When a band get’s back together after disbanding we tend to use terms like “Back from the dead”. However in the case of Richmond’s PARASYTIC I don’t think that term fits. If you ask any member of the band they will say that PARASYTIC never broke up but suffered from a period of inactivity. Mainly due Nick’s aggressive tour schedule in his other bands, Ethan’s travels abroad, and Matt recently becoming a father. However after a long two-year hiatus the good news is that PARASYTIC is back. They have kept the reunion somewhat low-key while practicing old material and writing new songs. In the recent weeks however PARASYTIC let the proverbial cat out of the bag by announcing not just their long anticipated return but also a mini tour of the northeastern United States to coincide along with it.
For those of you that have not heard PARASYTIC, I suggest you remedy that situation as soon as possible. PARASYTIC play an absolutely brilliant blend of metal, punk, thrash, and crust. They have been referred to as the United States answer to bands like CONCREATE SOX and THE ENGLISH DOGS. PARASYTIC’s lyrics range from animal rights, to the horrors of war, disgust at puppet politicians, human liberation and much more. With amazing riff’s, harmonizing solo’s, pounding bass, and thunderous drums, combined with Ethan’s onstage antics it is impossible to see PARASYTIC play live and not be impressed. I was fortunate enough to drive PARASYTIC on their first tour in February of 2008. We spent a few weeks on the road starting in Richmond VA and working our down the east/gulf coast all the way to Mexico City and back up the Midwest. Every night was a blast and it never got old seeing these guys play. Spending time getting to know them was even better. PARASYTIC toured extensively in the following few years playing shows all over the United States and spending a month playing the European squat circuit in 2011.
Tonight PARASYTIC take the stage at Strange Matter in their hometown of Richmond VA for the first time in over two years. They will be joined by VISIONS OF WAR (Belgium) NO/TOMORROW (RVA/SC) SEX DWARF (Sweden) and WRATHCOBRA (Pittsburgh). On Thursday they head to New London Connecticut to begin a short mini tour. In my opinion PARASYTIC is one of the most important bands to ever come out of the United States. I for one am completely thrilled to see them active once more. It’s rare these days to see a band that is political and sincere as well as extremely talented and energetic. If you have a chance to see them at any of their upcoming shows you wont be disappointed. LONG LIVE PARASYTIC!!!
NOVEMBER 17TH – RICHMOND, VA @ STRANGE MATTER W/ VISIONS OF WAR, SEX DWARF, WRATHCOBRA AND NO TOMORROW
https://www.facebook.com/events/594341334008143/
NOVEMBER 20TH – NEW LONDON, CT @ THE SAVAGE PATCH W/
OILTANKER, CHEM-TRAILS AND FUCKED OFF
https://www.facebook.com/events/380985452058627/
NOVMBER 21ST – BROOKLYN, NY @ THE ACHERON W/ MUTANT SUPREMACY ( LATE SHOW)
https://www.facebook.com/events/817291151625464/
NOVEMBER 22ND – PITTSBURGH, PA @ THE ROCK ROOM W / THE SICKS, CAPE OF BATS AND DEATH MONGER
NOVEMBER 23RD – BALTIMORE, MD @ OTTOBAR W / NUDE MASS AND ENEMY INSECTS
https://www.facebook.com/events/1502861349976603/
DISCOGRAPHY-
HYMN – LP – Released by DESPOTIC RECORDS 2007
POISON MINDS – LP – Released by VEX RECORDS 2010
Man, where were these guys when I was in high school? In the mid 80s I dedicated every spare moment to skateboarding. We’d go down my buddy Chris’s mini ramp and skate our asses off listening to BLACK FLAG, DEAD KENNEDYS, CIRCLE JERKS, etc. Then I discovered thrash and shit got real! My first show was ANTHRAX, EXODUS and CELTIC FROST and everything changed. Once you get a taste of punk/thrash crossover, you can’t go back. IN DEFENCE from Minneapolis is the link to my shred-tastic youth. I now this may upset the folks in the band, but some of the writing reminds me a lot of M.O.D. Sorry, dudes, but it’s true. Not in a bad way, though. Fortunately the subject matter is way more funny than it is offensive and while they love to have a laugh, they do flirt with serious politics. Each song kills it riff after riff with solos that fill the song out without being wanky and they are usually accompanied by beautifully moshy breakdowns that I realized I was unknowingly banging my head to each and every time. There’s no way to listen to this without getting stoked. It contains the second LP and 2 7″s(in case you didn’t get that from the line I wrote above the picture). Unlike some 22 track albums that seem to drag on, you’ll want to put this on repeat, flip up the bill on your hat and circle pit around your room for hours. When these thrashers come through your town make sure you buy them lots of pizza….er, um, burritos. Lots of burritos. (Jake)
