SMASHING PUMPKINS Bring Perfection To Nashville [Review & Photo Gallery]

Smashing Pumpkins

For seven to eight months out of the year (depending on a playoff run), Bridgestone Arena and Nashville, TN are locally referred to as Smashville thanks to the success of a certain NHL hockey team known as the Nashville Predators.  But on the night of July 20, 2018 the name Smashville took on a new meaning as the Smashing Pumpkins brought their Shiny and Oh So Bright Tour to Nashville, the sixth stop on a massive US tour extending into September and heading to the UK and Italy in October. Continue reading

MISERY SIGNALS’ Ryan Morgan Talks About “Yesterday Was Everything” Documentary!

Photo Credit: Erika Astrid

Misery Signals are just a week away from releasing their documentary “Yesterday Was Everything” which was filmed and directed by Matt Mixon. Misery Signals was born out of tragedy. 7 Angels 7 Plagues was on tour with Hamartia and Compromise. Two members of Edmonton-based hardcore band Compromise were tragically killed in June of 2002 in a horrific automobile accident on Interstate 20 near Heflin, Alabama. Jordan Wodehouse, 19, and Daniel Langlois, 20, were killed. A drunk driver caused the accident that took their lives and injured others in the process, it was unfortunate for those who had passed but for the others injured, they were lucky enough to have a personal injury lawyer springfield il by their side through this difficult time. Compromise vocalist Jesse Zaraska and Kyle Johnson, Ryan Morgan of 7 Angels 7 Plagues went on to form Misery Signals. Ryan’s brother Branden Morgan was added as the drummer, and Stuart Ross on rhythm guitar. The band released their debut album ‘Of Malice and the Magnum Heart’ in 2004 and it was an instant hit among hardcore fans. To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the release the band embarked on a tour in 2014 with the original lineup of the band. The “Malice X Tour” consisted of 8 tour dates in both Canada and the U.S. It should also be noted that the director of the documentary Matt Mixon was the vocalist of 7 Angels 7 Plagues, his familiarity with the band and the circumstances the band was formed under made him the perfect person to not only film the reunion tour but also to pose questions to the band about the tragic accident and the circumstances in which Jesse left the band in 2006. The documentary certainly depicts the band in a very fragile state as the tour begins. It not only captures the current state of the band and touring with its original members but also reflects on the tragedy that first brought the band together. “Yesterday Was Everything” releases on June 30th and will be available for purchase or streaming on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon. This is a documentary that will rank very high not only for fans of Misery Signals but music fans in general. A great documentary that captures pure raw emotion, overcoming obstacles and a reigniting passion amongst musicians. Continue reading

ALICE COOPER Are Back With Their Original Line-Up For 2017 UK Tour!

ALICE COOPER, the king of Shock Rock has been doing rounds with the news of his upcoming new album and last month’s one off reunion show. We have some one more massive and exciting news coming your way this time. Now, Alice announces that the three members of the original ALICE COOPER band, bassist Dennis Dunaway, guitarist Michael Bruce and drummer Neal Smith will join him in the UK for a five date autumn tour. 

Last month saw Alice’s performance in Nashville joined by the three original members for a five song mini set, also accompanied by current band members – drummer Glen Sobel, bassist Chuck Garric, and guitarists Nita Strauss and Tommy HenriksenALICE COOPER also announced that his new album, ‘Paranormal‘, will be out on July 28th on earMUSIC, featuring the original members on two songs. Continue reading

Review: EIGHTEEN VISIONS – ‘XVIII’ [Official Video]

Photo Credit: Travis Shinn

Eighteen Visions formed in Orange County, California in 1995. Despite being half the age of the genre’s most legendary architects, Eighteen Visions is literally in the history book of heavy metal, hard rock, and post-modern heavy music. The band were declared part of “The Future of Metal” by Revolver Magazine during their meteoric rise from proto-deathcore indie band, nurtured by the DIY scene, to major label “next big thing” in active rock. Their debut album ‘Yesterday Is Time Killed’ released in 1999 via Cedargate Records. Eighteen Visions went on to record release an album every year up to 2002’s ‘Vanity’ which was their debut on ‘Trustkill’. Eighteen Visions has inspired various bands, one of which is Motionless In White who named themselves after a track with the same name from the band’s 2001 release ‘The Best Of’. The band continued pumping out amazing records. The next would come in 2002 titled ‘Vanity’ and then quickly moved on to release in my eyes one of their best albums ‘Obsession’ in 2004. The album has a lyric that has stuck with me since its release and is one of the best single verses ever. It comes from the track “Lost In A Dream” saying “Locked in a room, Where all my dreams come true, Scrape my mind off of the walls. Painted pretty blue.” The next album would become Eighteen Visions last album for the next 11 years. The self-titled album released in 2016. Many fans thought this would be the last they would hear from the band they loved so much. Bassist Mike Morris announced on Myspace in 2007, “After several years of touring and quite a few album releases we have decided that it is time to go our separate ways. We have been a band for a very long time and feel good about everything we were able to accomplish. At this point in our lives and our careers we feel its time to move on to something fresh and new. Whether it be music, touring or just being at home to live and enjoy life.” Everything came to a standstill for 18V fans for over a decade. Unbeknownst to the public, the band nearly reunited once before, quietly working on new material in 2012. The process that led to their eventual and perhaps inevitable full reunion in 2017 was as organic as it was trans-formative, as the core members reassembled to put their collective passion back on the record, literally and figuratively. Unfortunately bassist Mick Morris passed away on June 3, 2013 in his sleep due to a pre-existing heart condition. It’s sad that he isn’t a part of this new lineup but the band and its core members: James Hart – lead vocals, Keith Barney – lead guitar, backing vocals, and Trevor Friedrich – drums are currently the lineup for the reunited Eighteen Visions. The new album ‘XVIII‘ was made at home in Orange County, with U.K. transplant and multi-instrumentalist producer Mick Kenney at the helm. The album released on June 2, 2017. It is the first album since 2002’s Vanity to feature movie quotes at the beginning of some songs. It is an amazing comeback from a band that was truly missed in both the genre and music as a whole. Continue reading

DOYLE: “Hopefully We Get To Do Another Misfits Run, That Would Be Nice”

DOYLE recently spoke to Joshua Toomey on Talk Toomey Podcast about The Misfits reunion and the possibility of another round of shows with the reunited lineup! You can hear the full interview below!

DOYLE, the current project of Von Frankenstein, with CANCERSLUG vocalist Alex “Wolfman” Story, and a current touring lineup rounded out by bassist Brandon Strate and drummer Brandon Pertzborn, continues the lineage of Doyle’s former projects, pairing crushing metal riffs with ferocious Punk Rock swagger. Most of you however know DOYLE from his shredding guitar work with THE MISFITS. DOYLE has been supporting their upcoming LP DOYLE II: AS WE DIE, in stores May 5th from EMP LABEL GROUP, and Doyle’s own MONSTERMAN RECORDS. AS WE DIE will be available Worldwide on CD and LP May 5, and is currently available for pre-order from empmerch.com, including several international versions with alternate artwork configurations, including art by legendary horror/comic/album cover artist Mister Sam Shearon, known for his iconic works with Rob Zombie, Iron Maiden, Clive Barker, KISS, Ministry, Rammstein, X-Files, and more. On DOYLE’S Louisville, Kentucky tour stop the veteran guitar player spoke with Joshua Toomey of TALK TOOMEY PODCAST. Doyle speaks about THE MISFITS reunion shows saying “Just another day at the office”, “Hopefully we get to do another Misfits run, that would be nice”. The sheer idea of being able to see reformed MISFITS with Glenn Danzig back on the microphone instantly causes chill bumps. Their performance at Denver Riot Fest was the first show with Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only and Doyle since October 29, 1983 and was billed as “THE ORIGINAL MISFITS”. The band was rounded out by Dave Lombardo on drums; Acey Slade on second guitar. THE MISFITS then went on to play Chicago Riot Fest as well making it the second and final date the band has played with the original lineup thus far. In a Rolling Stone Interview Jerry Only said of the first appearance “A lot of bands, when they do big reunions, they’ll book some small club gigs as warmup shows,” “I thought that this was the perfect warmup show for what we do. I thought us coming back to Denver out of all the places on the planet Earth was … why not?” THE MISFITS doesn’t do things on a small scale, and with DOYLE hoping for another run of shows we certainly hope it pans out. Continue reading