Judgement Day holds world's fate by string

Originally published as online exclusive Feb. 23, 2008 for The Orion.
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Some may fear the Apocalypse but Oakland's Judgement Day, Chico's Red Giant and Blood of Cain attracted over 100 brave souls for a night of epic music Friday at Monstros Pizza.

The performance, hosted by the Chico Area Pyrate Punx, showed Chico music fans like their metal music in a variety of flavors.

Blood of Cain served its brutal, winding metal sound first. The room was packed by the end of the first song.

A large group of high school students occupied the space in front of the band and created a circle pit. The rest of the crowd stood on the outskirts of the room hoping they would not get bumped.

The band played a new song that will be on an upcoming album, said vocalist Frankie Swa.

The song started with strong guitars that sounded like a roll of thunder. Swa's roaring vocals invited audience members to move around. Guitarist Kirk Williams added some high-pitched screams and in return audience members gave shouts of approval.

The remainder of the night would not see any vocalists, but the music did not become any quieter.

Williams strapped on his guitar again and played with his other band Red Giant.

The 4-piece band would not necessarily be considered metal, but played loud and fast music. The first song began at a steady pace but quickly changed tempo.

Audience members were dazed by the dramatic, atmospheric music. They followed along with the band's lingering songs, and just as fans were getting into the song, the band abruptly changed themes.

The second song began with a drumbeat that sounded like crashing waterfalls. Guitars and bass kicked in and loudly built up to an eerie sounding song.

Freshman Sontian M-Stinson was expecting Red Giant to play hard metal music, but he still enjoyed its set, he said.

"I liked the music," M-Stinson said. "It was melodic."

However, M-Stinson attended the show to hear Judgement Day, he said. He invited Michelle Dodge and junior Jon Patton to share the live music experience.

Dodge knew nothing about Judgement Day, but was impressed by M-Stinson's description of the band's music, she said.

The 30-minute set change between Red Giant and Judgement Day dragged out the anticipation among audience members. The waiting became tiring as Linkin Park played over the sound system, an unlikely soundtrack for a show of independent artists.

Judgement Day was worth the wait as the band's energy emerged with the stroke of its first musical note.

Hearing the stunning sounds of a violin, cello and drums made everyone's ears perk up.

The band played mostly songs from its new acoustic EP and upcoming full-length album, said violinist Anton Patzner.

"Mark of Vishnu" began with a loud drumbeat that resembled the sound of a marching squad. The song smoothed out with the slick sounds of the violin and cello. A dramatic feeling was in the air, but the song ended with a light, nostalgic theme with just the violin and cello playing.

Band members added to the powerful effects by closely examining their instruments while they hit each note as if the future of the world depended on precisely executing each song.

The band attempted to play an acoustic song with just the violin and cello but was interrupted by technical difficulties.

The troubles continued and an unexpected 8-minute intermission took place.

As soon as the band was back on track, Patzner announced that Judgement Day would be playing in April at Lost on Main. To his surprise, Patzner received disapproving sighs from audience members, mostly made up of teenagers.

The band ended with a loud, crashing song, but the audience asked for one more song.

Judgement Day fulfilled the request by playing a song from the band's first full-length album, "Dark Opus." Patzner dedicated the song to the underage audience members who will not be able to attend the band's 21 and over show in April.

The audience was satisfied with the last song, and the experience was even life changing for some.

This was the first time junior Tim Kerber had seen Judgement Day and he thought the band's performance was mesmerizing, he said.

"I'm a better person by being here," he said.

Judgement Day brings metal's wrath to Monstros Pizza

Originally published Feb. 20 2008 in The Orion.
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On the soundtrack to life, Oakland's Judgement Day would be fitting for moments of despair, drama and even lustful encounters. The band's catastrophic sound is loud and full of emotion.

However, it is not often that a metal band is seen playing acoustic street shows using a violin and cello.

After one year as a band, Judgement Day played outside of a show in 2004 featuring critically acclaimed, indie experimentalists Cursive, said Anton Patzner, Judgement Day violinist. The street performance impressed Cursive band members and the bands exchanged contact information. Shortly after, Cursive's label mate, Bright Eyes, invited Patzner to play violin and tour as a member of its extended band.

Judgement Day will be the center of attention when it plays at 8 p.m. Friday at Monstros Pizza, but the band has served as side project for its three members for many years, said Patzner. His cellist brother, Lewis Patzner, worked on a performance degree at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore while Anton toured with Bright Eyes. Drummer Jon Bush also worked on other musical projects.

Touring with Bright Eyes allowed Anton Patzner to learn some things that he could use with Judgement Day, he said.

"I've learned a couple of tricks of putting on a good show," he said.

Constant touring became monotonous, but he enjoyed the opportunity to play with a lot of musicians, he said. He did not expect Bright Eyes frontman, Conor Oberst, to embrace onstage jamming.

"He wants everyone to do their own thing," Anton Patzner said.

Since he has diverse music interests, he was relieved Oberst welcomed ideas, he said.

Assorted musical influences are heard in Judgement Day. One listen to the band's eerie strings and nonexistent vocals prove it is not a typical metal band. Strikingly, no guitars are in the band.

Violins and cellos in metal music are not new, but most people do not understand how strings can make a metal band, Anton Patzner said.

"Our friends would ask, 'How does that work?'" he said.

Some listeners may confuse the cello for a guitar, he said. The band manipulates sounds and creates illusions, he said.

"It's part of the challenge and fun," Anton Patzner said.

He grew up listening to movie soundtracks, he said. His first exposure to popular music was Nirvana, but he and his brother studied classical music.

Thanks to their family and its strong musical background, the brothers have been playing music for 15 years, Anton Patzner said. Their mother is a violinist for the San Francisco Ballet and their father teaches music at the College Preparatory School in Oakland.

Even though classical music is a big part of the family, the brothers' parents are supportive of Judgement Day's endeavors into the world of metal music, he said.

"They already knew I wasn't going to play classical music," he said.

Judgement Day has been working on its second full-length album and acoustic extended play, Anton Patzner said. The acoustic EP will be ready by Friday's show, but the band plans to release the full-length in May.

The show will be one of the first shows the band has played this year as a three-piece, he said. The band played a few acoustic shows in January while Bush was traveling in Israel.

Whether the band is playing electric or acoustic shows, the doom elements of its music inhabit the band members' bodies and inspire spastic movements.

Chico's Blood of Cain has shared the stage with Judgement Day and will play Friday's show.

"They make me pull out the horns," said Blood of Cain vocalist Frankie Swa. "You can mosh to them."