The Best Band in Texas is Peasant
Back in August 2014 we asked you to help us find the best unsigned bands in America. After listening to hundreds of submissions and yelling at each other a lot, we finally narrowed down our pick for the best got dang state in the union. The best band in Texas is Peasant.
Texas. Even speaking the word out loud brings me a swell of pride. “Ticksiss”, I say with my stupid redneck accent, “Ticksiss forever”. I’m overcome with emotion. I tear up. I have had too many Lone Stars while binge watching Friday Night Lights. I was born and raised and came of age here. Claiming superiority to 49 other states is my birthright along with sending Twitter death threats to Tony Romo and pointing obnoxiously to my crotch while reminding folks that “Everything is bigger in Texas”. I am the worst.
You’re free to hate Texas (but if you do it in the comments I’ll fucking ban you). Our politics, though improving, are a horrible, backwards mess. There are so many morons here that a slimy penis monster like Ted Cruz can get elected to office on a platform no more complex than “I AM FUCKING MORON BUT I PROMISE I AM NOT A DEMOCRAT”. It is ACTUALLY hotter than hell, and worst of all: Jerry Jones. We are doomed. But if nothing else, Texas brings the jams. The land of musical greats like Willie Nelson, ZZ Top, and Roy Orbison is also the home of some of my favorite (and likely your favorite) metal bands: DRI, Devourment, Mammoth Grinder, Power Trip, Pantera, and Insect Warfare. Like the LBJ of IMNs I colluded, conspired, and intimidated the other judges to kill Kennedy* and wrangle the votes necessary to bring you the very best unsigned band in this great state: Peasant.
From the second you click play on “Do You Believe in War?” the opening song on Go to Hell, the latest full-length from this Houston trio, it’s obvious that the New Wave of British Heavy Metal swam it’s way to the third coast. Along the way it picked up some disgusting oily blackness and additional detritus from thrash and OSDM before crashing on the City of Syrup’s shore. By the way, does Go to Hell sound familiar? A little band called Motörhead recorded a song with that very name on their 1982 classic Iron Fist. Check it out here, then listen to Peasant’s “Wretched Codex” below for a tasty and exceptionally headbangable homage to Lemmy & co.
Peasant play with a muscular force other bands wish they could muster with their feeble little arms. Expect huge guitar riffs, savage vocals, and propulsive drums. If you like Motörhead, Midnight, Judas Priest, or early Death, Go to Hell will hit you right in the sweet spots. And if you don’t like even one of those bands, what the fuck are you doing reading a metal blog?
Go like them boys on Facebook and tell ’em the Toilet says “Yo”.
*Jokes! LBJ probably didn’t have JFK killed.
But don’t just take my word for it. Here’s what some of our other judges had to say.
Masterlord: It’s been a long-ass while since a band I voted for has taken the win on one of these things, but goddamn if Peasant doesn’t make up for all the losses and then some. Maybe think of them as Motörhead in some parallel universe where people are covered in a thick layer of spikes and bullets to protect them from microbes and regulate their temperature instead of just skin. Call it NWOBHM with this influence and that influence, call it black thrash ‘n’ roll, call it speed whatever, call it a 100-year-old Loggerhead sea turtle; I doesn’t matter. Your head will probably bang all the same. Bow to the Peasant.
Dagon: There were a TON of good bands in Texas, some of which were actually a lot closer to the realm of heavy music I usually dwell in. Still, I couldn’t deny Peasant’s quality. They bring the riffs in a way that few bands do these days. It gets me pumped.
CyberneticOrganism: Peasant and their blend of old school riffs, filthy vocals and natural headbanging fuel will make you reach for your studded denim vest in the best way possible… not in the weird “old guy at the renaissance faire” way.
Honorable mentions:
Vulgar Display: Dallas hardcore that brings the ignorance.
Darker by Design: Melodeath with a dang cello.
Tentacles: San Antonio impossible-to-categorize so let’s go with blackened hardcore.
The Toilet ov Hell is on an absurd quest to find the best unsigned band in each state of this glorious union. The purpose? To shine the spotlight on bands that deserve more exposure. Also, we’re going to determine once and for all the greatest state in the nation. Each state winner is decided by a collection of 25 judges. After we’ve announced the winner of each state, we’re gonna throw them all in a winner-take-all bracket and leave the votes up to you. Who will be the best unsigned band in the United States? Which state is superior? We can’t wait to find out.
Previous winners:
Alabama — Phylum
Alaska — Terraform
Arizona – Take Over And Destroy
Arkansas – Torii
California – Destroy Judas
Colorado – The Sleer
Connecticut – Autumn’s Eyes
Delaware – Sloss
Florida – Capracide
Georgia – Lost Hours
Hawaii – Darkest Path
Idaho – Rotten Hand
Illinois – Deus Ex
Indiana – Thorr-Axe
Iowa – Blizzard at Sea
Kansas – Bummer
Kentucky – Ad Infinitum
Louisiana – Withering Light
Maine – Sylvia
Maryland – Bereave
Massachusetts – Scaphism
Michigan – Blackgate
Minnesota – Noble Beast
Mississippi – Jared Moran (Yzordderrex/Uzumaki)
Missouri – Existem
Montana – Martriden
Nebraska – Borealis
Nevada – Elephant Rifle
New Hampshire – Eerie
New Jersey – Black Table
New Mexico – Void Ritual
New York – HUSH.
North Carolina – The Seduction
North Dakota – Gorgatron
Ohio – Prize the Doubt
Oklahoma – Cottonmouth
Oregon – Drouth
Pennsylvania – Burden
Rhode Island – Eternal Khan
South Carolina – Solaire
South Dakota – Jelly Nutz Justoner
Tennessee – Forest of Tygers
