Armed for Apocalypse came from nowhere and nothing. The sludgy four-piece from the small Northern California college town of Chico have worked relentlessly to leave their imprint on metal. Through tours across Europe, around the states and up and down the West Coast, they’ve continued to spread their name in the best way possible: word of mouth. They don’t play dress-up and they don’t turn down. They just play crushing songs that go from slow to slower, from muck to mire, from mosh to circle-pit. And sometimes they’ll make a left turn and end up at epic. Simply put, it’s rock ‘n’ roll music tuned way down and pissed way off.
The upcoming full-length, “The Road Will End,” promises to be a complex study in heaviness. One-finger chords and single-string riffs, complicated by sophisticated voicings and even an occasional solo. No triggers, no wanky “shredding,” no posturing, no cowardice, no frills.
Texas in July is a metalcore band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States formed in 2008.
Being one of the youngest bands in the local scene, with ages ranging from 18-21, Texas in July hails out of Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Texas in July can be described as nothing but dedicated to their music, fans and promoters. They are signed to CI Records. Back in the summer of 2009, Texas in July and An Early Ending started their tour together hitting Elmira, NY first and then to travel across the US.
Unearth is an American metalcore band formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1998. The group consists of vocalist Trevor Phipps, guitarist Buz McGrath, bassist Chris O’Toole and drummer Mike Justian. They are currently signed to Century Media Records and have released eight studio albums.
In many ways, the idea of a “local” music scene is an old one. Changes in technology over the last decade have enabled metal musicians and listeners from Jakarta to Jacksonville to exchange ideas, band recommendations, and music itself in seconds. In general, it would seem geography no longer determines how a band sounds or which bands a listener hears. But the Chicago metal scene stands as an exception to this. It has all the earmarks of a local metal scene: certain venues with a reputation for featuring the best local metal, promoters who arrange shows not only for money but for the love of the bands they promote, and enough bands to make sure Chicago’s metal audiences have enough local metal to keep them interested.
Many subgenres are represented in this Chicago scene, from doom to djent and every microgenre in between. But it seems fair to say that within the city limits itself, a dominant tradition has emerged from the influence of bands like Minsk, Pelican, and Russian Circles and from the production sensibilities and attitudes of local metal hero Sanford Parker. Called post metal, stoner metal, doom metal, experimental metal, sludge metal, or some combination of those and other descriptors, these bands have influenced their neighborhood devotees to make crushing, massive metal which is at once modern yet rooted in vintage tones and textures. Standing squarely in this tradition, yet seeking to move it forward, is Taken By The Sun.
The songwriting sensibilities of guitarist Patrick Auclair (ex-Fire Is Born) and drummer Nicholas Lorenz form the core of the band’s sound: thick, wooly, often atonal riffs over polyrhythmic beats. No doubt Auclair and Lorenz seek to challenge listeners and aim to show technical prowess. But Taken By The Sun’s songs always bring relief and closure out of chaos. Take, for example, the conclusion of “Demons Tempt The Dying Man With Crowns.” It is a classic, massive stoner riff which shows their debt to an Isis or a Neurosis. But it is all the more satisfying as it emerges from the mathcore complexity and tonal experimentation which comprises the majority of the song.
The throaty roar of frontman Kris Ziemlo should, in one sense, be familiar and comfortable to listeners of various post-metal subgenres. But a closer listen reveals a distinguishing characteristic: Ziemlo’s scream sounds a bit more modern than say, Aaron Turner’s (Isis) or Steve Von Till and Scott Kelly (Neurosis). Tonally, a listener might expect to hear Ziemlo’s scream in a metalcore or deathcore band. The juxtaposition of the modern textures of his voice over Taken By The Sun’s vintage fuzz-based guitar sound provides a new experience for those familiar enough with the genre to perceive it.
Guitarist Mark Cichra and bassist Bill Arroyo (both ex-Denial Machine) each bring their own performance and composition sensibilities to the band’s sound. Cichra has a distinct preference for melody, which he uses to provide the aforementioned breathing room in the band’s otherwise dense, complicated songs. Arroyo has a jazz background; fans of Intronaut’s Joe Lester will recognize a similar approach to bass performance in Arroyo, whose basslines seek to provide the correct complement for each song: complex but subtle and never inappropriate.
Taken By The Sun seeks to make the magnitudes of tension and relief in its sound even more prominent through its live show. Typical of post-metal genres, the music is best experienced live, where audience members can not only hear but feel and see the force of this band, and likewise feel and see the relief provided by the band’s digressions away from this forcefulness. The band members especially enjoy performing with their peers in the Chicago metal scene. It is exciting to see so many musicians expending such great effort to explore the possibilities of metal as an art form. It is this effort which defines the Chicago metal scene; it is an effort with which Taken By The Sun are proud to be involved.
Driven by brothers Jake and Pete Adams, Valkyrie draws from pre-metal style to create a rich and earthy heavy rock sound. They formed in summer 2002 in Rockbridge County, Va as a three-piece consisting of vocalist/guitarist Jake Adams, bassist Eric Seaman, and drummer Luke Shafer. In 2004 Jake’s brother Pete was introduced on second guitar and soon after, a five song demo was recorded at a local college radio station. Shafer soon departed and was replaced by Mike Hoke on drums and a new demo, Sunlight Shines, and a split 7″ with VOG were recorded. Seaman and Hoke parted ways with the band at the end of 2004 and were replaced by bassist Nick Crabill and drummer Nic McInturff (Napking, Stifling). This line-up recorded the eponymous debut album, which was released by Ric Bennett of Starchild’s Twin Earth Records. In early 2006 Valkyrie again parted ways with its rhythm section and recruited current bassist Will Barry-Rec (Hit by a Hearse, Accursed Dawn) and drummer Gary Isom (Spirit Caravan, Pentagram). This lineup played numerous festivals throughout the United States, including the final Emissions from the Monolith Fest in Austin, Tx, and the long-running Stoner Hands of Doom festival in Phoenix, Az. Isom and Valkyrie parted ways in mid 2007 and Valkyrie recruited veteran drummer Warren Hawkins (Big Dixie, Devil Take The Hindmost, Mass Sabbath). In 2008 Valkyrie released their second album, “Man of Two Visions” on the band’s own label, Noble Origin. Kreation Records, of Seattle, Washington, released both the S/T and “Man of Two Visions” on 12″ vinyl in 2007 and 2008. In 2008, Pete joined Relapse Records recording artist Baroness and began to tour on a nearly full-time basis. In July of 2010 Meteorcity Records (Obsessed, Nebula, Atomic Bitchwax) re-released both the S/T and Man of Two Visions albums in CD format. In March of 2012, Alan Fary (Earthling, Lost at Sea) joined the band on bass. Currently the band is writing their 3rd full-length album.
Started in 2011 by Mickey (formerly of Rustbelt Homewreckers, Down the Hatch & Skull Cap) in a small town in Kentucky….his music is steeped in Honky Tonk …. covered in Bluegrass and is rough around the edges!
¡Suénalo! (sweh-nah-low) verb
1. To sound, slap, or play upon a
musical instrument, object, or person.
Miami’s Suenalo has been crowned the Miami New Times’ Best of Miami Awards: Best Latin Rock Band in 2005, Best Latin Band in 2011, and nominated for Best Band in 2013. If Suenalo’s one of a kind fusion is hard to pinpoint, it’s only because no one’s ever done anything quite like it before.
Afro sounds from Cuba and Puerto Rico meet reggae and rock on top a funky groove. Jazz and electro hook up for a sidewalk make-out session. Hip-hop hums from the pavement, and R&B drifts in the warm nights of Miami. Suenalo reaches to far-flung corners and retrieves all these elements, mashing them together and marrying them into a truly multicultural family.
With three albums under their belt, Suenalo has managed to display a mastery of both the studio and the stage. They have shared stages in the past year with the likes of Pitbull, Ozomatli, Chaka Khan, Soullive, Spirogyra, and Doug Wimbish (Living Colour, Lauryn Hill, Mos Def), just to name a few.
From their 2003 debut “Collages” to 2006’s self-titled studio effort and 2009’s “Live at Transit,” the band has been hard at work building momentum for their selection as an official 2012 SXSW Artist. Crowds should expect the same high energy that they continuously bring to local and national festivals such as Calle Ocho, Carnival on the Mile, Virginia Key Grassroots, Langerado, Tropical Heatwave, and Shakori Hills–and beyond to cities like New York, New Orleans, Asheville, Tampa, Orlando and Chicago.
About the members:
The 11-year compromise between some of Miami’s most talented musicians thrives on one ideal: that music should move the audience. Nine full-time members driving the eclectic sound are musical director Carlos Guzman on bass, vocalist/MC Amin De Jesus, vocalist Michelle Forman, sax and flute player Juan Turros (formerly a member of David Lee Roth’s and Maynard Ferguson’s bands), Chad Bernstein on trombone and conch shells (also of Spam Allstars, and has played with Pee Wee Ellis’ African Tribute to James Brown project, and Natalie Cole’s band), percussionist Edwin Bonilla (Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder), drummer Abner Torres (formerly a member of Julio Iglesias’ band), Adrian Gonzalez on piano and vocals, and guitarist Eric Escanes.
lionfight is a Nu Metal/Energy Rock quartet based out of Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in April 2013 by singer Nick Astacio, guitarist Akash Hans, and bassist Bryan Patrick Cole, later adding Pete Dornowski on Drums. lionfight began writing music and shortly after started playing shows around the greater Chicago area. With an ever swelling fanbase driven by their intense and haunting liveshows, lionfight began booking bigger shows such as the Bad Blood tour with Blood on the Dance Floor and a slot on the South by so What?! Fall Edition Festival. Now, lionfight will be embarking on their biggest tour to date, when they open for Breathe Carolina on the We Are Savages tour in February. With a dark and heavy feel that can be attributed to such influences as Tool, Messugah, Slipknot and letlive, lionfight makes each song their own. You can feel this in their first two singles, Vine and Fake Friend. The band is currently in the studio with Marc McClusky (Chiodos, letlive, Hit the Lights), putting the final touches on their debut self titled EP due to be released February 4th. lionfight will be touring the west coast with Breathe Carolina in February for their WE ARE THE SAVAGES tour and touring Texas in March. During their tour in Texas, the band will be featured on the Main Stage of the South by So What festival in Grand Prairie, TX. Always looking after their fans, the band stays in touch through social media and each member can be followed on twitter. Normality is not an option, because we are all #FREAKS >:)
The Lucky Dutch is an American roots-rock band from Illinois, formed in 2008 in Chicago by guitarist Nathan Graham and singer Claire Corriveau. They began their career as an indie band, performing extensively around Chicago’s bar and festival scene. In 2014, they released their first full length record, Bury the Night.
In the past two years, they have toured extensively and performed with Marc Broussard, Jackson Mudd and Marc Ford of the Black Crowes.
Nathan Graham has been performing as a guitarist on the Chicago blues scene since he was 15 years old. Over the years, he has worked with musicians such as Buddy Guy, BB King, and Koko Taylor and has toured extensively with Carl Weatherby.
Claire Corriveau has worked consistently as a performing musician since 2008, working with a wide variety of bands. She released a solo record in 2014, titled secrets i can’t keep.
David Padula has been playing bass since 2006, working in a jazz trio through college before moving to Chicago in 2012.
Ben Dacoba started playing drums at age 15 in Virginia. He draws inspiration from classic rock bands from the 60s and 70s and works as a touring drummer all around the country.
Started in 2007 as a high energy spastic synth-punk band from Madison, WI but over the years and four line-up changes have added elements of noise rock, industrial, doom metal, and thrash. Zebras’ self titled album was released in 2012 to positive reviews from several countries and is very often compared to various Alternative Tentacles and Am Rep artists like Lard and Dead Kennedys. Members of Zebras are also, or have been, members of Those Poor Bastards, Call Me Lightning, Haymarket Riot, Hero Of A Hundred Fights, Multiple Truths, and more.
2012 has come and gone and we’re still not dead yet. You can log into the 24/7 smiling face, pictures of your friends drunk and/or naked, click “like”. The gray-faced man in a suit who hates you is still alive too, but now he isn’t always wearing a suit, and he’s smiling, 24/7. He likes what you like, sees what you see, hears what you hear. So where does punk go when the underground’s all tidily arranged on a shared screen? Does it roll over and play dead? Shrug? Smile? There’s another man, this one with a microphone jammed halfway down his throat, cord coiled carotid-tight around his neck, dangling his body off the edge of the stage, screaming words that ache. Another is methodically destroying his guitar with his hands while his feet twist tail-ends of the signal into electro-rubber-echo nightmares. Two others are so precisely abusing a bass guitar and a drum kit at such a frenetic pace it’s hard to believe these sorry objects will last more than a few more seconds, but then you realize it’s over. A minute or so, tops. They stare out at you, maybe say thanks. Spit. Breathe. And then they begin again. This will happen for maybe fifteen minutes, altogether. You are not alone. The gray-faced man is not here. There’s the screen, but then there’s this. 2013, and punk is not dead. No more dead than the rest of us.
—Zack Wentz
Retox formed in Southern California in 2010 and released their debut album, Ugly Animals by Retox, via Ipecac in 2011. Their new album is titled YPLL by Retox and will be released by the Epitaph recording company, May 2013.
Michael Crain: Guitars
Thor Dickey: Bass
Brian Evans: Drums
Justin Pearson: Vocals
The Robert Hynes Band is an eclectic group of Chicago musicians led by prolific Chicago singer-songwriter and guitarist Robert Hynes. His band blends his crafty original songs, infectious rhythms, a wide variety of musical styles and retro influences. Smoothly shifting from floor stomping barn-burners to 30’s style Hawiian slide guitar, blues to rock, jazz to country the band changes like a chameleon.
Robert Hynes grew up in a house where music was always on. The Beatles from Dad and Elvis from Mom, but a also lots of other artists. Starting on piano, viola, then dicovering Dad..’s guitar as a young child. Dad could play any song by ear on the guitar and piano and did so fequently. Robert had early formal piano lessons from an elderly nieghbor, friend and musical mentor named George Krajecki.
Robert studied under many great gutiarists including the highly versatile Tom Sanchez (formerly of Liquid Soul), jazz-fusion guitarist Steve Ramsdell, classical guitarist Scott Johnston.
In 1996 Dragonfly was born, Robert’s first professional band. Largly considered a Jam Band, the group featured a large line-up including horn section, percussionist, organist, 2 guitars, drums and bass. A huge mix of styles was always present including Latin Jazz, funk influenced grooves, rockabilly and open ended improvisation. Robert has collaborated with many of Chicagoland’s top acts, and over the past 15 years has performed at almost every venue in the area.
Robert Hynes Band is a 4 peice group stripped down to feature the songs, more than the long winded solos of the past. The spontaneous spirit of the music is still alive but displayed in a crackling show of musicality. The band seamlessly manuvers it’s way through a myriad of genres without missing a beat. Prewar slide guitar, fingerpicking blues, stomp boxes, vintage guitars, and alternate tunings have made their way into the music over the past 2 years. This infusion of blues influences can be heard on the upcoming 2010 release “Rust Bucket”, the latest addition to Robert’s rapidly growing disograpy.
Terminal White is a global force in the rock and roll scene. Since the band’s start in 1984, dozens of musicians from multiple countries have joined band leader David Pistrui in writing, recording, and performing Terminal White’s unique blend of industrial dance rock.
Musicians, artists, and other such vagabonds from the U.S., Romania, the U.K., and Spain have been an integral part of Terminal White. Although Chicago has always been the band’s home base, Terminal White has set up temporary quarters in Bucharest, Romania, Frankfurt, Germany and Barcelona, Spain.
Terminal White continues to produce new material and play occasional shows in the U.S. and Europe. Their latest EP, Fifty is a collection of new material recorded during 2012-13 in the brief moments when David wasn’t teaching, consulting, researching, or travelling the world.
Since the release of their first full length, The Battle of Bunker Hillbilly, Tex Railer’s Doomtown has become a high octane national touring act, hitting just about everywhere in this fine country with their heavy-honky tonkin’ sound. With a new release due this summer on Wayward Parade, it doesn’t look like they’ll be slowing down any time soon!
Combining outlaw country, surf, roots, and good ol’ rock n’ roll, Tex Railer’s Doomtown has played Muddy Roots, Heavy Rebel Weekender, the Psychobilly Luau and other festivals on the east coast, as well as extensive tours from coast to coast.
Le Travaillant plays Cajun music, the dance music of French-speaking Louisiana – perfect accompaniment for a crawfish boil. The phrase “Le Travaillant” is Cajun French for “the working man,” and its members have a great time living up to that name, playing long sets of upbeat two-steps and waltzes. The hard-working men behind their backporch-style acoustic Cajun sound are Sean Colledge (accordions, vocals), Ethan Sellers (guitar, vocals), Dorian Gehring (fiddle).
THE ZEPPELIN JAZZ PROJECT
Like thieves in a pawnshop, The Zeppelin Jazz Project wants to steal their blues rig back. The Jazz Zeppelin Project stirs blues roots, contemporary jazz and fusion with Zeppelin’s legacy into a mash of urban music.
Like a musical tow truck, ZJP takes what is owed. It is a new approach to the songs that originally inspired it’s members to explore progressive music at a very young age. Instrumental versions of Led Zeppelin tunes utilizing the beauty of odd time signatures and alternate chord changes is a glimpse of what can be expected.
Founding drummer Brian Abraham puts together trio, quartet and quintet versions of The Zeppelin Jazz Project featuring Pete Carney on saxophones, Zoey Szmulewitz on guitar, Vijay Tellis-Nayak on keyboards and Curt Bley on electric bass.
A cult name in the underground, the Norwegian duo of DEATHHAMMER skillfully honor the ancient masters with a blackened thrash attack replete dive-bombing leads and piercing screams and wails from the abyss.
With dark and dynamic songwriting that memorably moves between blitzing surge and locomotive pulse, DEATHHAMMER will take you “Onward to the Pits”!
Our purpose is to keep that outlaw edge of outlaw rock alive. Something creative happens when we get together and write music. It’s almost as if a force of nature has clinched our hands to point us in the right direction. Since our May 5th 2012 release of our debut CD “Hellfire & Brimstone” there has been a great response towards the music that SSR has created, from both, traditional Country music listeners to the Rock N Roll music listeners. Anyone can purchase a CD at any show, as well as online purchasing via Amazon.com & CDBaby.com. SSR derives from influences such as, Merrill Haggard, Randy Rogers Band, Willie Nelson, The Allman Bros. Band and Johnny Cash to name a few.
Valentiger plays charismatic pop rock that caters to a wide variety of sensibilities. Carefully crafted and effortlesslyorchestrated, their collective confidence as a band is as deserved as it is tongue-in-cheek. Their infusion of wit and humor with an enlightened cultural outlook creates a product as reflective of their individual personalities as it is cloaked in surprising wisdom.
Many Moons, an ensemble consisting of Edie Rivera Gust (vocals), Bill Holland (piano, synthesizer), Alexander Bassett (guitar, vocals), Mike Guidry (bass, vocals), and Brian Amacher (drums, percussion). They had their very first debut performance during Lollapalooza 2012!
Born in the bitter cold winds of Chicago, Illinois, Bloodletter was formed in 2013 to help spread melodic, heavy and fast thrash metal. With influences from bands like: Skeletonwitch, Kreator, At The Gates, Iron Maiden and Slayer then combining them with a strong interest in: all things supernatural, the occult, witchcraft, and the afterlife, they ended up with a furiously fast, catchy and menacing brand of metal.
Bloodletter has shared the stage with such acts as: Exodus, DRI, Havok, Arsis, Jungle Rot, The Atlas Moth, Blood Incantation, Immolation, Onslaught, Artillery, Lich King, Exmortus, Tengger Cavalry, Allegaeon, Powerglove, Elder, and Cross Examination to name a few.
Bloodletter is: Pete Carparelli on Guitar & Vocals, Pat Armamentos on Lead Guitar, Tanner Hudson on Bass and Zach Sutton on Drums.
“Romeo Dance Cheetah is a flamboyant musical performance artist with electronic/rock/pop roots and a sense of humor. Imagine if Beck, Tenacious D, The Spice Girls and Sisqo had a baby!! That would be crazy right?! Now imagine if Barbara Streisand, Barbara Walters and Conan The Barbarian had a baby!! Even crazier. The real point being that none of these people should be having babies together, but you should stop by and enjoy some music, beers and laughs with your new best friend Romeo Dance Cheetah.
For reals…Romeo’s act was featured on America’s Got Talent, The Today Show and he’s performed in numerous festivals around the country including Bonnaroo. After a short hiatus, he’s back with some new material and wants to be your best friend.”
Members of Beak and Yakuza regress into ’80’s crossover thrash, emulating a far too short lived era with a plethora of deplorable (and fun) one minute songs about some heinous shit. For fans of COC, DRI, Cryptic Slaughter, The Accused, Agnostic Front, Bad Brains, Slayer, Spazz, etc.
It’s not enough to say Harley Poe write songs about monsters. Harley Poe sing about being monsters. In the band’s world, the vampires, werewolves, serial killers, and cannibals take center stage and become the protagonists onto whom we project our joys, our fears, and our failings.
Born in Chicago, but raised in West Africa –Nigeria to be exact — Obisoulstar is the epitome of a Renaissance man. His music is like food for the starving senses and water for a withered heart; it reflects a man who has seen a lot, forgotten little, and is not afraid to tell the story. This 2012 Raw Artist “Musician Of The Year” Award winner has performed in every prestigious venues in Chi, NY, ATL, Philly and LA to mention a few including Canada, Croatia and Czech Republic pening/sharing the same stage with the likes of Eric Roberson, Sy Smith, Kindred the family soul, Ledisi, Tortured Soul and Rasaan Paterson to mention a few
His music embraces the sounds of Soul, Blues, Funk, Rock and Afrobeat, merging influences from the likes of Maxwell, Raphael Saadiq, Lenny Kravitz, Meshell Ndegeocello, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, and Fela Kuti (the father of Afrobeat). Forming a concoction of melodic delight while promoting unity, love, and spiritual liberation through music. He is the minister of Afrorock Religion.
Affiance (Bullet Tooth Records) is a Metal band born and raised in Rock City (Cleveland, OH). “Affiance”, meaning to betroth in trust and confidence, is a name that can be taken to heart as these guys have banded together and endured every trial a new band faces. Affiance kicked down doors, shattering expectations, and broke the mold of how metal “should” sound. Affiance is confident that they present a new breed of metal that is intense, with vocals that soar, and live performances that leave the harshest critics in awe.
The new Affiance album “The Campaign” has had a successful first week! Some great sales numbers have charted them at #7 Heatseekers, #7 Top New Artist, #37 Top Hard Albums, and #53 Top Indie Albums. Singer Dennis Tvrdik commented, “We are absolutely stoked that we charted on Billboard! Our fans are insanely supportive and believe in us not only as a band but as people. Thank you to everyone who bought The Campaign. We are forever grateful!”
The band just premiered their first music video from “The Campaign”! The video is for the opening track “Kings Of Deceit” and shows the band performing as well as newsworthy moments from the last few decades. The song also features Dustin Davidson from August Burns Red (courtesy of Solid State) who gives a great vocal performance!
In support of “The Campaign,” Affiance went on to be main support for Dance Gavin Dance in Europe and the UK. Following their first overseas experience, Affiance supported the Killswitch Engage summer headliner alongside Miss May I. This tour was groundbreaking and Affiance went on to sell almost 4,000 albums in the summer of 2013. In the winter, Affiance was selected to support Protest the Hero on the “Volition” CD Release tour.
In 2014, Affiance will enter the studio for their third full length record with Bullet Tooth Records at Audio Atrium (August Burns Red, Texas In July, Live). In Spring 2014, the band announced their first headliner in a little over a year taking out Close Your Eyes and My Enemies and I. Following the spring headliner, the band will headline a trek in South Africa. Expect the new album to be released in the summer of 2014.
The Christian metalcore quintet, I THE BREATHER, recently completed a very successful run on the “In 3D Tour” alongside Shai Hulud, Close Your Eyes and Monsters. This further proved that this band are one of the most enthusiastic, hard working and promising new bands to come onto the scene as of late and their highly acclaimed debut full-length album, These Are My Sins, is available everywhere now and it debuted at #39 on Billboard’s New Artist Chart.
I THE BREATHER was formed by Justin Huffman and Morgan Wright in late 2009. They started off as a little project in my basement and evolved very quickly landing a deal with a prominent booking agency, label and management. The name stems from God allowing of us to breathe; breathing is meaning.
When I THE BREATHER started writing their debut record, they knew that they wanted to make it a very aggressive record. The sound of These Are My Sins is very heavy and in your face, but has a melodic and catchy side that keeps your attention throughout every song.
Lyrical topics mainly come from Shawn (vocals) and Morgan’s personal problems with being lost at times and then found again by the Lord. Also, some of the lyrical content is edgy. They call out the people who claim to be the holy ones but are the first to cast judgment and spit in your face. Just capturing the negativity of close-minded people
Morgan (drums) states: “After this tour we will be out on the road in support of Upon A Burning Body for their headlining run alonside The Color Morale and Like Moths to Flames. This will be a great tour! We’ve had the pleasure to tour with Upon A Burning Body and The Color Morale before and we love those guys; can’t wait for the awesome times we’re going to have with both of them. Please come hang out with on both tours. We look forward to seeing all of ya soon.
Their stellar and highly energetic new video for the track, “Forgiven,” shot by up-and-coming director Chris Rodriguez, can be seen now at www.facebook.com/ithebreather. You can also view the band’s entire touring itinerary and stream new tracks here as well.
It started out as a way to pass the time, listening and playing music was always a pure passion of the two brothers. Inspired by a multitude of various genres, The Apuli Brothers seek to make the best music they can, in hopes of bringing people together while respectably honoring the arts and what it has to offer to the world.
Belmont Cross was formed in 2012 with a goal of writing radio-friendly high energy alternative rock songs that are upbeat and fast paced. The band has taken inspiration from contemporary artists such as Incubus, Paramore and the Foo Fighters while implementing concepts of Punk and the Blues resulting in music that is innovative and catchy. Rather than listening to the same old cover band who plays the hits of yesterday, check out the band whose songs you’ll be hearing on the radio tomorrow.
COMBOBREAKER! is a pop punk / hardcore band from Chicagoland Illinois, consisting of Kevin (Guitar), Eric (Guitar), Nick (Drums), Al (Bass) and Mike (Vocals). We like to play fast and have fun.
At the forefront of the Bay Area’s Jazz/indie music scene, Oakland band Glimpse Trio/Duo, with their signature blend of frenzied musicality with sincere lyrics. Glimpse Trio music is accessible, appealing, and challenging all at once. For their third and fourth albums, Glimpse Trio worked with engineer/mixing guru, Oz Fritz (Tom Waits, Primus), and mastering engineer, Doug Sax (Rolling Stones, the Who). These upcoming albums featured their already innovative sound, while firmly staying grounded in their jazz and garage rock roots. Together, lead singer and guitarist, Mike Sopko, and drummer, Hamir Atwal, are the driving force behind Glimpse Trio’s music.
Hamir Atwal – Hamir began playing the drums at the age of 10, and started playing professionally at the age of 18. He studied at the Berklee College of Music on a scholarship studying improvisation with saxophone great Joe Lovano and trombonist/composer Hal Crook. Hamir is featured on Greg Osby’s 2008 release, 9 Levels, and toured with his band for over two years playing such places as The Village Vanguard in NYC and the Green Mill in Chicago. After graduating from Berklee, Hamir moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he collaborated with musicians such as clarinetist/composer Ben Goldberg (Tin Hat Trio), trumpeter Darren Johnston (Nice Guy Trio) and saxophonist Patrick Wolff. Hamir’s rock/jazz/improv group Glimpse Trio was founded with guitarist Mike Sopko in 2010. They released their 1st CD entitled “1985,” which was described by Downbeat Magazine editor, Frank Alkyer, as “a furious blend of rock, jazz, blues with infectious folkiness.” Glimpse Trio’s second CD, “Garage,” was released July 2012, featuring Anticon producer/keyboardist Martin Dosh (Andrew Byrd), and bassist Chris Lopes (Jeff Parker, Mike Patton’s Mondo Cane). In addition to performing, Hamir has also has taught drum clinics at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, the Berkeley Jazzschool, and Music Academy International (Nancy, France). Hamir has performed with such musicians as Joe Lavano, Greg Osby, Hal Crook, Dave Santoro and many more.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Mike Sopko, has been playing and studying guitar for over 20 years. Now residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mike teaches locally and performs through out the the US. Mike has studied with a variety of teachers such as Dave Fiuczynski, John Schott and Bob Fraser, developing an array of guitar styles, including jazz, classical, rock and Bluegrass. Over the years, he has played, recorded, and toured with such musicians as Thomas Pridgen, G. Calvin Weston (Ornette Colman), Mike Watt, Dosh, Nina Ott, and Chris Lopes (Jeff Parker). Currently, Mike teaches at the Avloni Academy of Music, where he has been the head guitar instructor since 2003. In 2010, Mike founded the Bay Area jazz/rock band, Glimpse Trio, with drummer, Hamir Atwal. Glimpse Trio’s first album, 1985, was awarded Frank Alkyer “Editor’s Pick of the Month” in Downbeat Magazine.
The Tony Williams Lifetime was founded in 1969 as a power trio with John McLaughlin on electric guitar, and Larry Young (aka Khalid Yasin) on organ. The band was possibly named for Williams’ debut album as a bandleader, Life Time, released on Blue Note in 1964. Its debut album was Emergency!, a double album released on Polydor/PolyGram Records in 1969. It was largely rejected by jazz listeners at the time of its release because of its heavy rock influences, but it is now looked upon as a fusion classic
RAZOR FIST plays a highly unique style blending the best elements of 80s speed and thrash metal with an emphasis on catchy songwriting. Their sound is laced with traditional and NWOHM moves and id delivered with an extreme punk attitude. The greatest underground group in the US metal scene today. The songs are highly memorable as RF strives to return heavy metal to the positon of glory it deserves. RAZOR FIST have recorded two LPs, “Razor Fist Force” and “Metal Minds” released in both LP and CD format on Germany’s Pure Steel Records and High Roller Records. Both LPs received extremely positive reviews and Razor Fist has a substantial German fanbase In conclusion, RAZOR FIST are simply beyond description and ufortunately seem to be destined to be one of those bands that people look back on and say “why didn’t we pay attention to those guys when they were around?”.
Skeptor is not just any other thrash metal band; what makes Skeptor is the aggressive attack upon the fans of what they get from these amazing musicians. We put our hearts and soul into our music. Fans that love 80s heavy metal, thrash, death, power, etc. will surely enjoy Skeptor’s rough and pounding metal that we bring upon them!
