An Open Letter to Blackie Lawless...

W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless decided to weigh on tomorrow's U.S. Presidential election in a lengthy statement on the band's website. I figure that even though I am not an American, I should respond. After all, this election affects everyone, not just citizens of the U.S.

Dear Mr. Lawless;
I have to say it is with a touch of sadness and some confusion that I read your statement regarding Barack Obama and tomorrow's election. While I haven't been a fan of every single release, I still consider myself a fan. More importantly, I always felt that you were a fine example of the non-stereotypical metalhead: intelligent, articulate and well-versed in the world. So I was shocked to see your rant against Obama. You claim that you aren't supporting McCain, yet every single claim you make in the article is straight from the Republicans battle strategy for this election. Lies, bordering on slander, that have been pumped out ad nauseum by Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, The Drudge Report and other right-wing attack artists. Seriously, you believe that Obama is a Marxist? That he is a product of the "Harvard Far-Left"? Perhaps you could explain how that is so much worse than someone who is a product of the "Yale Far Right"? Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it. As one scans down the page, we see all of the pathetic and debunked McCain claims: The connections to Khalidi, Ayers and Wright.
And don't even get me started on ACORN. I am glad to see you denounce racism, yet to make the kind of statements that black people are only voting for Obama because he is black is not only a line of thinking right out of the mouth of such human scum like Rush Limbaugh.
You decry Obama for reading 'Mein Kampf', so I have a question for you: How is this bad, when you take into account the comments of G. Gordon Liddy, convicted felon, domestic terrorist, and good friend of John McCain? It is a sincere disappointment that you would risk more war, economic disaster and even the very freedom to do what you do because you fell for the lies of the complicit right-wing media and a man who voted with Bush 90% of the time. If you think Obama is scary, believe me, what the world fears more is a sickly McCain taking office, then dying to hand the reins of power to Sarah Palin, who will most assuredly attack metal with a ferocity that will make the battle against the PMRC seem like a joke.
So thank you, for making some memorable music over the years. But in your belief of the smear tactics against Obama, and support of a party that will destroy the freedom to play and listen to the music that so many love, you have lost me as a fan. Here's to you not getting what you wish for.

Kent Basky
Mass Hypnosis Metal Radio

REVIEW- AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINE- Total Brutal

AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINE- Total Brutal (Metal Blade)

So often metal tends to take itsself way too seriously, so when album this fun comes along, it's a blast. As I Lay Dying's Tim Lambesis is the brains behind this project, which conjours up metal as if it were made by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Implementing some of his more memorable lines from his many action movies as song titles, ADM pushes the Arnold as metalhead theme to levels of rediculousness, drawing many chuckles and a few groans along the way. The tunes are thrashy, a tad generic at times yet full of energy and no doubt they had a ton of fun in the studio creating them. Hard to pick a favorite, though Get to the Choppa, Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers, and the Terminator inspired I am a Cybernetic Organism, Living Tissue Over (Metal) Endoskeleton are among the catchier tunes. In an era where a cartoon band has the best selling death metal album in Billboard history, it shouldn't be a surprise that ADM has come along. I will say though that Vancouver's Flaming Death Crucifixion Symphony Number 9 not only did the Arnold Metal thing first, they do it better. Still, this is a solid album well worth a few spins.

REVIEW- METALLICA- Death Magnetic

Those of you who know are quite familiar with my stance on Metallica. Being one of those members of the FFAO (First Four Albums Only) club, I was at least curious to see if the album was going to even come close to the hype or be just another pathetic failure like St. Anger. The band's promises have meant nothing to me and many other metal fans for years, so when Rick Rubin was brought on as producer, this was at the very least a sign the band was serious. Could he help the band recapture some of that magic? Well in listening to Death Magnetic, the answer is: sort of. While a return to form as the premiere thrash metal band in the world is out of the question, what Metallica have done is created an album that is all metal, with many nods to their thrash roots and some outright heavy moments. While it may not be worthy of sharing the mantle with the first 4, it is without a doubt the first album that actually sounds like them in nearly 20 years, and at times comes across like a natural progression from ...And Justice For All, like it was the album that should have proceeded it, not the eponymous Black Album. There are some weary moments here, but to hear not only Kirk Hammett ripping solos, and even better James Hetfield playing metal riffs again was heartwarming to say the least. It's become apparent though that Lars simply has declined as a drummer to the point he merely keeps pace now, but often feels like he could be left behind some of the aggressive riffing found here. James' vocals also have that growl again, not as much as say, on Master Of Puppets, but he found the anger for sure. A great album, not entirely good enough to have me bow down as I did in my pimply-faced high school days, but a slight return to form, and a reclaiming of their throne as the world's most popular metal band

We're baaaaaaaaacccccccccccckkkkkkkk

Sort of. While the latest podcast probably won't be ready to go until next week, we are finally ready to step back into the ring. As for why we had such a long absence, well there were a number of factors, personal and otherwise. The metal bug never goes away though, so we will be back not only with the podcasts, but news updates here as well. The BC Metal Forces Myspace page will also be relaunching soon too, and we will have an announcement on the MH Records BCMF Compilation. We ran into some issues trying to get everything going, and it pretty much overwhelmed us, along with the other things that were going on at the time. It looks like we are ready to get that completed soon, so stay tuned for that. 2008 is shaping up to be a great year here in Victoria, as Zimmers Hole and Nightwish are scheduled to make stops here in the spring.
THE CAVALERA CONSPIRACY is out on March 25th, and marks the first collaboration between Max and Igor since the former's deparpture from SEPULTURA. And how do you create a buzz for your new album? How about bashing one of your labelmates? In an interview with Sweden's Close Up Magazine (as seen on blabbermouth.net) Max let loose on Killswitch Engage "I went to see LAMB OF GOD in that States and they were alright, but KILLSWITCH ENGAGE opened and it was the gayest show I've ever seen," says Max Cavalera. "I was like, I'm not part of this scene, it's fucking gay.' They were acting like they were U2 and I was like, 'Hmm….' The attitude was so ridiculous. I don't know these guys, they're on my label [Roadrunner] and all, but it was completely disappointing and gay. Like really lame, such a lame band live, everything about the whole attitude. LAMB OF GOD came out and destroyed them and I don't even like LAMB OF GOD that much, but they were so much better coming after KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. I was like, 'If that's what the scene is about, hey fuck it, it ain't got nothing to do with me." Check out 2 tracks from "Inflikted" Sanctuary and Inflikted. SLAYER won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance Sunday night, for a bonus track on a re-release of their Christ Illusion album, we here at MH Metal Radio were hoping King Diamond or Machine Head, but hey, what do we know? Make sure to check back for more updates, and watch for Episode 18 coming next week.