FLASH! FLASH! I’m trying to watch a show here. FLASH! FLASH! No less than four cameras intermittently flashing. FLASH! FLASH! I don’t know how they concentrate. I’m just sitting here, watching a band, trying to consume the evening’s gallon of P.B.R., when all this shutterbuggery breaks my concentration. I’m a t AKA Lounge attempting to soak in southern sludge metal veterans ‘Vegan Butcher’ throw down and all I can focus on is FLASH! FLASH!

Yes, I understand that they’re a foursome of quite good looking, photogenic gentlemen, but still.

Thank fucking Christ I’m not epileptic.

Thankfully, after a couple songs, my eyes adjust and I can focus on the band. Although on stage, they look like they want rip your face off, they all actually quite adorable young lads. Nice boys, like to have a few beers and beat the shit out of instruments, but nice boys all the same.

Rising from the wreckage of Orlando metal mainstays ‘Asphalt’, Vegan Butcher continue their sonic assault on the metropolitan area. Marshall (vocals), Nate (guitar), Matt (drums), and new guy Stan (bass), Vegan Butcher have picked up where Asphalt trailed off. Blending more music dynamics into their songs, VB makes for a more listenable metal experience. There’s even one song where you can understand what Marshall is saying. Far fucking out, right?!

These guys are old hats at rocking the stage, and the show I attended was no exception. Sadly, they didn’t do the cover of Clutch’s Rock and Roll Outlaw that’s usually a staple in their live set. I was kind of disappointed until they did me one even better. Bringing Heidi from Apocalypse A Go Go to the stage, they fucking destroyed a cover of “Take My Breath Away” from the Top Gun soundtrack. That made me happy in my heart place.