Master of Puppets
Ozzfest rolls out the black carpet for Texas metal
By Austin Powell, 1:11PM, Fri. Jun. 6, 2008
Following last year’s sponsorship-driven, traveling free-for-all, Ozzfest 2008 will be a one-day destination festival at Pizza Hut Park in Dallas, Saturday, August 9. The show is headlined by Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, but the rest of the lineup is a bit underwhelming, featuring solo projects like Serj Tankian (System of a Down) and Jonathan Davis (Korn), along with the reunion of Sepultura’s Max and Igor Cavalera as the Cavalera Conspiracy.
What makes Ozzfest particularly noteworthy, though, is the addition of a third stage dedicated to Texas metal. Austin’s the Sword have already nabbed top billing, but there appear to be a few more slots available. Who would you recommend to Sharon Osbourne? Here’s OTR’s top picks.
The Jonbenet: Houston’s finest have been thrashing Red 7 regularly for a few years now. Catch them at the club’s second annual Jared is a Grumpy Fuck Fest, Saturday, June 14.
The Roller: The local quartet just released its debut, full of low frequency rumbling and deathly growls. Check them out at the Compound (1300 E. 4th), Friday, June 13.
Mammoth Grinder: The name doesn’t do these guys justice. A punishing combination of more abstract metal, a la Neurosis, and hardcore beatdowns. Also appearing at Grumpy Fuck.
Prey for Sleep: As evidenced by their debut, A Bitter Beginning, this Austin quintet delivers brutal thrashcore that sounds custom built for an Ozzfest crowd.
A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.
Nov. 3, 2023
