Trap Them/Black Breath/Mammoth Grinder @ The Roxy, Hollywood. 1/9/11.

As I've mentioned before in a previous post, the good folks/opportunists at Scion automobiles are kind enough to sponsor free metal/extreme music concerts from time to time. My first show of the year was a Scion event, featuring Trap Them, Black Breath and Mammoth Grinder (in case you didn't read the flyer above ^^).

Mammoth Grinder was first. I never heard of these guys before and didn't know what to expect but was not disappointed by their punishing grind/punk attack. It seemed like this trio produced more noise at a louder decibel onstage than either of the acts that followed. Crusty D-beats with doom inspired breakdowns, here's a clip for ya'll to hear Mammoth Grinder for yourselves:


Black Breath came out next. This was the most "metal" band on the bill (with actual long hairs) although they also implored lots of D-beats and an overall DIY aesthetic. Although 2nd on the lineup, Black Breath played to the largest crowd and received the wildest reaction. Their brand of thrashy, punk inspired metal got the stage divers into a frenzy. I quickly lost count of the number of kids doing swan dives. Black Breath's unexpected cover of Sepultura's "Desperate Cry" was the highlight of their set. Not that their own original music is weak or anyhting, just that they totally ripped that classic song a new ass.


Once Black Breath finished playing, a good number of people took off, leaving Trap Them to play to a smaller crowd than I would have expected. No matter, I'm sure Trap Them would play with the same intensity to crowd of 5 or 500. Grindcore, punk rock, metal, whatever you want to call Trap Them, one thing all would agree on is, INTENSE. Their frontman's vocal delivery is pure venom and for being scrawny as fuck, dude is intimidating. One second the band is going full throttle blasting your face off, the next they're slogging through a dirty funeral dirge, with that ungodly guitar sound haunting the back of your skull. Trap Them really is the best at what they do. Too bad all those dudes left after Black Breath...their loss really.