Sad news as one of our favorite conventions ever, Spooky Empire has totally canceled both their events they had planned for 2020, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In addition to being the premiere horror-themed convention in North America, the growing Florida based cons feature stars from horror, sci-fi, pop culture, rock and metal! Both events have been rescheduled for 2021. We hope to see you all there! Read this message from the organizers.
The world of horror movies, scifi and rock and roll collide this weekend in at Spooky Empire caught. Autograph sessions, with horror movie icons like Elvira, Bill Mosely, Sid Haig, TV celebrities like Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Robert Patrick, Mitch Pileggi from Fox’s The X-Files, rock and metal stars like Philip Anselmo, Peter Criss, tattoo artists, horror authors, panels about horror, make up and costumebtutorials, cosplayers, vendors, and more.Taking place all weekend at the Carrib Royale Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Tickets and autograph sessions are available online now. Ghost Cult will be there all weekend, participating in panels, and hanging out with fans so come say what’s up to us.
On Saturday we were running a little late to the venue for Housecore Horror Festival III. I made it just in time to catch most of NAILS’ set, most of which Todd Jones was visibly displeased the entire time. While dozens of kids could be spotted wearing their hardcore and metal shirts all around San Antonio, the floor of the theater was lightly peppered with kids there to watch the band. Coupled with the fact that there was little to no moshing, or just overall lack of general mayhem during their caustic performance, it was leaving a bad taste in Jones’ mouth.
Catching only snippets of Poison Idea and Crippled Bastards, we jumped over to see Providence, RI power-violence group Dropdead. Seeing our fellow New Englanders in the south was cool. Dropdead are here with a message, and that message hasn’t changed, nor will it ever; says singer Bob Otis. Otis is also the main lyricist and mouthpiece of the group, and he made a speech about animal cruelty and corporate greed. The group wants you to leave their shows informed, if anything. After getting crushed by Crowbar, then sped back up again by Negative Approach, we close in on the headliners of the night , Corrosion of Conformity, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, and New York’s own Suffocation.
COC, back with Pepper Keenan at the helm, had a setlist full of classic tunes ending with ‘Clean My Wounds’. Jesus then showed up to clean the crowds wounds and sung with Pepper, followed by stage diving off both ends of the stage to “bless” the theater. To the untrained eye, ANB look like four people standing around waiting for something to happen. But as soon at the lights dim and the projector flashes their name, the audible noise of our butt holes tightening with excitement shadowed the opening notes of the set. It was strangely entertaining to see such a large stage completely devoid of a drum kit, yet welcome.
Suffocation began much like that of ANB, a few people standing on stage waiting for the go ahead amidst sound checking. Once the OK was given, the lights go down and the grindcore onslaught began. Shortly before the small tour they embarked on leading to Texas, the Suffo guys asked the fans what songs they wanna hear in an online poll, and boy did they deliver. From classics to more recent jams, few songs were spared. A love song, ‘Entrails of You’, seemingly penned by Ed Gein himself for a long since passed lover was a highlight.
Sunday Funday! Day three of the festival and the wear and tear is starting to show on just about everyone, but spirits remain high. Maybe they were just waiting for the headliners or even just to hang out and shop upstairs at the booths in the convention floor. By the way I got a great haul of shirts, patches, and the god-like Boss HM-2 guitar pedal; the most Swedish of all metal pedals! The fest had great vendors with booths both local and internationally based. Often times it was hard to traverse due to hall size and all the people, but with a little courtesy and sucking in of the gut, the metal head marches on! After being preoccupied with a handful of other tasks and waiting in lines, I got to chit-chat with horror film legend Mr. Bill Mosley for a bit before heading back over to the stage,
Next up was the barrage that is Author & Punisher. Tristan Shone was joined onstage by tour mates Muscle and Marrow for a song, but was mostly accompanied by projections and skewed video segments. They were followed by YOB who were flawless, even with a sick Mike Schiedt. Had he not told me himself that he was ill, I’d have never known.
Shortly after YOB’s set I caught up with Mike to have a chat and we found ourselves at Whataburger a block away. We got to talking about touring, music and the state of metal. We discussed the weekend so far and previous tours they had been on, and our mutual love and admiration for Neurosis. In short Mike was my own personal Yoda for an hour and I couldn’t have been happier. Next I briefly checked out Autopsy and Incantation and while both are awesome and historic in their own right, at this stage of the game I was so tired every thing was blurring together tonally. Old school death metal just wasn’t for me that night. To close out the weekend Dawn Of The Dead was screened with the live film score to accompany the film performed by Goblin. Unfortunately by this time it was getting close to midnight, and the walk to the hotel was getting longer. My hotel bed was actually starting to look comfy.
The long trip was totally worth it, and I’m very honored to have gone and shared this weekend with both the bands, the fans, and fellow metal heads. Thanks to the staff of The Aztec Theater for being both friendly caring, and above all professional. Lastly every one behind the scenes working with Philip Anselmo to put the Housecore Horror Festival III together.
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WORDS BY ANDREW FRANCIS
PHOTOS BY EMMA PARSONS PHOTOGRAPHY
Philip H. Anselmo, metal legend and horror film aficionado puts on his third annual Housecore Horror Festival this weekend, in San Antonio, Texas. Kicking off tomorrow night with a pre-party, the fest runs all weekend at The Aztec Theater and The Korova venues, as well as at the Holiday Inn Riverwak Hotel from November 12th to 15th. Ghost Cult Magazine will be there to capture all the action.
One of the best, and deepest lineups in the history of the fest, this year’s talents with such immense talents as King Diamond, Anselmo’s own Superjoint, Goblin, YOB, Exodus, Suffocation, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Autopsy, Incantation, Corrosion of Conformity (with Pepper Keenan), EyeHateGod, Crowbar, Poison Idea, Nails, Zombi, Black Breath and many more from across all genres of heavy music.
In addition to the concert portion there will a screening of 80 underground and legendary horror films from some of the greats as well as up and coming directors in the genre. Some of the films will come from Phil’s personal collection and he is sure to be on hand to lend a word or ten on the matter. There will be celebrity panels, signings, and vendors galore as well. Special guests include GWAR’s Don Drakulich aka “Sleazy P. Martini” who will host a special screening of Skulhedface and a secret bonus film that GWAR fans won’t want to miss, a onetime screening of cult classic, Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things with original cast members Alan Ormsby and Anya Cronin in attendance, a premiere of a never-before-seen short film from Coffin Joe, the world premiere of the controversial, massacre-ridden American Guinea Pig: Bloodshock, a special director’s cut of zombie-Viking-black metal-biker film, Saga, starring Ted Skelljum of black metal icons Darkthrone and a an appearance by iconic bodybuilding champion/actor/ songwriter/
screenwriter/musician, Jon Mikl Thor, who will be screening his new documentary followed by a performance on The Korova stage. Additional special guests include comedian Dave Hill from the Metal Grasshopper films, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 star Bill Moseley, president of Unearthed Films/producer of the American Guidea Pig Series Stephen Biro, world renowned tattoo artist Paul Booth and more! For a detailed 2015 film screening list visit: http://housecorehorrorfilmfestival.com/films.
Housecore Horror Fest Aztec Theater Day-To-Day Lineup:
Friday, November 13th
Doors at 5:00 pm
Child Bite – 5:30 – 6:00
Warbeast – 6:15 – 6:55
Eyehategod – 7:15 – 8:00
Exodus – 8:20 – 9:05
Superjoint – 9:25 – 10:10
King Diamond – 10:30 – 12:15
Saturday, November 14th
Doors at 1:30 pm
Gasmiasma – 2:00 – 2:30
Nails – 2:45 – 3:20
Poison Idea – 3:35 – 4:15
Cripple Bastards – 4:30 – 5:10
Dropdead – 5:25 – 6:05
Crowbar – 6:25 – 7:10
Negative Approach – 7:30 – 8:15
Corrosion of Conformity – 8:35 – 9:25
Agoraphobic Nosebleed – 9:45 – 10:35
Suffocation – 11:00 – 12:00
Sunday, November 15th
Doors at 1:30 pm
Muscle And Marrow – 2:00 – 2:30
Gristnam – 2:45 – 3:15
Author & Punisher – 3:40 – 4:20
YOB – 4:40 – 5:30
Ghoul – 5:50 – 6:35
Zombi – 7:00 – 7:50
Incantation – 8:10 – 9:00
Autopsy – 9:20 – 10:20
Goblin (Dawn Of The Dead live score) – 10:45 – end
HOUSECORE HORROR FESTIVAL The Korova Day-To-Day Lineup:
Thursday, November 12th – Preparty!
Doors at 6:30 pm
Aggravator – 7:00 – 7:45
Protest – 8:00 – 8:45
The Black Moriah – 9:00 – 9:45
Black Breath – 10:00 – 10:45
Idolatry – 11:00 – 12:00
Friday, November 13thvember 13th
Doors at 12:00 pm
Butcher – 12:30 – 1:00
Bloodfuckers – 1:15 – 1:45
Fat Stupid Ugly People – 2:00 – 2:30
Hellshock – 2:50 – 3:30
Valdur – 12:30 – end
SATURDAY, November 14th
Saturday, November 14th
Doors at 5:30 pm
Krigblast – 6:00 – 6:30
Kill it Again – 6:50 – 7:30
Classhole – 7:50 – 8:30
Ossacrux – 8:50 – 9:30
The Unnaturals – 9:50 – 10:30
Thor – 10:50 – 11:30
Fang – 11:50 – 12:25
Disfigured – 12:40 – end
Sunday, November 15th
Doors at 7:00 pm
Los Revolucionarios – 7:40 – 8:15
Honky – 8:40 – 9:30
Big Okie Doom – 9:50 – 10:30
Mountain Of Wizard – 10:50 – 11:40
Hellknife – 12:00 – end
Get tickets for Housecore Horror Fest III here:
Housecore Horror Fest on Facebook
Housecore Horror Fest on Twitter
The orgy of gore, music and horror and just great culture in general collide this weekend in Worcester, MA for the 11th Annual Rock And Shock Festival. The event is always the highlight of the fall concert and horror convention season and is once again using the Worcester Palladium and the DCU Arena and Convention Center as its home base.
The weekend of music kicks off Thursday night with fests pre-party night featuring the triumphant return of King Diamond. Our spies at the few few dates of the King’s first headline tour of America, complete with full stage production, has been just sick! Hand picked openers Jess And the Ancient Ones are sure to be a treat for unsuspecting American audiences.
Friday brings headliners Overkill (stepping in for Machine Head and their tour cancellation). The Kill is always prime live and it will be great to hear some new songs from White Devil Armory (eOne) added to the set of thrash classics. Backing them up is the one-off supergroup The Rocking Dead, hand picked by photographer Jeremy Saffer. Led by Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein, Alan Robert (Life of Agony), Virus (Dope), Ace Von Johnson (Faster Pussycat) and Kriz DK (Device, Dope) will play a set of covers of The Misfits sure to delight festive fans. Also on the Friday bill are Battlecross, Brick By Brick, Arsis, Jamey Jasta’s namesake solo band, Avatar, Zire’s War and a bunch of great locals.
Saturday might be impossible to top with the GWAR Eternal Tour adding weight to the bill. And by weight we mean Blothar, the new co-frontman of GWAR, along with Vulvatron and the rest of scumdogs searching for their lost leader Oderus Urungus (RIP). Joining them will be a reactivated Life of Agony, fresh off of their recent sold-out comeback show in New Jersey last month. Other bands doing damage to your brains will be Palladium favorites like Unearth, Dying Fetus, Darkest Hour, Decapitated, and Carnifex all on the main stage. The small stage will be full of torturous mosh pits for Origin, Thy Will Be Done, American Shark, Tomorrow Will Fall, Conforza, and Swarm of Eyes.
Sunday has Juggalo protegees Twiztid and a bunch of similar acts if that is your thing. There is a also very cool free entry for Armed Services veterans Sunday too!
The Horror Convention part of Rock and Shock is always a fun time for the entire family (yes, really) full of celebrities, tons of vendors, a Film Festival, guest panels and Q & A sessions, Tattooing, contests and many photo op sessions. In addition to the signings by movie icons, The Rocking Dead people will be doing signings and photos. Not only that but Jamey Jasta will have a booth sponsored by his Hatewear clothing company and will be joined doing a signing with Randy Blythe of Lamb of God, Mike D’Antonio of Killswitch Engage/Death Ray Vision and Skateboard legend/Actor/Black Flag front man Mike Vallely.