The Ocean

German/Swiss progressive metal band played San Francisco for the first time in over three years and the for the first time with their new lineup. On this tour, they're supporting Between The Buried And Me, Cephalic Carnage and Job For A Cowboy. The set consisted almost entirely of material from their last two concept albums Anthropocentric and Heliocentric (Metal Blade).

While The Ocean had to go on first, there was still a good amount of people at Slim's already, and frontman Loïc Rossetti didn't hesitate to get in people's faces, literally, and repeatedly leap into the crowd.

Grayceon: Record Release Show

Last night was Grayceon's record release show for their new album and first on Profound Lore called All We Destroy. Everyone who bought a ticket got a free copy of the new album.

Russian Circles

This show made me fall back in love with Russian Circles. I got into the band in 2006 (the only good thing pandora.com has ever done for me). They only had one album, a primitive website and a modest amount of friends on myspace. The band has since released two more albums, opened for Tool and Red Sparowes and now have a wider and more solidified fanbase.

I hadn't seen Russian Circles in over two years. I couldn't get in to their sold out show with Red Sparowes, and I was so let down by last year's Geneva album that I skipped their SF stop for that tour. Since then I've gotten over my disappointment, and the addition of Keelhaul was more than enough to see the band I once loved so dearly.

The band played a powerful and energetic set of epic, melodic, instrumental metal. They played with the confidence of bands twice their age. Mike Sullivan is a true master of the loop pedal, his timing is incredible. Not to mention ex-These Arms Are Snakes bassist Brian Cook playing keyboard and bass simultaneously, and Dave Turncrantz's expressive drumming.

An excerpt from the song 'Youngblood' to follow...

Bottom of the Hill 10/25/10

Yakuza

Yakuza were probably my favorite band of the night, I just wish they were given a longer set. The adventurous progressive metal band hail from Chicago and are on the stellar Profound Lore label. I was able to chat with singer/sax player Bruce Lamont before the show and he's an all around good guy. Lamont has collaborated with with fellow Chicagoans Nachtmystium and has a new project with Sanford Parker (Minsk) called Cirlce Of Animals, as well as a solo album that will be coming out soon.

The crowd was polite enough with applause and cheering, some head nodding here or there, but I think a lot of people were lost. I think it was the first time a lot of metalheads had even seen a saxophone.