Concert Review: WHITEHORSE, WAR MASTER, VULGAARI, and PESTIFERE in Minneapolis

Whitehorse, War Master, Vulgaari, Pestifere

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis, MN

Click on any of the pictures to see more photos of each respective band.

It seemed like a miracle to arrive early enough to a show to catch the local bands, and I’m sure glad I did. Pestifere from Minneapolis plays a more melodic style of black metal whose complexity and maturity took me by surprise. The band is currently mixing their first full album’s worth of material for release, so keep an eye out for this great, promising band.

Rising doom/sludge band from Minneapolis Vulgaari took the stage next, and proceeded to crush the growing crowd with a nice selection of tracks from their debut album. While it was a little disappointing that no new songs were debuted, hearing favorites such as “Lies” is always welcome. Although Vulgaari’s three-guitar attack may seem like overkill, you really can distinguish all three guitarists (Brent Hedtke, Todd Haug, and Zack Kinsey, who also handles vocals) playing distinct riffs that are mesmerizingly layered upon one another.

Houston’s War Master then stole the show with a frenzied, manic performance of their Bolt Thrower-inspired death metal. Although their music may lack some originality, War Master makes up for it with an energetic live show that proves these guys are the real deal. Vocalist Rahi had the crowd laughing between songs with his offbeat, growling banter, and even brandished a sword while chugging beers during part of the set. The band has a West Coast tour lined up in July, culminating in an appearance at the 2014 Grindcore Festival in Los Angeles on July 12, so don’t miss War Master if they play near you.

The crowd seemed drained following War Master, and Australia’s Whitehorse just couldn’t capture what energy the audience had left. Out to support the new Raised Into Darkness album, their slow, droning dirges left me bored. The band was putting their all into it with bear-like vocalist Peter Hyde bellowing from the depths of his imposing girth, but it wasn't enough to inspire much beyond grudging respect.

In Concert This Week

This week starts off with a bang as DevilDriver, Whitechapel, Carnifex, and Revocation invade Mill City Nights in Minneapolis tonight, Monday, June 2. Rivers of Nihil and Fit For An Autopsy start the night off early downstairs in The Nether Bar. One ticket gets you into both rooms. It all started at 5:45, and tickets for this 15+ show will be available at the door for $25.

If you'd rather catch some great local bands tonight, head over to Memory Lanes in Minneapolis for a free 21+ show with Pestifere, Gar, and Lockgnar that starts around 10:00. Technical metalcore band The Crinn had to drop off the bill due to a work conflict. We haven't heard much from The Crinn recently, but they are in the midst of recording a new album.

Stoner rock band Red Fang joins forces with punk band Big Business and American Sharks for a show at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Wednesday, June 4. This is an 18+ show, and advance tickets are still available for $15 through AXS.

Also on Wednesday, West Virginia's Bobaflex play Pov's 65 in Spring Lake Park with Romantic Rebel and LA Madness. Advance tickets are only $5 through Vitalculture, and it's an 18+ show.

On Thursday, June 5 metalcore giants Unearth bring Texas In July, Cruel Hand, and Armed For Apocalypse to Skyway Theatre Studio B. This is an early 15+ show; tickets are $15 in advance through Ticketfly. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their second album The Ongoing Storm, Unearth will be playing the album in its entirety.

The Triple Rock Social Club has alternative rock band Local H performing Friday, June 6 with support from Bad Veins and Young And Tender. It's an 18+ shows, and advance tickets are available from Ticketfly for $13.

Static-X frontman Wayne Static and Minneapolis's metal heroes American Head Charge have two area shows this weekend, the first being Friday night at the Wicked Moose in Rochester. The Friday night bill is rounded out by Smile Empty Soul, Thira, and Embrace The Ending. It's a 21+ show that starts early, and advance tickets are $25 through Ticketfly.

On Saturday June 6, Wayne Static and American Head Charge top a massive bill at the Skyway Theatre and Studio B in Minneapolis with Smile Empty Soul, Thira, Nuisance, Black Flood Diesel, Gabriel And The Apocalypse, Emergent, and Tepetricy. This show is 15+ and starts really early (12:00 noon doors), and only $25 in advance through Ticketfly. At both shows, Wayne Static will perform the complete Wisconsin Death Trip album to celebrate its 15th anniversary.

Lastly, punk band The Menzingers take over the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Saturday with support from Lemuria, Pup, and Cayetana. It's an 18+ show, and get advance tickets for $15 through AXS.

NEGURA BUNGET Cancel North American Tour

Negura Bunget performing in St. Paul on April 30, 2012 at Station 4. Click on any of the pictures to see more photos from this show (47).

Before getting to some new concert announcements and news, I first wanted to bring attention to a couple of things that deserve some attention. Some unfortunate news kicks things off - Negura Bunget, the fantastic black/folk metal band from Romania, was recently forced to cancel their entire North American tour on the eve of the first date in Albany, New York on May 8. Fellow Romanians Grimegod subsequently also canceled their participation as direct support for the tour. This massive tour was to last through most of June, and included a stop here in Minneapolis on June 13 at the Triple Rock Social Club.

Negura Benget's official statement from their Facebook page posted on May 7 states:

"We are deeply sorry to say it, but we are forced to cancel our entire US and Canadian tour as of this moment. Some visa complication completely beyond the band’s control are forcing us to do this in the last moment, despite the fact that we’ve been working on this tour plan for over one year and we already secured our work permits months ago. Needless to say we invested a huge amount time, energy and money into making this tour happen, so we are taking a huge loos now. But we are still here, and we will return! Meanwhile we’ll focus all our frustration energy into completing the last details of the new album TĂU."

The little good news from this is that affected date in Minneapolis will still soldier on with local black metal bands False, Atrum Inritus, and Pestifere.

Pestifere performing May 15, 2014 at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis.

Tonight - WHITEHORSE, WAR MASTER, VULGAARI, and PESTIFERE in Minneapolis

Holy cow far too much time has gone by since I've been able to keep the site updated here! Life sometimes gets in the way; in my case, increased family responsibilities, a lot of traveling, and the usual crushing amount of work have all conspired to keep me away. Quite unfortunately, all of this has also caused me to miss a few shows I would have liked to attend, most notably Y&T, Skinny Puppy, and Hate Dept. I did manage to catch April Wine and Sweet, and heard excellent things about the recent Dream Theater and Mastodon shows. Fear not, lots of updates and new content will be forthcoming in due course.

There are massive amounts of outstanding shows coming to town during the next two months, and you can yourself warmed up with a night of sludge, doom, and death metal with a crushing bill of Whitehorse from Australia, Houston's War Master, alongside locals Vulgaari and Pestifere. It's only $8 at the door, and this 18+ show starts around 8:00. I'll be there sporting my Radioactive Metal shirt (subscribe to this podcast if you don't already!), so please introduce yourself and say hello if you're there. It's always fun to meet and talk with local readers!

Check out War Master performing "Mass Cremation" and "Sadistic Force" in Austin, Texas on January 10, 2014.

MELECHESH Announces North American Tour, St. Paul Confirmed

Israeli death metal band Melechesh will return to North American in June for a headlining tour that includes a stop at Station 4 in St. Paul on Monday, June 24. The list below of confirmed and tentative dates as announced on the band's Facebook page includes dates in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. Support will come from Vreid, Lightning Swords Of Death, and Reign Of Lies.

Melechesh, Vreid, Lightning Swords Of Death, and Reign Of Lies tour dates:
June 15 - Mexico City, Mexico, Circo Volador (Melechesh only)
June 16 - Los Angeles, CA, The Joint
June 17 - San Francisco, CA, to be confirmed
June 18 - Portland, OR, Hawthorne
June 19 - Seattle, WA, Studio Seven
June 20 - Vancouver, BC, to be confirmed
June 21 - Edmonton, AB, Pawn Shop
June 22 - Regina, SK, The Exchange
June 23 - Winnipeg, MB, to be confirmed
June 24 - St. Paul, MN, Station 4 (w/Pestifere)
June 25 - Joliet, IL, Mojoe's
June 26 - to be confirmed
June 27 - Toronto, ON, Wreck Room
June 28 - Montreal QC, Petit Campus
June 29 - Keene, NH, Railroad Tavern
June 30 - New York, NY, Gramercy Theater