Show Overview: Noisography & Red Tentacle present >> MAYHEM'S EVE - March 10th 2012

There was a lot to celebrate on Mayhem’s Eve: Noisography’s 3rd Anniversary, the site’s creator and main photographer Tiffany Naugler’s 30th birthday, and our first all-metal showcase.
We invaded the Bus Stop Theatre, setting up merch tables galore, in the lobby and turning the theatre itself into a dimly-lit, loud as hell mosh pit.
We had a hell of a show prepared.



It started with an afternoon all-ages show featuring My Friend Grim, For The Hollow, Last Call Chernobyl and Orchid’s Curse. After that there was a 19+ show that included Obsydian, Cicada, North End Metal All-Stars and Hellacaust. We had compilations of classic black & white horror movies projected behind the bands and the entire evening was hosted by Louis and Robert of Metal Mouth Media. We even held a free raffle for a giant hand-painted banner signed by every musician who played. Also there was cake. Two cakes - we crammed as much awesome as we possibly could into one event! With such a great lineup we expected a lot of people, but by the end of the night the bar was full to capacity and Mayhem’s Eve became a bigger success that we dared imagine.



Since we pretty much handpicked the bands ourselves, it’s a given that we loved every performance, so we won’t bore you with eight glowing reviews. Instead, here are a few musings and observations:
First of all, you wouldn’t know it from reading any of the local music ‘zines or newspapers, but lo-fi indie-rock isn’t the biggest music genre in town. It may not get as much mainstream attention (when has it ever?) but metal is far and away the most popular genre in town. At least it’s the genre that draws the hugest crowd. Maybe metal fans are more willing to venture out to the bars and spend their hard earned money on their favourite bands, but I’ve seen it with my own eyes time and time again. The metal fans are the most enthusiastic, fun loving and appreciative crowd around. The local metal scene is incredibly inspired and while most of the bands play variations on a similar style they all approach the genre differently and offer a unique experience. I always have the most fun at metal shows and it’s usually evident that the audience and bands are having a blast too.


 As I headbanged to the music and watched the horror movie clips on the projection screen I realized how much horror films and metal have in common and how well they fit together. It isn’t just the fact that they both deal with dark subject matter and are both in the business of embracing taboos and pushing societal buttons. They are both largely misunderstood genres, considered the ghetto of their respective mediums and they cycle in and out of fashion yet always remain true to what they are and have the most loyal followings in the world. Plus it just feels right to hear a huge monster guitar riff pound away as Godzilla levels Tokyo.


During Orchid’s Curse set, they did their usual gimmick of inviting the audience onstage to sing the refrain in the Workhorse Walks Alone: “Is this what I have chosen or what has been chosen for me?” I’ve seen them do this a few times and while it is always quite sweet it was incredible to see it done with the all-ages audience. I think that metal and hard rock speaks loudest and most directly to teenagers. As an adult it’s an art form that I appreciate and enjoy, but as a teenager it was sonic survival. The music I loved at that age kept me alive, it gave me strength, confidence and an ability to face the world. Just try spinning Pantera’s Five Minutes Alone while feeling weak and sorry for yourself. It can’t be done. And a line like “Is this what I have chosen…” speaks so directly of what every single teenager must feels in his or her heart. More than any of us, teenagers are torn between finally being able to make life decisions for themselves and having everything controlled for them by the adults in their lives. Seeing a few dozen teenagers scream these lyrics along with vocalist Josh Hogan wasn’t just cool, it was a goddamn revelation.

Other highlights for me included new-kids-in-town My Friend Grim proving that you don’t need to be "of age" to rock the fuck out of the metal crowd, For the Hollow’s uncompromising sound, Last Call Chernobyl’s always entertaining bassist and versatile screaming vocals, Cicada’s rip-roaring set and safe-for-work music video, Obsydian’s earth shattering crunch, North End Metal All-Star’s cheerful power metal that had hundreds of people pumping their fists in unison like a frantic political rally of the damned, and Hellacaust’s heavier than heavy cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s Bark at the Moon. There was way more rad stuff, but I already promised I wouldn’t bore you with too much praise.




Ok, a little more praise. The staff at the Bus-Stop Theatre  has, once again, been more than accommodating in helping make our daydreams a reality and we can’t forget the generosity and camaraderie of our sponsors: Red Tentacle, Obsolete Records, Brass Anchor Tattoo Lounge, Strange Adventures, Metal Mouth Media, Yarmouth Metal, Pavement Postering and Rockopolis. We couldn’t have done it without the help of those mentioned and all of you wonderful, beautiful faces who showed up and partied said faces off. Thanks for making it a night to remember.

We’ll be sure to make next year even more badass.*that's a promise*

- Isaac Thompson


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GET ALL THE INFO ON MAYHEM`S EVE HERE:
http://mayhemseve-halifax.blogspot.com/

2012 Line-up

All Ages Show – 6:30pm to 9:30 pm

My Friend Grim - https://www.facebook.com/MyFriendGrim
For The Hollow - https://www.facebook.com/forthehollow
Last Call Chernobyl - http://www.diminishedfifthrecords.com/lcc/lcc.htm
Orchid's Curse - http://orchidscurse.wordpress.com/

19+ Show – 10pm to 2am

Obsydian - https://www.facebook.com/obsydianmetal
Cicada - https://www.facebook.com/cicadametal
North End Metal All Stars - http://www.myspace.com/northendmetalallstars
Hellacaust - http://www.myspace.com/hellacaust

Brought to you by:

Noisography: http://noisography.com/
Red Tentacle: http://redtentacle.ca/
Obsolete Records: http://www.obsoleterecords.ca/
Brass Anchor Tattoo Lounge: https://www.facebook.com/BrassAnchorTattooLounge
Strange Adventures: http://www.strangeadventures.com/
Metal Mouth Media: http://www.metalmouthmedia.com/
Yarmouth Metal: http://yarmouthmetal.ca/
Pavement Postering: https://www.facebook.com/pages/pavement-postering/323191293537
Rockopolis: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rockopolis-Rehearsal-Studios/167530666621271