Review: The Haunted 3.25.2007

#11
Sunday March 25 2007
The Haunted
Dark Tranquility
Into Eternity
Scar Symmetry
Undaunted
Jaxx

Oh man, I don't usually show up this early at any show but I wanted a good spot for The Haunted so I headed out there straight from work. First up, locals Undaunted. Could not have been over fast enough for me.
After that the fereners took over the stage, starting with Sweden's own Scar Symmetry. I hadn't heard them before but they've got a pretty typical Swedish melodic metal thing going on. I think I like their recorded stuff on myspace better than the show. No, I don't know why he's singing about 'biomachinery'.
Then finally a band I actually really like, Jaxx's Canadian 'house band', Into Eternity. I have no idea who their new guitarist is, but he's no Rob. I'm not really into their new album either but they played a good mix of older stuff too. Still like Stu and his funny faces. Apparently there must be some kind of gauntlet outlet in Vancouver because he has leather ones embossed with the IE logo.
Then after a longer set break, my first time seeing Dark Tranquility. I've liked them for a while but have never managed to actually see them live due to being out of the country every single fucking time they played this area. I think they were the real reason this show was sold out, because it was totally packed on the floor for their set. Apparently they are coming out with a new album in April, so they played a lot of new songs (set list). I like the 70's thing the singer has going on. Wow, their bass player really does look like MP.
Then finally when I thought I couldn't stand it anymore, The Haunted came on. Yay! I don't really like their latest album either (my favorite one is 'The Haunted Made Me Do It' followed closely by 'rEVOLVEr' (since I'm a hxc girl at heart)) but they played a good mix of everything - including Hate Song, In Vein, Bury Your Dead, Hollow Ground, D.O.A., 99, All Against All, and numerous new songs. Peter Dolving's got some new tattoos too. Fabulous.

Review: Meshuggah 10/8

#38
October 8, 2005
Meshuggah
God Forbid
The Haunted
Jaxx, Springfield VA
Updated link to PHOTOS! (as of 5/16/16)

I missed the opening band Mnemic and spent a while looking for parking, but I think I managed to shake off the Thursday guy (by the time I got there he was already feeling up some other chick). Those Portsmouth dudes were there too so I chatted with them for awhile (btw I finally get the Ron Jeremy thing, but still, ew).

Anyway, I arrived just as The Haunted started their set. If I had realized I could have had a shirtless Haunted singer on top of me (see photo) I might have made more of an effort to get there earlier. Anyway, this time they played songs that were recorded by the other singer, including Death Metal Roze's and my favorite: D.O.A. I really like their new album so I was happy to hear the 99 knives song too. They got to play a much longer set than at the Shadows Fall show. I could also understand more of the vocals and Peter's yammering. I think there were a lot more fans there too since the crowd seemed really into it.

Have I seen God Forbid before? I know they toured with Lamb of God (who were also there and help define the 'southern-metal-dirtbag' look). I guess I would remember... Musically I would describe GF as what Atreyu fans would listen to if they listened to a real metal band instead (no offence to Atreyu, who remain hott, but just out of reach of being a real metal band). For some reason I know several of their songs. I thought they were awesome though and would check them out again in the future.

Finally, Sweden's own Meshuggah. I don't really know how to describe their music. It's a lot like The Haunted but a little less jarring. It's like there's this drum/bass wall of sound with one repeating guitar riff and an angry man screaming over top of all that. It was pretty cool. My mind was starting to wander since I hadn't eaten all day and I was worried about the car getting towed (I don't need that again, seriously). There were a number of goth/industrial kids there, which I thought was kind of weird.

Overall, awesome show. I think I need to cut back on the glitter products for a while though. I've been wearing Urban Decay Heavy Metal eyeliners all week and last night I got a big snarf of my shimmery coconut spray by accident when I was getting dressed. I've probably got glitter in my bloodstream at this point. Maybe it will work itself out at tomorrow's Turbonegro show.

Review: Bury Your Dead + The Haunted 9/8/2005

#29
September 8, 2005
Shadows Fall
The Haunted
Bury Your Dead
Gizmachi
Recher Theatre, Towson MD

So apparently Bury Your Dead and The Haunted can play 'Bury Your [fucking] Dead' on the same stage and the universe doesn't implode or anything. Oh, and get well soon Eric! If human saliva was good for treating burns....oh, uh, so the show went as follows:

I don't know what a Gizmachi is but it's very loud. I read somewhere that they were discovered by Slipknot. Anyway, they're from Orange County NY, which is apparently not totally devoid of musicianship of various kinds. Musically it's kind of like Into Eternity was eaten and digested by a nu-metal band in an institutional brown shirt. I thought they were pretty OK. Their drummer was awesome and the bass player has a big ol' neck tattoo, so you can't go wrong with that.
2.5/5

I'm still so excited about The Haunted that I forgot Bury Your Dead played second. Anyway, Mr. Neck Tattoos (Eric) is out of commission because he "burned his face off" [my initial reaction to this was *shaking head and sighing* 'boys']. The girl at Ritz Camera will be so disappointed when I print these photos and he's not in there (her reaction last time: 'whoa, that guy has a lot of ink'). Anyway, very short set but still awesome even one man down. BYD always gets the crowd into a mosh - although it was a fairly small crowd due to the fact that Madball was over at the Ottobar (tough choice for me too, although I've seen Madball at least a dozen times though I still have a crush on Freddy from my own NYHC days plus they are/were Tshaka's favorites). The highlights: pink sombreros and switched instruments. The lowlights: none. I love going to the last show of a tour - it's prank night!
5/5

I feel like I've been waiting all my life to see The Haunted, even though I was only apprised of them by Death Metal Roze and {insert clever nickname for SH here} sometime last year. Although I seem to recall one Mr. Ian 'MTV' Robinson espousing their wisdom back when I had MTV2 as well. My neck still hurts today from headbanging. They pretty much only did songs from the first album and the latest one and they didn't get to play nearly long enough. I can't wait to see them again with Meshuggah. Oh Mr. Haunted you are perfection. Shadows Fall's singer came out for a song and there was some naked BYD drummer action going on as well, but I don't really know what that was about. I need to learn Swedish. Is it OK to have your own band's name on your pants?
5/5

Uh, Shadows Fall. How the hell do I know so many of their songs? Those are some crazy dreds, white boy.

Random stuff:
-obnoxious kids yelling crap before the show started
-I still think the Recher looks like the stage for an elementary school play
-Baltimore has a tattoo museum (how apropos)