I pull up to the parking lot of the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts. It’s been two years and a couple of months since the last time I was at one of these things. One 40 ounce of malt liquor is disposed of while sitting in a warm car as ice and rain pounds away on the roof. Must make my way inside and show no weakness. My body has been in a state of mosh retirement for too long and there’s no telling how I’ll fare in a sea of savage longhairs.Continue reading
Legendary Metal band Shadows Fall have announced a one-off reunion show at their home venue, the recently renovated Worcester Palladium, for December 18th, 2021. Direct support will come from a hand picked lineup of Unearth, Darkest Hour, Within the Ruins, Sworn Enemy, and Carnivora! VIP Packages On-sale Wednesday, 6/23@ 10am est. general admission tickets On-Sale Friday, 6/25 @ 10am est. get them at Tickets are on sale now at the link below!
Modern metallers Carnivora’s official music video for ‘Hypnogenic’ featuring Jon Donais (Anthrax, Shadows Fall) and Matt Bachand (Shadows Fall, Act Of Defiance) made its debut today. Donais chipped in a shreddy guitar solo which Bachand chipped in some killer vocals and produced the track. Watch the video right now!
The evolution of Salem, Massachusetts metallers Carnivora continues on their latest single, “Witch City”. The band eschews some of their classic Modern Metal, Brutal Tech Death, Thrash, and groove-heavy tendencies to bring forth a mature, straight-forward melodic powerhouse of a track.
Mario Joseph Forgione 2020
Salem, Massachusetts is home to the infamous Salem Witch Trials and the hysteria that followed is a serious blot on our history and the freedoms America holds dear. Now that city’s foremost Metal band, Carnivora, has released a new single and video calling attention to the sordid history and reclaiming the name and the roots of witchcraft’s true nature with a crushing new song “Witch City”! The track definitely incorporates some new sounds for the typically technical thrash band. Watch the video over at Revolver Magazine.
Salem, MA modern Metallers Carnivora has shared a new guitar-playthrough video for their recent single “Bogdweller”. The band wanted to showcase their talent and authenticity of their guitarists with the video, in a time of studio fakery and BS. Check out the clip now. Continue reading
A three-day music festival in the woods with rock, punk, metal, copious amount of drinking, and an undying sense of community… throw that all in a blender with some camping and yard games and you get RPM Fest. The “Heaviest Party of the Summer” and the unofficial end to the summer in the New England metal scene. This was my 2nd year at RPM Fest so I knew what to expect, but at the same time, I didn’t know what to expect. As it is never a repeat of the year prior at this loud and dirty circus.Continue reading
Salem, Massachusetts modern metallers Carnivora is a band Ghost Cult has been following for many years and through several incarnations. The band has continued to grow and improve while keeping what makes them, them for a lack of better verbiage. They have always placed an importance on monster riffs, deep grooves and generally short blasts of fun metal tracks that don’t overstay their welcome. On their new single ‘Bogdweller’, the band has hit a new level with the addition of vocalist Haydee Irrizary (Aversed, Zahra Lux). Continue reading
For the third year in a row, Ghost Cult is co-sponsoring a charity concert to benefit those less fortunate, using the power of heavy metal music to raise money for those less fortunate. This years’ event features two New England-based fundraising groups joining together for the common good: The Big 4 Charity Tribute Concert Series and Metal For Nepal Boston. The two day event features top flight musicians from all the Boston area and all over the country, and a deep raffle of incredible prizes. Details below. Continue reading
I tend to feel spoiled living in Massachusetts. Why spoiled? Because it’s very easy for me to sit back, enjoy a Miller High Life, and put my elitist hat on when it comes to extreme music. Just look at our track record. The dirty water state has given us bands like SS Decontrol, Sam Black Church, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Converge, Shadows Fall and The Red Chord. We’ve had it pretty good.
But unfortunately with such a strong pedigree comes the risk of complacency. It’s easy to rest on those laurels because we assume that the old guard we be there forever. All it takes is watching the latest deathcore clone or third-rate djent band posturing as progressive metal at the Palladium for me to realize that “The Bay State’s” reputation can be tarnished. We cannot soil our history with guitar backing tracks and shitty neck tattoos.
While it is always best to air on the side of caution, I dare say that the future of Massachusetts metal is safe and sound. We have young bands like Pathogenic, My Missing Half, The Summoned and George Orwell the Musical to fly the flag. Joining that vanguard of New England brutality is Carnivora with The Vision EP.
I was fortunate enough to have as guests on my radio show, Stress Factor, in 2013 when they were promoting their first LP, Eternal. The shred was strong on that début offering and I wasn’t the only one impressed as they embarked on a seamlessly never-ending string of regional shows and battles of the bands.
Less than two years later and with appearances on the 2014s Summer Slaughter Tour and Mayhem Festival, the gentlemen from Danvers have returned with an even sharper collection of songs. While everyone has stepped up their game, it’s the guitar tandem of Cody Michaud and Mike Meehan that take center stage on tracks like ‘A Vision in Red’ and ‘Razors & Rust.’ So much so that if given time to further develop they’ll be hanging with great Massachusetts guitar tag teams like Ken Susi and Buz McGrath of Unearth or Shadows Fall’s Matt Bachand (who manages Carnivora) and Jon Donais.
So no need to worry. I say that the future is ours.
8.0/10
HANSEL LOPEZ