Reader Keith Brown e-mailed us that very question, and then very politely asked, “Would you guys mind checking to see if anything’s heppening with them?” No, I wouldn’t mind, Keith! Three cheers to you for having some manners. You beat the dude who e-mailed us “SEND ME SOME NEWS RIGHT NOW” last week.

ANYWAY, I didn’t have to do any research to find out what happened to Psyopus, Keith, so it really wasn’t a big deal. And what happened is this: Psyopus went to live on a farm. Yep, it’s true! They’re living on a nice farm, where they have plenty of equipment and a big stage to play on, and kids who really love them and appreciate their music. They won’t be touring or releasing new records anymore, Keith, but isn’t it nice to know that they’re living on that awesome farm? You want them to be happy, right, Keith? We know ya do. And rest assured, Psyopus are very, very happy on their new farm.

So there ya have it. Psyopus. Living on a farm.

Look how happy Chris Arp is, Keith!!!

-AR

I’ve always hated top-whatever lists. Best guitarist, best band, best blowjob, best double anal with a horse, whatever. I think that those lists are pretty much all slanted by politics, or bought and paid for. I first got that idea in my head when Titanic won as many Oscars as it did. There were so many movies that year that were far more deserving of the title that my faith in the award system died.

Jump forward about ten years. I just got back in town from the Revolver Golden God Awards. I’ll just say that I’m stoked they exist. Metal needs that in the U.S. I have no issue with their nominees and obviously you can’t pick everyone so this is definitely not directed at them. Again, THIS IS NOT DIRECTED AT REVOLVER MAGAZINE, but the concept of picking “best shredder” or “shredder of the year “is just one of those things you can’t accurately do with the amount of talent that’s out there. You want to nominate Zack Wylde or Dave Mustaine? Okay. That’s cool. Those guys have earned it. But when you leave the circle of greats and legends, how exactly do you pick a BEST shredder? I mean am I alone in thinking that when so many amazing guitarists are overlooked that the award itself loses its meaning? What guitarists am I talking about? Okay… I’ll name a few. In my opinion these guys should be winning all the awards. If I left someone out, it’s because either I haven’t heard of them, I’ve heard them and I don’t think they’re among the very best, I forgot to mention them, or I’ve heard them and I know for a fact that what you think is shredding is just studio trickery.

So here it is. My personal list of whom I think should be winning all the metal guitar awards. Am I biased? Maybe. But I’d like to also think that considering what I do for a living that I’m a good judge of competency in the field. This is in no particular order. These guys all rule for different reasons. (DISCLAIMER: Sorry that there aren’t videos for every dude I mention, but sometimes finding quality footage is tough.)

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It’s Friday, and it’s nice out. I’ma go have a whiskey. Booze and drugs make you look cool and get lots of pussy… it’s true.

Here’s what happened this week that made us batty enough to turn to the dark side:

• We got sick of metal bands doing ironic pop cover songs just in time for a metal band to do another terrible pop cover song.
• We spoke with Barney Greenway of Napalm Death, Chris Arp of Psyopus and Karl Sanders of Nile.
• We were Gay for Gojira and Crazy for The Chariot.
• The Devil Wears Prada: way too popular.
• We looked at new records from Black Math Horseman, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, as well as a new track from Suicide Silence and a new track from Dream Theater.
• xAxlRosenbergx got all anti-straight edge on your asses.

See you next week. Don’t get too stoned tomorrow with yer Uncle Kip.

-VN

My interview with Chris Arp of Psyopus at New England Metalfest last month came off more like a personal therapy session for Arp than a proper interview. The dude had a LOT to say about his band, its role in the current metal scene, music critics, and the reception his music gets from the Internet haterade mafia. Arp was incredibly articulate and intelligent with his answers, and he’s clearly the kind of guy who spends a lot of time thinking about every facet of his art. He’s the ultimate tortured artist, if you will; 100% confident in his work yet frustrated with the inability of the public to grasp the enormity of what he’s trying to accomplish.

Arp started talking before I could even get the tape rolling so we missed some interesting stories about the band’s recent trouble finding a permanent bassist, but the interview as a whole is definitely one of the most interesting I’ve done in the life of this website, and certainly at New England Metalfest. My chat with Chris Arp, after the jump…

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In the August 2007 issue of Decibel, Psyopus mastermind Chris “Arpmandude” Arp wrote a column bemoaning the repetitive use of 4/4 time in metal. “The overuse of the number four is primitive, uncreative, boring and hopelessly lame,” he wrote. “The focused movement against this could be a vital step towards sustaining the ingenuity of the art.” While his specific point was about time signatures, the underlying theme – renouncement of tradition as a prerequisite for progress – applies to pretty much every aspect of Psyopus’s sound. Arp is a qualified lecturer on the topic of innovation. Whether he continues to walk the walk is another question.

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Like my e-comrade Vince, I too am planning to check out Canadian stoner/doom/mammal metallurgists Bison B.C. at tomorrow night’s CMJ Metal Blade/Relapse/Lifeforce showcase at Knitting Factory (Also playing: Psyopus, Tombs, This Or The Apocalypse, Left To Remain). Now if, like me, the very thought of CMJ causes you to break out in painful hives and cold sweats, the next chance for New Yorkers to see Bison B.C. will be as part of the all-day long (4pm – 4am, apparently) Beasts Of The East festival (tickets here) on November 2nd at Club Europa in Brooklyn.

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That’s the question my girlfriend asked me while reading a press release about Psyopus over my shoulder.

Sigh. The joys of dating a non-metalhead.

ANYWAY, what said press release told me is that Psyopus will be heading out on tour at the end of this summer with Fuck The Facts, War From A Harlots Mouth, and Success Will Write Apocalypse Across The Sky. I mean, Success Will Write Apocalypse Across The Sky is possibly the dumbest name ever (and the initials spell SWWAATS, which is odd), but I don’t know their music, so for now I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.

ANYWAY, below, check out Psyopus’ video for “Pig Keeper’s Daughter,” and then, after the jump, get the tour itinerary for “The Grinding Into Cataclysm Tour.”

Psyopus- “Pig Keeper’s Daughter”

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