Author Archives: Low Gain

About Low Gain

I'm just a teenager, living in Southern Illinois, that loves music in general. I love attending festivals as it feels like everyone comes together as a giant family. I also look forward to hearing new music and passing it onto the masses. In my free time I play guitar, basketball, and attend high school.

Review: CULTURAL WARFARE – ‘Future Kill’ [Song Stream]

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Artwork by Brian Lewis

From Oakland, California, Cultural Warfare are preparing to debut their first EP from M-Theory Audio, “Future Kill”. This thrashing release will drop this Friday on January 27, 2017. The band has undergone some lineup changes since forming in 2011 but has finally been solidified for their first release. The band consists of long time members Billy Garoutte on the guitars and Kevin Doughty on the drums. Joining the band will be members from the band Taunted, with Jacques Serrano on the vocals and Pete Aguilar on the bass guitar. The EP was produced by Juan Urteaga (Testament, Exodus, Vicious Rumors) and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Halford, Sepultura). The artwork of ‘Future Kill’ was done by Brian Lewis of Stone Design (DevilDriver, Black Label Society). Having been around since the formation of bay area thrash, the highly experienced members of Cultural Warfare are here in 2017 to conquer the world with their classic thrash sound.

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Chicago Open Air 2017- Preview

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The second annual Chicago Open Air will bring together an all-star lineup of rock’s top artists on Friday, July 14, Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL, just outside Chicago. The three-day music, craft beer and Gourmet Man Food festival will feature over 40 performances, including legendary rock artists Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, and Korn, along with Rob Zombie, Slayer, Godsmack, Stone Sour, Megadeth, Lamb Of God, Seether, Meshuggah, Anthrax, Clutch, Body Count, and many more. Continue reading →

DOPE & COMBICHRIST Announce 2017 Coheadline Tour W/ Special Guests

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Industrial metal giants DOPE and Combichrist are set for the Blood, Lust, Death Tour with special guests September Mourning and Davey Suicide. This will be Dope‘s first tour promoting material from their new album ‘Blood Money’. Combichrist will also be playing new material from their 2016 release, ‘This is Where Death Begins’. The tour kicks off in late February in Portland, OR and wraps up on April 9th in Los Angeles. Lead singer of Dope, Edsel Dope, had this to say about the tour: “We are very excited to get back out on the road. This will be our first time touring with Combichrist & we both have some really cool surprises planned for the tour…If you are a fan of Industrial Metal, this is one show that you don’t want to miss”. You can view the dates for the tour sponsored by Blackcraft Whiskey below. Continue reading →

Review: CODE ORANGE – ‘Forever’ [Song Stream]

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Critically acclaimed hardcore band Code Orange are set to release their 3rd LP, ‘Forever’ next week on January 13th, 2017. ‘Forever’ will be the band’s first release on major label Roadrunner Records. Their previous 2 records were released on Deathwish. It will be the follow up to their highly praised album ‘I Am King’ which was released in 2014. In my opinion, ‘I Am King’ was one of the best hardcore records in the last 10 years, so topping the record is going to be considered a huge challenge by many. The band formed in 2008 in Pittsburgh, PA. The lineup has changed a few times but has been consistent since 2012, the current members of the band are Eric Balderose on guitar and vocals, Reba Meyers also on guitar and vocals, Jami Morgan on the drums and vocals, and Joe Goldman on the bass. They changed their name from Code Orange Kids to Code Orange in 2014. You can pre-order the new album here. Continue reading →

I PREVAIL Announces Dates W/ ISLANDER, WAGE WAR, And ASSUMING WE SURVIVE

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I believe that I Prevail is currently one of the hardest working bands out there right now. They have constantly been out on the road promoting their new material from their debut album ‘Lifelines’. The headlining tour also features up and coming post-hardcore band Islander, a heavy metalcore band in Wage War, and pop punk band Assuming We Survive. You can see the dates below. Continue reading →

Review: EMPYREAN THRONE – ‘Chaosborne’ [Song Stream]

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Album art by Vladislav Kutuzov

Up and coming black metal artists, Empyrean Throne, are gearing up to release their first full length album: ‘Chaosborne’. The album will be released on January 24th, 2017 by Erthe and Axen Records. The record was produced by Mick Kenney (Anaal Nathrakh). The American band was born in Lake Forest, California back in 2011. This will be the band’s followup to their debut EP that was released in 2013, titled ‘Demonseed’. Empyrean Throne does a great job combining the traditional black metal sound along with the new age sound as well. They blend in orchestral elements, melodic and speedy guitar, and raw, ripping vocals. The band consists of Andrew Knudsen on vocals, Mike Brennan on guitar, and Leviathan on the drums. You can check out some of their previous material on their Bandcamp page as well. Continue reading →

Austin Carlile Announces Departure from OF MICE & MEN!

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Austin Carlile/ Of Mice & Men

After a long, grueling path of dealing with health problems on and off the road, lead singer from Of Mice & Men has announced he is leaving the band. Some of these issues led to canceling festivals and many tour dates over the last two years. Carlile has been with the band for most of its duration since it formed in 2009. Their newest album ‘Cold World’ was released on September 2nd of 2016. The band will continue on as four members for now. You can read his statement in the picture below that was uploaded from his Twitter account. Continue reading →

Review/Stream: AITTALA – ‘American Nightmare’

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On December 6th, 2016, Aittala unleashed their 4th full length LP: ‘American Nightmare’. The band was formed by Eric Aittala in 1992 in Raleigh, North Carolina and released a short EP, but then remained dormant for many years. After a long break, the project was brought back when Aittala released their first full length album in 2009, ‘Bed of Thorns’. The band went on to release two more LPs in 2011 and in 2014 (‘Haunt Your Flesh’ and ‘Effigy’). After various lineup changes, there has been a stable, strong lineup consisting of Eric Aittala on the lead guitar and vocals, Gary Smith on drums, and Andrew Sullivan on the bass. The new album was recorded at Incognito Studios, Raleigh NC. It was mixed and mastered by Mike Schaefer at Schaefer Sound Productions. Continue reading →

Review: THE DRIP – ‘The Haunting Fear Of Inevitability’

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Approaching 10 years as a band, The Drip is about to release their most monumental record yet, ‘The Haunting Fear of Inevitability’. Hailing from Richland, Washington, this will be the band’s follow up to ‘A Presentation of Gruesome Poetics’, released in 2014. The new release was produced by Toxic Holocaust frontman, Joel Grind, and mastered by Brad Boatright. Boatright has worked with the likes of Skeletonwitch, Weekend Nachos, and Gatecreeper. ‘The Haunting Fear of Inevitability’ will be released on January 13th, 2017 through Relapse Records. Continue reading →