About Steve Savage

Writer and music enthusiast based out of the San Francisco Bay Area, always interested in discovering new and different music no matter what the genre. Hit me up anytime if you know about something I should be listening to or if you just wanna talk music in general. Peace!

State Of The Art: Louisiana’s ORIFIST [Official Album Stream]

*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!

Providing a powerful boost of energy and creativity to old school death metal, is New Orleans own, Orifist. The trio consisting of Devin Jones (guitar/vocals), Matt Fogarty (lead vocals), and Dominick Mora (drums) present a murderous sound, reminiscent of the classics, with names like Suffocation, Morbid Angel, and Death immediately coming to mind. Continue reading

John Connolly (SEVENDUST) On James Hetfield, “He Was The Guy Who Kinda Set The Ball In Motion For Me”

Sevendust guitarist, John Connolly returns to join Joshua Toomey for this week’s episode of Talk Toomey – The Metal Nexus Podcast for an in-depth interview. Starting out his musical journey as a drummer who was largely influenced by bands like KISS and Rush, Connolly details how it was Eddie Van Halen, Dimebag Darrell – and most of all, James Hetfield – who inspired him to become a guitarist instead. He says “[Hetfield] was the guy who kinda set the ball in motion for me.” Continue reading

“Inspired By A Man Who I Saw Go Into Cardiac Arrest,” MONUMENT OF A MEMORY Talks New Single, “Cold Eyes” [Official Video]

New Jersey metalcore band, Monument of a Memory has just released the official music video for their single “Cold Eyes” from their January, 2018 EP, ‘Ex-Mortis.’ The song has a chilling, real life backstory that is captured brilliantly in the sonic intensity of the music and lyrics. Continue reading

THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA Premiere Official Music Video for New Single, “This Time” and Unveil New Album Details [Video Stream]

Swedish melodic hardrockers, The Night Flight Orchestra release official music video for their brand new single, “This Time” from their upcoming LP, ‘Sometimes the World Ain’t Enough;’ scheduled for release June 29th, 2018 via Nuclear Blast Records. The new track definitely has that 80’s arena rock-inspired feel to it, with its epic riffing and huge choruses reminiscent of such legends as Night Ranger, Europe, and Boston. The band commented: Continue reading

CANDLEMASS Announce “House of Doom” Video Premiere and Online Game [Official Video Stream]

Swedish doom metal pioneers, Candlemass announce the premiere of the official lyric video for the title track off their upcoming EP ‘House of Doom,’ on Napalm Records. From the first few bars, fans will recognize the familiar, epic doom sound that Candlemass pulls off so well. For those unfamiliar, the track will appeal to fans of bands like PallBearer and Black Sabbath. Continue reading

Max Cavalera Describes Upcoming SOULFLY Album as “Tribal Death Thrash”

As a member of one of the pioneering bands in the death/thrash scene of the 80’s and 90’s, Brazilian-born, Max Cavalera was the original vocalist and rhythm guitarist in Sepultura from 1984 to 1996; his brother Igor was the original drummer. Throughout Max’s tenure with Sepultura, he would act as one of the predominant creative forces for pushing the band’s musical style to experimental new territories. Their 1993 release, ‘Chaos A.D.,’ with its groundbreaking industrial/tribal sound, is considered by many to be one of the greatest metal albums of all time. As an industrial metal side project, Cavalera recorded another groundbreaking album, ‘Point Blank’ under the monicker, Nailbomb with Alex Newport of Fudge Tunnel in 1994. Sepultura’s ‘Roots’ LP, released two years later, would further expand upon tribal elements as well as incorporate nu-metal influences that would contribute to creative differences within the group and ultimately to Cavalera’s departure from the band. His leaving would create a rift between the Cavalera brothers as Igor remained on as drummer for Sepultura. Max would then go on to form the tribal/nu-metal outfit, Soulfly in 1997 and has since released ten albums with the band, and one in the works for 2018. In 2007, Max and his brother Igor reconciled and formed the groove/thrash band Cavalera Conspiracy together, along with guitarist, Marc Rizzo of Soulfly. The band has released four albums to date. As part of another side project, Cavalera co-founded the metal supergroup, Killer Be Killed in 2011 along with Greg Puciatio of The Dillinger Escape Plan. The band released their self-titled LP in 2014. Continue reading

Review: UNFLESH – ‘Savior’ [Official Video Stream]

Boston-based, extreme metal band, Unflesh is set to release their first full-length studio album, ‘Savior’ on May 25th, 2018. The musical style on this record embodies the aura of black metal wickedness, while infusing technical death metal ferocity and rich, complex melodies in a way that transcend the confinements of a single sub-genre. The riffing is ingeniously intricate and inspired, vocals are venomous and vile, but those drums! The hyper aggressive drumming performance on ‘Savior’ is utterly relentless and impressive thanks to the otherworldly kit skills of drummer, Chris Dovas (Seven Spires). Not to diminish the other elements, which are arguably just as awesome, but what Dovas so phenominally brings to this record is almost its own selling point. Continue reading

Who is Yayo “KISS GUY” Sanchez? [Video Stream]

If you’ve been following the internet recently, you most likely have come across a new viral video of Austin, Texas artist, Yayo Sanchez – or as Foo Fighters frontman, Dave Grohl dubbed him, “KISS guy.” The video shows the 25-year-old Sanchez performing “Monkey Wrench” onstage with his favorite band, Foo Fighters, while wearing full Gene Simmons’ “The Demon” face paint. In an interview with KVUE ABC following the event, Sanchez described the experience by saying, “It was nuts, man. That was definitely the best day of my life, hands down.” Continue reading

Review: A PERFECT CIRCLE – ‘Eat the Elephant’ [Video Stream]

14 years have passed since A Perfect Circle has released an album. Finally, however, scheduled for an April 20th, 2018 release date comes their highly-anticipated fourth studio album entitled, ‘Eat the Elephant’ via BMG. On this latest effort, the maturation of the band over the last several years is apparent as the minor-chord, melancholic masters have clearly brought a newly awakened sharpness and depth to their craft. Lyrically, the cynicism is front and center and, for the most part, aimed lethally at the misguided ways of present-day mankind. ‘Eat the Elephant’ exhibits many familiar APC elements while also incorporating a slew of modern stylistic influences that many fans may find surprising or even polarizing. At this stage in their career, however, this seasoned and acclaimed group of musicians appear entirely comfortable and confident in creating songs that are unapologetically a distinct shift in their trademark sound – as each successive album ideally should be. This is not an attempt to remake or capitalize upon APC’s earlier musical successes, but rather a natural, creative evolution – 14 years in the making.  Continue reading

CKY Announce North American Summer Tour With SLAVES, ROYAL THUNDER, & AWAKEN I AM [Full Tour Dates]

Philly rock n’ rollers, CKY are preparing to hit the road, beginning in July, for a summer outing of North American shows along with Sacramento post-hardcore outfit, Slaves as co-headliners. Joining on as supporting acts will be Royal Thunder and Awaken I Am. Full tour dates below. Continue reading