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If you are doom metal fan in the Boston-Revere area, chances are you were as thrilled as I was that the southerners of EyeHateGod would be gracing The Hub soil once again with a performance at the Wonderland Ballroom, especially since there were five other bands that were sure to pack a punch.
The show started with the local punks of Fast Death breaking out with their high-end guitars and d-beats as the fierce vocals of Dave Shey came bleeding into the mix. Since they were the openers and it was 5pm, their set got off to a slow start despite the raging that was taking place on stage.
As a few songs passed, there were two studded jackets getting the pit warmed up for the rest of the day and night.
After the somewhat short set of Fast Death, Full Blown AIDS took the stage and doomed the crowd into oblivion with their creeping riffs that slowed the headbangers rhythm to that of a bobble head trying to regain stillness. Seth Putnam, frontman for the controversial locals Anal Cunt, grabbed the guitar and unleashed some tunes that had the doomy Man Is The Bastard feel as grimy-slow bass riffs opened a canal for the noisy distorted twangs of the guitar to come bellowing in. What makes Putnam and the AIDS a worthwhile listen is the mix of slow doom and heavy, fast punk which the great sludge legends of Iron Monkey were known for. Throughout the evil set, Putnam released his death cries with bassist Paulie Kraynak backing him up at times.
The rock & rollers of Panzerbastard began setting up their tanks for war while the huge room of Club Lido was finally starting to fill up at this point in the show. Over the years, Panzerbastard has made a name for themselves as hard rockers who carry their influences of Motorhead and Celtic Frost on their sleeves. It was around 7pm and the bartenders were already getting a workout from the constant flow of alcohol driven metal lovers. And what was great about the venue is they had a hot dog stand right next to the bar with fresh dogs rotating throughout the whole show.
The dogs, along with the alcohol, is what fueled the punks and metalheads as the heavy tunes were laid down.
Panzerbastard got the crowd’s attention from the start of their set with their mold of thrash and punk that put bodies with studded jackets flying in the air from one side of the stage to the other. The Bastard’s played an array of songs from their earlier recordings along with newer titles from their latest EP Centurion.
Up next were the Boston-based Livver, who play an aggressive style of hardcore that breaks into stoner rock riffs similar to what the locals in Doomriders are doing. Some of their songs started with that old punk rock feel of 80s Dischord fame but out of nowhere a guitar lead blasts the listener with a hazy psych riff as vocalist Bruce Bettis attempts to make the ears bleed with the shrieking of his vocal cords. This up-and-coming band is definitely one to keep an eye on and most of the people who were in attendance would agree.
The Baltimore, MD death metal grinders of Misery Index hopped on stage and took a different angle in their metal than those of the prior bands. With one of the guitarists and the bassist sharing lead vocal duties, their set was one of utter chaos that blasted the listener at different levels. The band’s sound resembles that of their Maryland death metal brothers in Dying Fetus. A few ex-members of Dying Fetus have played with Misery Index as well as Jason Netherton who still plays bass them. At times the ultra quick grind came out in their songs, giving off a Rotten Sound feel. Although they were extremely on-point and profession in their playing, the crowd was patiently waiting for the Louisiana sludge lords rather than another blast beat.
And finally the time came when the crowd put down their hotdogs, lined up some shots of whiskey, knocked em’ back and grabbed some tallboys while the crowd gathered around the stage that was about to be cursed by Eyehategod.
After a quick setup, they took the stage with a bottle of vodka in hand.
Once each member took a swig, vocalist Mike Williams took the bottle and started pouring it in the mouths of crazed fans in the front row. Then, the famous Eyehategod feedback filled the room and the crowd braced themselves for the ruckus that was about to happen.
Beer cans flew through the air while the stage was littered with divers and two punks who seemed to be crouching in front of Williams on stage slapping the ground for most of the set.
Most of their set was from the earlier records In the Name of Suffering, Take As Needed For Pain, and Dopesick, but they added in a few new jams that are said to be on a new album coming out sometime in the future (it would be the band’s first full album in over ten years). Eyehategod is one of those bands that never puts out a bad release, regardless of being a band for over twenty years. Each release has the band’s original sound-a sound that has influenced scores of bands since their birth.
Towards the end of the set Williams brought the vodka back into play, pouring it once again into the mouths of their warriors in the front of the stage to keep the filth flame burning. Once the feedback let up, what was left was a room full of sweaty drunk punks and metalheads who filed out of the venue wondering when the southern sludge gurus would return to Revere.
For a ton of pictures from the show check out the Reverend’s photography at returntothepit.com. The videos from the show were taken by the Reverend as well.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Music Playlist at MixPod.com