The chamber is awaiting, inside we have some more real deathrash on our hands this week, and an unholy quiz of sorts. Prepare for Devastation.

Devastation hailed from Chicago and only released two demos and one full-length, Dispensable Bloodshed. It’s a real shame they never put out anything else because this is the type of thrash that I am always keeping a marksman’s ear out for. Their original vocalist, Troy Dixler, went on to form the mighty Sindrome, who will feature on here at some point. By the way, do any of your heathen minds know what the intro of this track is taken from?

On a (quite large) tangent, with the passing of Michael Jackson, I thought I’d use this week’s scheduled talk with a distinguished gentleman, to chat to Skill Wizard’s Marek (who puts on metal shows at our pub, The Old Blue Last, and is currently in the riff-laden, pysch-metal outfit Invasion), to discuss not metal, but the passing of the once great and now late MJ.

Vice: So Marek, Michael Jackson is gone, how do you think the metal world is reeling?
Marek: Um, well honestly, I think metal is a bit gay sometimes, but also in denial, so I reckon most metallers will be pleased that the weird effeminate boy “rapist” is gone.

You think? He was buddies with Slash and Eddie Van Halen, remember?
Yeah, he did kinda help bridge that gap. I’m not sure many metallers credit him for it but I hope so. Tears are falling on leather for him. I’m hoping the dude is less harassed on the other side.

He endured a torrid time, didn’t he? I wonder who will be the next big music casualty? Metal casualty even?
Hmm, what’s his name from Pentagram – how is he even alive? Phil Anselmo could die again, after a crazy rant on stage hopefully.

Ha ha ha. How are the members of Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe, Lemmy – the list goes on… How are ANY of these guys still alive?
They have hearts of steel. I reckon the lords of the afterworld can tell they are way too charismatic to die early so they’re sent back to wreak havoc.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the resurrection thing.
A mate of mine spoke to Bill Ward recently – he should be dead, he seemed really bummed out to be sober apparently, was really fucking dull.

Ha ha ha. Oh dear. Well, thanks buddy

Listen: Devastation, “Genetic Poisoning”

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Invasion’s ten-inch, “Conjure War” is out now.

†ROCKWELL†