Driving home from Seattle last Sunday as the return leg from an 8 hour road trip to share the hardships of an overtime loss with 67,000 fellow Seahawks fans. Tough loss. Tough start to the season. As I departed the range of KIRO 710AM I moved through various AM/FM channels until I got close enough to Portland to listen to various stations already programmed into my radio.

I felt like listening to some rock and was flipping between ROCK 101 (Portland), KFLY 101.5 (Eugene) and NRQ 97.9 (Eugene). I found some music that sounded okay, but then one of the stations began playing Lenny Kravitz…nothing in particular against him, but hard rock? Really? Lenny Kravitz? Don’t they play that on normal radio? I flipped back to 101.5 KFLY and to my pleasant suprise they have a show on Sunday Nights that plays the harder side of hard rock, The Edge. As a sidenote, how come even the hard rock radio stations have to have a special show to play hard rock?

On one of these transitions a song started out that sounded really promising from the music. Pounding of the drums, guitars rumbling for the intro and then the singing started. I am a pretty straight forward hard core fan, such what I dub hurdcore, and therefore am not typically a fan of the singing mix or emo influence in hardcore. What struck me about this song though was not the singing but the lyrical content. Not that it was poorly written, but seriously the actual content. Most in the hardcore crowd will knock boy bands for pandering to jr. high girls, but this sounded like it was written by an actual jr. higher. As I continued to listen, I was wondering if some 12 year old kid won a lyric submission contest or if this was a make-a-wish fulfillment (if such is the case, my sincere apologies as this would cast quite a different perspective on the song).

Again, to set the mood, we’ve got some pretty heavy guitars and drums, the vocals are fairly heavy and sound like they are being bellowed by a mystic battlefied creature, but listen to what this beast chose for his battlefied proclamaition. (This is the opening of the song):

I
‘m so fed up with everyone around me
(No one seems to care)
I’m just so far gone and nothing’s gonna change
(I’ll never be the same)

It’s always do this, do that,
Everything they want to
I don’t want to live that way
Every chance they get their always
Pushin me away

Wow. This was written by grown ups? But if that wasn’t enough to wash you back into your sea of teenage emotions, perhaps the chorus will clarify:

It’s never enough
No it’s never enough
No matter what I say

It’s never enough
No it’s never enough
I’ll never be what you want me to be

Really? Hardcore? These lyrics make Miley Cyrus seem like a UFC Heavyweight Champion. I can identify if I dredge down through several layers emotional sediment, layers like: having children of my own, marriage, paying taxes, voting, resolving issues with other adults, graduating high school, paying for my own stuff, holding a steady job, getting my license and only then I might find my jr. high self sulking in my room listening to Boyz 2 Men and wondering why the world has it out for me.

In closing, if you found this post because you identify with the lyrics, perhaps you should know that it’s not that the world has it out for you, the truth is you have to fight and earn everything in life. If you want something you have to seize your opportunities and make something happen because no one is going to hold your hand to help you get there. If people are making fun of you or don’t see your for yourself – (1) maybe you are looking funny and should change your duds; or (2) get some thicker skin and prove them wrong, MOVE ON.

Artist: Five Finger Death Punch
Song: Never Enough
Album: The Way Of The Fist

11:30PM
It’s Saturday night, my pregnant wife gets a jonesing for Taco Bell Supreme Crunchy Tacos. We’re in the middle of a movie that is suprisingly entertaining, so I drag my feet a little to catch a little more of the flick…

11:42PM
“Regulators…” I mount my trusty steed – our Dodge Caravan, the staple of the American family, and head towards Taco Bell. I turn on the radio and as I adjust the volume my ears quickly become giddy with the riffs that are developing in real time.

I was assaulted by three minutes of the most enjoyable riffs and transitions of recent memory. The segment that I heard was purely instrumental but I was thoroughly entertained by what I can only describe as ear rattling fun. As I was listening I was impressed with how clean and technical the music sounded but was primarily impressed with how much fun came through in the music.

11:47PM
I cut through a parking lot adjacent to Taco Bell as the announcer informed me that the song was “The Day That Never Comes” by Metallica from their soon to be released album. I know it has been popular of late to bag on Metallica for their “changes” and because they made a stink about illegal downloads but this song and possibly the whole album should be given its chance to stand alone.

I’ve since purchased the whole song on iTunes and it is well worth the 99 cents. The Day starts of with a pretty raw emotional sound that plays well, transitions into a deeper edge and then dumps its payload in your driveway without any notice or caution tape. You will enjoy the entire package but the last couple of minutes is a unique experience.

11:55PM
I am still in the car. I am still in line at the Taco Bell drive thru. Apparently the manager of Taco Bell and me were on the same dark side of the page, unaware that this Saturday night was a home game for the Oregon Ducks and so many Duck fans would be passing through Albany with the same jones that my pregnant wife was suffering from. I joined a party of 6 cars, a very slow moving line (2 workers on the clock and one content to take a break so that he could text quadratic equations to his study buddies – essential work at such a convenient time, he probably wouldn’t have helped the world turn any faster anyways…)

12:15AM
Exiting the Taco Bell drive thru with 2 Supreme Tacos in tow. There are now 16 cars in the drive thru. 2 Taco Bell ladies laboring to meet the demand of their loyal customers while Einstein continues to work through how he will cure HIV and I travel back home, to my lovely wife, our fairly interesting movie and my impression of Metallica’s latest.

Today I finally found a local listing for a 1980 Datsun 210 at a very reasonable price; this was a good find.

Today I also found something else. Something not so good.

In response to a passing comment from a relative, I recently changed the “top friends” designation for MySpace to “random” so that a new set of top 8’s comes up each time someone visits my main page. I glanced at my refreshed top eight as I scolled down the page and caught a glimpse of the text stating “Nodes of Ranvier – R.I.P.”

- moment of silence -

There is no formal blog or announcement yet from the band, but there are some friend comments claiming having been at the final show. I was not at that show nor was I personally notified before the public release of this news – there was no super-secret text list promotion offered for this leak but the actual delivery of the news is personally more devastating.

I am shocked. The new album had so much energy with all the new elements plugging in seamlessly and I was definitely excited about the return to a clearer message as well…but now it’s done.

Nodes of Ranvier had me hooked from the moment I first heard Thomas scream, “Do You Want To Dance?” I do want to dance. I want to keep dancing. I want to dance and dance and I want Nodes there to lead me. I will continue in Endless Faith but my dancing will be Defined By Struggle. I will no longer be able to dance for what is to come. My Dawning Age has ended. My Glass is now half…Half Nothing. I shall ever remind my fellows, Don’t Blink (Or We May Miss It) and to keep their Faith In The Faux. Even though we were In Too Deep, A Clean Head And A Clear Conscience tell us that It’s Going To Be Okay.

R.I.P. Nodes of Ranvier.

Thank you for the good times!

Showcase may be the only venue where you can do you laundry (coin-op), get your groceries/wares (dollar store) and get a decent pizza while you wait for the show.

After the show there is an In-n-Out fairly close (definitely recommended if you have never been as this will complete any California experience and will likely be stocked full of familiar faces when the show is done).

Venue provides drinks and snacks for all ages including slushees. Area is primarily commerical with plenty of free parking in the immediate area. The floor has three levels, you enter on a raised area that is separated from the main floor by a short wall, this area is for those again who want to observe without being part of the pit. The pit area is plenty big and actually has an area under the stairs of the merch loft where more daring observers can make their stands. The sound definitely fills the venue (there is no escape) and is perhaps my favorite venue to date.

CURRENT 2008: Showcase is moving…check website for location details – www.showcasetheatre.com (makes my review null & void – RIP Showcase #1).

Chain Reaction is a venue exclusively for shows and music, all will be glad to know that there are snacks and drinks available for all ages. This venue is located in a commercial area of Anaheim (close to the freeway). There is a Denny’s right next to the venue, and as with most areas of California, everything else is fairly close. Area is primarily commerical with a decent amount of parking onsite, you may have to walk if you arrive late but will not have to pay for parking. I parked at a large second hand store behind Denny’s, it’s been a few years since I’ve been to Cali, so things may have changed.

The main floor is long and open with an outdoor patio that seems to be the hangout for “listeners” content with hearing the music from a distance (why not stay home?!). Additionally there is a side area separated by a short wall that will allow those who want to be close to the action but not part of it to enjoy the show (this is also where the merch is usually set up).

Sound fills the building and overall is one of the better venues I have attended. I don’t recall a heavy security presence in my several visits, I have attended without incident as the crowds have been pretty well self-policed.

Chain Reaction is in an accessible location, hosts a great show and offers simple amenities.

Chain Reaction
1652 W. Lincoln Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92801
Phone 714.635.6067
check website for shows and directions – www.allages.com

Living Sacrifice

On June 11, 2008 Living Sacrifice released 2 brand new songs from their upcoming project currently titled “Death Machine”. 

“The Battle” and the title track, “Death Machine” are now available at most MP3 outlets, I purchased both songs from iTunes.  If these are any indication of what the band intends to produce then this will be a monster release. 

Living Sacrifice sounds to have a new breath, there is an excitement and relevance in the music that make them interesting to listen to.  Should you have been in any level of dismay in regards to their all to recent retirement (2002), you will find in these songs a clear indication that Living Sacrifice is enjoying music again and they are ready to reclaim their sentry at the gates of the current hardcore Christian movement that they fathered.

I love the drum opening for “Death Machine”, it is reminiscent of classic early 90′s metal and leads the song into an overall rhythmic vibe with flares of metal in the body and a close worthy of bringing the circle back.  “The Battle” has a heavier feel with a haunting close - this is how I imagine the six-winged heavenly host described in Revelation might chant their Hallelujahs.   

Living Sacrifice fans will be excited for the return of the godfathers who embody a sincere combination of Christian and hardcore.  For those who aren’t familiar with this band, here is your chance to get educated.  Furthermore, if you have never heard Living Sacrifice, put yourself in 1997 and purchase “Reject”.    

Band: Living Sacrifice

Album: Death Machine (In Progress – Currently 2 Song Release) [2008]

Label: Solid State Records

Genre: Hardcore/Metal

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