RAGE Release New Music Video From Forthcoming Album [Official Music Video]

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German heavy weights RAGE have come a long way from their inception. They ushered in the early to mid-1980s, along with bands such as Helloween, Running Wild, Blind Guardian and Grave Digger. That’s a long long time and it really reflects on their discography, which is a massive 23 album one taking in the new to be released album as well. For a band that has been doing music for more than 30 years, it is a commendable effort to put out a humongous discography of 23 odd records, that is just mental. Surviving some notable line up changes RAGE has been a constant dominance in not only the German Heavy/Power Metal scene but also all around the globe, playing a blend of heavy and power metal with a lot of classical influence RAGE has announced their forthcoming album to be released this summer. Can this summer get any more exciting!?

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Review: MIRRORS OF OBSIDIAN – ‘From One Form’ [Album Stream]

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Looking for extreme metal with groove influences from Dublin, Ireland? Mirrors Of Obsidian is your go to band! They have been reigning since 2009 and made 1 debut album and they just released their second one this year. Their debut album is called ‘Imminent Chaos Complete’ which got released on bandcamp in 2010, it is for sure worth checking out. It is free to listen to and it will definitely get you hooked! Click HERE to give it a listen. Their second and latest album ‘From One Form’ has also been released via bandcamp, on the 10th of May this year. It is extreme, violent and full of groovy moments. Mirrors Of Obsidian consists of 2 members, Ciaran Ennis and Eoin Ennis. Ciaran takes care of the brutal vocals that sound from another planet while his brother Eoin plays the guitar, drum and also the bass. Together they form the powerful duo that make this band.

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Review: SMOKE MOUNTAIN – S/T EP [Full Stream]

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Smoke Mountain formed in 2015 in Florida. The band is comprised of Sarah Pitt on vocals, her husband Lee Pitt on guitar and Lee’s brother Brian Pitt (Switchblade Cheetah, Neon Lushell) on drums. The band recently completed and released their debut self titled EP on May 1, 2017. The EP was writen recorded and produced by the band themselves and was mastered by Carl Saff (LoPan, Attalla). Lee also played the bass parts during the recording of the EP, but they don’t use a bassist in their live shows. In their live performances Lee runs his guitar through a guitar and bass amp, which I’m sure gives them an even more unique sound. Though this EP is just 3 tracks it is a beautiful introduction to the band. I certainly can’t wait to hear more.

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Review: ALESTORM – ‘No Grave But The Sea’ [Official Videos]

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Alestorm is a folk/powermetalband but I would rather call it pirate metal because that sounds way better and it fits their style like no other genre can. They have been around since 2004 and made 6 albums till this date including their best and latest album ‘No Grave But The Sea’ that will get released on the 25th of May. All their album have been about pirates and everything about them but they only get better with every album, lyrically they have improved a lot and now they have acquired catchy melodies and vocals that will remind you of how good life can be. ‘Captain Morgan’s Revenge’, ‘Black Sails At Midnight’, ‘Back Through Time’, ‘Life At The End Of The World’ and my personal favorite ‘Sunset On The Golden Age’ are all the albums that Alestorm have made so far and they show to be just like red wine. Alestorm has been known to experiment with genres, going from thrashy albums like ‘Black Sails At Midnight’  to albums like ‘Sunset On The Golden Age’ which featured some death growls. They are a pirate metal metal band with pleasing melodies and lyrics that will make you believe you were born a pirate. Who takes care of something this catchy and amusing you might ask. Well it’s vocalist Christopher Bowes who also plays the keyboard and the keytar, now you might be asking yourself what is a keytar? It’s basically the funniest looking electronic keyboard there is. The keytar is not an instrument everyone knows of let alone knows how to play so finding someone that is skilled with it is really unique. He is assisted by guitar player Máté Bodor, drummer Peter Vernon, basisst and back up vocalist Gareth Murdock and insane keyboardist and also back up vocalist Elliot Vernon. These people knows how to take care of a good party. ‘No Grave But The Sea’ has just like every other album they have created been released by the record label Napalm Records and the moment a band hasn’t changed their record label since their first album you know you stumbled upon a good band.

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REVIEW: WEDNESDAY 13 – “Condolences” [Select Tracks Streaming]

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Wednesday 13 first stepped onto the scene in 1992 and created a whirlwind of grotesque, shocking horror punk that still has a firm hold on the throats of those who dare to listen.  He first began his career with a collaboration with guitarist Abby Normal, drummer Jeff Washam, bassist Michael Patrick, and lead vocalist Todd Cage, known as Psycho Opera.  Wednesday 13 departed the band, along with guitarist Abby Normal, and bassist Michael Patrick and picked up drummer Sicko Zero to form the band Maniac Spider Trash.  The band released one EP, ‘Dumpster Mummies’ and one album, ‘Murder Happy Fairytales’.  However, their run came to an end in 1996 when Wednesday 13, Abby Normal, and Sicko Zero went on to form the band Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13 until 2002 when he was contacted by (then) Slipknot drummer, Joey Jordison, to form Murderdolls. Continue reading →

Chicago Open Air Spotlight: CODE ORANGE

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*Every Thursday from now until Chicago Open Air gets here we will be releasing an article about a band playing the festival to get you familiar with them.*

This week’s artist is Code Orange.

One of the heaviest upcoming bands in the genre is coming to destroy the Chicago Open Air stage on Friday, July 14th at Toyota Park. If you are a fan of heavy music, you have probably already taken note of this band by now. Code Orange from Pittsburgh, PA stormed onto the scene with an incredible hardcore release in 2014 titled ‘I Am King’. This record was brutal, passionate, dark, and made a statement that the band had arrived. As a younger metalhead, this was one of the first records I listened to that got me into the extreme side of hardcore and metal. To kick off this year, the band dropped their third LP titled ‘Forever’, which was also well received by the metal community (check out out review here.) Their live shows bring some of the most violent pits around in recent years. It will be interesting to see how they transit their performance over to the festival stage. The band has played a few other Danny Wimmer Presents festivals including Rock on the Range and Carolina Rebellion. Most of their tour dates below are supporting System of a Down in Europe, including many of the large festivals. Continue reading →

Review: IRONFLAME – ‘Lightning Strikes The Crown’ [Album Stream]

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Ironflame is a powermetal band from Washington, Pennsylvania. It’s a solo project made by the one and only Andrew D’Cagna who is also a member of Brimstone Coven.  His new debut album ‘Lightning Strikes The Crown’ got released via bandcamp and it features a whole bunch of amazing guests. Jim Dofka (Rev Jones Band, Leather Leone) for example created the guitar solo on the song ”Firestorm” & ”Fallen Glory”, He isn’t the only guest that took part in the powerful solo’s, Aaron Carey (Coldfells),  Justin Wood (Ex-Brimstone Cove, Necromancing the Stone) and last but not least Johnathan Crow (Curse The Wicked). Aaron took care of the guitar solo in ”Marching” and ”Shadow Queen” where Justin got a hold on the solo’s in ”The Gorgon” and my personal favorite song ”Eternal Night”. The best 2 songs on the album, ”Heavy Metal Warriors” and ”What We’ve Sown”, features guitarist Johnathan on the guitar playing mad solo’s. Never have I heard of an album with so many different guitarists but it works out really well! The lyrics and everything else has been the work of Andrew himself. He really is capable of a lot! ‘Lightning Strikes The Crown’ has been released via bandcamp on the 22th of May and for a first album this is incredibly good. The power of the album is without a doubt in the wide diversity of musicians.

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OPETH & GOJIRA Destroy the Egyptian Room in Indianapolis w/ DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT

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This was one of those tours that I could not, would not, miss. As soon as Gojira and Opeth revealed the dates for a co-headlining tour of the U.S., the plans for a trip to Indianapolis’s Egyptian Room on May 13th were set in motion. With none other than the Devin Townsend Project opening for the metal titans, this tour was destined to go down as the heaviest, prog-infused expedition that I have ever witnessed.  Continue reading →

The Bucketlist With KRASHKARMA’s Nicole Skistimas!

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Los Angeles based Alternative Metal Duo KRASHKARMA has been coined as “The White Stripes of Metal” with their singing female drummer intertwining with a guitar sound Frankenstein could take credit for creating. The dynamic on stage between the two vocalists capture a yin and yang that keeps your eyes peeled, your head banging and your lips belting out your new favorite songs. Energy and passion meets explosive guitar riffs – with their debut album, ‘Straight To The Blood’, KRASHKARMA have establishing themselves as one of the hottest touring acts. Made up of Ralf Dietel (vocals, guitars) and Niki Skistimas (vocals, drums) are radiating waves of excitement – especially in Germany and the surrounding countries. Ralf also formerly played guitar for Nine Inch Nails in 2015. Bleeding guitars, crushing rhythms and choruses that go straight for the throat fuse together creating an adrenaline-driven show that lies somewhere between heaven and hell. The band over 450 live performances under their belt and has even licensed music to Fox Sports. After their debut album in 2011 and extensive touring throughout the US and Europe – even representing the metal scene in Morocco, Africa – they stand, poised to strike – ready to tear down new borders with their second album “Paint The Devil”. The album released Oct 16, 2015 via Splitnail Records. The band has an aggressive alternative sound that you have to see in person to believe. The vocal harmonies between the duo is complete perfection.  Continue reading →

DEAD CROSS Feat. Dave Lombardo And Mike Patton Reveal North American Tour Dates

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Robing in the likes of ex-Slayer drummer, Dave Lombardo, Mike Patton from Faith No More hardcore supergroup DEAD CROSS form a potent force in 2015. They won’t release a new album up until August 4,via Ipecac Recordings, this year. In support of their self-titled debut album they will be touring entire North America and promise to put up excellent shows with a new breed of energy, the dates to which have been already announced.

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