Words by Travis Weidow

Opinions are like assholes — everyone has one, and they all stink. Who am I? I’m just a dude from rural Pennsylvania who really likes metal and got asked to give my opinion on a certain topic. So before anyone gets out the pitchforks, torches, and mail bombs (be cooler if you had Nailbomb), this is just my opinion. Opinions are subjective, and you can completely disagree with me. In fact, if you know an unsigned metal band that you think is cool, drop them in the comments so the rest of us can discover something new!

Ventana
Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, these industrial/nu-metal/metal monsters formed in 2008, which saw the release of their first record, American Survival Guide: Volume 1. They have since released two more records, played Rockstar Mayhem Festival twice, run countless tours, had a few lineup changes, and a couple of stints in hiatus land — all while never inking a deal with a label.

The showmanship in their live performances is second to none, each member being their own character. They are perpetual motion with a soundtrack. The two-singer attack — with Scott Beck handling the growls, screams, and bars, and Eric Hess holding down the melody in the most eerie, spine-tingling fashion — is a dynamic that pops in front of the punishing riffs and drums. The thought-provoking, dark lyrics, programming, and synth keep your head nodding even while listening to any one of their records.

If you like anything nu-metal, definitely check these guys out here: www.ventanaband.com