Most of the bands that were featured in last night’s showcase were from the Oklahoma City area and came to the t-town courtesy of Mark Stevenson‘s TLP Entertainment. The Life+Leaf Breeder’s Ball at the shrine saw the perfect showcase for this time of year with a mix of dark metal. I confess, my personal taste doesn’t bring me to this corner of the rock genre as I don’t often knowingly or purposely select this heavy of gear in my mental meanderings. To say that I was impressed and smitten is an understatement as these artists brought more than fun, more than heart, more than passion, and all of their souls into their performances. Given the themes of several of these ensembles, maybe a certain dark prince gave them that little extra boost to serenade the souls of a few of us unsuspecting and vulnerable music lovers over to the dark side.
The night was kicked off, perfectly I might add, with this 3 piece band. They had an infusion of punk and black metal that looked something of an amalgamation of the Misfits, Black Metal Society, and a little bit of Motorhead. The vocals were on point with a brilliant rhythm to lull you into a state of awe that prepared you for the acts to come. I absolutely loved this group and can’t wait to see and hear more from them in the future.
I’ve expressed my love of these young men last week from their recent performance at the Shrine recently and I can’t deny that they’ve demonstrated that it couldn’t be farther from a fluke. These guys have a world of potential in front of them with their great attitudes, the humor they bring to the stage, and general presence. This is something that I miss from the garage metal days of my youth and as they grace the stage in a formation of metal fabulousness they bring harmony that resonates with any venue they play. It’s an eclectic lineup of talent that will lure you in with their youth and then shred your face with heavy riffs and screams that will ring throughout your ears in the best of ways.
The previous act totally set the stage for the WGB 1914 that came up next. The Will Grim Brown band game straight out of the gate with the aggression that got the audience out of their seats and ready to rock. The perfect blend of rhythm and rage that culminated with a beautifully barbaric attitude that exploded from that stage. If that wasn’t enough to make me fall in love with this collection of misfits, the screaming guitar riffs and solos left an impression that will haunt me for weeks to come. To say the riffs are hypnotic is an understatement. These guys reminded me that metal can have a rhythm and a groove amongst the growling screaming vocals. I definitely felt some Black Sabbath in their music. with their dark brooding undertones in the music. The crowd was definitely feeling them as well as they were pulled to the stage in almost a dark mass. While this was happening, the music really began to carry a bit of a bounce to it. As I was talking with Jeremy from Perseus, who was having an amazing time, he mentioned a phrase that I feel fit in so well. “Groove Metal”. Sorry, Jeremy, I’m stealing it! The set ended with a song that got me so much. It was titled “Eyes of Bullshit” with one of the fastest bass intros I’ve seen in a long while. PS, few lead singers can play the bass like my boy in the Will Grim Brown band!
Continuing the theme of the night, whether it was intentional or not, Arkhon came on next was as dark as it was continuing the grove. The collection that makes up this band is fabulously fatal. They share their guitarist, among other members, with other bands. And I tell you, I can’t tell if he has that guitar strung with gold or the souls of virgins, but that thing screamed to mine! The fellas were perfectly in sync and the drum beats had that pulsing tempo that can not be denied your attention. One of the last songs began with a cymbal tsking that to me sounded as if it were a clock of death. The vocals carried the screams that synchronized so perfectly with the guitars. This set also featured a few audio effects that could be mistaken for an electronic ride to hell. The community of musicians was also enraptured. So much so that one sharp-eyed member of Harakiri noticed a loose cymbal and snuck on stage to fix it while the drummer waled away without, literally, missing a beat.
It is so hard to pick a favorite act of the night. Almost several of the acts were just so great that it is hard to pick a clear favorite. But if any came out by a nose or snout, it would be Longpig for me. This was my first experience with these guys and I was completely blown away. Makeup, a “Shadow Man” on the second set of drums, and a singer adorned with a mask that could be mistaken for a hybrid between a pig and a bat. This band could be described as what would happen if Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Leatherface formed a band. Complete with a freakin WASHBOARD strapped to his chest!!! To say they were epic would be an understatement. This was a definite stage show without effort on their part. The presence alone was enough for me. If this wasn’t enough, this band is a sort of a supergroup of local talent. Guitarist and bassist are metal brothers from Sign of Lies as well as another guitarist from Will Grim Brown, and I believe I may be missing a few others bands amongst the members. These guys live for music and play in several groups. Let’s not forget the singer’s bongos of death that brings a sound, that I didn’t realize was missing until this point, a voodoo-ish beat. His performance was magnetic. If this snout wearing man started a cult, I would def be tempted to join.
I have and will continue to sing the praises of this quartet. Their image is so polished and defined it can’t be denied. They’ve definitely got their goals and their vision worked out to the letter. The band had coordinated attire and Becky’s vocals were on point as always. The soul that comes from her pipes can not be argued and she really is the local metals siren of darkness. I caution anyone who may be in an “altered state” as they begin to experience Mudd Flux as they are sure to leave you in a trance. The rhythmic harmonies in the strings and the pulsing of the drums along with the vocals long notes will definitely leave you mesmerized. They are currently touring and promoting their newest album “Light the Skies Electric” that dropped last year and it is very appropriately titled. I would definitely classify this as a sort of “Mood Metal”
As we come to the close of the night with the final act, if Mudd Flux took us down to a cruising gear, Sign of Lies definitely threw us into sixth with their deliciously filthy brand of metal. I don’t say that as a term of judgment, but a descriptor of what was seen on stage as Devon, on vocals, had on makeup, at least I hope it was as if he climbed out of the depths of the unclean to grace the stage. Which he definitely did. Sign of Lies, if nothing else, is a headbangers delight! Their sound has a groove and a tempo that you can NOT resist banging your head to. Seriously, I challenge you! There’s just so much character coming from this group that it’s amazing and let’s not forget, as per his shirt, the drummer shaved his balls for this! As I’m sitting at my table exhausted from the day’s events I felt a sudden draft of air as 4 long-haired metal hands ran, seriously RAN, to the stage and flew into a flurry of synchronized headbanging. It turns out it was a band from across the street that was beckoned from the sounds of Sign of Lies from a completely other building! If that doesn’t speak towards the performance of these cats, I don’t know what does!
In conclusion, this was a presentation for the ages. I continue to be amazed by the amount of talent we have in Oklahoma. Not just the talent but the passion. It blows my mind how these guys can not only be so well in one band, but play multiple. Most that played tonight play in not only one, or two, but three or more groups. But that’s what these guys do. They love to play. The LIVE to play. And, to play live. Any of these bands could be ready to play on far larger stages once the call comes. I suggest checking all of them out while you can because they are going to go far, kid.
