More US and Canadian Dates w/ Gorgatron, Massacre + Loud As Hell Festival w/ Jungle Rot, Incite, Necronomicon, The Convalescence
Narcotic Wasteland is excited to announce that they will be hitting the road this June for their “Don’t Meth With Texas Tour”, which will see the death thrashers performing four show dates starting on June 22nd in Denton, and rolling through Houston, Fort Worth and wrapping up on June 25th in Corpus Christi, TX.
Following the Texas tour, the band will be beginning their West Coast leg of summer touring with Gorgatron and pushing north to Canada for a performance at Loud As Hell Fest in Drumheller, AB with Jungle Rot, Incite, Necronomicon, The Convalescence and more. They will then continue across the Canadian lands for the month of August that will wrap up with three special dates with Flordia death metal legends Massacre in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. All dates are listed below, with more to be announced.
2023 is going to be an exciting year for Narcotic Wasteland, not only is the band hitting the road they are will also in the works of releasing their third yet-to-be-titled album via Mega Force Records. So far they have unleashed three singles “Morality and the Wasp”, “The Best Times Have Passed” and “Victims of the Algorithm” to give fans a taste of their forthcoming mosh pit of terror. For their third full-length, the band worked once again with engineer and producer Erik Schultek who produced the band’s self-titled debut album. The band’s 2023 album will be the follow-up to their sophomore full-length 2017’s “Delirium Tremens”.
Sex, Lies & DNA Tour. Special guests – Gorgatron and Tegmentum **only selected dates: July 28 – Long Beach, CA – Supply & Demand ** July 30 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge ** July 31 – Portland, OR – Twilight Aug 01 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon Aug 04 – Columbia Falls, MT – The Silver Bullet Bar Aug 05 – Drumheller, AB – Loud As Hell Fest Aug 09 – Winnipeg, MB – Bulldog Event Center Aug 10 – Thunder Bay, ON – Black Pirates Pub Aug 11 – Sioux Falls, SD – Bigs Bar Aug 12 – Menomonie, WI – Zymurgy Brewing
Massacre and Narcotic Wasteland are excited to announce that they will be trekking north for the Canadian Madness Tour this summer! The tour kicks off on Thursday, August 17th, 2023 at Piranha Bar in Montreal QC, followed by The Rockpile in Toronto ON on Friday, August 18th, and finally, the Brass Monkey in Ottawa ON on Saturday, August 19th.
As you may already know, Massacre and Narcotic Wasteland are two of the most influential and talented bands in the metal scene today. They have been thrilling audiences all over the world with their intense and powerful performances, and now they are coming to Canada to give their fans an unforgettable experience.
The Canadian Madness Tour promises to be an epic night of metal and mayhem, showcasing the best of Massacre and Narcotic Wasteland‘s music. You can expect to hear some of their biggest hits, as well as some new and exciting material that will leave you wanting more.
Tickets for the tour went on sale Friday, April 28th, 2023 at 11 am. Don’t miss your chance to see these two legendary bands in action. Get your tickets early and secure your spot for what is sure to be one of the most memorable tours of the year.
Tour Dates:
8/17/23 – Piranha Bar – Montreal, QC – Ticket Info
8/18/23 – The Rockpile – Toronto, ON – Ticket Info
Arizona thrash metallers INCITE will support Cavalera on the Morbid Devastation Fall 2023 Tour! The journey begins August 29th in Albuquerque, New Mexico and makes its way through over three dozen cities, coming to a close on October 18th in Los Angeles, California.
Comments INCITE vocalist Richie Cavalera, “We’re beyond stoked for this tour, to be playing with legends every night is a true honor. Hella fired up to be a part of history!”
Additional support for the tour will be provided by Exhumed. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 21st at 10:00am local time. See all confirmed dates below.
INCITE w/ Cavalera, Exhumed: 8/29/2023 Revel – Albuquerque, NM 8/31/2023 Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK 9/01/2023 Granada Theater – Dallas, TX 9/02/2023 House Of Blues – New Orleans, LA 9/03/2023 Saturn – Birmingham, AL 9/05/2023 Madison Theatre – Covington, KY 9/06/2023 The Concourse – Knoxville, TN 9/08/2023 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH 9/09/2023 Full Terror Open Air – Cave-In-Rock, IL (Festival) 9/10/2023 Delmar Hall – St. Louis, MO 9/12/2023 Mesa Theater – Grand Junction, CO 9/14/2023 Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ 9/15/2023 The Marquee – Tempe, AZ 9/16/2023 The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA 9/18/2023 RockHouse Bar & Grill – El Paso, TX 9/19/2023 Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX 9/20/2023 House of Blues – Houston, TX 9/21/2023 Vinyl Music Hall – Pensacola, FL 9/22/2023 Beacham Theater – Orlando, FL 9/23/2023 Terminal West – Atlanta, GA 9/25/2023 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 9/26/2023 Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ 9/27/2023 Irving Plaza – New York, NY 9/28/2023 Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA 9/29/2023 Reverb – Reading, PA 9/30/2023 Mr. Smalls Theatre – Pittsburgh, PA 10/01/2023 Turner Hall Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI 10/02/2023 Fine Line – Minneapolis, MN 10/05/2023 Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA 10/06/2023 Waiting Room – Omaha, NE 10/07/2023 Oriental Theater – Denver, CO 10/08/2023 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT 10/10/2023 The Crocodile – Seattle, WA 10/11/2023 Treefort Music Hall – Boise, ID 10/12/2023 Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR 10/14/2023 Ace Of Spades – Sacramento, CA 10/15/2023 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA 10/17/2023 House Of Blues – Las Vegas, NV 10/18/2023 The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
INCITE released their Wake Up Dead full-length last Spring via Atomic Fire Records. With Wake Up Dead, INCITE jettisons the extraneous bloat of slicker bands in favor of authentic grit and determination, consistently churning out “headbanging riffs with concussive force (Kerrang).” The very spirit and attitude of heavy music culture, courses through the veins of the INCITE collective. Over the course of five albums — The Slaughter (2009), All Out War (2012), Up In Hell (2014), Oppression (2016), and Built To Destroy (2019) — the band has cemented their reputation as one of America’s leading groove armadas, heavily hitting home with their blend of old-school thrash majesty, frantic aggression, melody, and skill. Written over the course of several bouts of feverish inspiration throughout the pandemic, with recording duties again handled by legendary producer Steve Evetts (The Dillinger Escape Plan, Suicide Silence, Everytime I Die), Wake Up Dead delivers in the most relentless way possible.
INCITE’s Wake Up Dead is available on CD, LP, and digital formats. Find ordering options at THIS LOCATION. Watch the band’s previously released videos for “Deadbeat” HERE, “Mental Destruction” video HERE, and “War Soup” (feat. Max Cavalera) HERE.
Promo picture by Teppo Ristola / Teppo Ristola Photography
Finnish groove-thrash metal group Falling From Grace will release their second studio album, “At The Edge”, later in 2023 via Inverse Records. The first single and music video, ‘The Abyss’, is released today. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/Id8q-7rRn1Y
The band comments: “The Abyss has gotten its inspiration from sleep paralysis that many have told to feel a dark presence with them. You can feel that there is something in there, but you can’t see it physically. Is this only a trick of the mind, or is there something evil and dark in there with us when we can only lie down and not move at all?”
Falling From Grace – The Abyss (single 2023) Single cover by Sami Leppäaho Composed by Timi Tonteri, Atte Väisänen, Toni Jokelainen & Valtteri Honko. Lyrics by Niki Tonteri
Falling From Grace is a groove-thrash metal band from Finland, formed in 2013. Their influences come from genres like groove metal, thrash metal, death metal, metalcore, etc. As such, their music strikes the hearts of many metalheads. This five-man band always plays their gigs with 110% attitude, leaving no one in the crowd cold. Falling From Grace has released: the EP “Shadows of the Past” (2014), singles “Poseur” (2016), “Reflection” (2020), “Break Your Neck” (2020), “In The Lies Where We Stand” (2021) and an album “Shattered” (2021). FallingFrom Grace are writing a new album titled “At The Edge” that they plan to release around the end of 2023.
Following their recent announcement of joining Nuclear Blast Records, Southern Californian melodic death mongers EXMORTUS have revealed plans to release their massively anticipated 6th studio album, Necrophony, on August 25th. Available for pre-order now, the record 4 years in the making finds the shredders at a new creative peak, re-born in the isolation of the pandemic and wielding a master craft of metallic savagery.
Commenting on the impending record, guitarist/vocalist Conan says: “‘Necrophony’ was an album title idea for as long as I can remember. This Symphony of the Dead couldn’t be realized for a collection of songs until now. Finally, we have our darkest and most Classically inspired work yet, with artwork by the great Toha Mashudi to match perfectly. We returned to Sharkbite Studios to have the mighty wizard that is Zack Ohren aid us again in forging our metal, and resulted in the finest steel we’re all proud to wield on the battlefield.“
Conan says of the song: “‘Mind of Metal’ is a great compliment to our previous single ‘Oathbreaker,’ in that it has contrasting rhythms and structure, but shares lyrical inspiration by Tolkien. It’s a tribute to the wizard Saruman and other like characters in the legendarium, for their will to power and domination by crafty and industrial means. This song features groove, fast licks, and some of our favorite riffs ever written. Can’t wait to perform it live!“
Nuclear Blast is proud to announce the signing of metal legends CAVALERA. The band reveal they re-recorded SEPULTURA’s first EP Bestial Devastation and first full-length album Morbid Visions.
Max Cavalera comments, “As we get harder year after year, sometimes you’ve got to go back to where it all started! We re-recorded Bestial Devastation and Morbid Visions with the amazing sound of NOW, but with its raw and timeless spirit. The artwork reflects the times we’re living in right now…. Apocalyptic as hell! We also have two new tracks with riffs from those days, remembered by heart.”
Iggor Cavalera states, “I always felt like the recordings of our earlier work didn’t do justice to the way we performed the songs. So, this is a very special moment in our lives that we are very proud to show you real fans our true representation of the amazing records Bestial Devastation & Morbid Visions with an insane visual identity…enjoy and see you all in the pit”
Morbid Visions and Bestial Devastation were re-recorded at The Platinum Underground. The albums were produced by Max Cavalera and Iggor Cavalera while John Aquilino handled the engineering. Arthur Rizk was responsible for the mixing and mastering of both albums. CAVALERA enlisted Eliran Kantor to create the artwork for both albums.
Yes, I bought the CD version of Metallica’s 72Seasons at midnight! Thank God for CatacombRecords in Kettering, Ohio! Tim (the owner) had a listening party for 72 Seasons with complimentary pizza and pop. Is that Metal or what!? Thus when the clock struck midnight, I was buying!!
I was so excited to get this new Metallica CD that I freaking forgot to put it into the car CD player! WTF!! I had my wife’s car; my ancient car only plays cassette. Still, I’m grateful. Tim at Catacomb Records also had a free litho of the 72 Seasons album cover along with a pack of 3 72 Seasons guitar pics! I’ll post the pics of those later cuz I’m half asleep doing this post right now.
I love Metallica. Forever.
Here are some pics of Catacomb Records:
Old school and current Metal selection at Catacomb Records here is AMAZING!!Being inside Catacomb Records is like transporting back to 1982. No shit. Check out the pizza boxes! Yeah!Tim has all the Metal details at his store. Skulls are forever Metal!
Canadian sci-fi metal innovators VOIVOD are celebrating 40 eventful years of existence in 2023 and are pleased to announce a special Anniversary studio album entitled Morgöth Tales, to be released on July 21st, 2023 via Century Media Records.
Once more recorded and mixed by Francis Perron at RadicArt Studio, mastered by Maor Appelbaum and produced by VOIVOD, Morgöth Tales includes fresh studio (re-)recordings by the band’s current line-up of 9 especially selected, not-so-obvious picks from the band’s hyper-classy and extremely diverse back catalogue (between 1984 and 2003) as well as a brand-new song in the album’s title-track, “Morgöth Tales”.
VOIVOD drummer Michel “Away” Langevin commented about Morgöth Tales as follows: “’Morgöth Tales’ covers 40 years of space exploration. It was really exciting for us to revisit a more obscure part of the Voïvod catalogue, from thrash-punk to prog-metal to…? The title track is a new song, which we started writing in the tour bus and hotels during the Opeth European tour in November/December 2022. It has the vibe of the experimental music we are doing nowadays, with a new twist I think. We also had the great thrill of getting E-Force and Jasonic involved on this album. I hope you’ll dig it, Chewy, Rocky, Snake and I certainly had a blast recording it. All aboard and ready for take off!“
VOIVOD – “Morgöth Tales” 1. Condemned To The Gallows (2023 Version) [Originally on Metal Massacre V Compilation, 1984] 2, Thrashing Rage (2023 Version) [Originally on “Rrröööaaarrr”, 1986] 3. Killing Technology (2023 Version) [Originally on “Killing Technology”, 1987] 4. Macrosolutions To Megaproblems (2023 Version) [Originally on“Dimension Hatröss”, 1988] 5. Pre-Ignition (2023 Version) [Originally on “Nothingface”, 1989] 6. Nuage Fractal (2023 Version) [Originally on “Angel Rat”, 1991] 7. Fix My Heart (2023 Version) [Originally on “The Outer Limits”, 1993] 8. Rise (2023 Version, feat. Eric Forrest) [Originally on “Phobos”, 1997] 9. Rebel Robot (2023 Version, feat. Jason Newsted) [Originally on “Voivod”, 2003] 10. Morgöth Tales [New Song]
Next up, VOIVOD are kicking off their 40thAnniversary touring cycle this upcoming weekend in The Netherlands & the UK, so better check the band’s comprehensive listing of upcoming shows here:
VOIVOD – Europe & UK Tour: Apr. 16, 2023 – Eindhoven (The Netherlands) – Prognosis Festival Apr. 18, 2023 – Bristol (UK) – The Fleece + Cryptic Shift Apr. 19, 2023 – Glasgow (UK) – Slay + Cryptic Shift Apr. 20, 2023 – Manchester (UK) – Rebellion + Cryptic Shift Apr. 21, 2023 – Southampton (UK) – The 1865 + Cryptic Shift Apr. 22, 2023 – London (UK) – Prognosis Festival
VOIVOD – USA Tour w/ Imperial Triumphant: May 9, 2023 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel * no Imperial Triumphant May 10, 2023 – Virginia Beach, VA – Elevation 27 * no Imperial Triumphant May 11, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts May 12, 2023 – New York, NY – The Bowery May 13, 2023 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage May 14, 2023 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground May 16, 2023 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live May 17, 2023 – Tampa, FL – Floridian May 18, 2023 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage May 19, 2023 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues May 20, 2023 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall May 21, 2023 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It May 23, 2023 – Pensacola, FL – The Vinyl Music Hall * no Imperial Triumphant
VOIVOD – Europe Tour: May 26, 2023 – Wiesbaden (Germany) – Schlachthof w/ Testament, Exodus May 27, 2023 – Ulm (Germany) – Roxy May 28, 2023 – Munich (Germany) – Backstage w/ Testament, Exodus May 30, 2023 – Lyon (France) – Transbordeur w/ Testament, Exodus May 31, 2023 – Pratteln (Switzerland) – Z7 w/ Testament, Exodus June 1, 2023 – Trezzo sull’Adda / Milano (Italy) – Live Club w/ Testament, Exodus June 2, 2023 – Ljubljana (Slovenia) – Kino Siska w/ Testament, Exodus June 3, 2023 – Stuttgart (Germany) – Im Wizemann w/ Testament, Exodus June 5, 2023 – Berlin (Germany) – Columbia Theater w/ Testament, Exodus June 7, 2023 – Budapest (Hungary) – Durer Kert June 8, 2023 – Salzburg (Austria) – Rockouse Bar June 9, 2023 – Prague (Czech Republic) – Futurum June 10, 2023 – Gdansk (Poland) – Mystic Festival June 13, 2023 – Hamburg (Germany) – Markthalle w/ Testament, Exodus June 14, 2023 – Amersfoort (The Netherlands) – Flour June 15, 2023 – Wasquehal / Lille (France) – The Black Lab June 17, 2023 – Clisson (France) – Hellfest June 18, 2023 – Dessel (Belgium) – Graspop Metal Meeting June 22-24, 2023 – Oslo (Norway) – Tons of Rock Festival Aug. 3-5, 2023 – Wacken (Germany) – Wacken Open Air Aug. 11-12, 2023 – Helsinki (Finland) – Helsinki Metal Festival And more international dates to be announced soon…
Morgöth Tales succeeds VOIVOD’s 15th (!) much acclaimed and Juno Awards winning studio album “Synchro Anarchy”, which entered sales charts upon release in early 2022 as follows: Germany # 7 (!), Switzerland # 64, Austria # 67, The Netherlands # 88, Belgium # 129, UK (Rock & Metal) # 7, Canada (Hard Music) # 2, USA Current Hard Music # 8, USA Top New Artist # 11, USA Heatseekers # 56 and USA Current Album # 67. VOIVOD also released the special “Ultraman – EP” in late 2022, which contains a highly original tribute to the “Ultraman” TV series theme.
Tampere, Finland -based thrash metal act OSIRISREX – led by US thrasher Superstar Joey Severance have unleashed the second single ‘The Meek Shall Inherit’ taken from their forthcoming debut EP “Arrival of the New Dawn”!
Also check out the first single ‘Lone Wolf Terror’, feat. on solo: Michael “Big Maaaan” Rutten, at https://youtu.be/IL-BAxGFLl0
“Arrival of the New Dawn” recording lineup: Superstar Joey Severance – Vocals Ben Varon – All Guitars (except where noted) and Bass (Session Musician) Oskari Niemi – Drums (Session Musician)
Music and Lyrics: Superstar Joey Severance Produced, Mixed and Engineered by: Ben Varon Mastered by: Ben Varon and Oskari Niemi
Tracklisting:
The Meek Shall Inherit
Arrival of the New Dawn
Lone Wolf Terror (Solo: Michael “Big Maaaan” Rutten)
Hot Stuff (Donna Summer Cover)
More on OSIRIS REX:
Rising from the ashes of TORNADO comes OSIRIS REX. With Tornado, vocalist Superstar Joey Severance recorded three albums (Amsterdamn, Hellsinki – Black President – Commitment to Excellence) with the debut being produced by Peter Tagtgren and their last album featuring such metal heavyweights as Karl Sanders (Nile) Glen Drover (ex-Megadeth) and Ross Dolan (Immolation). All three albums received positive reviews worldwide and the band did a European tour supporting Six Feet Under.
Soon after the tour ended, and right before the start of the pandemic, SJS decided to disband Tornado for personal reasons and move forward with a new lineup which will become Osiris Rex.
The four-song debut EP, “Arrival of the New Dawn” showcases the musical direction the band is taking which is not too far removed from Tornado. Stay tuned!
With a focus on writing great, catchy songs, Osiris Rex are looking to advance the thrash genre for a new generation!
Ohio thrashers WAR CURSE have released their song “Shadow Gods” exclusively on Bandcamp. The song has been released in order to raise funds for victims of the East Palestine Ohio train derailment.
Guitarist Justin Roth comments:
“We wrote a ton of material for our upcoming album, a lot of which ended up on the cutting room floor. Shadow Gods is a fun, ripping thrasher that Blaine and I constructed in around 20 minutes, start to finish. We knew it didn’t match the vibe of the album but recorded it anyway, just for fun. It might have never seen the light of day, but the tragedy in East Palestine, Ohio, our home state, really struck a nerve. The lyrics to Shadow Gods felt like they were written about this very situation. Faceless organizations ‘gambling with consequence.’ ‘Failing comes at your expense.’ People are suffering right now, months later, because a soulless corporation prioritized appeasing stockholders over taking responsibility. Absolute scumbags.
We’re a small band from Ohio, but we’re here to do our part. All proceeds from Shadow Gods purchased through Bandcamp will be donated to a local 501c3 benefiting the impacted citizens of East Palestine, OH. “
ANVIL’s 2023 U.S. tour dates with MIDNITE HELLION:
Apr. 06 – Albany, NY @ Empire Live Apr. 07 – Garwood, NJ @ Crossroads Apr. 08 – Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus Bar Apr. 13 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar Apr. 14 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall Apr. 15 – Wilmington, NC @ Reggie’s 42nd St. Tavern Apr. 16 – West Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern Apr. 20 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits Apr. 21 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Respectable Street Apr. 22 – Orlando, FL @ The Conduit Apr. 23 – Gainesville, FL @ Loosey’s Apr. 27 – Houston, TX @ Secret Group Apr. 28 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada Apr. 29 – Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live May 04 – Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard May 05 – Wichita, KS @ Barleycorn’s May 06 – Des Moines, IA @ Lefty’s Live Music May 07 – Madison, WI @ Crucible May 11 – St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag May 12 – Cincinnati, OH @ Legends Bar & Venue May 13 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
VIDEOS: Check out ‘Ghost Shadow’ video HERE Check out ‘Take A Lesson’ video HERE Check out ‘Legal At Last’ video HERE
Originally formed in 1984, Old school Florida Death Metal Legends HELLWITCH are back with their unique brand of highly energetic, incisive, Thrashing Death Metal. The band has always sounded insanely catchy, always balancing technicality to a great measure, HELLWITCH have drafted some genuine classic songs over the years and their new album is a culmination of all such works and experience.
Band leader Pat Ranieri comments about the artwork for ‘Annihilational Intercention’: ” The cover of “Annihilational Intercention” is what is coming in the future of mankind on this wretched planet. The Judge is in the final stages of administering punishment to our race, eradicating every last being. Having biologically and supernaturally evolved to possess otherworldly powers, his psychic assault is manifested in spears of burning energy and levitational force. His apocalyptic “Horsemen” look on with hatred, aiding the cause. The poisoned, decimated world that surrounds tells the tale of man left to his own devices.”
HELLWITCH’s new album ‘Annihilational Intercention’ will be released digitally on the 2nd of June , and physically on the 30th of June 2023. The band will also release a new video for the song ‘Delegated Disruption’ on April 19. More details shortly.
HELLWITCH line up: Pat Ranieri:Guitars, Vocals J.P. Brown:Guitars Brian Wilson:Drums
HELLWITCH tour dates (to be updated) Monday, June 5 The Milestone Club, Charlotte NC Tuesday, June 6 Powers BMX Shop, Richmond VA Wednesday, June 7 The Kennel at West York Inn, York PA Thursday, June 8 The Fire, Philadelphia PA Friday, June 9 Pie Shop, Washington DC Saturday, June 10 Lurking Class Skate Shop, Salisbury MD Sunday, June 11 Saint Vitus Bar, Brooklyn NY November 3/4/5 Mass Destruction fest ,the Loft, Atlanta
w/ RAZOR, WHIPLASH, SKULL FIST, WARSENAL, DROWNING IN BLOOD
This coming May 12th, Montreal, QC will be host to this city’s first-ever Piranha Pit Fest presented by Loudtrax, the one-stop online shop for everything swag from the biggest names in Loud Music.
Piranha Pit Fest will feature headliners RAZOR, the Canadian thrash legends who have been recognized as one of the country’s pioneers of the metal genre. RAZOR released their ninth studio album Cycle of Contempt this past September, making it their first album in 25 years. RAZOR will also be supported by another legendary thrash band, New Jersey’s WHIPLASH, one of the first American East Coast thrash metal bands of the 1980s to inspire many who followed in their footsteps. Also joining the lineup is the 2023 Juno nominated (Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year) and international tour de force, Toronto’s high-flying heavy metal shredders SKULL FIST along with local Montreal moshers Warsenal and Drowning In Blood.
Piranha Pit Fest will be held at Piranha Bar 680 Sainte-Catherine St W, one of the city’s metal strongholds for extreme music events.
Detroit (MI) – Melodic Power Thrashers AMONG THESE ASHES have revealed the artwork for forthcoming single “The Enemy In I.” Jayson Cessna of Prosthetic Records artists, Astralborne, is responsible for the visual stunner!
“The Enemy In I” will be released on April 21, packaged with b-side track “Sirens,” a cover of the Savatagegem. A lyric video for “Sirens” is available now at youtu.be/WQe52VAHb5Y!
Regarding “Sirens,” the band had this to say: “Among These Ashes pays homage to one of the best bands to ever do it, Savatage, with a cover of the band’s classic song, Sirens. This cover is deliberately made with ATA sonic trademarks, rather than being a carbon copy of the original. Thank you Savatage for being a continuous source of inspiration.
The band released the following statement concerning the forthcoming single package:
“A year after releasing our debut album, Dominion Enthroned, we return with our newest track, The Enemy in I. This track lyrically chronicles the woes of self-destruction. We worship at the altar of those who paved this musical path for us, and in that spirit, we’ve included a cover of a Savatageclassic, Sirens, as a B-side track to this release. Both tracks display our signature attributes with pummeling aggression contrasted by thematic melodies and harmony. We cannot wait to bring these cacophonous offerings to the ravenous metal hordes.”
In other news, the band recently released a lyric video for a reworked version of “A Veil of Black,” a track from Dominion Enthroned, at youtu.be/Dt8CsNn7QdQ.
The new version of “A Veil of Black” features Brooke Rousseau of Lady Luna and the Devil on vocals with AMONG THESE ASHES lead vocalist, JP Abboud. The video was created by Ross Morgan. The song is included as a bonus track on Alone Records’ CD reissue of DominionEnthroned, which is available to purchase at this location.
Dominion Enthroned, which was released in early 2022, is available to stream in its entirety at the following locations:
BIO: Among These Ashes is a melodic power/thrash metal band hailing from Detroit, MI. The central focus of this band is creating stellar, highly-memorable metal songs. The band’s sound is crushingly heavy and punctuated by cerebral arrangements, thought-provoking lyrics, and dynamic shifts in tempo and aggression. The band’s debut musical offering, Dominion Enthroned, is a conceptual tour de force inspired by modern societal parallels and struggles.
I went with my buddy Troy to see Cro-Mags and Ringworm, down in Covington Kentucky, at Madison Live!, on March 17, 2023. Both of these bands have been on my bucket list for many years. Suffice to say I had an amazing time seeing and hearing these bands, up close!
The line-up for Cro-Mags has changed over the years; however, the legendary band founder Harley Flanagan has once again proved to his fans he is still at his very best in performing live. With a mixed crowd of both younger and older fans, the Hardcore stage diving and insane pit of yesteryear was non-existent; save for a pit that was more congenial than over aggressive.
Photo Credit: Stone/Metal Odyssey
Two or three scuffles broke out in the crowd and Harley Flanagan was very quick to diffuse the scuffles. Harley made it clear his lack of tolerance for fighting. Harley also let his feelings be known for unity, brotherhood and being grateful for your loved ones. I couldn’t agree more. There were parents that took their little kids to this show. As for the music, I couldn’t stop moving; with my cane and screwed up knees. We’ve all gotten older and Harley doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. He’s forever immortalized in Metal and Hardcore history.
Photo Credit: Stone/Metal OdysseyPhoto credit: Stone/Metal Odyssey – above: Human Furnace of Ringworm
Cleveland Ohio’s Ringworm didn’t hold back nothing. They blazed and thundered through their set of songs like killer hornets. Human Furnace led his band like the Metal titan he is, vocally menacing. Opening for Cro-Mags, Ringworm set the Metal vibe on course. I always have more energy in the first half of any concert; thus I went into the pit with my cane and enjoyed every second of it. My fellow Metal brethren joined me in the pit, to cheer me on and make certain I didn’t fall down. It was more a nostalgic ceremony of yesteryear than anything else. I was so grateful to the brother/sisterhood that graciously joined me in celebration. My knees hurt so bad out there and the love and support I received from that Metal gathering brought me close to tears. I’ll never forget that night. God Bless them all and both bands. – Stone
Photo Credit: Stone/Metal OfysseyHuman Furnace and me!
West coast metal veterans Metal Church will release their 13thstudio album, Congregation of Annihilation, on May 26th via Rat Pak Records (America) and Reaper Entertainment (Europe). The new album marks the first release since the tragic death of legendary front man Mike Howe who passed in July of 2021. It also marks the first album with new vocalist Marc Lopes (Ross the Boss / Let Us Prey) who came on board in the summer of 2022 and features the current lineup of founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, guitarist Rick Van Zandt, bassist Steve Unger and drummer Stet Howland. The new songs are a return to the band’s musical roots harkening back to the vibes of the self-titled first album and The Dark.
Of the album Kurdt Vanderhoof comments: “This new album is starting a new chapter in the Metal Church legacy. I really love this album. It’s a fresh approach for us in one way, but also a return to the very beginnings of Metal Church as part of the New American Thrash Metal movement. This record contains some of the most aggressive songs we have recorded. I hope the fans will like it as much as we do.”
Marc Lopes comments, “I am beyond honored to be part of carrying on this legacy into a new era of Metal Church. Working with Kurdt and a band that was a huge influence of mine growing up was a surreal experience to say the least. For me there was no point in trying to imitate what was already done to perfection. So, with respect to the past, we moved forward to a new chapter and here we are!”
Congregation of Annihilationfeatures nine all new tracks from Metal Church and continues to build upon their iconic sound the band established over three decades ago. From the first guitar riff of album opener “Another Judgement Day” through the driving outro of album closer “Salvation,” it is clear Metal Church is back and better than ever. “Pick A God and Prey”, “Children of the Lie”, “Congregation of Annihilation” and “These Violent Thrills” showcase the sonically charged songwriting that made the early Metal Church albums such fan favorites.
Haunting musical opuses “Me the Nothing” and “Making Monsters” each puts the musicianship that Metal Church was known for on full display in 2023. Infused with intelligent lyrical content, thundering guitar riffs, and Marc’s aggressive soaring vocals, Congregation of Annihilation furthers the bands sonic evolution up to the next level and is guaranteed to enthrall metal music fans around the world.
Track List:
(01) Another Judgement Day (02) Congregation of Annihilation (03) Pick A God and Prey (04) Children of the Lie (05) Me the Nothing (06) Making Monsters (07) Say a Prayer with 7 Bullets (08) These Violent Thrills (09) All That We Destroy (10) My Favorite Sin (bonus track) (11) Salvation (bonus track)
VIO-LENCE 2023 tour lineup; Photo by Stephanie Cabral
VIO-LENCE is gearing up for a series of live shows in 2023 that will include the band’s new touring lineup. That lineup features Sean Killian on vocals, Christian Olde Wolbers on bass, Miles Dimitri Baker (Interloper) on guitar, Ira Black on guitar, and Adrian Aguilar (Exmortus) on drums.
While Phil Demmel remains a member of the band, his personal and professional schedule will limit his touring with VIO-LENCE to select festival appearances.
VIO-LENCE kicks things off on March 23rd in Houston, Texas where the band will be playing Hell’s Heroes Pre-Party at the White Oak Music Hall followed by a performance at the highly anticipated Milwaukee Metal Fest on May 26th. The band will head to Europe for an appearance at Motocultor Festival in Carhaix, France on August 18th followed by a series of performances on the Headbangers Boat going from Miami, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas October 31st through November 4th. Stay tuned for more dates and festivals to be announced soon.
VIO-LENCE: 3/23/2023 Hell’s Heroes Pre-Party Show – Houston, TX 5/26/2023 Milwaukee Metal Fest – Milwaukee, WI 8/18/2023 Motocultor Festival – Carhaix, FR 10/31/2023 – 11/04/2023 Headbangers Boat – Miami, FL/Nassau, BS
Formed in 1985, Oakland thrashers VIO-LENCE helped define and refine what came to be known as the Bay Area sound, dropping three seminal albums before splitting in 1993. Leaving behind a heady legacy, they briefly reformed a handful of times in the intervening years before becoming a full-time band once more in 2019. After playing a string of successful shows, the quintet delivered Let The World Burn in 2022, a five-song EP showcasing their first new material in twenty-nine years. Delivering on the classic VIO-LENCE sound, Let The World Burn was tracked in Trident Studios in Pacheco, California by Juan Urteaga (Machine Head, Exodus), mixed by Tue Madsen (Dark Tranquillity, Heaven Shall Burn), and mastered by Ted Jensen (Alice In Chains, Death Angel).
South Carolina’s Narcotic Wasteland founded by guitarist Dallas Toler-Wade announces it will be performing at this year’s Denver DeathFest on April 20th along with Loud As Hell Festival in Canada in August among many others slated for this summer. (dates listed below).
“We are very excited about 2023! We have upcoming shows and new music on the way! We are ready to play some metal!” adds Toler-Wade.
2023 is going to be an exciting year for Narcotic Wasteland, not only is the band hitting the road they are also in the works of releasing their third yet to be titled album via Mega Force Records. So far they have unleashed three singles “Morality and the Wasp”, “The Best Times Have Passed” and “Victims of the Algorithm” to give fans a taste of their forthcoming mosh pit of terror. For their third full-length, the band worked once again with engineer, and producer Erik Schultek who produced the band’s self-titled debut album. The band’s 2023 album will be the follow-up to their sophomore full-length 2017’s “Delirium Tremens”.
Inspired mostly by thrash metal and classic heavy metal, Narcotic Wasteland is becoming more thrash and speed and less death metal and getting better at writing material that is meaningful and powerful. They are recommended for fans of Vader, Death, The Crown, Autopsy, Pestilence, and Nile.
Show Dates: April 20 – The King Room – Denver, CO – Denver DeathFest June 22 – Rubber Gloves – Denton, TX June 23 – The Concert North – Houston, TX June 24 – The Rail Club – Forth Worth, TX June 25 – Boozerz Rock Club – Corpus Christi, TX Aug 5 – Dinosaur Stampede Grounds – Drumheller, AB – Loud As Hell Festival Aug 12 – Zymurgy Brewing – Menomonie, WI – Zymurderfest
L-R: Tommy Wolffe (Bass. Vocals), Bobby Deuce (Guitar), Angus Pike (Drums) Photo Credit: Megan Kay
A blend of hard rock, punk, and metal, Deadwolff set themselves apart from other bands with their take on the New Wave of Heavy Rock and Roll. Recommended for fans of Judas Priest, Motorhead, and W.A.S.P., Deadwolff is a revival of foot-tapping, beer-drinking, headbanging tunes, and more. They are touring across the United States and Canada this May and June in support of their forthcoming debut full-length “Heavy Rock N’ Roll” due out on March 31st via Golden Robot Records.
May 8 – Outer Limits Lounge – Hamtramck, MI 9 – Liars Club – Chicago, IL 11 – Whittier – Tulsa, OK 12 – Double Wide – Dallas, TX 13 – Black Magic Social Club – Houston, TX 14 – Valhalla Tavern – Austin. TX 15 – Faust Tavern – San Antonio, TX 17 – The Edge – Tuscon, AZ 18 – The Blooze Bar – Pheonix, AZ 19 – Tower Bar – San Diego, CA 20 – Red Dwarf – Las Vegas, NV 23 – Destructive Warehouse – Fresno, CA 24 – The Knockout – San Francisco, CA 25 – On the y- Sacramento, CA 26 – Shea’s Tavern – Reno, NV 27 – Knucklehead – Los Angeles, CA 30 – High Water Mark – Portland, OR 31 – The Cherry Pit – Seattle, WA
June 1 – Sunny Chibas – Squamish, BC 2 – The Cambie – Vancouver, BC 3 – Kami Inn – Kamloops, BC 4 – Canmore Hotel – Canmore, AB 6 – The Palamind – Calgary, AB 7 – Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB 9 – Bulldog – Winnipeg, MB 10 – Atmos – Thunder Bay, ON
Crossover thrash titans TOXIC HOLOCAUST will return to the road this Summer on a month-long US co-headlining tour with Havok! The journey begins July 7th in Denver, Colorado and runs through August 11th in Lincoln, Nebraska. Support will be provided by Hammerhedd and MNRK Heavy labelmates, I Am.
Comments TOXIC HOLOCAUST mastermind Joel Grind, “We are stoked to be hitting the road this Summer with Havok. We are all looking forward to playing all over the country…finally. It feels like it’s been forever since we hit these places, but now we are locked and loaded and ready to bring a night of thrash to the masses!”
Venue presales begin Thursday, March 16th at 10:00am local time. General on sale date is Friday, March 17th at 10:00am local time. See all confirmed dates below.
TOXIC HOLOCAUST w/ Havok, I Am, Hammerhedd: 7/07/2023 Summit – Denver, CO 7/08/2023 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT 7/10/2023 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 7/11/2023 Dante’s – Portland, OR 7/13/2023 Cornerstone – Berkley, CA 7/14/2023 Goldfield – Roseville, CA 7/15/2023 The Regent – Los Angeles, CA 7/16/2023 Observatory – Santa Ana, CA 7/18/2023 Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ 7/19/2023 Rockhouse Bar & Grill – El Paso, TX 7/20/2023 Jake’s Backroom – Lubbock, TX 7/21/2023 The Echo Lounge & Music Hall – Dallas, TX 7/22/2023 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX 7/23/2023 Warehouse Live – Houston, TX 7/24/2023 House Of Blues – New Orleans, LA 7/26/2023 Gramps – Miami, FL 7/28/2023 Masquerade (Hell) – Atlanta, GA 7/29/2023 The Basement East – Nashville, TN 7/30/2023 Hanger 1819 – Greensboro, NC 7/31/2023 Canal Club – Richmond, VA 8/01/2023 Warehouse On Watts – Philadelphia, PA 8/02/2023 Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 8/03/2023 Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY 8/04/2023 Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA 8/05/2023 The Monarch – Brooklyn, NY 8/07/2023 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH 8/08/2023 The Shelter – Detroit, MI 8/09/2023 Reggies Rock Club – Chicago, IL 8/10/2023 Fine Line Music Hall – St. Paul, MN 8/11/2023 The Royal – Lincoln, NE
TOXIC HOLOCAUST’s most recent studio album, Primal Future: 2019, is out now on MNRK Heavy. A dystopian technological takeover drives the album thematically, but the passionately delivered music is vintage TOXIC HOLOCAUST, taking things all the way back to the band’s early origins.
TOXIC HOLOCAUST began kicking out the corrosive jams in basements and bedrooms over twenty years ago, building a punishing legacy of mutant thrash and filthy street punk that’s outlasted the heydays of the genres that spawned them; founder Joel Grind, the headband-wearing headbanger whose dedication to the one-man-band ethos gives the late Quorthon a run for his money, melting down the greatest punk metal crossover riff collection imaginable into nuclear ooze. With each successive release, Grind repurposes the most visceral strengths of speed, thrash, and punk through his own unique vision, making for new metal anthems that consistently reignite a circle-pitting feeding frenzy in the scene.
TOXIC HOLOCAUST’s Primal Future: 2019 is available on CD, digital, and vinyl formats. Preview and purchase the record at THIS LOCATION.
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