Album Review: MINISTRY ‘AmeriKKKant’ [Video Stream]

By | |
Comments Off on Album Review: MINISTRY ‘AmeriKKKant’ [Video Stream]

Industrial pioneers, Ministry return with the highly topical and timely release of their fourteenth full-length studio album, ‘AmeriKKKant’ –  scheduled to drop on March 9th, 2018 via Nuclear Blast Records.  Coming out during a time when the political climate in America is at its most volatile in recent years, “Uncle Al” and co. are clearly pissed off at the current state of things and are not at all interested in sugar-coating or holding back their anger on this record.  The resulting tone, presented cynically throughout ‘AmeriKKKant,’ is a hypnotically and grittily electronic, apocalyptic waltz of anarchist protest. Continue reading →

Album Review: RIVERS OF NIHIL – ‘Where Owls Know My Name’ [Track Streams]

By | |
Comments Off on Album Review: RIVERS OF NIHIL – ‘Where Owls Know My Name’ [Track Streams]

The mystery that shrouds any band’s upcoming album, especially of a band that is well versed with diversity in their music, is certainly not nonchalant. I wasn’t aware RIVERS OF NIHIL would be coming up with their third studio effort, ‘Where Owls Know My Name‘ this year until a few weeks back. As soon as the news dawned upon my conscience, I knew I had to request the album for a review, cause I remember their 2015 album, ‘Monarchy‘ had impressed me so much, it left me wanting for more. Fast forward to March 16th, 2018, the Pennsylvania quintet will be dropping their third full length in what could possibly be their best effort and certainly one that will garner itself a place in the top ten album listing by this year’s end.

Releasing on Metal Blade Records this 16th, RIVERS OF NIHIL have set the bar high when it comes to discovering uncharted territories that transcends your musical comfort zone. One of the most recently emerging and forward thinking artist in the metal sphere, the band has always managed to drop jaws with their progressive yet ferocious music. Not to forget, the wide array of experimentation the band has delved in their work, which makes RIVERS OF NIHIL truly an artistically elite band. So, with all the teasing I just did, do I make it look like ‘Where Owls Know My Name‘ easily surpasses what its predecessor achieved? Let’s find out!

Continue reading →

Album Review: SPINY NORMEN (RidingEasy Records) (Album Stream)

By | |
Comments Off on Album Review: SPINY NORMEN (RidingEasy Records) (Album Stream)

 

Spiny Normen

Spiny Normen

RidingEasy Records

Release Date: March 2, 2018

Recorded nearly four decades ago at a Texas community college and unreleased until now, Spiny Normen is a raw but robust chunk of primo psych-prog, a skunky blend of hard rock and krautrock caked in a hallucinogenic patina. Rescued from collector’s-shelf obscurity by RidingEasy label head Daniel Hall and Permanent Records owner Lance Barresi for inclusion in their ongoing (and highly recommended) Brown Acid anthology series, it stands up both as a fascinating relic of its era and as a kick-ass rock and roll record that’s both of and ahead of its time.

Continue reading →

World’s Loudest Month Spotlight: BAD WOLVES [Tracks Streaming]

By | |
Comments Off on World’s Loudest Month Spotlight: BAD WOLVES [Tracks Streaming]

 

You could say that Bad Wolves is a new band, the name is new but the musicians that make up the band are industry veterans that have been around the block and have been an integral part of successful bands. Bad Wolves includes Tommy Vext on vocals who is no stranger to the spotlight. The singer recently filled in for Ivan Moody on one of Five Finger Death Punch’s recent tours and was also a member of Divine Heresy with Fear Factory’s Dino Cazares, the reunion of Snot reunion, Westfield Massacre, and even formed his namesake group Vext. The remaining members of the band are just as iconic including drummer John Boecklin formerly of Devildriver and I Of Tongues which essentially has become Bad Wolves, guitarist Doc Coyle of ex-God Forbid and Vagus Nerve which he started in 2015. Doc Coyle has also been a hired gun and filled in for various bands like Lamb Of God, Trivium, Darkest Hour, Unearth and also Westfield Massacre. In addition to adding his skills on stringed instruments Doc has also aided bands like Hatebreed and Body Count with songwriting. Chris Cain also on guitar who is from Bury Your Dead. Rounding out the band is ex-In This Moment, Vimic bassist Kyle Konkiel. In all likelihood you have probably seen some of these tenured rockers perform in the past. Now they are all entangled together creating this beast of a group named Bad Wolves. The band recently took the top spot for the #1 rock song on Apple Music and topped the Billboard charts with their cover of The Cranberries “Zombie”. The song was released just days after The Cranberries vocalist Dolores O’Riordan passed away. Initially Dolores was supposed to be featured on the track as well, but her life ended tragically before that could happen. The band is also donating all proceeds of the songs profits to O’Riordan’s children in her honor. In addition to that cover the band has also released the single “Toast to the Ghost” which will be on the bands debut album which is set to release in the summer of this year. Continue reading →

UNDERØATH Reveal NØ FIX North American Tour Dates For This Spring!

By | |
Comments Off on UNDERØATH Reveal NØ FIX North American Tour Dates For This Spring!

UNDERØATH, who surprised fans last week with the announcement of a new album, ‘Erase Me‘ (April 6, Fearless Records), have also confirmed a Spring trek across the U.S., dubbed the Nø Fix Tour. Every ticket purchased for the upcoming tour will include a digital download of the new album.

“We cannot wait to play songs off Erase Me live,” said the band about the upcoming dates. “This record means so much to us and we just wanna share that with all of you guys. Can’t wait to get back on the road and play some music, new and old!”

The five-week tour includes festival appearances at Las Rageous, Welcome to Rockville, Fort Rock, Rock on the Range and Rocklahoma. Several international festivals are also confirmed for this Summer including Reading, Leeds, Download, Heavy Montreal and Graspop.

Continue reading →

An Interview With Joshua Toomey (Talk Toomey Podcast / PRIMER 55)

By | |
Comments Off on An Interview With Joshua Toomey (Talk Toomey Podcast / PRIMER 55)

 

Most of you are some time or another have heard something that Joshua Toomey has created, whether it be his music with the Nu-Metal legends Primer 55, or his Nashville based band 12 Volt Negative Earth, or his popular podcast Talk Toomey. The bass player turned podcaster was originally from the Nashville area, but moved to the Bluegrass state in order to join Primer 55. From 2002–2007 Toomey was the bands bassist and toured both near and far with the band. Prior to Primer 55 Toomey was a member of the band 12 Volt Negative Earth. I happened to see the band live and their sound was incredible and a band that should have went much further than they did. When Toomey left 12v to join Primer 55 he was replaced by another bassist you may know, Chris Kael now famously known as the bass player for Five Finger Death Punch. When Toomey left the stage and started a family (who are adorable by the way) he still had that creative itch, and was inspired by other podcasters like Jamey Jasta. He felt like he had something to say in a creative manner so Talk Toomey was born. His last name which I’m sure has been a headache at times was finally put to some good use and it didn’t take long before a vast amount of fans were familiar with the name. After speaking at the Louder Than Life festival in 2016 and 2017 Toomey and I (Fist – Editor & Founder of Metal Nexus) decided to join forces bringing together Talk Toomey’s incredible conversations, already established fan base, guests and insight with the hard working Metal Nexus staff and our fans. The partnership was instantly a hit and Metal Nexus is incredibly happy to have Talk Toomey as part of the Metal Nexus family. This interview was an opportunity to allow you – the fans to get to know the man behind the mic a little better, and also for two friends to just shoot the shit.

Continue reading →

Review: VOID GENERATOR – ‘Prodromi’ [EP Stream]

By | |
Comments Off on Review: VOID GENERATOR – ‘Prodromi’ [EP Stream]

Void Generator claim they were born ten million years ago by extending the diagonal of the quadrilateral
of Pegasus up to b- Sirrah. The band is comprised of Gianmarco Iantaffi – Guitar, Sonia Caporossi – Guitar,  Enrico Cosimi – Synth and Devil’s machines, and Marco Cenci – Drums. Void Generator debuted their first release in in 2004 with a self-titled EP. Then in January 2006 came ‘We Have Found The Space’ which contained 10 unique tracks. The follow up to the debut full length would take the band 4 years to release, but in 2010 they released the EP ‘Phantom Hell And Soar Angelic’. Void Generator have a sound that isn’t easy to pinpoint to a specific genre. The band draws influences from a wide variety of different musical styles across a number of genres. Their sound ranges from heavy 1970’s blues and rock to indie British rock and also to psychedelic or stoner rock. Void Generator aren’t trying to be a carbon copy of anything else that is out there. They are creative to a point that it’s hard to describe. The bands remaining discography includes 2011’s ‘Collision’ EP, the album ‘Supersound’ in 2014, and now the band has released their latest material in the form of an EP. The EP titled ‘Prodromi’ contains 4 tracks of unique appeal and it was released on September 30, 2017.

Continue reading →

Review: THE CROWN ‘Cobra Speed Venom’ [Video Stream]

By | |
Comments Off on Review: THE CROWN ‘Cobra Speed Venom’ [Video Stream]

Swedish death metal veterans, The Crown return with their tenth full-length studio album, ‘Cobra Speed Venom,’ scheduled for release March 16, 2018 via Metal Blade Records.  Since originally forming in 1990 under the name Crown of Thornes, the band has gone through various metamorphoses but once again manage to bring their unique rock n’ roll attitude and sensibility to their sound which is, without a doubt, unabashedly and unapologetically “metal.”  By incorporating the aggressive and speedier elements of thrash, the brutality of old school American and Swedish death metal, and the groove and inhibition of arena rock; The Crown takes a refreshing approach to their own distinctive brand of death metal.  There is virtually zero pretense to be heard and it’s clear while listening to this album that the group is actually having fun playing music the way they want to.  As highly skilled and experienced musicians with an impressive discography to prove it, they deliver an amazingly powerful thirteen-track, hour-long annihilator of a record that will immediately satisfy and impress metal fans ranging anywhere from the casual to the über elite.   Continue reading →

State Of The Art: BARISHI [Album Stream]

By | |
Comments Off on State Of The Art: BARISHI [Album Stream]

*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!

Death metal lives on from Brattleboro, Vermont as BARISHI continue their way up in the metal world. Vern Davidson (vocals), Graham Brooks (guitar), Jonathon Kelley (bass), and Dylan Blake (drums) started BARISHI back in high school in 2012, pulling Vern from another local band at the time, Vaporizer, mixing elements of death metal and prog metal into what they are now (And it’s a pretty cool mix to listen to-Check it out) Continue reading →