My Travel Sabbatical

There's really no other way to put it: 2016 sucked. We lost Prince and Darwyn Cooke, among so very many others. My dad lost a brutally painful battle with lung cancer three days before my birthday. I lost my job after spending the summer alternately building a new website for my former company, and stifling tears while riding the length of an entire subway line — from Astoria to Brighton Beach — to maintain a stiff upper lip and be with my family. Then a huge neon orange monster came and left a miasmic stench no one can seem to get out.

So I took a long, much-needed break and traveled.

It really helped to be away from home, now the site of so many nervous nights pacing the rooms, meticulously reorganizing every inch of the place as if controlling the tidiness of my possessions would somehow bring order to all the chaotic situations that were so big and out of my control.

Thorns, always a proponent of experiences over material gifts, came in to help. For our five-year anniversary, he flew us out to Portland, OR for a fun several days before he started his tour with Red Fang in their hometown.

I'd been wanting to check out Portland for a while, since I already had an affinity for the Pacific Northwest and the wide availability of dairy-free mac & cheese (there are a LOT of vegan options in this town).

Surrounded by mossy trees at Hoyt Arboretum.

During our time there, we enjoyed the mild fall temperatures with long walks around Cottonwood Bay, located right behind our hotel, and destinations like the Hoyt Arboretum. We did a walking tour recounting the city's "seedier" past that included the famed Shanghai tunnels, and ate well at Portland's many quirky joints (including Voodoo Donuts, the food carts, and my buddy's new brewery, Wayfinder). Coffee on the East Coast will never taste the same after sipping PDX's endlessly tasty brews, and nightly meet-ups at the B-Side tavern for Buffalo Trace & gingers were dangerously cheap. Photos from the Portland trip are HERE.

My next adventure came by way of my dear friends, comic book creators Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner, who let me know they were special guests on the fledgling Fan2Sea cruise, which sought to bring all the fun of a comic book convention to the high seas aboard a smaller Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

The itinerary included the port city of Tampa, Key West and Cozumel, but who cares? I love comics. I love cruising. I love Jimanda. So as soon as they told me they already had a buddy in mind for me to room with, I said yes. And it was a BLAST! More on that one in its own post soon. [Photos HERE]

Trekkers rolling deep aboard Fan2Sea.

Unfortunately, 2016 really decided to wring out the last bit of blood and tears out of those I hold dear. And in early February, I went out west to the high desert in California to support my best friend as she memorialized the life of her longtime partner, Doug Evans, who now shares the same last day on Earth as Lemmy Kilmister (December 28).

Having zero expectations of any kind of elaborate accommodations, I was stunned to find myself staying in a colorful suite at a gorgeous Moroccan-tinged bohemian hideaway isolated high up the mountain. Filled with tons of imported antiques and unique sleeping options, the views all around were of wild desert — a far cry from my current life in Queens. So remote that cell phone service wasn't an option, nor were there any road signs after a certain point.

The Desert Airie, hiding in plain sight on the left.

The celebration of Doug's life was beautiful and emotional, filled with friends, family and fans. Music, great food, memories, tears and temp tattoos were shared among the many in attendance. And I hope it gave the divine Ms. M a little closure.

There was still some bonding time with the family, dogs, and Merilee's band of "desert hellcats" with trips for surprisingly tasty sushi, a long hike at Joshua Tree National Park and a cursory tour of downtown Palm Springs. I was grateful to spend the time with my best friend, her mom and sister, Doug's sons, and Mer's supportive, beautiful local friends, who will always have my deepest gratitude for being there when I couldn't.

Of course, I took a bunch of photos that can be found HERE.

For a while now, Thorns and I had been planning a grand trip to Europe, with hypothetical pins dropping in places as varied as Portugal and Croatia, with a detour to Iceland. Ultimately, T planned us the perfect four-country exploration of central Europe, starting in Budapest, then heading via train to Vienna, Prague and Berlin over the course of 12 days.

Sign of the Hammer a Deux at Cafe MontMartre in Budapest.

To say it was the perfect metal vacation would not be hyperbole, and I definitely plan on breaking down the trip in a longer post. Not to be forgotten were visits to a Manowar-themed bar on the Pest side of the Danube River; a day spent wandering the streets, then a sleek museum acknowledging Budapest's Nazi and Fascist past, and an evening enjoying the variety of thermal baths and pools as crews remained busy setting up for the even later "Sparty" DJ night. [Budapest photos]

Blow-up DJ booth in the distance at Szechenyi Thermal Baths in Budapest.

The Imperial Crypt in Vienna truly tested my self-control as I love touching things and getting intimately close to art, but didn't want to be the ugly American to set off the touch sensors in what is considered a royal cemetery. We later speed-walked through the streets of Prague, stopping only for me to see David Černý's hanging installation of 'St. Wenceslas Riding a Dead Horse' on our way to catch a bus to the Medieval town of Kutna Hora to visit the world-famous bone church, Sedlec Ossuary, where the bones of 40,000 victims of the black plague are stacked in elaborate configurations. [Vienna & CZ photos]

Dead H.A.P.S.B.U.R.G.S. at the Imperial Crypt.

Chandelier of Bones at Sedlec Ossuary

Dead Horse & St Vitus in Prague

In Berlin, we spent an afternoon at the Stasi Museum in the former secret police headquarters. In no less than two exhibits, Iron Maiden were featured as a negative Western "ideological influence," which, to me, completely vindicated buying a Powerslave T-shirt dress at one of the seven H&M's I passed within a two-block radius earlier on. And on our last day in town, we ventured over to the city's informal Ramones Museum to gawk at some cool artifacts that made us think of our NYC home back when it was still kind of dangerous. [Berlin photos]

Posing with some street art in Berlin.

All that traveling finally did the trick. I'm refreshed, inspired and ready to kick ass.

What's next? Finding a full-time job... so I can save up for more adventures. Think you can help on that front? Holler!

My Top 8 Records of 2016 & Then Some

Unlike the last few busy years, I really sought out new music in 2016. Maybe I was looking for respite from the shit year it’s been, or maybe I took an old co-worker’s comment to heart.

After posting that I didn’t like a particular Top 40 single, a now-benched music industry vet surmised that it was time to give up; that pop music was no longer being made for my demographic or sensibilities, so I should stop keeping up with all things new. That struck me as sad. Imagine going through life thinking that every good song had already been written? I can’t. Granted, they might be harder to come by these days.

Though I tried, I could only really think of eight records that perked up my ears in 2016, and my favorite should come as no surprise. Call me basic, but without fail, any new Deftones record will likely be my favorite release of the year.

Live shows were a weird thing for me in 2016. Usually they are my comfort zone, a pastime that has as much to do with culture as it does socializing. But because of my dad’s cancer battle, I often found myself too emotionally spent to attend some concerts I’d really been looking forward to.

But then, I couldn’t think of skipping Nails’ blistering set at Marlin Room on the day my dad died. Catharsis, I guess? I also randomly met actor Chris Bauer (True Blood's Andy Bellefleur) that night. Guess my life will never be boring.   

I’m the muthafuckin’ Starboy. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Top 8 Records of 2016

Deftones - Gore

Opeth – Sorceress

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree

Nails – You Will Never Be One of Us

Whores. – Gold.

Oathbreaker - Rheia

The Kills – Ashes & Ice

Neurosis – Fires Within Fires

Honorable Mentions:

The Sword – Low Country

Death Angel – The Evil Divide

Lady Gaga – Joanne

Lord Satan strike me down, but I kind of like Metallica's Hardwired... To Self-Destruct. 

Nah: Into Another – Omens; PJ Harvey – The Hope Six Demolition Project

Band I’m Glad I Discovered this Year: Couch Slut

Bands I Marginally Care About That Released Albums I Only Found Out About While Researching This List:

Planes Mistaken for Stars; Ignite; Skunk Anansie; Tricky; Massive Attack; Voivod; Dustin Kensrue; Metal Church; Kvelertak; Band of Skulls; The Monkees; Taking Back Sunday, Miniature Tigers, and at least two Elvis Presley “unearthed” collections.

Jam:

Who Gives a S#!t?: My Music Picks for 2014

Too exhausted for pithy intros.

For most of the year I was still wrapped up in a pop wonderland, so I'm sure there are some gems that've been missed. But as someone who habitually shuffles through 24,000+ songs on an iPod Classic (what of it? they're worth money now), it's seldom that I become obsessed with hearing a record in its entirety. Over and over again.

That's pretty much the only criteria I used in choosing my Top 10 Albums of 2014. Enjoy.

UPDATE: How did I ever miss Eyehategod? Also, the Tokio Hotel record is garbage. What did they do to you, Bill?

Best of 2014 (in order, based on how many times I spun the record straight through):
1. Cold World - How the Gods Chill
2. The Afghan Whigs - Do To the Beast
3. Rancid - Honor Is All We Know
4. Mastodon - Once More 'Round the Sun 
5. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2 
6. Godflesh - A World Lit Only by Fire
7. Behemoth - The Satanist
8. Ghostface Killah - Twelve Reasons to Die 
9. Eyehategod - s/t
10. Pallbearer - Foundations of Burden
 
Pretty Damn Good:
Against Me! - Transgender Dysphoria Blues
At the Gates - At War With Reality 
Exodus - Blood In, Blood Out
Youth Code - A Place to Stand EP
Finch - Back to Oblivion
Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
Vance Joy - Dream Your Life Away

Have yet to listen to these artists' latest records: Swans, Tokio Hotel, Shellac, Ex Hex, TV on the Radio.

Postscript: I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever get into Taylor Swift. Basic pop music has never suited me.

Best Shows of 2014:
Motley Crue @ Madison Square Garden - Though the set list was better when I caught Crue's Las Vegas residency, there was nothing like sending off the geezers at the most befitting NYC venue of them all.
Godflesh @ Irving Plaza - This was an experience for all senses, including the vibrations it swept through my body. Loudest show of the year that left me physically spent.
King Diamond @ Best Buy Theater - The double-decker stage, replete with gates! The actors! The light-up upside down crosses and pentagram! King's live show was like everything all concerned parents assume metal shows are like. READ this take on it.
Infest @ the Well - Seeing the underground icons plow through their discography was eye-opening; and a good hang (thanks for the ticket, Richard!).
Gorilla Biscuits @ House of Vans - Every summer there's one magical show where you get to see all of your friends, meet some new ones and enjoy some old-school hardcore. This was it.
Bonus: Pussy Riot @ Vice 20, Brooklyn Navy Yard - It was an honor to be in the presence of these blunt, independent Russian women (who are willing to risk their lives for their expression) as they covered riot grrl darlings, Le Tigre.

JAM

Head to The Meadows with Red Fang

And the winner for the most far-flung hard music tour of the year is... Communion of Sirens, featuring Opeth, In Flames and Red Fang. Should be interesting to see how the melodic, straight-forward rockers will fare with the more traditional metal-loving audience their Swedish cohorts attract. The package will be coming through New York City this December to perform at the horrendous Terminal 5, and with any luck I'll be catching it from the balcony. More dates listed below.

The Portland group have also just released a video for their Scion A/V collabo, "The Meadows," and it's as good humored as the gents that make up the group. Check it out! Couldn't be happier for their continued success.

Machine Head Cover Ignite

Not the first cover I would have thought of, but this is kind of dope - Machine Head covering latter-day Ignite. Check out their cover of "Our Darkest Days."

Death Angel's Rob Cavestany on His Signature Riff, Latest Album & That Damn Burger Ad

Image lifted from deathangel.us

A while back, I had the pleasure of interviewing Death Angel’s Rob Cavestany for High Times magazine and was truly impressed by how friendly and chill he was. Before we knew it, our conversation exceeded what could ever be committed to print, so below are essentially the outtakes from our talk. Most surprising tidbit I learned? Apparently Rob thinks the riff to “I’m Bored” is overrated. Read on!

ZT: What were your expectations for Death Angel when you first got back together?
RC: We had no goals at all. It was only the immediate goal as to why we reunited in the first place, which was to play the benefit show for Chuck Billy [2001’s Thrash of the Titans]. We didn’t even exist when that benefit show was being set up.

Then we played the show, and, of course, it was so killer… Then we started getting offers and offers. Still, we were just going to close it up, then all of a sudden we got asked to play the Dynamo festival in Holland –we headlined that thing in 1990 on the Act III tour, so for us, it was one of monumental shows of our career. So then we were like, OK, we’ll do the one show in Holland, and that’s it. Then it just went on and on and on. We couldn’t stop after that happened.
 
What does your latest album title, The Dream Calls For Blood, mean to you?
The title is kind of our mantra at this point; the dream being our band, and the blood that it calls for is the sacrifice. The blood, sweat and tears, the ridiculously hard work and your life that you pour into the efforts of something that you really want to make happen very badly. Anybody can put their story to that kind of thing. 

For a long time, you were used to playing with family. How is the vibe different now?
At the beginning, it was extremely different and very bizarre, because I was used to playing with the original members for most of my life. In time, I grew to be familiar with the different styles that these guys play, and their personalities. Now, it’s like they are family, they just look different. They’re our less brown family members.

Do you still see the ex-members of the band at family gatherings?
I actually hung out with Andy [Galeon, original drummer] a couple of times recently. Andy’s got a couple of kids, I've got one kid, and our kids don’t even know each other, which is really sad because we were the closest of brothers. 

Our entire relationship revolved around our music, so now that we weren’t in the same band together, there was just an uncomfortable silence of nothingness, of trying to avoid discussing music when we’d see each other. They know I'm still doing all this stuff. In the end, it caused us to lose complete contact with each other. I practically didn’t talk to those guys for a year straight or more. We’re now starting to say hi… Andy’s oldest daughter is as old now as he was when he was already playing shows.

Technology has changed the music landscape in the last decade or so, do you think it’s helped or hurt the scene?
Obviously, the Internet helped with the ability to download and share files quickly, and has helped spread music quickly. But it hurts the recording musician and the songwriter, in a way that you just can't sell music very much anymore. So it depends on how you use it, but it’s unstoppable… so you gotta figure out how to play the game within the rules that have been shed forth.

What was your experience with having a "viral" demo back in the day?
The Kill As One demo was produced by Kirk Hammett. We played with Slayer and Overkill in New York at the Ritz [nee Webster Hall] before we even had an album out based on our demo tape. And when we got out to NY for the first time and played, all these kids were singing the lyrics to our songs! That was only possible because of tape trading… because we mailed it to them - one by one. I was sitting there duping off them tapes and mailing them from my house. That was a little bit more magical… everything felt more exciting when you finally did hold your first album. Now, every kid can make a CD out of their bedroom, no problem.
 

Any thoughts on the current thrash revival?
The style and the music holds its own because that energy doesn’t go away. The same reasons that we were drawn to it all those years ago is the same thing that can happen to any fucking kid of that age now, then, whenever. It’s got that youthful angst, but its also got musicality for musicians who want to geek out. My kid loves thrash, and he’s 7 years old.

Tell us about the signature riff to Frolic Through the Park's “Bored.”  
I wrote that riff as a joke.That song was never even going to be on Frolic, it was completely a joke. Friends of ours were like, "You have to put that song on your album!" At first we were laughing at the idea of it, like, "That’s not a metal song at all!" But then we did, and now it's become the song that we get defined by. Its not my favorite song of ours, but I'm glad that we have at least something like that at all. 

When you see old performance footage or listen to old live albums, what goes through your head?
When I see videos of us from back then... obviously we were way younger, but we’re way better live now. And we pay more attention to playing better. We used to swing around our hair a lot back then, but we actually go off on the stage much more so now. We’re in way better shape than we were back then. Back then we were just skinnier, we have stamina nowadays. 

And I can't let you go without bringing up the Carl's Jr. commercial that used your song, "The Ultra-Violence."
Carl’s Jr. –  Yeah, haha. I still haven’t gotten a free jalapeno turkey burger out of it [laughs], but seeing it on TV was such a kick. Everybody was blowing up my phone. I never got down to the bottom of why us and why that song. It seems pretty coincidental that we were touring for the 25th anniversary of our debut album, The Ultra-Violence. We re-released it and we were playing it beginning to end live.

I was with my parents, my wife and my kid watching the Golden Globes and they cut away to commercial, and that’s the commercial that came on! When it happened, it was a glorious moment in achievements…. My music being played on a Carl Jr.'s commercial!

New Eyehategod Music

Last night, the boys in Eyehategod debuted this lyric video [pardon] for the rather uptempo "Agitation! Propaganda!" and it's pretty bitchin'. Right around the 1:40 mark is when stuff slows down and some good Bower Power riffage comes through. A good presage of things to come.

Dan Lilker's Swan Song

I must admit, I was surprised to see the following post from my old buddy, Dan Lilker. When I think of metal lifers, he's one of the first I picture. And unlike many of his contemporaries, he's somehow maintained his passion for the scene without picking up any of the hardened embitterment so associated with pioneers who never quite hit it big. I'll definitely miss seeing him at various fests, but respect the hell out of him for getting out on his own terms.

It looks like Brutal Truth is a wrap, but Danny's and their legacy will continue.

"A Message From Dan Lilker

I regret to inform Brutal Truth fans that as of October 18th, 2014, I will be retiring from being a full time recording and touring musician. That date is my 50th birthday, so I chose it symbolically as a significant milestone to make such a weighty decision. As a lot of you know, I've been an active member of the metal scene since the early 80s with the thrash metal bands I've been in before the formation of Brutal Truth in 1990, and I'm simply just tired of the rigors of touring mostly. Unlike some of my peers from the 80's who went on to sell millions of records I have always been drawn to extreme underground metal. I don't care about staying in 5 star hotels and having a big cushy tour bus but I am getting tired of squeezing into a van for 8 hours after all these years on the road. I have always played what I believe in and that is been priority #1, but the time has come to have a little bit more stability in my life.

Brutal Truth will still be active on the touring front until mid-October and will aim to do as much as we can in the next 9 months or so. After that, I will still have creative output with my 2 local bands in Rochester NY, Nokturnal Hellstorm and Blurring and do the occasional project tour, but yes, as of mid-October, Brutal Truth will no longer exist. I do realize that will be an extreme disappointment to all the grind freaks out there that have supported this band so rabidly all these years, and your enthusiasm will always have a special place in my heart, but I've made my decision, and I hope everyone can respect that.

Thanks, Dan Lilker"

A Very Megadeth Christmas

Leave it to Jimmy Kimmel to get Megadeth to be funny. For real. Watch the amusing holiday skit they did for last night's show, replete with a scared-off Jenny Lewis. As one YouTube commenter noted, it's "still better than Super Collider." Watch!

Who Gives a S#!t? My 2013 Music Picks

Blah, blah, blah... another list. 

Favorite Albums of the Year (most favorite on top):

Modern Life Is War - Fever Hunting 
Carcass - Surgical Steel
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away
Nails - Abandon All Life
Pusha T - My Name Is My Name
Clutch - Earth Rocker

Damn Good Records (in no particular order):

Death Angel - The Dream Calls For Blood

Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks 

Elvis Presley – Elvis at Stax: Deluxe Edition (3x CD)

Youth Code - s/t

Power Trip - Manifest Decimation 

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Mind Control
Whores. - Clean 

Misery Signals - Absent Light
 

Aight Aight:

Vista Chino - Peace 

Monster Magnet - Last Patrol 

Red Fang - Whales and Leeches  

Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork 

Chelsea Wolfe - Pain is Beauty
Shai Hulud - Reach Beyond the Sun
Inter Arma - Sky Burial

Fine Return to Form:

HIM - Tears on Tape

Just Say No:

Integrity – Suicide Black Snake

Depeche Mode - Delta Machine

AFI - Burials 

Certified Bangers:

Lady Gaga - "Applause"

Robin Thicke - "Blurred Lines"

Does Not Compute:
Katy Perry. I find her beautiful, rather genuine and recognize she has an ear for melody. I've even seen her perform (once with Juicy J, no less) - but her music does jack shit for me. Sorry, lady.

Vintage metal band Thorns and I agree to disagree on: Flotsam & Jetsam. (I'm pro.)

Haven't Listened To Yet:

Watain - The Wild Hunt

R. Kelly - Black Panties

Chvrches - The Bones of What You Believe 

Kanye West - Yeezus

CocoRosie - Tales of a Grasswidow

Best Shows I Caught This Year:

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Beacon Theatre, March 29
Into Another - Saint Vitus, April 26
Judge - Black N Blue Bowl/Webster Hall, May 18 (Saturday's set was better)

Elton John - iHeartRadio Music Festival/MGM Grand Arena, September 20

Motley Crue - The Joint at Hard Rock Casino, September 21 
Carcass - Gramercy Theatre, September 26
Modern Life Is War - The Studio at Webster Hall, October 12

Worst. Night. Ever:
Katatonia at Irving Plaza, September 24
The mopey Swedes decided to go all deep-cuts for a closing set and didn't play ANTHING off Last Fair Deal Gone Down. Should have gotten there earlier to see all of Cult of Luna's set.

New Entombed Song

Went on BrooklynVegan to look up the horrible story about Yellow Dogs to send to a friend, and I saw THIS! Entombed's first new song in six years, "Vulture and the Traitor." Not quite Death N Roll, not quite Left Hand Path, but SOLID.

Take a listen before it gets removed.

Countdown to New York Comic Con

Doesn't this NYCC App logo look like some shitty hardcore band's T-shirt?

It's almost that time of year again... New York Comic Con. And while I may not be the stereotypical con-goer (who IS a "typical" con attendee these days?), I am WAY excited about this weekend's festivities. Scanning through their app last night, I found some highlights I thought I'd share.

I. Celebs Galore
Since Joe Harris' X Files Season 10 comic series had inspired me to revisit the TV show on Netflix, it's actually quite exciting that both Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny will be appearing together at NYCC. Other A-listers include Patrick Stewart, Sigourney Weaver, Aisha Tyler, a ton of Walking Dead cast members (including Norman Reedus, meow!), The Office's BJ Novak, Chloe Grace Moretz, Felicia Day, George Romero, Kathy Najimy and William Shatner. And apparently Sylvester Stallone is charging $300 per pic. Go, Sly!

II. Wrestlemania
Your favorite '80s wrestlers are also coming through, specifically: Hulk Hogan, Sgt. Slaughter and Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

III. Metal People, What's Up?
The fine gentlemen of Metal Sucks (and Metal Injection) are teaming up with Vertebrae33 and are hosting signings with Monster Magnet's Dave Wyndorf and Anthrax's Frank Bello over the weekend.

IV: "Alt" Art or Attack the Block
In addition to hosting comics, manga, celebs and other vendors, NYCC has an area called "The Block" devoted to surrealist and pop art, collectible vinyls and toys, apparel and tons more. This is where I tend to spend WAY too much money at the Zero Friends and Kid Robot booths.

V: EXCLUSIVES
Besides "limited edition" is there another term that can get collectors' hearts to beat faster? Check out NYCC's listing right here.

If you see me at NYCC, say hi and hopefully I'll remember the last time we interacted. I'll be the shorter-in-person brunette with the fancy camera and the Press pass.

The Dream Calls For Blood

What an insane whirlwind this month has been! Working on a recap of all the marquee artists I caught in September. I also filed my High Times profile of Death Angel, more than a year after I first spoke with founding guitarist Rob Cavestany, who was a blast to chat with. Look for the outtakes Q&A here as well.

Until then, check out the trailer for their new album, The Dream Calls For Blood. Having listened to it on repeat, I absolutely co-sign for it.

Finally, Something to Get Excited About

NEW CARCASS! Check out their officially-released comeback single, "Captive Bolt Pistol," from their forthcoming album, Surgical Steel (that's the cover below). US tour soon, please, yes?

Remember When Metal Was Dangerous?

When I was a kid, telling someone I was into metal usually meant receiving a reply asking if I worshiped Satan or wanted to kill myself (seriously, the idea of subliminal messages is still SO dumb - why would you want the people who buy your records to die?).

Over the last decade, as the buying power of older males dovetailed with metal fans' aging population, we began seeing Judas Priest and even Death Angel being used to hawk everything from burgers to sensible Japanese cars. And that's cool, I guess, if it means another revenue stream for the bands. 

But then I saw this... Granted, the news was released almost a month ago, but when you run six sites, sometimes reading informative e-blasts is a secondary joy. Either way, this shit won't happen until May 15, so you have plenty of time to set those DVRs.

Black Sabbath - Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler - will make a rare television appearance on the season finale of CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on Wednesday, May 15 at 10p. As the CSI team investigates a trail of murders with similarities to the sins in Dante's Inferno, the band will share a scene with D.B. Russell (Ted Danson), when he and Conrad (Marc Vann) attend a Black Sabbath show. The appearance will mark the band's world premiere of the song End of the Beginning from their new album 13, due out June 11 on Vertigo/Republic. "Because the album is titled 13 and this is the finale of CSI's Season 13, it seemed like the perfect match," said Executive Producer Don McGill. - c/o & Copyright Cynopsis 2013

Seriously, though, remember when metal was taboo? 

R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman

An end of an era. Rest in power. Slayer forever.

Photo lifted from hornsuprocks.comhornsuprocks.com