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
“We know we aren’t AC/DC, we do everything from Bon Scott to Brian Johnson and fuck Axl Rose!” says frontman Dave Moody for the AC/DC tribute band Thunderstruck: America’s AC/DC. Continue reading
OVERKILL are a legendary thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, leaving bassist D. D. Verni and lead vocalist Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth as the only constant members. OVERKILL‘s current lineup also includes Dave Linsk on lead guitar, Derek Tailer on rhythm guitar and Jason Bittner on drums.
The band are masters of the crunchy thrash that the 1980’s spawned. They eat and drink metal music and Blitz is a renowned singer within the genre, being one of the godfathers of thrash, along with James Hetfield of METALLICA and Chuck Billy of TESTAMENT. They have a significant library of studio albums (nineteen in total), including the stone cold classics ‘Under The Influence’ (1988) and ‘Horrorscope’ (1999). Continue reading
Death metal overlords DYING FETUS announce the European Annihilation Summer headlining tour. The tour begins August 2 at Wacken Open Air in Germany and ends August 25 at Death Feast in Andernach, DE. Direct support will be provided by CARNIFEX, TOXIC HOLOCAUST, GOATWHORE and VENOM PRISON on select dates. The tour includes additional festival appearances at Brutal Assault, Rockstadt Extreme, Party San and more! All confirmed tour dates are listed below.
Additionally, DYING FETUS will also perform at Las Vegas Deathfest and at 3 Floyds Brewing’s Dark Lord Day in May. Las Vegas Deathfest features additional Relapse artists INCANTATION, CEPHALIC CARNAGE and DEVOURMENT. Dark Lord Day in Munster, IN features support from label mates PIG DESTROYER and BRAIN TENTACLES plus REVOCATION, ALL HELL and CANYON OF THE SKULL.
Canadian cinematic proggers HARNESSING THE UNIVERSE‘s latest music video “Beyond The Bright” created by German filmmaker Joerg Steineck is the daily music dose you need.
The video was created for their track “Beyond The Bright“, which is off their 2015 self-titled debut album. The band decided to release the video now to let people know they are still alive and kicking and will be releasing a new 2018 release entitled “In The After“.
LIFE OF AGONY is a band you won’t get a lot of opportunities to see live outside of New York and New Jersey. Formed in 1989 the New York hardcore band dominated the genre for 10 years with hit songs like “Through And Through” from their classic album ‘River Runs Red’ that released in 1993. If you are a fan of The Office you may have even heard one of their songs. The title track of their debut album “River Runs Red” was used in “Initiation”, a 2006 episode of The Office. Singer Keith Caputo has now transitioned and is living her life as Mina Caputo. The vocals or the aggression in their music hasn’t changed and the songwriting has only got better. The band was in a hiatus from 1999 until 2002 when the band reformed. The current lineup of the band includes Mina Caputo (vocals), Joey Z (Guitars), Alan Robet (Bass) and Veronica Bellino (drums). Life Of Agony’s 2017 album ‘A Place Where There’s No More Pain’ release via Napalm Records was heralded as one of the best releases of 2017. Also note that Joey Z’s guitar playing is one of the most majestic things you can hear or see. The majority of their shows are sold out and the fan base is dedicated to the band and the sound that they have perfected since their formation more than 25 years ago. The title track from their new album “A Place Where There’s No More Pain” and “World Gone Mad” are stand out tracks you need to hear. Listen to them and you will be shoving people out of your way to get against the rail. This is a band you will not want to miss. Their stage presence and the emotion they put into their songs is something you won’t see from many bands, and it’s not often they play festivals so getting to see this band at such an iconic venue will be an unbelievable moment in live performances.
French death-grinders BENIGHTED are embarking on a string of European festival dates, in support of ‘Necrobreed‘ this week that see the band performing throughout the summer at Hellfest, Obscene Extreme, Sylak Open Air, Party San, and more. Fresh off the hills of their 2017 hit album ‘Necrobreed‘, the band will continue to spread the plague and sickness in Europe. A full list of confirmed dates can be found below.
Following their European trek, BENIGHTED will embark on the “Necrobreed US Minitour“. The tour begins on July 26 in Kansas City and sees the band performing to-and-from Chicago Domination Fest. A full list of confirmed tour dates can be found below.
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
Los Angeles rockers Minus Knives, featuring former members of Factory 81 and Spineshank, have just released their debut, self-titled album, ‘Minus Knives’. The band features former Factory 81 guitarist Bill Schultz and bassist Kevin Lewis, along with Ex-Spineshank vocalist Brandon Espinoza. Preview the whole album below! Continue reading
The Freeks
Crazy World
Heavy Psych Sounds
Released April 27, 2018
Ruben Romano has a rock and roll pedigree that can stand alongside the very best. As a founding member of both Fu Manchu and Nebula (let that sink in for a second, why don’tcha?), Romano helped draw up the plans and build the framework that stoner rock hangs on to this very day. He’s spent the last decade-plus as frontman and guiding force for L.A. based psych-rockers The Freeks, piloting their trips-‘n’-riffs-fueled funny car further and further into the cosmic realm; their newest dispatch Crazy World (released via the ever-reliable Heavy Psych Sounds) is the sound of the band-in-residency at the Garage at the Edge of the Universe, a jubilantly strident “Fuck You” in the face of oblivion.
