Hi everyone, remember me? You might me remember me as the guy who occasionally used to write about metal for Pastepunk and eat pho with Jordan! I’m sorry I’ve neglected you, but we can kiss and make up, right? I had a good reason; I was inspired to follow Jordan’s path in life and have gone to law school. So, that has pretty much consumed my life. But, at least I am sans rugrats (not to say that Jordan’s lil’ dudes aren’t awesome…).

So, Jordan’s recent interview marking the occasion of Pastepunk’s thirteenth anniversary made me quite nostalgic. Not only about going to shows and talking about music obsessively, but also writing for this site. Racking my brain to come up with ways to express an idea about a particular album or song was always very satisfying. However, as I intimated, law school can be all consuming (nevermind what happens when you join a law journal…). Still, the nostalgia overwhelmed me and I thought it was time I started getting involved again with Pastepunk. Well, in order to fully realize that idea, I have reproduced some thoughts below that I posted originally on Facebook.

A growing meme that has recently taken hold on YouTube is 8-bit covers of some of your favorite metal songs. Selections from CONVERGE, IN FLAMES, and MASTODON are all floating out there, and being the somewhat dutiful metal editor (emeritus) that I am, I have collected some of my favorites. Check them out below the jump.

For those of you who were unable to attend the MDF this year, I went on Day 3 and caught a few bands and kept my Twitter buzzin’ throughout the day until I crapped out after BLACK BREATH’s killer set. Check out all the posts at http://twitter.com/pastepunk

We got a lot of love from the Twitterverse of the guy wearing a JUDGE tee and drinking a Natty Boh (thanks to the intrepid retweeters at the Org)!

I am consistently amazed and disheartened when professional individuals and organizations neglect to pay even a modicum of attention to spelling, grammar, and style in their communications. I would imagine this is of utmost importance to PR groups where the first impression is make or break for a band.

Today, I am calling out the info sheet which accompanied the promotional copy of the re-release of XASTHUR’s 2005 Demo, which is coming out soon on Hydra Head. Yet, rather than offer a philippic on the subject, let’s just go to the metaphorical videotape:

Click ‘Read More’ to see the rest of this post.

HIGH ON FIRE have released their new single ‘Frost Hammer’ from their upcoming album Snakes For The Divine upon the anxious masses. If you want to get rad, point your browser over to the ol’ Stereogum and check the song out.

From Ze Inbox:

“Celebrating the release of their Below & Beyond box set, Floor will be getting back together to play three shows in the southeast. Dates include: March 27th in Miami, April 2nd in Gainesville and April 3rd in Atlanta. In keeping with the chronology and theme of the box set, the shows will reflect the lineups of each era of the band: Betty will be playing drums for songs from the early days, followed by Jeff on drums from the Dove era, and end with Henry stomping his way through the Self-Titled album. And, of course, Steve and Anthony on vocals and guitars.

Floor was formed in 1992 by Steve Brooks (guitar), Anthony Vialon (bass), and Betty Monteavaro (drums). Jeff Sousa became the drummer in late 1993, at which time Steve and Anthony switched to two low-tuned guitars with no bassist. Early influences included Melvins and Godflesh, later developing their own sound of melodic, pop-infused doom. Several vinyl-only 7″ EPs were released before their first break in 1996. The band reformed with a new line-up for one show in 1997 with Henry Wilson on drums and practiced only occasionally until 2001. 2002 saw the release of their first full-length album, self-titled ‘Floor,’ before splitting in 2003 for good.

These shows mark the culmination of years of work put into the comprehensive Floor collection, being released by diverse independent label Robotic Empire. Three separate versions of this Below & Beyond discography will exist by the live dates:

1) Deluxe vinyl edition of 10 LPs, 1 7-inch, 8 CDs, 32-page booklet and more, completion expected in February

2) CD standalone edition of 8 CDs and 32-page booklet – available via mailorder in February, in stores and everywhere else March 30th

3) Digital download editions of 8 separate albums, or one single massive collection, available in February.”

The reunion show dates announced are as follows:

March 27th, 2009 – Churchill’s Hideaway – Miami, FL
April 2nd, 2009 – Common Grounds – Gainesville, FL
April 3rd, 2009 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA

I love the TORCHE. I particularly love the stuff from their first album and In Return EP. This song, “King Beef”, sounds like their old stuff. I am into it. You should be too:

Torche – King Beef from Scion A/V on Vimeo.

“King Beef” will be on TORCHE’s split EP with BORIS out on Hydra Head later this year.

This album is a collection of the band’s old-school metal influences, played through a purple haze of effects pedals & huge amps. Thumbs up!