Altsounds - Order of the Gash [Live] @ The Union Hall, Missoula, Montana

One hundred arduous steps to the top floor of the Union building. No elevator. No roadies. You pack every pound of your equipment up, and at the top is a convention room. Built in 1974, with absolutely no sense of aesthetics, it's capable of containing 200 people, but rarely sees more than 50 on one of these nights. I've footed the bill on a rock show here before. It's one hundred dollars, with a hundred and fifty dollar deposit. Since most promoters in Missoula want to give the touring band a decent cut of the cash, you can never break even here. It's easy to book, and it's usually available. Those are the only reasons the Union Hall ever sees a good band.

Order of the Gash took the stage at 10:45 and was finished before 11:15, with an encore. Blistering speed, and vociferous drumming kept my neck snapping back and forth throughout. Guitarist Melissa White expertly navigated the thrash-core waters, tapping like a steno pool to the blast beats of drummer Aris Wales.

Meticulous timing created a tightness necessary to win the heart of any speed-metal freaks, and a clever compositional structure sucked me in. After "Zero Population Growth" I commented, 'Shit, the end of your songs are so sharp I feel like I'm being thrown off a cliff." They responded with more sonic brutality. More of Paul Kessler's face melting bass, liquefying my spine.

Bitch magazine gave a nod to Order of the Gash in their women in metal article. It should be said. Metal has generally been a boys club. It's always positive to see a serious shredder like Melissa White. After all, music is only as original and unique as the musicians making it, and Order of the Gash has panache to spare.

Portland's Order of the Gash is still on the road. I hope Sacramento will find Order of the Gash as rallying as I did. Out promoting a new self-titled release, Order of the Gash is spreading darkness and havoc across the land, searching eternally for ears to ignite.