Speed metal. Guys in masks. Jagermeister. Long greasy hair. Metal spikes.
No - I'm not talking about another crappy remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I'm talking about the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.
From the guys who brought us Warped Tour and Taste of Chaos, Mayhem Festival promises to be exactly what the name implies. Headlining the festival this year are middle-aged (but still worthy of head-banging) bands Slipknot, Disturbed, Dragonforce and Mastodon. You can bet there will be a few people in the audience playing air-Guitar Hero.
Although I'm still a huge fan of Warped Tour, the line-ups have slowly progressed towards the heavier side of underground music, creating a melting pot of patch jackets with black trench coats, long hair with mohawks, and two-row studded belts with three-row studded belts. Is the wayward tour reflecting the dying art of punk rock or commercializing its massive popularity? Probably a little bit of both. Still, my range of musical tastes has solidified me as a perennial patron of the tour.
I thought Taste of Chaos would take some of the hardcore out of Warped, but it appears it has only served to strengthen the genre. At least Mayhem Festival is less confused about its patronage.
I have to admit, I've never seen Slipknot live, but I've seen video of the band's live show. I'm stoked to finally see what all the fuss is about. Chicago-natives Disturbed also promise a great live experience. And Dragonforce...well, if these guys have the live quality their albums exude, I can imagine they'll put on one hell of a show.
Notables on the tour include metal veterans Machine Head and Sevendust. I haven't heard much from Sevendust in the past five years, but I'm sure their standards haven't dropped. The band is releasing a new album in April called Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow and are opening for Ozzy on a March tour, so they can't be in too bad of shape.
Yeah, I don't have a spiked belt anymore. Still, you'll probably see me at the show, rocking a collared shirt and jeans, the makings of a fu-manchu gracing my hardened face, partaking in show-sponsored Jagermeister's syrupy product and banging my head with the best of 'em.
Word to your mother.
