Fuming Mouth has been one of the best, unheralded bands in the underground for years and years it seems. That may change on the strength of their new album, The Grand Descent, out this Friday, June 7th 2019 via Triple B Records. The band is currently streaming their entire new album over on Bandcamp, and you can pre-order it there as well. Catch them on tour with Creeping Death and then with Harms Way, Jesus Piece, and Portrayal of Guilt. Continue reading
The Middle East Night Club in Cambridge, MA continues to be a venue that holds some of my most memorable shows. November 27th would be another show I would not soon forget either but I am still undecided if it is a good memory or a bad one. On one hand, I was seeing Twitching Tongues, Harm’s Way, Homewrecker, and Malice at the Palace all for the first time. On the other hand, ignorant Merrimack Valley Hardcore kids who treat a show like a turf war.
As much as I enjoy having a free-rein on how I write for Ghost Cult, I do not abuse it. However, I need to get something off of my chest about the local opener, Threshold. First and foremost, on a musical stand point, they have that very typical hardcore sound that really does not blow anybody away, but at least they do an alright job with it. I clapped at the end of their set and almost walked up to the lead singer to shake his hand. He looked a little angry about something, I was assuming stress of being the opener and having to pack up the gear quickly. Little did I know, him and his cohort of thug friends were in the process of jumping one of my friends over pit drama. Yes, fucking pit drama. My friend got his lip split open and another friend of mine jumped in just to separate the four white trash scumbags from delivering anymore cheap shots. If you are reading this and book shows or are an owner of a venue in the New England area, do not book Threshold from the Merrimack Valley area in MA. They do not attract a crowd nor do they keep a crowd in-house because they would rather jump them after a set. If you want to fight, fight like a man, not a stereotypical brocore pussy. You are a disgrace.
Moving on. Fuming Mouth was up next which has become one of my favorites from the Boston scene. They have that nice balance between crust, hardcore, and metal that attracts everybody to the show. If you get a chance to see these guys crank out a quick 20 minute set, get to the venue early to catch them!
Malice at the Palace was up next on this night. As I only dabble in the world of hardcore, I was not aware of what this band was like. After a few songs it became apparent to me that these guys had a strong Slayer influence (nothing wrong with that!) and still kept the hardcore soul in their sound via the vocalist. I certainly will be keeping my eyes open for the next time this group comes around.
Up next was Homewrecker to which I kicked myself pretty hard learning I missed them at Maryland Deathfest this year. The Ohio natives were one of the outliers in the lineup as they are a powerviolence band who cater to fans of crust punk, grindcore, and me. Watching the hardcore kids stand around during chaotic passages of songs, looking confused easily made my night. Don’t be an idiot like I was at MDF this year, catch Homewrecker the next time they are in your area.
One of my favorite found gems of this year, Harm’s Way, hit the stage next. To be completely transparent, this band was the whole reason I even wanted to come out to this show. Oh and of course the macho man fights continued during their set. Two fights broke out, the first actually cutting ‘Law of the Land’ short. The Cambridge crowd got a nice mix of newer tracks from Rust like ‘Amongst the Rust’ and ‘Cancerous Ways’. Some other tracks included opener, ‘Scrambled’ as well as one of my favorites, ‘Mind Control’. I will certainly be getting to more Harm’s Way shows in an effort to see more of them as eight songs was simply not enough for me.
Finally, Twitching Tongues made their way to the stage to close out the night. This was my first time ever listening to the headliners and I was not ready for the clean vocals. I guess it was just a complete polar opposite as to what I had been listening to all evening and as to what I was expecting. The lead singer kept the crowd engaged as everyone crowded the front through the entire set shouting lyrics back into the microphone. That, to me, makes you a successful live band and I gladly tip my hat to Twitching Tongues.
WORDS BY TIM LEDIN
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December in New England is a special time. The beautiful autumn colors have fallen to rust and the desperate preparation for the inevitable burial under literal feet of snow in the coming months is at the forefront of our residents minds. Seasonally, it is truly the calm before the storm. The time just before nature cleanses itself with decay so it can be reborn in spring. This December will also mark the third annual show during this time from one of our heaviest bands, Morne. Specifically, December 12, 2015, at Great Scott in Allston, MA. The show is aptly named, “The Coming of Winter”.
Morne plays locally only about twice a year and The Coming of Winter has become a sort of call to the crowds to come out and celebrate the upcoming new year. It’s also a chance for the band to book their own show with bands they want to play with. For Morne, it isn’t simply a show with bands that you have seen a thousand times. I got a chance to ask founding band members, singer/guitarist Milosz Gassan, and bassist Max Furst, why they put this on every December and what it is that makes the show important to them.
“I want it to become a thing that I’d like to go to. Something that isn’t just another show that happens every other weekend with the same 10 bands…” explained Gassan. “Something that brings recognition to music and art done without rushing, trying to ‘make it.’ I see it as a special night for us. It’s an event that brings some sort of fulfilling emotion. We aren’t set to play one hometown show a year but we like to keep it to a minimum which makes every show a special event for us and not make us a ‘house band.’ I don’t feel any reason or need to play every show we can. I think that is what makes me approach it with some special feeling. We do tours where we play 30-40 shows night after night but that is something different. You play every night in a different town, different venue. Playing often in your own hometown brings a routine to it and you start to feel numb. I think some people feel this way about the same local bands playing every other week, getting on every opening slot for touring bands. I just don’t like when local bands play too often. It takes away the special aspect of it.”
“Booking our own show gives us the ability to select where we play and who we play with. The Coming of Winter is a chance for us to gather with our friends in our hometown and share the stage with some local bands we respect and enjoy.” commented Furst. “This will be the third year we have organized a gig of these sorts, but since it’s become somewhat of a tradition we have decided to give it a formal name and identity. The past two years have proven to be a success so we’re hoping to keep it rolling. Hopefully it will grow in time.”
With all the things you have to do in December, whether it be shopping, spending time with family and friends or simply reflecting upon the past year, The Coming of Winter is something worth penciling into your schedule. I asked Milosz what was special to him about the show being held in December and why they have chosen that month for these shows. “Well, I think fall/winter in general is better for heavy music. I think people are more focused then too, I am. It’s right when seasons change.”
WORDS AND PHOTO BY HILLARIE JASON