Metal Nexus recently received a pre-release copy of “Book of Shadows II” by Zakk Wylde. While this album is by no stretch of the imagination, Metal, it is the Zakk Wylde and after listening to it, deserves a high place on our must-have list for 2016, regardless. Release date is set for April 8, 2016. With no spoilers, we respectfully submit the following review of this pivotal album:
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is California!
“And now for something completely different…”
– Monty Python’s Flying Circus
Sorizon is a very rare and unique band based out of Orange County, CA. Playing throughout Southern and Central California, Arizona and Nevada; this sextet of wickedly talented musicians have thrown caution to the wind and decided to create whatever strikes their collective, creative fancy instead of targeting one group of listeners or chaining themselves to any certain genre. When asked “what is your target audience”, song-writer, studio guitarist, and manager Dr. Danny Mann enthusiastically states “Everyone! We’ve heard many times after our shows from people who don’t really like metal that they really dug our set. I’m proud of that!” That said, Sorizon has much to be proud of because after just one listen to their music, one understands why this is true! Continue reading
The much anticipated CD by Metal Church, aptly named “XI” is due for release on March 25th. With the return of singer Mike Howe, whose last release with the band was 1993’s “Hanging in the Balance”, those that have followed the band for as many years or more have been anxiously waiting to hear the result of this star-crossed reunion. Metal Nexus recently procured a pre-release copy for review and… But wait…
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is California!
Hailing from Los Angeles, Once Human is a brutal force in Metal to be reckoned with and not for the faint of heart. Formed in 2014 by music producer and guitarist extraordinaire Logan Mader (of Soulfly and Machine Head fame) after joining forces with Australian guitarist-turned-singer Lauren Hart, bassist Damian Rainauld and drummer Ralph Alexander. Shortly after the release of their debut album, The Life I Remember in August of 2015, Alexander was replaced on drums by Dillion Trollope. With the addition of Skyler Howren on guitars, the current line up was complete. Already touring with Fear Factory and soon with Death Angel, Once Human is proving that they have what it takes to propagate their very dark brand of music in the Metal world.
Coronal Mass Ejection recently dropped their instrumental, self-titled, five song EP. Recorded in less than eight hours, it boggles the mind to learn that such a rich and complex texture of sound comes from only a trio of very talented musicians: Vincent Sorgentoni on guitar, Steve DiEva on bass and Patrick Wiwel on drums. Also incredible is the fact that the band is in its infancy, coming together in December of 2015! Their music certainly does not reflect the band’s age.
Uli Jon Roth. Jennifer Batten. Andy Timmons. Drop the name of any of these guitar gods and adjectives like virtuosic, spectacular and legend are sure to abound. The stars and planets have aligned now that Uli Jon Roth has chosen to tour with Batten and Timmons on “The Ultimate Guitar Experience” tour. Big words in a day when there are so many good guitarists out there. On the second night of their tour at The Plaza LIVE in Orlando, excitement and awe was palpable in the line waiting to see these three phenoms. What was waiting for us inside was beyond what any of us could have expected. Continue reading
One of Kentucky’s best metal bands is about to showcase their talents all over the East Coast. Stonecutters are touring in support of their recent album “Blood Moon” which made our Top 25 albums of 2015. If you are anywhere near any of their stops on tour you will want to make sure to get your ass out there and see them live. Buy a shirt, get the album and raise hell in the pit. Coming to a town near you…
Blood Moon Rising Tour March 2016
3/11-Indianapolis, IN~Fifth Quarter
3/12-Lansing, MI~Macs
3/13-Detroit,MI~Painted Lady
3/14-Ft. Wayne, IN~Skeletunes
3/15-Cincinnati, OH~Northside Yacht Club
3/16-Charleston, WV~Empty Glass
3/17-Winston-Salem, NC~The Garage
3/18-Asheville, NC~Odditorium
3/19-Richmond, VA~Wonderland
3/20-Raleigh, NC~Slim’s
3/21-Jacksonville, FL~Shantytown Pub
3/23-Orlando, FL~Uncle Lou’s
3/24-Cape Coral, FL~Rackem Billiards
3/25-Tampa, FL~Brass Mug
3/26-Knoxville, TN~The ConcourseFollow Stonecutters online here!
Tennessee natives Whitechapel are currently finishing up work on their upcoming sixth full-length, (Yes, 6th.) They will head back out on the road next month for their final headlining tour in support of their latest album, Our Endless War. The seventeen-date journey will kick off May 4th in Fayetteville, Arkansas and wrap up on May 22nd in Wilmington, North Carolina. Support will be provided Fit For A King, The Plot In You, and Enterprise Earth.
WHITECHAPEL w/ Fit For A King, The Plot In You, Enterprise Earth:
*This is part of our State Of The Art series showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state*
This month’s State is Nevada!
You can’t think about Nevada without thinking about Sin City. Now these days you can’t think about Sin City without thinking about the SIN CITY SINNERS! Formed in 2007 the SIN CITY SINNERS started as a just for fun jam band but quickly turned into something much bigger. Now in 2015 they are Las Vegas’s top drawing rock act. Their reputation has grown so much that rock legends will not visit Vegas without catching a performance from the rockers, very often joining them on stage. In fact, Hundreds of rock stars have jammed with the “Sinners” including members of iconic bands like Guns N’ Roses, KISS, Motley Crue, Journey, Motorhead and Pantera to name just a few. The band claims that if you took every artist who has performed on stage with them and added their record sells together, the total sells would eclipse 500 Million albums sold worldwide. Continue reading
Jacksonville’s premiere music festival is slowly approaching. A mere 70 days or so away. Once again the promoters have amassed a slew of amazing bands from varying genres. Rockvillans like myself anxiously wait all year long for the gates to open and the first note to be struck. If you haven’t made plans to attend you are doing yourself a great injustice. Be there. Continue reading
