ALBUM REVIEW: Hammerhedd – Nonetheless


 

Irregular, shifting patterns form the crux of the approach to music on power trio Hammerhedd‘s latest. You can feel the brotherly bond within the absurdly tight musicianship of the Ismert brothers, out to continue to earn their place and prove they aren’t a novelty act. Nonetheless, Nonetheless (Self-Released) works more as a toll road/interstate “keep me awake driving” or chops workout album, than as something you are likely to connect strongly with on an emotional level.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Soulfly – The Soul Remains Insane The Studio Albums 1998 – 2004


 

Whenever an established act loses its frontman, especially one as talismanic as Max Cavalera, fans are usually left choosing sides. Do you go with the musician striking out on their own or do your allegiances remain with the band? Largely dependent on the situation, an amicable split can leave listeners happily following both parties down separate paths to the promise of glory but when open hostility is at the heart of the separation, loyalties are often put to the test.Continue reading


Louder Than Life 2022 Festival Books Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot, KISS, and More!


 

Louder Than Life Festival has announced its lineup for 2022, seeking to top the epic edition in 2021. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot and KISS will headline the festival of 100 artists over 4 days! Joining them will be Rob Zombie, Bring Me The Horizon, Alice In Chains (And A Separate Set From Jerry Cantrell), Alice Cooper, Incubus, Evanescence, Lamb Of God, Tenacious D, Yungblud, Chevelle, Papa Roach, Halestorm, Mastodon, In This Moment, The Pretty Reckless and many more! Taking place from September 21st – 25th 2022, the fest takes place at The Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center Passes are on sale now for $10 down (through March 31) at the link below. Continue reading


System Of A Down, Faith No More, and Russian Circles Book West Coast Mini-Tour


Faith No More, by Meg Loyal Photography

System Of A Down, Faith No More, and Russian Circles have booked short West Coast tour surrounding the big System of A Down and Faith No More shows in Southern California, at the Banc Of California Stadium in Los Angeles this fall. The the BoC shows take place October 22 and October 23 and include Korn and Helmet. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, August 13 at 10:00 a.m. PDT. Artist pre-sales will begin this Wednesday, August 11 at 10:00 a.m. PDT.

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Faith No More Postpones All European Tour Dates to 2022


Faith No More has once again pushed their scheduled summer European shows back from 2021 to the summer of 2022. In a short statement posted to their social media pages, the band commented, “EUROPE… We are all in this together. See you in 2022. This is only the beginning… More to come. FNM.com for more info.”

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ALBUM REVIEW: Hammerhedd – Grand Currents


The biggest challenge for prodigious talents Henry, Eli, and Abe Ismert is the need to shift the narrative from discussion around their ages (18, 16 and 13 respectively) and their undoubted potential to the types of plaudits and eulogies that adorn the releases of the artists they aspire to be considered in the same breath as; the Mastodon’s and Gojira’s of our twisted, alternative Metal world. Previously released via Bandcamp in the COVID-restricted summer of 2020, the brothers from Kansas City are re-issuing their debut Grand Currents (self-released) on the back of a groundswell of support for singles ‘Sediment’ and ‘Foundation’, this time accompanied by a physical release.

An album of peaks and valleys, when flying high Grand Currents achieves that aim of refocusing the story to one of deserved acclaim. A twisted post-Thrash underbelly is a tough core that provides a grounding to a progressive modern Metal mentality, holding the expansive sensibilities on a tight leash that the brothers may do better to loosen on further releases. For it is those moments that seek to crack the skye that do Hammerhedd the most credit: halfway through ‘Drone’ and the Voivod-ian cortex wraps itself around a rhythmic Tool-esque build, or the discordant judder of the back-nine of ‘Sediment’. When they indulge their musical expressionism they really show their hand and talk of potential begins to be realised.

Yet, their greatest weapon also highlights their greatest shortcoming. While Henry Ismert is expansive and able to find twisted barbs in his guitar work, exploring spaces that Mastodon and Helmet have opened up, his rudimentary vocal output undermines both the finished artistic product, and the bands reach and appeal. To make the step that Hammerhedd (and let’s be honest, the band name doesn’t help either but we’re probably too far down that line to unwind that one…) could potentially make and to invade the alternative conscience in the ways the aforementioned other Progressive Metal leading lights have, they will need to find a way to bring the vocal performance up to the technical level of the other instruments on display, in a way the ideas and musical vision deserves.

Still, time is on their side. And Grand Currents possesses more than just flashes of potential. It does intimate there is more to come, yes, which can only be a good thing, and it is also a valid and worthwhile investment of your time, even if only to have been onboard for if and when they do find a way to raise the vocals to the level of the other instruments somewhere down the line.

Buy the album here: https://linktr.ee/hammerhedd​

6 / 10

STEVE TOVEY


Tomahawk Shares New Video for “Dog Eat Dog”


 

Rock supergroup Tomahawk has shared a new graphic video for their song “Dog Eat Dog”! The track comes off of their first full-length album in eight years, Tonic Immobility, on March 26 via Ipecac Recordings. The band features Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard, Unsemble), Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantômas), Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, co-owner of Ipecac) and John Stanier (Helmet, Battles). Watch the video now!

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Tomahawk Shares New Single “Business Casual” – New Album Details Revealed


Avant-garde Rock supergroup Tomahawk will release its first full-length album in eight years, Tonic Immobility, on March 26 via Ipecac Recordings. The band features Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard, Unsemble), Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantômas), Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, co-owner of Ipecac) and John Stanier (Helmet, Battles), and the band dropped a new single and visualizer for “Business Casual” which you can hear now!

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UPDATED: Supergroup Tomahawk (Faith No More, Jesus Lizard, Battles) Teases New Album and Music


Legendary avant-garde rock supergroup Tomahawk, comprised of current and former members of Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Jesus Lizard, Helmet, Battles, and more, has dropped a video teaser! You can hear new music and this may mean we will get news of a new album, too The teaser was shared via the Ipecac Records social media pages, which is the bands’ label, co-owned by frontman Mike Patton. The band has not released new music since 2013’s Oddfellows. Last year, guitarist Duane Dennison revealed the band was working on a new album. The full reveal is expected on January 21st, 2021! (UPDATE you can hear the bands’ new single here!)

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