NYS Music 20​15

Category: Metal/Hard Rock/Punk

  • Hearing Aide: Armageddon ‘Captivity and Devourment’

    captivityIt’s no secret that ‘Armageddon’ is one of the most overused metal band names in history, with over 800 entries on Metal Archives alone. That being said, too many metal heads that shouldn’t be overlooking this particular ‘Armageddon’, have been for far too long. Formed in Sweden in 1997 by Chris Amott (ex- Arch Enemy), Armageddon has been home to a revolving door of session musicians, who have all happily catered to Amott’s array of metal writing concepts. Captivity & Devourment is the band’s first release since 2003’s Three. 

    The album features ten beautifully composed songs, all of which flawlessly pay homage to Sweden’s original melodic death metal sound. It kicks off with the title track, “Captivity & Devourment”, which has a more traditional death metal feel. This tune gives us our first opportunity to hear Matt Hallquist (Under A Serpent Sun) expertly deliver his signature punchy death metal vocals over Amott’s guitar work, and although Hallquist’s screams (traditional highs and lows) are nothing out of the ordinary, they compliment the music perfectly.

    The album continues with the tracks “Locked In” and “Rendition”. These two tracks are instantly memorable and pack more of Amott’s signature melodic hooks and anthem like solos. However, the riffs are just as heavy and driving as they are insanely catchy. We even get a chance to hear Amott’s fantastic clean vocals by this point in the album, on “Rendition”. 

    The album’s fourth track, “Fugitive Dust”, was in my opinion, a perfect choice for a single. It kicks off with an ’80s sci-fi style intro, reminiscent of the soundtrack to the movie, “Blade Runner”. It then instantly kicks in to the main riff, a classic choppy melodeath riff, with quick pick scrapes and three note harmonic sweeps, adding even more to the mechanical sci-fi feel of the entire track. Hardly surprising, since their first album, Crossing the Rubicon (1997), was entirely science fiction themed. (Scroll down for the “Fugitive Dust” video)

    Other songs like, “Conquer,” “Thanatron” and “The Watcher” really bring the initial ideas behind this album to fruition. We even get to hear more of Amott’s clean vocals on the track, “Equalizer”. As a whole, Captivity & Devourment is destructive, beautiful, masterfully layered, sinister, sludgy and downright metal. Fans of this genre shouldn’t be able to ignore this one.

    Armageddon is now based in New York City and are currently taking the upper east coast by storm on their No Dead Weight tour with Framework. All the details for this tour are on Armageddon’s Facebook page. If you have the opportunity to check out one of these shows, I’d advise you to do so!

    Key Tracks: Locked In, Rendition, Fugitive Dust

    www.facebook.com/armageddonbandofficial

    www.facebook.com/christopheramottofficial

  • The Original Stuck Mojo Lineup Reunites, New Album on the Way

    Atlanta, Georgia rap metal pioneers Stuck Mojo, who recently played in their hometown back in December, announced last week they are working on new material. This marks the first time since 1998’s Rising that the original lineup of Rich Ward (guitar), Frank Fontsere (drums), Bonz (vocals), and Corey Lowery (bass) have worked together.

    Ward, who has kept busy with Fozzy with Fontsere has stated:

    “[Bonz is] doing great, he looks great, we’re getting along great, and so far, knock on wood, he seems like he’s dealt with all his demons and he’s sorted that part of his life out that [he needed to take care of in order] for me to move forward with him. So I’m feeling good about it. And I also have four other partners in FOZZY that, obviously, are wanting to tour and stuff, so I need to be mindful and respectful to everything — not only the guys in STUCK MOJO, but also to my FOZZY family — and make sure that if I’m working on STUCK MOJO, it’s because Chris (Jericho) is back in the WWE doing a little, short run, which he does from time to time. And that works out good for me. That way he’s working on something else, and I can do the same.”

    On Saturday, Stuck Mojo announced their second reunion show at the Amos’ Southend in Charlotte, NC on Friday April 17.  No further shows announced as of yet.

  • Machine Head Tears Apart Town Ballroom In Buffalo

    Going against the grain on what most metal bands are doing as far as touring these days, Machine Head is currently taking the bold approach and doing an “Evening With” headlining with no openers whatsoever, in support of their latest album Bloodstone & Diamonds, arguably one of their best to date, and easily the best metal album of 2014.  Rob Flynn and the boys stopped at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo last Thursday night for the second time in three years, setting for what was an unforgettable night.

    The bodies piled into the venue long before Machine Head hit the stage.  By showtime, the crowd kept chanting “Machine Fucking Head! Machine Fucking Head” was nonstop during the whole show, The band stormed the stage opening with “Imperium.”  Machine Head, although are getting up there in age, were performing like if they were in their prime – hungry and vicious.  Their stage presence and energy have NEVER been better.  They are giving their fans their money’s worth and putting other bands on notice.

    machine head official Bloodstone & Diamonds Photo

    Machine Head has gone through a slight lineup change since they appeared at the Town Ballroom back in February 2012. New bassist Jared MacEachern replaced Adam Duce this past year, so the big question is, does MacEachern fill the void?  Adam Duce was a monster on the bass, but also had remarkable backing vocals to go with Flynn’s vocals.  So when Duce was fired, I was saddened, and wondered how MacEachern could pull this gig off.  And I will say I was blown away by MacEachern’s stage presence, skill, backing vocals were amazing! He has much more range than Duce had (although Duce does sound a lot like Flynn) but he pulled off vocal harmonies, grunts, growls, and sings VERY well, so he adds such a new and killer dynamic to Machine Head’s live show that they never had before.  Dave McClain was a fiend behind the kit, and playing all those songs in a long set is no easy task.  And lead guitarist Phil Demmel rifts and solos are unmatched.  And his flying v Randy Rhoades black polka-dot guitar was gorgeous to look at.  But vocalist guitarist Rob Flynn is the unquestionable all-star and leader of the band and no one anchors the band better, or gets the crowd psyched like no other.  The most fascinating thing to watch on stage is watching Flynn and Demmel exchange guitar solos, as well as their harmonizing guitar solos…. it is such a spectacle to behold on stage.

    As far as their set, they gave the fans what they deserved with a two-hour and fifteen minute set – with no intermission.  We heard new songs like “Now We Die” and “Sail Into The Black”  and were also treated to classics like ”Old” and “Ten Ton Hammer.”  But really gave me a pleasant shock, early into their set, Machine Head played their nu-metal anthem “From This Day” for the first time in 13 years and the crowd went absolutely bananas.  They managed to play at least one song from every album from their 20 year catalog.  Closing with the unforgettable song “Halo” afterwards, not one person left this show disappointed. Machine Head told the crowd they will come back and said that they will do “evening with” again. It’s safe to say that Machine Head gave the fans their money’s worth and are truly a force to be reckoned with.

  • Hearing Aide: Mosh along with Blacklisted’s ‘When People Grow, People Go’

    What better way to start off the year with a strong dose of strong raw hardcore. Philly based Blacklisted have crafted another dose of feedback driven, groove based, punk infused hardcore with their fourth record When People Grow, People Go. Clocking in at just over 20 minutes, the album wastes no time getting its point across. The record is almost trapped in time with a sound that sounds straight out of the late ’90s early 2000’s era hardcore that got me into the scene. This is stuff you would have heard any given Saturday night at a VFW or community rec center. Songs that force you to bob your head along and say to yourself “man, this is good stuff”. The riffs are strong, the drums push the beat forward, and the whole thing is begging for a pit to open up.

    When People Grow People GoThe song “Riptide” in particular sounds exactly like the Syracuse hardcore scene I loved so much through my teenager years and every song on the record has a really stripped down approach that doesn’t rely on production gimmicks. It’s really refreshing in 2015 to hear a record that hasn’t been overproduced to the point of sounding like a robot recorded it. While I do wish there was a little more punch with the drums it feels authentic. This sounds like they just went into a room, banged out some songs, and recorded them. Nothing fancy about it. Just pure energy.

    The signature sound on the record has to be the guitar layering. Traditional hardcore punk riffs with a nice mixture of chaotic feedback that blends to radical harmony. They also know how to speed things up when needed and add a little edge of aggression but at the same time when they slow it down a little and lock into a groove it’s beyond good. Opening track “Insularized” is a great example of them being able to shift gears from fast to slow and back again. Sometimes this causes a song to come off disjointed but they were able to keep it together without sounding like they cut and pasted two different songs together.

    Blacklisted has become one of those bands that has started to really cultivate a strong catalog of releases. Some bands start their career off with a bang and slowly go downhill from there trying to chase after what they once had. And some bands just never get that light bulb moment where everything clicks together and they put out something really special. But Blacklisted have been able to be consistently good. Few bands can lay claim to being able to say that they haven’t put out a bad or disappointing record. While When People Grow, People Go doesn’t go outside of the box, it also doesn’t feel like they’re playing it safe. They made a record that has a very distinct sound that doesn’t bend to any trends. That should be applauded when more and more bands are slowly getting away from the things that made people fall in love with them in the first place.

    Blacklisted have long been viewed as one of the best in their genre. They put on a live show full of energy with crowds that get whipped into a fury and now they’ve added to their legacy with a great all around record. While it doesn’t pack the punch of their previous releases it’ll please their fans for sure and they remain at the top of their class.

    Key Tracks – Insularized, Deeper King, Riptide

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKKYYzIMHhA&w=560&h=315]

  • Tool and Mastodon Members Unite to Form The Legend of the Seagullmen

    For those fans waiting for the upcoming Tool album who haven’t disintegrated into dust yet – here’s some good news to tide you over: “Best drummer ever” candidate Danny Carey and Mastodon lead axe man Brent Hinds (Whom also recently awesomely got himself booted out of the Grammy’s) are joining forces with OFF!’s Dimitri Coats and producer Jimmy Hayward for the nautically themed super group The Legend of the Seagullmen.

    While no touring, album release, or additional information has yet to be provided, the band did drop two new tunes on their website: “The Deep Sea Driver” and “Ships Wreck”. Check em out below.

    [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/79638589?secret_token=s-YWGTf” params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

  • Fans Petition for Creation of Late GWAR Frontman in Video Game ‘Mortal Kombat X’

    10964876_854069874651996_1946906636_oLast year the metal community lost the great and charismatic musician Dave Brockie, better known as Oderus Urungus, the frontman of GWAR, to an accidental overdose in his home in Virginia. GWAR has battled on without their founding member, leaving blood and gore wherever they march. With that being said, who could be a better fit for a character for the next Mortal Kombat game?

    Over the weekend, according to recent Bingo Tour reviews, fans created a petition for Netherrealm Studios, a branch of Warner Brothers Games, to create a downloadable character of Oderus Urungus as a playable character in the upcoming video game Mortal Kombat X.

    It is most appropriate to have Oderus Urungus immortalized in the Mortal Kombat universe because of the gruesome and hilarious nature of GWAR. The band has always portrayed themselves as an “elite group of chaos warriors” who were banished to Earth for their “cosmic crimes.” After being reawakened by our planet’s pollution, they now dedicate themselves to the “destruction of the human race and the eradication of existence itself.” Netherrealm Studios should have no problem somehow tying in Oderus Urungus into the Mortal Kombat X storyline, along with his own special moves and (in)famous fatalities.

    If you want to sign the petition, click this link.

    You can view the latest gameplay trailer for Mortal Kombat X below. Mortal Kombat X is being released by Warner Brothers Games and developed by Netherrealm Studios and will be released April 14, 2015 on Playstation 4, Xbox One, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

  • Metal Monthly Fix: Top Ten Most Anticipated 2015 Metal/Hard Rock Releases

    With a month already into 2015, one of things to get excited about is upcoming album released we are expecting or hope to see the light of day. We expect big things from 2015 as far as heavy music, so without further ado, here are the top ten most anticipated metal/hard rock releases.

    10. Biohazard

    Brooklyn, NY hardcore metal outfit Biohazard is still as vital as ever, even with Evan Seinfeld out of the fold since 2012, which makes their yet to be titled tenth album, targeted for a 2015 release via Nuclear Blast USA, even more intriguing. This album would mark the first time with the lineup of Billy Graziadei, Bobby Hambel, Danny Schuler, and now Scott Roberts completing the lineup in place of Seinfeld. It will be interesting to see what this new line up of Biohazard brings to the table.

    9. Tremonti

    Back in 2012, Alter Bridge/Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti launched his solo project Tremonti with the debut album All I Was which was arguably one of the best albums of 2012. Now hard at work with the second album, Wolfgang Van Halen is officially a member of the band and playing bass for Tremonti.. Any lover of shred should be salivating at the thought of Mark Tremonti and Wolfgang Van Halen in the same band. This album will be solid.

    8. Mastodon

    What makes this release fascinating is Mastodon is always willing to take risks and making every album sound different which is why everyone should be excited for another Mastodon album.

    7. Deftones

    The last two albums from Deftones, Diamond Eyes and Koi No Yokan, are easily some of their best work to date, so high expectations are set for this yet to be titled album slated for a fall 2015 release.  Also hope that someday their scrapped album Eros sees the light of day as well.

    6. Lamb Of God

    After all the things Randy Blythe and the rest of Lamb Of God went through with the trail and incarceration in Prague, you know that the band is coming back with a vengeance with this upcoming album. Blythe wrote a lot of music about his time in Prague, which is going to add such a compelling element to what will be the band’s eighth album. This makes Lamb of God one of the top ten most anticipated hard rock and metal releases of 2015

    5. Coal Chamber

    Set for an April release via Napalm Records, Coal Chamber’s comeback album is definitely the most interesting. After a much publicized split in 2002, it seemed highly unlikely Coal Chamber would ever get back together. Then a decade goes by, Coal Chamber reunited for select shows in Europe and Australia which led to a successful US tour in 2013 which ultimately set recording process for this album in motion. It’s amazing how frontman Dez Fafara has kept busy in the spotlight with DevilDriver, he still managed to bring Coal Chamber back in the spotlight. And to top it off, Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen is having a guest appearance on this album. It will be interesting to see how Coal Chamber will evolve its sound for 2015.

    4. Anthrax

    Anthrax set the world on fire back in 2011 with their comeback album Worship Music which saw the return of CNY’s Joey Belladonna back in the fold. Now after successful album sales, several laps around the world, the band has been hard at work with the next album which will be released sometime this year. If it’s even half as good as Worship Music was, this album can be and will be the best album of 2015. Expect nothing from great things from Anthrax.

    3. Black Sabbath

    This will be the last Black Sabbath album. Lots of bands always say “This is our last album/tour” but this time coming from Black Sabbath, who are all pushing 70, I would certainly say it’s a safe bet they mean it. Their comeback album 13, which saw Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler on an album together for the first time since 1978’s Never Say Die, was the most successful metal album of 2013. Iommi has been battling cancer but yet still touring with Sabbath, is still a riff machine and has solidified himself as one of the best guitarist that ever lived, said wants to bid farewell one last time with Sabbath with an album and farewell tour to follow. It would be nice to see the return of Bill Ward but that’s unlikely that will happen.

    2. Faith No More

    Already announced for a May release, Faith No More has made their long awaited return with their first album since 1997’s Album Of The Year and a US tour to kick off this spring including a headlining slot at Heavy Montreal, with more shows to be announced. 2015 is looking the year of Faith No More and fans around the world now wait in anticipation.

    1. Tool*

    I put an asterisk on this because this is the only album on this list where the band hasn’t made an official announcement. But I believe that 2015 is the year the new Tool album sees the light of day.  The band has been quoted stating that there IS an album in the works and they have been recording.  So we all ask….what the fuck is the hold up? The world needs another Tool album. It has been close to a decade since 10,000 Days and enough is enough.

    So that rounds off the list of the top ten most anticipated hard rock and metal releases of 2015. What metal or hard rock album on this list are you excited about? What upcoming album do you think should be included on this list? Sound off in the comments below.

  • Slipknot Announce Summer’s Last Stand Tour, Includes Stops at Darien Lake, SPAC, Jones Beach

    Hot off the release of last year’s album .5: The Gray Chapter, Iowa’s Slipknot has returned with a vengeance headlining various festivals and tours across the world, are now geared up for one of their biggest tours to date: Summer’s Last Stand.

    Joining them on this tour are the mighty Lamb Of God, Bullet For My Valentine, and Motionless In White. The tour kicks off in West Palm Beach, FL on July 24 and will wrap up in Dallas, Texas September 5. This tour will include three stops in  New York State including Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on July 29, Saratoga Performing Arts Center on July 31, and Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY on August 1.

    slipknotlambtour2015poster_638

    The tour dates as follows:

    Jul. 24 – West Palm Beach, Fla. @ Cruzan Amphitheater

    Jul. 25 – Tampa, Fla. @ MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater

    Jul. 26 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood

    Jul. 28 – Detroit, Mich. @ DTE Energy Music Theatre

    Jul. 29 – Darien Center, N.Y. @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center

    Jul. 31 – Saratoga Springs, N.Y. @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center

    Aug. 01 – Wantagh, N.Y. @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

    Aug. 02 – Hartford, Conn. @ Xfinity Theatre

    Aug. 04 – Boston, Mass. @ Xfinity Center

    Aug. 05 – Holmdel, N.J. @ PNC Bank Arts Center

    Aug. 06 – Pittsburgh, Pa. @ First Niagara Pavilion

    Aug. 08 – Toronto, Ontario @ Molson Amphitheater

    Aug. 11 – Washington, D.C. @ Jiffy Lube Live

    Aug. 12 – Virginia Beach, Va. @ Farm Bureau Live

    Aug. 14 – Indianapolis, Ind. @ Klipsch Music Center

    Aug. 15 – Chicago, Ill. @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheater

    Aug. 16 – St. Louis, Mo. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

    Aug. 19 – Denver, Colo. @ Red Rocks Amphitheater

    Aug. 21 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ USANA Amphitheater

    Aug. 24 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Rogers Arena

    Aug. 26 – Concord, Calif. @ Concord Pavilion

    Aug. 28 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ MGM Resort Festival Lot

    Aug. 29 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Ak-Chin Pavilion

    Aug. 30 – Albuquerque, N.M. @ Isleta Amphitheater

    Sep. 02 – Austin, Texas @ Austin 360 Amphitheater

    Sep. 04 – Houston, Texas @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

    Sep. 05 – Dallas, Texas @ Gexa Energy Pavilion

    Tickets are on sale now. You can purchase the Darien Lake tickets here, or the Saratoga show here, and the Long Island show here.

  • Hearing Aide: Dethlehem ‘Destroyers of the Realm’

    Do you like melodic death metal? Do you like role playing games along the lines of Dungeons & Dragons? If you answered yes to both of these questions, Dethlehem is a band you need to know about, if you don’t already.realmcover

    Simply put, the music of Dethlehem serves as a portal to a wondrous realm of knights, maidens, dragons, wizards, witches, and ghastly nocturnal creatures. Hailing from Pittsburgh, PA these five heroes have spent the last seven years treating their audiences to a true fantasy RPG experience, through both their live shows and studio recordings.

    Their latest album, Destroyers of the Realm, is no exception. From start to finish, this 11 track adventure uses crushing war drums, superb guitar riffs and solos, beautifully layered and diverse vocals, and a tasteful low end, to cut through the fabric of space and time. It transports the listener to a metal nerd’s utopia, where the only rules stem from the limits of your XP and your luck with the dice.

    Presentation is very important to this band. Not only do they grace the stage covered in medieval battle armor, they also made sure to put just as much effort into the physical copies of their latest album. Visiting their bandcamp page and downloading a digital copy scores you an issue of their digital comic book, but buying a deluxe hard copy from the same site ensures a separate lyric sheet. It comes off as a medieval scroll with burnt edges, and encapsulating the entire package, is a custom sleeve with the band’s royal seal stamped on it with red candle wax.

    realm

    The album kicks off with an 8 minute battle called Knightmare. This tune goes off in several directions throughout, but the diversity of the song never takes away from its flow. This band is very good with song structure in that regard. Each song is a well conceived part of an overall story and never fails to hit its mark. The guitar riffs are catchy and spot on with their genre, reminiscent of the guitar work on The Jester Race, Whoracle or Colony by In Flames. The solos are very driving, but also just as catchy as the riffing. If you’re a fan of hooky leads with a slight power metal feel, then these licks are for you.

    Oathbound follows Knightmare and serves as an ideal single and perfect representation of this band’s sound. It’s hard-hitting, with no regrets and leaves you wanting more. Simply scroll down for the video and allow it to speak for itself.

    The record also never loses its RPG feel. Several guest performances were included on this record to make certain of that. Haunting narrations make their way on and off certain tracks. The album also contains three interludes, during which the listener is transported back to a D & D setting, where only the dungeon master’s words can dictate the next chain of events.

    Enchanting female vocals, courtesy of Clarissa Badini appear on the track, Shadow Remnants of the Guardian Shield, and the URIZEN boys’ choir also appears on the same track, taking on the roles of a group of dwarfs. This is also the longest track on the album, at 9:08. It’s a true testament to the band’s level of admirable musicianship as a whole.

    The shortest actual song on the album is Oathbound, clocking in at 3:52. However, the majority of the full songs, not counting the interludes, hover in between 6 and 9 minutes. Fans of this genre shouldn’t be disappointed by the longer tracks. These are very multi-dimensional songs, with great dynamics and skilled layering across the board. Simply put, they remain interesting for their duration.

    Dethlehem will be in Clarence NY on June 13 for an outdoor folk metal festival. Fans of the band and their new album Destroyers of the Realm are urged to come out and hear these tracks played live, along with some of the best talent the WNY metal scene has to offer!

    Key Tracks: Knightmare, Oathbound, Shadow Remnants of the Guardian Shield

    www.dethlehem.com

    www.facebook.com/dethlehem

    www.dethlehem.bandcamp.com

  • Members of Anthrax and more to form Motor Sister, Play First Show February 12 in Brooklyn

    Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian with his wife Pearl Aday, have teamed up with The Cult drummer John Tempesta, Armored Saint bassist Joey Vera, and Mother Superior vocalist Jim Wilson have formed Motor Sister.

    Scott Ian spoke of the formation of Motor Sister via Blabbermouth:

    “I wanted to cherry-pick a set list of my favorite Mother Superior songs and get these guys together and have the concert at my house.” Which lead them making an album together. Then Ian emailed producer Jay Ruston and asked if he thought it was possible to recapture the same spontaneous energy Motor Sister generated at their makeshift gig, and if an album could be recorded quickly. “He said, ‘Yeah, we can make the record in two days and we can make it sound really good.’ So that’s what we did…A week and a half later, we made the record in L.A. over a two-day period. We recorded the whole thing live in the studio and the set-up was at my house.”  He continues: “Jim was totally into the idea. Pearl was a huge Mother Superior fan from way back and was in. I asked my good friends Joey Vera and John Tempesta to be a part of it because I knew they were both big fans as well and with no hesitation they said, ‘We’re in.’”

    Motor Sister Band Photo

    Their debut album entitled Ride will be released March 10 via Metal Blade Records.

    The song “This Song Reminds Me Of You” can be streamed below.

    [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/185859027″ params=”color=ff550

    0&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

    The track listing for Ride:

    1. A-Hole
    2.  This Song Reminds Me Of You
    3.  Beg Borrow Steal
    4.  Fool Around
    5.  Get That Girl
    6.  Head Hanging Low
    7.  Fork in the Road
    8.   Little Motor Sister
    9.   Pretty in the Morning
    10.  Whore
    11.  Doghouse
    12.  Devil Wind

    Motor Sister "Ride" Album Cover

    Motor Sister is also set to make their debut live appearance at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, NY on February 12. No further live dates announced, but you can purchase tickets for the show here.

    In other related news, Anthrax is also hard at work on their follow up to 2011’s Worship Music tentatively slated for a 2015 release.