As the summer continues to burn by, I have adjusted to living in a new apartment but maintaining the same institutions in life (life, class, and the eternal call of the Navy). It is fortunate then that the good folks at the Metalhead Box consistently deliver the awesome bits of metal paraphernalia that they do month in and month out. While 2020 writ large may have been a complete shitshow, Metalhead Box has had a fantastic showing, delivering here with a thrash-heavy July box.
Sodom Flag
The cover art for Agent Orange, among several others, encapsulates my root understanding of the cultural mood much thrash carried in the closing years of the Cold War (colourful, violent, war all the time is coming). I have to wonder, whether written by a historian or cultural anthropologist, what a detailed analysis of the anti-war sentiment within the scene might look like (there’s a PhD dissertation waiting in that for someone). Tension creation fantastic work. This flag doesn’t have anything to do with that bit of academic meandering, however, but it is awesome.
Abbath Pin
Based on the regularity that Abbath and King Diamond make appearances, I suspect they’re either big supporters of the Metalhead Box (or, at worse, its indicative of where the audience’s interests lie). No frills here – but it is a well-produced pin like those featured in prior months featuring everyone’s beloved winter warrior.
Sadus Tshirt
Admittedly, despite regularly encountering the name, I had never listened to Sadus before opening this shirt. There’s a theme to this month, and its death by thrash.
Jason Bittner Autograph
Though perhaps most well known for playing with Shadows Fall during their aughts-heyday, Mr. Bittner is now employed through another thrash luminary – Overkill.
Drummers seem quite popular with Metalhead Box autographs so far!
Panic – “Rotten Church” Vinyl
Of the topics in the world with which I can claim familiarity, the late 80s Brazilian thrash scene is not among them. This sharp piece of gangrenous filth, however, is an outstanding thrash record and a fantastic look into an era when all things must have appeared possible. Mid-summer feels, torment and terror.