Kevin Winter, Getty Images / DNA Fashion Designs We punk rockers and metalheads are defensive when we spot a poser. The hard-fought careers of underground bands such as Municipal Waste , Suicidal Tendencies , Cro-Mags and Corrosion of Conformity are worth more than just a jacket, especially when that jacket is worn by R&B singer Chris Brown. The online metal community took aim at Brown after he was photographed wearing a leather jacket adorned with the logos of underground legends, and if you had any doubts about Brown’s sincerity underneath the fashion statement, the man who created the jacket, Noel Austin, has come out to say, “That guy doesn’t f—in’ know who Cro-Mags are.” Noel Austin of DNA Fashion Designs recently spoke with Metal Insider about Chris Brown and how the designer felt about seeing him wearing one of his jackets. “I was about s–t myself when I saw Chris Brown with my jacket that said ‘Cro-Mags’ on it,” Austin tells Metal Insider. “That guy doesn’t f—in’ know who Cro-Mags are. I didn’t sell it to him! Do you really think Chris Brown goes online and buys his own clothes? He doesn’t even write his own music.” Austin continues, “I’m 40 years old, an old punk rocker, a single parent, and with not much of an education. I’d always made everyone’s costumes onstage and made my own clothes, and I had a couple people offer to buy jackets off my back. At first, I was like, “f— you, you’re not punk rock, I’m not selling you my jacket.’ But when I almost lost my place to live, the next time someone offered to buy my jacket, I sold it to them, and a light bulb went off over my head and I realized I could stay home and take care of my family and do what I love doing. An opportunity came along, I jumped on it, and the next thing I know, celebrities are buying my s–t!” “The clothes I make are a direct reflection of my life,” adds Austin. “All the bands you see on the clothes, I grew up listening to them, and I still listen to them, or I’ve gotten turned on to them by other people … The beauty of what I do is I go to these shows, I buy the patches and support the bands, and I put these patches on the clothes and sell them on a worldwide level. And it promotes these bands.” Check out Noel Austin’s official website for DNA Fashion Designs , which proudly states, “Noel Austin’s creation WILL change you. This is more than fashion, more than image, it’s a lifestyle.” [button href=”http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/tfTvYMl7KLM/Chris+Brown+Steps+Out+Flashy+Jacket/1JhsKqP7_aQ” title=”See Pictures of Chris Brown Sporting the Metal Jacket” align=”center”]
Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Comic Con attracts all walks of life, and this year some metal luminaries made appearances at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City over the weekend. Slipknot / Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor pulled up a chair at the Dark Horse Comics booth to greet fans to spread the word about his comic book series ‘House of Gold & Bones.’ Twisted Sister frontman and horror enthusiast Dee Snider was also there for a signing, as well as Iced Earth axe-man Jon Schaffer and Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick , who played some serious riffs at the Metal Sucks booth. Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett also made a special appearance at this year’s convention in order to promote his forthcoming book ‘Too Much Horror Business – The Kirk Hammett Collection.’ We were there to catch Taylor, Skolnick and Schaffer in action. Check out our photos below, as well as video of Skolnick shredding on guitar: Check Out Photos of the Metal Invasion at Comic Con 2012: Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Watch Alex Skolnick play guitar at Comic Con 2012
Photo by Ty Watkins In 1982, Brian Slagel started a record label that would turn into one of the premiere labels in the world of hard rock and metal. Celebrating 30 years in the industry with Metal Blade Records, Slagel decided to throw a party for the fans in New York City. Michigan heavy metalers Battlecross opened the night at Santos Party House, and As I Lay Dying closed things out. Being with Metal Blade for nearly a decade, it was no doubt an unbelievable honor for As I Lay Dying to help Slagel celebrate 30 years. Before the gig, Loudwire had the chance to catch up with Nick Hipa and Phil Sgrosso, both guitarists from the band, to chat about their new album, what it was like touring on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival and more. Leading up to the release of your latest album, ‘Awakened,’ you gave your fans a taste of what to expect with the tune ‘Cauterize.’ Do you think that is a good representation of the album as a whole? Nick Hipa: We’re all pretty confident that the fans are going to be into the album as a whole based on the response we got from ‘Cauterize.’ That’s just the tip of the iceberg as far as the whole album goes. If people can get into that, they’ll be stoked for what the rest of the album is. You recorded ‘Awakened’ in Fort Collins, Colo. I get the feeling this is a bit isolating as far as the metal community goes. NH: You know, the experience was awesome. It allowed us to be more productive than we’ve ever been. That mostly was a result of Phil and I being able to record all day, everyday for the majority of the day in our own rooms while the rest of the guys were recording in San Diego. That made it a lot more enjoyable. We weren’t as stressed out with timing and scheduling. The icing on the cake is that Fort Collins is just a really cool place. Phil Sgrosso: It definitely helped that we didn’t have any distractions, not worrying about family plans or something that would cause us to leave early. It was great to just focus on the record and get it done. Just a little over a month ago, you guys wrapped up the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. What was it like touring with bands like Slayer, Anthrax and Slipknot? PS: It was great. The mainstage was all the older bands and the classic metal bands. Slipknot , they’ve been around for 15 years or so, but they’re such a presence on the tour. It was nice playing with those bands and sharing the stage with them. There was a lot of energy with the festival. Everyone was pretty stoked about it. Any crazy stories from that tour? NH: Not so much crazy, but one of the things that sticks out to me is that a lot of the nights on tour there would be a tour-sponsored mixer where a band would be in charge of throwing a party. Usually there was a theme associated with it. Anthrax had a Halloween theme and everyone dressed up. Lemmy and the rest of the dudes from Motorhead showed up in costume, they were dressed up as the Blues Brothers. To me that was incredible because Lemmy is definitely an older guy and he’s been around for a really long time. It was great to see that someone like that hasn’t been jaded by the biz. He’s got a really good sense of himself and is really down to earth. He still has a good time. That was really awesome to me. It was like, “Oh, Lemmy’s here, and he’s in a costume!” What’s it mean to be a part of the Metal Blade family, playing their 30th anniversary show tonight? NH: We’re all proud to be on a label like Metal Blade. Metal Blade has been very reputable the whole time, it’s cool to be a part of it and be amongst the roster of bands that have excelled in their genres or done cool things in the world of heavy music. It’s been a pleasure working with them and being on the label for this long. PS: It’s kind of crazy to think that we’re playing our label’s 30th anniversary show. The owner, Brian Slagel, has seen it all happen. We’re definitely honored to be with them. You mentioned the world of heavy music. As I Lay Dying have been around for over a decade, and I would say you have ventured past the term ‘up-and-comers.’ That being said, in the last couple of years, there have definitely been some new bands that have really made a splash in the music scene. Have there been any acts that have caught your ear? NH: Even though we’re in a [Loudwire] Death Match with Gojira right now, they’re one of the heavier bands that are out there right now that are blowing us all away. They write such creative and crushingly heavy music, and we got to play with them a few months ago. They’re incredible live. They’re one of my favorite heavy bands right now. [Editor’s note: As I Lay Dying’s ‘A Greater Foundation’ was in battle with Gojira’s ‘The Axe’ at the time of the interview.] What’s next for As I Lay Dying? PS: We’ll be heading over to Europe for a month with Trivium. Then after that we’ll be on the Monster Outbreak Tour, a few Canadian dates and the rest will be in the states. So, basically two months of touring for the rest of the year. ? Live Photos From the Metal Blade 30th Anniversary Party As I Lay Dying: Spencer Kaufman, Loudwire Spencer Kaufman, Loudwire Spencer Kaufman, Loudwire Spencer Kaufman, Loudwire Spencer Kaufman, Loudwire Battlecross: Spencer Kaufman, Loudwire Spencer Kaufman, Loudwire Spencer Kaufman, Loudwire
The End Records In the metal world, AxeWound are a supergroup as violent and graphic as their name. Featuring Cancer Bats vocalist Liam Cormier and Bullet for My Valentine singer-guitarist Matt Tuck, along with drummer Jason Bowld of Pitchshifter, ex-Rise to Remain bassist Joe Coput and Glamour of the Kill guitarist Mike Kingswood, the band could have done or become one or a combination of many things. It could have been greater than the sum of the parts; a mish-mash that sounded like BFMV harvested with Cancer Bats’ DNA; or something totally unique in and of itself. We’re pleased to report that AxeWound are the latter and the former, but not the middle. ‘Vultures’ is 10 tracks of thrashy, razor-sharp riffery, with vocals that are screamy where they need to be and growly when they need to be. The overall mood is nastier than a hungry Rottweiler. It doesn’t straddle any lines or flounder in the middle of the road. These songs are so metal, they excrete liquid steel. There’s not much in the way of humor on the album, but that’s okay. What it lacks in lightheartedness it makes up for in sheer aggression. Besides, did we really need another album of snarkily titled songs which have nothing to do with the lyrical subject matter? No, we didn’t. AxeWound and ‘Vultures’ exist to push the metal mission forward with uncompromisingly heavy, neo-thrash tunes. ‘Post Apocalyptic Party’ feels like just that — it’s drenched in vinegar-soaked riffs, battering ram drumming, hardcore fury and thrash intensity. If the Mayan prophecies are indeed right and the end is indeed nigh, this is the song we’d want to be cranking as the world comes crashing down around us. The title track shreds, and features a guest spot from Avenged Sevenfold ‘s Synyster Gates. ‘Victim of the System’ launches with a squall of feedback and sing-talk vocals that are incredibly popular in the hardcore genre. Nevertheless, the song allows the band to smash away at the instruments while you mosh. ‘Cold’ is the most melodic jam of the bunch, vocally speaking, but the music is still fierce enough to make your blood boil. With the lyrical bark “You can’t kill me,” we’re apt to believe AxeWound are impenetrable. ‘Burn Alive’ has a doomy current running through its veins, while ‘Exorchrist’ is another example of the band’s melodic proficiency. But the rolling guitars keep the song anchored in metal. There are not a lot of breathing moments on the album, so ‘Vultures’ is the equivalent of a street fight in that it pummels over and over again, without much in the way of pauses to allow you to catch your breath. The songs are compact, usually clocking in at three minutes and under. So they don’t overstay their welcome or become too ambitious by trying to be experimental with all that extra time, nor do they drift into boring territory by being too samey. Ultimately, ‘Vultures’ is the work of seasoned musicians who are adept at their instruments and their roles. They don’t rely too much on their past (or most prolific) works, nor do they attempt to be something they are not. It’s a fresh metal album that’ll satisfy your thrash jones.
Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com This metal singer sports a full sleeve of tats so this photo serves as simply a small sampling of that because we wouldn’t want to give it away now, would we? With an impressive collection of ink, this rocker even has one that pays homage to a work of art by pop-surrealist painter Mark Ryden that reportedly depicts sad children bleeding from their eyes. The singer’s band dropped their latest disc in August, with a revamped lineup that according to this singer was “meant to be.” Are you ready to take a guess at which singer is rocking this ink? Click below to find out who it is: [button href=”http://loudwire.com/tattoo-reveal-25/” title=”Find Out Whose Tattoo This Is” align=”center”]
Ryan Pierse, Getty Images They say time heals all wounds, but not enough time has passed for DJ Lethal to let his ousting from Limp Bizkit go. While tweeting back and forth with some of his followers, Lethal let loose with a number of barbs against his former mates. Theprp.com reports that the conversation started with the Lethal digging in on the news that his old band’s new single was going to be ‘ Pain .’ He stated, “Don’t get me started. ‘Pain’??? Really. Come on. LP is making better songs. R&Bizkit?!??!??? FaCEPALM.” He would add, “I like Linkin Park better than Limp Bizkit. Haaa. At least they still make music, not sell out. I used to rock!?!’ From there he added, “I used to do it for the nookie. I’m lucky I didn’t get an STD. But if I went the Paris/Kim way, you would know. Bad luck. Rockstar with a LIL PP.” In another tweet, he added, “Basically Fred [Durst] is 43 years old. How long can that dude do it for the NOOKIE? Don’t get me wrong there was a time when he wrote his own lyrics.” Lethal also cited his love for Korn and Deftones , and added, “Because the lead singer of those bands can SING. Lb now = gangban.” He would follow stating, “Honestly, Limp Bizkit stole they’re qhol # style from Deftones. Vocally!!!” When a Twitter follower attempted to back Limp Bizkit, Lethal added, “I hate a–holes that judge me for leaving a ‘band’ I was in for 15 years. Your like a f-n moose that got lucky!! F— Fred Durst. I was talented and was an artist own before u even knew who Fred was. If tout gonna be a #wigger, than do your homework. #houseofpain bitch!” He also defended his right to speak his mind, adding, “Don’t like it, f— off. U like Wes [Borland] new moustache? F— you! You think Fred is a better rapper than MGK? FU.” Before signing out, the DJ concluded, “Ok, yeah I’m drunk talking s—. No I know who my REAL friends are. If you’re not one of them, unfollow and f— off.” Editors Note: By Saturday morning, a majority of the tweets had been removed. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/dj-lethal-offers-scream-the-metal-preview-launch-post-limp-bizkit-career/” title=”Next: DJ Lethal Previews ‘Scream the Metal'” align=”center”]
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian has enjoyed working with metal-loving comedian Brian Posehn on a couple of tracks in the past and those good times have led the metal icon to reportedly sign on for a full album with the comedian. Metalinjection.net reports Posehn revealed the collaboration during a visit to SiriusXM’s Liquid Metal studio. In the past, Posehn roped in Ian for the songs ‘ Metal by Numbers ‘ and ‘ More Metal Than You ‘ on his previous albums, and this time rather than bolstering his comedy with the songs, they’re planning a full “comedy-metal” release. Posehn told host Jose Mangin that one of the songs will be titled ‘Satan Is Kind of a Dick,’ and that there will also be some metal covers on the album, though perhaps not glaringly obvious ones. For instance, on his last album, Posehn amped up the wattage on Kenny Rogers’ ‘ The Gambler ‘ to give it that metal feel, and he revealed that he and Ian had discussed the possibility of giving a metal spin to the A-Ha classic, ‘ Take on Me .’ The comedian says there may also be a few other metal cameos on the effort, but he wasn’t ready to divulge who just yet. Though a title or release date have yet to be announced, Posehn confirmed that the disc will come out through Megaforce Records. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/anthrax-fight-em-til-you-cant-21st-century-metal-songs/” title=”Next: Anthrax: Top 21st Century Metal Songs” align=”center”]