*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is Nebraska!
Coming all the way from Nebraska is the 2 piece instrumental doom metal act Rift. With just 2 complete studio records and 1 live record they make it seem so easy to write and produce 3 stellar pieces in a row!
SCOUR, the extreme metal supergroup featuring Philip H. Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN, SUPERJOINT), John Jarvis (PIG DESTROYER, AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED), Derek Engemann (CATTLE DECAPITATION), Chase Fraser (ANIMOSITY, DECREPIT BIRTH), and Adam Jarvis (PIG DESTROYER, MISERY INDEX) –will play two rare shows in Texas next week in Fort Worth and Austin respectively. The band is also confirmed to appear at Roskilde Festival in Denmark next year alongside the likes of Mogwai, Clutch, Chelsea Wolfe, Bruno Mars, and so many more. See confirmed dates below.
SCOUR released their ‘Red‘ EP — part two of a three-part EP series — early last month via Housecore Records. Reaping critical hails from fans and critics alike it top charted in many magazines top lists.
Legendary deathcore act Fit For An Autopsy decided to release a deluxe edition of one of this year’s greatest deathcore albums called ‘The Great Collapse’ which includes 9 bonus tracks performed live at Rain City!
US Death metal titans Cattle Decapitation have just dropped an insane new video for “The Prophets Of Loss” including live footage from their latest European headlining tour with Broken Hope and Hideous Divinity. Director Paul McGuire of Obscenerey Films travelled with the band and captured rare behind-the-scenes glimpses and electrifying live footage for the track, taken from 2015’s highly acclaimed ‘The Anthropocene Extinction’.
Currently headlining the Metalsucks & Exclaim! Aggressive Tendencies Presents “The North American Extinction Tour Part II: Inhuman Beings”, featuring Revocation, Full Of Hell, and Artificial Brain. Touring in support of their most recent maniacal offering; the thematically engrossing and sonically charged full-length ‘The Anthropocene Extinction’ – named as one of the best albums of the year by Loudwire.com, MetalSucks.net, MetalInjection.net, alongside many more. Preview and order the acclaimed record here. Continue reading
Sammy Duet (Goatwhore) and Kirk Windstein (Crowbar)
It’s not often that you get to see two iconic New Orleans bands together in a small intimate venue. This night had several extraordinary factors. The co-headliners were none other than the all mighty Crowbar and the ferociously aggressive Goatwhore. The two bands have not only similarities in geography but have also had intermingling members in the bands or side projects. Goatwhore guitarist Sammy Duet was a member of Crowbar from 1998–2002, and was an integral part of Crowbar’s iconic album ‘Odd Fellows Rest’. Crowbar drummer Tommy Buckley and Goatwhore vocalist Ben Falgoust are also members of the band Soilent Green together. So of course the bands have a great camaraderie. Of course these weren’t the only bands that would grace the stage on this heavy metal showcase. The opening band Lillake formed in 2015, so they are just beginning their musical journey. However, the members of this band are by no means new to the metal world. Drummer Eric Moore is one of the most revered drummers around. Both Eric Moore and Lillake vocalist/guitarist Nico Santora were members of Suicidal Tendencies. Eric Moore was in the band from 2008 – 2015, and Santora was in the band from 2012 – 2016 and left the band to focus his time on Lillake. Continue reading
We were recently lucky enough to sit down with 3/4 of the Pikeville, Kentucky based hard rock band Downtrend. Earlier this month we reviewed the bands newest release; the live album “Southern Fried Hell Ride: Live”. We took it a step further and decided to speak to the band about everything that has been going on with them since their formation over 10 years ago. The band has overcome more challenges than most bands will ever face in their existence. In the bands 10+ years their sound has changed and progressed but the biggest thing about the band is the heart and passion they have for music. Check out the interview below and be sure to pick up a copy of the bands newest album here.
Follow Downtrend on Facebook here.
Pikeville, Kentucky isn’t a rock destination by any means. To be completely honest it is really hard for a band to survive in an area that doesn’t have a very good music scene. Downtrend has been together since 2004 and has several releases in their discography. The band was formed by guitarist Josh Crum and bassist Jeremy Chaney. While most bands would have given up, the band has persevered and continued to dominate stages all around the region. The current line up brings with it great chemistry which can not only be heard but seen with the naked eye when they grace the stage with their presence. Drummer J.D. Hall and bassist Jeremy Chaney have a musical bond that dates back even prior to this band that helps them create a sound that is pure aggression all the while keeping an amazing rhythm. The band has blended together all their influences to juxtapose this eclectic sound. Front man Mike Jackson not only serenades with his authoritative vocal style but he also breaks out his harmonica skills that help the band achieve an original sound.
