Review: MOTIONLESS IN WHITE – ‘Graveyard Shift’ [Official Videos]

 

Motionless In White is a band that I have loved from their beginning EP ‘The Whorror’ in 2007 all the way to their latest release ‘Graveyard Shift’ that came out just 2 days ago on the 5th of May via Roadrunner Records. After that glorious EP they released another one called ‘When Love Met Destruction’ in 2009, the coolest part about this EP is that there are only 1000 copies around so if you have one you should consider yourself lucky! ‘Creatures’ is their debut album which came out just 1 year after their second EP and it’s unbelievable how many fans Motionless In White got from that album alone. It’s truly a masterpiece from them that no one will ever forget about. 2 years later they already released another full album ‘Infamous’ and I got to tell you for that year (2012) there was nothing around like this album at all and that’s why the album became such a big hit. It got inspired by a lot of bands such as Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie and Korn, with this information alone I would already get my stuff and run to the store. ‘Reincarnate’ is their 3th album that came out in 2014 and it was the last album that got released via Fearless Records. Since then the band got their new label Roadrunner Records, Fearless Records really helped the band get through their early stages but Roadrunner Records is for sure a label which the band can grow on.

Continue reading

Review: SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL – ‘Misery Sermon’ [Official Videos]

 

When someone asks me what the most brutal band on this damn earth is I would always answer with Enterprise Earth but after Slaughter To Prevail released their new album ‘Misery Sermon’ today I am not sure what to answer. Alex Terrible really improved his vocals a lot since their first ever EP ‘Chapters Of Misery’ that got released just 2 years ago. After just starting to listen to deathcore I stumbled upon this breathtaking EP and it instantly caught me in it’s web. I never heard anything like it. The brutalness was one of a kind and the fact that the vocals are mostly in russian makes it even better. After listening to this EP over and over again for 2 years now they eventually made their debut album ‘Misery Sermon’ which got released on this exact date by their label Sumerian Records. When people hear the words ‘Slaughter To Prevail’ they immediately think of their vocalist Alex Shikolai but there is more to the band then just the vocalist. Jack Simmons takes care of the striking solo’s and guitar riffs where Anton Poddyachy is busy showing everyone what he is capable of on the drums. Not to mention the amazing masks that they created themselves. Click HERE if you want to be part of the Misery Crew!

Continue reading

Chicago Open Air Spotlight: CANE HILL

Photo by Porter McKnight

*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 Cane Hill.

On Saturday, July 15th, alternative metal band Cane Hill will be bringing their contagiously heavy sound to Chicago Open Air in Toyota Park. It all began back in New Orleans in 2011. Cane Hill’s name is actually taken from the name of a deserted mental asylum in the UK. The band really broke through from their very start with their refreshing take on a mix of nu metal and hardcore. Despite only having one album out, Cane Hill has already showed a tremendous amount of diversity in their sound. They cover all aspects of the two genres being very reminiscent of acts like Slipknot, Korn, and Marilyn Manson. They released their first single in 2014 “Sunday School” (check it out below) and were signed to Rise Records in the same day. Continue reading

Motörhead Gets New Video Game This Summer!

Even though Lemmy passed away more than a year ago, the legacy of Motörhead will never die. The act is one of the most iconic bands of all time, and it’s not surprising that fans don’t intend to let go of the legend any time soon. There have been no shortage of posthumous records, tribute concerts, memorials, and more dedicated to the kings of speed metal, but one way that the bassist continues to live on is through video games. Continue reading

The Bucketlist With VAJRA Founder Annamaria Pinna!

New York City melodic rockers VAJRA have been turning heads since their formation in 2011. VAJRA uniquely blends hauntingly dark and hypnotic melodic, progressive rock with Eastern Indian themes into foreboding and mysterious lullabies.The band was formed by composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist, Annamaria Pinna during her self-imposed exile in India. Her story is just as compelling as the bands music. Annamaria was the child of a former monk and school teacher, she was encouraged to learn about the world around her and to question her assumptions. She believes there is divinity in creativity. Annamaria has a neurological condition called synesthesia, where she attaches color and shapes to sound. Her synesthesia seems to bring another dimension to the bands music, and it’s possibly the reason they stand out. VAJRA released their debut album ‘Pleroma’ on the Summer Solstice of 2012 (6.21.12). ‘Pleroma’ is an exploration in paradox (east vs west, soft vs pummelling, female vs male) and includes Blake Fleming (ex-The Mars Volta) on drums. Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of A Down, Prince, Johnny Cash) co-produced the vocals and mixed. Tom Baker (NIN, Foo Fighters, Ministry, Prince) mastered. The band has quickly became a must see live act. VAJRA is an extreme force selling-out their first show in November, 2011 (at The Bowery Electric in NYC). Rolling Stone Magazine named VAJRA the “Must-See Act” at the Loudwire Music Festival in 2015. With so much content out there these days it’s easy to overlook a band. AXS Magazing named the band one of the “Most underrated bands”. The band has a unique sound that not only comes across proficiently on the album but also in the live setting with ample amounts of on stage energy. The band has released a new single titled “The Mirror” from the forthcoming album, ‘Irkalla’ – the 1st EP of The Trilogy Series. It was engineered & produced by OH NO! ØKTAPUS at Red 13 Studios. The band will be playing the upcoming BratFest in Madison, Wisonsin along side the bands: Tantric, Bobaflex, Kevlar, the funk master George Clinton and many more.

Continue reading

Review: SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT – ‘One With The Universe’ [Album Stream]

In less than two weeks, Samsara Blue Experiment‘s fourth full length album officially releases. The trio formed in Germany in 2007 and is well praised in the stoner/doom/psychedelic rock community. ‘One With The Universe’ will be released via Electric Magic Records, the band’s second album on the label. The artwork you see above was created by French artist Michel Bassot. Samsara Blues Experiment lives up to their name by experimenting a little bit more with synthesizers than they have on past records. They still manage to maintain the focus of putting forth heavy material while also adding in new elements to open more doors for the band. Although it doesn’t drop physically until May 12th, you can already stream the album online. The band worked with largely popular YouTube channel Stoned Meadow of Doom and you can actually listen to it below right now. If you like what you hear be sure to support the artists by pre-ordering the record here. Continue reading

METALLICA’s Lars Ulrich To Host Apple Beats1 Radio Show ‘It’s Electric’

Our very own Great Dane, Lars Ulrich from METALLICA has decided to test the waters on hosting an online radio show which is gonna be known as, “It’s Electric“. This is a venture set forth by Apple Music Beats1 which is also going to feature co-host Steffan Chirazi, who happens to be METALLICA‘s ‘So What!’ fan magazine editor.

Continue reading

Review of 3 Kisses June 3rd Release of “Read ‘Em & Weep”

3 Kisses is:

Tish Meeks – Vocals, guitar

Drew Owens – Lead guitar, backing vocals

Dale Payne – Drums

Zach Adams – Bass

Born in the fiery heat of Central Texas and then transplanted to Wasilla, Alaska comes Punk/Rock/Hard Rock/Alternative/Pop sensation, 3 Kisses. Fronted by wild woman Tish Meeks, 3 Kisses was originally formed in January 2004 as an Alternative Punk Rock outfit focused on good times aligned with unprecedented energy. True to form, Tish quickly garnering the title of “A Little Ball of Fire”, and with the rest of the band, began their dominant rampage across the Southern United States. Once their momentum overcame the region, 3 Kisses was able to expand their influence all over the country and earned them sponsorship from Jagermeister, Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Dirtbag Clothing, Daisy Rock Guitars, Miller Lite, Dunlop, Coffin Case, GoGirls Music, Texas Independent Musicians, Music Gorilla, Old Dog Products and Powered by Sam Ash. The amalgamation of fun, energetic and radio-friendly music full sarcastic angst resonated deeply with fans and catapulted 3 Kisses to enviable heights. With influences ranging from Frank Zappa and Led Zeppelin, to Joan Jett and the GoGos, to The Cranberries and Blondie all the way to Korn, Tool and Marilyn Manson, 3 Kisses have an enormous range of loyal music fans as well. Think hard hitting Rock acts like that that of Pat Benetar, Joan Jett, Green Day and the Ramones with the sarcastic playfulness of Pink and Avril Lavigne. This winning combination has worked brilliantly and since 2004, 3 Kisses has performed thousands of shows, been in an endless number of music magazine and radio features, been on ABC’sWife Swap”, had their very own reality program, been involved in numerous commercial campaigns, video games, movies and television shows (including the “2014 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards”, “Restaurant Impossible”, “Diners, Drive Ins & Dives”, “Dallas Card Sharks”, “Disaster Decks”, “Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare”, “Sonic Boom”, Lifetime movies, and “Hot Wheelsspots”), has had multiple singles land on the Top 15 by Rock Solid Pressure, is a heavy supporter of breast cancer research through the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and the American Cancer Society, been inducted into the Independent Artist Registry, holds the #1 spot for Alaskan Alternative Music on ReverbNation and has nine studio albums to their credit. Their most recent release, Angels Bleed Black, turned the page on the next chapter of this long-standing band; serving as a fitting segue into an edgier, more Metal oriented sound that is permeated with more serious subject matter while staying true to their trademark grooves, passionate lyrical themes and top-shelf musicianship. Singer and guitarist Tish Meeks, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Drew Owens, bassist Zach Adams and drummer extraordinaire Dale Payne continue to up their heavier game with Read ‘Em & Weep! After releasing the single “Dead Man’s Hand” to much critical and fan acclaim, there is no doubt that 2017 will be hotter than ever for 3 Kisses!

Continue reading

MEGADETH Plan To Re-Record Their Debut Album With Kiko And Dirk

Dave Mustaine, the front man of thrash metal legends, Megadeth, has been time and again hinting at the possibility of re-recording their first ever album, ‘Killing Is My Business.. And Business Is Good‘. Mustaine looks really committed and wants to keep the door open for this prospect and he has been witnessed confirming the claim in a recent flurry of tweets, in fact yesterday on May 1. This happened while Dave Mustaine was involved in a Q&A tweet session with his fans on Twitter. If this really ends up materialising then this would be Dirk Verbeuren’s first recording with the band as ‘Dystopia’ involved the talented Chris Adler on drums and Kiko’s second in the current line-up.

Continue reading

Review: CHAOS – ‘All Against All’ [Official Video Stream]

Over the years, thrash metal has had quite a mixed bag of a journey, sometimes mostly deviating from the core of thrash metal itself to a more mass appealing sound even if hovering around in the metal boundaries. Some bands have changed the sound “to break the monotony” or in the name of “experimentation” so much that thrash metal kind of gets a bad rep once in a while especially these days. While this may excite some fans to the new sound approach, it may also lead the old school thrash lovers to much dismay, to an extent where some fans have questioned the genre’s long term existence. But as they as say “the grass is greener on the other side”, likewise there are a plethora of bands that don’t really compromise on their thrash sound. As thrash as it can be, they know how to deliver it. They couldn’t care less how mainstream the band next door allures itself or your fans into. All they know is to deliver thrash ever so gritty, fueled with anger and velocity. Such bands make sure you get what you want every time they deliver a single or one hell of a juggernaut of an album. Continue reading