Chris and Frank continue to push the envelope as they sound off on this year’s WWE Money In The Bank Pay-Per-View. Our hosts discuss what they enjoyed, question a few angles, and pay tribute to the late, great Dusty Rhodes in this whimsical podcast.
All posts by Chris Butera
The Unravelling talk Struggles, New Sound
(via Metal Insider)
Canadian Industrial Metal duo The Unravelling have had quite the journey. In 2010, they released their critically acclaimed debut 13 Arcane Hymns. At what seemed like the breakthrough they had so deserved, singer Steve Moore was diagnosed with cancer, putting the band on an indefinite hiatus. During this time, instrumentalist Gustavo de Beauville became heavily involved with soundtrack work and studio production (even more extensively than he already was). Through Moore’s positive mentality, he beat cancer and rejuvenated The Unravelling as quickly as he could. The band has recently released the “Revolt” single and has begun work on their long awaited follow up to 13 Arcane Hymns. Moore and Beauville caught up with Metal Insider to talk about their struggles, salvation and their future.
The overall sound has changed drastically from 13 Arcane Hymns to “Revolt.” Why did you guys decide to take The Unravelling in that direction?
Steve Moore: Well, the sound is always evolving, and the songs themselves will be quite different from each other too. “Revolt” is one piece of the new album’s puzzle. That being said, it has changed a lot since 13 Arcane Hymns. I know that Gustavo has his own reasons for the shift (soundtrack work, more production training, etc.), but I personally think it goes a bit like this. We want to do
something visceral and direct; more moody and atmospheric than overly technically focused. That requires a sense of space in the music where most bands would tend to fill it up. On the last album we were going for a full band sound. This time we’re not. A song can sound as cinematic as we want it to…we don’t really have the trappings of trying to fit into something. The lyrics have changed significantly, and this is partially because of my own ideas and concepts changing, or falling away, over the past 5 years. There’s much less personal struggle elements. The concept of the album is more of a “destroy the self-image” than building it up in any way, and that’s affected all aspects of what I do. We just know the way we like to explore sound and are honoring that – satisfying the inner teen in us who used to wait impatiently for Columbia House to arrive! The test is always if we feel it on a deep level.
Gustavo de Beauville: After trying the traditional metal band approach and realizing how cantankerous and unprofessional the scene was I switched gears. Reality kicked in hard and made me refocus on composing music for film and video games. I started teaching myself how to incorporate orchestral instruments into songs and discovered hybrid orchestral – where composers fused classical with electronic elements. Artists that really stood out for me during this time were Two Steps from Hell (Thomas Bergersen and Nick Phoenix), Troels Folmann, Clint Mansell, Hans Zimmer and John Murphy. These are guys that were actually earning a living with music. Trent Reznor also provided a lot of inspiration. Hence the radical shift away from drums, bass, guitars and vox to “whatever I need to craft the track”. Guitar is the instrument that I grew up playing but now I feel equally as ease using synthesizers, arpeggiators, preprogrammed beats or even a hang drum to make music.
To continue reading on Metal Insider, click here.
Bonesaw Podcast: Episode 13 – Sunlord’s Alfonso Ferrazza
We talk metal with Alfonso Ferrazza from Queens thrashers Sunlord. Ferrazza chats about recording Sunlord’s debut “The First One,” touring with the legendary Anvil, and his passion for music as well as gearing up for Sunlord’s June 28 show at New York’s Santo’s Party House where the band will be opening for The Skull (featuring ex-Trouble frontman Eric Wagner).
Check out Sunlord on Facebook or Reverb Nation.
WWE Money In The Bank Predictions
What was once thought to be just another ladder match has transformed into not only its own Pay-Per-View, but one of the most exciting storylines the WWE has ever come up with.
While its unclear whether the chase to the cash-in or the winner of the match itself creates the most buzz and anticipation, this years Money in the Bank will be full of surprises.
Here are our predictions for the event.
Kickoff: R-Truth vs. King Barrett – The two have been crossing paths over the past few months with no real angle even during the Intercontinental Championship hunt. Seeing as this is a Kickoff match for the sake of a Kickoff match, (which Truth has been doing a lot of lately) we’re expecting a Truth win with no repercussions for the 2015 King of the Ring winner.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The New Day (c) vs. The Prime Time Players – It’s about time The Prime Time Players started getting a push and their chemistry with The New Day has proven to be pretty lucrative for both teams. The Players are going to come close, but The New Day are on their way to becoming a great heel stable and need the heat. It would only make sense for them to drop the titles at a bigger event. With SummerSlam several months away, it seems that The New Day will retain for the time being.
Intercontinental Championship Match: Ryback (c) vs. The Big Show – The Big Show is now just a stepping stone for young talent. “The Big Guy” has proven night after night that he can handle Show’s mass and still want seconds. Ryback is going to go over clean without even breaking a sweat.
Divas Championship Match: Nikki Bella (c) vs. Paige – While we feel that Naomi should be champ, she isn’t. Paige and Bella are going to put on another impressive bout, but we’ve seen this one before and we’re pretty sure we know how it ends. After a hard fought battle, Bella is going to either cheat or come back in order to retain her coveted championship.
Champion vs. Champion: United States Champion John Cena vs. NXT Champion Kevin Owens – As impressive as their first match was, this one may not be able to live up to the bar Cena and Owens have set for themselves. Owens going over clean in their first outing was amazing in itself. Unfortunately for the fresh faced NXT monster, he is in a feud with Cena, which means it will indefinitely go to a rubber match. Very few (if any) Superstars beat Cena twice in a row and for those reasons alone Mr. Hustle, Loyalty, Respect is a lock to win round two.
Money In The Bank Contract Ladder Match: Neville vs. Sheamus vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Kane vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler – As always, the Money In The Bank Contract match is always fun to watch and even more fun to predict. Neville and Kingston are going to give us some of the highest high spots we’ve seen an a long time, but these two are not going to win (although we would be shocked if Neville was the dark horse victor). Kane and Sheamus are always there to provide the necessary carnage, but it’s a long shot for them also. That leaves Ziggler, Reigns and Orton; who have been built as possible candidates to hold the contract for a guaranteed WWE Championship match anytime, anywhere for an entire year. Ziggler is more likely to wind up feuding with Rusev upon his return, but still has a chance (although slim) while Reigns and Orton are pretty evenly matched as far as their winning odds. Reigns is being highlighted, which gives us reason to believe WWE is going to have Orton win the contract.
WWE Championship Ladder Match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Dean Ambrose – These two are going to pull all the stops in another clinic that will end in similar fashion – and with good reason (have you seen these guys work?). Ambrose is going to come close, but former champion Brock Lesnar is rumored to make an appearance the following night on Raw – and The Beast Incarnate wants nothing more than to decimate Rollins upon regaining the title he never lost. We feel that Lesnar is going to lay waste to both men and leave, with Rollins somehow pulling off the win in the aftermath.
CalatrilloZ Premiere “Z the Psychopath” Video
Everyone loves a carnival.
Enter CalatrilloZ, a London Symphonic Metal troupe drawing NWOBHM influences merged with vaudevillian attire and theatrics. The band (active since 2009) are preparing to release their debut album “Psalms of Zahyin.”
The five band members (who create a cocktail that’s one part Kiss and two parts Demons & Wizards) describe themselves as “a troupe of wanderers” and are all fitted with unique personas complete with elaborate backstories, makeup and costumes to complete the aura of CalatrilloZ.
Set to be a concept album based on the bands mysterious origins and their mission statement to scour the earth for five marionettes with powerful demons imprisoned within them, “Psalms of Zahyin” contains six tracks of wailing guitars, entrancing arrangements and operatic vocals by singer Zayhin (who’s persona is the focal point of the album if not the band itself).
“Through Zayhin, though his universe, my compositions are free.” He said in a press release. “The only limitations I have are the ones I impose upon myself: none.”
In anticipation of their release, Calatrilloz has filmed a music video (which can be viewed below) for the final track on the album “Z the Psychopath.” The video revolves around Zayhin shifting in and out of each of his bizarre personalities with the band playing in a desolate room (or realm).
Calatrilloz ominous debut “Psalms of Zayhin” becomes available for your listening pleasure June 22.
Long Live “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes
“The American Dream” is dead.
Virgil Runnels, better known to the wrestling world as the legendary Dusty Rhodes died Thursday morning. He was 69 years old. The cause of death is unknown at this time.
Runnels, who famously referred to himself as “the son of a plumber who grew up to be so sweet” was one of the best talkers in the business. At eight years old, the Texas native was diagnosed with osteomyelitis, a bone disease that he would live with for the rest of his life. While Runnels was thought to be unable to walk, he proved everyone wrong and then some. Regardless, Runnels would work with his father every day while the two would bond over local wrestling matches and baseball games. While wrestling was his first love, Runnels’ sport of choice was football as he would play for high school and college at West Texas University with fellow future wrestling stars Ted DiBiase,Terry Funk and Dick Murdoch, whom he would later tag with. Runnels almost became an NFL player, but instead chose “the business” after realizing where his heart truly was.
Starting his career in 1968 as a rule-breaking heel (a professional wrestling term for “bad guy”) in the territorial days of the NWA and AWA promotions; Rhodes would team up with college buddy Murdoch to form “The Texas Outlaws.” Together, the two would go on to hold the NWA Tag Team Championships multiple times in different territories before Rhodes would turn babyface (good guy) and gain the adoration of the pro-wrestling world for the rest of his days, feuding with the likes of Abdulla the Butcher, Harley Race and “Superstar” Billy Graham.
The original “every man” of sports entertainment would go on a rocket ride to superstardom when he moved on to Jim Crockett Promotions (where he would book outlandish run-in endings to matches, which became known in the industry as the “Dusty Finish”) and WCW, feuding with (arguably the best heel to ever step foot in the ring) “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and his legendary stable “The Four Horseman,”leading to the creation of the infamous “War Games” match. The two would put on classic bouts regarded by many as some of the best matches of all time over pride and coveted WCW championships. Rhodes’ knowledge of wrestling psychology and charisma captivated the United States with his over-the-top promos, earning him the nickname “The American Dream.” It was during this time that Rhodes would become immortal with his legendary “Hard Times” promo (below in all its glory).
Rhodes was eventually fired from WCW due to booking a then hyper-violent storyline with the Road Warriors and bloodletting, (known as “blading” in the wrestling world) which was against WCW’s rules under ownership of Turner Broadcasting Systems (TBS). While Rhodes was out of work, it was only a matter of time before Vince McMahon’s WWE (then known as WWF) would come calling.
After a series of ridiculously funny vignettes where he would perform everyday manual labor jobs, “The American Dream” made his WWE debut in what would become his trademark polka-dot attire with a “common man” gimmick (which was essentially the kind of guy he was at heart). While many felt the new clothes and gimmick was a step backward for Runnels, the man would take it in stride and remained hugely over with the fans. He would eventually gain a valet in the form of “Sapphire” (real name Juanita Wright), the common woman to Rhodes’ common man. The two would feud with DiBiase’s evil “Million Dollar Man” character, Randy Savage (under the “Macho King” gimmick) and “Sensational” Queen Sherri. Rhodes would also partner with real-life son Dustin Runnels for a short while as he continued to feud with DiBiase and Virgil until the two would leave WWE in 1991 (shortly after Dustin’s debut), returning to WCW where he would eventually become one of the head bookers for the company.
The pair would work together until 1996 when the two had a falling out that caused Dustin to leave WCW, returning to WWE under the name “Golddust” (an androginous character that he would portray to this day). It would be five years before the two would speak again.
During the late 90’s and early 2000’s WCW was in a constant state of chaos both on camera and backstage due to the N.W.O. (New World Order) angle becoming too ridiculous due to backstage politicking and overwhelming confusion. Eventually WCW would lose the “Monday Night War” with WWE and would be bought out by McMahon. Rhodes would not sign with WWE until 2005 after a brief stint in TNA and working the independent circut.
In September 2015 Rhodes would sign a legends contract with WWE and be brought onto the creative team, where he would help come up with storylines and mentor many a talent on the WWE roster. WWE would go on to release “The American Dream” DVD set, containing a full-length documentary, a collection of classic matches and a plethora of Rhode’s immaculate promos. On March 31, 2007, Rhodes would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his two sons Dustin and Cody (who now wrestles for WWE under the name “Stardust”). Rhodes would do the favors (lose to make a young talent look good) for then up-and-coming star Randy Orton in a “Texas Bullrope” match during Orton’s “Legend Killer” gimmick. The match was Rhode’s last televised match to date.
Rhodes would live out his days backstage with WWE as a mentor, creative force, and occasional plot device. He is survived by his wife and four children (including Dustin and Cody).
While the legendary son of a plumber has gone on to wine and dine with kings and queens in the afterlife, the wrestling world mourns the loss of one of its greatest talents. Despite Rhode’s non-athletic build, his abilities were unsurpassed and got him over with the world for ages. There are many different chants wrestling fans have used over the years, but only one can summarize the loss of “The American Dream.”
“We will miss you.”
Goatsnake: Black Age Blues Review
For the first time in 15 years, Goatsnake has a new record.
The album, “Black Age Blues” is doomy as ever and it puts the “south” in Goatsnake’s new label and home Southern Lord Recordings (for which this is their first true release with).
Defiantly sludgy riffs merge southern rock and stoner metal; appropriately setting the albums tone from square one with “Another River to Cross.” The opener softly lulls you in with the sounds of rain, church bells and a gospel choir before kicking you in the teeth with heavy growling guitars.
Next up is a hot order of good vibes and southern hospitality with the insanely catchy “Elevated Man” and “Coffee & Whiskey.” The grooves are so tasteful you’ll be banging your head and snapping your fingers in no time. These two will get stuck in your head and cause one to strut down the street like an elevated man with said tasty beverages on the brain.
Before we go any further, it is worth noting that the albums artwork completely defines “Black Age Blues” before hearing anything. A southern church with an ominous storm brewing in the distance. The sheer simplicity alone shows us how clear of a vision the members of Goatsnake had going into this.
The title track, “House of the Moon” and “Jimi’s Gone” take a more serious shape for the second act; cranking the doom with more of the heavy and less pizzazz. The latter leaves sorrow in the air with a tinge of despair looming overhead. “House of the Moon” especially quells much of the upbeat from the first third of the album with roaring dirges and a murky midsection. The drums especially take the pace as they channel the river downstream before the fall of the third act.
“Black Age Blues’s” torrential downpour rages on with “Graves,” “Grandpa Jones” and the closer; “A Killing Blues.”
“Grandpa Jones” is a masterpiece unto itself and one of the best pieces Goatsnake has ever written. The hook of the chorus presents itself as an audible offering to any fan of metal. “A Killing Blues” brings the album full circle with a reprisal of the opener’s use of the gospel choir and the pitter-patter of rain; a calming end to a beautiful and treacherous outing.
Trailer Feedback: Sinister 2
2012 saw a very unlikely horror movie blow the roof off of the supernatural world with a demon that uses multimedia and imagery as a portal to our world in order to brainwash children into murdering their families before joining his cult.
2015 looks to plunge into the inner workings of Bughuul with Sinister 2, in theaters this August.
While the trailer itself looks mostly like more of the same, Sinister 2 appears that it will focus more on Bughuul (reprised by Nicholas King) and his child abducting methods than terrorizing the family that moves into his den.
Sinister 2 seems to be delving more into Bughuul’s lore as well. Upon seeing him more we also see the children brainwashing Bughuul’s child of choice, culminating with the boy presumably filming a murder (possibly an initiation). We also see Bughuul’s history being briefly explained (although it could be borrowed footage from the first movie), hinting towards Sinister 2 filling in a few of Mr. Boogey’s blanks.
With one part Poltergeist and two parts Children of the Corn, Sinister 2’s trailer does show signs of a different direction but doesn’t quite look like it will shock us in the way the first film did. Having said that, expecting one thing from a trailer does not necessarily mean you will get it in full. We’ll just have to see.
However; Henry Hall’s “Hush, Hush, Hush, (Here Comes the Boogeyman)” still gives us the heebie-jeebies.
Bonesaw Podcast Episode 12: Chris and Frank Shoot on WWE Elimination Chamber
Episode 12 marks the long overdue return of “the shoot.”
In a hilarious outing, Chris and Frank go toe to toe with the results of WWE Elimination Chamber.
Industrial metal unit The Unravelling is featured with their new single “Revolt.”
Bonesaw Comiccast: Episode 3 – Flashing Fish Mooney’s Arrow (With Apologies to Uncle Jesse)
Chris and Jon swing for the fences as they shoot on the season finales of The Flash, Arrow and Gotham as well as sing praise and air grievances over upcoming series’ Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl.
The Bonesaw 