The Golden Ticket

Exodus

The Regency, San Francisco

September 1, 2016

It was bizarre that Exodus would be on this bill supporting Killswitch Engage, but that was the case as our favorite Thrash band signed on for 3 shows in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas supporting KSE.  However, the bonus was that Gary Holt was back onstage with Exodus for these shows during a break in the Slayer touring schedule.  For the newbies:  Gary has been playing double duty with both Exodus and Slayer for the past several years.. which is both weird and cool depending on how you look at it.  As long as both bands are able to keep it going on their own terms I guess that's all that matters.

The Regency has generally been an easy venue to attend shows at but tonight parking took a bit more effort and I guess the terrorists have won because there were 2 imposing airport style metal detectors scanning punters at the entrance followed by a "should I smoke after this" extreme pat down search.  However, I'm pretty sure no terrorists made it into the building tonight to harsh the Metal so maybe the terrorists haven't won after all.  I guess.

As the middle band this evening (playing after that band Unearth who I know I've seen before in a Mayhem Festival (R.I.P.) parking lot somewhere..) the hometown heroes were allotted a criminally short 8 songs and 45 minutes onstage.  The mid-set 'Blacklist' is always a highlight for me.. but.. yes, I got teary eyed when Exo launched into 'Bonded By Blood'.. which is a song that now resonates for me in a more profound way than it did when I was a pimply-faced teenage Metalhead.  Then they followed it with 'Toxic Waltz' and (cue pathetic old man voice) I suddenly got all nostalgic hearing both of those quintessential Bay Area songs back to back. The hometown heroes closed with the still brutal 'Strike of the Beast' and for a few minutes the ghost of Ruthie's Inn visited us again.. then it was gone.  

It's true the Bay Area Metal scene (such as it is here in 2016) is based on nostalgia to a very large extent.. but what's wrong with that?  Most cities that had scenes saw them wither and disappear whereas it's impressive that the key Bay Area Metal bands (or at least their current 21st Century versions) are still alive and roaming the globe.  Not that I trip on it too much, but in this day and age it's easier for the Internets to ridicule and tear shit down instead of celebrating it.. but whatever.  Exodus.  Metallica.  Death Angel. Testament.  All still creating music.  All still touring.  Dog bless them.

On a personal note, I was completely gobsmacked when Gary Holt came onstage wearing a t-shirt with the cover of my old zine Whiplash on it!

[Photo courtesy of Photo Ray]

 

It was kind of emotional to be honest.  Thanks to Umlaut's old friend Tom for making the tee.

Sometimes the Rock Godz work in mysterious and ironic ways.  Example:  At Will Call along with my ticket I was given a glittery gold wristband.  When I asked what it was for I was told it was for After Show.. which was fine but I wasn't planning to hang out until the end of the night once Exodus were done.  Anyway, I put the wristband on and headed into the show.

After Exodus I was about to leave when a friend who I'd told about the gold wristband said a mutual friend working the show said that one (1) person had been given a gold wristband and that it granted the bearer All Access to all the magical places of the show tonight.  Evidently the venue's security were informed about this one (1) golden wristband during their pre-show briefing.  My response was "Really??"

So I went to the backstage door and showed the security guy the wristband and his response was "Oh.. YOU'RE the one with the gold wristband.." and he opened the door that allowed me into the magical, sweaty, and cramped backstage of The Regency.  Hilarious, right?  

The Golden Wristband.. There was only one...

Somewhere the ghost of Gene Wilder smiled.  "So shines a good deed in a weary world."

During my Willie Wonka golden ticket / wristband moment I had a nice visit with the Exodus guys on their bus before heading back to Casa de Umlaut.. and was walking up to my front door at just about 10:30pm.  A fun, short night for this old person.

No, I didn't watch a note of Killswitch Engage..  I've seen them around a half dozen times over the years.. and I'm happy for them that the one guitarist no longer wears a cape onstage.. but.. sorry KSE.. it's you not me.

Exodus were selling flip flops.  On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag.  Time is a weird thing and this show was an example.  A band who I've been following since their earliest days still grinding it out 30+ years later and seeming to still enjoy it despite being the middle band on a bill in a less than half full venue.  Dog bless them.

"It's time to run.. or fight.. off the strike.. of The Beast."

Welcome To Hell

The exciting sequels to No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn and Witching Hour!

"Ancient cries crying, acting fast upon the way of the dog.. Welcome to Hell.."

A million years ago in the Old Metal Days, Trace Rayfield and Umlaut were penpals and soldiers in the Metal War. Fast forward to the 21st Century and we've reconnected and have picked right back up where we left off as kidz: METAL. In 1983, Trace contributed to my fanzine Whiplash including some mind blowing historic interviews... like what was one of the first interviews Venom ever did in America. His interview appeared in Whiplash #1:

WHIPLASH: Do you guys have regular jobs?
CRONOS: No.
ABADDON: No.

Trace interviewed Cronos and Abaddon together before the show and then chatted with Mantas after the show. The interview was recorded in the bathroom of the venue they were playing in New York… but I’ll let Trace tell the story:

VENOM CONQUERS NEW YORK
By Trace Rayfield

Trace with Mantas & Cronos

April 1983.

My friend Bob Monko and I arrived in New Jersey after our 900 mile journey from St. Louis to see two New York shows by two of our favorite bands, Venom and upstarts Metallica. These would be Venom's first shows outside of England. We didn’t know jack shit about the New York area, so we figured Jon Zazula’s Rock ‘N Roll Heaven record store would be a good place to start. Of course, Jon was promoting the two Venom / Metallica shows on Staten Island that weekend, plus we wanted to check out his vinyl stock that might be of interest.

We got a hotel right across the street from the mall that housed Rock 'N Roll Heaven so that we could be close to the action. We certainly got Jon’s attention after explaining the distance that we traveled to attend the shows, in addition to dropping a couple hundred bucks on much needed product from his flea market style record store. In addition, I expressed an interest in interviewing both bands for my California penbanger pal Brian Lew, who was planning a new fanzine 3,000 miles away in San Francisco. Who better to ask than the promoter of the shows? We were assured we would have full access to the bands upon arrival at the venue. This was something my buddy Bob and I were not quite used to!

After mapping our way to Staten Island for the first show on Friday night, Jon informed us that it would be best to wait until Saturday or Sunday to do any interviews. We thought, O.K., here comes the old “dust off”. We were not very optimistic at this point, other than we had already met Lars of Metallica in the parking lot of the venue. The shows were at the Paramount Theater.

We had only heard the demo and early live tapes of Metallica with Dave Mustaine, and saw the photos that Brian had sent me, but we loved what we heard and saw from Metallica. Well, the California upstarts went on to shred the New York crowd with their new guitarist Kirk Hammett. Next up was Venom with tons of pyro to demolish the hungry New York bangers. Unfortunately, there were plenty of technical problems during their set. Later during our interview, Cronos said the problems happened because "American electricity is shit". Alrighty then.

Back at Rock ‘N Roll Heaven the next day, we are promised appearances by both Metallica and Venom, which certainly peaked our interest. Venom soon appeared to the delight of the local punters as well as your's truly. One kid even had Mantas' broken guitar neck that was sacrificed during the previous night’s show. Autographs and photos abounded, then the band headed for their next in-store appearance that Jon has arranged at Zig Zag Records in Brooklyn.

At this point, my buddy Bob and I departed with James and Lars of Metallica in tow for our 4-hour odyssey that resulted in the adventure documented here: No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn. This was followed by a night of more drunken debauchery, including an earsplitting performance by Canada’s Anvil at L’Amours rock club in Brooklyn. Then the next day we arrived back at The Paramount for a second night of the Venom / Metallica onslaught.

In true underground Metal style we are directed to the backstage restroom (bog) since it was the only quiet place to conduct an interview with Venom. I've posted the audio of the entire interview here:


Listen for Metallica’s opening number 'Hit The Lights' to signal the end of our interview.

Our Venom interview tape in hand, we scurried downstairs and into the sea of denim & leather to soak up the weekend grand finale. Metallica was on point once again even with Kirk’s inexperience with the band. Fortunately for both Venom and Johnny Z., things went off near perfect for Venom’s second American show ever. Venom would not return to the States until almost 2 years later to tour with Slayer and Exodus.

We were lucky enough to be invited to the after party at the Zazula Mansion back in New Jersey (actually it was a modest suburban home). More drinking and debauchery ensued but Marsha Zazula kept everyone in line. An unexpected highlight of the weekend came when Venom’s manager asked us if we could give himself and Mantas a ride back to their hotel. Let me think about it.. Duh!! Get in and let's go!

Their manager jokingly asked me if I wanted to be their road manager as they were impressed by my ’79 Chrysler Cordoba. Considering the tiny matchboxes that they called cars back in England I'm sure my car must have seemed like a limo to them. As a departing gift, I gave Mantas my wooden Black Metal inverted cross necklace that my brother made me at his tool and die job back in St. Louis; I'm wearing it in the pics that are posted here.

Pure exhaustion is the only thing that forced us to fall asleep after the whirlwind of the previous 3 days; that and the anticipation of our 900 mile journey back home. No pain - No gain! I was pleased to deliver the interviews to Brian a couple weeks later which of course went on to be in Whiplash #1 and the rest is underground Thrash Metal history.

Trace's autographed 1983 Venom trophies

Face The Slayer

Umlaut has a lot of crap in boxes... like this from late in 1983. It's part of an unpublished Slayer interview that I did with Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman for my old fanzine Whiplash. It was done before their first album Show No Mercy was released; Brian Slagel had sent me an advance tape of the album and I loved it. I was 19 years old.

[click for larger image]

Trivia: The interview was done at least 2 or 3 months before Slayer had even played in The Bay Area for the first time.

"We want out of L.A. now."
- Kerry King - 1983.

For such a short piece it's chock full of fun facts that will upset the revisionist history view of the Old Metal Days for a lot of people. Such as:

"Band influences are Venom, Mercyful Fate, and Metallica.
That's it because that's about all we listen to."- Jeff Hanneman - 1983

"I think it's kind of obvious that we like Venom and Metallica."
- Kerry King - 1983

Hilarious, right? Anyway... now back to the 21st Century.

The Printing Press

What this teenage Metalhead was doing in 1983: While digging in a box I came across the original layout for the first (and unfortunately only) issue of my Metal fanzine Whiplash that I did with the late, great Sam Kress.

Pictured here: The cover (with color instructions for the logo) and the first side of the Mercyful Fate centerfold featuring the lyrics to the then unreleased songs 'Evil' and 'Curse Of The Pharoahs'.  The band's manager had given us permission to print the lyrics eventhough the songs had only been recorded for a live in the studio BBC Session.  Of course, studio versions of the songs were released later that year on the Melissa album.

Everything was done by hand back in those ancient times. There were no PCs or word processing or scanners. The printer had to typeset all of the text and half tone all of the photos for us. Then I had to cut the text and photos out for every page and glue them onto the production grids. The typesetter titled the Fate lyrics "Weird Poetry". Kidz these days don't even fucking know...

"... and when you're down beyond the ground... I'll dig up your body again.."

Roudness

For the newbies, Loudness (pronounced "Roudness") were (are) a Japanese Metal band. To be honest, I haven't followed the band since around the time Back To The Future came out... but for a moment in time their brand of Nipponese Steel was something I worshiped.

This post was inspired by an innocent Flickr post of an old photo Umlaut took 25 years ago at a Roudness show:

Loudness - Wolfgang's, S.F. - 7/11/83. They didn't speak English so the singer had this cue card next to his monitor with stage banter to say to the crowd. After the show I snagged it and hung it on my bedroom wall.

(From the Umlaut Archives)

Then, in that magical Metal way that only this space seems to inspire, some of Umlaut's Old Metal friends commented on the picture:

Dalia: "I was there!"

Umlaut: "You were probably standing next to me. Y&T were sitting in the balcony that night."

Dalia: "...and Lars was hitting on me."

John S.: "I never did see them live, but I remember taking BART up to the Record Exchange in Walnut Creek so I could get them to sign my records. They all had confused smiles plastered on their faces as all the metalheads attempted to talk to them in English. It eventually devolved into everybody just giving each other "thumbs-up" signals."

Big Wayne: "I remember the 3 1/2 hour bus/BART ride to Walnut Creek with John for the autograph session. When we made it back home, we stopped by the music store that now is Armadillo Willy's BBQ in Cupertino and I left the signed music book in the store. I did get it back the next day since they didn't sell any Japanese metal music tablature and they knew it had to be mine."

Hiro: "They also said, "Pureez well cuum flom Jaappan, Roudness!"

Of course, Umlaut also documented the Roudness cue card in his Whiplash #1 review of the event:

I continue to be amazed how something we were all involved in 25 years ago continues to bind us together. Thanks friends! This pic is for you, which has not been seen by human eyes in over 20 years (!):

Wolfgang's, San Francisco - July 11, 1983
(Pic by Umlaut)

Can anyone burn me the first 3 Roudness albums onto CD?? I still only got 'em on vinyl.

Fast forward 24 hours: Since I originally posted the above, more members of the Umlaut Nation have come forward to share about Roudness.

Tour Manager Doug illegally sent me the first 3 Roudness albums from on tour in Europe via the magic of the Information Superhighway. It wasn't nearly as romantic as getting a package of cassette tapes via Air Mail.. but it did the job. Thanks, brutha!

Scarpetti: "Me and my brother rode our bikes to The Record Exchange to see Loudness. They really didn't have a grasp of the English language yet. They signed my metal patch jacket, but that is long gone. I have some pictures. They spent most of their time behind the counter so most of the shots are of the tops of their heads."

You funny guy, Scarpetti! You make me wraf rong time!

And thanks to Old Metal Asian Brutha Konaquon for this gem:


How much was $5.97 worth in Yen back in 1983??

Fast forward 5 minutes since I posted the above and Tour Manager Doug said:

Yen to the dollar
1983-07-01 240.52
1983-08-01 244.46

METAL.

Old Metal Brad sent this gem over: "From Japanese t.v. ~1981, 'Loudness' and 'Burning Love' live on a t.v. show. No lypsynching, incredible mix with clear bass, drum , etc.. A mini interview with Akira at the start. Dig the audience clapping with bewildered expressions, and a couple pairs of Headbangers nodding in their chairs. Ang of course in the ghastly rock star gear. :))) Akira could be an extra in a John Waters flick."



Trivia: Umlaut friend Takoyaki informed me that the clip is from the long running music variety show HEY! HEY! HEY! Music Champ.

Sad News: LOUDNESS Drummer Diagnosed With Liver Cancer - Apr. 14, 2008

LOUDNESS drummer Munetaka Higuchi was diagnosed with liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma) earlier this month, according to Japanese media reports. He is still in the hospital, where he has been undergoing radiotherapy for HCC.

LOUDNESS will play the three previously announced Japanese dates with a replacement drummer, whose name hasn't been revealed yet. After those gigs, the band will be put on hold indefinitely until Munetaka gets his full strength back.

Here's wishing Munetaka the best! Rock on "Devil Soldier"!

Wolfgang's, San Francisco - July 11, 1983
(Pic by Umlaut)

Sam Kress R.I.P.

At the beginning of this year I received some sad news about Mike Sammon, an Old Metal brutha from back in The Day. Sadly and ironically, as this year draws to a close, I received sad news about another Old Metal brutha.

Backstage at Wolfgang's, San Francisco - 1984

Pictured above is a Metal Moment featuring (clockwise from top left): Me, Paul Baloff (Exodus.. R.I.P.), Rick Hunolt (Exodus), Sam Kress (with the bootleg Iron Maiden jersey), Gary Holt (Exodus), Rob McKillup (Exodus), Mike Coons (Laaz Rockit... with a tweed blazer, sweater, and tie.. Metal?), and a guy who I don't remember... I was 20 years old and full of the Metal Madness... We all were!

I remember the first time I met Sam Kress.

We met in the lobby of the Old Waldorf at a Metal Monday (a weekly showcase of local and national Metal bands) in 1982. At the time I was writing for the legendary San Francisco Metal fanzine Metal Mania. Sam was preparing to leave for a trip to England to explore the Metal scene there. It was a vacation that made a least one Metal drummer jealous:


Sam and I had talked about doing a Metal 'zine of our own when he returned from his trip. If I remember correctly, Sam had inherited some money which was going to finance our venture and also trips to England and New York City. On his trips Sam met and hooked us up with bands and people in the UK and NYC Metal scenes... Folks like Brian Ross (singer for NWOBHM legends Blitzkrieg), Venom and their manager, and Mercyful Fate and their manager, among others.

Long story short, Sam and I created a Metal 'zine called Whiplash. Basically Sam was more the business guy and I was more the creative guy and we worked well together... We also spent alot of time hanging out with other Metalhead friends... Listening to METAL, drinking, being young and stupid.. I can't even guess how many times I crashed on his couch.

While in New York, Sam had befriended a guy starting a record label called Torrid. Long story short, Sam helped broker the release of Exodus' seminal debut album Bonded By Blood on the Torrid / Combat Records label in 1985.

I've always considered Bonded By Blood to be THE defining album of the Bay Area Old Metal Scene. No disrespect to Metallica's Kill 'Em All, but Metallica's songs were primarily written before the band relocated from SoCal to S.F.; Exodus were 100% Bay Area born and bred. East Bay OG. Exodus raged the hardest and Sam and I were right there with them.

Sam was more into partying than me, but he was also a good friend to me. When he discovered I didn't have a Heavy Metal leather jacket we went to a leather shop on Polk Street in S.F. and he bought me one.. I'm wearing it in that photo you just saw. Bonded by blood!

(Woah... I just had a flashback to a drunk driving escapade with Sam in my old VW Fastback careening through North Beach after a Control show at the On Broadway... and running the toll booth on the Golden Gate Bridge another time...)

Sam and I are thanked side-by-side in the liner notes of several Old Metal albums, including Metallica - Ride The Lightning and Exodus - Bonded By Blood. We were Metal Bruthas and back then that meant ALOT.

Back in The Day: 1984
Exodus / Slayer in Berkeley
Mercyful Fate / Exodus in Sacramento

Eventually, I drifted away from the Metal Scene and lost contact with Sam.. Then in August 1991 Metallica played their biggest hometown show ever when they headlined Oakland Stadium. I decided to go for old time's sake since it was trippy that Metallica were going to headline a show in front of 60,000 in their own backyard.

As Big Wayne and I walked through the enormous general admission crowd we ran into Sam. I hadn't seen or talked to him in probably 5 years. It was good to see him and we had nice reunion... but that was the last time I saw or talked to him.

In recent years I'd gotten updates about Sam via various mutual friends, but life rolls on.. I never made the effort to track him down and get back in touch.. which I regret now of course.

I must confess that I hadn't thought about Sam in a long time until this year. Ironically, Whiplash was resurrected for one last hurrah. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to share this with Sam... but I wonder if he even would have cared. Life rolls on and things that meant alot to you in youth might seem incredibly trivial in your older age.. I just don't know where his head was at with the past.... which is why it would have been cool for us to have talked again. Regrets.

Anyway, for lack of a better way to end this gracefully, click HERE to read a .PDF of the Editorial Page from Whiplash #1... If you're Old Metal, pull out your withered copy of Bonded By Blood and play it loud in honor of times and people now gone... Travel back to a more innocent time in your head for awhile.. Then return to the 21st Century and embrace everything you cherish with a new appreciation. Life is too fucking short.

Rest In Peace Sam.

"Bang your head against the stage and Metal takes its price.. BONDED BY BLOOD!!"

Thanks to Scarpetti for sharing this:


Cristie & Sam on the Streets of San Francisco (1984)

According to Umlaut's Old Metal friend Cristie, this snapshot was taken in North Beach either before or after getting kicked out of this gig:


(From the Umlaut Archives)

If any good is coming out of this sad event, it's that alot of Old Metal scenesters are reconnecting again.

NEVER underestimate the Healing Power of Metal...

The Healing Power Of Metal

Halloween 2006

This has been a weird and stressful time for Umlaut and Skychick, with a dark cloud of bullshit hanging over Casa de Umlaut for the entire year. Thankfully, the sun finally broke through and the sword of justice smote our enemy upon the ruins (or something like that). However, despite this victory, our world is a changed place.

As a reaction to the chaos swirling around me, I religiously embraced Metal again because it gave me comfort in these dark times. Metal is familiar and it served the same purpose when I was a weird and stressed teenager. I don't know what other dudes my age do when their lives become weird and stressed (God? Golf? Hookers?), but it was cool that I could find solace in something "normal people" can't comprehend and that's not self-destructive (unless I want my soul to go to Heaven of course): The Healing Power of Metal.

The Healing Power Of Metal wasn't simply listening to the music; it also included many ironic and positive events that happened to me this year. Most of these events have been chronicled in this space and they all had one thing in common: METAL. Events such as this one:

A year ago my Mom gave me a box of crap she'd collected from my old bedroom at my parents' house; I stuck it up in the attic and forgot about it. Last weekend I was looking for our Halloween decorations and came across the box and finally opened it. Most of the contents were trivial, but there was also a strangely familiar blue folder. On the cover was a late-70's / early-80's decal from local Rock radio station KSJO (R.I.P.). When I opened the folder I almost screamed like King Diamond.

Inside the blue folder was pure gold: The original layouts for Issue #1 of my Metal fanzine Whiplash, which I thought were long gone. Also inside were notes and typed articles that had been intended for the ill-fated Issue #2 that was never published. There were also some vintage live photos that penpals had sent me of Metallica, Randy Rhoads, and Lemmy amongst others. It was like finding my own personal Ark of the Covenant.

Sidebar: Other mom's would have chucked this stuff in the trash, but not my mommy - THANKS MOM! It almost makes me forgive her for making my original Mercyful Fate shirt "disappear" back in The Day...

One of the lost articles in the folder was a piece I wrote about a Swiss band called Hellhammer. For the newbies: Members of Hellhammer subsequently formed the legendary Metal band Celtic Frost, whose resurrection was one of the high points for me this year. Celtic Frost 2006 + Finding This Article = The Healing Power Of Metal!

Judging from the dates in the article, I wrote it in early-1984 and I have a vague memory that the band sent me their demo tapes after they'd read a copy of Whiplash #1. Because they had made the effort, I felt obligated to write something positive about the band eventhough they sounded so primitive to me.  Hellhammer were ahead of their time and my ears weren't quite there yet.

I'm rather gobsmacked how relatively focused my writing was back in those salad days... Especially since any reader of this space knows that I tend to rant and meander now in my old age. I'm also struck that my sense of humor about Metal had already developed eventhough I was still a fanatically dogmatic 20-year old who lived and bled Metal 24/7.

On a historical note, it's interesting how the cross breeding of Punk and Metal was already being acknowledged in the underground scene eventhough the Punk / Metal crossover "officially" was still a good 2 years away. Also, how can you not love the band's personal aliases!?

I must also mention that had Whiplash #2 been published we could have been the first Stateside Metal publication to cover Hellhammer / Tom Warrior / Martin Ain. Alas, what could have been.... Anyway, enjoy this trip down Old Metal Memory Lane.

Your's In Metal,
Brian Umlaut (alias "Flayed Obliteration")

HELLHAMMER

Switzerland is the home of the appropriately named HELLHAMMER, one of those rare bands that come along now and then to enrich society. Originally called HAMMERHEAD, the band was formed in May, 1982 by Tom Warrior (alias "Satanic Slaughter") along with his brother Steve (alias "Savage Damage") and Grave Hill, who was sacked shortly afterwards.

During the first months the lineup continued with Pete Smith (alias "Bloodhunter") on drums, but according to the band he wasn't good enough, so he was replaced in November, 1982 by Bruce Day (ex-MOORHEAD), alias "Denial Fiend". More recently, HELLHAMMER underwent another facelift as Steve Warrior was replaced by Martin Ain (ex-SCHIZO), who goes by the alias of "Slayed Necros".

Although the band lists their influences as VENOM, ANGEL WITCH, RAVEN, and EXCITER, their sound can easily be defined as a cross between VENOM and those punk / metal fiends THE MENTORS (What a hybrid!)! In June, 1983 HELLHAMMER recorded their first demo, which turned out very badly and was never released. This abortion was followed closely by the "Triumph Of Death" 13-song cassette. As a result of some terrible production, a casual listen comes across as an earful of rumbling incoherency. Still, those with patience enough to listen to the tape will find tracks like "Maniac", "Reaper", "Power Of Satan", and "When Hell Is Near" promising. If the songs themselves are forgettable, their titles are certainly classics: "Decapitator", "Blood Insanity", "Death Fiend", "Ready For Slaughter" to name a few. Excellent stuff - right out of a Herschell Lewis Film Festival! Too bad the music doesn't quite live up....

Mercifully, HELLHAMMER were able to return to the studio in late-'83, which resulted in their third demo, "Satanic Rites". This tape is a definate improvement over the previous one, and features new versions of "Triumph Of Death", "Maniac", and "Crucifixion". The production is much better as well, although you still can't understand a word Mr. Warrior is saying and absolutely no bottom end is present (Why have a bass player if you can't hear him???). All qualms aside though, the three "re-done" tunes plus the five new ones [Editor's Note: This sentence is incomplete, its conclusion lost in the fog of time..]

HELLHAMMER is punk / metal, no doubt about it. Along with such tried and true masters as DISCHARGE, G.B.H., and THE ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE, they fall into that "no man's land" which lies between Punk and Heavy Metal. These Swiss maniacs are not something you'd listen to all the time, but their [sic] fun as hell to thrash to when the situation arises! The so-called "proper" headbangers will hate this band, but they'll have the Top-40 "heaviness" of QUIET RIOT, DEF LEPPARD, VAN HALEN, et. al. to dance along with. But for all you militant bangers out there, give HELLHAMMER a listen! The musicianship is pretty pedestrian, but with this band, musical competency is sacrificed for brute power! VENOM are still #1, but if you don't want to overkill on Chronos & Co., HELLHAMMER should fit right into your playlist.

You can summon the band by sacrificing a virgin or a suitable farm animal and chanting the following verse:

HELLHAMMER
P.O. Box 12
CH-8309 Nurensdorf
SWITZERLAND

Or, if you're the squemish type, just write the same verse on an envelope (Red ink will suffice...) and let the postman take care of the rest.

I returned to the attic and found one of the Hellhammer demo tapes I received back in 1984 (Demo #2 = "The Triumph Of Death" recording). I can safely say I hadn't listened to this cassette since 1984-85.

As I listened to the tape for the first time in at least 22 years several thoughts came to mind:

• The recording sounds like crap... but that's how demo tapes sounded back in the days before digital technology and home computers. In my old age I find the crappy sound charming and endearing.
• I have no idea why I compared Hellhammer to The Mentors back in 1984.
• It's interesting to hear the embryonic version of Tom Warrior's trademark vocals and guitar style that he perfected with Celtic Frost.

To quote Celtic Frost (from the song 'Return To The Eve'): "Could I ever return, it would be doom, obsessed by the nightmare's sound..."

Indeed, I can return... again and again. Never underestimate the Healing Power Of Metal.

Updated on 2/13/08:

From the Celtic Frost web site:

With the release of "Demon Entrails" on February 18th in Europe and February 26th in the U.S., the days of numerous sub-standard bootlegs of the classic Hellhammer demos - "Death Fiend", "Triumph of Death" and "Satanic Rites" - are finally over! "Demon Entrails" will also be available as an opulent oversized double CD media-book packaging and as a gatefold triple vinyl album. Both versions will feature a lavish booklet and a poster. A bare-bones lower-price CD version will be available.

To celebrate this pinnacle release, the official "Demon Entrails" microsite has been launched at www.demonentrails.com. Fans can pre-order all three versions at a special price for a limited time only. The site also features album cover art and complete track listings.

"Demon Entrails" has been specially re-mastered from copies of the original master tapes under the supervision of founder Tom Gabriel Fischer, and the demos now represent Hellhammer exactly as the band sounded when recording these songs in June and December of 1983. Drawing from a wealth of previously unknown historical liner-notes, material and artwork, as well as plenty of unreleased Hellhammer photos from 1982 to 1984, "Demon Entrails" features all lyrics and essays detailing the individual demo recording sessions.

Whiplash Lives

Hitting mailboxes next week: Volume 13, Issue 2 of Metallica's official fan club magazine So What. It's their retro Old Metal issue to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the release of the Master Of Puppets album (02/21/86) and also the passing of Cliff Burton (09/27/86):

Umlaut was asked to contribute an article about The Old Days and I also supplied some vintage photos. To be honest, as I started to write the piece I felt like one of those pathetic old jocks trying to recount The Glory Days and The Big Game. You know the type: "Those were the best years of my life" etc. etc. Dog help me if I thought the best time of my life was when I was 18 years old.

In the end I was happy with the article, the Metallica Camp "loved it" (their words, not mine), and I was genuinely gobsmacked that my old fanzine Whiplash was used as the cover. Yeah, The Old Days were fun alright.. but I'm much happier in the 21st Century.

Unfortunately, unless you're a Metallica fanboy / fangirl you won't see this unless you join the fan club. Membership has its priviledges.

However, since you've bothered to read this space, Umlaut has something that the Metallica fanboys / fangirls won't see. Here's an excerpt from roadie John Marshall's tour journal that he kept during Metallica's debut European Tour (supporting Venom). The entry is from February 7, 1984 :

"Nuremburg: Exchange rate is: 3.6DM / 1£. Drive to Nuremburg for gig. Outside of Nuremburg - In small town. Hall is right next to hotel - Hotel full."

"Hall is about twice of D.A. cafeteria and longer. Same basic shape though. We get our first soundcheck, but is hectic with nerves. Metallica on at 8:00. Nice to have time to set up!"

"Show is fairly tight. Again Metallica goes down VERY well. Again they are mobbed afterwards. Teardown is best ever. Approximately 500-800 people show up. Find out about bootleg posters and t-shirts - I got one of each, but not the good shirt. Also got a Gary Moore poster. Pummel the bootleggers!"

"Leave at ?. Drive straight to Paris. 10:00AM - lots of flooded fields. Weather has been bad for about a day now (Also about gig - Someone asking for autographs has flyer from March 25th Stone show!!! - Got it from Brian Lew)"

That Brian Lew sounds like he was an ass kissing poser. I wonder what ever happened to him?

In Nomine Venom

Umlaut's old friend Drunk Ted picked up the recent Venom box set... and his Elven eyes caught something very interesting in the set's extensive booklet:


Hmmm... Acting like a maniac... Whiplash??! No matter where Umlaut goes, there his past is... It makes me giggle to think that Cronos has a copy of my old 'zine in a box under his bed. Mayhem with mercy.

Note: If anyone knows where my Whiplash co-editor Sam Kress is, please tell him about this.. I haven't seen him in almost 15 years now. Thanks.

Click HERE if you must read more about Umlaut and Venom.. If you must... Live like an Angel, die like a Devil.

Full Circle

Back in the early-90's both Umlaut and Film Threat were print publications. I read Film Threat when it was a xeroxed 'zine and then when it became the glossy magazine published by Larry Flynt. I loved Film Threat and even subscribed to it.

Eventually, one of FT's editors (a guy named Gabriel Alvarez, who was also associated with the excellent Austin-based Thora-zine) became a fan of Umlaut and gave it a glowing review.

Film Threat Issue 14 - February 1994

These were the Glory Days of 'Zines, when they were all the rage and EVERYONE seemed to be doing one. What's that? Uhh, no.. Nobody had web pages and blogs.. 'cause The Internet didn't exist yet. Ask your parents...

Click HERE to read a PDF of the Film Threat review.

FT's print incarnation lived from 1985-97, but in recent years it has florished as the excellent online publication FilmThreat.com.

Over 20 years ago, my old friend K.J. Doughton and I contributed to each other's Metal fanzines (Northwest Metal and Whiplash respectively). We were such idealistic young Metalheads..

Later, at about the same time that Film Threat reviewed Umlaut, K.J. authored the book Metallica Unbound (which you should buy since Umlaut contributed to it.. pay particular attention to pages 122-137..).

Fast forward to the 21st Century and K.J. is now a regular contributor to the online Film Threat. Recently, K.J. reviewed a new documentary called Metal: A Headbanger's Journey.

Click HERE to read K.J.'s review.

Did you read it?! Umlaut needs to see that movie; just reading K.J.'s review made 20+ years melt away!

Plus, no matter where you go, there you are: Film Threat and Umlaut... Full circle. HA!!

It's cool that after all these years (1) K.J. and I are still friends, (2) we're still Geeks at heart eventhough we're all grown up, and (3) deep down we're still METAL.

"Acting like a maniac... whiplash!"

Megadeth: Smith Corona Days Revisited

LESTER BANGS: "What do you type on?"
WILLIAM: "Smith Corona Galaxis Deluxe."
- From Almost Famous

In 1983, Umlaut was one of the writers / editors / publishers of a Metal zine called Whiplash, whose operations were based out of my bedroom at my parents' house. Whiplash published the very first article on Dave Mustaine's post Metallica band Megadeth (then called "Megadeath") anywhere. At the same time, I "coordinated" the Megadeth Fan Club out of my bedroom at my parents' house. My parents had no appreciation for the Heavy Metal Empire that I supervised from under their roof. I can still hear my mom ask "Why do you get so much mail?"

Click HERE for a PDF of the Megadeth article from Whiplash #1 (Fall 1983). It's an example of the Almost Famous-like writing of Umlaut before he could buy alcohol legally.

Trivia: Almost Famous is Umlaut's favorite movie because he identifies with the main character so much.

K.J. and Umlaut have been friends since before the dawn of Christianity and he's opened up his archives for this space. Old Metal Geeks and those who have seen Some Kind Of Monster might find his latest Metal artifact interesting. The rest of you can click that mouse and surf on outta here. Bye bye.

Note: I had never seen this letter before and was amused by the props Mustaine gave me for the Whiplash article.

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The exciting sequel to Cliff Notes!

Submitted by K.J. -

It’s amazing what a person can come across while cleaning out the garage. This letter arrived in my mailbox during the spring of 1983. The West Coast Heavy Metal community- myself included – was still reeling from news that celebrated six-string rager Dave Mustaine had been booted from Metallica. After Kirk Hammett abruptly quit Exodus and flew to New York as Dave’s replacement, Mustaine plotted a comeback.

He apparently brandished a manual Smith Corona typewriter to painstakingly hunt-and-peck through the following pages, in an effort to explain to me the embryonic formation of Megadeth. Scribed before the dawn of Microsoft Word, Mustaine spared no expense on white-out, which was smeared liberally across each page to correct the plentiful punctuation challenges riddling his note. Observe Dave’s liberal use of commas, as well.

Hardcores from The Day should note his reference to Umlaut’s founder, who also befriended the outspoken guitar god during this pivotal career transition.

*****

Dear K.J.,

Well, this is the first, and, only chance you have to hear the real story behind the kicking out part of the Metallica story. I don’t know exactly the time those guys decided to get rid of me, but, they couldn’t of picked a better time. It’s real funny how they could lie to me, all that time from Indiana to New York, and, that was a long time! I guess that the fact that I kicked some guys ass in some alley in S.F., had some kind of unforgettable point of interest, because after that happened, they never gave me any kind of trouble, and, the respect that I had, as far as being able to take care of myself, was not questioned. The new band is a lot heavier than Metallica, because, as you know, I wrote the four of the best songs that we had, The Mechanics, Jump in the Fire, Metal Militia, and, the Phantom Lord, and, those were the songs that got the most recognition out of all the songs that we played. But, then I guess you know all that. Well, as far as the new band goes, it’s real heavy, as heavy as you’ll find that’s for sure. I really hope that you like what you hear, as it’s going to be the new, “Megadeth”/’Naipon’ demo tape will be out in the near future, and you can count on being one of the first one’s to hear it. I sincerely think that the stuff hat I’ve put together, is going to go over real good, because it’s so fucking heavy! I was really let down, by myself, because I thought that there was going to be some mail that said that, some people were inquiring, as to the disappearing act that I pulled in the East Coast. I wish that those guys could have had the balls to tell me that I was fucking up, and, not wait till the last minute…

As far as the story that Brian wrote… there couldn’t have been a better beginning to a band’s intro tape than what he wrote, and, the only fucked thing about it, is that were not using that name any more. The new band name is Megadeth, and, the people that are in the band, are myself, on lead guitar, David Ellefson on bass, Gregg Handevidt on rhythm guitar, Lor Kain on vocal and, Richard Girod, on drumming detail. The songs are, “No Time;” “Eye for Eye”, “Speak No Evil,” “When Hell Freezes Over,” “The Gambler,” “Head Lock,” “You Know Where to Go,” and, “Chose Your Master.” The band consists of a four piece rhythm section that deals out nothing but, the heavy, heavy stuff. Me, and, all the boys, all fill the parts where theres supposed to be singing, with total guitars, and, bass, and, the vocals, well, if we keep the guy that we have right not then we will really have to keep our eyes on this guy, per, he consumes quite a large amount of drugs. Though the fact that he sounds like Satan himself, and, that he can really scream, but, how much screaming can someone take?

So that’s the fact why we’re still looking for vocals. But, the main section of the band, is here, and, not only did I learn how to use eight fingers, on the neck, but I also, learned how to us my thumbs!

And, the possibility of using anything else that I have. Well, the music is just as, if not heavier than the stuff that I was doing in Metallica, since the fact that the heavy shit was mine. It kind of shows you where the direction of this act is headed. Well that’s it for this time, and, keep the people that want the heaviest, in mind for the mailing list of Megadeth, I was thinking of you heading the fan club section for me, because I’ve already got the merch end of it, and, the mailing taken care of, so, if you could possibly, next tine that you send out somekind of fanzine put some thing in for old Dave, since I could sure use the help these first few times, and, then when I get something out in the listenable scene then you can call me a jerk if it doesn’t strike you as real metal. Well that’s all for this time, tell anyone concerned that David Mustain has not been silenced, and, the vengence can be smelt.

Dave Mustaine
Megadeth

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EPILOGUE:


Megadeth - Ruthies Inn, Berkeley, CA - 1984 (Pic by Umlaut)... Soundcheck before the band's 2nd show ever.. Note KERRY KING of SLAYER on guitar (a temporary member of the band in the very beginning).


Megadeth - 1992 Capitol Records Promo Pic.. Over 15 million albums sold worldwide.

If for some reason you want to know more, check out the VH1 Behind The Music: Megadeth episode (available on DVD). It also features some of Umlaut's old photos from back in The Day.

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Although both Umlaut and Drunk Ted were Old Metal in the early-80's (me in NorCal, he in SoCal), we would not become friends until The Grunge Age when he wrote for the legendary Flipside. Although Whiplash had a major distributor (Dutch East India in NYC) I have heard very few stories from people who actually bought it outside of the S.F. Bay Area.

Submitted by Drunk Ted:

Great Whiplash retrospective! Man, that brought back memories! I remember the day I picked up that magazine. I picked it up for the Raven & Venom (among others) interviews and got turned on to Metallica & Megadeth. (I think that's how I got turned onto Metallica... maybe not. It's definitely the first Metallica interview I've ever read. Unless Metal Forces beat you to one. Don't think so though.) I still remember ordering the live Trouble cassette through the ad you had in there. Took it to school and some girl ripped on me for listening to "Devil worshiping music". HA HA!

The ad that branded Ted a Satanist...