Municipal Waste Live in London
With New Thrash Metal Bands Toxic Holocaust, Mutant, and Seregon
A review of new thrash metal kings Municipal Waste playing live at the Carling Islington Academy in London on 6th February 2008 with Toxic Holocaust, Mutant, and Seregon.
London's Carling Islington Academy hosted a night of live new school thrash metal as Municipal Waste, Toxic Holocaust, Mutant, and Seregon thrashed the London crowd.
Top Unsigned Band From Bristol
Bristol thrashers Seregon show why they were recently named one of 2007's top 5 unsigned bands by Terrorizer magazine with a strong opening set. Seregon's Sepultera style thrash metal gets heads banging with closer "Cancer Race" being the highlight.
West London Thrash Metal Band Performs Psycho Surgery
Mutant are another unsigned band, though their song "Psycho Surgery" has appeared on both the Bangers and Thrash and Thrashing Like A Maniac compilations.
The West London thrashers are full of great riffs and catchy songs, though their stage presence is lacking for the first part of their set. Mutant finally take command of the stage during "Laserdrome" and keep up the thrashing intensity through "Zombie Holocaust" and crowd favourite "Psycho Surgery".
With a collection of great songs, Mutant already have what many thrash metal bands can only wish for. If they could improve upon their stage craft and take command from the moment they step on stage, Mutant could become a major player in the new thrash movement.
Joel Grind's One Man Thrash Assault
Joel Grind has single-handedly kept Toxic Holocaust going since 1999, writing and playing all instruments on 2 full-length albums, Evil Never Dies and Hell On Earth, plus various split albums, and EP releases. He has also self-booked tours of Australia, Japan, Europe, Brazil, Canada, and across the whole of the USA.
Joel's hard work and determination has paid off for Toxic Holocaust lately, with the inclusion of the song "War is Hell" on the Earache compilation Thrashing Like A Maniac, getting the main support slot on Municipal Waste's European tour, and, most importantly, signing with Relapse Records over the new year.
For a trio, and considering that in the studio all parts are played by the same person, Toxic Holocaust have a surpisingly full live sound. Set highlights include "War is Hell", "Nuke the Cross", and set closer "666".
Richmond Virginia Thrashers Teach The Art of Partying
Through nearly constant touring, Richmond, Virginia crossover thrashers Municipal Waste have positioned themselves at the forefront of the new breed of thrash metal.
Municipal Waste make it through instrumental piece "Pre-Game" and the title track to last year's Earache records release The Art of Partying before anyone realises the house music played between bands is still being piped through the venues PA system. It does not ruffle the band though as guitarist Ryan Waste and singer Tony Foresta make jokes about it before Municipal Waste continue their thrash attack.
With short songs, most are under 2 minutes, it is difficult to keep track of what is being played. It even trips up singer Foresta, who at one point erroneously announces the next song as "Thrashin's My Business...And Business is Good" before Ryan, drummer Dave Witte, and bassist Land Phil launch into "Sweet Attack".
The vibe on stage is very loose, which is to be expected from a band playing short humorous songs, often about getting drunk. The band finishes with "Bangover", which many members of the audience must be feeling after the constant mosh pit that ran throughout Municipal Waste's set.
Municipal Waste continue touring Europe, including a stop at the Finnish Metal Expo, until the middle of February before heading back home for a March tour of the Southeastern United States and Texas. Tour dates can be found on the Municipal Waste website.
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