‘Hate’ on hiatus

Theory of Hate has been making its metal music from the Mat-Su for years now. If you listen to, or have any awareness of heavy metal, then you are already aware of this hardworking group of local metal men.

For the last few months the band has taken some time to record its new album while taking a hiatus from its regular performance schedule. Studio work can be grueling, although rewarding. You spend countless hours spinning your wheels without the reward of an appreciative audience to keep you artistically engaged. The studio can take a lot out of you.

I guess that’s why these guys are temporarily coming out of hiatus to film for the local music television show “Underground Live,” which airs every Saturday on KYES Channel 5 at 4 p.m. Maybe they just need a little audience interaction to get those creative juices flowing before they disappear into the studio to finish up their sophomore effort, so they will film a performance at the band’s favorite spot to play in the Valley: the Mat-Su Resort.

Fans of the band, along with potential fans, will have a chance to be part of a television filming while hearing a healthy dose of Hate.

Seeing how production work — whether it be sound recording or video editing — can be so time consuming, chances are the taping won’t make it to your television until the guys from Theory of Hate are done with their second album. Isn’t that interesting? How much effort and time and planninggoes into professional musicianship. It’s not just about appearance. It’s not just about banging your head and screaming, or just playing guitar. It’s about being a professional, it’s about being busy. It’s a business.

The image of heavy metal is usually anything but professional looking, but that’s what it’s all about. It’s about a complete lack of pretense. It’s about being completely free of social expectations, letting your hair down, and expressing whatever you’re feeling. But in order to do that, there must be a level of professionalism to back it up to validate it. That’s what the guys in Theory of Hate have going for them: professionalism. They take their combined efforts very seriously and have for years now, building a reputation that their fans want to support. They’ve created something real.

You may not have a chance to see these guys for a while, at least until that new album is done, or until their appearance on Underground Live airs, so be sure to show up for this one. The show is at the Mat-Su Resort, Saturday, March 21 at 10 p.m. Performers include, Spitshine, Dopiate, Alaska Thunder Funk, and, of course, Theory of Hate.

Make-a-Scene!

Josh Fryfogle is a local professional musician who owns 212 Music Group and operates Make-A-Scene in Wasilla. He writes about music every Friday.