Alaska, The Last Frontier. Home to savage elements and captivating landscapes, but also home to a bleak Black Metal Underground, and by underground I mean you basically need to venture out into the tundra with a shovel to find some of these bands. Thankfully Alaska is also the place I call home so I’m here to shed some light on an otherwise dark and unseen niche. Continue reading
*This is a part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state*
This month’s state is Alaska!
Hey metalheads of the pale blue dot! I am back with another State Of The Art write up this Monday to shoot some energy in you, so that you don’t have to whine about how this specific Monday is more boring than the previous one was. Anyways, let’s cut to the chase, and let me have the honor of presenting you one of the very promising bands from the extreme north of United States, battling the cold, dark and grim weather. Let’s give it up for MALSUMIS people! Hailing from the largest city in Alaska, Anchorage, MALSUMIS are a black metal band spawning from the misty, cold and bleak wintery landscapes of America’s Northern most state, just a year ago in 2016, and they successfully have garnered a lot of attention already, while still in its infancy. Mad props to them on that!
Greatness often hides in unexpected places. All too often, bands are overlooked by audiences due to how difficult it is to find new and innovative independent music, and this is definitely true for hard hitting thrash metal band TERRAFORM: a band who are today’s topic in our weekly column State Of The Art.
This month on State Of The Art we decided to feature bands from the frozen northern state of Alaska, and we’re kicking it off this week with a phenomenal Death Metal outfit that brings the fires of hell to the land of the midnight sun. ABDUCTED is a 5 piece death metal project from Fairbanks Alaska that falls short in no aspects of what makes the genre great, they are heavy, groovy, fast paced, in your face, and unapologetic. ABDUCTED consists of Dylan Chioffe – Vocals, Rick Peirce – Guitar, Jake Benoit – Guitar, Zain Mitchell – Bass, and Kris Larson – Drums. Started in 2016 by Dylan and Jake, the band has wasted no time in getting their name out in the metal world. They have released 3 songs, one of which being a sick lyric video for the track ‘Indoctrination’, and an official music video for ‘Remnants’, has garnered the band an impressive 10,588 fans on facebook since their debut in February 2017. Continue reading
Welcome back to a brand new State Of The Art, we decided to pick Alaska this month due to the crazy scene going on so let’s get started!
Awaken Antagonist is the very first band to be featured this month and it is a blend of the greatest parts of deathcore and metal. They have only released their debut (which is self titled) and recently they have released their first full album which goes by the name of ‘Shepherd Of Plagues’. It got out via bandcamp on the 28th of July and on their official youtube page on the 5th of September. The transition between the 2 music pieces are fenomenal, the debut is one of the best I have heard but their full album blows me away. They matured so much just after their first piece that it is almost unbelievable. Check the album art below (made by Art and Layout by Soul Asphyx Arts), it is violent!
The Anchorage, Alaska based band Old Hounds is about to release of their new Album titled “Tooth & Nail”. The Album has 11 sound crushing tracks that are all unique in various ways. The whole album is amazing and has explosive dynamics that really set the tone for their hardcore sound. The band includes 5 members: Alberto (Vocals), Argel (Lead Guitar), Joshua (Guitar), Toph (Bass) and Mac (Drums). The members of this band have come together to create an Album that really showcases the amazing talents within Old Hounds.
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is Alaska!
3 Kisses. Where the hell do you start describing a band that has been around since January 2004, performed thousands of shows, has nine albums under their belts, been in endless music magazines, on countless radio stations, been on ABC’s “Wife Swap”, had their own reality show, been featured in numerous commercials, video games, movies and TV shows (including the 2014 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards; Restaurant Impossible; Diners, Drive Ins & Dives; Dallas Card Sharks; Disaster Decks; Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare; Sonic Boom; Lifetime movies, and Hot Wheels spots), had songs in the Top 15 by Rock Solid Preasure, is currently rated #1 for Alaskan Alternative Music on ReverbNation, heavily supports breast cancer research through the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and the American Cancer Society and been inducted into the Independent Artist Registry? I honestly don’t know, but let’s give it a shot. Here we go…
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is Alaska!
I love our State of the Art Series! It gives us the opportunity to shed some light on bands that are likely not in many readers’ field of view (and my own, for that fact) but absolutely should be. This week I would like to introduce you to my next band pick from Alaska: The Artificer out of Fairbanks.
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is Alaska!
Alaska is turning out to be one of the easiest states for our State of the Art series. So much good music from our 49th state. This week, let me introduce you to a band that grabbed my attention from riff number one. Dirty, straight forward Rock ‘n Roll with a heavy hit of Punk and Hard Rock from Big Lake, AK. I give you Vicious Mammals.
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is Alaska!
For my second State of the Art from Alaska, I bring you the bad ass Hardcore Band Old Hounds from Anchorage. The band is formerly known as The Harlequin State and was formed in May of 2010. In just 6 short years the band has really came a long way. They have really done big things this year. The band participated in Battle of the Bands at warped tour in June and they will be releasing a new record in the first week of August entitled “Tooth & Nail”. The band includes 5 members: Alberto (Vocals), Argel (Lead Guitar), Joshua (Guitar), Toph (Bass) and Mac (Drums). The band members are all very talented and dedicated to their music. Old Hounds has an aggressive and energetic vibe thought all of their songs. The band really seems to be building up a strong fan base not just with local fans in Alaska but with people all throughout the United States. They have an amazing sound and amazing lyrics that go right along with their sound. The bands music is something that you are sure to enjoy. Their upcoming album release is something that everyone should be looking forward to. If you haven’t listened to these guys yet, I suggest you do so now!
