At times, the line between punk and metal’s various sub genres can get blurred, but to dedicated fans, the distinction couldn’t be clearer.
Local metal and hardcore bands including Hippie Grinder, Fenrir, Traitors Return To Earth and Watch Them Rot will return to Casa Nueva, 4 W. State St., at 10 p.m. Friday.
Mike Lannan (aka Metal Mike), guitarist for Hippie Grinder, said they are a more distorted ’80s hardcore band, implementing elements from other genres.
“Hippie Grinder is a good hybrid between punk and metal,” said Josh Brown, booking agent for Casa Nueva. “The thing I’ve noticed is that 10 years ago, punk bands used to be more prevalent in the Uptown bars but now it seems they’re more in the house scene.”
Lannan has lived in Athens his entire life and said punk used to be bigger. Ever since Skeletonwitch, metal has dominated the Uptown venues.
He added that the metal scene has come and gone based on the recycle of generational preferences in Athens and students’ varying levels of acceptance for the local community.
Hippie Grinder’s song “Frat Fag F***” was inspired by the ever-changing mentalities, pointing out the hostility they’ve received from the student population.
“That song speaks to the little bit of hostility between locals and college kids,” Lannan said. “We’re not dudes that take ourselves too seriously, we’re not preaching on a soapbox, but it’s just a reflection of life here in Athens.”
Their EP, Vote! Kill! Die!, similarly expresses political anger with their fast, thrash metal.
Fenrir, a progressive death metal band, has also released a new EP titled Moon Ring, which showcases four songs on a half-hour long album. The collection is focused on the story of a man turning into a werewolf at the sight of the full moon.
“The longer songs get a better point across; that’s the progressive side of our music,” said Mike Dinnsen, bassist for the band. “We want to have a whole meaning behind (our music), not just another generic tune.”
He described death metal as slower and heavier instruments tuned lower with a lot of screams and growls, whereas punk bands play much faster and yell with a “punk tone.”
There are too many sub-genres of punk and metal to count. But while punk and metal are not everyone’s cups of tea, the music will always be out there for those with an acquired taste, Lannan said.
wh092010@ohiou.edu
