State Of The Art: Maryland’s SHARPTOOTH [Official Videos]

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Photo Credit: Kat Nijmeddin

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

This month’s state is Maryland!

 

Formed in Baltimore, Maryland the 5 piece hardcore band Sharptooth have truly made a name for themselves on the East Coast. Did I mention they are also a dinosaur themed band? Who doesn’t love some fucking dinosaurs? Sometimes a new incredible band just appears in front of you and clicks instantly. That is just what happened after watching a recent interview with Jon’s Untitled Podcast and Sharptooth vocalist Lauren Kashan. The in depth chat opens a window into the singers personality and it makes their music even more alluring. You can hear the entire conversation here. Their fierce hardcore sound is known for it’s politically driven lyrics and their live shows are an unstoppable force of chaotic energy. Led by aforementioned vocalist Lauren Kashan the band is one of hardcore’s most promising up and coming acts. Sharptooth also includes the talents of Keith Higgins and Lance Donati on guitars, Phil Rasinski on bass and drummer Conor Mac. The bands debut came in the form of an EP in 2014 which was titled ‘Chompers’. Their debut full length ‘Clever Girl’, released on October 27, 2017 through Pure Noise Records. The first track released from the album was “No Sanctuary” which included some truly inspiring lyrics. Kashan stated about the song “This song is about us as LGBTQIA people telling the rest of society how you can and cannot talk to us, and the insidious ways that language shapes the way people interact with and treat each other. The lyric ‘every time that you say ‘f*ggot’ is a bullet through my head’ directly illustrates how hateful slurs and rhetoric lend credence to homophobic views, and negatively impacts the way the world treats people like me. It’s a slur that’s been used against me personally, and against all of the members of this band, queer and straight alike, and it feeds directly into a cycle of hate that has the potential to manifest as violence against us, and other members of the LGBTQIA community. People say “sticks and stones will break my bones”, but words can and do directly impact our culture and the ways that members of different groups are treated. We can ALL work together to be more mindful of the way we communicate with each other so as to create a safer world for all people.” Sharptooth isn’t the type of band that hides meaning in their lyrics, everything they want to say is screamed right in your face with pure aggression and angst. For example “Fuck You Donald Trump” also from ‘Clever Girl’ doesn’t beat around the bush, you know exactly what this song is about and the bands activism in lyric form makes them much more than just a hardcore band.

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GUS G. Says OZZY Wanted To Perform ‘Blizzard’ And ‘Diary’ In Their Entirety [Audio Interview]

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Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G. has established himself as one of the premier guitar gods on the planet.  Gus is best known for his time as the much coveted axe-slinger for Ozzy Osbourne  along with power metal powerhouse Firewind.  On April 20th Gus G. will release his second solo effort titled ‘Fearless’ through AFM Records.  Gus took the time to sit and talk with me about everything ranging from his upcoming solo album, his biggest influences, his time with Ozzy and everything in between.  Interesting to note that Gus stated  Ozzy wanted to play both ‘Blizzard Of Ozz’ and ‘Diary Of A Madman’ in their entirety and back to back for the last 4 or 5 nights of the ‘Scream’ in 2011.   This interview is a must listen for any Ozzy fan.  Hear the entire conversation below. You can pre-order the album here 

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Watch BLACKWATER DROWNING’s Debut Music Video, “Violent Ends”

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Delivering hard hitting metal from Salisbury NC, BLACKWATER DROWNING have made a name for themselves playing on some of the biggest stages in the underground scene. With their mix of technical musicianship and brutal vocals, the band has shared those same stages with many international recording acts.

With the start of the New Year, the band made their way back into the studio to begin working on their follow up to their debut release, “Deity”. The first track from the band’s newly announced “Ruthless“ EP, “Violent Ends”, shows an evolution of the band, shining more light on their drummer, Chris Peavy, along with the addition of a rhythm guitarist, Chris Jones. Lead guitarist Jeremy Bennett shows off his fretboard pyrotechnics, with vocalist Morgan Riley delivering her signature brutal vocal delivery as well as added screams from Bassist Aria Novi. The new track is really borderline death metal vocals with almost the same temperament as that of death metal. The drums are hit with significant intensity, more than that the riffing is heavy, tuned down and perfectly blends together with Morgan’s tight vocal delivery.

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Review: ABHORDIUM – ‘Omega Prayer’ [Album Stream]

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‘Omega Prayer’ is the second full-length studio album from Finnish blackened death metal band, Abhordium, released on October 27th, 2017 and distributed by Plastic Head Distribution. A common issue with extreme metal albums such as this one is that the music can tend to suffer from lack of variety, causing many of the songs to sound similar to each other. Such is definitely not the case with ‘Omega Prayer.’ Each track on the record offers something uniquely different while never straying from its overall darkly chaotic and brutal atmosphere. Continue reading →

World’s Loudest Month Spotlight: DANCE GAVIN DANCE

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*This is part of the “World’s Loudest Month” segment where we branch out and focus on bands that fans can see at this year’s biggest music festivals during the month of May 2018!  This week, we’re checking out Dance Gavin Dance, a stoner metal quartet from Portland, Oregon, who are geared up for this year’s Rock On The Range, as well as others!*

 

With the multitude of merging subgenres these days, it would seem that you can’t always describe a band exactly to someone that may have never heard them before. They are becoming so much more diverse, experimenting with a range of styles, and that’s not a bad thing at all! For this has given rise to the next generation of boundary pushing artists with a new lease of excitement and experimentation – one of those bands that is pushing right at the forefront is Dance Gavin Dance.

The Californian quintet rose out of the dissolution of several other bands including Farewell Unknown, Ghost Runner on Third and Atherton. Together the amalgamation of individual band members with such differing styles fused to form Dance Gavin Dance in 2005, where what was achieved was a truly unique sound that combines post-hardcore, math-rock, experimental rock, and prog rock…with argueably even a little metalcore/screamo added to the mix.

The dynamic of serenity and aggression, soundscape textures against methodical fretwork, and raw versus clean gives an overall experience that is openly enticing, yet seems slightly wild where the unexpected is just around the corner. Dance Gavin Dance has managed to create music that can appeal and encapsulate fans from across the musical spectrum and continue to surprise along the way! Continue reading →

Women’s Month: Mallika Sundaramurthy Of ABNORMALITY

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March is National Women’s Month, and we have decided to celebrate some our favorite women in metal. Every week during March, we will honor some of the most talented women in the metal and hard rock world.

I remember my very first time listening to ABNORMALITY, and I was so sure that it was and had to be a male vocalist. But then, BOOM! I saw the video for ‘Fabrication Of The Enemy‘ and my jaws just dropped to the ground. As horrifying and terrorizing the video was, Mallika Sundaramurthy could really portray the same with her terrifying growls, that seemed like it spawned from the deepest crypts of hell. It was something of rare occurrence, given my knowledge of women in metal back in the days. I knew it was something I would dig and I instantly fell in love with her vocal abilities, and also ABNORMALITY as a whole.

Today on my edition of Women’s Month spotlight, we shed some much deserved light on the immensely talented, and the gorgeous Mallika Sundaramurthy of technical death metal band, ABNORMALITY from Marlborough, MA. Mallika is undoubtedly one of the best female death metal vocalist in present day scenario, her vocal prowess is colossal, and on any given day she can give the likes of George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher, Glen Benton etc. a run for their money. Don’t let her looks mask you from the fact that she can be vicious, fatal and an absolute killer of an artist. Femme fatale much? Definitely!

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World’s Loudest Month Spotlight: RED FANG

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

Welcome back to another spotlight for the World’s Loudest Month segment! Ever since Black Sabbath laid those fuzzy and heavy riffs on the fret board, doom metal, or call it stoner/sludge metal, the stoner’s favorite companion has come a long way. Both in terms of music and time, but one thing has never changed, the feel and ethereal feeling to it. Fellow stoner metal band, Red Fang is no alien and has been gaining recognition like never before with their breed of beer soaked and green infused, pounding riffs.

Hailing from Portland, Oregon Red Fang is a quartet of really chill and cool dudes, oh and funny, who really know to rock it out there on stage and off the stage too. Red Fang was formed back in 2005, founded by David Sullivan, Maurice Bryan Giles, Aaron Beam, and John Sherman, the band has been consistent with their studio and live performances, their music is catchy, pretty dope and has a total party fervour to it. Stoner metal and party is always a big yay, ain’t it? Bringing in a hard rock-esque and the trademark stoner sound their live shows are a feast, you don’t even have to mosh on it, just stand and watch them belt out unadulterated and power packed numbers. The boys from Portland have worked their way up the ladders  in a jiffy, and has appealed to a widespread audience in the realm of heavy metal. 

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Album Review: OCTOPUS – Supernatural Alliance [Song Stream]

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Octopus

Supernatural Alliance

Rise Above Records

Release Date: March 30, 2018

Octopus began life in Detroit in 2008, largely as a recording project between vocalist Masha Marjieh and former Electric Six guitarist J Frezzato. After adding keyboardist/studio wizard Adam Cox a year later, the band recorded a few singles and cycled through a few rhythm sections before firmly securing the pocket with ex-Big Chief bassist Matt O’Brien and Seduce/Universal Temple of Divine Power drummer Todd Glass in 2012. The years of experience and familiarity clearly show through on their spellbinding debut full-length Supernatural Alliance (Rise Above); this band is locked in tight, and these ten songs are honed sharp enough to slice. It’s a slab of heavy-hitting hard rock, spiked liberally with equal doses of sci-fi and psychedelia, the perfect soundtrack to an imaginary big-budget flick about outlaw bikers in outer space.

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World’s Loudest Month Spotlight: STITCHED UP HEART

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As the weeks leading up to the World’s Loudest Month wind down, anticipation is rising. To kill the time in between, we’ve been working to bring you up to speed with some of the bands playing some of the summer’s biggest festivals. This week is definitely a treat as we introduce Stitched Up Heart, an energetic rock quintet from Los Angeles to which front-woman Alecia “Mixi” Demner attributes to a low time in her life:

“When I formed this band I was depressed and going through heartbreak. The name is supposed to give people strength and courage,” professes the frontwoman in a warm and certain tone. “We all go through things that make us think we can’t go further but, especially when times are bad, I want people to see that time will pass and it will get better. The hopeful lyrics on this record are on purpose – I’ve been living in the dark for too long, it’s time to come into the light. You need to pick yourself up because nobody is going to do that for you. There are some sick people out there, but there is beauty in everyone – and you need to love yourself before you can stitch that heart back up.” Continue reading →

Frank Fontsere (FOZZY) When Fans Heard Them On The Radio “They Were Shocked When They Found Out It Was Fozzy”

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Photo Credit: David Weaver

 

Atlanta’s Fozzy formed in 1999 by lead singer Chris Jericho who is widely known as one of the most recognizable figures in wrestling and guitarist Rich Ward. The band is signed to Century Media Records and has released two studio albums through this label. The band’s current lineup consists of Chris Jericho, Rich Ward, Frank Fontsere, Billy Grey and Paul Di Leo. Jericho has characterized the band by saying, “If Metallica and Journey had a bastard child, it would be Fozzy.” Originally started as a cover band, Fozzy produced their self-titled debut album, and it featured mostly covers of bands such as Dio, Krokus, Twisted Sister, Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe and Judas Priest. In 2005 they released “All That Remains” which included all original content. As of now the band has released 7 studio albums and one live album. Their newest album “Judas” is probably one of the best albums the band has released. The title track “Judas” is not only a hard rocking single but the video is by far one of the most entertaining videos I have seen in quite some time. Fozzy has dates scheduled on tour from now until the end of April and also a couple already booked over the summer in July and August. Continue reading →