18 WHEELS OF JUSTICE / GUT BUCKET / ZOMBIE FIGHTER
Midway Cafe Jamaica Plain, MA 2/25/12
Our good friend of TNB, Ammo of Brass N Ammo, put on this show. So I felt compelled, but also, happy to go. It was a Death Metal show and usually this review would be left to Bang. But since Andy was on holiday in Syria (part of a working vacation as the only reason he was allowed to go there was because of his journalistic credentials with TNB), I was elected to attend. And when you think of the perils of a Midway metal show versus an unstable middle eastern country- well, it’s a toss-up, isn’t it?
Now, the Midway is punk central, a fact that makes me erupt in pan-sexual pleasure. But, you know, if they let punks parade through these doors their’s no reason you upstanding metaloids would not be allowed passage, also. So, metal bands, this is a club that’ll probably be open to you playing here; so proceed thusly.
Up first is a metal band from Keene, New Hampshire called Zombie Fighter. Though it’s hard to see them through the massive turnout, hearing them is no problem. They have two guitars that work together well, a tight rhythm section with a bassist who adds nice little touches with a front-man who knows how to sing and perform. So, yeah, they have the death metal in the vocals but with a high energy thrash in the rhythm with a sprinkling of technical/progressive in the music is how I’d describe their style. On less technical terms I’d describe them as fuckin’ awesome and that’s why they have a profile (here) on our site. If you like the metal we tend to like you should like them also; so check them out and I hope they come our way often.
Next up is a Providence band, Gut Bucket, which consists of two bassists and a drummer, vocals shared amongst themselves. When I first heard what they consisted of instrumentally I assumed they’d have to be an experimental band. They don’t fall into that at all and I don’t know how technically they achieve their sound but it’s not much different than listening to a band with a more conventional lineup except without guitar solos. Vocally, they’re usually death or screaming but the songs are arty, brutal and uniquely satisfying to my ears. For some reason I think of the old band, Big Black, but they are not as abrasive. The drummer has a different approach than most drummers in this style as he’s a bit lighter and jazzy but it works perfectly within their approach. After one song where I guess they fucked it up a bit, he says, “That’s our jazz improv song. I was channeling the spirit of Miles Davis for that one.” These guys put out an ominous sound tempered with a sense of fun and we’re happy to finally have them on our site after our continuous attempts to get them (here).
Last up is 18 Wheels Of Justice, a favorite of Bangs, and they do put on a headline type of show. They have a pretty much continuous thrash metal/ hardcore rhythm and this they play exceedingly well. Their front-man, Adam Sloan, is perfect in his singing and presence and the band is flawless. That being said, though I like them (profile here), they’re my least favorite band of the show though most, I guess, would say the best. Take in account I really liked the last two bands but I don’t know, I guess I got my brain in backwards and hey, I’m just the punk guy! Why are you asking me? Awesome show, Hey Ammo, let’s grab some nachos next door at that Irish place. I’m sure they’ll be scrumptious.
(Slimedog)
