Mosh Rebellion's 2010 Recap

My Best Albums of 2010 list is still in progress, but I feel it would be nice to look back on some of the more memorable moments of 2010. It was a great year for metal and at the same time an awful year for metal in certain regards, and the following a list of the events I feel sum up the year the best.

Best Event of the Year

What could be better than the founding of Mosh Rebellion? This is my most significant event of the past year, right along with meeting the Baby Killer. It's about damn time someone made a place for people to congregate and plot the demise of hardcore dancing, and I am proud to call my website home to the rebellion. The satisfaction you readers give us is untold, and we always love to read your emails and comments, so keep it up you guys! Spread the word, and the true rebellion can begin!

Worst Event of the Year

The death of Ronnie James Dio on May 16 was a deep blow to the metal community. The man was 67, and passed away way before his time on earth was up. I think its safe to say that Dio's death rocked the metal community about as much as Dimebag's, and since I was only in 7th grade when Dimebag died, I feel much more saddened by Dio's death than I ever did about Dimebag, may they both rest in peace. Dio's contribution to metal is untold in scope, and from what I have heard and seen he seemed like a fun loving and extremely nice individual. You know those horns you throw up when your favorite band plays your favorite song? Yeah, Dio was responsible for implementing that in his music, and metal fans picked up on it. Henceforth, Dio gave us a voice, and a way to express ourselves more than any other musician has.

Subsequently, his music was not bad either. Holy Diver, The Last in Line, his work with Heaven and Hell, the list goes on. His personality shined through his soaring and recognizable voice throughout all his works, and while his lyrics may have been cheesy, they were catchy as a motherfucker. I still remember in tenth grade when I found the words "Holy Diver" scrawled across my desk in spanish class. In response, I wrote the first line of the song, "you've been down too long in the midnight sea," and a day later I was greeted with "oh what's becoming of me," written under my addition. I was communicating with some random metalhead in my school who I had never met, and we were bonded through Dio's words.

May he rest in peace, and may we never forget what he has done for us.

Most Despicable Event of the Year

Look at the top left corner of this photo. I want all you readers out there to do that!

The Rose Funeral Uno Incident. For those who do not know what happened you can read about it here, here, and here. Basically, some kids starting playing Uno doing during Rose Funeral's set and they got jumped during and after the show. The fact that you can't handle criticism and decide to wail on someone in the audience when they don't like your music is revolting enough, but one of the kids was 17... a minor. Rose Funeral beat up a minor because he didn't like their music. Fucking despicable. Granted, what the kids were doing was a bit douchey, but the vocalist could have easily brought it up and made a joke about it and continued with their set, but instead they decided to start shit with a guy who isn't legally old enough to consent to sex in some states. And it doesn't help that their music sucks massive fucking nuts to begin with. I encourage anyone who sees Rose Funeral from this point on to play Uno during their set. They can never forget about this.

Scumbags.

Most Significant Event Towards the Removal of Hardcore Dancing

We're just some guys foolin' around! Who knows what craaaaazy thing we'll do next?

The Despised Icon farewell tour. I love Despised Icon, as they made arguably some of the most talented deathcore music around, but it's fantastic to see them leave the scene, especially after the high note that was Day of Mourning. They had a very wide fan base, so it was a bit of a shock when they announced they would be breaking up after one final tour. Many deathcore enthusiasts were very sad about this, and even though I love their music, I could not be more elated. The removal of arguably the biggest deathcore band in the scene reduces the popularity and exposure of such music to the masses, henceforth reducing the number of potential fans the genre can make. The more intelligent diehard deathcore fans (if there is such a thing) may have realized that their genre might be entering its downfall and that they should get involved with music that bass players can cover with more than one hand.

To sum up: less deathcore bands = less deathcore music and shows = less hardcore dancing. Let's hope more people follow Despised Icon's trend.

Most Anticipated Album of 2011 

New Protest the Hero. Good god I hope they can follow up Fortress.

Least Anticipated Album of 2011 

New Rose Funeral.

Most Anticipated Album of 2011 pt. II

 New Rose Funeral. We will have so much to make fun of when that shit comes out!

Look for possibly more superlatives of the previous year in the near future, and my best of 2010 list hopefully sometime before February.

Quickie Semi-Recent Show Reviews: Despised Icon, Misery Index, and Revocation

Better late than never. I figure I'll go through all the shows I've recently been to and do quick reviews of them, because, well why the hell not? This show, however, has a particularly interesting anecdote attached that you guys might find interesting.

So, it's September 11 of this year, and Despised Icon are currently on their last tour ever with Misery Index, Revocation, The Judas Syndrome, and Everything's Ruined. The show was at Club Europa in Brooklyn. Being a huge fan Despised Icon's latest album, Day of Mourning, I knew I had to check them out at last once before they broke up. I also knew that while Despised Icon played insanely talented Deathcore, this show was bound to attract lots hardcore kids looking for an excuse to fight their insecurities at not being able to maintain a healthy relationship by wailing their limbs like a confused chimpanzee. Suffice to say, I did not have high hopes for good pits.

I ended up missing The Judas Syndrome and Everything's Ruined, which was no big deal since I wasn't going for either of those bands. I ended up catching Revocation in the middle of their set, and they fucking killed. These guys can shred like few other bands out their can. I remember picking up Empire of the Obscene and not really digging it, but seeing them live changed my thoughts on them completely. Check out the following song "Dismember the Dictator" to see what I mean (also, that bass tone is killer). Seriously check these guys out whenever you can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmg3jr7Bhfo

Up next was Misery Index, a band I just could never get into. Their music has always been "so-so" to my ears, but I have to give props for whoever was doing their sound that night, cause their tone was fucking killer. Being that their sound was so fucking good, I really enjoyed their performance, at least for the first half of it.

Here's what happened. I had been standing on the edge of the pit, obviously not going in because of the copious hardcore kids. At one point one of them decides it would be a good idea to jump into the crowd around the pit and punch the people watching the show. Yes, this guy was punching the crow. Absolutely pathetic. Club Europa is a small venue too, so there really was nowhere to go. Eventually he gets around to my area of the pit and ends up jumping on my friends shoulder. While he's strattling my friend he ends up knocking me right in the face.

Fuck that.

So I pushed the guy and chased him to the other side of the venue. I was fucking furious and screaming shit at him, I can't remember what. I was literally blind with anger. So as I'm poised up against him, criticizing his polo shirt and flat brimmed hat, ready to start a fight I would surely lose, I suddenly realize I am being pushed. Next thing I know there is a wall of people between and literally ten hardcore kids trying to kick my ass. I kept screaming shit, but eventually decided to leave me alone. The people around me told me to "calm down", that "there's too many of them," and "it's not worth it."

As it turns out these hardcore dancers have "pit crews," a term they like to use for gangs. I chased down one person in their crew, and ended up having to face the rest of them. That is absolutely pathetic. If anyone has any more information on what exactly these crews or unions do, the names of a few of them, or any sort of information, please email moshrebellion@yahoo.com, because I would love to learn more. This was the event that gave me the most inspiration to start this sight, and I will never forget it.

Anyways, the rest of Misery Index was spoiled for me, as I had a ridiculous headache that lasted throughout the night. Hell, I couldn't get into Despised Icon cause my head fucking hurt so much, but I could tell they were puttin on a good show by the reaction of the crowd.

Towards the end of the show the dancers started chanting "please don't go," and I couldn't disagree with them more. Yes, Despised Icon is a great band and I will miss them putting out new music, but I can't wait for them to leave the scene. Hopefully many other less-talented deathcore bands will follow suit and realize that the time for their scene is coming to an end.

Overall, music was great, crowd was awful. Anyone else go to this show, or any other stops on their tour? If so, what did you think?