Black Sabbath are back – and here’s why you need to be excited (Part 2)

I originally posted the above video in the comments section of my last post (click), but I couldn’t help but think it was worthy of its own post. Just look at that performance. Even Ozzy has some energy in him. More than me actually, and I’m young enough to be his great, great, great grandson.

If you still think this Black Sabbath reformation is nothing to be excited about, or the band don’t have it left in them to still perform, you are wrong.

Black Sabbath are back – and here’s why you need to be excited

11-11-11, it doesn’t matter whether you’re European, whether you’re American, or if you’re from Mars (Where the average American thinks Europe is), that date format should be correct to all around the universe. It is known as the day when the greatest Metal band of all time, its creators, Black Sabbath announced they are to reform.

Now, I am aware of the following things:

1. “The band have reunited with Ozzy in 1997 and continued to 2006 without releasing any new music.”

2. “Even if they did release new material, it will suck”

3. “I saw the band in 2004 and they sucked”.

4. “Ozzy is pretty much dead and probably being controlled by Sharon with a remote control. He even needs a Teleprompter”

But here’s the thing… The band could have easily NOT have reformed before sadly, one by one, members pass away. This could be your last time to see the band, and speaking as someone who hasn’t, I want this opportunity and so should you. It’s a world tour, so where ever you are, go see the band!

Next, Sabbath plan to finally release a new album. I know things fell through last time, but hopefully this time it’ll be different. Look, it’s 2011 and we KEEP being reminded how records supposedly “don’t sell anymore”. It’s being drummed into us on a daily basis. Bands reform and they go on as a nostalgia act touring big festivals and odd shows in order to make a buck (see Faith No More, Rage Against the Machine etc). This is different, the band seem to still have that fire inside of them and that desire to continue making music. Frankly, I don’t care if it’s not their best, but a brand new Sabbath album in 2012 or 2013, or whatever, amongst the Lady Gagas and Keishas of this shitty time in music, is an astonishing thing.

If you’re not excited for this reunion, you know where the X is 😉

Drugs R Us

It matters not one whit if people want to face up to it or not, the truth is that drugs and metal have gone hand in hand since way before metal was called metal – but if you’re going to a gig which drug should you take to maximize/enhance your experience to the max and what should you avoid?

Weed/Hash – The metalhead’s staple diet. Virtually all of existence is better lived whilst stoned but in this day and age the Smoking Nazi’s pounce like hungry lions if you light up at a gig, so smoking a whole spliff in peace is tricky, you can grab a few quick hits off a bowl but again if you’re spotted you’ll have to waste time fighting security and you miss the show. Presumably you could ingest your herb but then it’s all in the lap of the gods as far as timing goes and you’re bound to fuck it up. My advice is to cane the bong mercilessly before the gig, then top yourself up with alcohol at the venue.

Ecstasy – An unbelievably good drug to consume at a rave, or even at a metal gig if you’re going to stand at the back, but if you want to be in more of a crush nearer the stage ecstasy doesn’t really fit – it’s hard to feel euphoric when dozens of people are pushing and shoving and treading all over your feet. Though it does work well with the volume.

Whizz – Personally I have no time for amphetamine sulphate, it gives a weak dirty little buzz. The only reason to take whizz at a metal gig or anywhere else for that matter is if you want to drink your body weight in Special Brew without getting pissed, or if you want to stay awake for a few days.

Shrooms – An excellent concert buzz, but not for the inexperienced – taking shrooms at a gig can be overwhelming if you’re not head-strong, plus it’s easy to vomit if your stomach wants to get in on the action too.

Coke – Not a good concert drug, metal or otherwise (not a good rave drug either but that’s another story). Okay you may have ground up a load prior to the event so you could stick it in a bullet in your pocket so you have no problems with consumption, but the buzz, although fantastic if you’ve got good product just doesn’t sit well with extreme volume. Fuck knows how Sabbath et al used to play off their nuts on it night after night; I think it says more about their addictions than their enjoyment of coke.

Angel Dust – Fuel for the mosh if you know what you’re doing, but like shrooms it shouldn’t be considered unless you have ample experience.

Acid – And so to the greatest concert drug ever made, there really isn’t anything else quite like it. If you’re never taken acid at a gig before and you’re planning on giving it a try go easy. There will be other gigs, other nights; there is no need to go banzai your first time out. Depending on your physicality maybe take it easy the next time too, there really is no rush. But eventually you’ll be able to sit in the pub a couple of hours before the gig and drop 4 or 5 hits, and then you’ll be in the best possible head space for the ensuing evening. The first time I took acid at a gig was to see Motörhead on the Overkill tour, and it was transcendent. Here’s hoping this Saturday’s gig goes ahead at Hammersmith, if it does look out for me – I’ll be the bloke smiling.

Disclaimer: This article is obviously a joke, if you’re straight-edge and suddenly felt the need to do drugs because of this article, you are an idiot. We don’t really condone the use of drugs, we just seriously encourage alcohol consumption.

Dan Nelson vs. Anthrax, round 2

We all thought Nelsonthrax drama was over. Dan was out, Belladonna was in, Anthrax finally released Worship Music and Nelson started working on his new band BlackGates. Whenever Ian or Benante were asked in interviews about Nelson, they had nothing but bad things to say about him though. I guess Dan Nelson took notice of that, because he is now suing the band for $2.65 million.

A former lead singer of the band Anthrax filed suit yesterday over the fallout from his 2009 ouster from the popular “thrash” combo founded in New York City.

Dan Nelson says drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello and guitarist Scott Ian falsely stated in “numerous interviews” that he had “abruptly resigned” after getting sick, forcing a cancelation of a tour.

The $2.65 million suit also alleges that Benante last month told the rock-news site Blabbermouth.net that Nelson “was a bully.”

The Long Island native says his ex-bandmates’ “intentional defamation” has caused him a loss of income and damaged his reputation.

The Manhattan federal court filing further charges that Nelson co-wrote the tunes on the band’s latest album, “Worship Music,” but hasn’t gotten his fair share of the profits.

Read more: New York Post

As usually, we don’t know all details of the story but, with this suit, there is a good chance we will get to know the details sometime in the future.

I can only say the following. Scott Ian and Charlie Benante did talk a whole lot of shit about Dan Nelson in the press. This is speculation, but maybe the band tried to turn Nelson into the bad guy, the only one responsible for this mess, to save face and get back some of their integrity.

I’ve personally been in steady contact with Dan for quite some time, even though that sadly died down in the past couple of months. I can only say good things about him. He’s been extremely nice to me and shared a lot with me. Be it stories or music. So I can’t share the “Nelson is a monster” view, unless you’re referring to his vocal abilities, with which he shits all over Belladonna.

I can only say this: I can understand why Nelson filed suit, and I hope everyone involved can finally sort this out and put it to rest. This has not just been damaging Nelson’s reputation, but also Anthrax’s.

Fear Factory have an album name, but they won’t share it :(

Another one in the “barely eligible to pass as news” department, Burton C. Bell used Fear Factory‘s Twitter account to announce he’s got the album title name figured out, but he didn’t really want us to know:

I think I have the title in my head or the next record…. Should I share? BCB

Fuck yes you should share, but with me alone. Burton, if you’re reading this, send it to simo@doseofmetal.com, and I’ll send you a nude picture of myself, how about that?

In the meantime, let’s play a guessing game. What could the title for a new Fear Factory album be? I’m thinking:

• Demechanized
• Humachine
• Digideath
• Flip Flops (this one being the concept album about his relationship with other band members)