Dez Fafara is a man who needs little introduction, having arrived on the scene at the height of the nu-metal explosion with Coal Chamber, whose debut album landed in 1997 to provide Roadrunner Records with a band to rival the impact that the likes of Korn and Deftones were having on the genre. But when relationships started to turn sour in Coal Chamber signaling the end of their initial run, rather than fading into obscurity, the larger-than-life vocalist reinvented himself for round two of his unique career in metal, with DevilDriver.
Tag Archives: Modern Metal
ALBUM REVIEW: Raider – Trial By Chaos
I’m a Thrash junkie. My addiction started as a teen when I started dabbling in Megadeth. From there I had to go harder adding more extreme bands to my growing addiction. Several years later and now a full-blown addict, it’s become increasingly more difficult to scratch that itch. When Raider showed up in my inbox, I knew I found what I was looking for.
ALBUM REVIEW: Judiciary – Flesh + Blood
Texas metalcore hopefuls Judiciary don’t so much rewrite the mold on Flesh + Blood (Closed Casket Activities) so much as up the Lamb Of God meets Machine Head influences instead of poorly biting At The Gates like most other metalcore bands.
INTERVIEW: Franck Potvin of Bad Rescue on The “Singles Approach to Releases, and DIY Music
Ghost Cult caught up with Bad Rescue co-founder Franck Potvin earlier this year to discuss a new series of singles the band has been releasing in 2021, and 2022. The brainchild of brothers David and Franck Potvin (Lyzanxia, Phaze I, One-Way Mirror), the band has combined their influences to make captivating heavy music with stunning videos on a shoestring budget. Franck discussed the origin of the band, working with his brother, their many influences such as Metallica, Megadeth, Testament, thoughts on streaming music, recording in his personal studio, the importance of artwork, marketing, and much more!
ALBUM REVIEW: Judicator – The Majesty of Decay
When one thinks about the Power Metal genre, several European bands might come to mind. There are the greats like Blind Guardian, Helloween, and Rhapsody of Fire that have carried this grandiose genre for many years. Yet things are beginning to change. A fresh take on speed, symphony, and big vocals is occurring in North America and Judicator is one of the bands making it happen. They have been around for ten years and are getting ready to release their sixth full-length, The Majesty of Decay (Prosthetic Records). Even with a handful of lineup changes over the past decade, the sound that made people’s ears perk is still there. Known for writing about historical events and people, this new release is a concept album that takes on a much darker theme.
CONCERT REVIEW: Jinjer – P.O.D. – Vended – Space of Variations Live at Saint Andrew’s Hall
Saint Andrew’s Hall is one of the most treasured music venues in Detroit. It once was home to The St. Andrew’s Society which has been around since 1849. Like most of the buildings in Motor City’s downtown, there is a rich and interesting history that goes along with it. These repurposed places carry a rare kind of magic which feeds directly into the pleasant experience attendees have at Saint Andrew’s. It was the perfect spot for one of Modern Metal’s hottest bands to bring their headlining 2022 USA tour last weekend. Jinjer came to town, and they came ready to show off.
CONCERT REVIEW: In Flames – Fit For An Autopsy – Orbit Culture – Vended Live at The Crofoot
A hint of that classic autumn smell floated in on a slight breeze last Monday evening as Michigan metalheads gathered in Pontiac to catch the Melodic Death Metal veterans, In Flames. The Crofoot is an entertainment complex located in Detroit’s most northern suburb and is considered a local treasure. Home to three acclaimed music venues, the historic building was an ideal spot to host Gothenburg’s finest and their openers. In Flames has recently re-signed with Nuclear Blast and is getting ready to release their fourteenth full-length album, Foregone (Nuclear Blast) in 2023. To celebrate their new chapter, these Swedish guys brought on their tour the blossoming bands Vended, Orbit Culture, and Fit For An Autopsy. Their excellent choices in support set them up for memorable evenings full of metal mayhem.
ALBUM REVIEW: Lost Society – If The Sky Came Down
It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel … thoroughly pissed off. That seems to be the thrust of Finnish metallers Lost Society and their latest If The Sky Came Down (Nuclear Blast).
ALBUM REVIEW: Lamb of God – Omens
At this stage in their career, Lamb of God can pretty much do what they want, when they want. And the Virginia natives have found a winning formula with their sound, which has been honed over nearly thirty years since they began life as Burn The Priest. Since the name change at the beginning of the millennium, Lamb of God have proven themselves as one of the premier contemporary metal bands, progressing from their earlier more death metal style, into the kings of modern groove metal, which has seen multiple Grammy nominations and some almighty tours including this year’s monster outing with Megadeth, Trivium and In Flames, which they are about to follow up with the likes of Killswitch Engage, Baroness, Spiritbox and Suicide Silence in support. (Read our reviews here and here).
ALBUM REVIEW: Wake – Thought Form Descent
Since their earlier days as a formidable and unmistakable grindcore act, the evolution of Calgary, Alberta’s Wake has been an absolutely joyous spectacle to witness. Expanding their sound with wider influences and tones on later releases, the culmination up until this point was 2020’s spectacular Devouring Ruin which, whilst utterly furious and feral also conjured further expansiveness and intrigue to their sound. It was a truly exciting work that deservedly generated high expectations for what was next (as well as signing to Metal Blade Records). Expectations that have, staggeringly, been surpassed.Continue reading