I recently came across a great band out of Trenton that could single-handedly be Jersey’s best-kept metal secret. (How many times have I used that statement this year?) Anyway, the name of the group is Beyond Dishonor, and I stumbled across them when my Facebook friend, Leo, was bragging how great these guys were. Well, I will never doubt Leo’s taste in music ever again because after reading his post, I clicked on a YouTube link that led me to a music video for their song “Heisenberg” off of their latest CD, Generations, and the song kicked my ass. I was literally floored after hearing this track. I had to hear more! So, I logged onto the band’s website, beyonddishonor.com, where I heard the songs “ED209 Vs. The Staircase” and “(Now Go Home And Get Your) Shinebox,” and I was sold! Singer Reese Dunlap’s voice is so powerful it’s kind of intimidating, and if you can intimidate someone with your voice, you’re headed in the right direction.
The boys from Beyond Dishonor formed in late 2006 and claim to draw their inspiration from pop culture, primarily in the form of movies, television and gaming. That’s the first time anyone has ever admitted to that. How can you not respect these cats? According to the band, their 2011 full-length, Travesty, is a concept album inspired by the movies Seven, Ghostbusters and Full Metal Jacket. Following the same recipe as Travesty, Beyond Dishonor chose to reference pop culture once again on their latest EP, Generations, on songs like “ED209 Vs. The Staircase,” which was inspired by the movie RoboCop and should be used in the upcoming remake. There’s also a Chappelle’s Show reference on the song “What Clayton Bigsby Doesn’t Know.” Beyond Dishonor are a five-piece made up of Dunlap, guitarists Wesley Ingraham and Mark Salmon, bassist Bryan San Martin and drummer Mike Lock.
This past February, Beyond Dishonor won the Trenton date of the Sumerian Records “Headband For The Highway” competition, which led to a performance on the local date of the All-Stars tour, which featured Every Time I Die, Chelsea Grin and Veil Of Maya. Big things are in store for these guys! Keep your eyes peeled for them in 2014. Check them out at beyonddishonor.com.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
I just got some pretty cool news from the Killcode gang. It turns out that this Sunday night (12/8) at the legendary Roseland Ballroom, the boys will be gracing the stage for their first and last time because, as we’ve all read, Roseland will be shutting its famed doors for good in early 2014, with Lady Gaga closing the venue with a four-night residency at the end of March. Anyway, this is a huge gig for Killcode, who have been packing places like Irving Plaza, Webster Hall and the Gramercy Theatre. The Roseland is definitely a step up, but unfortunately, they’ll be closing soon after. Log onto facebook.com/killcode to find out how to get tickets for this show.
The boys from Mass Punishment are putting the finishing touches on their new CD. Singer Eric Laurino told me that they plan to have it out by Christmas or at the latest, January. I didn’t get to hear any of the album yet, but if I know the Mass Punishment guys, it’s going to be brutal! The boys just got done performing a show with local guitar hero and Soulfly guitarist Marc Rizzo at The Blue Room in Secaucus. You can catch them next at The Saint with my bros Ashes Of Your Enemy, Negative Sky, Ixion Lux and FireHaze. You can also check them out at masspunishment.com.
And finally, in some really sad news, I received a Facebook message about BoundAlive guitarist Danny Sainovski passing away. I’m not really sure of the details on what caused this, but it’s absolutely horrible and my heart goes out to my brothers of BoundAlive and former bassist Jorge Avila, who lost a brother and a soldier of this music scene. I didn’t know Danny too well, but from what I do remember, he was a nice kid and an all-around fan of music and the local scene. Rest in peace, brother Danny Sainovski!
That’s all for now! If your band is from North Jersey, and you want some exposure, send your press kits to Arts Weekly, c/o Tim Louie P.O. Box 1140, Little Falls, NJ 07424, or you can email me at tim@theaquarian.com, where you can also let me know where you’re performing next!
Just remember….We’re all in the same boat, so every little bit of exposure counts!
Tim Louie is the Author of S**t Happens.
NJN Concert Calendar:
12/4—John Oliva/Seven Witches—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/5—Driven Mad/Embrace Agony/Valence/Krystaleen/Surgical Strike/Rise And Resist—Tobacco Road, NYC
12/6—The Erotics/Kosmic Daydream/Long GoneDay/68 A.D.—The Clash Bar, Clifton, NJ
12/6—Civic—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/7—Tarpit Boogie—Clash Bar, Clifton, NJ
12/7—Eye Ra Haze—The Highline Ballroom, NYC
12/8—Killcode—Roseland Ballroom, NYC
12/8—Picture Perfect/Yes Virginia—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/11—Gemini Syndrome/Mindset Evolution/Starset—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/12—The Wizards Of Winter—Union County Performing Arts Center, Rahway, NJ
12/12—Ghosts Of Eden—Bullshots Bar, Brooklyn, NY
12/13—SOiL/Black Water Rising/Mindswitch—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/13—Charetta/Statik Silence/New Day Dawn/The Latanza Heist/Sinsanity/Vextion—Tenth Street Live, Kenilworth, NJ
12/13—Panzie*/Streetlight Circus—Even Flow Bar and Grill, Bay Shore, NY
12/13—Ashes Of Your Enemy/Ixion Lux/Negative Sky/FireHaze/Mass Punishment—The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
12/13—Fastride—Finnegan’s Wake, Philadelphia, PA
12/14—Midnight Mob—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
12/14—Brand Of Julez/Ghosts Of Eden/someonElse/North America/Fear Report/Srotakin IV—The Studio at Webster Hall, NYC
