The Reality Of Yourself is one of those bands you randomly find but instantly fall in love with. But what else can you expect from an act that has played with Korn, Skillet, Papa Roach, 12 Stones and Breaking Benjamin? They have been around since 2004 in the small town of Pleasent Hope MO and have released 3 albums so far. So with that in mind let’s move to the official music video of ”Wicked World”!
Parkway Drive
*In this series we pose the age old questions to a wide array of music lovers. As fans of music most of us keep a mental list of active bands we want to see live that we haven’t yet seen. The Bucketlist brings to you those lists of your favorite artists and why those bands mean so much to them*
Parkway Drive have truly been one of the leaders within the metalcore genre and probably one of the most popular and brutal bands to come out of Australia. Winston McCall leads the charge with his brutal yet catchy and poignant vocals; he is supported by the insane riff creator Jeff Ling, rythm master Luke Kilpatrick and bassist Jia O’Conner and the earth crushing drums of Ben Gordon. The Australians formed in 2003 and have released 6 studio albums and one EP. Their 2015 release ‘Ire’ propelled the band even further into metalcore glory and it’s only the beginning of things to come. The band on May 4th released what I believe is their best work yet in ‘Reverence’ via Epitaph Records (see our review here). They have been a must see band for fans all over the globe and Parkway Drive has been feeding the addiction those fans have of seeing the band perform live. The band just wrapped up a set of U.S. tour dates along with festival appearances at Welcome To Rockville, Carolina Rebellion, and Northern Invasion and they are about to come upon U.S. shores once again in August and September then back to Australia during the month of October to tour with Killswitch Engage and Sydney, Australia’s Thy Art Is Murder. They are by no means slowing down and there are tons of opportunities to see the band live, don’t miss yours. Continue reading
Underoath
After a whole year of waiting Carolina Rebellion 2018 has finally arrived. As the gates opened fans sprinted to stages all across the festival grounds in hopes to hang on to the rail at the stage their favorite band would be performing on. As we eagerly awaited tickets to go on sale, then for the lineup, and finally for the set times and keeping our fingers crossed our favorites bands don’t play at the same time. Another big thing most of us wait for is our first carton of Island Noodles of the festival season. We certainly wish we could cover every band that played this year but it just isn’t logistically possible with interviews, and other media related happenings. Friday was a day filled with great bands and if you wasn’t there you certainly missed an epic Carolina Rebellion. The day 1 lineup was pretty stacked with up and comers like Counterfeit and Dubé, then also those veteran acts like Sevendust and Stone Temple Pilots. Then you had some acts that are amazing we aren’t use to seeing in the festival circuit like Andrew W.K., and Power Trip. Then closing out the night you have Shinedown followed by the legends Alice In Chains. Friday wasn’t my favorite lineup of the festival but it certainly had a lot of talent hit the stages and some very impressive performances. Continue reading
Releasing albums since 2001, but not gaining it’s steam until nearly ten years later, Portland, Oregon’s first doom metal band Witch Mountain have been a force to be reckoned with. After the departure of vocalist Uta Plotkin who did three incredible albums ‘South of Salem’, ‘Cauldron of the Wild’, and the masterpiece ‘Mobile of Angels’ with the band, many people were skeptical that the bands could continue. Like troopers though, Witch Mountain could not be kept down and were officially back in action after a hiatus that was only a few moths long. In this line up we have drummer/ band leader Nathan Carson, guitarist Rob Wrong (also a member of doom outfit ‘The Skull’), Justin Brown on bass, and the incredible Kayla Dixon on vocals who had previously been known for her work in the heavy metal band Demons Within. Dixon may have seemed like an odd choice at first, but it was quickly apparent that she had a range that not only matched her predecessors, she also has a voice that is leagues above a majority of modern music’s so called “best vocalists.” Now in 2018, after nearly three years of touring with bands such as Enslaved and Saint Vitus; Witch Mountain are set to release their fifth album which is self titled on May, 25 via Svart. Continue reading
Friendship
Ain’t No Shame
Kozmik Artifactz
Release Date: May 25, 2018
Ain’t No Shame, the eagerly anticipated second full-length from Norwegian trio Friendship, should be classified as a mood-enhancing substance. The first time I heard it, it pulled me out of the kind of piss-poor headspace that can only come from five hours cooped up in a car with two cranky children and an more than exasperated spouse. I was actually a little nervous to hit play that first time, for fear that my mental and physical exhaustion might negatively color my feeling toward the material. But by the end of the Monkees-and-Cream-playing-Cheap Trick opener “Are You Ready,” I was grinning ear to ear. Somewhere in the middle of the jazzy delight “Harmony Turns to Sound,” my dopey grin turned to slack-jawed awe. And within three seconds of the stomping funk-rock romp “Fire,” I actually laughed out loud from the combination of amazement and joy. I went to bed that night with a smile on my face and a sense of contentment in my heart, and I have Fredrik Skalstad (drums & lead vocals), Martin Morland (bass), and Sander Eriksen Nordahl (guitar) (along with their litany of guest musicians) to thank for that. It brought me up when I was down, and there’s not too many higher accolades than that.
Formed in 1999, Bleeding Through have run the gamut of countries, labels, genre stylings and immense, genre-defining releases, influencing several generations of artists since their inception. This crushing Californian metal act seamlessly combine hardcore, symphonic and death metal in a maelstrom of magnificent aggression, weaving melody and mayhem together into a chaotic quilt. Dedicated to their craft in a way that has cast countless acts to shame, Bleeding Through are a band that many fans of extreme music may cite as one of their first truly “heavy” bands—and all these years later, they hold up just as strong, if not more so. While the band has been on a self imposed hiatus since 2104, reuniting in 2016 for a benefit show for The Ghost Inside following the bands horrific accident. As such the heavy metal landscape has changed a lot over the handful of years since the band called it a day. Metalcore has fallen out of favor with the mainstream, and theres been a sort of changing of the guard with “newer” bands like Bring Me The Horizon and A Day to Remember dominating the scene and heading in a more poppier direction. (Written By: Jon Beatty)
Brandan Schieppati of Bleeding Through joins the show this week. Brandan and I discuss Bleeding Through’s return from hiatus. Brandan talks about why they returned, why they left in the first place and whatever happened to his podcast. Brandan peels back the music and touring business. Brandan also tells us his sports loves and talking with Drew Brees.
Graham Hartmann, the senior writer of Loudwire, joins the show to discuss bands continuing on with just one original member. Graham also talks about Loudwire’s Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction series.
Robb Rivera hits us with a Snapcase classic for his pick of the week.
Clutch
I can’t think of a better place to be on a rainy Saturday night in May than at Sold Out Manchester Music Hall! It’s dry inside the drinks are cold and the music is LOUD! It’s also the first Saturday in May so there’s a little horse race going on up the road a piece, but tonight that was the farthest thing from this crowds mind! Tonight was all about Clutch, The Bronx, Red Fang and Fireball Ministry shaking the roof off of Manchester Music Hall!
Fireball Ministry
Fireball Ministry had first swing at this huge crown and they didn’t waste it! This group of experienced musicians (formed in 1999) knew exactly what to do with this crowd and that was to work them into frenzy for the bands to come. That’s exactly what they did with songs like “Flatline” “Two Tears” and “King”. You know it’s going to be a great show when the first band puts out a performance like this!
Red Fang
Next to take a shot at keeping this crowd going was Red Fang. Red Fang is another band that has been around the block. Formed in 2005 in Portland Oregon, this “stoner metal” outfit has 4 studio albums, several EP’s and a host of video’s to pull material from. It was evident from the beginning of their set that Aaron Beam vocalist and bassist was having a good time with this big responsive crowd, he had a smile on his face from start to finish! Playing songs like “Blood Like Cream” “Hank is Dead” and their first single “Prehistoric Dog” Red Fang had the folks in Manchester Music Hall right where they wanted them!
The Bronx
Trying to keep the momentum up that Fireball Ministry and Red Fang had started was The Bronx. To say they not only kept it up put pushed that momentum forward would be an understatement. The Bronx has been around since 2002, formed in Los Angeles California. I’ve seen them listed as a punk/ hard rock band, whatever category you want to put them they are talented musicians and onstage front man Matt Caughthran is nonstop! I was wore out after watching him, jumping running, dancing, moving back and forth across the stage and at one point in the crowd, were he sang three songs while dancing and moshing with some very surprised fans! Their fifth album titled ‘V’ was just recently released; all the albums are self-titled with roman numerals differentiating each one. If you like loud, energetic, well played music get out and see The Bronx!
Clutch
The reason Manchester Music Hall was Sold Out, the reason this crowd was in Lexington KY and not Louisville at Churchill Downs, the reason people were standing in line in the pouring rain was tonight’s headliner Clutch! “Holy Shit!” , that comes real close to summing up this night! This was my first Clutch show and hopefully not my last! A friend and lifelong Clutch fan gave me some advice before the show he said “Watch Neil Fallon, as you’re photographing the show, he delivers his lyrics like a southern church pastor” and he was right. Not only does he deliver those lyrics like a preacher but he controls the crowd like one as well. Back and forth across the stage everyone in the building was watching him and reacting to everything he did. It was beautiful to watch. Neil along with guitarist Tim Sult, bassist Dan Maines and legendary drummer Jean-Paul (JP) put on a show that Manchester Music Hall will not soon forget. They opened the night with “Pure Rock Fury” what followed was an epic set list of 16 more songs that included “Firebirds” “Crucial Velocity” along with two songs off their yet to be released album Book of Bad Decisions (Sept. 2018) “Gimme the Keys” and “Spirit of ‘76” then closing out the set with “D.C. Sound Attack” before coming back for a two song encore “Electric Worry” and “The Mob Goes Wild”. With that an amazing night of music in Lexington, KY came to an end. Those that had the privilege of being here will not soon forget it. There will be various other opportunites coming up to see Clutch as they are one of the headliners of the inaugural Inkcarceration Fest in Mansfield, Ohio in July at the prison where Shawshank Redemption was filmed as well as their own festival in West Virginia the Earth Rocker Festival on Saturday August 4th get more info for that festival here.
As always get out and see the show! Support local and touring musician, buy tickets, merch and most importantly buy their music!
Combichrist
On Friday night, May 18, 2018, Combichrist kicked off the start of the Everybody Still Hates You Tour at the Glass House in Pomona, CA. They did an exceptional job of picking their tour mates, as this time around, they are out on the road with Death Valley High, Prison, Night Club, and Wednesday 13. This star-studded show features something for everyone, from hard rock, to goth-rock, to industrial, and even industrial pop.
Night Club
Night Club is a band that has been making waves, and making a name for themselves. The duo, comprised of Mark Brooks and Emily Kavanaugh, have a poppy sound, with an industrial flair. Having toured with bands like Aesthetic Perfection, and recently opening two shows for A Perfect Circle, it is obvious why the band is in such high demand. They have such an intense energy on stage, and Emily made it a point to interact with fans, who were singing the lyrics with her on Friday night. Night Club played a couple of new songs, including “Candy Coated Suicide,” from their new, highly anticipated album, ‘Scary World’, now available for pre-order. The crowd loved the new material, and it’s safe to say the new album will be just as well-received!
Wednesday 13
Wednesday 13 is a man who knows how to put on a show! He and his band of ghouls entranced the Glass House with their own brand of mesmerizing gothic rock! Wednesday switched between a few costumes, including an Edward Mordrake-style mask, acting as his second demonic face. The costumes complimented their set perfectly, adding a unique, artistic (and some might even say creepy) element. Many Wednesday 13 fans were in attendance, dragging themselves up from their graves for a spook show of an evening. The band always puts on a fang-tastic show, and Friday night was no exception! The audience sang along to hits including, “Blood Sick,” “I Walked with a Zombie,” and crowd favorite, “I Like to Say F*ck.” They ended their set with a teaser of “Bad Things,” and left the audience blood-thirsty for more!
Combichrist hit the stage with an unrivaled energy, in a flurry of pulsing lights bright enough to blind person! It was recently revealed that this will be their last tour before they go into the studio to work on a new album. The mastermind behind the act is Andy DeLaPlegua, a man that most certainly does not know the meaning of the words “slow” or “calm” when it comes to performing. Joe Letz is a character all his own behind one set of drums, taking on the persona of Neutered Nancy for live shows. All members of the band performed wonderfully, despite some technical difficulties, which plagued all of the bands on the bill, as can be expected on the first stop of the tour. The Glass House got to her Combichrist favorites including “Exit Eternity,” “Get Your Body Beat,” and “F*ck that Sh*t.” Combichrist’s live show is something one needs to experience to truly appreciate!
Combichrist, Wednesday 13, Night Club, Prison, and Death Valley High just started the North American leg of the Everybody Still Hates You Tour! There is ample time to purchase tickets and witness this awesome lineup for yourself! The Glass House in Pomona, CA was host to the tremendous start to the tour, and those who were not in attendance missed out!
