Deftones
This year was my third year in a row attending the Aftershock Festival at Sacramento, California’s Discovery Park with my wife. This time around, it was the first year I was not only attending as a regular fan but also had the great opportunity of experiencing VIP perks as part of the media for the show. I had a full schedule of bands to watch throughout the day and a couple of potential interviews. This was definitely going to be a new and exciting experience. Continue reading
Thrice
Wrapping up the first half of their fall US tour in support of the September 2018 release ‘Palms,’ post-hardcore group Thrice stopped by Marathon Music Works on a rainy Sunday night in Nashville for an evening of melody, angst and, most importantly, rock. In support for this tour which starts up again on Nov. 2nd in San Francisco are label mates Teenage Wrist and Los Angeles punk rockers The Bronx. Continue reading
All That Remains
I was writing the review for this show when I heard the news of All That Remains guitarist Oli Herbert’s passing. I had a full review almost completed but after the recent tragic news it was like my whole memory of the night was washed away and all I could recall was Oli shredding away under the lights on stage. Continue reading
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state. This month’s state is Rhode Island.*
Rhode Island may be one of the last places that comes to mind when pondering anthemic, symphonic metal. Goldenhall, however is about to change that entirely. Since their formation in 2014 by way of numerous local bands, they have lent credence to idea that Rhode Island has been a hidden hotbed for heavy music. Started by guitarists Ryan Spahr and Greg Rosche, formerly of Condolence; it did not take long before recruiting Nico Cannella (Acerose) and Matt Young from Chaos Before Creation, on bass and drums, respectively. Goldenhall is fronted by classically trained vocalist, Jason Shealy. All of the music is recorded and produced by this independent band. Continue reading
Public Policy – Photo by Stuart Window
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state. This month’s state is Rhode Island.*
There is not a great deal I know about Rhode Island’s Public Policy, but their Facebook page gives a colorful overview – “Public Policy is a sinewy, brash, and beautiful rock ‘n roll band from Providence, RI. Complex, tightly-crafted rock songs churn and boil under dense and plaintive lyrics. It’s not jangular, and there’s no saxophone in sight.“
The band is comprised of Dean Gardner (vocals, guitar), Nick Cooper (guitar, vocals), Dan Moriarty (drums, backing vocals) and Dan Sliwinski (bass guitar, backing vocals).
Public Policy – Human Resource
Their sophomore release ‘Human Resource’ was recorded by Daryl Rabidoux at The Radar Studio, Clinton, CT and Axion Media Lab, Pawtucket, RI. It was mixed by Daryl Rabidoux at Axion Media Lab, Pawtucket, RI.
This is five tracks of steaming emotion, a stream of consciousness that brings back Grunge and Emo in one post-hardcore package. The vocals veer between sneers and tears and the guitars rip away right in your face.
The band are artists, first and foremost. Nothing on this release cries out any rock star pretentions. They are a ball of concentrated acidic chords and some bitter gospel songs for the new generation. The concerns of the young are howled out on tunes such as “Ice Age“, with its eco-sermon “burn down together” refrain.
Other fine numbers include “Insulin“, with its chopping chords and grinding punk verses. Make no assumptions, these guys can play and have melodies weaving their way around this release. They know they want to talk to you and they know their message needs to get through.
They also have the same alternative vibes as the early Eighties indie bands, but they have the power that eludes those artists. They sound as if the struggle has been all too real…
Check out Public Policy and see if you can get behind their human resourcing.
Doom Metal band Spirit Division have returned after two years with a new album : ‘Forgotten Planet.’ With this new release, Spirit Division have shown their growth as musicians as they incorporate psychedelic and progressive elements that were unseen on the bands past releases. Continue reading
Dopethrone are a Canadian Sludge/ Doom Metal band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Active since 2008, they are known for their abrasive mix of sludge, stoner and doom with lyrics based in murder, cannabis and sleazy drug abuse. 2018 brings us ‘Transcanadian Anger’ – The fifth release from the band. This is a terrifying, massively fuzzed out slab of Sludge perfection! Continue reading
Static-X are reuniting with the original lineup to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of their successful debut album Wisconsin Death Trip. Bassist Tony Campos, guitarist Koichi Fukuda and drummer Ken Jay have teamed up again to release Project Regeneration, set to hit shelves and streaming services Spring 2019. The band has also planned a world tour to support the album and to honor their late frontman, Wayne Static, who passed away November 1, 2014. More information on the tour dates will be coming soon.
The band has compiled posthumous vocal performances and musical compositions that Static left behind. With help from long-time producer of Static X, Ulrich Wild, their seventh studio album will feature 12-15 brand new Static-X tracks.
Bassist Tony Campos explains, “With the 20th anniversary of Wisconsin Death Trip quickly approaching, it feels like the right time to pay our respects to the band, to Wayne, and to all the fans who have been with us right from the start.” says bassist Tony Campos. “We had a lot of material to work with… several demos that Wayne left behind, as well as some really great isolated vocal performances from some nearly finished songs. Together, we have been writing and crafting something very special!”
You can check out teaser clips from a new music video, featuring brand new Static-X tracks, “Road To Hell”, “Something Of My Own”, “Terminator Oscillator”, “Hollow” and “Disco Otsego” – along with a personal message from bassist Tony Campos about the inspiration behind Project Regeneration now here. For the unfinished tracks, guest vocals will be laid down by friends of Static-X. This process is being brought together by Sirius XM pioneer Jose Mangin, who is also credited as an executive producer of the project.
Campos says, “We have confirmed interest from our friends David Draiman, Ivan Moody, Al Jorgensen, Dez Fafara, Edsel Dope, Burton C Bell, and a few others,” says Campos. “Unfortunately, due to everyone’s crazy schedules, it is a little early to know how things will shake out. We are more than confident that the album will have some incredible guest vocalists, but it should be noted that it is still too early to count anyone in 100%.”
“This is a celebration of STATIC-X, Wisconsin Death Trip, Wayne Static, and all of our fans,” adds Campos. “We are very excited about what we have created, so we wanted to involve the fans early, and in a campaign sort of way, so that they can participate with us and help to dictate some of the things that we do.”
Preorders are available for Project Regeneration, which comes with their name appearing in liner notes of the new album. Other special preorder options include merch bundles and several old school Static X merch to celebrate the anniversary of Wisconsin Death Trip. Preorders are available here. Static-X also plan on doing multiple video updates via Facebook Live chats over the next few months to keep the fans involved and updated on the process. To keep up to date on Static-X and their return follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or their website.
Stoner rock fans across North America will have reason to rejoice in March 2019, when English horror-psych mavens Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats join forces with Swedish retro-rockers Graveyard for a co-headlining jaunt dubbed the “Peace Across the Wasteland” tour. Ticket pre-sales for the nineteen-date tour, which kicks off at Philadelphia’s Union Transfer on March 6 and runs through March 30 at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, begin October 24, with the general on-sale beginning two days later.
There are some of the guys in this heavy metal music industry who are nothing short of mega massive walking icons for the heavy metal. we are of course talking about one of the legends who has helped pioneer many genre defining bands, especially SEPULTURA. Yes, the spotlight is on our Brazilian brother, Max Cavalera.
This one man army has single handedly led the charge for the extreme metal genre way too many times now. Juggling three to four active bands all at the same time is something Max does without even the slightest sense of nervousness or failure. Max Cavalera after having departed from SEPULTURA in 1996, re-channeled his passion for heavy music in the form of bands like SOULFLY which is an incarnation as close to SEPULTURA it can be, KILLER BE KILLED is a super-group formed in 2011 with the members of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and MASTODON, and lastly CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, which Max fronts along with his brother Igor. Cavalera was also involved in a short-lived side project called NAILBOMB. So there you can see, it’s evident that this Brazilian bad ass is surely a jack of all trades.
