REVIEW: WEDNESDAY 13 – “Condolences” [Select Tracks Streaming]

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Wednesday 13 first stepped onto the scene in 1992 and created a whirlwind of grotesque, shocking horror punk that still has a firm hold on the throats of those who dare to listen.  He first began his career with a collaboration with guitarist Abby Normal, drummer Jeff Washam, bassist Michael Patrick, and lead vocalist Todd Cage, known as Psycho Opera.  Wednesday 13 departed the band, along with guitarist Abby Normal, and bassist Michael Patrick and picked up drummer Sicko Zero to form the band Maniac Spider Trash.  The band released one EP, ‘Dumpster Mummies’ and one album, ‘Murder Happy Fairytales’.  However, their run came to an end in 1996 when Wednesday 13, Abby Normal, and Sicko Zero went on to form the band Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13 until 2002 when he was contacted by (then) Slipknot drummer, Joey Jordison, to form Murderdolls. Continue reading →

Chicago Open Air Spotlight: CODE ORANGE

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*Every Thursday from now until Chicago Open Air gets here we will be releasing an article about a band playing the festival to get you familiar with them.*

This week’s artist is Code Orange.

One of the heaviest upcoming bands in the genre is coming to destroy the Chicago Open Air stage on Friday, July 14th at Toyota Park. If you are a fan of heavy music, you have probably already taken note of this band by now. Code Orange from Pittsburgh, PA stormed onto the scene with an incredible hardcore release in 2014 titled ‘I Am King’. This record was brutal, passionate, dark, and made a statement that the band had arrived. As a younger metalhead, this was one of the first records I listened to that got me into the extreme side of hardcore and metal. To kick off this year, the band dropped their third LP titled ‘Forever’, which was also well received by the metal community (check out out review here.) Their live shows bring some of the most violent pits around in recent years. It will be interesting to see how they transit their performance over to the festival stage. The band has played a few other Danny Wimmer Presents festivals including Rock on the Range and Carolina Rebellion. Most of their tour dates below are supporting System of a Down in Europe, including many of the large festivals. Continue reading →

Review: IRONFLAME – ‘Lightning Strikes The Crown’ [Album Stream]

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Ironflame is a powermetal band from Washington, Pennsylvania. It’s a solo project made by the one and only Andrew D’Cagna who is also a member of Brimstone Coven.  His new debut album ‘Lightning Strikes The Crown’ got released via bandcamp and it features a whole bunch of amazing guests. Jim Dofka (Rev Jones Band, Leather Leone) for example created the guitar solo on the song ”Firestorm” & ”Fallen Glory”, He isn’t the only guest that took part in the powerful solo’s, Aaron Carey (Coldfells),  Justin Wood (Ex-Brimstone Cove, Necromancing the Stone) and last but not least Johnathan Crow (Curse The Wicked). Aaron took care of the guitar solo in ”Marching” and ”Shadow Queen” where Justin got a hold on the solo’s in ”The Gorgon” and my personal favorite song ”Eternal Night”. The best 2 songs on the album, ”Heavy Metal Warriors” and ”What We’ve Sown”, features guitarist Johnathan on the guitar playing mad solo’s. Never have I heard of an album with so many different guitarists but it works out really well! The lyrics and everything else has been the work of Andrew himself. He really is capable of a lot! ‘Lightning Strikes The Crown’ has been released via bandcamp on the 22th of May and for a first album this is incredibly good. The power of the album is without a doubt in the wide diversity of musicians.

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OPETH & GOJIRA Destroy the Egyptian Room in Indianapolis w/ DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT

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This was one of those tours that I could not, would not, miss. As soon as Gojira and Opeth revealed the dates for a co-headlining tour of the U.S., the plans for a trip to Indianapolis’s Egyptian Room on May 13th were set in motion. With none other than the Devin Townsend Project opening for the metal titans, this tour was destined to go down as the heaviest, prog-infused expedition that I have ever witnessed.  Continue reading →

The Bucketlist With KRASHKARMA’s Nicole Skistimas!

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Los Angeles based Alternative Metal Duo KRASHKARMA has been coined as “The White Stripes of Metal” with their singing female drummer intertwining with a guitar sound Frankenstein could take credit for creating. The dynamic on stage between the two vocalists capture a yin and yang that keeps your eyes peeled, your head banging and your lips belting out your new favorite songs. Energy and passion meets explosive guitar riffs – with their debut album, ‘Straight To The Blood’, KRASHKARMA have establishing themselves as one of the hottest touring acts. Made up of Ralf Dietel (vocals, guitars) and Niki Skistimas (vocals, drums) are radiating waves of excitement – especially in Germany and the surrounding countries. Ralf also formerly played guitar for Nine Inch Nails in 2015. Bleeding guitars, crushing rhythms and choruses that go straight for the throat fuse together creating an adrenaline-driven show that lies somewhere between heaven and hell. The band over 450 live performances under their belt and has even licensed music to Fox Sports. After their debut album in 2011 and extensive touring throughout the US and Europe – even representing the metal scene in Morocco, Africa – they stand, poised to strike – ready to tear down new borders with their second album “Paint The Devil”. The album released Oct 16, 2015 via Splitnail Records. The band has an aggressive alternative sound that you have to see in person to believe. The vocal harmonies between the duo is complete perfection.  Continue reading →

DEAD CROSS Feat. Dave Lombardo And Mike Patton Reveal North American Tour Dates

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Robing in the likes of ex-Slayer drummer, Dave Lombardo, Mike Patton from Faith No More hardcore supergroup DEAD CROSS form a potent force in 2015. They won’t release a new album up until August 4,via Ipecac Recordings, this year. In support of their self-titled debut album they will be touring entire North America and promise to put up excellent shows with a new breed of energy, the dates to which have been already announced.

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Review: OLD BLOOD – S/T [Album Stream]

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OLD BLOOD is multi-dimensional band that incorporates blues, stoner rock, doom and acid rock into one beautiful package. They formed in 2014 in Los Angeles, California. OLD BLOOD quickly signed to DHU Records in Europe after the critically acclaimed release of two demo tracks on Bandcamp and a Youtube video for their song “Glowplug”. OLD BLOOD takes a push into unknown territory in the genre with the addition of crystal clear vocals, keyboards and emphasis on heavy grooves and an extensive live stage show featuring The Rigomortettes beyond the wall of amplifiers. The soaring vocals by Feathers are the perfect pairing to the bands groove and doom elements within their music. OLD BLOOD incorporates various elements into their sound that makes them almost impossible to pigeon hole to one genre. They have been slapped with the label of “Acid Doom” and that is likely the most fitting. OLD BLOOD’s debut album was recorded and mixed by Frankie Siragusa at The Lab Studios in Hollywood, CA and mastered by renowned Los Angeles record mastering engineer Mike Wells at Mike Wells Mastering in North Hollywood, CA. The debut released on August 27, 2016. Continue reading →

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY Working On New Album Set For A Fall Release

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CAVALERA CONSPIRACY was formed eleven years back in 2006, when Igor Cavalera surprise called Max after a decade, during which they both remained without each other’s reach for a painstakingly long decade, after they both left their brainchild, Sepultura. What followed was Max’s invitation to Igor to come and play for a Soulfly gig, after which Max proposed to begin a new project with his brother to which Igor accepted. Yes, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY is back in the studio and is undergoing the recording process of their fourth new studio album, reportedly in Phoenix, Arizona.

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ARCH ENEMY Announce New Album Details and First Leg Of Tour Dates

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Can 2017 get any more exciting with all these cool album releases ? Probably one of the biggest cards on the deck of melodic death metal ARCH ENEMY just released details about their new upcoming studio album, just three years after their 2014 album,’War Eternal’ which saw Alissa White-Gluz(ex-The Agonist and Kamelot) debut on vocals after ferocious front woman Angela Gossow’s departure from the band and choosing to take the driving wheel on managing the band. This is going to be Alissa’s second album with the band. They successfully nailed down the ‘War Eternal’ album cycle with a world tour finishing it off by releasing the ‘As The Stages Burn!’ DVD recorded in their epic headlining performance in Wacken Open Air, 2016. An epic performance embossed in time and memories with a fantastic DVD, fans welcomed it with huge appreciation. Continue reading →

State Of The Art: APE CAVE [Album Stream & Behind The Scenes Video]

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*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*

This month’s State is Oregon!

Ape Cave are a talented band from the musically rich city of Portland, Oregon. The band’s debut release was on May 31, 2015 in the form of an EP titled ‘Primordium’. It was engineered by Ryan Grunest and The Human and mixed/mastered by The Human at Human Studios. “Primordium” has been described as an eighteen minute long embarkment spanning over bountiful sonic landscapes – listeners will find themselves immersed in formidable singing, kaleidoscopic guitar solos and rigid rhythms. I have become addicted to their unique sound since hearing their latest release ‘Pillars of Evolution’. It was engineered/mixed by Fester at Haywire Studios and mastered by Stephan Hawkes at Interlace Audio. The band describes the album “Prepare to undertake a momentous odyssey through Kashmir’s bluffs, devastating Egyptian plains and volcanic panorama in Ape Cave’s LP ‘Pillars of Evolution.’ The psychedelic guitar work, roaring bass lines, thunderous percussion and dark vocals soaring to pyramidal heights are just a fraction of the elements that will leave listeners captivated. The tale of a wanderer experiencing an intensely hallucinogenic, trans-continental journey is yet to be unraveled.” Continue reading →