Review: Summer Slam 2016 Featuring BYZANTINE & More

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Scent Of Remains

Scent Of Remains

2016’s Summer Slam in Johnson City, Tennessee got started off with a bang. Promoter Sean Carden and sponsor Roberson’s Tennessee Mellomoon Moonshine put together an amazing line-up of bands from start to finish. If you wasn’t there to witness the onslaught of metal you should be ashamed of yourself.It was a perfect Friday night to throw some horns in the air. The night didn’t get off to a slow start by any means. Scent of Remains took the stage and began their set with speed and authority. The band had recently obtained a new singer, but after practicing with the band for a period of time he left the band leaving them without a singer for this show. However, original singer Michael Yates comes to the rescue and steps up and takes the mic . It shows how much chemistry and brotherhood the band has that he was able to come back play the show with them so they wouldn’t have to cancel. That is something that fans appreciate. The only reason he exited the band is because he relocated a couple hours away. Every note they struck was with complete perfection. The guitarist Jeremy Powers has an amazing playing style. He doesn’t play guitar he caresses it. His hands move in a way that just glues your eyes to him. Their aggressive in your face music style makes them one of Knoxville’s premier metal bands. If you haven’t heard the music look them up and get yourself a big whiff of Scent of Remains. Continue reading →

TED NUGENT To Kick Off Sonic Baptizm Tour!

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Nugent

Photo Credit: Brown Photography

Ted Nugent is one of rock-n-roll’s greatest guitar players. But that isn’t his only talent. When he isn’t holding a gun or bow he is cranking out amazing riffs on a 6 string. Ted Nugent holds a special place in the hearts of any rock n roll fan. The outspoken rocker is about to embark on a nationwide tour, in support of his most recent album ‘Shutup & Jam’ (2014). The album is his first studio album since 2007’s Love Grenade. If you haven’t had a chance to hear the song “She’s Gone” which features the Red Rocker Sammy Hagar I suggest you go check that out now. The Sonic Baptizm Tour kicks off July 1st in Phoenix, Arizona and runs until September 3rd in Muskogee, Oklahoma. If you are itching to meet the Motor City Mad Man you can pick up the Dangerous Zone VIP Experience here. It includes a backstage meet and greet, a VIP laminate, a photo of Ted for him to autograph, and the chance to take a picture with the man himself (with your own phone/camera). Uncle Ted continues to put his personal stamp on good ole American Rock with an extra dose of freedom. While some may recall one of Ted’s biggest hits “Cat Scratch Fever” he has many more hits to draw out of his holster. With his backing band of road worthy veterans he is making several stops across the country and giving some attention to smaller markets and cities that crave live music. One of the smallest cities on the tour is Pikeville, Kentucky on August 19th. The East Kentucky Expo Center will have Ted Nugent along with opening band Grimsley Rose. Tickets for that show available here. Stay tuned as we will have coverage of that show. The last day of the tour in Muskogee, Oklahoma will mark Ted’s 6,570th live show. It isn’t everyday you get a chance to see Ted Nugent live and in the flesh, don’t miss this opportunity. Continue reading →

Review: -(16)-‘s Lifespan Of A Moth

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Photo Credit: Shauna Montrucchio

Photo Credit: Shauna Montrucchio

Southern California-based veteran sludge act, -(16)-, return with their seventh full-length album. Entitled Lifespan Of A Moth, the offering is clearly the band’s heaviest, darkest, and most complex material to date. The album is the follow up to Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds and marks the bands 3rd release on Relapse Records. The band broke up for a period of time but their love for all things heavy brought them together again and the band reunited in 2007. The new album was self-produced by -(16)- and recorded with Jeff Forrest (Cattle Decapitation, The Locust) at Doubletime Recording Studio in San Diego, California. Lifespan Of A Moth is set for release this July 15th via Relapse on CD/LP/Digital. Physical pre-orders via Relapse.com can be found HERE; digital preorders are available through the band’s BandCamp page at THIS LOCATION.

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State Of The Art: Hatred Alive

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

This month’s State is Maine!

Take one listen and you may guess that this band comes from sunny Florida…. no sir… Hatred Alive comes to you from the great north. Rumford, Maine to be exact. Hatred Alive are one of those bands that is just so damn heavy it makes your jaw drop. Sometimes with extremely heavy music there is a major lack of creativity. That isn’t the case here. The very first introduction I had to the band was the track “God Hates Country Music”. The song begins with some old school country music and then suddenly delves into some skull crushing heaviness. “Fuck you and fuck the horse you rode in on” is just a little taste of the lyrics. Need I say more? I’m sure being a Kentucky native and surrounded by country music all the time makes this song appeal to me more so than some, but this music is for any fan of any style. While this particular song is what led me to this band I’ve been able to find other songs that show more proof that this band is exactly what metal heads crave. As of May the band was working on tracking some vocals for new material, which we are more than anxious to hear. Another amazing track “No Mercy” proves that the band is no one trick pony, as they perfect their death and groove style. If you are a fan of old school death metal then this is going to give you the hard on of a lifetime. The band is rounded out with amazing musicians that each add something special to the band. Chugging guitar riffs from Shannon Bates, sinister vocals and screams by Jeremy St. Peter, those thundering bass lines by  Rob Bates and the amazing double bass drum kicks and beats by Nick Graham. If you are in/around Maine and have the opportunity to support this band live then i suggest you do so. If they are ever in my neck of the woods you can bet your sweet ass i’ll be there.

Follow them on Facebook here.

State of the Art: RC.Budaka

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

This month’s State is Maine!

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Since this is the last week of our State of the Art: Maine series, I wanted something special. Something different. Something spectacularly good. I won’t lie. It took me hours upon hours to find what I was looking for. Hell, at more than one point I was about ready to give up and use others that were good, but not what I was looking for. So glad I kept looking because what I found is the best Roots Rock band I have heard in years. Brilliant guitar, soulful and emotive vocals; all done with the true feeling associated with 70’s Rock and Hard Rock that is all too often lost today and so hard to emulate. RC.Budaka is that band and their recently released debut CD “Right Hear Right Now” is way too damned good to be any band’s first album. Continue reading →

State of the Art: The Fall of Babylon

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Maine

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

This month’s State is Maine!

TFOB

For this week’s State of the Art, I’m focusing on a four piece Thrash Metal band hailing from Biddeford, Maine. The Fall of Babylon has a sound that is truly their own. The members include lead Vocalist Arnold Labrack, Guitarist Alex Reed, Bassist Nick Mininni and Gavin Crespin on drums. The band has an astonishing gritty sound to their music that really draws you in and leaves you craving for more. The band is currently working on an album that they hope to release sometime later this year. The band is very diverse and their music really comes together. Music has always been a big part of the band members lives and they really strive to have a sound that people enjoy to hear. Their live shows are something you want to be sure to check out. As I have not experienced one first hand but from watching videos they definitely enjoy what they are doing and put a lot of effort in to making sure the crowd is enjoying the show too!

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TILT “Hinterland”: Progressive Rock Classic, Now!

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Progressive Rock fans rejoice! Steve Vantsis, David Stewart, PJ Dourley, Paul Humphreys and Robin Boult along with John Beck and John Mitchell have joined forces to create TILT. For the uninitiated, Vartisis, Stewart and Boult are better known for recording, writing and touring with legendary FISH for years. Yes, THAT FISH! Steve Vantisis was also the primary songwriter for FISH’s “13th Star” and “Feast of Consequences”. With augmentation by It Bites keyboardist John Beck and guitarist John Mitchell (Lonely Robot, Kino, Arena and It Bites), expectations are extremely high with their much anticipated release of “Hinterland” on June 30th, 2016. Metal Nexus recently obtained a copy of it from Mr. Vantsis, and let me tell you, it is simply amazing!

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Ripper Radio Spotlights And Interviews Our Friends Dollar Llama

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DollarLlama

Ripper Radio (Ripper Radio) has spotlighted our friends in Dollar Llama in their 100th podcast.  We would like to thank Dollar Llama for the mad props and their continued support!  Check it out!

Check out Dollar Llama: Facebook  Web  Soundcloud  BandCamp

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Denner/Shermann “Masters of Evil”: A New Twist on Old School Metal!

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Band

When news started to circulate that the legendary guitar duo from Mercyful Fate, Michael Denner and Hank Shermann were putting together a supergroup called Denner/Shermann, there was a collective breath taken in the Metal world. When the line-up was completed with Mercyful Fate, King Diamond and Dream Evil drummer Snowy Shaw, Demonica’s Marc Grabowski on bass and the spectacular vocal range of DeathDealer and CAGE vocalist Sean Peck, that breath was quickly taken away. With the band’s October 2015 release of the “Satan’s Tomb” EP, all air was sucked out of the atmosphere with a huge gasp. This is the stuff Metalhead dreams and others’ nightmares are made of. Their EP was received with rave reviews and with a deafening scream for more material. That wish, thankfully, comes true June 24th, 2016 with the Metal Blade release of Denner/Sherann’s “Masters of Evil”.

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10 Years Of Whitechapel Culminates With “Mark Of The Blade”

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Band

Whitechapel was formed early in 2006 in Knoxville, TN. Damn. Ten years ago. Hard to believe that it has been so long since first hearing “The Somatic Defilement” shortly after its release in 2007. Since then, Whitechapel has developed a huge, devoted fan base with their extreme brand of Deathcore Metal, made a few line up changes, released five devastating albums and landed in the top ten of the Billboard Top 200 with “Our Endless War” from 2014. Stepping up their game at every stage of their musical careers, the June 24, 2016, highly anticipated release of “Mark of the Blade” marks not only a celebration of ten years together as a band but also a musical turning point.

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