Dino Cazares vs. Raymond Herrera

In one corner we have Dino Cazares, guitarist for Fear Factory, Divine Heresy, Asesino, and Brujeria; in the other we have Raymond Herrera, drummer for Arkaea and creator of Cocaine Energy Drink. Both are slagging each other like high school girls in an online bitchslap that is happening on Facebook. The gloves are coming off, the claws are coming out. I don't know about the rest of you, but I find this fucking hilarious, entertaining as hell, and somewhat slightly pathetic.

Here's what our two metal princesses had to say.



Raymond Herrera:

stuck in dallas airport due to bad weather, oh well it could be worse, i could still be in fear factory.






Dino Cazares:

Don't know If any of you have read Raymond Herrera's bitter post he said "it's better to be stuck in a Dallas airport then to be in FF" Trust me Burt and I are happy not having those two guys in the band for many reasons but here's two. First reason: have you heard the ARGAYEA cd ? Second reason: we have Gene "the atomic clock" Hoglan in the band!

Alice in Chains w/ Middle Class Rut @ Terminal 5, Day 1 - 3/8/10

I'm going to start this review with a biased opinion. Some of you might agree with me and some of you might not; either way, my view on this individual is precis and clear: JERRY CANTRELL IS A FUCKING DOUCHEBAG! This ugly, old, girly-looking cunt is a goddamn hooligan! And let me also say that it pains me to say it since I am a huge AIC fan, have championed them against detractors for countless years going all the way back to the 90s, and selecting their latest album Black Gives Way to Blue as my pick for No. 1 album of 2009.

What went down was a gross example of rock-star attitude at its most bloated and reprehensible! Cantrell has the nerve to ignore all requests for photos with fans, remaining silent as he mechanically autographs fans' ticket stubs. I, personally, ask this fuckhead to take a picture three times and he doesn't say a single goddamn word! So I do the most controversial and volatile thing anyone can do, and I yell at that blonde, long-haired faggot and I say loudly and clearly for everyone to hear: "It should have been you instead of Layne!" With that, Cantrell leaps out of the van and screams aloud: "Who said that?" not knowing that it was yours truly. Unfortunately, drummer and Mr. Giganto-schnoz-Beakface, or Sean Kinney as some of you may know him as, points me out like a little bitch-snitch and Cantrell proceeds to confront me. Naturally, I stand my ground and tell off Cantrell for disrespecting his fans. His excuse was "I'm sick!" and throws something at me like a little bitch. (Kinney also claimed that he was sick but was still good enough to take a photo with fans.) Hey, Jerry, there are "No Excuses" for douchebaggery, you punk! His actions and attitude that night, which actually occurred on Day 2 (March 9), was uncalled for and disappointing. My only regret is that I didn't record that goddamn incident and post it on YouTube!

With that said, the first of two nights with Alice in Chains was dynamite! After missing them at the one-off show at Irving Plaza, I managed to get myself in to this show thanks to a member of the AIC crew, who shall remain nameless. The two nights at Terminal 5 were sold-out and fans both young and old waited anxiously to catch the Seattle grunge troop take the stage and fire away with classics and newer, instant classics. One-by-one, the hits and filler hits kept coming and everyone was in unison for the next two hours singing along and having a great time. People were smoking weed, smoking regular cigarettes, sweating, and singing some more. At times, William DuVall and that blonde fag Cantrell traded off singing duties quite seemlessly, while Mike Inez, a gentleman of the highest order, rattled the venue with some genuine bass. The night was fierce and began with an menacing intro that included a screen that depicted the heart, featured on the cover of BGWTB, throbbing to the sound of a heartbeat and the silhouettes of the band members, and culminating with a devastating, yet confident, setlist:

"All Secrets Known"
"It Ain't Like That"
"Again"
"Check My Brain"
"Them Bones"
"Dam That River"
"Rain When I Die"
"Your Decision"
"Got Me Wrong"
"We Die Young"
"Last of My Kind"
"Nutshell"
"Sickman"
"Lesson Learned"
"Acid Bubble"
"Love, Hate, Love"
"Would?"
"No Excuses"

Encore:

"Man in the Box"
"Rooster"

It seemed like an endless night of hard-hitting rock 'n' roll and a welcome return to the new Alice in Chains. And while Layne Staley is still sorely missed, which would have better served the Cantrell-fronted songs rather than the DuVall trade-offs, it is clear that this band is looking forward with no regrets, no excuses, and no turning back.


MIDDLE CLASS RUT - From Sacramento, CA, this duo of guitarist/singer and drummer - SANS BASSIST - invoke a pretty infectious, though somewhat incoherent, punk/noise rock/rockabilly groove with even funnier songs like "Fuck Off" and "Suck My Balls." Cobain would be proud. Set Grade: B

ALICE IN CHAINS - 90s Seattle grunge icons roar back with a vengeance and reward the crowd with old favorites and newer favorites. It's just two bad that some of their members - Cantrell and Kinney - are complete douchebags! Set Grade: A


Show Grade: A-

Kreator w/ Voivod, Nachtmystium, Evile, Lazarus A.D. @ Nokia Theatre - 3/6/10

Around this same time last year, Kreator stormed the Nokia Theatre with an all-different, somewhat lackluster, roster of bands to promote their latest release 2009's Hordes of Chaos. For me, what saves the night from an otherwise decent showing by thrash upstarts Lazarus A.D. and Evile, and an incoherently noisy set by psychedelic-black metallers Nachtmystium, is legendary Canadian prog-thrash band Voivod, out on the road in the U.S. for the first time in a long time to promote last year's supposedly last album Infini. Frontman Denis "Snake" Belanger treats the set like a kindergartener plays on the playground, from stomping around the stage like a retarded robot to leading the crowd in unison during "Astronomy Domine" like a symphony composer, Snake keeps a very wily-looking, mad scientist smile on his face throughout. The other 40-something band members, tear it up with the constant thumping and crunch of their 80s thrash and later progressive material, while at one point, bassist Jean-Yves "Blacky" Theriault eats spilled Cheetios from floor.

Kreator follow it up nicely, though somewhat typically. Frontman Mille Petrozza commands the crowd to raise the "flag of hate" (repeatedly), screams and growls, and plays a ripping set of familiar classics. But while I admire Kreator for their contribution to metal, then seems to be something very stagnant about this performance. Maybe I was just more impressed by Voivod's set, but Kreator just didn't live up to the headliner status this time around. I will say though that Mille and rest of the guys were still all-around good guys, though drummer Jürgen "Ventor" Reil is in serious and desperate need for a dentist!


LAZARUS A.D. - To quote a certain song by The Who: "The kids are alright." Set Grade: B-

EVILE - A new band with a new bassist. I can't tell the difference, but a swell bunch of mates. Set Grade: B-

NACHTMYSTIUM - Still incoherent and mindnumbingly dull. Set Grade: C+

VOIVOD - Fun and spirited performances by the band. They should be out on tour more often. Set Grade: B+

KREATOR - A solid set, if somewhat typical. Set Grade: B


VOIVOD SETLIST

"Voivod"
"The Unknown Knows"
"Ripping Headaches"
"Tornado"
"Overreaction"
"Tribal Convictions"
"Global Warning"
"Missing Sequences"
"Astronomy Domine"

Show Grade: B