Review: DOPE DEFAULT – ‘Ofrenda’ [Album Stream]

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Formed in late 2012, Dope Default are a stoner/heavy rock’n’roll band from Thessaloniki, Greece, influenced by artists such as Alice in Chains, Queens of the Stone Age, Monster Magnet and Planet of Zeus. While the band has an array of influences ranging from grunge to stoner rock their wheel house seems to be centered around hard rock. They do include elements of stoner rock within their music, but unlike most grunge they truly showcase riffs and solos throughout their music. They released their debut EP, ‘Nuclear Honeymoon’, in 2015, to favorable reviews by fans and press alike. Like most modern era bands Dope Default has solidered through several lineup changes, and have continued on with their passion to create music for fans around the world. They released their sophomore EP, ‘Tales From the Wasteland’, in 2017 and have now released their debut full length ‘Ofrenda’. The album released March 3rd, 2018 and was recorded at Ypoga Studios in Thessaloniki, Greece. The band has toured extensively, which has not only made their stage presence more superior but also better prepared them for the studio and releasing what is likely their best release yet.

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Beasto Blanco, The Buddz, American Dropouts Slay In Tennessee! [Review & Photo Gallery]

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Beasto Blanco

I find myself back in Johnson City for what promises to be a great night of Rock N Roll! It’s a short 2.5 hour drive to The Hideaway which is next door to Capone’s were I was photographing two nights before. The Hideaway is a 150 person, standing room only venue, a very intimate setting to see a band like Beasto Blanco! I’d venture a guess and say this is probably the smallest venue they are playing on this tour. Continue reading →

Rock Allegiance Artist Showcase: DEVOUR THE DAY

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Hard rockers Devour the Day formed out the ashes of Egypt Central with Joey “Chicago” Walser and Blake Allison in 2012. Hailing from the bluesy city of Memphis, Walser and Allison began working on their new project immediately with Skidd Mills (Sick Puppies, Skillet, Pop Evil). After picking up former Egypt Central guitarist Jeff James and drummer Dustin Schoenhofer (Walls of Jericho, Bury Your Day) for touring they released their debut record Time & Pressure.  Devour the Day was able to sell over 220,000 copies and their radio single “Good Man” hit the Top 10 Rock charts. Continue reading →

Mike Williams (The Agony Scene) “We Feel The Gap Between The Myspace Era & Facebook Era”

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Coming straight out of Tulsa, Oklahoma The Agony Scene was formed in 2000. Inspired by bands like  Zao and Overcome the band set out as a three piece, but soon added a fourth member to round out the band. The band released three albums, beginning with their self-titled album in 2003 on Solid State Records. The majority of bands on the Solid State label were Christian bands; However, The Agony Scene in a later interview explained they were not a Christian band. followed up by ‘The Darkest Red’ on Roadrunner Records, and ‘Get Damned’ on Century Media Records om 2007. It wasn’t long after that album’s release that vocalist Mike Williams confirmed on October 8, 2008,  that the band had broken up early in that year. After 8 years the band decided it was time to put The Agony Scene back together and in August of 2016 they announced plans to tour and release a new full length album. The band has now released that album titled ‘Tormentor’, as July 20, 2018 via Outerloop Records.  Continue reading →

CAST THE STONE(Feat. MISERY INDEX, ex-CATTLE DECAPITATION & SCOUR Members) New Single Is Intense!

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American death/black metallers CAST THE STONE present a brand new lyric video for their song “A Plague Of Light”, taken from the “Empyrean Atrophy” EP. The EP is all set to be released at the end of this month, on August 31st, via Agonia Records.

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Rock Allegiance 2018 Spotlight: FROM ASHES TO NEW

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Nu-metal is undoubtedly swinging back into the forefront and From Ashes To New is breathing new life into the 20+ year old musical subgenre. Elements of rap introduced with catchy radio friendly vocals and melodies make for an extremely palatable lead-in to rock and heavier music. Continue reading →

Ep. 166 Mike Williams (The Agony Scene) – Talk Toomey: The Metal Nexus Podcast

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Mike Williams of The Agony Scene joins the podcast this week. Mike and I discuss what brought them back from their lengthy hiatus. We also talk about the band’s early days in Tulsa, OK. We also bring up the other big band from Tulsa, Hanson. Mike and I talk about being dads in bands and trying to be good parents. But most of all we discuss “Tormentor”, the band’s latest album.

Before I talk to Mike I give a couple of concert reviews. I went to see The Fucking Pantera Cover Band on Friday and then went to see the mighty Powerman 5000 on Tuesday. Lots of good live music.

Robb Rivera of Nonpoint gives his weekly Pick From The Kit and talks about the upcoming Nonpoint album “X” due out August 24th.

Louder Than Life 2018 Spotlight: MONSTER MAGNET [Official Videos]

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*This is part of our “Louder Than Life 2018 Spotlight” series where we  focus on some of the up-and-coming bands that fans can see at this year’s Louder Than Life Festival on Sept. 28th-30th.  This week, we’re checking out Monster Magnet.*

1989 marks the year of birth of New Jersey’s spacerock legends Monster Magnet. Though this band isn’t one of the headliners of this years festival they have put in their time and are veterans of the rock and metal world. They have likely put in more hours on stage than most of the other early acts combined. The bands first demos titled ‘Forget About Life, I’m High on Dope’ and ‘I’m Stoned, What Ya Gonna Do About It?’ should pretty much tell you everything you need to know about the band, but there is much more you should know. The band released their official debut album ‘Spine Of God’ on Caroline Records in 1991 which became a full on genre classic literally in an instant. If you were ever looking for some stoner space rock look no further than the originators; Monster Magnet. Frontman Dave Wyndorf has expertly piloted the band through an asteroid belt of lineup changes and health scares, substance abuse and public opinion, emerging as something of a stoner rock elder statesman. The drug hazed heavy sound of the releases helped in cementing Monster Magnet‘s reputation of being the only legit descendants of the likes of psychedelic and stoner rock Godfathers Hawkwind, Black Sabbath, and their electrifying punk siblings in MC5.

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TRIVIUM, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY, BAD OMENS In Johnson City, TN [Review & Photo Gallery]

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Trivium

Released on October 20th of 2017, “The Sin And The Sentence released by Florida’s Trivium has made waves across the Metal community from night one I’d release up until now and foreseeable beyond as they have embarked on a massive world tour for their 8th studio release and surely their best one yet. TSATS world tour made a stop in Johnson City, Tennessee at Capone’s to wreak havoc on the sold out, rowdy East Tennessee crowd, and we’ve got everything you need to know about this fun little packed out sow. This leg of the tour involves opening performances from Bad Omens and Fit For An Autopsy that got fans moving and ready for Trivium’s loaded setlist. Continue reading →

Aftershock 2018 Spotlight: HYRO THE HERO [Video Stream]

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*This is part of our “Aftershock Festival 2018 Spotlight” where we branch out and focus on some of the up-and-coming bands that fans can see at this year’s Aftershock Festival on October 13th & 14th.  This week, we’re checking out HYRO THE HERO.*

Getting set to rip the stage alongside this year’s summer rock festival heavyweights is Houston, Texas rap/rock fusion artist, Hyro the Hero (aka Hyro da Hero). His high-energy, aggressive lyrical delivery contains a similarly incendiary riot fuel of a young Zack de la Rocha while musically the sound combines elements of gangsta rap, nu-metal, and punk. Lyrically, it’s a hard-hitting dose of reality and call to action for nonconformity to the system and individuality against perceived social norms. Continue reading →