LOUDER THAN LIFE 2019: Friday [Review & Photo Gallery]

After being forced into a flood-induced sabbatical last year, LOUDER THAN LIFE 2019 roared back to life the last weekend of September. Over 50 artists and nearly 130,000 fans descended on Louisville, Kentucky’s Fair and Exposition Center, making Derby City the undisputed capital of the hard rock world (for at least a couple days). Your intrepid METAL NEXUS away team braved the teeming throngs and the suffocatingly oppressive heat, chasing slivers of shade while soaking in the sights and sounds in order to bring you these dispatches from the front lines of the biggest rock festival in America. Continue reading

Phil Anselmo Talks Possible DOWN Anniversary Tour; Hints At Return Of Kirk Windstein To DOWN [Video]

Philip H. Anselmo is a name synonymous with metal. He has been at the helm of several iconic bands that have broken barriers in the music world. One of the hardest working musicians of the generation Phil is a member of several bands each one just as amazing as the next. Pantera got everything started for the singer back in  1986 when he replaced previous singer Terry Glaze and joined forces with brothers Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell Abbott along with Rex Brown. The band blazed new trails in American Heavy Metal and raised the bar of what was expected in regards to modern bands. Phil also went on to form the illustrious supergroup Down which has featured well known members like Jimmy Bower (Eye Hate God), Kirk Windstein (Crowbar, Kingdom of Sorrow), Rex Brown (Pantera), Pepper Keenan (Corrosion Of Conformity), and Pat Bruders (Goatwhore). As if that wasn’t enough of a workload Phil also has Superjoint (Formerly Superjoint Ritual) in which Jimmy Bower is also a member. In the past few years he has also brought two new bands into the realm with Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, and his black metal project Scour. His work history doesn’t end there as he has also been a part of the bands Arson Anthem, Christ Inversion, Southern Isolation, Viking Crown, Eibon and En Minor as well. Around a year ago Phil also stepped in and took over vocal duties for Mike IX Williams of Eye Hate God when he was ill recuperating from a liver transplant. (Mike is now back with the band and is as healthy as ever). In addition to his various bands Phil also runs and owns the label Housecore Records which has an amazing lineup of bands including Author & PunisherThe Mystick Krewe of ClearlightChild BiteKing ParrotCrowbarWarbeast and various others including some of his own projects. Continue reading

New Years Day Guitarist On Negative Feedback From Pantera Cover “Vinnie Paul Gave Us A Thumbs Up, Only Approval I Needed”

New Years Day have come along way since their rise in the Myspace days back in 2005.  While the bands sound has evolved since their first self titled release in 2006, one thing has always remained, their penchant for writing hook centric hard rock/metal.  Fronted by vocalist Ash Costello who provides plenty of beauty to match the bands brawn.  After tours with In This Moment and Halestorm have seen NYD take notice of their peers and push more into that active rock sound, most notably on their most recent release, 2019’s “Unbreakable”, which debuted in the Billboard top 100. Continue reading

State of the Art: Iowa’s BLEEDCHAIN [Track Stream]

Barking vocals, chugging bass and anger. Waterloo, Iowa natives, Bleedchain find balance between new school death metal, old school groove and partying. Keeping the band on tempo, Joe Bartruff on the drums. Scott Carey holds down the low end on bass and vocals. Guitar duo consists of Mike Tucker and Michael Tucker and Lucus Johnston fronts the band.

The band has been around for a little over a decade and have released one demo and two full lengths: 2010’s “Rise of the Goddess” and “Martyrs Throne” from 2016. Bleedchain are hard hitting, fast paced and unforgiving. Experimenting with layered vocals and excessive shredding on top of some NOLA influences, check out the songs, “Viliscas Axe” and “Pile Hammer” Influences from Pantera and DevilDriver are present. Anyone seeking chugging riffs and chugging beer, Bleedchain is the here.

Bleedchain are often playing local gigs in Iowa which can be found on their Facebook page. Listen to their music on ReverbNation.

Rex Brown Makes Statement Regarding Death Of Vinnie Paul

 

With the recent passing of drummer, icon and all around nice guy Vinnie Paul loads of rock stars have made statements about the passing of one of Pantera’s founding members. Vinnie Paul passed away on June 22nd in his sleep. One of VP’s current bandmates in Hellyeah guitarist Tom Maxwell wrote on the band’s Facebook. “We don’t have much info to give you other then Vinnie is now with Dime and they are together in a better place.” We all have been waiting on a statement from the two remaining members of Pantera, Rex Brown and Phillip H. Anselmo. Thus far Phil has only shared a picture on his Instagram with a lit candle and no statement yet. However, Rex Brown has made a statement with another one to come as well. On Facebook Rex stated: “The last few days have been very difficult & painful. At this time, I need more time to process my feelings. “Thank you for all the love that has been sent. A formal press release will be coming shortly. Rest In Peace Brother Vinnie!” While we wait to hear his formal press release and something from Phil Anselmo we send our love and thoughts to all VP’s family, friends, crew, bandmates past and present and his fans.

 

 

 

 

HELLYEAH, PANTERA Drummer VINNIE PAUL ABBOTT Has Passed Away.

Hellyeah

 

Drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott , co-founder of metal bands Pantera, Damageplan, and Hellyeah, has died. Currently a member of Hellyeah, Vinnie Paul was 54. His rep confirmed the news with Billboard and added there is no more details at this time on the cause of death. Born March 11, 1964 VP found stardom behind the drum kit and his brother Dime Bag Darrell became a guitar legend. Following Pantera’s disbanding, the Abbott brothers formed Damageplan in 2003. The band was performing on Dec. 3, 2004, when Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed onstage during a concert in Columbus, Ohio by an estranged fan Nathan Gale. VP took some time off to grieve the tragic loss of his brother and resurfaced with the band Hellyeah along with Mudvayne vocalist Chad Gray.  Continue reading

Philip H. Anselmo On First Meeting Dimebag “He Looked Like A Freaking Unraveled Q-Tip!”

 

Philip H. Anselmo is a name synonymous with metal. He has been at the helm of several iconic bands that have broken barriers in the music world. One of the hardest working musicians of the generation Phil is a member of several bands each one just as amazing as the next. Pantera got everything started for the singer back in  1986 when he replaced previous singer Terry Glaze and joined forces with brothers Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell Abbott along with Rex Brown. The band blazed new trails in American Heavy Metal and raised the bar of what was expected in regards to modern bands. Phil also went on to form the illustrious supergroup Down which has featured well known members like Jimmy Bower (Eye Hate God), Kirk Windstein (Crowbar, Kingdom of Sorrow), Rex Brown (Pantera), Pepper Keenan (Corrosion Of Conformity), and Pat Bruders (Goatwhore). As if that wasn’t enough of a workload Phil also has Superjoint (Formerly Superjoint Ritual) in which Jimmy Bower is also a member. In the past few years he has also brought two new bands into the realm with Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, and his black metal project Scour. His work history doesn’t end there as he has also been a part of the bands Arson Anthem, Christ Inversion, Southern Isolation, Viking Crown, Eibon and En Minor as well. Around a year ago Phil also stepped in and took over vocal duties for Mike IX Williams of Eye Hate God when he was ill recuperating from a liver transplant. (Mike is now back with the band and is as healthy as ever). In addition to his various bands Phil also runs and owns the label Housecore Records which has an amazing lineup of bands including Author & Punisher, The Mystick Krewe of Clearlight, Child Bite, King Parrot, Crowbar, Warbeast and various others including some of his own projects. Continue reading

SCOUR To Play Two Rare U.S. Shows Next Week!

SCOUR, the extreme metal supergroup featuring Philip H. Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN, SUPERJOINT), John Jarvis (PIG DESTROYERAGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED), Derek Engemann (CATTLE DECAPITATION), Chase Fraser (ANIMOSITYDECREPIT BIRTH), and Adam Jarvis (PIG DESTROYER, MISERY INDEX) –will play two rare shows in Texas next week in Fort Worth and Austin respectively. The band is also confirmed to appear at Roskilde Festival in Denmark next year alongside the likes of Mogwai, Clutch, Chelsea Wolfe, Bruno Mars, and so many more. See confirmed dates below.

SCOUR released their Red‘ EP — part two of a three-part EP series — early last month via Housecore Records. Reaping critical hails from fans and critics alike it top charted in many magazines top lists.

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Bobby Tongs (PANTERA Videographer) On Dimevision, “It’s Therapeutic”

I am sure you all have seen those crazy ass PANTERA home videos, where Dime and others in the band would do loads of silly stuff and make fun of each other, and it was hilarious and awesome for a normal fan to just be able to witness what actually happened in the PANTERA camp. Sometimes Dime would end up dead drunk in the videos pulling pranks on his band mates, Phil would join in on the fun and all that jazz. But you ever wondered who the man behind all these captured memories are? Sure, you’ve seen him a thousand times in interviews and on the internet. He is none other than the band’s official videographer and roadie Bobby Tongs. And yeah Bobby would not survive the Dime and Co.’s stupid pranks too!

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