Rock Coliseum X! The tenth anniversary of the live stream (shhh…just pretend)! Watch as Jon from ARTV, Mark from Spectrum Pulse, Crash Thompson, and myself all give the thumbs up or down to the big names in rock, metal, alternative, and beyond! Who survives the coliseum and who gets thrown to the lions?!
Big thanks to everyone who watched live. We love doing these and will have a special twist on the next one. Click below to watch the whole stream and scroll below for the Super Chats document!
A reminder that I do New Music Night every Sunday at 7PM EST on Twitch! Come join the discussion and listen to new music that’s released every week as we debate on what’s good and what’s awful! Click here to follow on Twitch and get go-live notifications!
St. Louis horror-oriented synth metal trio THE LION’S DAUGHTER have just announced their new full-length, Skin Show, which is due on April 9 via Season of Mist.
Pre-orders are available now and can be purchased here.
Watch the first unnerving offering “Neon Teeth” below:
For the first part of its career, THE LION’S DAUGHTER was deeply rooted in blackened sludge metal. However, when it came time for album number three, the St. Louis trio abandoned all tradition and traversed into new territory through bold experimentations with Future Cult, a synth-laden metal record that could easily serve as the score to a Dario Argento film. Now, the band picks up where it left off, once again delivering an opus that cannot be labeled or defined.
“The synths were always something that I heard in my head, but just couldn’t figure out the logistics,” explains frontman Rick Giordano regarding the distinct directional change. “I also had to completely stop giving a fuck about how anyone might react to them. Most of the synths on Future Cult are very aggressive and rooted in horror, which I think was a safe way to use them. For this record, I wanted to stop playing it safe. I wanted to use more natural synth sounds and let things take on soft and somber tones at times, rather than just screaming alongside the guitars at all times. There was a lot of experimenting to see what other roles the synths could play in the music and what shapes they could create. I think we spent our early years as a band just trying to figure out who we were, and on Future Cult, the answer became clear to us. Instead of changing that formula, we chose to expand on it and see where else it could lead.”
While Skin Show is rife with the trepidation of eerie synths and a cinematic atmosphere much like its former, it is not a replica, nor does it follow the same formulaic approach. Future Cult delivered darkness in excess – heavy, unnerving, and unmistakably inspired by vintage horror and sci-fi movie scores. In contrast, Skin Show is its brighter counterpart, capturing an essence that, on the surface, might seem tamer and more palatable in comparison. However, the album still dwells deep in deviance. Each passage, no matter how glossy, is offset with belligerent vocals and lyrics that detail sexual violence, shame, abuse, desperation, and paranoia. It’s the type of record that can easily garner coveted radio airplay, and yet, it can also serve as the background playlist for a BDSM orgy in an illegal dungeon or abandoned warehouse.
“This was our attempt at a straight-forward pop record,” says Giordano. “It, of course, all still came out fucked because it’s us creating it. But I tried to imagine our band playing a giant arena and what that would sound like. I wanted to strip away some of the chaos and just write stronger songs. I didn’t want the band to mellow out, but I did want to see if we could mature a bit. If the previous album was an intense sci-fi slasher, this one would be closer to a Hitchcock or DePalma film.”
Make no mistake, while there is a blatant antithesis between the band’s two personalities, the duality is a major part of Skin Show’s identity. Reflected not only in the music, but also through the ominous and unsettling artwork created by Mothmeister.
When asked about the collaboration, Giordano says, “We worked with Mothmeister again for the album art and used a similar approach as we did with the music. Things are stripped down, more direct, more focused. There’s a sense of fear, isolation, and madness that very much correlates with the music. The character on the outside is in white and surrounded in light, while the character on the inside is in black surrounded by darkness. But it’s ultimately two sides of the same character. I think that’s a good representation of the themes within the album, dark things within people that they may want to keep hidden.”
THE LION’S DAUGHTER may elude all characterization, fitting in all boxes while also fitting in none at all, but one thing is for certain, the genuine artistry behind Skin Show is forthright and undeniable. Whether it be a poppy opus like the title track or the haunting and sludgy vibes of “The Chemist,” all ten tracks are guaranteed to be bangers, holding the listener at knifepoint and demanding their attention with each and every note.
Skin Show Track Listing: Become the Night Curtains Neon Teeth Dead in Dreams Werewolf Hospital Sex Trap Snakeface All Hell is Mine Skin Show The Chemist
The Podcast That Rocked for 1/26/21. Discussion on Weezer’s surprise (but long-term project) OK Human, Ghost’s Papa Emeritus IV covering Rolling Stones, Trapt’s drummer Micahel Smith growing a brain and leaving the band, Dad Rock, and more.
New Weezer And Old Dad Rock | The Podcast That Rocked
The Podcast That Rocked on Spotify
Discussion Topics: -Weezer have been planning OK Human for a while. -Papa Emeritus IV of Ghost made a special appearance. -Chevelle may be releasing their last new album for a while. -Trapt’s drummer left because he realizes what a trashbag Mr. Brown is. -The long discussion of what NOW thinks is Dad rock. -Billboard Mainstream Rock Top 3, and more.
A series looking at my all-time favorite albums. This video is dedicated to Pink Floyd’s 1975 album Wish You Were Here.
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here | All Time Favorite Albums
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here | Spotify
Pink Floyd were an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished for their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics and elaborate live shows, and became a leading band of the progressive rock genre. Pink Floyd were founded by students Syd Barrett (guitar, lead vocals), Nick Mason (drums), Roger Waters (bass guitar, vocals), and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals). Under Barrett’s leadership, they released two charting singles and a successful debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined in December 1967; Barrett left in April 1968 due to deteriorating mental health. Waters became the primary lyricist and thematic leader, devising the concepts behind the band’s peak of critical and commercial success with the albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), and The Wall (1979). The Waters-written musical film based on The Wall album, Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982), won two BAFTA Awards.
Wish You Were Here is the ninth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 12 September 1975 through Harvest Records and Columbia Records, their first release for the latter. Based on material Pink Floyd composed while performing in Europe, Wish You Were Here was recorded over numerous sessions throughout 1975 at Abbey Road Studios in London.
Wilson have partnered with Metal Injection to premiere the video for “Dumptruck (Live),” the first song from their upcoming Thank You, Goodnight. Live! album, which will be released via all digital service providers on January 29 via NovelGoot and is available for pre-order now here.
Recorded at Wilson’s final show on December 28, 2019 at The Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac, MI, Thank You, Goodnight. Live! captures the performance in all its glory and gives a taste to all those fans who could not attend. The energy, the attitude, the “fuckery,” and even the heartbreak are all visceral in this collection of 10 songs from that night’s set.
The video for “Dumptruck (Live)” is a montage that’s celebratory in its reminiscence. It contains footage from Wilson’s last show, previously unreleased lifestyle footage shot by the band and crew over the years, fan footage, in-studio footage from the Right To Rise and Tasty Nasty sessions, and cuts from other shows throughout the years.
Lead singer Chad Nicefield enthuses, “This video bumps. This video fucks. This video is a montage paying homage to the moments when shit dumped like a dumptruck. FUCKERY FOREVER!”
Special presale bundles for Thank You, Goodnight. Live! include: 1. Digital Record + Digital Photos 2. Digital Record + Digital Photos + Commemorative Photo Set + Ski Mask
Knowing it was ambiguous if the band would continue after 2019, Wilson played one last very special show in their hometown of Detroit, Michigan as a thank you to all of their longtime fans and supporters. The sold-out 1200 capacity Crofoot Ballroom included people from across the US, as well as fans from Sweden, Germany and the UK who dared not miss this once-in-a-lifetime event.
For the band, the show was extremely emotional, with the energy and anxiety going through the roof. With family, friends and fans new and old in attendance, the band roared through 19 songs from 2015’s Right To Rise and 2018’s Tasty Nastyalbums, of which the band have curated their 10 favorites for this collection.
The room was loud with Wilson’s manic performance and approving roars from the audience. It had that ripe, but sweet smell that only a hall full of sweaty humans and a floor soaked with years of stale beer can create. They’ve captured all of that with Thank You, Goodnight. Live!, defining their legacy and cementing their place in the annals of Detroit Rock City history.
While it is bittersweet that the band chose to end their decade long run as Wilson that night (for now, anyway), it is exciting and completely appropriate that they would gift their fans with one last full blast of their signature “fuckery sound,” and that is Thank You, Goodnight. Live!
The provocative, imperious and engaging Swedish-based metal group SOEN reveal the thought-provoking and emotivevideo for ‘Illusion’,taken from their fifth album, IMPERIAL, set for release via Silver Lining Music on January 29th 2021.
Founder members Joel Ekelöf (vocals) and Martin Lopez (drums), along with Lars Enok Åhlund (keyboards and guitar), Oleksii “Zlatoyar” Kobel (bass) and Cody Ford (lead guitar), are an undeniable cypher for all the issues and emotions which swirl around us. The outfit once more step up to challenge our perceptions of life and humanity with ‘Illusion’, an addictive ballad brimming with bewitching guitar riffs, powerhouse-soaring chorus and a poignant message for all of us to reflect on.
“Illusion is a song about the shared responsibility amongst us if we wish to improve the world, change has to be made by us, you and me…the people” asserts Lopez. “It’s about the frustration of feeling powerless but also the hope in realizing that things can be changed for the better” further Lopez, “if we stop criticizing each other and making enemies of ourselves by blindly following the ideas of politicians and their media.”
Ekelöf affirms: “we can’t just sit around and wait for those in power to help, they are preoccupied with battling each other in matters of greed and power.”
“The ‘Illusion’ video is about dreamers” comments video producer, Daniele Zed Berretta. “There are people who are ready to lose everything to follow their dreams, no matter the cost. Others are afraid of making dreams come true, so they stop right before fulfilling them, just to keep dreaming.”
The video follows the tale of a father and daughter in their quest for survival in a dystopian universe. Watch the video for ‘Illusion‘ here or by clicking the image below.
IMPERIAL will be released on January 29th 2021, via Silver Lining Music. Available as a CD Digipak, vinyl album, digital formats and special D2C bundles.To pre-order click here.
Produced by Iñaki Marconi and the band, IMPERIAL was mixed and mastered by Kane Churko, who has worked with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Bob Dylan. Eight crisp, sharp, and supremely constructed songs spanning frustration, reflection and hope, IMPERIAL is the most fierce and dynamic release of SOEN’s journey, which will engage the listener immediately and sustain long after this crazy time has passed, its rich details destined to make it a classic metal album of this era. SOEN has previously released music videos for their singles ‘Antagonist‘ and ‘Imperial‘ which can be seen here.
Fans eager to catch SOEN performing their new material, will have to wait till the Autumn for the band to be able to get on the road again. It is in fact with great regret that SOEN has had to postpone the first leg of their IMPERIAL European Tour 2021,due to the ongoing restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour will now kick-off in November 2021 in Odense, Denmark; all purchased tickets remain valid for the rescheduled dates and tickets remain on-sale. New dates in Denmark, Portugal, Spain and Poland have also been added. Full list of confirmed dates,tickets, and additional information available at this location.
2021 Tour Dates: 16 November – Train, Aarhus – Denmark 17 November – Lille Vega, Copenhagen – Denmark 18 November – Posten, Odense – Denmark 26 November – o2 Academy Islington, London – United Kingdom 1 December – Hard Club, Porto – Portugal 2 December – Lisboa ao Vivo, Lisbon – Portugal 3 December – Shoko, Madrid – Spain 4 December – Apolo 1, Barcelona- Spain 14 December – Pralnia, Wroclaw – Poland 15 December – Drizzly Grizzly, Gdansk – Poland
2022 Tour Dates: 28 January – Pustervik, Gothenburg – Sweden 30 January – John Dee, Oslo – Norway 2 February – Logo, Hamburg – Germany 3 February – Luxor, Cologne – Germany 4 February – Melkweg, Amsterdam – The Netherlands 6 February – Z7, Pratteln – Switzerland 7 February – Backstage, Munich – Germany 9 February – Largo Venue, Rome – Italy 10 February – Magazzini Generali, Milan – Italy 11 February – Revolver, San Donà di Piave – Italy 12 February – Colos Saal, Aschaffenburg – Germany 15 February – Proxima, Warsaw – Poland 16 February – Fraanz, Berlin – Germany 18 February – Klubben, Stockholm – Sweden 20 February – Tavastia, Helsinki – Finland 21 February – Olympia Kortteli, Tampere – Finland
Architects are thrilled to share “Dead Butterflies,”the third single off their forthcoming ninth studio album For Those That Wish To Exist. Accompanying “Dead Butterflies” is a breathtaking music video, filmed at the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London, in November last year.
The groundbreaking Royal Albert Hall performance was streamed live on November 21st, garnering critical acclaim, and setting livestreaming records for the genre. NME gave the performance a perfect 5/5 score, calling Architects “a band at the peak of their talents” and stating that “on the basis of these new songs, they’re heading somewhere remarkable indeed.”
“Dead Butterflies” follows previously released tracks “Black Lungs” and colossal single “Animals,” both of which have amassed 18M+ streams and 8.2M+ YouTube views. Additionally, “Animals” is currently #18 on the MediaBase’s Active Rock chart at radio.
On For Those That Wish To Exist, Architects tackle the biggest questions facing the future of our planet with their grandest, most expansive sonic offering yet. On the self-produced record, Architects build upon the band’s hallmark post-metalcore and layers a burgeoning influence of electronics and orchestral strings, horns, and choirs. The result is a rich tapestry that transcends the limitations of genre and rewards exploration and immersion in its journey.
The record’s 15-tracks hang in a limbo between energizing positivity that it is not too late to correct our collective course and paralyzing negativity of defeatism; where hope and despondency are bed-fellows triggered daily by the simple act of existence. A reflection of human condition, For Those That Wish To Exist calls for all of us to rise to challenge established models and strive for a collective betterment. Such concerns that have long been prevalent in the music of a band who have continually championed and shared their platform with causes such as Sea Shepherd, are outspoken critics of barbaric exercises such as fox hunting, and who focus on sustainability in everything from their touring to merch production.
FOR THOSE THAT WISH TO EXISTTRACK LISTING 1. Do You Dream of Armageddon? 2. Black Lungs 3. Giving Blood 4. Discourse Is Dead 5. Dead Butterflies 6. An Ordinary Extinction 7. Impermanence ft. Winston McCall (Parkway Drive) 8. Flight Without Feathers 9. Little Wonder ft. Mike Kerr (Royal Blood) 10. Animals 11. Libertine 12. Goliath ft. Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro) 13. Demi God 14. Meteor 15. Dying Is Absolutely Safe
Architects is vocalist Sam Carter, drummer Dan Searle, bassist Ali Dean and guitarists Josh Middleton and Adam Christianson.
The Podcast That Rocked episode for 1/19/21. Discussing Kid Rock’s planned farewell tour and triple album release, surprise album from Weezer, Pearl Jam going after tribute band, and more.
Kid Rock’s Farewell Tour Comes At A Cost | The Podcast That Rocked
The Podcast That Rocked on Spotify
Discussion Topics: -Kid Rock announced a future farewell tour along with a 50-track triple album. -Weezer to release surprise album OK Human next week. -Pearl Jam sending legal notice to tribute act Pearl Jamm. -Skillet’s John Cooper wants to spread his faith. -Inkcarceration Festival announced for July 23-25, 2021.
LA alternative metal band Gemini Syndrome have just released their new track and music video for “IDK” today via Another Century. Watch the music video, HERE. The track, will be available to purchase and stream on Friday, January 22nd. Pre-add/save the track HERE.
“IDK plays with the double entendre, ‘I decay’ and ‘IDK’ (I don’t know) to illustrate the Voltaire quote, ‘The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing,'” states Gemini Syndrome vocalist Aaron Nordstrom about the newest release.
Gemini Syndrome drummer Brian Steele Medina adds, “IDK opens the door to the idea that we have to be willing to discard our old ideas and identity to give space for new ideas to grow and allow a more evolved identity to flourish. The last thing we want to do is to get stuck in old patterns of thought and behavior. This is an essential principal as we progress through the various degrees of the initiatory traditions.”
GEMINI SYNDROME spent the better part of 2018-2019 writing the final installment of their long planned three album trilogy. They retreated to drummer 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.”
“IDK” follows the release of “Reintegration” and is the band’s first new music since the release of their sophomore album Memento Mori (2016), which hit #1 on Billboard Heatseakers Chart and spawned five singles: “Eternity“, “Anonymous“, “AliveInside“, “SorryNotSorry“, and “RememberWeDie“. Stay tuned for more details about the band’s forthcoming third album by following the band on socials.
Gemini Syndrome is Aaron Nordstrom (vocals, keyboards), Brian Steele Medina (drums, programming), Alessandro “AP” Paveri (bass), Meegs Rascon (guitar), and Nicholas Paul Arnold (touring guitar).
Skype interview with Diva Satanica of Nervosa talking about the upcoming album Perpetual Chaos, plans for 2021 until touring can resume, the band she’s always wanted to play with, and more.
Click below for the interview and scroll below to hear music from the new album Perpetual Chaos.
