EP REVIEW: Ritual – Enigma


Ritual’s Enigma (Self-Released) is an insanely tight EP that boats some of the best names in the music business; all of whom are renowned composers and songwriters. Joining Mike Lewin, Terry Knight, Franco Necros, and James Marinos are Devin Townsend, soprano Dianne van Giersbergen, and jazz harpist Amanda Whiting. The result is a strong release is Enigma that puts a smile on the face of the listener.

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Rage Against the Machine, Judas Priest, New York Dolls, DEVO, Eminem, Beck, Pat Benatar, MC5, and More Nominated for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame


Rage Against the Machine, Judas Priest, New York Dolls, Eminem, Beck, Pat Benatar, MC5, and many more among the nominees for the class of 2022 of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Seventeen acts have been nominated with seven on the ballot for the very first time: Eminem, Beck, Duran Duran, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, and A Tribe Called Quest. Eminem is in his first year of eligibility for rapper. The fan voting is also open as of today on the Rock Hall’s website, but only counts for a tiny portion of the final talley and not really a factor in who is voted in.

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FESTIVAL REVIEW: Riot Fest 2021: Live at Douglass Park


One of the titans of the North American summer Music Festival season is Riot Fest, and we were damn glad to see it come back strong in 2021. Especially after Lollapalooza did such bang up numbers coming back, and kept the safety methods strongto minimize the effects of the pandemic, you knew Riot Fest was going to go hard, and bring it big time. Even with the departures from the lineup of Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, and others, it was as stacked a lineup as the fest has ever had. If you’ve ever been to Riot Fest, Lollapalooza, Coachella or any other festival, you’ve witnessed the power of live music bringing people together. At Riot Fest 2021, we learned that even a global pandemic is no match for a community this passionate and devoted. What makes Riot Fest particularly special, though, is the integration of bands and artists from several generations, and the consequent mingling of their fans. Whether you’re twelve or sixty years old, there’s someone on the lineup for you.

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Riot Fest 2021 Adds Patti Smith, Alkaline Trio, The Flaming Lips and More


Riot Fest has made the final weekend additions to the 2021 event, kicking off September 19th, 2021, which will be the fest’s first-ever Thursday Preview Party. Patti Smith and Her Band and Alkaline Trio will join Thursday night, with additional sets from Joyce Manor (performing their self-titled 2011 debut), WDRL, and Kristeen Young. As for Sunday, The Flaming Lips will return to Riot Fest on Sunday, bringing the fest-favorites back to Douglass Park on September 19 to replace Pixies. Sunday attendees will also get into the Thursday Preview Party for free, with a host of freshly-announced perks included. Tickets are on sale now at the link below.

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Misfits to Perform All of “Walk Among Us” at Riot Fest 2022


“The Original Misfits” reunion of Danzig, Jerry Only, and Doyle has already announced they will perform at Aftershock Festival and now they will perform all of their classic Walk Among Us (Plan 9 Records) at Riot Fest 2022. Misfits will headline along with My Chemical Romance, already announced for 2022. tickets are on sale now for 2022 and this year’s Riot Fest features Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, DEVO, NOFX, Dinosaur Jr., Motion City Soundtrack, Smashing Pumpkins, Run the Jewels, Pixies, Circle Jerks, Coheed & Cambria, K.Flay, Meg Myers, Les Savy Fav, and many others to perform. My Chemical Romance has been announced as the first headliner for 2022 and tickets are on sale for both this year and next years’ fests at the link below. Riot Fest takes place every year at Douglass Park this fall (September 17–19) with a pair of announcements both for this year, and next year. In an unprecedented move, festival organizers are revealing the lineup for 2021, along with tickets for 2022. Three-day passes for both years are now on sale; 2021 single-day passes will go on sale next week, when more bands for 2021 will be announced.

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Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, DEVO, NOFX, Dinosaur Jr., Motion City Soundtrack Booked for Riot Fest 2201


A plethora of bands will descend on Chicago for the return of Riot Fest! Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, DEVO, NOFX, Dinosaur Jr., Motion City Soundtrack, Smashing Pumpkins, Run the Jewels, Pixies, Circle Jerks, Coheed & Cambria, K.Flay, Meg Myers, Les Savy Fav, and many others to perform. My Chemical Romance has been announced as the first headliner for 2022 and tickets are on sale for both this year and next years’ fests at the link below. Riot Fest takes place every year at Douglass Park this fall (September 17–19) with a pair of announcements both for this year, and next year. In an unprecedented move, festival organizers are revealing the lineup for 2021, along with tickets for 2022. Three-day passes for both years are now on sale; 2021 single-day passes will go on sale next week, when more bands for 2021 will be announced.

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Jay-Z, Foo Fighters and The Go-Gos to Be Inducted in The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Iron Maiden and RATM Get Snubbed


 

Ever controversial, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2021 inductees have been announced. JAY-Z, Foo Fighters, Tina Turner, the Go-Go’s, Todd Rundgren, and Carole King will all be inducted. It marks the second induction for Dave Grohl (previously with Nirvana), Turner (previously with Ike Turner), and King (previously with Gerry Goffin). Turner and King follow Stevie Nicks as the only women to be inducted multiple times. Those nominated include metal icons Rage Against the Machine, and Iron Maiden, along with Mary J. Blige, Kate Bush, Devo, Chaka Khan, Fela Kuti, New York Dolls, and Dionne Warwick. The Rock Hall has rarely gotten it right for Rock and Heavy Metal and of bands that are officially in the metal genre, only Black Sabbath and Metallica are in. Ozzy Osbourne genius guitarist Randy Rhodes will be induced in The Musical Excellence Award with LL Cool J, Billy Preston, and Randy Rhoads. Music executive Clarence Avant is this year’s Ahmet Ertegun Award, honoree.

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ALBUM PREVIEW: We Have Heard the New Tool Album and Here is What We Think So Far


Ghost Cult had the opportunity to visit RCA Records’ headquarters in New York City to take part in an exclusive Tool listening event for press for Fear Inoculum, releasing on August 30th. We appreciate being counted among the major media in attendance and getting to experience this highly anticipated new album. Although this is not a full review (check back next week), this contains our initial thoughts on Tool album number six. Continue reading


Madonna, Devo, Corey Hart, Cutting Crew, The Stray Cats, The Cars and More Heard in Stranger Things Season 3


Stranger Things Season 3′s much-hyped season debuted on Netflix overnight, ready to satiate the fans ready to binge the season. Following the sci-fi escapades of the gang from Hawkins, Indiana, we’re excited for what the season brings hopefully not the last as has been rumored lately. In addition to another incredible soundtrack scored by composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, who make up one half of the synth band SURVIVE, the 1980s soundtrack kicks into high gear with memorable songs from Madonna, Devo, Corey Hart, Cutting Crew, The Stray Cats, The Cars, Huey Lewis, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Jim Croce, The Go-Gos and much more in just the first few episodes we watched. The official soundtrack drops on July 28th! Continue reading


A Perfect Circle’s Maynard James Keenan Appears On “Rock Show With Daniel P Carter”, European Tour Begins


In a segment recorded earlier in 2018, Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer frontman Maynard James Keenan was a guest on the “Music Ruined My Life” segment on BBC Radio 1‘s Rock Show With Daniel P Carter. Keenan discussed his favorite songs ever from Joni Mitchell, Black Sabbath, Devo, Low, Pink Floyd, Swans, his first concert ever (Rick Springfield/Sparks) and more. Skip to 1:02:20 in the replay of the broadcast below. A Perfect Circle kicked off their new tour of Europe last night in Glasgow and will perform tonight in Manchester, UK. Remaining dates can be found below. APC released their Eat The Elephant album earlier in 2018 via BMG, and recently released a new video and Record Store Day Black Friday vinyl single for ‘So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish.’Continue reading