A few hours ago authorities evacuated Times Square for the second time in a week after someone found a “suspicious cooler” on the street. Of course, everyone was just being overly cautious, but as long as it doesn’t infringe on my civil rights, there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that. I think Vince was in Michigan when 9/11 went down, but I was here, and if I never see another tank rolling down my street again or run all over the city because there’s no cell service and I need to make sure that all of my friends and family are still alive, well, I’ll be good.

While I nurse my PTSD, here are some happier, metalier things that happened this week:

• We’re streaming Keep of Kalessin’s new album, Reptilian. We also debuted new music by Lamb of God and The Funeral Pyre.
• We also also also debuted new videos by Soulfly and Cancer Bats.
• We also also also also debuted our new cooking show, Cooking Contaminated.
• Cynic’s Paul Masvidal discussed the shape of silence, Periphery’s Bulb taught you how to get that “big” studio tone, As I Lay Dying’s Nick Hipa had some questions about L O S T, Matt from Rumpelstiltskin Grinder fondly recalled Maryland Deathfest, and Batillus bassist Willi Stabenau gave us a studio update.
• We talked to Darkest Hour’s Mike Schleibaum, Reign Supreme’s Jay Pepito,  Jackyl’s Jesse James Dupree, and unveiled part one of our massive two-part interview with Buzz Osborne.
• We checked out the latest release by The Howling Wind.
• Does the fact that Mike Portnoy is touring with Avenged Sevenfold make you wanna see ‘em?
• We don’t want Joey Belladonna to return to Anthrax. Seriously.
• Sergeant D. wants to know if u mosh 4 Christ???
• Damnocracy’s Evan Seinfeld and his porno Howdy Doody also do bar mitzvahs.
• We wish there was really such a thing as a Slayer burrito.

Next week brings even more betterer br00tal goodness – interviews, debuts, guest blogs, all that shit. It’s gonna get real up in this bitch. See ya then.

-AR

Even in the diverse universe of U.S. black metal, New York City is an anomaly. On top of being the least black metal place around by kvltist standards (what with it not being a heavily wooded area in Europe), it would seem to be rife with musicians who approach the music in a condescending fashion and with a deep sense of detachment, viewing it as a novelty or outsider art. And yet, NYC has produced a brilliant, bouillabaisse-style approach to the genre, with proggy, post-Weakling bands (Krallice), hardcore veterans cherry-picking from black metal to maximum effect (Tombs), and a well-meaning but generally snore-inducing variety (Liturgy). The common thread between the best Metro Area-based BM enthusiasts is their unironic approach to the genre, a deep understanding of its history and DNA instead of finding Transylvanian Hunger in a used record store and declaring, “Oh yeah, I ‘love’ black metal.” And this trend is ably continued by Profound Lore signees The Howling Wind, a band that has a burly, mid-paced take on proceedings without sacrificing heart or history (especially on Into the Cryosphere, their latest). But like recent releases by Valkyrja and Ov Hell, it also has a lot to offer metalheads less sympathetic to the genre’s grim and frostbitten charms, with tons of muscle alongside atmospherics. Despite being associated with the U.S.’ most vibrant metropolis, they can still trade blows with their most grim and isolated peers.

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