Moonlit Abrasions

I could feel the twenty degree wind slice through the bandanna wrapped around my face that night. My head resting on the windowsill of the old Chevy, glaring unblinkingly up into the sky, letting the blurred streetlights slice cleanly through the stars and power lines. The chauffeur, escorting his 3 restless passengers down the back roads of the small city. The destination, a decrepit little gas station sitting off, out of view from the main road, with just enough concrete for a few drunken delinquents to get some skateboarding in without being hassled.
The stereo blasts loud metal music, i am apparently the only one of us who had not heard it before, but that's nothing special to me. Everyone in the vehicle is screaming along, nobody knowing what is actually being said, which brings a smile to us all. Passing a defiled road sign, I know the makeshift park is close by and right myself in my seat, as does everyone in the bed. The truck comes to an abrupt stop behind the building and we all pile out towards the pump islands with our boards in hand. The driver stays behind for a moment and preps the stereo to keep playing while we vent our frustrations on our trucks and wheels.
I remember taking a wrong fall, landing on my back, and trying to catch my breath when the sound rang out from behind us. It was coming from the truck, a song that sounded so awkward and interesting, i had to inquire about it. As i took the hand that helped me to my feet, i said "What song is this?", and my friend had no idea as well (he had not been the one who made the cd). I quickly lost interest and went back to abusing myself, and taking regrettable dares. It was only after what seemed like an hour (but was actually 4 hours) had passed, we all grew tired and sore, and boarded the old truck again to head home. Coming back into my own sobriety, i remembered the song i had been humming all night, and skipped around on the cd until i found it again. It played all the way home, as i sat back in the seat and nursed my recent wounds. I turned to head into the house and shouted "What's the name of this song?", and the last thing i remember hearing before the creaking of the door closing was "Black Thunder". And the rest was lost.

"I came up from below when the she-wolf howled.."

With a worldwide audience, there will never be a unanimous vote on anything. Everyone has 2 pennies to spend and the opinions to back them up. I kept this in mind while i typed out my first piece on the song "Black Thunder" by the band Doomriders. Upon further research I deducted that those who had heard the band either really loved them, or thought they were complete trash. I read through some of the reviews and somewhat related to both stances. I found that quite a few of my exact sentiments were echoed by my brethren across the web, such as "..they kick out a high-octane dose of doom-flavored uptempo rock, with just enough hardcore and punk thrown in to give it a racy edge. This isn't your older brother's spandex-clad '80s metal -- it's the down 'n' dirty stuff that forgoes image for sound." and i couldn't agree more. Its solid, abrasive, filthy, and it's definitely not your fathers old song-and-dance routine.
A few of the naysayers state "the vocals are often overwhelmed by the sheer mass of the band’s sound." I can agree with this to some extent (given that the vocals can't often be understood so much as heard), but is that not also part of what makes the song unique? Like a reanimated body struggling to free itself from the fertile graveyard soil, a booming voice and crashing music in constant tug-of-war for your ears. It seems only fitting that such a loud band have a loud vocalist to keep the order. In an interview, front man/guitarist Nate Newton said "Too many bands try to get a "perfect" production where it sounds like music played by robots. We wanted it to sound live and real." Especially with this style of music, during a live show, the singer can't always be heard over the sound.
Despite the either love/hate appeal of Doomriders (being as there doesn't seem to be an in-between with most fans), i believe both sides can agree that there is some underlying method to their doom. And you can still find me among the writhing mobs afront their stage.

"..and the night gave birth to her only child."

The agonizing and tortured howl of a six-string rings out, only slightly muffled by a bass line so dirty that mud seems to seep from it with every note. Incessant swing drums fill the already stagnant air with a feeling of pure restlessness, driving you to get up and move alongside the chorus of cries from the distance. All of the bars seem flawed or disoriented, yet somewhat strung quaintly together with the ever-deepening growls of the beasts before you.
"Black Thunder" by Doomriders is one of those songs you scream to in your vehicle and regret the next morning when you can no longer speak. A sound i have been heard as saying "located so far south, it's encased in magma." It ranks highly amongst my library of "feel-good" pieces i would definitely keep on an Ipod. Since my introduction to Doomriders a few years back, I've found very few bands i can even hold in comparison. And it takes uniquity to capture my mind with the imagery and lyrics (both on the album cover and in my own head) as they did. Painting a picture of the birth of a creature, servant of no one, living amongst the storm clouds and growing to become a bringer of pestilence to a land unknown. Being feared by most, yet adored by the diabolical few who dare to call on him. I consider this one of my personal proofs of beauty in discord, that something fascinating can be concocted even when all it's ingredients are chaotic. My only suggestion for first time listeners is to keep a lyric book handy (if you're a stickler for the knowledge as I am), as not all words are as audible as the others. Once you can match up the music to the disgruntled vocabulary, i can only hope you would be as hooked to it as i am.