before. I saw him during the show walk up in front of the barricades to take a photo and since all the security were dealing with the pit, he was able to stand up there for the rest of the show. Pretty cool. Napalm Death didn't play quite as long as at Jaxx, but it was still a great set and there was an actual crowd watching, which must have been an improvement for them. I still can't get the stamp off of my hand (it's Tuesday now)...

Review: Napalm Death 12.16.06

#56
Saturday December 16 2006
Napalm Death
A Life Once Lost
Dead to Fall
Jaxx

This show had 8 or 9 bands, but man, I just don't have the stamina and/or attention span for that. I did a couple things after work and then spent a while trying to figure out what appropriate eye makeup would be (I settled on greens) and then headed over to Jaxx around 9. I figured this show would be sold out or at least pretty full, but it was surprisingly empty. In fact, I would bet that most of the audience consisted of band members and FoBMs. And 'Satanic Hispanics.' Anyway, I got there in time for Dead to Fall. I don't recall seeing them before though it's possible they are one of those bands that I just end up missing on other tours. I thought they were good. They were having a good time making fun of people living in 'Man-asses' Virginia.
I was really looking forward to seeing A Life Once Lost again since I discovered that they're metal Pennsylvanians. They played a pretty long set. The bass player does kinda look like Mr. Riker but I think it's mainly the hat...
So anyway, I don't have too much to say about Napalm Death. I did stick around to the bitter end. They were in fine form - fast and brutal as hell. Fucking awesome.