Preview: KLNZR, Watch Them Rot, Vulkan / November 15 / Smiling Skull
By Christopher Reinbold, Contributor
Smiling Skull Saloon / Saturday, November 15, 2014
This Saturday, Athens is going to be getting a big, hefty serving of metal—something Athens does not seem to get a whole lot of. Laying waste to the Skull will be Athens’ own Watch Them Rot and Vulkan, in addition to the Marietta-based KLNZR.
Watch Them Rot is a metalcore band cultivated and sowed in the same tradition of Do-It-Yourself ethics and southern Ohio landscape as other southern Ohio metal-darlings Dismemberment and Athens-natives and internationally-known Skeletonwitch, who they have even shared the stage with. The band has spread their pummeling brand of heaviness all throughout Ohio. According to their Facebook page, Watch Them Rot “provides listeners with a variety pack capable of fulfilling any metal palate.”
Sharing a guitarist with Watch Them Rot is fellow Athens band, Vulkan. Although they share guitarist Rob Lyons, the two bands could not be more different. Where Watch Them Rot takes cues from the more run-of-the-mill metalcore palate and vocabulary, Vulkan wrangles influence from the world of power metal and soaring melodies. These two bands juxtapose the chugging heaviness next to sweeping beauty.
The third band on the night is the oddball metal mash-up that is Marietta’s KLNZR. Brian Bond, who goes by the stage name Bondo, said, “We’ve played 250-300 person shows, but never Athens… We’re looking forward to ruining your town.” When asked about what KLNZR tries to do on-stage, Bondo replied, “Well, we try to give them [the people] something to see, as well as hear. We go for a haunted house kind of feel.” The band is known for donning masks and costumes on-stage to add to this haunted house effect. Bondo described his character as a mix of Jeepers Creepers and The Matrix.
“We want to be the anti-rock band rock band, if that makes sense,” said Bondo, “If I tell you I’m nothing, you’re more inclined to listen.” He said the key to a show and audience interaction is a level playing field, no rock star attitudes. He went on to say that KLNZR is all about family, making everyone feel accepted. About KLNZR’s shows, “It’s a period of time where nothing else in the world matters.”
Not many bands have six people and when KLNZR takes the “stage” at the Smiling Skull, it is sure to look packed. Throw in the townies, some college kids, the rest of the bands and the Skull is bound to be filled for a night of heaviness. The show is only $3 and starts at 10 p.m.
