Smoldering Forge: Black Metal

The year has produced some damn good concerts this year. Keeping it short and sweet.

Ghoul / Occultist / Anthophobic / Oh Shit They’re Going To Kill Us / Ratface

Belvdere’s Bar

Wanna know how I got blood on my vest? The Ghoul show. One of the best mosh pits I participated in, along with a strong local support for Occultist (who would later on make an appearance at Skull Fest 4). Kill-bot barely was able to make it onto Belvedere’s stage and at one point was punch the ceiling tiles out of place.

Hoax / Sqrm / Drug Lust / Liebestod

Helter Shelter

So Helter Shelter still had some life in it this year. The owners were having some word-of-mouth shows and Hoax/Sqrm was one of them. The most intense mosh pit I’ve been in this year was at this show. Hoax and Sqrm set the bar for Boston hardcore toughness. Both bands grounded the audience into a pulp. Easily the best house show of 2012.

False / Bellow / Wrought Iron / Egality

Mr. Roboto

Below’s array of candles and somber tones was, without a doubt, moving. False’s female vocalist shrieked and howled unlike any other black metal vocalist this year. Both bands gave a distinct sound to Minneapolis, Minnesota. First time seeing Egality, they totally kicked ass and I want to see them again.

Goatwhore / Exhumed / Cerebral Bore / Wrought Iron

31^st Street Pub

Best death metal show in 2012 and, FUCK, was it hot at the pub. Everybody was sweating faster than a fat kid in gym class, even without being in the mosh pit. This show was hot as hell, both physically and metaphorically. Wrought Iron has played a ton of shows this year and this their best.

Mutilation Rites / Vrolok / Relique / Abysme

Mr. Roboto

Easily the best black metal show of 2012. It was the first show for Vrolok in ages and Mutilation Rites’ first time at the Roboto. Relique made their first and only appearance of the year here as well. Abysme solid as ever.

Zyanose / Truncheons / Oh Shit They’re Going To Kill Us / Wrathcobra / Ratface

The Gallows

Crazy night. Zyanose and Truncheons brought the noise heavy and hard. A noisy, crusty night of pure joy.

Downfall of Gaia / Vestiges / Humanerror / Egality / Old Accusers

Kopec’s Korner

I still reminisce about this show with friends. I just happened to choose this show since it was happening down the street from my house. Downfall of Gaia and Vestiges invoked a huge emotional response within me, that it was quite chilling. Humanerror was one of the biggest hardcore hits this year and was the purest hardcore band I’ve seen in 2012.

Run, Forever / Adventures / Pray For Teeth / Eyes Wide

Mr. Roboto

I’ve got a feeling that this show will effect my outlook on folk punk, pop punk. I never got into either sub-genre, but this show worked its way into my heart. This was indeed a concert from the heart.

Brown Angel / Derketa / Liquefied Guts

Gooski’s

Brown Angel’s “last show.” Great to see these guys perform one last time. Pittsburgh’s music scene has been changed by Brown Angel’s experimental sound. Hopefully I’ll get to see them again.

Lady Beast / Zeitgeist / Molasses Barge / Murderess

Gooski's

Multi-tier crushing bands. D-beat crust, doom metal, peace punk, traditional metal. The best album release party of the year.

Honorable Mentions:
Skull Fest 4
Midnight
Spectres / Crimson Scarlet
The Body / Argonauts
Antisect / Appalachia Terror Unit

Polish Hill - Punx Haus

Shadows

It was great to see Shadows performing again. They get a little better each time I see them, and tonight they were roaring and soaring. Highly energetic with darkness undertones, the group is built solid with members from Submachine, Plastered Bastards, and Barren Scepter.

Spectres

The blue lighting was fitting for the Vancouver band, while somber but upbeat songs danced across the basement room. Spectres’ vocalist flowed with rhythm, while entrancing the audience with vocals that soothed and cried out to the night. I found myself getting lost in the bass lines, which ripened the group’s sound.

Crimson Scarlet

Oakland, California’s Crimson Scarlet followed up as the second stellar touring act. The lack of a physical drummer worked out well and as the band played along. I honestly forgot the drummer was evening missing since I became so fixated on the echoing guitars and the darkened cooing of their vocalist. Crimson Scarlet continued to glide through their set as a panther would through a dense forest. Hopefully Crimson Scarlet and Spectres will make another trip out to the east coast sometime soon.

South Side - Smiling Moose

Wolvhammer

Wolvhammer were an interesting batch of black metalers from the city of Chicago. Performing modern black metal that was ritualistic and corroding. Would like to see more from these guys, they give a distinct black metal sound to the Midwest.

Krieg

Krieg felt like they didn’t give a shit about the black metal scene. They kicked it hard with an American black metal meeting 80s anarcho-punk. The most amusing part of their set was when Krieg’s vocalist mentioned the lack of enthusiasm from the crowd and then offered up a cover of Amebix’s “Winter.” Fuck yes.