Author Archives: Odyssey

About Odyssey

I have had a life-long love of music, but from the first time I heard Kiss and Black Sabbath with my landlord's son in Nicholasville, KY in the mid 70's, I have been hooked on Hard Rock and Metal. While my tastes in music have done nothing but expand since then, Metal remains closest to my heart. In addition, I have played bass, still play guitar and have literally 1000's of CDs/MP3s, so my knowledge is long steeped and honest. I don't buy the whole splintered, sub-genres thing and choose to like bands and music based solely on individual merits. Obviously, this is always colored by my mood, what I need at any given point and time and what is generally pleasing to my ear. I also don't like to rip any music or band, instead having an open mind and ear for it all because I have a passion for it all. It is completely subjective and in a constant state of flux. Consider me a music "nerd" not a music "snob". As an extension of this love, I hope to share this passion with everyone here and learn from your passion as well! - Odyssey -

The Underground, Inc. Documentary Presents: An Interview With Failure Drummer Kellii Scott!

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Inspired by the underground music of the 90’s, award winning Australian Director/Producer Shaun Katz (Sleeping in Blood City) has set off on a huge undertaking to document this historic musical era in the upcoming Underground Inc: The Unsung Story Of Alternative Rock. With the help of Co-Editor/Co-Producer and Animator, JB Sapienza, prize winning Editor/Co-Director of the documentary, My Name Is Jonah, regular collaborator, Writer/Producer Adam Lovett (also of Sleeping in Blood City notoriety) and the combined musical genius’ of Grammy nominated Peter Mengede (Helmet, KRS–One, Handsome), Grammy nominated record producer Alex Newport (Mars Volta, Bloc Party, At The Drive–In) and Mark Bardridge covering the documentary scoring have their dreams set on bringing Underground, Inc. to fruition. Interviews on what promises to be one of the most important music documentaries of this decade will include members of Queens Of The Stone Age, Failure, White Zombie, Stone Sour, Primus, Helmet, Bad Religion, Ministry, Quicksand, Jawbox, Filter, A Perfect Circle, Down, Revolting Cocks, Corrosion Of Conformity, Jets To Brazil, Rocket From The Crypt, Clutch, Red Fang, …Trail Of Dead, The Sword, Sugartooth, Steve Albini (producer – Nirvana, Pixies), Matt Wallace (producer – Faith No More, Deftones), Only Living Witness, Alex Newport (producer – At The Drive In, Bloc Party), Public Image Ltd, Sepultura, Agnostic Front, Biohazard, Texas Is The Reason, Killing Joke, Monster Magnet, Handsome, Stegosaurus, Brad, Cop Shoot Cop, Course Of Empire, Fishbone, My Head, Sense Field, Trouble, Downset, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Skrew and many others!

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Review Of Scenario II’s Upcoming Release Of “A New Dawn”, Due Out February 17, 2017

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Scenario II is:

Mark van Doren – (Songwriter/Guitars, Synths)
Simone van Straten – (Live Guitars) also Sisters of Suffocation
Bas van den Boom – (Drums/Technician)
Myrthe van Beest – (Female Vocals)
Bas de Kruyff – (Vocals)
Liza Hoek – (Bass)

 

From Eindgoven, The Netherlands, Scenario II started life under the name of Aura way back in 1991. After a number singles and EPs, the band finally released their official, full-length debut in 2006 entitled (you guessed it) Scendario II; naming it for the polar perspectives of the outcome of an apocalypse: doomsday or new beginning. Soon after the release, songwriter, guitarist and synth player Mark van Doren razed the band and started over with a new band and a new direction. With many band member changes and sound experimentation in the coming years, Scenario II was able to release Uniforms of Death in 2009, the lineup including Mark, Martijn Luppens on bass, Matthieu Boer on drums, Dani Lopez on guitar, Maarten Vloon on keys and Bas de Esch covering vocals. Almost eight years later, the influences of bands like Soilwork, In Flames, Arch Enemy, At the Gates, Dark Tranquility, Moonspell, Muse, Dimension Zero, Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir and Amorphis have distilled themselves into something altogether unique and cool, coming together to create A New Dawn, due out on February 17, 2017 with the above members on the Hysteria Music label.

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State of the Art: Idaho – Wolvserpent

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*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*

This month’s State is Idaho!

Unfortunately, today closes our State of the Art: Idaho series. Such a diverse and truly spectacular Metal scene has allowed us all a plethora of incredible choices to spotlight. When searching for bands I ran across so many deserving bands and even had one land in my lap after they read an article posted about one of their contemporaries the week before. Good stuff! Really have to admire the apparent friendly rapport and unity among bands. Not to denigrate any of the fine bands covered this month, I saved my de facto favorite for last. This week’s spotlight goes to the first band I picked up this month called Wolvserpent.

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Review And Full Stream Of Beyond My Eyes “One Way To The Future” Debut

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Beyond My Eyes is the solo project of musical mastermind Mr. Erick Green. Now 39, Erick was born in Santa Marta, Magdalena, Columbia but spent much of his early life traveling all around this South American country. During his adolescence, he settled in Barranquilla, learning Cumbia (a dance-oriented genre of popular music throughout Latin America), Vallenato (a popular folk music of the Caribbean region of Columbia literally meaning “born in the valley”), Salsa, Rock and Metal. Starting off as a percussionist, Green remembers “banging on anything that could make a sound or [he] could beat with [his] hands and feet” before being given a guitar to noodle around with. With a big appetite for radio friendly Metal bands like Def Leppard, The Scorpions and Poison, Erick found his motivation to properly play the guitar from none other than Metallica. Being self-taught strictly by ear, he had to buckle down to nail the technique required to play these beloved tracks and eventually earning him the title “El Metallica” among friends. As his skill set expanded, so did his desire to play live, resulting in a band called Espina with friends Oscar and Johnny as well as another, collaborative local project called Risk.

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State Of The Art: Idaho – Traitors Gate, With Special, Debut Album Review!

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*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*

This month’s State is Idaho

Traitors Gate is:

Ken Mansfield – Guitars
Tim Allan – Drums
Colby Dees – Bass
Mister Y– Vocals

Alright my Metalhead friends, I have a special treat for this week’s State of the Art: Idaho series. Not only do I have a killer band that you are sure to dig, but also am including a review of of their new, self-titled debut! I have never done this before but the opportunity presented itself and I sure as hell was going to take advantage of it! New band AND new music?!? Good stuff. Let’s get to it. This week, from Boise, ID, comes Traitors Gate.

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Best Wishes To The Voice of Grim Reaper, Mr. Steve Grimmett

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With heavy hearts, the staff of Metal Nexus would like to wish Grim Reaper’s founder and voice, Steve Grimmett a speedy recovery after having to undergo amputative surgury.  Steve took ill Saturday and was taken to the hospital where he was being treated for an infection in his foot and bones.  As you can see below from posts made by his lovely wife Millie, things have not gone as well as hoped. Please keep this Metal legend and his family in your thoughts today.  You can read our recent interview with The Master here.  Check back here or on his Facebook page for any new information.

More on legendary Steve Grimmett’s Grim Reaper can be found on the Web  Facebook  YouTube  Dissonance Productions

Oni Premiers Their Video for “The Only Cure” Featuring Mr. Randy Blythe!

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Here’s a real treat to make Tuesday burn! We are no strangers to Canada’s Oni. We have covered their live show (show), their newest offering of Ironshore on Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records (review) and even landed on our Best of 2016 list (list).  F*ING LOVE THIS BAND, if it is not obvious!  Earlier today, Oni premeired their creepy video for “The Only Cure” featuring guest vocalist and frontman for Lamb of God, Randy Blythe. The song was written by Jake Oni and deals with someone getting their chest cut open (How much more Metal can you get?!?). With a “Hollywood” level of production we are taken for a wild ride as the main character is captured by a serial killer and being subsequently executed in just that manner. Definitely not for the squeamish and probably not something you want to show off to your buddies at work with your boss looking over your shoulder! After directing Oni’s first video for “Eternal Recurrence”, Abraham Roofeh returns to bring this nightmare to vivid life in all its campy and bloody glory! Metal fans and horror movie buffs will freaking love this! Check the video out below. If you are lucky enough to live in the U.K., Oni is also touring with Devil You Know throughout the month of January!

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State of the Art: Idaho – Krystos

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*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*

This month’s State is Idaho

Man! Yet another killer band from Boise! I have been very impressed with the outright talent found in and around the capital city of Idaho and had zero difficulties finding interesting SOTA artists to cover this month. One more Metal scene that appears to be alive and flourishing. This week let me introduce you with Krystos!

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Review Of Tr3ason’s “Infecting The Pure”: One Debut From Hell!

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Tr3ason is:

Tyler Thurston – Vocals/guitar

Kaden Roholt – Bass

Connor Werling – Drums

As promised, we return to our friends in Tr3ason who are dropping their debut album(!), Infecting the Pure in February 2017. Needless to say, I immediately pre-ordered my copy and shirt based on singles “I, Machine” and “Memento Mori” alone. Definitely my kind of music! Originally discovering this destroy-all band when covering Utah in our State of the Art series (Tr3ason), I asked vocalist/guitarist Tyler Thurston for a review copy when they were finished recording it. Nothing lost, nothing gained. Costs nothing to ask, right? While I had his attention as he helped me with the article, he graciously agreed (Thanks brother!). Well, we now have it on hand and are just stunned by the wicked heaviness this thing brings to bear! F*ck me!

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Grim Reaper’s Steve Grimmett Gives Us Some Of His Thoughts!

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Man! What an honor and a privilege! When I was told that I had the opportunity to interview you, my breath completely failed me. I cannot tell you how much Grim Reaper has meant to me over the years. If you read my review of “Walking in the Shadows” (Grim Reaper), you get a taste of exactly what I mean by this (I wanted to give some insight to our readers on what my long history means with Grim Reaper as perspective for the review). All of your work has been a staple in my listening library for over thirty years now and remains some of my favorite music. As a preamble to the interview, I just want to personally thank you for your gift of music that you share and has had such a profound affect on me. As I stated in the article, Grim Reaper, in many ways, saved my life at the ripe old age of 14. At 47, I simply cannot shake the feelings that your music still invokes. Thank you! You guys and your music means a metric tonne to me! Great to have you on board with us!

Not every day you get to interview a childhood hero!

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