State Of The Art: Rhode Island’s PUBLIC POLICY [Album Stream]

Public Policy Band

Public Policy – Photo by Stuart Window

*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state. This month’s state is Rhode Island.*

There is not a great deal I know about Rhode Island’s Public Policy, but their Facebook page gives a colorful overview – “Public Policy is a sinewy, brash, and beautiful rock ‘n roll band from Providence, RI. Complex, tightly-crafted rock songs churn and boil under dense and plaintive lyrics. It’s not jangular, and there’s no saxophone in sight.

The band is comprised of Dean Gardner (vocals, guitar), Nick Cooper (guitar, vocals), Dan Moriarty (drums, backing vocals) and Dan Sliwinski (bass guitar, backing vocals).

public-policy-human-resource

Public Policy – Human Resource

Their sophomore release ‘Human Resource’ was recorded by Daryl Rabidoux at The Radar Studio, Clinton, CT and Axion Media Lab, Pawtucket, RI. It was mixed by Daryl Rabidoux at Axion Media Lab, Pawtucket, RI.

This is five tracks of steaming emotion, a stream of consciousness that brings back Grunge and Emo in one post-hardcore package. The vocals veer between sneers and tears and the guitars rip away right in your face.

The band are artists, first and foremost. Nothing on this release cries out any rock star pretentions. They are a ball of concentrated acidic chords and some bitter gospel songs for the new generation. The concerns of the young are howled out on tunes such as “Ice Age“, with its eco-sermon “burn down together” refrain.

Other fine numbers include “Insulin“, with its chopping chords and grinding punk verses. Make no assumptions, these guys can play and have melodies weaving their way around this release. They know they want to talk to you and they know their message needs to get through.

They also have the same alternative vibes as the early Eighties indie bands, but they have the power that eludes those artists. They sound as if the struggle has been all too real…

Check out Public Policy and see if you can get behind their human resourcing.

https://publicpolicy.bandcamp.com/

Review: SPIRIT DIVISION – ‘Forgotten Planet’ [Album Stream]

Doom Metal band Spirit Division have returned after two years with a new album : ‘Forgotten Planet.’ With this new release, Spirit Division have shown their growth as musicians as they incorporate psychedelic and progressive elements that were unseen on the bands past releases. Continue reading

Review: DOPETHRONE – ‘Transcanadian Anger’ [Album Stream]

 

Dopethrone are a Canadian Sludge/ Doom Metal band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Active since 2008, they are known for their abrasive mix of sludge, stoner and doom with lyrics based in murder, cannabis and sleazy drug abuse. 2018 brings us ‘Transcanadian Anger’ – The fifth release from the band. This is a terrifying, massively fuzzed out slab of Sludge perfection! Continue reading

STATIC-X Have Returned With New Album And World Tour

 

Static-X are reuniting with the original lineup to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of their successful debut album Wisconsin Death Trip. Bassist Tony Campos, guitarist Koichi Fukuda and drummer Ken Jay have teamed up again to release Project Regeneration, set to hit shelves and streaming services Spring 2019. The band has also planned a world tour to support the album and to honor their late frontman, Wayne Static, who passed away November 1, 2014. More information on the tour dates will be coming soon.

The band has compiled posthumous vocal performances and musical compositions that Static left behind. With help from long-time producer of Static X, Ulrich Wild, their seventh studio album will feature 12-15 brand new Static-X tracks.

Bassist Tony Campos explains, “With the 20th anniversary of Wisconsin Death Trip quickly approaching, it feels like the right time to pay our respects to the band, to Wayne, and to all the fans who have been with us right from the start.” says bassist Tony Campos. “We had a lot of material to work with… several demos that Wayne left behind, as well as some really great isolated vocal performances from some nearly finished songs. Together, we have been writing and crafting something very special!

You can check out teaser clips from a new music video, featuring brand new Static-X tracks, “Road To Hell”, “Something Of My Own”, “Terminator Oscillator”, “Hollow” and “Disco Otsego” – along with a personal message from bassist Tony Campos about the inspiration behind Project Regeneration now here. For the unfinished tracks, guest vocals will be laid down by friends of Static-X. This process is being brought together by Sirius XM pioneer Jose Mangin, who is also credited as an executive producer of the project.

Campos says, “We have confirmed interest from our friends David Draiman, Ivan Moody, Al Jorgensen, Dez Fafara, Edsel Dope, Burton C Bell, and a few others,” says Campos. “Unfortunately, due to everyone’s crazy schedules, it is a little early to know how things will shake out. We are more than confident that the album will have some incredible guest vocalists, but it should be noted that it is still too early to count anyone in 100%.

This is a celebration of STATIC-X, Wisconsin Death Trip, Wayne Static, and all of our fans,” adds Campos. “We are very excited about what we have created, so we wanted to involve the fans early, and in a campaign sort of way, so that they can participate with us and help to dictate some of the things that we do.

Preorders are available for Project Regeneration, which comes with their name appearing in liner notes of the new album. Other special preorder options include merch bundles and several old school Static X merch to celebrate the anniversary of Wisconsin Death Trip. Preorders are available here. Static-X also plan on doing multiple video updates via Facebook Live chats over the next few months to keep the fans involved and updated on the process. To keep up to date on Static-X and their return follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or their website.

UNCLE ACID AND THE DEADBEATS and GRAVEYARD Team Up For March 2019 North American Tour

Stoner rock fans across North America will have reason to rejoice in March 2019, when English horror-psych mavens Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats join forces with Swedish retro-rockers Graveyard for a co-headlining jaunt dubbed the “Peace Across the Wasteland” tour. Ticket pre-sales for the nineteen-date tour, which kicks off at Philadelphia’s Union Transfer on March 6 and runs through March 30 at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, begin October 24, with the general on-sale beginning two days later.

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Max Cavalera On ‘Ritual’ “Marc [Rizzo] Channeled His Best Impersonation Of Fast Eddy Clark (Motorhead)”

 

There are some of the guys in this heavy metal music industry who are nothing short of mega massive walking icons for the heavy metal. we are of course talking about one of the legends who has helped pioneer many genre defining bands, especially SEPULTURA. Yes, the spotlight is on our Brazilian brother, Max Cavalera.

This one man army has single handedly led the charge for the extreme metal genre way too many times now. Juggling three to four active bands all at the same time is something Max does without even the slightest sense of nervousness or failure. Max Cavalera after having departed from SEPULTURA in 1996, re-channeled his passion for heavy music in the form of bands like SOULFLY which is an incarnation as close to SEPULTURA it can be, KILLER BE KILLED is a super-group formed in 2011 with the members of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and MASTODON, and lastly CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, which Max fronts along with his brother Igor. Cavalera was also involved in a short-lived side project called NAILBOMB. So there you can see, it’s evident that this Brazilian bad ass is surely a jack of all trades.

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WHITECHAPEL Guitarist Alludes To Completion of Seventh Album!

BIG NEWS for Whitechapel fans: the deathcore elites have finished the recordings for their upcoming seventh studio album. Guitarist Alex Wade posted a teaser of a song on the album on his instagram story over the weekend with the caption, “it’s done. #7” The Knoxville sextet are still riding out 2018 on a wave of massive tour dates and momentum in the celebration of their definitive album, “This Is Exile,” turning ten this year. Their closing tour dates on the year feature a month and half long run on the road with Chelsea Grin, Oceano, and Slaughter To Prevail, starting November 1st in Pittsburgh, PA at The Rex Theater and ending December 16th at their annual toy drive/Christmas show at The Mill And The Mine in their hometown Knoxville, TN. The album release date has yet to be announced, but, fans may expect to hear some new music in the early portions of 2019.

So without further ado, let’s get right into those dates!

Nov. 1 – Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Rex Theater
Nov. 2 – Syracuse, N.Y. @ Westcott Theater
Nov. 3 – Easton, Pa. @ One Centre Square
Nov. 4 – Providence, R.I. @ Fete Ballroom
Nov. 5 – Hartford, Ct. @ Webster Theater
Nov. 7 – Richmond, Va. @ Canal Club
Nov. 8 – Huntington, W.V. @ V Club
Nov. 9 – Dayton, Ohio @ Oddbodys
Nov. 10 – Greenville, S.C. @ The Firmament
Nov. 12 – Athens, Ga. @ Georgia Theater
Nov. 13 – Orlando, Fla. @ The Abbey
Nov. 16 – Toledo, Ohio @ Civic Music Hall
Nov. 17 – Milwaukee, Wis. @ The Rave II
Nov. 18 – Ft Wayne, Ind. @ Piere’s
Nov. 20 – St Louis, Mo. @ Delmar Hall
Nov. 21 – Lincoln, Neb. @ Royal Grove
Nov. 23 – Wichita, Kan. @ Wave
Nov. 24 – Colorado Springs, Colo. @ Sunshine Studios
Nov. 25 – Ft Collins, Colo. @ Aggie Theater
Nov. 27 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ The Depot
Nov. 28 – Spokane, Wash. @ The Pin
Nov. 29 – Seattle, Wash. @ Showbox at the Market
Nov. 30 – Jerome, Idaho @ Diamondz Event Center
Dec. 1 – Portland, Ore. @ Bossanova Ballroom
Dec. 2 – Bend, Ore. @ Domino Room
Dec. 4 – Chico, Calif. @ Senator Theater
Dec. 5 – Santa Cruz, Calif. @ The Catalyst
Dec. 6 – Bakersfield, Calif. @ Bryder’s
Dec. 7 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Fonda Theater
Dec. 8 – San Diego, Calif. @ House of Blues
Dec. 9 – Tucson, Ariz. @ The Rock
Dec. 12 – Austin, Texas @ Come and Take It Live
Dec. 13 – Tulsa, Okla. @ Cain’s Ballroom
Dec. 14 – Memphis, Tenn. @ Growler’s
Dec. 15 – Birmingham, Ala. @ Zydeco
Dec. 16 – Knoxville, Tenn. @ The Mill & Mine

Whitechapel:

Phil Bozeman – Vocals
Ben Savage – Guitar
Zach Householder – Guitar
Alex Wade – Guitar
Gabe Crisp – Bass
Navene Koperweis – Drums

MIKE SHINODA Brings Emotional Performance To Charlotte [Review & Photo Gallery]

Mike Shinoda

Fans of all ages packed The Fillmore in Charlotte, NC as Mike Shinoda brought his Post Traumatic tour to the Queen City. Walking into this one I knew that I was in store for an emotional night but I didn’t know that it would be as much of an emotional roller coaster as it was. Continue reading

BRING ME THE HORIZON Releases Second Track ”Wonderful Life” Of Their Upcoming Record ‘Amo’ And It Is Groovy!

Bring Me The Horizon doesn’t really need an introduction at all. You either love or hate them. They started out like one of the biggest deathcore bands and have slowly evolved into a more pop, yet metal, version which makes what they create that much better. This band has basically been successful at every genre that have touched so far and the upcoming album ‘Amo’ is going to be no different!

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The Amity Affliction, Dream State, The Plot In You Dominate In Bristol, UK [Review + Photo Gallery]

The Amity Affliction

Unfortunately, I missed the first band on the bill Endless Heights. The damn trains were running late due to a steam engine going through the main line to Bristol, so middle fingers in the air to them for causing me to miss a talented opening act.  Continue reading