WARBEAST (& HOUSECORE HEAD HONCHO PHILIP H. ANSELMO) KRUSH FORT WORTH AT ENEMY CD RELEASE PARTY
May 8, 2010 – Ridglea Theater – Fort Worth, Texas
The fact that former Pantera frontman Philip H. Anselmo staged his first return to the Dallas/Fort Worth area since the early ’90s to support his latest Housecore signing Warbeast, speaks volumes about the band.
The Old Fart-approved Warbeast is comprised of three former Texas late, great ‘80s thrashers: singer Bruce Corbitt of Rigor Mortis and lead guitarists Scott Shelby and Rick Perry of Arlington-based Gammacide; joined by 2006 Gammacide reunion bassist Alan Bovee, and 19-year-old drumming wizard Joe “Blue” Gonzalez of Demonseed.
Anselmo signed the Dallas-based Warbeast to his own Housecore Records imprint and also produced the band’s debut album, Krush the Enemy, at his home studio in Louisiana. The occasion for Anselmo’s return to his former stomping grounds was the official CD release party for Warbeast.
It was an event for the metal ages.
*(Author’s note: I am currently working with Philip H. Anselmo on his autobiography. Beyond that, I have been a Rigor Mortis and Gammacide fan since the late ‘80s, long before I ever knew Anselmo, when I played both bands repeatedly on my University of Texas college radio metal program, and also booked Rigor Mortis at shows in the Ritz and the Backroom in Austin. So, considered this a completely biased article.)
Two major events occurred last Saturday night. One was what happened on stage with Warbeast. The other occurred upstairs in the bowels of Ridglea. I’ll get to the show first.
Warbeast took the stage precisely at 11:00 pm, bedecked in leather, spikes, and Bruce Corbitt (pictured left)’s Prince-era Batman t-shirt. The response to the band’s entrance, backed by an ominous intro tune, elicited roars of approval from the nearly 1,000 patrons. Many in the audience seemed to be about the age as the older band members. Many more in the crowd were much younger. All of them erupted once Warbeast plowed into the track “Unleashed” off Krush.
The mayhem continued as Warbeast effortlessly worked its way through every song off their debut album. Headbanging, hair flying, sweaty leather, and gleaming spikes were the name of the game. The guitar interplay between Shelby and Perry was evidence that these two have enjoyed a unique musical relationship for more than two decades. Both men can shred, but more importantly, they know how to support each other with a solid rhythm backing when necessary. Bovee provided steady support with his propulsive bass playing, and Gonzalez sprinkled in a few 21st century drumming metallisms without overdoing it, like too many metal drummers these days. Finally, Bruce Corbitt’s Marty Feldman meets Lucio Fulci in a dark alley behind the House with the Laughing Windows stage persona entertained the audience almost as much as his stellar, Phil Rind-reminiscent clear vocals made this Old Fart happy.
I was especially excited to hear my favorite track off Krush, “The Plague at Hand,” delivered early and excellently, and sounding even more formidable than on record. I was, however, concerned when the band dragged out what I believe to be the weakest track on the record, “Stalker,” early in the set. I was afraid the plodding Acceptish-sounding cut would kill the momentum. My fears were unfounded as the song sounds meaner, leaner, and intensely more wicked in a live setting than it does in a digitized format.
Less than midway through Warbeast’s set, the “Surprise Special Guest,” Mr. Anselmo himself, was pulled out of the shadowy stage left corner by Corbitt. The two men go way back as Rigor Mortis and Pantera apparently used to not like each other until Anselmo told everyone that Rigor Mortis was the shit. From that point on, the bands became fast friends and a life-long relationship was created between the two men. Corbitt turned the stage over to his friend and label boss who proceeded to profusely thank the crowd for welcoming him back so warmly. I saw grown men, practically in tears, scream “Phil is God!” and “Anselmo Fucking Rules!” all around me. The appreciation was obviously mutual and completely sincere.
Check out the first half of the video to hear Anselmo’s warm affection for D/FW, Warbeast, and an unmentioned allusion to Dime:
Though the previous video is way too loud during the song, Warbeast and Anselmo tore it up during the title track, “Krush the Enemy” and then the haunted house opus “Self Will Run Riot,” which is featured below. It also edits in Anselmo’s same D/FW greeting from another camera angle:
Unfortunately, Anselmo’s mic was not turned up loud enough to fully appreciate his contribution, but the crowd could have cared less. They screamed at every gesture he made and cheered him on throughout his duets with Corbitt.
After Anselmo left the stage, Warbeast kept the train chuggin’ with a stellar rendition of “Scorched Earth Policy,” which is also the first video from the album.
The band then followed up with “Guardian Angel,” and cajoled Anselmo back onto the stage to finish off the set with him joining in on vocals for “The Controller” and back-up gang vocals for set closer, “We Are the Vultures.”
Anselmo then exited backstage, where I tagged along. Unfortunately, I missed out on Warbeast’s encore, but was informed by MetalUnderground.com’s Buick McKane that the band performed a cover of Gammacide’s “Walking Plague,” and the Rigor Mortis classic, “Re-Animator.” Aaaaarrrgggghhhh! Can’t believe I missed out on that.
After the Warbeast show was over, a plethora of D/FW metal progenitors headed upstairs into the Ridglea’s VIP room to congratulate the band and provide a hero’s welcome return to Anselmo.
It was a virtual 80’s underground Texas Metal Hall of Fame squeezed into one sweltering area. The men from Warbeast were there, of course; as was Anselmo; former Rigor Mortis bassist Casey Orr, better known these days as Beefcake the Mighty from Gwar (pictured right with Housecore Headmistress Kate Richardson and Anselmo); Turner Scott van Blarcum from Talon (later Sedition); the guys from Hammerwitch; former Rigor Mortis drummer Harden Harrison (now of Mitra); Anselmo’s Pantera/Down bassist Rex Brown, who was joined by Lance Harvill and Ben Bunker from Arms of the Sun; Kenny King, former guitar tech for “Dimebag” Darrell and current tech for Shelby; and former Pantera enforcer, Dennis Cude. King and Cude were the two guys who picked Anselmo up from the airport for his first meeting with Pantera way back in the day. King even provided some pre-Power Metal trash glam shots of Philip and “Diamond” Darrell to prove it.
The after-party lasted for several hours and lots of catching up was in order. Anselmo’s return to the D/FW area was a resounding success, as he was surrounded by true friends, as well as adoring fans. Anselmo has also given me carte blanche to talk to anyone from his past to either fill in the blanks on some stories he may have forgotten, confirm what he remembers, and also to shoot down any stories he may not have a complete grasp on. He also told his buddies from the early days of Pantera to be brutally honest with me, because he wants nothing but the truth to go out to the readers – the good, the bad, and the downright fuckin’ ugly.
One thing is for sure – the guys from Warbeast will be a part of that history – from the beginning to the present. It’s sure to rip off some heads and blow some minds, just like Warbeast’s successful night.
-CM
Corey Mitchell is a best-selling author whose newest book, SAVAGE SON, hits bookstores everywhere June 1. Be sure to pre-order it now!
He is also busy at work helping Philip H. Anselmo work on the Down frontman’s autobiography.
For more backstage access photos of Warbeast, visit Corey’s Facebook page here.
All photos © 2010 Corey Mitchell
RIP RJD!
