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Metal Tour Of The Year Brings The Heavy To St. Louis

Over a year in the making and after a massive delay (like most tours), Metal Tour Of The Year featuring Megadeth, Lamb Of God, Trivium, and Hatebreed came to bring heavy music to St. Louis.

A massive crowd came to Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in appreciation for metal. St. Louis has not always been known for metal roots, but now with growing venues and a movement in rock and metal through the Gateway To The West, bigger numbers are showing up for heavy acts old and new.

Co-headlined by Megadeth and Lamb Of God, a massive “Dave” chant was heard through the final set as Mustaine returned to the stage to perform for over an hour. After beating cancer over the past few years and finishing the recording of an upcoming album, it appears that the next chapter of Megadeth is ready to be presented.

Equally as loved and chanted for was Lamb Of God. Randy Blythe took to the mic after performing “Walk With Me In Hell” saying that he wasn’t sure if the band would ever be able to perform in front of full audiences post-pandemic. Thankfully, he was able to see it with his own eyes.

Trivium performed before Lamb Of God and have had a busy two years with music output with their most recent album What The Dead Men Say coming out last year, and their newest album In The Court Of The Dragon being released Oct 8th, 2021.

Opening the Metal Tour Of The Year was Hatebreed, who was asked to fill in as the opening slot on the tour. When Jamey Jasta received the call, he told the crowd that there was only one response he could give: “**** yes.”

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10 Album Covers That Were Banned!

After shooting and while watching the different bands perform, it was a great experience to see so many people in attendance for hours (mostly in black band shirts to fit the setting), for a more mature group of music-loving people.

With how successful the tour has run, including festival performances, I hope that all the bands involved look at Metal Tour Of The Year as a potential brand. It could be worth looking into going forward.

10 Album Covers That Were Banned

Some of the best-selling albums from big names in music have had album art be controversial. This video looks at 10 album covers that were banned. 

10 Album Covers That Were Banned

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10 Intense Live Concert Injuries!

Kill ‘Em All is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on July 25, 1983, through independent label Megaforce Records

Yesterday and Today (also rendered as “Yesterday” … and Today in part of the original packaging) is a studio album by the English rock band the Beatles

Appetite for Destruction is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Guns N’ Roses. It was released on July 21, 1987, by Geffen Records

Nothing’s Shocking is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Jane’s Addiction, released on August 23, 1988 through Warner Bros. Records

Far Beyond Driven is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Pantera, released on March 22, 1994 by East West Records. Pantera’s fastest-selling album, it peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum by the RIAA

Lovedrive is the sixth studio album by German band Scorpions, released in 1979. 

Diamond Dogs is the eighth studio album by English musician David Bowie, released on 24 May 1974 by RCA Records

Open Up and Say… Ahh! is the second studio album by American glam metal band Poison, released in 1988 through Enigma Records

Achtung Baby (/ˈæktʊŋ/) is the seventh studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, and was released on 18 November 1991 on Island Records

Mother’s Milk is the fourth studio and video album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released August 16, 1989, by EMI Records

TOOL Announce Extensive 2022 U.S. & European Tour Dates

TOOL have announced a mammoth 2022 tour, with the Los Angeles-based band spending 3 months traversing the U.S. followed by a month of European dates.

TOOL elected to kick off the highly-anticipated trek in Eugene, Ore. as a nod to the abrupt halt to their 2020 Fear Inoculum tour. Slated to play the Matthew Knight Arena on March 12, 2020, the show, along with the band’s remaining tour dates, was canceled as nationwide lockdowns began to take effect that evening.

“It is with great pleasure I get to announce our return to the road,” said Danny Carey. “These past 18 months have been trying to say the least but from great trials come great lessons and great rewards. We are genuinely looking forward to sharing them with you.”

Tickets for all dates are on-sale this Friday, Oct. 1 at 10 am local time (UK and Irish dates are on-sale at 9 am local time). TOOL Army members can purchase pre-sale tickets for European dates on Sept. 28 at 10 am local time (24 hour pre-sale window), while U.S. pre-sale tickets are available on Sept. 29 at 10 am local time (36 hour pre-sale window). A selection of exclusive packages, which include a pre-sale ticket, will also be made available to TOOL Army members on Sept. 29 at 10 am local time.

January 10 Eugene, OR Matthew Knight Arena
January 11 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
January 13 Boise, ID Ford Idaho Center
January 15 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center
January 16 San Francisco, CA Chase Center
January 18 Anaheim, CA Honda Center
January 19 San Diego, CA Viejas Arena
January 21 Phoenix, AZ Footprint Center
January 22 Las Vegas, NV T-Mobile Arena
January 25 Salt Lake City, UT Maverik Center
January 27 Denver, CO Ball Arena
January 30 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
January 31 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
February 2 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
February 4 Houston, TX Toyota Center
February 5 New Orleans, LA Smoothie King Center
February 8 Orlando, FL Amway Center
February 9 Tampa, FL Amalie Arena
February 10 Miami, FL FTX Arena
February 19 Boston, MA TD Garden
February 20 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
February 22 Washington, DC Capital One Arena
February 23 Belmont Park, NY UBS Arena
February 26 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
February 27 Buffalo, NY KeyBank Center
March 1 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena
March 3 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
March 4 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
March 6 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena
March 8 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
March 10 Chicago, IL United Center
March 12 Omaha, NE CHI Health Center Arena
March 13 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
March 15 Kansas City, MO T-Mobile Center
March 17 Moline, IL TaxSlayer Center
March 18 St. Louis, MO Enterprise Center
March 20 Cleveland, OH Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

April 23 Copenhagen, DK Royal Arena
April 25 Oslo, NO Spektrum
April 26 Stockholm, SE Avicii Arena
April 28 Hamburg, DE Barclaycard Arena
April 29 Frankfurt, DE Festhalle
May 2 Manchester, UK AO Arena Manchester
May 4 Birmingham, UK Resorts World Arena
May 6 Dublin, IE 3Arena
May 9 London, UK The O2 Arena
May 12 Paris, FR AccorHotels Arena
May 13 Antwerp, BE Sportpaleis
May 15 Berlin, DE Mercedes-Benz Arena
May 17 Cologne, DE Lanxess Arena
May 19 Amsterdam, NL Ziggo Dome
May 21 Krakow, PL Tauron Arena
May 23 Prague, CZ O2 Arena
May 24 Budapest, HU SportAréna

Blonde Redhead opens on dates from Jan. 10 to Feb. 10. The Acid Helps opens from Feb. 19 to March 20.

Fear Inoculum arrived in August of 2019, following years of anticipation. The album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200, shattering sales and radio records while also earning widespread critical praise. NPR said, “Fear Inoculum was worth the 13-year wait,” The Atlantic declared the release “precise and devastating,” Revolver dubbed the 10-track album “a masterpiece that will be dissected for years to come” and Consequence of Sound said Fear Inoculum finds “TOOL in peak performance.”

Follow TOOL:
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Judas Priest And Sabaton Electrify Music Park

As the world opens back up, our favorite bands return to our cities and newer bands come to be introduced to a new audience. Judas Preist, one of the greatest metal bands ever returning to St. Louis, MO as well as Sabaton coming to spread stories of war, made for an electrifying night at the new amphitheater Music Park. As soon as Judas Priest and Sabaton were announced as a tour, it made too much sense and I feel that this is a show that will be remembered by many for a long time.

Rob Halford still commands attention from everyone when he steps foot onto a stage. Decades into performing and now 50 years of Judas Priest running wild, it feels like metal royalty is still being appreciated by the masses, especially now that concerts are returning.

St. Louis was given over 90 minutes of classic and newer metal, including songs from 2018’s Firepower that served as somewhat of a comeback for the group. Judas Priest will be touring in 2022 performing at massive festivals in Europe and with the band running so smoothly now, it’s only a matter of time before fans start to wonder if another album is in the works.

Supporting Judas Priest and coming from Sweden, Sabaton brought their songs of war to Missouri and had quite the large fan base with a thunderous Sabaton chant to open the night. At one point, Joakim Brodén said he felt the vibrations from the crowd through the stage. There was a unique moment in Sabaton’s set where Joakim Brodén asked if anyone was of Swedish descent and then had a brief conversation in Swedish with a fan in the crowd.

Sabaton has announced that the new album The War To End All Wars will be coming soon, along with a headlining tour featuring The Hu through Europe in 2022.

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10 Intense Live Concert Injuries!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CURB3nzAyJ5/

Judas Priest And Sabaton

Poppy – Flux | Album Review

A review on Flux, the latest album from the ever-changing Poppy. How does her take on genre-bending and screaming fair for her latest album? 

Click below to watch the review and scroll below to hear music from Flux.

Poppy Flux Album Review

Moriah Rose Pereira (born January 1, 1995), known professionally as Poppy and formerly That Poppy, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and YouTuber

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10 Intense Live Concert Injuries!

“Flux”
“Her”
“So Mean”

While this album was different from I Disagree and the Eat EP, I still enjoyed it. I”m trying to buckle in now because a huge amount of new music in rock and metal is coming in October and there is no way I’ll be able to cover it all. Join us on New Music Night every weekend on Twitch to listen to each week’s new songs as that’s become a great way for people to keep up with new music. New video on 10 Banned Album Covers is coming early next week!

The Podcast That Rocked on Spotify

Poppy, Poppy Her, Poppy Lessen The Damage, Poppy Live, Poppy 2021, Poppy I Disagree, Poppy Rocked, Rocked, Rocked Album Review, Poppy Artist, Poppy New Music, Poppy New Album,  

Killswitch Engage Release “Us Against The World” Official Video

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE — Jesse Leach (vocals), Adam Dutkiewicz (guitars), Joel Stroetzel (guitars), Mike D’Antonio (bass), and Justin Foley (drums) — have released the official video for “Us Against the World” from their latest album, Atonement, out now. Watch it here or below:

The footage is culled from the band’s August 2021 livestream event that took place at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts — the site of many iconic and memorable KsE shows through the years. It was directed by David Brodsky and Allison Woest for MyGoodEye.  

“This is one of my favorite songs off the album so I’m glad it is getting some attention and a visual component,” says Leach. “It’s a song about facing down the odds and finding confidence to overcome and conquer a situation. I originally wrote it as a battle cry song with my warrior Highland Scottish, Norwegian, and Swedish ancestors in mind. However, it can be about friendship, love, or even the camaraderie of being in a band traveling the world. The title says it all — ‘Us Against The World!'”

Killswitch Engage are currently on the road, touring with Slipknot, Fever 333, and Code Orange as part of the Knotfest Roadshow. The band will also appear at several key fall festivals. All KsE tour dates are below.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE ON TOUR:
9/24 — Louisville, KY — Louder Than Life Fest
9/25 — Orlando, FL — Rebel Rock Fest
9/26 — Birmingham, AL — Furnace Fest

WITH SLIPKNOT, FEVER 333, + CODE ORANGE:
9/28 — Tinley Park, IL — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9/29 — Milwaukee, WI — American Family Insurance Amphitheater
10/1 — Noblesville, IN — Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
10/2 — Clarkston, MI — DTE Energy Music Theatre
10/3 — Darien Center, NY — Darien Lake Amphitheater
10/5 — Syracuse, NY — Lakeview Amphitheater – Syracuse
10/8 — Mansfield, MA — Xfinity Center
10/9 — Hartford, CT — XFINITY Theatre
10/10 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center
10/12 — Camden, NJ — BB&T Pavilion
10/13 — Bristow, VA — Jiffy Lube Live
10/15 — Burgettstown, PA — The Pavilion at Star Lake
10/17 — Charlotte, NC — PNC Music Pavilion
10/19 — Tampa, FL — MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
10/20 — West Palm Beach, FL — iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
10/22 — Raleigh, NC — Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
10/23 — Alpharetta, GA — Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
10/24 — Pelham, AL — Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
10/26 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP
10/28 — Del Valle, TX — Germania Insurance Amphitheater
10/29 — The Woodlands, TX — Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (no Code Orange)
10/30 — Dallas, TX — Dos Equis Pavilion
11/1 — Albuquerque, NM — Isleta Amphitheater
11/2 — Phoenix, AZ — Ak-Chin Pavilion
11/5 — Los Angeles, CA — Banc of California Stadium (Knotfest)

Follow Killswitch Engage:
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STARSET Share New Song, “Leaving This World Behind”

Today, STARSET has shared the latest transmission “LEAVING THIS WORLD BEHIND.”

Listen here:

A continued voyage through a captivating narrative, HORIZONS delivers a cinematic soundscape that accompanies the listener through pain, love, descent, and triumph. The world has been consumed by synthetic methods of escaping reality. It is with this technology that we are able to explore life through other users experiences — finally, the ability to be someone else. STARSET’s epic hard rock styling does not disappoint, as we travel a newfound digital frontier along with them.

Watch the video for the first transmission “THE BREACH” here

HORIZONS TRACK LISTING:
“UNVEILING THE ARCHITECTURE”
“THE BREACH”
“OTHERWORLDLY”
“ICARUS”
“EARTHRISE”
“LEAVING THIS WORLD BEHIND”
“DEVOLUTION”
“ANNIHILATED LOVE”
“ALCHEMY”
“DISAPPEAR”
“ENDLESS ENDEAVOR”
“SYMBIOTIC”
“DREAMCATCHER”
“TUNNELVISION”
“INFECTED”
“SOMETHING WICKED”

STARSET have announced their Fall 2021 U.S. demonstrations. All dates and locations are below. Tickets and VIP upgrades are available here

The band will also embark on a massive global tour in February 2022 that includes Europe and Russia and runs through April. Dates for those demonstrations are here.

STARSET DEMONSTRATIONS:
11/3 — Asheville, NC — The Orange Peel
11/4 — Knoxville, TN — The Mill & Mine
11/5 — Atlanta, GA — Buckhead Theatre
11/7 — Ft. Smith, AR — Temple Live
11/8 — Dallas, TX — House of Blues
11/9 — Houston, TX — House of Blues
11/10 — San Antonio, TX — House of Blues
11/13 — Daytona, FL — Welcome to Rockville*
11/14 — N. Myrtle Beach, SC — House of Blues
11/15 — Harrisburg, PA — HMAC
11/17 — Philadelphia, PA — Theatre of Living Arts
11/19 — Stroudsburg, PA — Sherman Theater
11/20 — Horseheads, NY — The L
11/21 — Portland, ME — Aura
11/23 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium
11/24 — New Haven, CT — Toad’s Place
11/26 — Columbus, OH — Express Live 
11/27 — Newport, KY — Ovation
11/28 — Grand Rapids, MI — Intersection
11/30 — Bloomington, IL — The Castle Theater
12/1 — McKees Rock, PA — Roxian
12/3 — Buffalo, NY — Rapids Theater
12/4 — New York, NY — Irving Plaza
12/5 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore Silver Spring
12/7 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore Charlotte
12/8 — Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl
12/10 — St Louis, MO — Delmar Hall
12/11 — Madison, WI — The Sylvee
12/12 — Minneapolis, MN — The Fillmore Minneapolis
12/14 — Des Moines, IA — Wooly’s
12/15 — Chicago, IL — House of Blues
12/17 — Detroit, MI — Majestic Theatre
12/18 — Cleveland, OH — House of Blues
*Festival Date

Follow STARSET:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify

Rock Coliseum: Band VS Band III (Live Stream)

Rock Coliseum: Band VS Band III! Our live audience suggests two bands or artists and we decide which one gets the thumbs up!

Rock Coliseum: Band VS Band III
The Podcast That Rocked on Spotify

Thank you to everyone who watched live and made super chats! The full super chat document can be found here = https://bit.ly/3kC0KvW 

This was definitely one of my favorite live streams we’ve ever done. Even if there were some lame super chats sprinkled throughout, I love how much we got out of this episode and the vast majority of the suggestions were all great. Hopefully, this proves to many of you also that you can have close friends that you care about and still disagree about things, even something as personal as music.

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNELS BELOW!
ARTV’s Channel = https://www.youtube.com/user/AlbumRev…
Spectrum Pulse’s Channel = https://www.youtube.com/user/SilensCu…
Crash Thompson’s Channel = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNHq…

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Whitechapel Video For New Single “A Bloodsoaked Symphony”

On October 29th, Whitechapel will release their new album, Kin, via Metal Blade Records. For a preview of the record, an emotionally-charged, disturbing video for new single, “A Bloodsoaked Symphony” (directed by David Brodsky) can be viewed below:

The previously released clip for “Lost Boy” (directed by Miles Skarin) can be seen at: metalblade.com/whitechapel – where Kin can also be pre-ordered in the following formats:

– digipak-CD

– deluxe box set (hardcover box includes: exclusive dead gold marbled vinyl, dead gold marbled 7-inch single, 72-page photo book)

– 180g white vinyl (EU exclusive)

– clear sky blue marbled vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 500 copies)

– clear ash grey marbled vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 300 copies)

– midnight blue marbled vinyl (Eyesore exclusive – limited to 200 copies)

– milky clear w/ blue and white splattered blob vinyl (Kings Road exclusive – limited to 200 copies)

– dead gold / black split vinyl (Impericon exclusive – limited to 200 copies)

– cool grey marbled vinyl (EMP exclusive – limited to 200 copies)

– silver / black dust vinyl (EMP exclusive – limited to 200 copies)

– opaque cyan (sides A/B) black (sides C/D) vinyl (US exclusive)

– black w/ white edge splatter vinyl (US exclusive)

– royal blue / black color in color vinyl (Newbury exclusive)

– electric blue w/ aqua blue splatter vinyl (Revolver exclusive)

– cyan w/ black splatter vinyl (US exclusive)

– white / cyan melt vinyl (US exclusive)

At this stage in the game, the name Whitechapel commands respect. Already sitting on one of the most enviable catalogs in contemporary metal, in 2019 they dropped The Valley, showcasing a confident evolution in their sound and standing as a true landmark release that sets a new standard for the genre. “To me, it was like the stars aligning for us to create our almost perfect record in regard to songwriting, vocal performance, the mix and master, and the artwork,” says guitarist Alex Wade. “We like to look at our albums as chapters of our career, and that is one chapter I will never forget. I think it really solidified that we can embrace a new sound, and if we execute it properly, then the fanbase is going to support and enjoy it.” In 2021, they return with that album’s successor, the mighty Kin, which is an even more dynamic and diverse collection, further advancing the band’s sound into new territory without losing sight of what brought them to this point. “I feel with every album, we learn what worked best on the last one and try to utilize that in our writing. Early in the writing, there was some discussion of the album being like ‘The Valley‘ part II, not literally called that, but in how the songs sound and flow through it. It’s very much a storytelling type record like ‘The Valley‘ was,” adds vocalist Phil Bozeman, “Musically, we just want to create what we vibe with at the given moment. We write music with how we feel and not what is expected of us, while lyrically the idea of continuing from the story of ‘The Valley‘ was always the goal.”

The resulting record explores a lot of sonic and emotional territory, and for the first time, it could be said that a Whitechapel record is as much a rock album as it is a metal one, an assertion Wade agrees with. “It’s still very much a metal album, but there are elements of the record that have more of a rock and open vibe. We really wanted these songs to breathe and have life and to sound bigger than anything we’ve made so far. We have explored more singing on ‘Kin’ too. It wouldn’t make sense to have the majority of the fanbase enjoy that sound and then shy away from it.” This is not to say that the band have lost their hardest edges, with the full-on death metal assault that kicks off both “Lost Boy” and “To The Wolves” as brutal and serrated as extreme metal gets, and while Bozeman explores his wide-ranging singing voice more, he also cuts loose with his trademark roar across the album’s eleven tracks.

Tracking of Kin was predominantly done at guitarist Zach Householder’s home studio with producer Mark Lewis producing his fifth straight Whitechapel album, making for a very comfortable working environment. “Creating records with him has an effortless flow to it, and we can track things pretty quickly and efficiently these days,” says Wade. “Mark has a great ear for giving us unique and complementary guitar and drum tones for the songs we are trying to record.” The tracks were then sent off to David Castillo at Ghostward Studios in Sweden for mixing, with Ted Jensen mastering it in Nashville, TN. Now, having another album they can be as proud of as its predecessor, it stands them in good stead as they look toward the future. “I see more growth and a limitless potential,” says Wade. “I think we found a great formula on ‘The Valley’, and we used that to create another monumental record for our career that I can’t wait for people to hear. We hope to continue to grow our fanbase with this new album, and always seek to move in a positive direction. I’m excited as the pandemic lessens for the touring world to come back to life and to be able to perform these massive songs we have created in the manner they were meant to be heard – live and loud.”

Kin track-listing
1. I Will Find You
2. Lost Boy
3. A Bloodsoaked Symphony
4. Anticure
5. The Ones That Made Us
6. History Is Silent
7. To the Wolves
8. Orphan
9. Without You
10. Without Us
11. Kin

Follow Whitechapel:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

GEMINI SYNDROME Announce Fall 2021 Headline Tour

LA alternative metal band GEMINI SYNDROME have just announced dates for their first headline tour in support of their long-awaited new studio album 3RD Degree – The Raising. The band will be joined on the first leg of the tour by Ovtlier, and on the second leg by Oh! The Horror. Also joining the tour are Pushing Veronica and Them Damn Kings. All tour dates are listed below.

GEMINI SYNDROME are offering special VIP packages for the tour. These packages include a special private acoustic performance, a VIP ‘Synner’ laminate, autographed poster, and meet & greet session with the band. (*VIP Packages must be purchased in addition to a regular concert ticket.) 

Tickets, and VIP Packages for all shows are available at: GeminiSyndrome.com

The band’s new studio album 3rd Degree – The Raising will be released worldwide on October 15, 2021 via Century Media. Special pre-order album configurations (limited edition vinyl, deluxe CD sets, etc) along with special merchandise are available now via the band’s official website: www.GeminiSyndrome.com Save, or pre-order the album digitally HERE.
Save or pre-order the album digitally HERE.

We’re very excited to be back out in the road again this fall. It’s a time of transformation on our planet and our lives in preparation for the rebirth of the approaching solstice. We’re grateful to share this INITIATION with all you Spiritual Soldiers on the frontline helping to bring music back to this fucked up world,” says GEMINI SYNDROME vocalist Aaron Nordstrom.

Drummer Brian Steele Medina continues, “We love nothing more than performing and creating a sacred space for transmutation with our brothers and sisters. Now more than ever, it feels like everything is trying to pull us apart and perpetuate the illusion that we are separate. That we are not ONE. It’s all bullshit. Give us your pandemics, your Pentagon UFO videos, and your barriers… It’s all fucking noise, but we’re louder and we will rise above it all.”

Direct support on the tour will be split between Rochester, New York’s Ovtlier, who will be on the first half of the tour (Oct. 28 – Nov. 13), and Sacramento, California’s Oh! The Horror, who will join the run for the second half of the dates (Nov. 14 – 27). Additional support comes from pop-punk rock powerhouse Pushing Veronica, and New Jersey hard rock wrecking machine Them Damn Kings.

3rd Degree – The Raising is the long awaited, mind bending final chapter of GEMINI SYNDROME’s debut trilogy of albums; the first being 2013’s Lux, and the second being 2016’s Memento Mori (which hit #1 on Billboard Heatseakers Album Chart and spawned five singles). But whereas those first two albums dealt with the painful struggles of life and death, 3rd Degree – The Raising celebrates the extreme rituals of rebirth. Produced by Matt Good (Asking AlexandriaMemphis May FireHollywood Undead) this is undeniably the heaviest, and darkest album of the band’s career; featuring the singles “Die With Me,” “IDK,” “Abandoned,” “Broken Reflection” and “Reintegration.”

“The album is about death and rebirth. Finding your true self and fostering its growth so as to help build the world better than we inherited it,” says Nordstrom. “In the process of this record I made some major life choices. Mainly to stop killing myself slowly with alcohol. Two years without a drink, and a couple near death experiences later, I think I have ample experience to talk about a subject as elusive as death.” 

Drummer Brian Steele Medina adds, “The twist to the 3rd and ‘final’ degree, is that it’s not the end at all. Rather, it’s a rebirth contingent upon our growth and lessons learned from the suffering of our past mistakes. A spiritual growth that can only be attained through baptism by fire. A metaphorical, yet very real resurrection — THE RAISING.”

Nordstrom continues, “Our hope is that through sharing our experiences, lessons learned, and battles overcome, that we can help others to examine their own consciousness. Their role in the world in its almost infinite capacity, and to help remind each other that we are ALL in this together. We are a family, and when we are United in our commonality, we can achieve things worthy of the attention of the GODS. If you want to change the world, quietly go to work on yourself.” 

GEMINI SYNDROME spent the better part of 2018-2019 writing 3rd Degree – The Raising, the final installment of their long planned three album trilogy. They retreated to Brian Steele Medina’s Las Vegas home studio, where they meticulously crafted song after song, relentlessly reworking and rearranging the musical arrangements until they were fully satisfied. After an exhaustive writing process, GEMINI SYNDROME relocated to Good Sounds Studio in Tempe, AZ, where producer Matt Good would help realize the collection of songs. Medina recalls, “We absolutely loved working with Matt and he completely understood where we wanted to take this album creatively and what it was going to take to bring the third chapter of this trilogy to light. Our actual collective blood, sweat and tears went into its creation.”

“It was a long, treacherous road to get here,” continues Nordstrom. “First working out an insane amount of songs before arriving in Arizona to record with Matt Good, and then writing a slew more while in the actual recording process, we approached this album with high intentions to evolve musically and internally as people. But then, once we had finally finished everything, and were ready to start releasing new music… everything was put on hold due to the global pandemic.”

3rd Degree – The Raising is the first album to feature guitarist “Meegs” Rascón (formerly of Coal Chamber).

To date, five singles have been released from 3rd Degree – The Raising: “Abandoned,” “Reintegration,” “IDK,” “Broken Reflection” and the currently Top 30 Active Rock Radio hit “Die With Me.” Currently four of the five singles feature visually stunning videos created by director Brian Cox (Bring Me The HorizonThe StrutsStarset). 

GEMINI SYNDROME is Aaron Nordstrom (vocals, keyboards), Brian Steele Medina (drums, programming), Alessandro “AP” Paveri (bass), Meegs Rascón (guitar) and Nicholas Paul Arnold (touring guitar).

3rd Degree – The Raising will be available in CD, Limited Edition vinyl, and digital download formats.

3rd Degree – The Raising track listing:
Reintegration
IDK
Die With Me
Baptized In Fire
Children of the Sun
Abandoned
Broken Reflection
Sum Quod Eris
Best of Me
Absolution
Hold the Line
Where We Started From
Fiat Lux

GEMINI SYNDROME ‘Initiation’ USA Fall 2021 tour dates:
10/28 – Chippewa Falls, WI – Joel’s 4Corners *
10/29 – Green Bay, WI – EPIC Event Center *
10/30 – Racine, WI – Rt 20 (WIIL Rock Halloween Bash) *
10/31 – Battle Creek, MI – The Music Factory *
11/02 – Lakewood, OH – The Winchester Music Tavern *
11/04 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop *
11/05 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works *
11/06 – Liverpool, NY – Sharkey’s *
11/07 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance *
11/08 – New York City, NY – Mercury Lounge ****
11/09 – Albany, NY – Empire Underground *
11/10 – Reading, PA – Reverb *
11/12 – Johnson City, TN – Capones *
11/13 – Greensboro, NC – The Blind Tiger *
11/14 – Huntsville, AL – Sidetracks ***
11/16 – San Antonio, TX – The Rock Box **
11/17 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey **
11/20 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
11/22 – El Paso, TX – Rockhouse **
11/23 – Scottsdale, AZ – Pub Rock **
11/24 – West Hollywood, CA – Whiskey a Go Go **
11/26 – Las Vegas, NV – Backstage Bar **
11/27 – Reno, NV – Reno Brewhouse ** 

* Direct support is Ovtlier
** Direct support is Oh! The Horror
*** Show with Smile Empty Soul, Ovtlier, Sunflower Dead, Pushing V, Tommy Gibbons
**** GEMINI SYNDROME and Ovtlier only

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