NYS Music 20​14

Tag: metal

  • Rock On the Range 2014: Day One

    Rock on the Range promised to bring Columbus, Ohio the biggest and best lineup to date for this years festival, and on day one, they certainly delivered. This year’s festival marked the first featuring a full 3-day lineup, and Rangers were eagerly waiting outside the stadium early on Friday morning to get their weekend started. Cold weather and rain tried to put a damper on the sold out crowd, but the bands and tens of thousands of fans energized one another and made sure the weekend was unforgettable.

    Featuring former members of Egypt Central, Devour The Day were given the task of warming up the Ernie Ball Stage early on Friday afternoon. Mixed in with the new material was an unexpected surprise, Egypt Central’s hit “White Rabbit”. The Monster Main Stage was christened by Redlight King. The instantly recognizable opening notes of “Comeback” got the crowd going immediately. The band steered clear of their more relaxed rap-rock tracks, keeping it heavy for the festival crowd.

    Intro music could be heard at the Ernie Ball stage the moment the main stage wrapped up, allowing a few seconds to rush over in time for Thousand Foot Krutch. Playing mostly newer material, the band was sure to bring it back for the old fans on “Move”, which had the entire field doing just that. Black Stone Cherry had just the right balance of entertaining lyrics, southern charm, and high energy rock to convert just about any ranger into a fan, taking the main stage to deliver a set that was nearly impossible to not sing along to.

    While We Came As Romans played the Ernie Ball Stage, Japanese four piece ONE OK ROCK took the Jägermeister stage for their first US festival performance, a not so modest transition into their upcoming Warped Tour appearances. Killswitch Engage seem to never disappoint, and that certainly held true for the band’s main stage set. The fun and eccentric playing style of guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz was contrasted by the growl of vocalist Jesse Leach, who held his own on the final track, a cover of Dio’s “Holy Diver”.

    Black Label Society were next up on the main stage to ensure that the lucky few not exhausted following Killswitch Engage were completely worn out by the end of their 50 minute set. While the band may cater to the middle aged biker crowd, it’s safe to say that everyone that caught the set appreciated the undeniable talent of Zakk Wylde as he effortlessly shredded through guitar solos that lasted as long as some band’s songs.

    (Interview with Seether from Upstate Rock Station Q103’s Wes Styles)

    The anxiously awaited return of Seether to the festival scene was well received next at the Monster Stage. Following the addition of a touring guitarist, the former trio sounded better than ever. Not even the slightest split second of silence occurred throughout the entire set, with improvised transitions from song. On top of the old favourites the band included their brand new single “Words As Weapons”, which many devoted fans had already memorized word for word.

    Also having laid low for the last few years, Staind took the stage next to show Columbus that they are far from finished. Despite the fact that each of the members have been working on various side projects in recent years, the band proved to be as in sync as ever. Flames lit up Crew Stadium on rock ballads like “Outside”, with Seether’s Shaun Morgan accompanied Aaron Lewis on vocals. Time for rest on the lighter tracks allowed fans some much needed time to catch their breaths and rest up for heavier tracks like “Mudshovel”, during which bodies flew in every imaginable direction amongst the crowd.

    Guns N’ Roses may have been a surprising choice to close out day one of Rock on the Range, but the rest of the day’s killer lineup left little room for complaints. Whether it was out of mere curiosity or genuine excitement, the majority of the sold out audience stayed for the final show of the night. After starting out slow with a newer track, the famous guitar intro of “Welcome to the Jungle” caused every single face in the stadium to light up. Backed by a theatrical stage set up and scorching pyro, Axl Rose wowed with powerful vocals that haven’t wavered since day one. After teasing everyone with a taste of the GNR classics, he number of newer songs included in the band’s set list left many disappointed and rushing for the exit to beat lines of traffic on the way out. While the set list wasn’t spectacular, Guns N’ Roses put on a solid performance worthy of closing out an incredible day of rock.

  • Caustic Method Returns to Syracuse at Mac’s Bad Art Bar

    New York natives Caustic Method, performed in Syracuse to promote their new album The Virus. They joined RUINATION, Killaton, Elevator Death Squad, Diamond Plate, and East of the Wall, at Mac’s Bad Art Bar on April 6th.

    caustic methodCaustic’s long awaited return brought new members as well as new material. The new lineup has been working well for the guys with the production of the bands third album and their very first video for the single, “The Virus”. The latest album is the first with the new members and speaks volumes to the bands dedication to their music. When they were unimpressed with the first cut of this album, after several hours and money spent, they threw it out and started fresh. The band decided to do things their way the second time around. The whole album, with the exception of “The Virus”, is improvised. Said Matt Caustic, “Everyone was like, ‘Caustic is back’, I didn’t know we went anywhere.”

    caustic methodPerforming songs like “12 Step Suicide” and “The Virus”, the band brings new life to metal music. In a genre that makes it difficult to stand out, Caustic is not a band you can forget, and Matt will argue that point. “You can’t try to sound like anyone, you just have to do your own thing”, and they are doing just that. Matt Caustic’s years of experience shine through while he is on stage. He is powerful while still being understood. Darrin Scott on the guitar brings a rock star quality that few metal bands have. He is a seasoned artist whose value to this band is very clear as soon as he begins to play. Angel Rivera on the drums is incredibly talented with his unique style. Bass player and newest member, Eric Maliszewski, plays flawlessly with the band as if he has been playing with these guys for years. I have been a Caustic Method fan for years and have seen several different members in this band. Something clicks when these guys are on stage. This is it – they have finally found the perfect combination of talent. Matt Caustic being the only original member believes they have finally made the band he has been looking for. “When I look to my right I know he has my back, to my left, he has my back. That was missing before.”

    These guys are not only talented but they are also the kind of musicians you can respect. Their dedication to the music they play is inspiring. At the end of the night, before performing “Anti-hero”, Matt proclaims, “The world needs more metal heroes”. I think he is right, and I think the members of Caustic Method are the perfect candidates. They sure have my vote.

    Check out Caustic this summer and look them up on Facebook!

    May 11th The Cove. Geneva, OH

    June 6th Trishstock 2014. Locke, NY

    June 15th Montage Music Hall. Rochester,NY

    June 19th Three Fat Guys Bar. Syracuse, NY

    June 28th Macs Bad Art Bar. Mattydale, NY

    July 6th American Legion Post 80. Binghamton, NY

  • Metal Night declared on Saratoga Springs

    Metal Heads in Saratoga Springs will be delighted to hear about METAL NIGHT, Wednesday, March 19th at Putnam Den.

    Mobile Deathcamp, and their vicious guitars, will be headlining the show with local bands Satan Place, Dark Matter, and Jesus Christ and the Hallucinogenic All Stars.

    Ohio’s own Mobile Deathcamp has been blowing audiences away since 2008. Todd Evans, known as “Beefcake The Mighty “, formed the band after a six-year stint with metal’s biggest shock bands,  GWAR.  Bassist Boe Skadeland and drummer Chad Smith teamed up with Evans to form this musical terror packet.

    Deathcamp’s music has been described by critics as “not overly flashy” and devoid of “self-indulgent, ego-stroking pretense” and a sound that will “blow your mind” with aggressive growls and a rhythm section that induces action from the crowd.

    Satan Place describes their own music as heavy ‘groove’ metal. They have an even measurement of old school metal combined with newer elements currently arising in the metal genre.  As for their inspiration to play, Satan Place took to their Facebook to say,  “We play because we all enjoy creating music and just simply melting faces.”

    Jesus Christ and the Hallucinogenic All Stars are directly from Saratoga Springs.  The band, described as heavy and psychedelic, gained local notoriety in 2011 when they organized a flash mob on Caroline Street as they performed from the back of a truck.

    Doors open at 8 pm with performers starting at 9 pm. Tickets at the door for attendees 18 and older. Prices start at $7 for 21 and over and $12 for underage. Putnam Den is located at 63A Putnam Street.

  • New Book “Not Just Tits in a Corset” Heralds Women of Metal

    “We just wanted to play metal in the boys’ club,” said Leather Leone, of Chastain, in the new book by Jill Hughes Kirtland, Not Just Tits in a Corset: Celebrating Women in Metal. “We were metal. And the music represented us.   I remember early on at shows when I saw females in the audience I’d try to bring them in so they’d get it.  I don’t want to f*ck him. I want to be him.”

    Kirtland, a music journalist and band manager, reports the stories of several women rockers,  in their own voices, through a series of intimate interviews and photographs.  The names who collaborated with Kirtland involve some of the most prominent and influential women in the metal industry – Lita Ford, Ann Boleyn, Doro Pesch, Betsy Bitch, Leather Leone, Anneke Van Giersbergen, Elize Ryd, Sharon Den Adel, Alissa White-Gluz, Angela Gossow, Maria Brink, Floor Jansen, Tarja Turunen, Cristina Scabbia, Charlotte Wessels, Roxy Petrucci, Linda Mcdonald, Lzzy Hale, and Simone Simons.

    The book promises to provide insight from the women who helped blaze a trail, and continue to destroy stereotypes. (Photo Credit: Freeman Promotions)
    The book promises to provide insight from the women who helped blaze a trail, and continue to destroy stereotypes. (Photo Credit: Freeman Promotions)

    The book, which Kirtland self-published, details the unique history, challenges and triumphs women have encountered throughout their careers in metal music, while also celebrating the compelling global community these women have created amongst each other and the fans. It’s not just musicians featured, but the women behind the scenes also tell their stories, all of them offering inspiration and support to the up-and-comers.

    “Ten years ago I heard [from women], “Since I saw you in a metal band, I thought ‘okay, I can do this as well,’” recounted solo artist, and former member of The Gathering, Anneke van Giersbergen. “Sometimes we need a little bit of an example.”

    Doro Pesch wrote the foreword to the book.  Pesch, who is often referred to as “Metal Queen”, earned respect after a career that ha spanned nearly 25 years uninterupted. She is credited with being the first woman to front a band at the Monsters of Rock festival in Castle Donington, in England.  German born, she earned her stripes and Europe and briefly tasted success in the United States before grunge pushed her back to the European front. Today, she continues to tour with her band.

    The book, with a pretty cool book cover design by the way, is now available as a hardcover or softcover printed book or e-book on the author’s website and will be available through other online retailers soon.  

    A book launch party open to the public (all ages) will take place on Thursday, April 3rd (6:30pm) at Roxy & Duke’s Roadhouse in Dunellen, New Jersey.  Female-fronted metal bands MINDMAZE, A SOUND OF THUNDER, and FLAMES OF FURY will be performing that night with other special guests.

    For more information Visit:

    www.thewomeninmetal.com  (Author Website)

    www.facebook.com/WomenInMetalBook (Book’s Facebook Fan Page)

    www.twitter.com/progpowergrrl  (Author’s Twitter)

  • BML and Babayaga Storm the Bug Jar in Rochester

    There’s something exciting about looking at equipment on an otherwise empty stage, waiting to be used. As soon as audience members rounded the corner into the backroom at Bug Jar on Friday, January 17th, they were greeted with BabaYaga’s tasteful, bare-bones set up: a Marshall head atop two 12 inch speakers on the left, Orange amp and Gibson Les Paul to the right, drum kit front and center.

    The sound BabaYaga gets out of this set up is my favorite part about the band: warm vintage tones, cranked to the max. Todd Dentico threw down huge bass energy with sturdy notes that popped every time. Dave Fein’s guitar licks were steady and tastefully distorted, and his solos were like climbing a ladder, occasionally breaking a rung just to mix things up. As for Adam Banachi’s vocals, the screaming wasn’t muddy or jarring, but instead blended nicely with instruments for a tight, powerful sound. Adam’s vocals and stage presence could be the perfect metaphor for BabaYaga: a grimace, not a front.

    BML took the stage next, just before midnight, to a diverse audience of old timers, college kids from the bar, metal die-hards and even a few cops. Cutting right to the chase: as soon these three guys take the stage they transform into a well-oiled rock-and-roll machine. Tight, on point, and unassuming, BML lets their sound speak for itself. Transitions are subtle but happen quickly; in a matter of seconds BML can discretely move into a new phrase and have audiences getting down to a new lick or tempo, without knowing how they got there. Since Friday’s show was a release party for the band’s new album, That There Dog’s A Chicken, the set featured a bunch of new songs with a few classics sprinkled in for flavor. Coincidentally, two of my favorite tunes came after the following phrases: “We’re gonna play an old one…” and, “This song should be interesting…we haven’t played it in a while”. This preference by no means discredits BML’s new stuff—which is detailed, contrasting and well executed—but is instead a testament to their history. These guys have been around for just under ten years now, and they command respect on stage without relying on gimmicks or familiarity. From start to finish, BML challenges themselves and the audience through complex scales and transitions at a super-fast space, hitting and fleeing high points and drops in the blink of an eye.

    Two things are for sure after Friday Night: Genesee Bock is back with a vengeance, and, in the hands of BabaYaga and BML, heavy rock-and-roll is alive and well in Rochester, New York.