The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks,
The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and
spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."
Factoid: Superjoint Ritual is performing at 7:30 p.m. July 17 at Mugsy's Entertainment Center. For more information on the group, go to www.superjointritual.com. Tickets are currently available at Mugsy McGuire's, located at 1620 W. Main. The cost is $17 in advance; $19 at the door. Concert go-ers must be at least 19 years of age to enter.
Last semester's performance by the heavy metal group Pissing Razors came as a surprise to many, not because of who they were, but because they were a nationally touring heavy metal act playing in, of all places, Carbondale. On top of that, they were playing at the widely recognized Mugsy McGuire's.
Perhaps that was a sign of bigger things to come, since one of the most remarkable acts to make its way through Mugsy's Entertainment Center is none other than hardcore metal band Superjoint Ritual.
For those who are unfamiliar with the band, which is performing at Mugsy's Entertainment Center at 7:30 p.m. July 17, they may recognize the names Hank Williams III, Philip Anselmo and Jimmy Bower, who play bass, lead vocals and guitar respectively. In Williams' case, the name says it all, while Anselmo is the former lead singer for Pantera, and Bower has also drummed for the group Eyehategod.
Even still, there's Kevin Bond on guitar and Joe Fazzio on drums. Bond and Fazzio also play with Williams in his solo projects, and Bond was once a member of the New Orleans sludge-metal band, Crowbar.
Superjoint Ritual's Carbondale stop is part of its current tour in support of its newest release, "A Lethal Dose of American Hatred," which is scheduled for release July 22 on Sanctuary Records. This is Superjoint's second release, coming after last year's "Use Once And Destroy."
"It's almost the perfect mix of styles," Anselmo said in the band's official press release. "You could easily say that about 'Use Once And Destroy' too, but to me the new one is that and more."
Not content with harboring only one genre of heavy music, Anselmo has chosen to take a different approach with "A Lethal Dose."
"Instead of a straight-out hardcore approach or a straight-out metal approach, you're going to get both within the same song," Anselmo said.
The subject matter of this album is also more directed to a main theme.
"I know a lot of different countries can look at the U.S. and go 'God, look at those pigs ... they have no respect for themselves, they'll do anything - the drug problem, the killings, the killings in schools," Anselmo said.
"But when provoked and when our freedom, our way of life, our belief in our system is threatened, you'd better not f**k with the U.S. Because we will do what it takes to maintain the quality of life that we have here."
As one might guess, the group's intensity is not contained solely to the tracks on its albums. Superjoint Ritual has also become well-known throughout the country for its brutally intense stage performance and presence with each and every song they unleash onto the crowds.
"We give 'em no chance to hardly catch a breath," Anselmo said. "Every Superjoint Ritual song is crushing, is brain destroying, but on top of that they're songs as well; not just noise for the sake of being noise.
"To see the entire front row screaming every lyric while people are landing on top of their heads, boots in their faces ... that feels great, man."
Chicago-based Slitheryn and local metal act Annihilate The Hero will be opening the show. Tickets are currently on sale and may be purchased at Mugsy's for $17 in advance, or for $19 the day of the show.
Because of the popularity of the group, and the capacity restrictions of the venue, concert go-ers are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance if they want assured entrance. No bodysurfing. Mosh at your own risk.
