So remember how the internet used to be the most righteous place? Well, sometimes inboxes get crowded – or worse, your inbox flags your friends as spam. Our friends Gus McArthur created such a badass playlist for us many moons ago, and we’re just now able to see it. So if you could forgive us for our massive mistake for just a moment, you’ll begin to see a pretty amazing theme throughout this “Christmas” playlist. If you’re in, we’re in.
Says the band about the playlist:
When you need energy and excitement from all the sappy Christmas music and just want to head bang the day away. On December 24th, 1988 Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk Wylde hosted a special Christmas edition of the Headbangers’ Ball featuring some of the top artists in rock and heavy Metal. This is our 2017 homage to Ozzy and Zakk, this time its just Honan and Gus, but we tried to be as diverse in selection as they were or MTV made them be by picking the songs. We highly recommend watching the episode, its kind of hilarious.
San Diego’s metal/underground/hip hop collective Gus McArthur – not a single man’s name, but the name of a creature of legend that the duo of brothers Honan (“The Destroyer”) and Gordon (“The Hater”) McArthur adapted as their band name – is gearing up to release the Chapter 2: Fanatics EP on December 8th, but until then we’ve got the first single off that work, a song titled “End of Eternity”, to nibble on for a while. And the band waits no time on the track to make you realize they’re up to their usual dark, guitar-heavy antics that sustained them in first EP Chapter 1: Hysterics. Although it takes a moment to understand, perhaps, what the lyrics are amidst the crashing instrumentals, you quickly realize the lyrical content is a critical social commentary. Lines like “What have we done to the government?” make you realize that Gus McArthur is struggling with the same issues we have all been placated with. Although Gus chooses to thinly veil it in upbeat, edgy, fast instrumentals replete with a raspy, hard tone to the vocals while paying homage to some of their greatest influences.
(The guitar solo near 2:35 is absolutely insane, so be sure not to miss it.)
Chapter 2: Fanatics is out December 8th. Keep up with Gus McArthur here.
