Certain times throughout history generate rage and anger through music that’s truly gratifying. The Sex Pistols had the 1979 U.K. garbage strike and dozens of bands, most notably Jimi Hendrix’s “Machine Gun,” had the Vietnam War to thank for inspiring outrage-induced hits.
In 2017, we’ve reached another point in history – particularly U.S. history – where loud and sweaty music with heavy riffs and Cookie Monster vocals grows more satisfying.
Watsonville’s WarCorpse has churned out thrash metal tunes like “Exhuming From the Aftermath” and “Cold Flesh For the Soulless Man” that sound like titles directly inspired by Trump’s presidency.
Since 2009, Daniel Rodriguez (guitar), Paul Conway (guitar), Rikk Arreola (vocals), Juan “Cujo” Hernandez (bass) and Juan Rosales (drums) have directed their attention to less-than-flowery song themes, including mental illness, destruction and sickness.
If you’re looking for love songs and happy endings, avoid WarCorpse. They won’t be offended.
AGE (At God’s End) are also loud-and-proud thrash metal heads. With six members from San Jose and Salinas, AGE specializes in ear canal-throbbing riffage, and integrate some skilled Sabbath-like guitar solos.
Lyrically, AGE’s darkness isn’t political; their lyrics are fantasy-based vignettes that sound like they could have derived from an extremely harrowing scenario from Dungeons & Dragons. Like WarCorpse, AGE is loud, aggressive and unapologetic on originals, including “Promise of a Grave” and “Beyond the Gates/Forever in Flames.”
Meanwhile, Planet Gemini’s triple metal bill will kick off with Fresno thrash metal quartet Fatal Rebirth, who’ve been on-again-off-again since first forming in 2012. The current incarnation, Vin (guitar/vocals), Derek (bass), Jaz (drums) and Joey (guitar), guarantees a sonic kick to the rib cage.
WARCORPSE, AGE and FATAL REBIRTH 9pm Saturday, April 29, at Planet Gemini, 2110 Fremont St., Monterey. $5 cover. 241-6805.
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