6.7.13

On June 7th I listened to Slayer Seasons In The Abyss and Primal Scream More Light.

R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman – January 31, 1964 – May 2, 2013.

Jeff wrote some of the best Slayer songs. The title track and opener for Seasons In The Abyss, “War Ensemble,” as well as “Raining Blood,” and “Angel Of Death.”

I’m not the biggest Metal fan in the world, but when I’m in the mood. Slayer is always there.

I haven’t listened to Seasons In The Abyss in while and when I hear it, it reminds me of my friend Kevin Boyce. Kevin is a one of those guys that loves Metal and also has an appreciation for a lot of good music. We used to go around and around about bands, but always had so much common ground it was tough to just dismiss each other’s tastes. He helped me find my inner Metalhead and I’m pretty sure he doesn't give a fuck about anything I ever played for him.

In October of 2003, Kevin and I went to see Slayer at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. They were being supported by Hatebreed and Arch Enemy. I like one Hatebreed song, and the chick from Arch Enemy made their set entertaining. We watched the openers from the comfort of the balcony with easy access to a bar, but right before Slayer was to take the stage we decided to hit the pit.

I was wearing a red Foo Fighters hoodie and jeans. It was about 150 degrees on the floor and once Slayer started we just set ourselves a drift in the sea of Metal. This is the last time, in my adult life that I’m in a pit of any kind of consequence. The watch I was wearing was lost. A sacrifice to the Gods of Metal, I guess. I was punched in the face a couple of times, I helped up as many people as I knocked down, and I left the show a soaking wet ball of sweat. Afterwards Kevin and I tried to get tattoos down in SoHo but where refused because we didn't have an appointment. So, we hopped in a cab and went to a titty bar, where we ran out on a $500 bar tab. Retribution for my lost $50 watch! Metal, huh?

Oh, and Seasons In The Abyss is fucking perfect.  

I can’t believe I've been listening to Primal Scream for 22 years! I didn't get wind of them until their wonderful 1991 album Screamadelica and have been a half-assed fan every since.  Screamadelica and Give Out But Don’t Give Up are my favorites and “Rocks” from the latter has remained a staple in my mp3 players since the turn of the century. 

Their whole discography is rather spotty to me. I've missed a couple albums here and there, but I really dug 2006’s Riot City Blues. I also chose to ignore Bobby Gillespie’s “political musings.” I’m not even really 100% sure what his deal is, but aren't all the “great” ones crazy?

More Light comes in with a nine minute bang called “2013” which harks back to the 80’s for a horn based pop sound with a pretty epic chorus to match the epic magnitude of the track. I love it!

The following seven minute jam, “River Of Pain,” starts off rather blandly and turns into a movie score/noise mashup that pretty much begs you to skip it or just stop listening to the album. I skip it. 

“Culturecide” is pretty much an ode to Pop Will Eat Itself and doesn't suck, but doesn't really land either. There’s still ten more tracks to go, so I’m not going to bore you or me with a track-by-track here.

To me, Primal Scream has never been a full album kind of band. You cherry pick the good shit and fly through the rest.

“Elimination Blues” is kind of the rest of the good stuff here. “It’s Alright, It’s OK” really wants to be this big number to end the disc and it’s OK, but it’s no anthem. 

Up next... I listen to The Tubes The Tubes and Savages Silence Yourself. 

Check out the rest of the June Playlist.