Maryland stoner rock band Clutch are releasing a preorder for their upcoming record Book of Bad Decisions. This “Limited Edition Collectors Bundle” includes a rare picture disc LP, flask, flag, shirt, long sleeve and a hatchet with autograph box. That’s right, I said a mother fucking hatchet! These gnarly bundles will be delivered on or before the albums September 7th release date. This bundle can be found on the band’s site. Continue reading
Maryland’s Hostile Array are here with their politically charged post-hardcore self-titled debut. Finding inspiration from their own political beliefs vocalist Brendan Fray explains, “I don’t consider myself to be very liberal or conservative, but I am passionate about addressing issues of corruption on both sides of aisle. Our hope is to motivate others to question the status quo and never compromise when it comes to demanding justice in our system.” Keeping their message nonpartisan, keeps a skeptic eye on both sides of the aisle.
*This is a part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state.*
This month’s state is Maryland!
Welcome to the final installment of this months SOTA! I thought I would end this one with an artist that I believe will quite literally blow your mind. This is songwriting at its highest conceivable level, but what is most remarkable, is the fact that it is solely the work of one man! From Baltimore, Maryland, let me welcome the technical/blackened deathcore project Greylotus. January saw the release of the explosive debut EP ‘Savior’ which in my opinion is undoubtedly one of the most exciting releases of this year (up there with the likes of Inferi and Slugdge who have both dropped AOTY contenders) and forms the first part of a total 3 installments. Collectively the 3 EPs will form Greylotus’ debut full-length album, with work already underway on the second installement ‘Dawnfall’. 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 Maryland!
Hey there, to our frequent State Of The Art segment reader, and Hi to you if you’re new to this segment. Welcome to our weekly dose of State Of The Art where we put some much deserved light on the unheard and unknown, and bring them out from the caverns of underground onto your computer screen. In my edition of the last SOTA article, I featured CROWN OF SORROW, from Georgia. And now, continuing my tryst with exploring the unexplored, today I present before you an amazing doom/stoner metal band, GATEWAY TO HELL from Baltimore, Maryland. They absolutely rip!
Maryland has an extensive legion of doom/stoner rock and metal bands all across the state, from the legends like THE OBSESSED, the American version of Black Sabbath, PENTAGRAM, EARTHRIDE, to the lesser known but equally musically proficient and kick-ass bands such as GATEWAY TO HELL. Maryland has always been a hotbed for metal’s most veteran sub genre. Alright enough of blabbering, let’s get to know more of GATEWAY TO HELL, rightaway!
*This is a part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state.*
This month’s state is Maryland!
Hailing from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, melodic death metal/post-hardcore band, Louder Than Quiet brings a unique brand of high-decibel, eclectic variety. Since originally forming in 2010, the quintet consisting of Urico (vocals), Domo (bass), Anthony “Airospace” (drums), Danny (lead guitar), and Alireza (guitar and vocals) came together while in high school when they discovered their common interest for heaviness in music. They’ve since greatly expanded their fanbase through consistently performing in Washington DC and surrounding areas. Continue reading
Photo Credit: Kat Nijmeddin
*This is a part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state.*
This month’s state is Maryland!
Formed in Baltimore, Maryland the 5 piece hardcore band Sharptooth have truly made a name for themselves on the East Coast. Did I mention they are also a dinosaur themed band? Who doesn’t love some fucking dinosaurs? Sometimes a new incredible band just appears in front of you and clicks instantly. That is just what happened after watching a recent interview with Jon’s Untitled Podcast and Sharptooth vocalist Lauren Kashan. The in depth chat opens a window into the singers personality and it makes their music even more alluring. You can hear the entire conversation here. Their fierce hardcore sound is known for it’s politically driven lyrics and their live shows are an unstoppable force of chaotic energy. Led by aforementioned vocalist Lauren Kashan the band is one of hardcore’s most promising up and coming acts. Sharptooth also includes the talents of Keith Higgins and Lance Donati on guitars, Phil Rasinski on bass and drummer Conor Mac. The bands debut came in the form of an EP in 2014 which was titled ‘Chompers’. Their debut full length ‘Clever Girl’, released on October 27, 2017 through Pure Noise Records. The first track released from the album was “No Sanctuary” which included some truly inspiring lyrics. Kashan stated about the song “This song is about us as LGBTQIA people telling the rest of society how you can and cannot talk to us, and the insidious ways that language shapes the way people interact with and treat each other. The lyric ‘every time that you say ‘f*ggot’ is a bullet through my head’ directly illustrates how hateful slurs and rhetoric lend credence to homophobic views, and negatively impacts the way the world treats people like me. It’s a slur that’s been used against me personally, and against all of the members of this band, queer and straight alike, and it feeds directly into a cycle of hate that has the potential to manifest as violence against us, and other members of the LGBTQIA community. People say “sticks and stones will break my bones”, but words can and do directly impact our culture and the ways that members of different groups are treated. We can ALL work together to be more mindful of the way we communicate with each other so as to create a safer world for all people.” Sharptooth isn’t the type of band that hides meaning in their lyrics, everything they want to say is screamed right in your face with pure aggression and angst. For example “Fuck You Donald Trump” also from ‘Clever Girl’ doesn’t beat around the bush, you know exactly what this song is about and the bands activism in lyric form makes them much more than just a hardcore band.
Dangerous Curves is an 80’s and 90’s hard rock/classic metal band from the Maryland or D.C. area that creates their own original songs inspired by that decade of great bands. The band has a passion for hard hitting, high energy music that they grew up with. They name drop songs like AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds” and Ratt’s “Round And Round” as some of the specific tracks that inspired them to form the band and also their unique sound. They remember the days of singing along in your car to the hot new cassette you just bought. They are inspired to re-create songs that you went to sing along to. John Jamison, Chris Gamble, Linwood Turner and Randy Snowman love that distinct hard-to-play sound that came out of that 80’s/90’s era. The band says “Let’s be unique and do the HARD stuff!” Like Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, Megadeth, Metallica, Triumph, Van Halen? The band knows that not everyone is in love with the harder side of the genre like they are, but they try to add elements that will satisfy every band. Coincidentally Dangerous Curves is also the name of Lita Ford’s fifth studio album released in 1991, so the bands name could be a nod in respect to her since the bands unique style and sound comes from that very era of music. Strap in, put your helmet on, and hang on to something, this is going to be one hell of a ride! Continue reading
Maryland hard rockers, Tubefreeks, are at it again with their self-released, third full-length album ‘The Dry Tide’. The album comes fully stocked with blistering guitar solos, entrancing rhythm riffs, and harmonized vocals which preserve the spirit of the 90’s grunge era that we all love so well. I was given this album along with others to review, and nothing hit me quite like ‘The Dry Tide’ and at first listen, I was hooked. Continue reading
Clutch
Clutch is known as one of the hardest working bands in the business. The Maryland based group has announced their next masterpiece titled “Psychic Warfare”. Mark your calendar for an October 2nd release date. The band is releasing the album on their own label Weathermaker Music. The label was formed in formed in June of 2008. The label mostly consists of Clutch side projects like The Company Band, and The Bakerton Group. Outside of Clutch they have their managers legendary band The Mob, and groove rockers Lionize. The band is very well known for putting on an amazing show and always having great caliber bands on the bill with them. Clutch has already released 10 studio albums, and the material continues to impress. The new album will have alot of shoes to fill in comparison to the last hit album they released “Earth Rocker”.
Album Art by: Dan Winters
“Psychic Warfare” track listing:
01. The Affidavit
02. X-Ray Visions
03. Firebirds
04. A Quick Death In Texas
05. Sucker For The Witch
06. Your Love Is Incarceration
07. Doom Saloon
08. Our Lady Of Electric Light
09. Noble Savage Clutch
10. Behold The Colossus
11. Decapitation Blues
12. Son Of Virginia
You can follow Clutch at the following links:
