Tag Archives: Alternative Metal

The Bucket List with MEKA NISM

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* For the Metal Nexus’ Bucket List series, we pose the age-old question to some of your favorite artists: “Before you die, which band(s) would you want to see play live that you haven’t seen before, and why do they mean so much to you?” *

This week, we focus on Orlando, Florida’s art metal mavens, Meka Nism. The quintet consisting of Meka (vocals), Bobby Keller (lead guitar), Jarret Robinson (bass), Christopher Lane (drums), and Jay Adkisson (keys) have made quite a name for themselves in the metal world through their uniquely eclectic, genre-melding sound. Influences swirling throughout their music include everything from opera, to rock, to nu-metal, to black metal, and beyond. It’s no wonder that we see such a wide array of musical styles pop up on each band member’s bucket list. Continue reading →

Women’s Month: Tatiana Shmaylyuk of JINJER

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March is National Women’s Month, and we have decided to celebrate some our favorite women in metal. Every week during March we will honor some of the most respected women in the metal and hard rock world.

Today we focus on the stunning and amazingly talented, Tatiana Shmaylyuk – lead vocalist of Ukrainian prog metal band, Jinjer. Having joined the group in 2010, Shmaylyuk has been essential in propelling them to reach accolades that include being named Best Ukrainian Metal Act of 2013 and 2016, and Best Metal Video for “I Speak Astronomy” in 2016. As a frontwoman in the primarily male-dominated world of metal, Shmaylyuk’s vocal ability, range, and stage command put her not only in a class of her own, but in a position to rival some of the best men in the game. Continue reading →

PRONG Unveils “Zero Days” 2018 West Coast Tour Dates With POWERFLO

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American Power Trio PRONG has announced the continuation of their Zero Days tour with a series of West Coast dates alongside POWERFLO. After a solid year of touring with the likes of TESTAMENT, OBITUARY, SEPULTURA, and EXODUS, as well as filling key slots on the European Summer Festival Circuit, the band now brings it back home to the states, including a highly coveted, co-headlining run with HELMET.

Are you ready for the mosh?

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Interview: Justin Graves of VEXES [Audio Stream]

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I recently had the great pleasure of interviewing Justin Graves, drummer for the band Vexes; who are about to release their full-length debut album, ‘Ancient Geometry’ tomorrow, February 23, 2018.  Metal Nexus also featured a review of the album last month which, in case you missed it, you can check out here.

During our conversation, Justin shared some great insights into the band’s writing and recording process with me, as well as what’s to come for Vexes in the future, and more.

Vexes originally formed in 2016 from the ashes of A Life Once Lost, Vessl, Fury of Five, and Downstage.  Lineup consists of Charlie Berezansky (vocals/guitar/keyboard), Justin Graves (drums), John Klagholz (guitar/keyboard), and Bobby Carpenter (bass).  Their sound is modern but proudly pays homage to their 90’s influences including Deftones, Cave In, Thrice, and Helmet.  For those of us who grew up in the era from where much of this music draws its inspiration, listening to this album will bring a warm sense of nostalgia as it transports you back into high school with your baggy jeans and Puma Suedes.  For newcomers, expect a moody and oftentimes melancholic hard rock/metal experience with powerfully melodic choruses and crooning vocals.  Continue reading →

Review: VEXES ‘Ancient Geometry’ [Track Stream]

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New Jersey post-metal band, Vexes is set to release their exciting full-length debut album, ‘Ancient Geometry’ on February 23, 2018.  The band originally formed in 2016, “from the ashes of A Life Once Lost, Vessl, Fury of Five, and Downstage,” according to their webpage.  Their sound is modern but proudly pays homage to their 90’s influences including Deftones, Cave In, Thrice, and Helmet.  For those of us who grew up in the era from where much of this music draws its inspiration, listening to this album will bring a warm sense of nostalgia as it transports you back into high school with your baggy jeans and Puma Suedes.  For newcomers, expect a moody and oftentimes melancholic hard rock/metal experience with powerfully melodic choruses and crooning vocals. Continue reading →

HOOBASTANK Sign w/ Napalm Records & Announce Upcoming Album Release In 2018

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Yaay, our teenage sensations are back with another new album! 2017 marks another chapter in the career of exceptional rock act, HOOBASTANK, by signing to the Austrian indie label NAPALM RECORDS and announcing their next album, scheduled for the first half of 2018.

HOOBASTANK comments on their future endeavors: “We’re extremely thrilled about signing with Napalm Records and honored to be joining their roster of talented artists. For our 6th full-length album we finally got to work with producer Matt Wallace (Faith No More, Maroon 5). We had been wanting to work with him for years and finally the timing was right. The writing and recording process was everything we could have hoped for. Matt challenged us and brought out different aspects of what we love about making music. We’re excited for our fans to hear it and to make some new fans along the way.”

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Louder Than Life Spotlight: HE IS LEGEND

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*Every Tuesday and Thursday from now until Louder Than Life gets here we will be releasing an article about a band playing the festival to get you familiar with them.*

Today’s artist is He Is Legend.

On Saturday, September 30th, He Is Legend brings their rock fury to the 4th annual Louder Than Life. The North Carolina quartet has been around since the early 90s but didn’t become He Is Legend until 2003. Before that, they were known by other names such as Stronghold, The Uriah’s Omen, and No One Wins. Their current name was taken from a book from the 1950s titled “I Am Legend” by Richard Matheson. You may be familiar with this work as it was spun into a movie back in 2007 featuring Will Smith. Solid State Records picked up the band only a year after their name change and they released ‘I Am Hollywood’ the same year. This record was really along the lines of that southern metal sound similar to Every Time I Die. Their sound really expands across several subgenres though including alternative metal, sludge metal, and hard rock. ‘I Am Hollywood’ featured several songs that the band still plays to this day like “Eating A Book”, “I Am Hollywood”, and the fan favorite “The Seduction”.  Two years later the band released ‘Suck Out The Poison’. This record took some fans by surprise as Schuylar Croom’s voice had changed a bit from the previous record. Check out “Attack of the Dungeon Witch” from it below. In 2009, the band switched labels to Tragic Hero Records and released ‘It Hates You’. After this, He Is Legend announced that they would be taking a hiatus as a band and that they didn’t know when they would return. Continue reading →

TRIVIUM Share New Music Video For “The Sin And The Sentence”

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TRIVIUM has returned with a new track titled, ‘The Sin And The Sentence‘ the first new music from the group since their celebrated 2015 LP, ‘Silence In The Snow‘.  TRIVIUM will return with a new album this fall, with more details to be announced in the coming weeks. Matt Heafy and co’s new single sounds heavy, furiously fast and the usual groovy that the band carries along with it as a trademark. 

In the meantime, the Orlando, Florida-based band will spend this August lighting up Europe, starting tomorrow which includes appearances at such hard rock and metal festivals as Germany’s Wacken Open Air, Austria’s Jolly Roger Festival, Poland’s Woodstock Festival and more along with headline dates featuring support from Obituary and Bury Tomorrow (See attached itinerary). For complete tour information and tickets, please refer below.

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NOTHING MORE Premiere Official Music Video For New Single “Go To War”

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NOTHING MORE is an American rock/metal band from the state of Texas formed in 2003. The ensemble has released six studio albums to date, including their self-titled album released in 2014. After the recent hit of their self-titled album, they are back with another studio album, ‘The Stories We Tell Ourselves‘, set for release on September 15 via Better Noise Records. With just two months to go for the album release NOTHING MORE have already been premiering their new music video from the song, ‘Go To War‘ off their forthcoming new album. Directed by Wayne Isham, the video evokes the burning aggression of the track’s lyrics through a passionate bar fight between two lovers.

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Chicago Open Air Spotlight: Night Verses

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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 Night Verses.

On Saturday, July 15th, California/New York band Night Verses will be bringing their strange, varied sound to Chicago Open Air at Toyota Park. They formed in 2012 in Los Angeles when vocalist Douglas Robinson (The Sleeping) asked to collaborate with trio The Sound Archives. Later that year, they self-released their debut EP titled ‘Out of the Sky’. The quartet exhibits their wide range of influence extremely well in their releases. They are most prevalent in the post rock, alt metal, mathcore, and experimental categories. Night Verses carries an utterly dark, melodic sound that should make for a high intensity show not to be forgotten. Continue reading →