CONCERT REVIEW: Barishi – Ether Coven – WVRM: Live at Sanctuary


The Sanctuary is a true Heavy Metal haven. Huddled next to the city of Detroit, the scaled-down town of Hamtramck accommodates this music club that caters so well to loud music. It was a freezing Wednesday night when the Moody Metal monsters, Ether Coven came to the Ham town. Along with extreme acts, Barishi, and WVRM on the touring bill, that bitterly cold night was about to sizzle with savagery.Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: Disciples of Verity – Patterns of Decay – Concrete Dream – Behind the Bullet Live at The Kingsland


With the release of two recent singles ‘Worthy’ and ‘Lying to Myself’ from their forthcoming album, Pragmatic Sanction (InGrooves), Disciples of Verity made their debut at The Kingsland in Brooklyn New York. No cover songs needed here, just what I believe is a set from their entire record. It also marks the return of God Forbid skins-man, Corey Pierce (finally). Every time he hit a cymbal, it felt like the kit was holding on for dear life.

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FESTIVAL REVIEW: Decibel’s Metal & Beer Fest 2019


Decibel Magazine’s Decibel Metal & Beer Fest was, to put it simply, stacked. Fourteen bands across all variants of Death, Grindcore, Prog, and Doom, descended onto Orange County for a weekend of heart-pounding jubilation. The two-day event was held this year at The Observatory, a large yet paradoxically intimate standing-room-only venue, intelligently designed to put the audience at three different heights across the entire space, offering uninhibited views of the stage beyond the perils of the pit.Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: Immortal Bird – Glorious Depravity – Concussion: Live at Union Pool


12/11/19, Union Pool, Brooklyn NY

Union Pool is a short train ride from my spot in Brooklyn, but admittedly I don’t get there often. I am not super cool and Ghost Cult is not “hipster important” enough in the Brooklyn music scene to have any kind of clout to get us invited to stuff there. Still, when a band as important as Immortal Bird comes through town, I get my ass to the place on time. Not only that the band is touring behind their amazing recent album Thrive On Neglect, out now on one of the premier labels in 2019, 20 Buck Spin. Coupled with the strong openers Glorious Depravity and Concussion, it meant it was going to be a sick time in an intimate venue.Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: Tool – Killing Joke: Live at The Barclays Center


The massive Tool tour tolled into the New York City area in mid-November, and there were telltale signs this was not your typical happening. Sure, Tool is an “event” live and there really is no other show like it on earth. That is not an exaggeration. Take the best arena Rock or Metal show you’ve ever seen and ratchet it up to eleven! That is what we are talking about here. In addition to the power of the record-breaking release of Fear Inoculum (Tool Disectional, Volcano, RCA) we were going to get to hear new songs live, some for the first time ever. All the stress Tool fans felt about the wait for the album and how would it be received have all melted away. Time for this very big deal of a show. Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: Five Finger Death Punch – Three Days Grace – Bad Wolves – Fire From the Gods: Live at Tuscon Convention Center


Fans gathered to witness Five Finger Death Punch, Three Days Grace, Bad Wolves, and Fire From the Gods take the stage at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Arizona. The night started with an energy-packed performance from Fire From the Gods as they greeted Tucson, and discussed some brief history of their time in town and where they started from. They showed a lot of appreciation for what and where the fans have led them since then.

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FESTIVAL REVIEW: Adult Swim Festival


For just one weekend the Banc of California Stadium was transformed into a carnivalesque outdoor funhouse for the Adult Swim Festival. The stadium was alive with colorful distorted animations reminiscent of children’s cartoons and claymation scenes warped and hyperbolized beyond the mind’s comprehension, while a giant Meatwad dome sat across an even larger inflatable slide shaped like Morty’s head vomiting a rainbow.

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