Category Archives: Artist Showcase

Carolina Rebellion Spotlight: TOOTHGRINDER

By | |
Comments Off on Carolina Rebellion Spotlight: TOOTHGRINDER

*This is part of the “World’s Loudest Month” segment where we branch out and focus on bands that fans can see at the year’s biggest music festivals during the month of May 2018!  This week, we’re checking out Toothgrinder, a progressive metal quintet from New Jersey who are geared up for another year at Carolina Rebellion, as well as others!*

Asbury Park, NJ natives, Toothgrinder, have been making waves in the metal scene for a while now, sharing the stage with huge names including Meshuggah, Killswitch Engage, Between The Buried and Me, Polyphia, and The Contortionist.  The band consists of Justin Matthews (vocals), Jason Gross (guitar), Matt Arsendorf (bass/backing vocals), Willis Weller (drums) and Johnuel Hasney (guitar/backing vocals).  With an extensive live show resume, and two successful albums, ‘Nocturnal Masquerade’ (2016) and ‘Phantom Amour’ (2017) via Spinefarm Records, one thing is predominantly clear – these guys know what they’re doing. Continue reading →

State Of The Art: Vermont’s LIGHTCRUSHER [Album Stream]

By | |
Comments Off on State Of The Art: Vermont’s LIGHTCRUSHER [Album Stream]

Photo Credit: Christian Buck

 

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

This month’s state is Vermont!

 

Combining elements of doom, death, sludge and black metal the Montpelier, Vermont based band Lightcrusher was formed in 2010. You could say that their lyrical themes tend to be more leaning towards the darker side of things with themes like nature, misanthropy, loss, and isolation. The band is comprised of 5 members including members and ex-members of bands like Chalice, Lord Gallows, The Demon Bell,  Sunder, Cruciferion, Limbwalker and others. Some of the members were actually in these bands together, so there was already a chemistry and bond created there that you can hear on the bands material. The members include M. Schrift on vocals, A. Sørensen on guitar and vocals, K. Emmons also on guitar, J. Elwert behind the drum kit and L. Gallows on the bass. The quintet released their first material in the form of a demo in September of 2015. Simply titled ‘Lightcrusher Demo’. The recording included five tracks. Fast forward to December 2016 and the band has now released a brand new EP titled ‘Forests of Unresolve’ which includes 5 blistering tracks of death doom and the bands signature duel vocal style. 

Continue reading →

World’s Loudest Month Spotlight: SHAMAN’S HARVEST [Official Videos]

By | |
Comments Off on World’s Loudest Month Spotlight: SHAMAN’S HARVEST [Official Videos]

*Every Wednesday from now until Rock On The Range and Carolina Rebellion we will be showcasing an artist playing the festival to help you get to know the bands*

Today’s Artist is Shaman’s Harvest

Alright, folks, this is it!  The official introduction to everyone’s favorite time of year – FESTIVAL SEASON!  This Summer is already shaping up to be one of the heaviest, loudest, and most memorable one yet with several music festivals across the country; most of them packing some quite unbelievable, once-in-a-lifetime lineups!  As some of you may remember, last year we released festival spotlight segments each week to familiarize everyone with the bands they’ll see at those festivals.  Well, this time around, we’ll be focusing on two festivals taking place in the same month in particular.  Deemed the “World’s Loudest Month”, May 2018 will host Carolina Rebellion at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC May 4th-6th, and Rock On The Range in Columbus, OH on May 18th,19th, and 20th; both festivals courtesy of the always-pleasing Danny Wimmer Presents and AEG Presents.  We will be covering spotlights from both festivals in the weeks leading up to each, and to kick us off the right way this week, we’re looking at Shaman’s Harvest! Continue reading →

State Of The Art: STONE BULLET

By | |
Comments Off on State Of The Art: STONE BULLET

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

This month’s state is Vermont!

The world sure could use some more good ol’ rock n’ roll now more than ever and hailing from Barre, VT, the beer-drinking, crowd-moving, rockers Stone Bullet are here to deliver just that.  Coming fully equipped with the drive, talent, and a powerful arsenal of heavy-hitting original material, these guys have no trouble gaining fans at every show they play with some of those shows being alongside some of today’s biggest names.  Stone Bullet have added a variety of bands with whom they’ve shared the stage including Seether, Buckcherry, Skid Row, Fuel, Black Stone Cherry, and Puddle of Mudd to name a few.  Continue reading →

Dave Navarro’s Contributions To Show Business!

By | |
Comments Off on Dave Navarro’s Contributions To Show Business!

When you think about the great guitarist Dave Navarro, the first and utmost thing that comes to mind is Jane’s Addiction. For less informed fans it could even be the only thing associated with him. While Navarro has surely much more to offer, both in terms of contribution to music, as well as in other areas, today’s audience might have a little distorted image of his true talent and musical potential. Continue reading →

State Of The Art: THE ABERRATION

By | |
Comments Off on State Of The Art: THE ABERRATION

© Alex Lindsay

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

This month’s state is Vermont!

“This band is so f**king good that I’ve already booked them for my funeral!!!” – Tim Morse (Anal Cunt/Horrible Earth)

Welcome to Februarys ‘State of the Art’! I thought I’d kick off the month with a band that will literally “eat you for breakfast”. From Chester, Vermont let me welcome the instrumental hardcore powerhouse that is The Aberration. The metal duo are made up of guitarist Travis O’Connell and drummer Jim Cole – proving that small can be big and mark my word, these guys can make one hell of a noise! The self-proclaimed “instrumental progressive, birth metal! Get off your ass and move now metal!” outfit formed in 2007, starting out like most bands in a filthy four walled-cement basement. They have performed most notably as support to Marc Rizzo and the Corrupters (of Soulfly, Misfits, Cavalera Conspiracy, & Ill Nino fame) alongside Urn, and have played festivals such as New England Blood Fest and Hothfest. Continue reading →

State Of The Art: Vermont Metal/Hardcore Band VOICES IN VAIN [Track Stream]

By | |
Comments Off on State Of The Art: Vermont Metal/Hardcore Band VOICES IN VAIN [Track Stream]

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

This month’s State is Vermont!

Hailing from Northern Vermont, Voices in Vain offers “hard-hitting, experimental, metal/hardcore.” Originally formed in 2014, the band has released a self-titled EP and three singles. Their debut, full-length studio album, ‘Narcotics and Animal Instincts’ is anticipated to be released this summer.  At times sounding a bit Lamb of God – mixed up with metalcore breakdowns, separated by erratic, squealing guitar patterns and odd time signatures – their style is definitely unique and exciting. Continue reading →

State Of The Art: ARSON CITY

By | |
Comments Off on State Of The Art: ARSON CITY

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

This month’s state is Nebraska!

With each State of the Art segment, we explore bands from cities all over the country, but what happens when a band and city are one in the same? Not sure what I mean?  Omaha, Nebraska’s Arson City fit that description well with an elaborate vision of each member portraying a fictional city’s select citizens: The Mayor (Patrick Michael Wilson) taking care of vocals, The Doctor (Mark Beckenhauer) on rhythm guitar, The Enforcer (Matt Denker) on drums, The Dealer (Matt Dibaise) on lead guitar, and The Con (Matt Oliver) on bass.  Arson City was constructed in mid-2013 when members of several local bands around the Omaha area came together for a collaboration that eventually became the giant it is today. Continue reading →

State Of The Art: UNIVERSE CONTEST

By | |
Comments Off on State Of The Art: UNIVERSE CONTEST

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

This month’s state is Nebraska!

It is with absolute pleasure that I get to be the one to tell you about this group of oddballs. UNIVERSE CONTEST are currently a five-piece group out of Lincoln, Nebraska. Everything about them is a little bit different from the stories we usually get from our State of the Art entries.

Continue reading →

State Of The Art: Nebraska’s BONGHAMMER [Live Video Footage]

By | |
Comments Off on State Of The Art: Nebraska’s BONGHAMMER [Live Video Footage]

*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is Nebraska!

 

Coming straight out of Omaha, Nebraska we have doomsters BongHammer. Unfortunately they do not appear to have any music available for streaming or download, however there is an abundance of killer live performances available via YouTube and Facebook. The band is a three piece made up of Ryne Sutej on guitar and vocals,  Amanda DeFord who is also a member of the band Trxlleydxdgers slaying the drums and vocals and the newest member of the band is Clayton Pace on bass who replaced former bassist Will who left the band because he relocated to Colorado. In addition to BongHammer Ryne and Clayton are also in the riff worshipping band Super Moon.  Continue reading →