Man. I tried. I really did.
I had every intention of getting this damn thing up and running again. And I started out decently in January. But, then atrophy just seemed to take hold of whatever creativity still lingers in my brain. Every time I started thinking about reviewing an album, the whole exercise seemed to be more trouble than it’s worth. Hell, I don’t know how many of you out there actually read this shit or even care if it continues in the future. It’s hard to get motivated when I’m not entirely sure if there is even an audience beyond a handful of friends that even give a shit. Plus, sometimes I just feel like I’m regurgitating the same old review over and over. How many ways can you describe a guitar riff or soaring vocal line? Hell, I’m certain if I actually went back and read the Year in Review for 2022, I was probably complaining about the same weary sense of repetition and burn-out as I am today.
So, is the end of this blog? Fuck, I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe I’ll kick my shit into gear in 2024. Maybe I won’t. Maybe it will just be this little year-end treat for you diehards to look forward to all year long.
So, much like my motivation in writing this blog, my attendance at live shows definitely took a hit in 2023. Whether late night weekday shows or just the pain of standing for 3-4 hours straight, I have essentially become a old guy in 2023. Hell, I ended up not going to see Khemmis play because it was raining (the show was at an indoor venue). Granted, I still love the music as much as I ever have. And there were a slew of terrific albums released this year. But, I’m just wearing down and being more selective in the shows I go see these days. Hell, most of the shows I went to this year weren’t even in the metal realm. Some highlights on the metal side were King’s X (I will always see them when they hit town), Enslaved/Insomnium (Amazing double bill…Enslaved continues to be one of the best live metal bands going these days), Ghost/Amon Amarth (mainly to see Amon Amarth on a large stage). On the non-metal side, I went to see NOFX’s Punk in Drublic two day fest with the punk rock wife, the Violent Femmes performing the debut self-titled album in full (also with the punk rock wife), Sting and Peter Gabriel. The Amon Amarth show held my favorite live show memory this year. I had a couple of nerdy 20-somethings sitting next to me at the venue. You could tell they were new to this whole metal thing and were there to see Ghost. You get a lot of this type at a cross-over crowd that Ghost appeals to. Anyhoo, Amon Amarth comes out with their full Viking stage and just start pummeling. A couple of songs in, one of the dudes leans over to me as says with as much innocent enthusiasm as he could muster, “I HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THESE GUYS!!! THIS IS FUCKING AWESOME!!!!!” I laughed and gave a hearty, “FUCK YEAH!!” Towards the end of their set, he leans over again and shouts, “I THINK I’M A FUCKING VIKING NOW!!!!” This fucking dude made my entire year.
In the newsworthy items, KISS finally called it quits on live shows (maybe), Mike Portnoy is back in Dream Theater (Finally!!!), Agalloch got back together to play a couple of shows (hopefully, this means new music in the future) and Marty Friedman got up and played a few shows with Megadeth (this was a definite treat).
So, tomorrow, we start the Top 20 countdown for 2023. It was another pretty decent year for new music. You’ll see a lot of entries from bands that I have banged the drum for hard in the past. You’ll also see some newcomers that I haven’t reviewed before.
To end, we once again lost some metal warriors over the past year. None of these guys were huge stars, but in their own way they put their mark on this music we love so much. So long and thank you for the wonderful music from the following individuals:
Sebastian Marino-guitarist, Overkill
Tim Aymar-vocalist, Control Denied
Jim Duncan-guitarist, Dark Angel
Kirk Arrington-drums, Metal Church
Berne Marsden-guitarist, Whitesnake
Steve Riley-drums, WASP/LA Guns
Charlie Dominici-original vocalist, Dream Theater
DISPATCHES FROM THE VOID 