Mondays, historically, have been the most lamented of the seven days comprising a week. Baltimore’s Ottobar seeks to revamp the typical early work-week monotony into regular installments of mayhem. Ottobar’s Metal Mondays hammer home Sunday’s final coffin nail while tearing into Tuesday and beyond. The heady coupling of raw aggression in an intimate setting is quite cathartic for releasing all of your latent frustrations. Such was the case on the evening of October 19, 2015.
Terror Inc. kicked off the expurgation with horror-themed canticles reminiscent of The Undead. This reviewer has had occasion to experience the Central Pennsylvania horror rock quartet in several other venues prior to the evening in question, and they just keep getting better each time. Dr. Worm’s tireless drumwork could resurrect even the most cadaverous concert-goer. If you, as most fans of this genre do, enjoy raw, in-your-face guitar, then the seven-string stylings of Rampage will sate your sonic appetite. Rigor Mortis on bass is anything but stiff, and Kane delivers vocals as fluid as a satin casket lining. If they continue their current trend of ripening, their reach will seep further still. If you have a chance, Terror Inc. is worth the listen, with promise of even more new material!
Next up was Baltimore’s own Professional Victim, also a quartet, though with a decidedly more punk influence. True to the genre, and due to their hometown roots, Professional Victim’s fan following turned out to support their cause quite respectably. This band has been constantly evolving and building great momentum since their inception in 2007. Their energy built upon Terror Inc.’s foundation and brought both fans and first-time listeners up close and personal to the stage. Kevin, Drew, Davey, and Clay have had a busy 2015, which included the release of their first LP. Their punk influences shine through loud and clear, and are well worth a listen if you are a fan of the likes of AFI or Bad Religion.
Dead End Lane continued delivering the punk injection to the contingent in attendance, but from the lips of the fairer sex. DEL is a female-fronted punk assemblage, also hailing from Baltimore. Don’t let Erin Maltese’s cheesecake smile lull you into a false sense of security, this girl delivers ferocious vocals! DEL’s set was nothing short of pugnacious, undeterred by their covering drummer – who, remarkably, learned all of the material required in just two short weeks. DEL’s influences are quite diverse, including such selections as the Misfits, Necromantix, and The Distillers, which can be fully appreciated throughout their performance. They are currently rated in the top three Baltimore punk acts, so check them out!
Though DEL was a tough act to follow, Bay Area thrash metal ensemble, Hatchet, took the aggression to the next level. Nods to influences had been felt the evening through though, perhaps, none more notably than in Hatchet’s performance. Within the past nearly two decade long evolution of metal, thrash has become exceedingly rare, but Hatchet injects their youthful energy into a presentation reminiscent of Testament, Sodom and even early Metallica. Their sound is fast, a bit choppy, ariose, all while remaining heavy. This was the second of my seven string experiences of the evening, but definitely not second rate! I highly recommend that you check these guys out. The sound is true to original thrash, without getting overly showy. They are currently touring with Doyle and The Family Ruin, and are set to release their third album, “Fear Beyond Lunacy”, October 30th.
As stated, The Family Ruin rounds out the Doyle touring trio. Hailing from England, where they were formed in 2009, TFR have previously toured with the likes of Mushroomhead. Though dubbed “British doomcore”, their newer influences predominate their musical schematic. Hints of Avenged Sevenfold’s sound bleed through and are well complemented by the stylings of such 80’s icons as Motley Crue. Levity, energy, and raw emotion seasoned TFR’s set, serving to heighten the engagement of the modest crowd. Though likely not the most impressive turnout that any of the bands in the evening’s lineup have previously observed, the passion was certainly not diminished in any way and TFR put on an impressive stage-play! TFR released their debut album in 2014 on KBB Records and I anticipate that there will be more worthwhile material forthcoming from this powerful quintet.
Culminating the evening’s entertainment were the Machiavellian machinations of none other than Doyle. To have seen the Monsterman himself, live, and in action is nothing less than intimidatingly impressive. Other than the obvious, Doyle’s stage presence is also the product of 35 years of experience. To put this into perspective, consider that Doyle is both an influence to the worlds of punk and metal (to name a few), while he is also an active contributor of new material in the industry. Yes, there have been other artists to have achieved similar longevity in terms of relevance, but few (if any) can claim to do it as lean and as mean as Doyle.
Lean and mean are not meant simply in the literal, and most obvious, sense. From a business standpoint, there is a certain elegance to the simplicity with which this band operates. The downside, perhaps, is that the return being generated should be significantly more for someone of this stature.
While my previous concert-going excursions specific to Doyle have been decidedly primal experiences, this particular evening’s appearance aligned precisely with the band’s social media catchphrase, “Prepare to be Abominated!” Their frenzied physicality on stage belies the technical detail that is essential to effective delivery. The raw energy was painstakingly unrelenting from start to finish, and completely unhindered by infinitesimal equipment checks.
Having previously established and secured their respective stage personas, Doyle prowled predatorily around the stage amidst Alex’s antagonistic antics. Of note, however, were the emerging presences of both Brandon Strate (bass) and Brandon Pertzborn (drums). Citizen Strate was unmistakably more mobile than previously observed, which enhanced the lasciviousness of the mise en scène. Not to be outdone, Brandon P. indulged onlookers with a vicious drum solo that spared no vigor on his part. At this point in their tour, fans can expect to get their money’s worth in terms of energy! Given the current momentum, and in combination with the looming collaborative performances slated with John5, fans should be taking any opportunity to get out and be a part of this live show!
