Food Metal - James Perry

Genre: Food Metal
Label: Independent 

Alum, sodium, zinc, etc... I get plenty of metal in my food. Now if I can just manage to get some food in my metal... wait, what? Native Californian and sometimes New Zealander James Perry?! Why are you putting your guitar in the oven? Ohhhhhhh...

Food Metal apparently started off as an exercise in song writing and snowballed into a legitimate project (think Tim Lambesis's Austrian Death Machine only with no celebrity impersonations and less attempted matricide). This self-titled offering is a savory selection of songs that blend hard rock, metal, gastronomy and humor together to make an album that's not heavy on calories, but heavy where it counts. 

Mr. Perry borrows from a multitude of subgenres before butchering them, marinading them in his own distinct style, broiling them and finally serving them up on Food Metal's sonic smorgasbord. 'Fries' takes bit of a slower paced thrash approach (For Whom The Bell Tolls), while 'Pass The Beets' finds James in more familiar territory (for me at least) with a slower, more melodic (almost pop-y) tune. But, in terms of balls out headbanging, the cake surely goes to 'Where The Hell Is My Food'. Jame's vocals, dirty rollin' riffs and lines about being pissed off about shitty customer service fit perfectly together here. 

My only complain here is that I felt a bit like Oliver Twist towards the end. "Please Sir, may I have some more?" (Ok, not an apt comparison since James would gladly give an orphan all the metal he/she could handle and I'm a fully grown ragamuffin.) I guess I should ask him if he plans on serving seconds in our forthcoming interview?  

Food Metal Site
Food Metal Facebook

Seizure Crypt - You've Been Had!

Genre: Hardcore, Metal, Punk
Label: Independent

It’s been a while, but hitting play on Seizure Crypt’s latest testament to the D.I.Y. lifestyle, "You’ve Been Had," is like reconnecting with an old friend. That may seem weird to anyone who knows about my older reviews (back at E-Metal Reviews/E-MetalSpace) of their albums, "Hello My Name Is… MADNESS" and "Under The Gun" since I barely gave the first one a chance and said that the second, “only kind of sucks”. But here, wherever I am and in whatever year this is, I’ve grown older and wiser. And guess what? I think I’ve spent enough time in the Crypt to understand what these motherfuckers are all about!

Where to start…

Well, I guess I can address the fact that this album does, in fact, sound like it was recorded using Do It Yourself methods, but by guys who’ve been doing this sort of thing for a while. Yeah, the sound can be a little rough and grainy at times, but Seizure Crypt seems to know how to tweak it to their advantage. That or their music is so full of “FUCK YOU!” that even sound itself bent the laws of physics to accommodate their hardcore lifestyles! I’m going to go with that last one.

Normally, you don’t go into a Seizure Crypt album thinking that it’s going to be a mind-blowingly awesome experience with complex riffs and off-time drumming… and this album is no exception. It’s just simple but entertainingly aggressive punk/hardcore tunes that will be the perfect soundtrack to a wild and drunken night of slamming people through bar furniture! Also note that both vocalists give there all to shout, bark and psychotically rant their message at you in the scuzziest, most street level way possible! It has become a matter of charm at this point, believe it or not. I’ll probably be cutting this review short since my hard-on for these guys keeps growing and I can’t bring myself to understand why exactly… The guys in Seizure Crypt do what they do because they love to do it. If more bands were like this, then there would be better music all around for everybody!

I’ve since gone back and listened to my other two Seizure Crypt albums and I can safely say that "You’ve Been Had!" is the best offering to date. If you’re a fan of the D.I.Y. spirit, pick up this album (and maybe the others later) and bang your skull until that gray mush comes out! And remember, “Life is not a fad you fucking poser!” Throw yourself into the Crypt!

Seizure Crypt Homepage

An Interview With Scott Mosher of Oceans Of Night (from 2009)

Typhon: First off, thanks for agreeing to this interview Mr. Mosher. Where did the name Oceans Of Night come from and why didn’t you go by it sooner? (lol)

Scott Mosher: Good question and one I've wondered many times recently myself. I should have operated under a good band name from the beginning but I didn't really think I'd release 5 CDs over the years. In hindsight Oceans of Night should be stamped all over my name on all the covers and PR materials, at least since Virtuality in 2001. The name Oceans of Night actually was a song title I have in the archive. It's kind of fitting actually... mysterious, enigmatic, somber and slightly poetic. I think it represents the music and my lyrical/graphic concept rather well. I'm not sure it screams "metal" like Metallica does, but the artistic association is there.

T: While we're on the subject, where did the title, "The Shadowheart Mirror" come from?

SM: You know, I'm not really sure. It's kind of an abstract concept. To expound upon that, the mirror is literally a reflection of one's sense of self, or state of mind. The shadowheart concept is a metaphor for turmoil and times of despair and anger. In other words, it represents the recurring lyrical themes on the CD, which are based upon the personalization of relationship strife and personal anguish in coming to terms with life during a dark period. I'm glad you asked though, because it's become quite theraputic for me to contemplate the reason and meaning behind the title.

T: When did you start on your path as an uber talented musician? Did you have a nurturing/musical upbringing?

SM: I commenced on my path to uber talented musician upon graduation from uber talent school. That is right before my attendance at the Derek Zoolander school. Honestly, I'm not sure. There's plenty of more talented folks out there, I guess I just have enough talent to fuel my artistic ambitions, but not enough to make me dangerous. Between music and my day job as a graphic artist, I'm knee deep in the arts. I think my lack of any kind of technical acumen speaks volumes about where my focus in life should be. I've been involved in music on a personal level probably since grade school to be honest, and it just grew out and onward from there. I definitely focused on my artistic and musical abilities as best I can, but it's something I'm constantly trying to improve upon as well.

T: I once read a review of Deep Horizon where the guy who reviewed it threw a bitch fit that it wasn’t thrash or something along those lines since your name is "Mosher." Is that a common misconception, or is he a lone ballbag on this one?

SM: I think you just coined a term that needs to find its way into the next edition of the Collegiate dictionary, "ballbag". I've gotten used to folks assuming my last name is a pseudonym or a PR creation, but I assure you and ballbag out there, that my official last name is indeed Mosher, although it's prounced "mow" and not "mosh". Use a french accent and you'll be on the money, though I'm not french. As far as reviews are concerned, I post any and all I get in their entirety on my website(s). No problem there. Good bad or indifferent, if someone takes the time to review my stuff, I'll make sure I post it.

T: How did you hook up with Scott Oliva? Was it easy getting him to do the vocals on your projects?

SM: I'm not sure what you are implying there but I'm not sure I like the tone of your voice or the insinuation. Haha! As far as the manner in which I enlisted Mr. Oliva to join my on my musical voyage you'll have to peruse the liner notes of the Oceans of Night CD, but let's just say it concerns questionable Myspace photos!

T: Have you ever considered forming and/or joining a band instead of being a (mostly) solo project? Or is the freedom (as is my understanding) of being a solo project just to great to let go of? …or are you just an uncompromising asshole that won’t let anyone get an idea in edgewise? (LOL Only kidding!) And is there a specific recording process that you favor, or are you constantly experimenting (as your music suggests)?

SM: There is, but it's fairly straightforward. My process is compose, arrange and record the songs, construct and record the guitar solos, work on vocal tracks and lyrical concepts with Mr. Oliva and then mix/engineer the CD in an outside studio (Freedom of Speech with my dawg, Micky James), replicate, and enter the marketplace and shameless self-promote. Believe me the music is where all the experimentation takes place, man.

T: Are you wondering why SPV/InsideOut Music didn’t snatch you up? Or am I the only one here? (lol)

SM: I'm wondering the same thing! ;-) I have some opinions on why I've not been able to secure a record deal... some of it is in my control, some not, but I'm not really doing this for profit. It would be nice, and I'll take the exposure a label can generate, but I'll keep plugging away with or without the support of any kind of financial backing. I think operating under a proper band name is one step in the right direction, though! Honestly, I've tried and I will continue to work that aspect of promotion, but believe me, I'm not bitter or resentful in the least.

T: Is there anything you’d like to add for the audience?

SM: I'm gratified by your kind words and enthusiasm, and even more appreciative of the fact I didn't have to pay you to say any of these things. For the uninitiated out there or folks who are interested in music that skews slightly left of center, musically of course, surf on over to oceansofnight.com. Thanks for your time, consideration and attendence.

Oceans Of Night on Facebook
Oceans Of Night Homepage

Vise Massacre - Expendable Humans

Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Grindcore
Label: Independent

After submitting my review for Seizure Crypt a couple of days ago, it was suggested that I gave another hardcore band from New York a shot. After a couple of days of letting Expendable Humans sink in, it is crystal clear that I owe my brother-in-metal, Dave, a big ol’ THANK YOU!!! I’m not ashamed to say that Vise Massacre had me won over in a matter of minutes with their hyper aggressive hardcore style and filthy, almost grind percussion tactics!

The overall sound that Vise Massacre spits out is a grimy hardcore masterpiece full of fresh ideas and time tested structures. There are tracks here that are reminiscent of If He Dies… He Dies, Oroku and even a little bit of a sped up Fog Wizard. So it’s safe to say that I had a massive erection forming over the first two tracks of this album.

I mentioned aggression just a few sentences ago and I don’t think that that description alone does the mood that this album conveys any justice whatsoever. Imagine walking through a crowded shopping mall, the day after Thanksgiving. You’re overheated, tired from getting up super early and fed up with all of the idiotic mouth breathers that are usurping your oxygen. An overweight house frau steps on your toe and doesn’t so much as break her waddling stride to apologize for crushing your big toe under her bovine hoof that’s crammed inside a two sizes too small croc.

Getting pissed yet?

Well, now imagine that in your hands, you’re holding two .357 Desert Eagles that never need reloading and all of the doors leading out of the mall have been locked from the outside…

Expendable Humans is the soundtrack pumping out of the P.A. system overhead as you mow down the annoying and tolerable alike.

Aggressive! Psychotic! Hateful! Fucking Perfect! Vise Massacre unlock the homicidal maniac in you through their blend of loud pounding drumwork, hardcore bellowing and grinding riffs. Expendable Humans is a hardcore adventure unlike any other that I have gone on before and couldn’t wait to take it again as soon as the album was finished. And I did. Over and over again. Once while I was strolling though the mall even…

Overall: When all is said and done, a recommendation  to listen to this album couldn’t be glowing enough from me. This is easily an album that I could listen to for days on end, tell a friend about it and listen to it with him/her for more days on end! Vise Massacre may prove that humans are expendable, but they themselves are invaluable to the metal/hardcore community!

Vise Massacre On Facebook