Travis “The Virus” Helton is a friend of mine who’s the vocalist and guitarist in a three-man Seattle death metal group named Carnotaurus. I’ve talked with him about the band numerous times and listened to some of the band’s early recordings (when “the band” was just Travis and a drum machine), but had never made it to one of their gigs until last night. They played at Seattle’s 2 Bit Saloon (a very cool place, btw), and I showed up along with a group of other mutual friends of Travis and mine.
To be honest, I was a little nervous. Travis is a wonderful person and a walking encyclopedia when it comes to metal, but what if his band turned out not to be very good? I mean, I’m not a very good liar, except when I’m making up stories about the NCS loris horde. What would I say if the music proved to be disappointing?
Well, thankfully, I needn’t have worried, because I had a fuckin’ blast listening to Carnotaurus. In fact, I liked them so much I thought their show deserved this post. Also, my confounding camera decided to play nice with me for a change and I got some decent pics of the venue and the Carnotaurus set. I’m including some of those at the end of this review.
In a nutshell, Carnotaurus sound like a full-throttle battle tank. I don’t mean one of those slick, modern-day, high-tech M1’s that cost about $5 million a copy. I’m talking about something from the last World War that has somehow survived the decades while remaining just as destructive as ever — loud, heavy, rusted-out, belching noxious fumes, scattering metal shards, throwing pistons and treads, and just crushing everything in its path.
Carnotaurus inflict their decimation at high speed and high distortion, spewing radioactive static along with brutal blizzards of riffs and high-caliber percussion. It’s an onslaught of barely controlled mayhem, with high energy and bludgeoning force, but with some meaty grooves and bursts of jet-fueled soloing that explode and go crazy. And in addition to being a fleet-fingered guitarist who can bring the shred, it turns out that Travis is a bestial vocalist, too.
As fast and technically demanding as the music is, it isn’t some kind of modern-day tech-death. It’s got more of a no-bullshit, old-school flavor, in the vein of Cannibal Corpse and Hate Eternal, with a healthy injection of thrash.
So, yeah, I’m a believer now. And I’m really looking forward to the new Carnotaurus EP, which has been recorded by Travis and his bandmates Brad Navratil (drums) and Jason Stephenson (bass) and now awaits mixing and mastering. If these guys can bring it in the studio like they bring it on stage, it should be some badass fun.
You can find Carnotaurus on Facebook here. For NCS readers in Seattle who dig death metal, I’d encourage you to check out this band the next time they play in the area. And here’s a Bandcamp link for the first Carnotaurus EP, which is now a couple years old and was recorded before Brad and Jason joined the band:
http://carnotaurus.bandcamp.com/
Now, here are those pics. You might recognize the shirt Travis is wearing. The man has good taste in clothing.
28 Responses to “CARNOTAURUS”
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I like the skateboard decks on the venue ceiling.
Yeah, that is very cool.
These guys sound right up my alley. Definitely gonna keep an eye on them.
The first EP, which is now a couple years old and was pretty much done by Travis alone, is on Bandcamp here — though based on what I heard from the fleshed-out band last night, they’ve stepped up their game quite a bit from this early material (which I still like):
http://carnotaurus.bandcamp.com/
Thanks, I’ll check it out.
Absolutely — and more of them nailed to the back wall. The whole venue, which includes a bar in the room next door to the show area, is visually a lot of fun.
Goddamn, that man looks like he was born of the hideous copulation between Glen Benton and one of the gentlemen from Krisiun. And I mean that as the highest of praise.
AND WHY DIDN’T YOU LINK TO THAT BANDCAMP SOONER, YOU FUCKING LAZY ASSHOLE???
Because my brain is like a moldy shredded sponge that needs to be replaced, you dick. (I just added the link to the post. You dick.)
YOU’RE THE ONE WHO FAILED TO SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC AND A FRIEND’S BAND!!!!
I hate you.
AND NOW YOU’RE FAILING TO SUPPORT YOUR LOYAL READERSHIP!!!!
I love you.
YOU…you…you…
ummm…really?
That’s all I ever wanted. Sniff. So happy.
I was lying.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
I found another link for you. http://goo.gl/iE1Q4
I’ll be sending your wife instructions shortly.
Im not clicking on that link. Nope. No way. Can’t make me.
@Phro: You sneaky bastard. You hid a link within a hidden link. (-_-#) We hate you. Forever.
He’s a ferocious presence on stage, too, but such a sweet guy when he’s not in Carnotaurus mode (he’ll probably kill me after he reads this).
LOOK OUT BEHIND–oh, too late…nevermind.
Hey, hey! Can I take over NCS now???
ANIME BOOBIES FOR EVERYONE!!!!
https://t.co/ODSM8kiY
Our readers are much too sophisticated to fall for anime boob bribery. No one would ever look at that link or any of the dozens of boobacious individual images that it brings.
Do you have any more links like that one?
Errrr…just this one. I found it especially for you!
http://goo.gl/sKrW6
That was really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, bad.
MASSIVE WALL OF HORSE COCK!!!!!
YAY! [We don’t hate you forever. Just for today.]
Don’t worry Islander, you needn’t fear the full extent of my wrath. The worst I’ll do is carve a big Z into your forehead and whisper “It’s time to pay the price.” (wrings hands menacingly) Anyway, hope to see you at the next show! \m/
I don’t live anywhere near Seattle, so any idea on when your next album will be out?
I am definitely interested!
The new CD is being mixed now, so it will probably be out sometime in February, and available for download before that, basically as soon as the mastering is done. I check NCS on a regular basis so I’ll keep you posted dude.
Video of the entire Carnotaurus set at this show has now surfaced:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL3kH8_2QjE&feature=youtu.be