Flotsam And Jetsam are a true anomaly in the annals of thrash and arguably the most underrated entity in heavy metal history. True fighters, the Phoenix-based five-piece currently led by originals Eric “AK” Knutson and guitarist Michael Gilbert (along with bassist Bill Bodily, guitarist Steve Conley and drummer Ken Mary) have been doing battle in the trenches since the early ‘80s. And although people point to their first album (1986’s “Doomsday For The Deceiver” ) as a game-changer, the band didn’t need the first (and only) 6K rating in Kerrang!’s history to gain accolades.

Like a prize-fighter that refuses to kneel down, Flotsam And Jetsam treaded onward with black eyes and bloody noses. Their 2017 eponymous album saw a band firing on all cylinders, writing/performing years younger than a band with three decades of power and glory notched on their bullet belts. Despite how high the bar was set with their previous album, Flotsam and Jetsam has not slacken the reins, and “The End Of Chaos” (2019) was nothing else but the band at the very top of their game

If the Phoenix disciples arose from their ashes in 2016, now the mythological bird is angry, and out for blood. Flotsam and Jetsam goes for the jugular from the get-go and they are pulling all the stops in the process.

AFTERMATH is: Kyriakos “Charlie” Tsiolis – Vocals Steve Sacco – Guitar Ray Schmidt – Drums George Lagis – Bass

Aftermathmetal.com @aftermathchicago (Facebook) @aftermath_band_official (Instagram) @AftermathThrash (Twitter)

“No Time to Waste – words that everyone should live by in their daily lives. But the song is not about that. Rather it’s about all of us together having no time to waste as a free species. Everyone you talk to today says something isn’t right in the world and most can’t point out what it is that makes them feel that way. Their gut tells them something isn’t right. This song is about what we feel isn’t right with the world today and we urge people to wake up before it’s too late. It isn’t about being woke but being awake. The song is at its core about unity and coming together to defeat our mutual enemy. Every great story has a hero and a villain. We the people are the hero in this song.” – Aftermath On March 17, 2023, the band is releasing No Time To Waste, their third album in a trilogy, on which the title track described above is included. The new album is a departure from the previous dark, concept album installment in the trilogy. It also includes the band’s reimagining of the John Lennon classic, Give Peace a Chance. The album was engineered and mixed by Chuck Macak at Elektroworks Music and Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound New York.

Sacred Dawn burst onto the Chicago metal scene in 2005 with an innovative mix of progressive metal and old-school hard rock. The band’s unique blend of vocal harmonies delivered by frontman and lead guitarist Lothar Keller set the band apart and launched numerous live appearances across the Midwest in support of international acts such as Symphony X, Cage, Firewind, Kamelot, Epica, Loudness, Testament… to name a few.

Through the years the band endured line-up changes resulting in downtime between releases, but also allowed Keller the opportunity to spread his wings musically. First by joining Divinity Compromised in 2009 as their frontman/vocalist and in 2012 co-founded Doom legends The Skull as guitarist and co-songwriter… along with Chicago-based genre pioneers Eric Wagner & Ron Holzner (Trouble).

Sacred Dawn is:

Lothar Keller (Vocals/Guitar)

John Vitale (Guitar)

Joey Vega (Bass)

Mike Mousel (Drums)

Formed in late 2018 by co-lead guitarists Jason Schultz (Wraith, Mind’s Horizon) and Martin Bowman (Farwatch), Idol Throne is a band with a sonic mission and vision; the blending of elements from U.S. Power and Bay-Area Thrash Metal, combined with a progressive sense of songwriting, guitar-forward arrangements and a strong focus on melody. Joined by drummer/percussionist Aaron Grove (Axxios) in early 2019, and vocalist Jake Quintanilla (Mind’s Horizon) in 2020, the band made the most of the extended downtime caused by the global pandemic to record demo “Proof of Life” in the Fall of 2020, which was released on streaming platforms January 1st, 2021.

Bassist Trevor Kuta (Xenopredator) joined the band in early 2022, and solidified Idol Throne’s live lineup. The band’s debut LP “The Sibylline Age” was released in July of 2022 on Stormspell Records, to positive reception, and saw the band begin to define the eclectic mix of styles, genres, and influences that make up their sonic palette.

Now in 2023 the band is hard at work on the follow-up to “The Sibylline Age” and is focused on live performances around the U.S. Stay tuned for new music to come in 2024 and beyond.

Indiana Thrash/Power/Prog Since 2018