Sourvein Reveals Details For New Album, ‘Aquatic Occult’. [Streaming First Single]

T.Roy Medlin (Photo Credit: D. Randall Blythe)

T.Roy Medlin (Photo Credit: D. Randall Blythe)

Sourvein reveals details for new album, ‘Aquatic Occult’; launches first single “Ocypuss”, featuring Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe and Corrosion of Conformity’s Mike Dean and Reed Mullin.  Continue reading

Chicago Open Air Festival. July 15th-17th!

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Chicago Open Air has announced Rammstein as one of the headlining acts for the 3-day music, craft beer and Gourmet Man Food festival held July 15, 16 and 17 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL, just outside Chicago. This marks Rammstein’s only 2016 U.S. performance and first Chicago show since 2012. Additional festival headliners will be announced on February 16. Continue reading

Black Sabbath The End… with Rival Sons – United Center – Chicago, IL. 1/22/16

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Freezing temperatures couldn’t keep things from heating up in Chicago Friday night as Black Sabbath brought show 2 of their final tour, appropriately titled “The End”, to the United Center. The 23,000 Plus arena was sold out and filled to the brim by the time the metal masters took the stage. But first Long Beach, California rockers Rival Sons took the stage to get the crowd warmed up from the cold outside.

IMG_3642 Continue reading

Review: Lord Almighty – “Paths” [Stream]

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Sometimes music can be so addictive, but luckily you can’t overdose on metal (Or I would have perished many years ago). A new addiction of mine is the killer genre bending band Lord Almighty. They are a band that doesn’t set boundaries and really can’t be caged into one style. The band sounds like have spent decades together honing their sound, but the truth is they formed just a few years ago in 2013. The founders of the band Goose (lead guitar) and Keenan (rhythm and vocals) began writing material almost immediately which would become their debut EP released in April of 2013. They don’t waste much time as they followed up that EP pretty quickly with their newest release “Paths”. Continue reading

Colucci Releases Lyric Video for “Pushing”

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The one man project Colucci has released a new lyric video for the song “Pushing”. Colucci is the solo project of the man it is named after, Gino Colucci, founder of Converse Records and also a member of the killer Chicago band Domestic Godzilla. The new song is a lyrically driven hard rock song with some nu-metal elements. Gino mentioned this when releasing the video “I recently finished this song. It’s about dealing with issues related to anxiety, depression and PTSD. Being a paramedic for over 15 years and firefighter for 8, that shit takes it’s toll mentally. It’s time for change and to get control of my health.

Many more guys and gals in emergency services have the same problem too. We’re seen as heroes so it can be hard to reach out and say “we’re not strong enough to deal with all this”. Some have tried CBD from places like Pure Hemp Farms to manage their stress and that’s a step in the right direction. Others have been dealing with it by bottling it up, which is not good at all. Its time for us to be more open with our struggles and try to find help.

This project has been very personal and therapeutic for me. You can download it free. Looking forward to better days! I wrote, performed, recorded, mixed all instruments vocals etc., the first of many to come.” The lyrics are heartfelt and touching. Gino has risked his life and saved many throughout his career as a fire fighter and paramedic in the Chicago, Illinois area. Check out the song, download it, share it, and follow Converse Records here on Facebook for more to come.

Click the video below to listen to Pushing (lyrics are included on the center of the screen):

State of the Art: Pissing Razors!

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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 Texas!

Texas has always had a great music scene. It’s not surprising considering it’s size and the large number of huge cities within the states borders. Everyone has a favorite Texas band, so I figure it’s time to let you in on mine. I know what you are thinking and no it’s not Pantera, D.R.I., The Sword, or ZZ Top. My favorite Texans is none other than Pissing Razors. The El Paso band has always been heavy as hell and has been a mainstay in my listening rotation for years. Continue reading

Black Sabbath Announce “The End” CD featuring 4 Previously Unreleased songs

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A new special limited-edition BLACK SABBATH CD, “The End”, will be sold exclusively at shows on the legendary band’s massive worldwide final tour, which kicks off next week. Featuring original artwork by Shepard Fairey of the Obey Giant street art campaign, the CD is comprised of eight previously unreleased tracks: four songs are outtakes from BLACK SABBATH‘s worldwide No. 1, Grammy Award-winning album “13” and four live songs from the band’s critically acclaimed “13” world tour.  Continue reading

Flaw on Tour w/ Freaks Like Me!

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Flaw is just a few days away from kicking off their latest tour. The B.O.L.O. 2016 Tour will begin on January 14th in Sanford, Florida and end on February 1st in Springfield, Missouri. The band will be dominating venues all over the South. The band has been in the studio putting the finishing touches on their highly anticipated upcoming album due out in March. The band also recently signed to Pavement Entertainment. The band has been back at it and active for the past couple years but the album will be the first album released from the band since 2004’s ‘Endangered Species’. The band has unveiled one new song which made it’s rounds in Sirius satellite radio. The song “Bleed Red” shows the band has only got better with age. Fans went crazy for the new track requesting it consistently. If this song is any indication to what to expect from the upcoming album it is going to kick major ass. The band has had several lineup changes in the past but the core of the band has always been Chris Volz, Ryan Jurhs, and Jay Daunt. These 3 musicians are the blood that pumps through the veins of Flaw. Along with them is newly added drummer Corey Sturgill who is a great addition to the band. I also have to add that he was deathly sick at this past years Louder Than Life festival and he still took the stage and played a flawless set.

The band has added label mates Freaks Like Me as direct support on the tour. The group has a great throwback rock sound that will just add to this already amazing tour. They are just the right amount of heavy and melodic to fit in perfectly with Flaw. Of course Flaw is known for their emotional lyrics that reach out and mend your soul. If you are within driving range of one of these dates get out there and support these bands. We will be reviewing the Jacksonville stop on this tour at Jack Rabbits which includes the killer hometown band Immune. Also on the bill that night is The Knowing Within and The Things They Carried. It’s just another addition to an already killer show. So stay tuned as we will have a review for this show and some killer pictures.

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Follow the bands below to keep up with everything through the tour, and make sure to pick up Flaw’s upcoming release.

Flaw

Freaks Like Me

Immune