Hiroshima Death Fest 2012 Live Report

About once every one or two months, death metal bands in Hiroshima host a death metal event called Death Metal Terror, featuring up-and-coming metal bands as well as veteran bands from around Japan. On July 14 was the culmination of these events, a get-together of a bunch of death metal bands around Japan at the Hiroshima Death Fest.

1、 2ヶ月に一回ぐらい、広島のデスメタルバンドは「デスメタルテラー」（略して「デステラ」）というイベントを主催している。若手のバンドや全国（たまに韓 国とかも）のベテランバンドが集まるイベントである。今回はこのシリーズの最高のイベント、「Hiroshima Death Fest」が、7月14日に行われた。

I went to the show with my new video camera to film the bands. I also wanted to get in the mosh pit, so I only filmed a couple of songs per band and then I took a break to get my circle pit on. I filmed all of the videos below unless otherwise specified.

ビデオ撮影するためにビデオカメラ持って行って参戦した。モッシュもできるように、各バンド数曲しか撮らなかった。以下のデスフェスの映像は全て私が取ったものである。

Baked Bomb (Hiroshima)

Death Metal Terror events are hosted mainly by the three local bands, Baked Bomb, Neuroticos, and Blind Hate, and usually one of them will open the show, playing even before young up-and-comers and lesser-well-known out-of-towners. I think it’s a great way to get everyone to the venue to see all the bands.

デ スメタルテラーというイベントは三つのローカルバンド、Baked BombとNeuroticosとBlind Hateが主催する。その中の一バンドがよくオープニングアクトとして最初に出る。若手バンドやツアーバンドよりも前に演奏するから、みんなに最初から来 させ、全部のバンドを楽しむきっかけになり、とてもいいんじゃないかと思う。リスペクト。

Baked bomb is a great death metal band with an extra string on both guitars and the bass. They have great catchy yet brutal riffs interspersed with solos by each of the guitarists who make the most of their seven strings. The constant guttural vocals of the bass player, Makoto, complete the doom-like sound of this band.

Baked Bomb（通称「ベイクド」）は7弦ギター5弦ベースのスキルがレベル高い、すごいデスメタルバンド。

They’re all really nice and fun-loving guys. You’ll notice in the video their metal brothers giving them drinks on stage as they play. This is a common scene at Death Metal Terror shows, at once comical and punishing. Still, it does not do anything to take away from the quality of their performance, a testament to their professional playing level.

ベ イクドのみならず、広島メタラーのみなさんは楽しくていい人ばっかりです。下の動画では、バンドが引きながら飲ませられるところがあるが、デステラではよ く見られる光景。容赦ない行動だが、楽しい雰囲気も伝わる。しかも、そんな厳しい状況の中でも、ミュージシャンたちのスキルがさすが一切ブレない。

These guys were fun to talk to after the show as well. Makoto is always actively reaching out to non-Japanese speaking audience members who came to see the show and making them feel welcome.


Hell and Hell (Nagoya)

This was my first time seeing this band, so I didn’t know what to expect, so I was very pleased to see this band with thrashy riffs, a black-metal face painted vocalist that danced around the stage and into the crowd constantly, a giant gong placed in the middle of the crowd, and good beats and fun the whole time. Fun and friendly guys on and off stage, I recommend seeing this band if you want to have a good time.

こ のバンド初めて見たから、何を期待すればいいのかわからなかった。したら、スラッシーなリッフ、顔黒く塗って観客の中に入って踊りまくったボーカル、観客 エリアの真ん中に置かれたゴング、などなどで楽しくて大満足だった。演奏中でも演奏終わってからでもみんな楽しくてフレンドリーだった。




Gai Nega (凱nega) (Tokushima)

I didn’t know what to expect from an all-girl masked death metal band from a corner of Japan not known for metal (as far as I know anyways), but these girls really know how to tear it up. Unforgiving and brutal metal, I hope to see this band again sometime!

徳島からいらっしゃった、全員女性のデスメタルバンド、マジかっこよかった！全員女性だからって甘く思うなよ！本当にブルータルなメタラーたちだった。

Neuroticos (Brazil/Hiroshima)

3 out of 4 members of this band are Brazilians based in Hiroshima, and they are proud of their Brazilian metal heritage (see: Krisiun, Sepultura). I love this band’s sound, so brutal, in your face, it gets the crowd moshing every time.

このバンドの三人が広島在住のブラジル人で、堂々とブラジルメタルをぶっ飛ばす、ブルータル、暴れたくなるバンド。

They are working on recording new music, some of which they played on this night. They put up a new track on youtube, give it a listen below.

今新アルバムのレコーディングの励んでいるらしくて、一曲目がYOUTUBEにアップされたので、聞いてみてください。

Desecravity

When I heard Desecravity’s recorded music for the first time on Youtube, my jaw dropped. So much brutal technicality shoved into one song. When I saw them live for the first time, my jaw dropped again. Such an awesome performance. The video above doesn’t quite do them justice. I will be seeing them again when I get the chance. The guitars and drums are amazing, but I want to give a special mention to the bassist, who, in addition to moving his fingers constantly across the fretboard, is quite handsome. Check him out up close in the video above. This band seems to be getting some attention abroad as well! I will definitely be following these guys.

最 近このバンドの音源を始めてYOUTUBEで聴いたとき、テクニカルでブルータルな音がびっしり入っててマジで驚いた。ライブを見ても、すごい演奏にまた 圧倒された。ギターとドラムももちろんのこと、ベースの方もとてもかっこよかった。すばやくうごく指の引き方だけじゃなくて、ルックスもかなりハンサム だった。

このバンドは海外のメタラーにも注目されているらしくて、これからフォローしたい。

Viscera Infest (Oita)

Another band to which words can’t do justice. If the words “metal” “death” “gore” “grind” “awesome” “fast” mean anything to you go get this band’s recordings, listen to their myspace, watch their videos, read about them on Metal Archives, do something. I seriously I thought I would die (happily) during their performance.

I don’t really know too much about the band, but there is something awesome about the fact that they use sound clips of horror movies in Spanish and that they have toured Mexico.

このバンドはゴアだし、デスだし、高速だし、とにかくすごい。ライブはぜったいお勧め。メキシコツアーとかでもしたことがあるらしい！このバンドは本当にかっこいい。

Clandestined (Aichi)

It was really great to be able to see this thrash/death band at the fest. They are pretty awesome and I hope to see them again. In the video above you can see the reunion of the bald metalheads of the night. Good times all around.

このスラッシュ・デスのバンドはかっこよかった。動画では、坊主の集まりでも見れるかもｗ

Hydrophobia (Fukuoka)

This death metal band has an awesome sound and stage presence. They often host metal shows called “Dead in Horror” in Fukuoka. I highly encourage you to check them out if you’re in the area.

このデスメタルバンドは圧倒的なパフォーマンスでかっこういい。福岡で「Dead in Horror」というメタルイベントをよく主催しているらしいから近くの人は遊びに行ってみてください。

Blind Hate (Hiroshima)

This like this death metal band more every time I see them. The crowd is always into them and they are really great guys. Thanks for the awesome show!

このバンドのライブを見る度に更に楽しくなる。観客はいつも盛り上がるし、本当にいい人たちだ。
楽しい一日ありがとう！

In closing, here is a photo of the tattoo booth at the show:
最後に、会場で行われたタトゥーブース

And the DJs for the night:
そしてイベントのDJ達

Grind Show at Hokage 5.5.2012

Grind Show at Hokage 5.5.2012

A few American friends were coming to Kansai from out of town during Spring vacation, and told me they wanted to go to a metal show.
アメリカ人の友達が関西に遊びに来てくれて、メタルライブに行きたいと言ってきた。

The best choice was a grind show at the Osaka venue Hokage, making this my third grind show in a row - as well as the third time in a row to see Mortalized. Which isn’t a bad thing, they get better every time.
探した結果、大阪の「火影HOKAGE」のグラインドイベントに行くことになった。僕は連続三回グラインドイベントに行くことになったんだし、Mortalizedも連続三回目見ることになったんだけど、それはそれで嬉しいことだった。

Hokage is a small venue with no stage inside a concrete box, and most people probably don’t even notice it walking by. I highly recommend it for the heavy music, intimacy with the bands, and the cheap drinks.
「火影」というライブハウスは、ステージなしのコンクリ箱みたいなところ、入り口の前を通る人々はたぶんその存在に気付かないことが多いだろう。ヘヴィーな音楽、バンドとの親近感、そして安い飲み物が楽しめるからたいへんお勧めでござる。

I used this opportunity to try out the video camera on my new Samsung Galaxy S II to film a couple songs. Turns out that the video quality was great, but the sound quality was terrible. I will post a few videos below, but I highly recommend that you turn the volume to zero and play the bands’ actual records in the background.
このライブを機会に、新しく買ったサムスンギャラクシーSIIのビデオカメラを試すことにした。 結果としては、画質が優れていた反面、音の質が耐えられないほどひどい。下に動画を何個か載せるけど、ボリュームをゼロにすることをお勧めする。

Below are the bands that played, not in any particular order:
続いては出演バンド。

Mortalized
Kyoto metal disguised as grind. Enjoy the video. Again, the sound quality is terrible.
京都からすごくメタルなグラインド。動画をお楽しみください。また言うけど、音質は悪い。


My video with bad sound:
(SOUND QUALITY IS REALLY BAD SO PLEASE TURN DOWN YOUR VOLUME) (音質はとても悪いからボリュームを下げてください)

Here is an actual song of theirs:

Swarrrm
The guitar riffs were pretty simple, but the bassist was tearing it up, as was the drummer, who was as metal as anything. Check out their studio recordings on youtube, pretty awesome.
リフはシンプルに見えたけど、ベースとドラムはもう、すごかった。YOUTUBEに音のいい動画もあるので、是非聞いてみてください。


My video with bad sound:
(SOUND QUALITY IS REALLY BAD SO PLEASE TURN DOWN YOUR VOLUME) (音質はとても悪いからボリュームを下げてください)

Their awesome music:

Minderased
“Real digital grind”
Digital drums and the guitar player plays his guitar more like a synthesizer. Pretty cool.
デジタルドラムとシンセサイザー風のギター。革新的でかっこよかった。


My video with bad sound:
(SOUND QUALITY IS REALLY BAD SO PLEASE TURN DOWN YOUR VOLUME) (音質はとても悪いからボリュームを下げてください)

R3N7
(Prounounced Rosanna?) A hardcore band with a totally metal vocalist. Friendly guys.
「ロザンナ」と発音する・・・だと思う。メタラーボーカルのハードコアバンド。みんなフレンドリーだった。


My video with bad sound:
(SOUND QUALITY IS REALLY BAD SO PLEASE TURN DOWN YOUR VOLUME) (音質はとても悪いからボリュームを下げてください)

Bands at the show I missed (due to going late/ convenience store runs): Completed Exposition, Dantefone, John Doe
（↑見損なった演出）

New Music Kenkyukai, a student-run metal band club

Ritsumeikan University has a pretty awesome metal cover-band student club called New Music Kenkyukai (New-Ken). They form cover bands of all kinds of genres, from rock bands like Queen and Motley Crue, to metal acts like Arch Enemy and Anthrax, to emo-core bands.

There are some really talented musicians in this club, and some New-Ken members go on to form bands after graduation.

New-Ken has been putting on shows this week in collaboration with other music clubs on campus in part to try and convince a few new students to join.

立命館大学では、「ニューミュージック研究会」（ニュー研）というメタルバンドコピー中心としたメッチャかっこいいバンドサークルがある。コピーバンドの幅はホントに広い：ハードロックのQueenとMotley Crueや、ガチメタルのArch EnemyとAnthrax、エモコアまでジャンルにこだわらずとりあえずかっこいい音を出す、って感じ。

ニュー研に本当に上手なミュージシャンがたくさんいて、ニュー研出身から本格的バンド活動に進む人いる。

新学年度になったので、ニュー研が新歓ライブを行っているみたい。



Their main event is during the school festival in the fall, at the only metal event at a university in the Kansai area (I think). I highly recommend going to this. The students put a lot of work into each performance. Awesome guest bands from around Japan also play at this event.
ニュー研のメインイベントは立命館学際の一部として行われるRITS METAL。関西で唯一の大学メタルイベント（だっけ？）。

This weekend, at Growly, a venue near Nijo station in Kyoto, Kiba of Akiba (キバオブアキバ), a band featuring New-Ken members will play as part of Tokyo act Angagement’s tour.
Kiba of Akiba is just tons of fun. Just watch their official video to see what I mean.

今週末、二条駅の近くにある「GROWLY」というライブハウスで、ニュー研メンバーを含む「キバオブアキバ」というバンドがANGAGEMENTのツアーサポートで出る。
キバオブアキバはメッチャ楽しいバンド。とりあえずPVを見ればわかると思う。

Also playing is Kyoto’s female-fronted Japanese metal act AufHeben. They have lots of energy and Japanese metal is melodious and awesome.
ジャパメタのAufHebenも出るみたい。みたことがあって、かっこよかった！

The show is Sunday, April 22, Open 17:00 Start 17:30.
Link: http://growly.net/schedule/detail.html?year=2012&month=04&day=22&bd_id=78


Another band that features a New-Ken member is Apostosis, who just released an album and video

March 29, Socrates Kyoto: Graf Orlock, Dangers, Mortalized, etc.

Thursday night. Finish work. Ride my bicycle down to Socrates, a live venue in Kyoto the size of my apartment.

I had just been to this venue the last Sunday to see a collaboration grind/hardcore show, and a couple of these bands hosted two bands on tour from the US: Dangers, a hardcore/punk (genre arguable) and Graf Orlock, a movie sound-clip infused grind band. I’d never heard of these bands before, but my grind fanatic friend told about Graf Orlock, and I didn’t want to miss the chance to bike down and see these young punk trailblazers for 1500 yen on their Japan tour. (Japan tours are the highlight of every indie/punk band’s career, right?)

Half the crowd was band members, and everyone was kinda chill being Thursday night and recovering from last Sunday’s show, but the bands’ performances were awesome.
The event is called Smell the Coffee (I saw Melt Banana before as part of the same event) and I understand it’s hosted by Ball Busters.
木曜日の夜に、仕事を終わって、チャリでソクラテスに向かいました。ソクラテスというのは、僕の部屋と同じ広さぐらいのライブハウスである。

ちょうど先週の土曜日に、ソクラテスにグラインド・ハードコア合同イベントを見に行ってた。その中でのバンドがアメリカからのツアーバンドのサポートで出演した。

ツアーバンドとは、グラインドのGraf OrlockさんとハードコアバンドのDangersさん。近くでツアーバンドが見れる、しかも１５００円で！見逃すわけにはいかない。

まぁ、客の半分ぐらいはバンドメンバーって感じで、平日ということもあって、客の感じは少し落ち着いていた。でもバンドの演出は全部すばらしい、迫力迫力！

今回のイベントはSmell the Coffeeというイベント。前レジェンドのMelt Bananaを同じイベントでも見て、すごく楽しかった。このイベントはBall Bustersが主催してるようなことを聞いた

Bloodball
Bloodball, a local hardcore band, played Sunday’s show. I don’t know too much about them, but their name always appears on local hardcore event posters. Loud, energetic, brutal, tight hardcore. Their vocalist has tons of charisma and just makes me want to shout along. Once I figure out the lyrics...
Last Sunday, by the way, they played a packed show, everyone was into it, lots of fun. Actually this video explains it pretty well.
Bloodballって、京都のバンドかな？すごくエネルギー、迫力があって、楽しい。歌詞を覚えたい。

Ball Busters
Old-school hardcore riffs meshed with funky jamming sessions. This is a great band to listen to with a beer in your hand, until the vocalist comes diving at you.


Mortalized
Kyoto’s legendary three-piece grind band. Blistering fast drums, technical riffs mixed with some melancholic chords, and an awesome vocalist. If you’re in Kyoto, I highly recommend checking out this band.

Dangers
I listened to them for the first time right before the show, which is too bad because this is a band worth knowing the lyrics beforehand. Really poetic and really vicious hardcore at the same time. Not quite old school, but never new-school emo breakdown stuff. They remind me a lot of broken-up Modern Life is War, whose hoodie I happened to be wearing that night.
The vocalist was really, really intense.

Graf Orlock
Graf Orlock’s wikipedia description is pretty awesome. Their show is too. The guitarist (also the guitarist for Dangers?) plays the samples before launching into shredding grind.

A member of a Tokyo band Endzweck was accompanying the bands, and he gave me his demo. Pretty cool stuff.

I also walked out with the tour shirt, two bands shirts in one!

That’s my show report! Stay tuned for more.
以上、ライブレポートでした！