Photo Credit: Brenda Daniels
Robb Rivera is Joshua Toomey’s guest on this week’s episode of Talk Toomey: The Metal Nexus Podcast. All while having a near-death Uber ride experience and site-seeing in Venice Beach, California, Rivera chats up Toomey over the phone extensively about the upcoming Nonpoint album; as well as opening vs headlining, second generation fans, collecting vinyl, and much more. Continue reading
Robb Rivera joins the show for the 3rd time to talk about the upcoming Nonpoint album “X”. Robb took some time out from the sightseeing on Venice Beach and touring with Butcher Babies. Robb and I discuss the writing and recording of the latest album, taking time off and the future of Nonpoint. Robb and I also talk about which is better Song Writing or Technical Ability.
Jeremy Owsley is one of my oldest friends in not just the music world, but life. Jeremy is a tour bus driver and has driven such bands as Tool, Megadeth and Paramore. Jeremy comes on to talk about our first times meeting Metallica, Pantera and Life of Agony. Jeremy also talks about the horrors of driving Marilyn Manson. Jeremy has great stories about driving Dave Mustaine and talking with him for hours on the road.
A west coast version of ‘A Celebration of the Life and Art of Caleb Scofield‘ has been set for October 13 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.
The benefit show features performances by Scofield’s bands: CAVE IN and OLD MAN GLOOM as well as longtime friends and collaborators, PELICAN and 27 (featuring CAVE IN’s Adam McGrath). The tribute also includes a one-time performance by the members of ISIS, who will play under the Celestial moniker, a nod to the influential outfit’s debut album of the same name. This is the band’s first performance since they played their final show in June of 2010.
Heel Turn
*This is a part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state.*
This month’s state is Alabama!
Formed in Huntsville, Alabama this 4 man band pays tribute to the hey day of wrestling. Heel Turn is a 80’s and 90’s wrestling themed dark hardcore band. You heard that right. The glory years of wresting are rejoiced and moshed to in their breakdowns. The band also keeps their face concealed wearing wrestling masks as well, which you can also purchase yourself one from the band at their merch table when you see them live. The band formed sometime last year and it was around October when they played their first couple live shows. The band of course asked their fans what they wanted to see in regards to their performance and there were some comments made about possibly doing a Frog Splash (Eddie Guerrero’s signature move) onto the drum kit, and the people’s elbow (The Rock’s signature move). The band only drew the line in regards to the people’s elbow drop being a little too modern for them as they are much more old school and instead offered some more old school moves. The band certainly knows their stuff when it comes to old school wrestling and even welcomes fans to come drink beer and talk to them about wrestling after the show. Metal has seen various themed bands, like pirates, clowns, executioners, aliens, dinosaurs but I believe Heel Turn is the most concise wrestling themed band I have encountered. Continue reading
Supergroup A PERFECT CIRCLE have released a 2D clip of “The Contrarian” along with extended North American tour dates. The clip is from a hologram film, directed by Steven Sebring (Horses: Patti Smith and Her Band, Dream of Life), in companion with their latest record Eat The Elephant. The album-length film is viewable with a prism and is included in the album’s deluxe box set.
The much-anticipated album debuted atop several Billboard charts, obtaining the #1 slot for Rock, Independent and Alternative charts, #2 on the Top Current Albums chart, and #3 album debut on the Top 200.
*This is a part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state.*
This month’s state is Alabama!
One would not expect beautiful Birmingham, Alabama to be pumping out some seriously dark sounds. Ember has managed to create an approachable, drony doom sound with vocals that channel early European symphonic metal elements. In fact, Alabama is the last place one might guess this band is from. Continue reading
After releasing the highly anticipated and the incredibly successful “Hollow & Alive“. Alternative rock formation LEGACY AT HEART now debuts “Razors“ – the fourth single off the band’s latest full-length album ‘Faces‘! Creating a distinguishable mixture of moderately paced memorable guitar riffs, heavy low end music profile and dark, brooding, yet anthemic and beautifully made vocal melodies, overflowing with genuine emotions “Razors“establishes a textural and tonal eminent dark sound with a mesmerizing emotional depth, which is tastefully outlined, emphasized and complemented by the menacing gloom atmosphere of the accompanying visual representation, perfectly complementing the concept behind the presented product – the significant importance that the topic of mental health has in our society nowadays.
“Razors“ truly represents and showcases LEGACY AT HEART‘s notable and rare ability to provide an unique sense of easily identifiable ambience, which perfectly summarizes the quartet’s astonishing potential to generate naturally comprehensible and catchy compositions, which only magnify the effect produced by the astounding artistic value present in every single aspect of LEGACY AT HEART‘s activity.
Philip H. Anselmo & the Illegals and Housecore labelmates, King Parrot are set to head out on a US tour this fall. The Choosing Mental Illness US Tour was originally scheduled for spring but has been officially postponed following Anselmo’s recent back surgery. Anselmo commented of the decision: Continue reading
From Dayton, Ohio hail an newbie alternative metal band featuring former members of MAYFLY (Voluminous Records), and POETIC DESCENT have been already compared to genre defining bands like Finch, Story of the Year, Further Seems Forever, Chevelle, Incubus, Dead Poetic, Project 86, Every Time I Die, Blindside, Beartooth and Norma Jean. Thus, giving an idea to the regular heavy music fan that POETIC DESCENT is not just any regular band, they are indeed something special. And special bands require to do special stuff to treat their special fans.
For the first time in 9 years Detroit legends WALLS OF JERICHO have started off an East Coast tour seemingly out of the blue! The tour begins in Amityville, NJ on June 6th and ends in Toronto, Ontario on June 13th. This tour is to support their latest record ‘No One Can Save You From Yourself ‘off of Napalm Records. Sharing the headlining spot with FIRST BLOOD, LEFT BEHIND and SANCTION are along for the ride.
