Please Read: Close to Home.

A few weeks ago I attended a phenomenal Metallica show with some friends. After a four hour drive to the show, I expected nothing less, and my expectations were surpassed. I left the show, pleased, and made it home safely. But unfortunately, one member of the audience didn't.

From www.nydailynews.com:

"Police are looking for a Virginia Tech student who got separated from her friends at a Metallica concert Saturday and hasn't been seen since. Police are looking for 20-year-old Morgan Dana Harrington, who was last seen near the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville [Virginia]... Police say Harrington was wearing a black T-shirt with "Pantera" across the front in tan letters, a black mini skirt, black tights and black knee-high boots.She has long blonde hair, blue eyes, is 5-foot-6 and weighs about 120 pounds."

The concert took place on October 17th. Although some information has been submitted, she has yet to be found. It has been two weeks to the day now, and she still hasn't turned up. Metallica themselves have put up an additional $50,000 reward for any information leading to her being found.

This is a frightening story that is has such a sobering effect: a young fan going missing during a show, with no indication as to her whereabouts or safety. It could've been anyone.

If you or anyone you know have any information whatsoever, or wish to support the cause, please visit http://www.findmorgan.com/. I have no relation or affiliation whatsoever to her or her family, just a fellow fan that hopes for the best for them in such a difficult time.

Review: Harley's War - Hardcore All-Stars

It could be said that Harley Flanagan is an under-appreciated icon of music. Considered the youngest punk rock star, he got his start at age 12 as the drummer of The Stimulators. Several years later, he founded The Cro-Mags, an influential hardcore punk band turned thrash, which since 2002 has not included him in the constantly changing lineup.

Along with these, he also has a thriving “solo” project under the name Harley's War. This project consists of music he has created through collaborations with other big names in the hardcore scene. The highlights of these collaborations are featured on Hardcore All-Stars, the first release (which includes both a CD and DVD) under the name Harley's War.

The CD portion of the release comes in three parts: the studio album itself, Harley Flanagan's 1982 solo demo, and live CBGB recordings. The first few tracks, up to “Hardcore 'nyhc-og'”, feature ex-Cro-Mags Ryan Krieger and Gabby Abularach, on drums and guitar, respectively. These are easily the heaviest songs on the album, much different than any music the Cro-Mags produced. From the powerful blast beats of “Hardcore L.A.M.F.” leading seamlessly into the appropriately haunting “Nightmare”...

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Review: Loda Dimes - 10 Cent Instant Rebate

Self-produced albums are the hidden gems of the music industry. That's why I absolutely love independent music so much, because oftentimes, without the availability or desire to use higher end production tools (I'm looking at you, auto-tune), bands actually have to be talented in order to make a name for themselves.

Alas, as seen in Loda Dimes 10 Cent Instant Rebate, there is a fine line between the little quirks that come from self-producing an album and flawed, even rushed, production that unintentionally takes a listener's attention away from the music itself.

The album starts out less-than-promising, in “I Got Some Drinkin' to Do,” a song that takes it's inspiration, it seems, from classic country, with a slight classic rock edge...

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Review: Automatic Fire - Summer 2009 Demos

Rarely does a band come along that manages to completely sell out their very fist show. But upon listening to Automatic Fire's Summer 2009 Demos, I can understand why. An effort of members that have made their names known in other bands already established in the Philadelphia local scene, fans already had a good idea of what they were getting into.

The Summer 2009 Demos include only three songs, which would become three of the four songs featured on The EP. Even when limited to three songs, a listener can still get an absolutely clear picture of what this band is all about.

Opening with “What Are You Made Of?” the listener is treated to some very “old Guns'n'Roses-esque” instrumental work, with some classic wah guitar that sets the mood for the song....

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