GOD BLESS OZZY OSBOURNE
If you missed this absolutely amazing documentary at the Sound on Screen Music Film Festival in Cape Town (last December), you can now get your hands on the DVD to enjoy at your leisure. As one of the Rock and Metal world’s living legends, Ozzy is the first to admit that he himself is dumb-founded that he survived his crazy life. Sure, the incidents of alcohol and drug induced mayhem is sensational and great tabloid fodder, but at the heart of this intimate look at a man who helped create the Heavy Metal genre (with his band Black Sabbath and going on to even more success as a solo artist), there is far more to him than a buffoon on The Osbournes reality TV show. We’re taken through his hard youth in Birmingham, the formation and departure from Black Sabbath, through his two marriages, his children, his triumphs, tribulations and tragedies. With as many highs as lows, Ozzy’s life has been one hell of a ride. This documentary is the first official insider’s look at the man and his tumultuous life and career. Produced by his son Jack, it includes rare archival footage, and the real story from Ozzy himself, his wife Sharon, children, close friends and fellow musicians. This intimate documentary explores this groundbreaking musician (with that unmistakable voice), and the impact he’s made on the music industry as a whole for over 4 decades (not just within his chosen genre). A fascinating movie, whether you like Ozzy’s music or not. (Bonus features include deleted scenes and a Q&A with Ozzy & Jack). 5/5
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NAPALM DEATH Utilitarian
I remember hearing the grinding under-ground brilliance of Napalm Death’s Scum and From Enslavement to Obliteration in the late-80s. It took Metal, Hardcore and Punk to a whole new level, laying the Grindcore foundation. I had the pleasure of opening for Napalm Death on their South African tour in 1993 with my band V.O.D (Voice of Destruction), and admire them for still being a relevant force within the scene decades later, releasing over a dozen albums, touring and not flinching beside newer and younger bands. With still the same line-up as the period of their SA tour (excluding passed on lead guitarist Jesse Pintado), the quartet hasn’t lost their touch. Precision blast beats, frenetic riffs and vocalist Barney’s raw growls are intact. Set to satisfy Grindcore and Death Metal fans alike, the 16 tracks will rattle your fillings. Nice surprises include saxophone legend John Zorn guesting on one track, and a choral touch on another. The cover art captures that classic monotone protest collage style of old, but with Utilitarian the 3-second blasting song novelties of their early years may have been put to rest – yet they still know how to get to the point without wasting time. Compromise and sell-out does not flow in the Napalm veins. 4.5/5
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TRAP THEM
Seizures in Barren Praise
Trap Them display a blend of Grindcore and Hardcore Punk intensity drawn from their vast influences that include everything from Punk legends Black Flag to Metallers Entombed. You get a great mix of these US and Scandinavian genres for an assault on the senses, via dirty Punk flavoured riffs riding a Metal tone, backed by relentless Grindcore inspired beats and a Hardcore vocal delivery. This album may be a few years old (and their last for Deathwish Inc. before moving on to another label) but carries a punch that may easily leave you breathless. If you’re new to this kind of music, you could end up feeling battered and bruised, but many get energized by forceful, relentless audio attacks. If that’s where you stand, this album could get you pumped-up like a speed freak! Other Deathwish Inc. bands you can check out incl.: Shipwreck AD, Blacklisted, Cold World, Pulling Teeth. 4/5
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THE HOPE CONSPIRACY
Death Knows Your Name
If your extreme musical preference is of the new school Hardcore persuasion, then look no further than The Hope Conspiracy. One of the Deathwish Inc. bands distributed here via Plug Music, this may be bare knuckled, raw and in your face music spitting blood and passion, but with good production and a slick approach, you won’t be getting a low grade effort sounding like a one take demo. Formed in 1999, Hope Con has paid their dues, and are not out to take prisoners, making it very clear as they barge in from the opening track, keeping the momentum going through the first ten, the closer the only one that pounds with a much slower groove. Their style also displays doses of Metal and a very upfront Punk attitude. One bit however that too many bands still do is insist on including elongated passages of grating feedback and screeching guitars (here at the end of the second to last track) – it’s something that never impressed me (except when it’s Slayer who can turn it into an art form) – loud music can be great, not frequencies annoying to the ear. 3/5
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LA INK
Season 1
The first season of this popular tattoo reality show clocks in a dozen episodes across 3 discs. As one of the guest tattoo artists on TLC’s Shipwreck AD, Blacklisted, Cold World, Pulling Teeth had a major fallout with the hard-headed owner Ami. This led to her moving back to Los Angeles and opening her own tattoo shop. This opening season you get to see how Kat has her shop built from scratch, and the recruiting of her team with their individual personalities and talents, including assistant Pixie, female tattoo artists Kim and Hannah, and Kat’s idol, Corey. With good times, stress and some amazing tattoos on regular customers and celebrities, this season sets up the rest of the instalments to follow where Kat’s personality, celebrity and brand takes shape – but also leading to things getting out of hand and friendships destroyed (just the kind of drama the reality show producers love to milk for maximum viewer attraction!). While these shows are a godsend for alternative people who are not interested in morons like the Kardashians, it’s a bit of a double-edged sword in that this allows the traditionally outlaw and outcast art form to gain more of a commercial acceptability. 5/5
