It’s not everyday you get to witness NOLA royalty. New Orleans sludge masters EyeHateGod recently unleashed their greatness on a crowd of fans at The Hideaway in Johnson City, Tennessee. The band is touring in support of their 2014 self titled release. The tour entitled ‘The Road to Psychotic Disorder is Not Elsewhere Classified’ also includes direct support from Philly based band Fight Amp. Also on this particular date is East Tennessee’s premiere doomsters Navajo Witch. Continue reading
Valient Thorr are the baddest band on the planet (from another planet). In support of the new album Valient Thorr will be hitting the road in North American on the “15 Years on Earth Tour”. Joining them on the road will be Pears, Black Wizard and label-mates Hammer Fight. The tour kicks off May 25th in Asheville, NC and runs through July 13th in Baltimore, MD. Lead vocalist Valient Himself even has a few words for you: Continue reading
Here is another killer band out of Melbourne, FL that will be playing at Mayfest: Best Supporting Actor. This band’s sound is a formative mix of Punk (“less angry though” as Steve Keller so aptly points out), Alternative and Hard Rock/Metal guitar riffs with melodic vocals and a great old-school flavor I am really digging. Started in July of 2007 by drummer/vocalist Steve Keller and guitarist Wade Vargo after having “some song ideas [he] wanted to flush out”, they decided to form a band after the third time writing and recording their original tunes.
After a horrible day, I was definitely looking forward to hit my weekly show at 1904 here in Jacksonville, FL and blow off some steam. Hell, even the weather sucked. Cool, pouring down rain. Sucks. Nothing like some good music for a few hours to escape the frustration, angst and exhaustion of days (weeks) like that. I find Metal a good outlet for these “bad” emotions that all too often are left to fester and become destructive in so many ways. I find music to be productive release for all of it. Head bang, fists in the air, screaming my head off. Leave it all with the music and depart in a better mood, pleasantly tired and relaxed, maybe even with a couple more friends. Ask me why I love music. This night was sure to be the catharsis of my day, my week.
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is Colorado!
When I was asked to pick the state to be covered by our State of the Art series for the month of April, I chose Colorado specifically to cover this band, based out of Denver. I first discovered them about a year and a half ago by creating a “sounds like” radio station on a stream for one of my favorite Florida bands: Mr. Bella. “Tranquility” was selected at some point and I was literally stopped in my tracks; quickly drawn into this powerful and moving Progressive Metal song. Continue reading
Recently we released the news that the Bay Area rockers SpiralArms had called it quits after being formed for 12 years. The band was led by vocalist/guitarist Tim Narducci (Systematic, White Witch Canyon) who has now moved on to form another band along with SpiralArms bassist Chris ‘Cornbread’ Lombardo. The two have an amazing chemistry together and are also band mates in a ZZ Top tribute band called Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers. Cornbread made this announcement via Facebook: “OK kids! Here it is! Stick a fork in Spiralarms, Cause it’s done! But no tears shall be shed, for it is a happy day! Have no fear, The Watchers are here!!” Continue reading
The last month or so has been a very exciting time for West Virginia metal legends Byzantine. The band was auditioning for a new drummer, finishing up recording 2 cover songs, and on the verge of signing a worldwide deal with one of the best labels in the business; Metal Blade. In steps West Virginia native Matt Bowles formerly of the band Our Malignant Beloved. He is the newest addition to Byzantine. The band will soon begin the task of writing and recording a follow up to their highly successful album “To Release Is To Resolve”, which made several top 10 lists including ours. We were fortunate enough to catch up with Matt and get to know him a little better. Continue reading
HATEBREED
Introduction by Dragon:
Hatebreed is an institution when it comes to both the U.S. and global Hardcore/Metal/Crossover scenes as the band itself is closing in on it’s 25th anniversary come 2019. They have championed those scenes constantly while reinforcing notions about the strength of the individual, the power of self-reliance, and the inevitable victory that is achieved by one’s actions through their pureness of heart and durability of will. “Strength” in every sense of the word is always the take-away from Hatebreed as this iconic band prepares to release their seventh album “The Concrete Confessional” via Nuclear Blast on May 13th. The band is also preparing to hit the road across the U.S. with DevilDriver, Act Of Defiance, and Devil You Know soon and with all of that in mind, Metal Nexus reached out to Hatebreed guitarist Frank Novinec to ply us with a bit of his time and experience in the following interview. For those of that don’t know, Frank Novinec is an icon himself since his earlier work in bands such as Integrity, Ringworm, and Terror which, alongside his tenure in Hatebreed, all testify to what an expressive artist and figure he is so without further ado, let’s breakdown and break loose with Hatebreed guitarist Frank Novinec. Continue reading
I was fortunate enough to cover a huge number of guitar heavy hitters in one fall swoop this week: Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde, Nuno Bettencourt and Tosin Abasi; all currently on the Generation Axe Tour. Five very different guitarists that cover Heavy Rock and Blues, to Neo-Classical Metal and Experiment Progressive. One thing is for damned sure: each man is at the top of their game and love playing the highest quantity of notes in the shortest period of time possible. As Bettencourt put it so succinctly: The promoters could not figure out how to pay all of these slingers and decided to pay each per note. No doubt, these gentlemen would come out on the winning end of that deal!
I think it is safe to say that everyone came to the show to see one or two of their favorite artists. That certainly holds true for me. I have seen Steve Vai quite a few times over the years and loved every show, Zakk Wylde with Black Label Society a couple of times which, of course, is always ear-splitting and fun, Nuno Bettencourt years and years ago with Extreme, Yngwie Malmsteen once in the mid-80’s (he was one of my primary motivators), but I have never seen Tosin Abasi or Animals As Leaders live, so I was especially excited to see this 8 string wonder shred the wood off of his fretboard. When it was all said and done, favorites mean nothing because the bar for this show was off the scale. It would become nit-picking or simply a matter of a subjective style and taste. Personally, I sat in the third row, center stage (Thank you so much, Scott!) and was moved, highly entertained and awed for three and a half hours. I love it all…
It’s only a few months away until the mighty Armored Saint will head back out on the road, playing to fans across the world this summer! Before they head abroad to conquer stages the band will first tour the U.S. with another iconic band Metal Church for a special west coast trek. Armored Saint’s Joey Vera (bass) comments: “We’re super excited to go back out for some select dates this summer. The June dates with Metal Church are a fan-made match that is sure to be an amazing time!” Continue reading
