*This is a part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state.*
This month’s state is Alabama!
One would not expect beautiful Birmingham, Alabama to be pumping out some seriously dark sounds. Ember has managed to create an approachable, drony doom sound with vocals that channel early European symphonic metal elements. In fact, Alabama is the last place one might guess this band is from. Continue reading
Last week, Southern California rockers, Of Limbo, began to embark on their first US tour with Joyous Wolf and Blacktop Mojo when tragedy struck on the interstate. A tire on the van popped, rendering the vehicle uncontrollable as it rolled off the highway and down into a ditch. Continue reading
This fall, the Philadelphia area welcomes back the fourth edition of the Rock Allegiance festival. The BB&T Pavilion and Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden, New Jersey, will be home to single day event for the second year in a row. Experience some of Philadelphia’s best food and some of the countries’ best brews, all while rocking out to your favorite band. Continue reading
Bad Wolves quietly crept on the scene in Spring of 2017, teasing portions of a melodic new age of djent riffs, hard rock song structure, with brash, yet catchy vocals. Behind this fresh take on metal would be former members of such bands as God Forbid, Devildriver, Divine Heresy, Bury Your Dead and In This Moment. Eleven Seven Music picked them up and will release “Disobey” on May 11. What this band has been able to achieve even before the release of their debut album is truly astonishing. A No. 1 single on the Mainstream Rock charts, iTunes No. 1 single of every genre and they have already embarked on an arena tour. Bad Wolves is undoubtedly the hottest thing in heavy music right now. Continue reading
*This is a part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state.*
This month’s state is Louisiana!
Any fans of progressive instrumental are severely missing out if The Arbitrary is not a part of their lives. The New Orleans two-piece has been self-releasing since 2015. Together, Jeffrey Fisher (guitar) and Adam Sauter (drums) have continued to boggle the brains of prog fans, yet quench the thirst for musical excellence with their 2017 EP ‘Identity.’ It may only be four songs, but those four songs are all the listener needs. A touch a djent, a brush of tech; it’s about time for a Ph.D. in music theory. Continue reading
They are undoubtedly at the forefront of innovation in the world of progressive metal and often recognized for early movements in the djent scene. UK-based five piece, TesseracT, are about to grace the world with their fourth LP, ‘Sonder.’ As an experiment founded in 2003 by guitarist Acle Kahney, the band continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a modern progressive band. ‘Sonder’ will be singer, Daniel Tompkin’s second album back after his 2011 departure and subsequent return in 2014. Kscope will release this album on April 20, 2018. It was recorded at 4D Sounds, Celestial Sounds and Project Studios. TesseracT, alongside Aiden O’Brien, engineered ‘Sonder’ while mastering was completed by Kahney.
Strictly from their sound, it is almost hard to believe this symphonic power metal outfit comes from Tampa, Florida. Since 1991, founder and guitarist Thomas Youngblood has been the mastermind behind the entity that is Kamelot. A change of frontmen in 2011, however, reignited a flame for the band. Swedish singer, Tommy Karevik (Ayreon, Seventh Wonder) took the place of Roy Khan and has since elevated Kamelot to exponential heights. ‘The Shadow Theory’ is the twelfth album in their discography, released on Napalm Records and produced by Sascha Paeth who has been perfecting their sound since 1999’s The Fourth Legacy. Continue reading
