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ZOMBIESHARK! – Die Laughing | Album Review

Cybergrind. It’s a genre that is more than just a cavalcade of chaos, noise, and insanity – it’s an underground movement that has been steadily making the rounds in the early 2020s. Whether it’s the sold-out Subterranean show last summer or labels like Prosthetic Records putting their faith in this perplexing, provoking style of music with signs like Blind Equation and Thotcrime, cybergrind is becoming undeniable.

One such group is ZOMBIESHARK!, the cybergrind outfit that has been taped by Hate5Six and shared by Anthony Fantano. Corey Swope, whose art graces merch from bands like Sanguisugabogg and Elysia, has been plugging away at the project for years with stellar releases like I Will Destroy You, Myself, and Everything I’ve Ever Loved. and BORN FROM A WISH. So, can Die Laughing maintain the momentum for ZOMBIESHARK!?

Music’s great for a lot of things – singing along, focusing on something else with it in the background, etc. But ZOMBIESHARK!’s cybergrind approach is a digital raid of hyperproduction and corruption. The minute-long climax build of “The Fool” positively erupts into a loud “DIE!” the instant “Party All The Time” begins. It’s then evident to the listener that cybergrind means time signatures are a joke, and desperate screams overlap what feels like a visceral panic attack. What I love about ZOMBIESHARK’s take on Die Laughing is that there are interspersed moments of bliss to break from the disorder where Corey gives the shouts a rest and sings. With intense moments from the get-go featuring double bass faster than my mind can comprehend, it’s a strong a start as any.

Something noteworthy about Die Laughing? The average song length is 1:53. These short bursts are meticulously crafted to throw the listener for a loop and keep them immersed, and it just works. Each following track feels as demented and disturbed as the last, but ZOMBIESHARK! ensures that there’s discernible ebbs and flows across the whopping 16 songs. Even at that quantity, Die Laughing doesn’t feel bloated due to the brief runtime. Most of the risks end up paying off and I can’t imagine interest will be lost as the record hits its back half. It’s refreshing to see an artist get all of their ideas out and not have to scrap anything they aren’t 100% set on.

The last 20 seconds of “Loxosceles On The Isosceles” have been stuck in my head for longer than I’d like to admit; it’s a devastating, bleak onslaught that eases into dreamscape interlude “Mosquito In The Embroidery Room”. The breakdown in “Procedurally Generated Bear Traps” is a vitriolic incursion that just may be the best heavy moment on the record, whereas the vulnerable singing in single “Put Your Glasses On, Nothing Can Be Wrong” is a night-and-day difference in a really beautiful moment amidst the ruckus. A Fire-Toolz feature in “Online Garden of Eden” made my hair stand on end with harrowing vocal delivery – another opportunity to feel cybergrind’s avant garde stylings.

What ZOMBIESHARK! accomplishes on Die Laughing is to capture so many negative feelings and emotions and present them succinctly across defeated lyricism, shrill vocals, layers of production, and mood-changing melodies. It’s not designed for easy listening – if anything, it’s the opposite, meant for cathartic emotional release. Delving into cybergrind won’t appeal to the masses, but those eager for something different, something catastrophic, will find a lot to love in Die Laughing.

Follow ZOMBIESHARK! on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Spotify!

Avatar Announce Spring 2024 Headline Tour

Avatar

The heavy metal ‘n’ roll, dark, madcap visionaries collectively known as AVATAR — vocalist Johannes Eckerström, guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, bassist Henrik Sandelin, and drummer John Alfredsson — will return to the U.S. for a headline tour this May. The trek kicks off on May 8 in Indianapolis and includes appearances at key festivals such as Sonic Temple. 

Oxymorrons and Conquer Divide will serve as support. All dates are below. Tickets go on sale on Friday, February 16. Get tickets here.

2024 will be quite a year for Avatar! With headline tours in Europe and Latin America announced, and festival dates in the U.S., the band is set to have a monumental start to their year. Europe already has nine sold-out shows, with many others on their way to selling out. Avatar’s first headline tour in Latin America is a milestone in and of itself. The band will headline a Sonic Temple stage this May — their first headline set at a DWP Festival. 

The band’s latest album Dance Devil Dance is out now.

AVATAR ON TOUR:
WITH OXYMORRONS + CONQUER DIVIDE:

5/8 — Indianapolis, IN — Egyptian Room
5/9 — Huntsville, AL — VBC Mars Music Hall
5/10 — Greensboro, NC — Piedmont Music Hall
5/11 — Norfolk, VA — The Norva
5/12 — Sayreville, NJ — Starland Ballroom 
5/14 — Portland, ME — State Theater
5/15 — Wallingford, CT — The Dome
5/16 — Reading, PA — Reverb 
5/17 — Columbus, OH  — Sonic Temple*
5/18 — St. Louis, MO  — Pointfest*
5/19 — Milwaukee, WI — Milwaukee Metal Fest *
*Festivals

Follow Avatar:
website | Facebook | X | Instagram

Chelsea Wolfe – She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She | Album Review

If ever an album enticed you to stare into the void and then jump into it head first, this would be it. Wolfe‘s voice and wild creativity are ethereal at points. The guitar tones, the instrumentation, everything in this album creates an atmosphere. It’s not ambient background music either, this album pulls you into it’s gravity. “Everything Turns Blue”, “House Of Self-Undoing” and “Unseen World” have that hypnotic attraction. The lyrics and execution from Wolfe haunt you. This is a darkly themed album but never to the point of despair. It’s a trip you know you’ll escape and be thankful for. Past Chelsea would be proud of present Chelsea, which will make for a proud future Chelsea. Somewhat as the title invokes. 9/10

Best Tracks:
“Everything Turns Blue”
“House Of Self-Undoing”

Chelsea Wolfe She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She Album Review
Chelsea Wolfe “Everything Turns Blue”
Chelsea Wolfe “House Of Self-Undoing”

Click here for a video on
10 GREAT 2000’s Emo Albums!

“Chelsea Wolfe’s latest album, She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She, marks a significant evolution in her discography, released on February 9, 2024, under Loma Vista Recordings. This seventh studio album stands out as her first collaboration with the label and features the production expertise of Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio. Wolfe’s signature gothic rock sound delves into themes of surrender and the embrace of the unknown, with a tracklist that includes haunting titles like ‘Whispers In The Echo Chamber’ and ‘Tunnel Lights’. The album’s soundscape is a rich blend of distorted guitars, drum pads, electronics, and piano, showcasing Wolfe’s confident fusion of metal and melancholy. Fans and new listeners alike can explore the depths of Wolfe’s artistry through this album, which is available for streaming and download.” (Perplexity)

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Chelsea Wolfe She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She Album Review

DETHKLOK Announces April 2024 U.S. Tour

DETHKLOK

The Great Reuniting continues as the world’s most important cultural force, DETHKLOK, returns to American stages and brings their songs of salvation to the masses. Running from April 07 through May 03, Dethklok’s newly announced Mutilation on a Spring Night Tour, produced by Live Nation, will see support from DragonForce and Nekrogoblikon.

Dethklok is an illustrated/animated virtual powerhouse, occupying an elite space alongside Gorillaz. Except Dethklok is bigger, better, more brutal, and totally legendary.

The world’s most brutal band are the stars of the Metalocalypse TV series and films, cocreated by Brendon Small. Revolver Magazine calls the writer, director, and composer the “musical mastermind” behind Dethklok. A vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Small has made four Dethklok albums and assorted releases with legendary metal drummer Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel, Death, Testament, Strapping Young Lad).

“I love bands that celebrate guitar and bands that have a lot of fun onstage. I also love bands that don’t, but for this tour, I think it makes sense to have a lot of dragons, goblins, and ‘kloks together,” says Small. “If you’re going to do this, you gotta go big and over the top. This is going to be a very fun show for people.”

Last year’s BABYKLOK co-headlining trek was the first Dethklok tour in over a decade. “I had no idea how much fun the BABYKLOK tour would be,” remembers Small. “The BABYMETAL girls are delightful, like three princesses from outer space, great singers, and great dancers. Their band is bonkers good. I magically found my way into this parallel universe. The show itself is a great challenge as a vocalist, guitar player, and multitasker. The goal is always to put on the absolute best show that I can.”

2023 saw a flurry of activity from the melodic death metal titans. Army of the Doomstar was a sequel to Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem, released in 2013. 2023 also saw the release of the Army of the Doomstar Original Motion Picture SoundtrackDethalbum IV was the most celebrated album of the band’s career, boasting unstoppable anthems like “Aortic Desecration,” “SOS,” and “Gardener of Vengeance.”

Dethalbum IV is a fantastic death metal album,” wrote New Noise. “Despite Dethklok being an animated band, the music is very real, delivering that scratch to itch the need for good metal.”

Rolling Stone named Dethalbum IV one of the 11 Best Metal Albums of 2023. “The first Dethklok album in more than a decade is totally brutal – and totally worth the wait,” they declared. “Small and Hoglan’s dexterous playing also make the music stand majestically on its own terms. You don’t need to be in on the joke to jump into the pit and mosh along.”

Adult Swim aired four seasons of Metalocalypse from 2006 to 2013. Premiere global and media entertainment company Warner Bros. Discovery distributes the Metalocalypse series and feature films.

“I knew taking on this project meant I’d have to wring everything out of the sponge to make it all work,” Small says of the massive effort put behind the series, movies, albums, and soundtracks. “But this is how I have fun, putting it together, and having the luxury of writing, directing, producing, and making music for something and seeing it all the way through. And when you have great collaborators, everyone elevates each other. I have to deliver everything I can, so I’m proud of it, and they are proud to participate in it.”

“This is a very fun time with the tour, the album, and the movie. I don’t know if Dethklok will be touring forever,” he adds. “So, it’s important for people to know they should get it while it’s hot.”

Artist ticket presales for the Mutilation on a Spring Night Tour run Tuesday, February 6 at 1 pm EST through Thursday, February 8 at 10 pm local time. Venue presales run Wednesday, February 7 at 10 am local time through Thursday, February 8 at 10 pm local time. Public on-sale begins Friday, February 9 at 10 am local.

Tickets available here: https://dethkloklive.com/

The Mutilation on a Spring Night Tour

DETHKLOK

with DragonForce & Nekrogoblikon

April 07 – Myrtle Beach, SC, at House of Blues

April 08 – Charlotte, NC, at The Fillmore

April 09 – Silver Spring, MD, at The Fillmore

April 11 – Columbus, OH, at KEMBA Live!

April 12 – Cincinnati, OH, at The Andrew J Brady Music Center

April 14 – Indianapolis, IN, at Egyptian Room @ Old National Center

April 15 – Waukee, IA, at Vibrant Music Hall

April 16 – Kansas City, MO, at Uptown Theater

April 17 – Oklahoma City, OK, at The Criterion

April 19 – Albuquerque, NM, at Revel Entertainment Center

April 20 – Flagstaff, AZ, at Pepsi Amphitheater

April 21 – Riverside, CA, at Riverside Municipal Auditorium

April 22 – San Diego, CA, at The Observatory North Park

April 28 – Spokane, WA, at The Podium

April 30 – Billings, MT, at Metra Park Arena

May 01 – Idaho Falls, ID, at Mountain Center Arena

May 02 – Garden City (Boise), ID, at Revolution Concert House and Event Center

May 03 – Portland, OR, at Roseland Theatre

Inkcarceration Festival 2024 Lineup Announced ft. Shinedown, Breaking Benjamin, More

Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival
Announces 2024 Music Lineup Headlines By
Shinedown, Godsmack, & Breaking Benjamin

July 19-21, 2024 at Ohio State Reformatory
in Mansfield, Ohio

Single Day and Weekend Passes On Sale Now Starting At $10 Down At
www.Inkcarceration.com

One of America’s most unique events—Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival—returns to historic Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio for its 6th year, July 19, 20 & 21 with a music lineup packed with top rock acts, more than 115 tattoo artists and haunted attractions.

Following three consecutive years of selloutsInkcarceration will feature three stages with three full days of music from bands including headliners ShinedownGodsmack and Breaking Benjamin, as well as tons of fan favorites like The Offspring, Bad Omens, Halestorm, Parkway Drive, I Prevail, Chevelle, Dropkick Murphys, Sleeping With Sirens, Killswitch Engage, Hollywood Undead, Machinehead, Sevendust, The HU and many more. Inkcarceration also marks Chimaira’s first U.S. festival appearance in 14 years, several other reunion & rare performances and will be one of a limited number of Shinedown shows in 2024.

Brent Smith of Shinedown said, “We are currently in the studio working on new music for SHINEDOWN #8. We will only be playing a select amount of live shows this year, but when the opportunity came to us to headline this year’s INKCARCERATION, and support DWP, there was no hesitation whatsoever. We are so honored to be a part of this incredible show, and to share the stage with such extraordinary artists, and the GREATEST fans in the world. LET’S GO!!!!!!!!!!”

Inkcarceration was built on the foundation of community and passion.” says Dan Janssen, Co-Founder and GM of Inkcarceration, “We wanted to create a home for those who love all things rock, metal, and body art, and as we head into our sixth year celebrating three consecutive sold-out events, we’ve accomplished just that. We are expecting another sell-out year, let the countdown to INK 2024 begin!”

During the festival, Inkcarceration attendees have the opportunity to get inked at the onsite tattoo convention hosted inside the world-famous historic prison made famous by the film The Shawshank Redemption. In addition, fans can take self-guided tours of the historic and reportedly haunted Ohio State Reformatory for free during INK, and this is the only time outside the Halloween season that the award-winning haunt Blood Prison is open. Blood Prison is available to Inkcarceration pass holders onsite for an additional fee.

In order to capture some of the supernatural experiences at Ohio State Reformatory, with the help of bands who’ve played InkcarcerationDWP launched the paranormal investigative YouTube series Voices of Paranormal Prison in 2023. The first season features artists such as Pantera, Corey Taylor, Anthrax, Megadeth and GWAR exploring the haunted prison. Episodes can be watched on DWP’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/@DannyWimmerPresents).

Inkcarceration Festival 2024 Lineup

The full music lineup for Inkcarceration 2024 is as follows: Shinedown, Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin, The Offspring, Bad Omens, Halestorm, I Prevail, Chevelle, Parkway Drive, Dropkick Murphys, Killswitch Engage, Hollywood Undead, Sevendust, Sleeping with Sirens, Skillet, Machine Head, Chimaira, The HU, Filter, Poison The Well, As I Lay Dying, Biohazard, Shadows Fall, From Ashes to New, Bad Wolves, Stabbing Westward, Holy Wars, Blessthefall, Trust Company, After The Burial, Ill Niño, Afterlife, Upon a Burning Body, Uncured, Fit For a King, Cold, I See Stars, Flat Black, Devour the Day, Another Day Dawns, Chelsea Grin, Attack Attack, Erra, All Shall Perish, Veil Of Maya, The Word Alive, Dark Divine, The Acacia Strain, Mushroomhead, Brand of Sacrifice, Peyton Parrish, Fight From Within, Kingdom Collapse, Like Moths to Flames, Vampires Everywhere!, Cultus Black, Crossbreed, Traitors, Lions at the Gate, Unsaid Fate, Hunt The Dinosaur, American Dream Machine, Kingdom of Giants, Ten56., The Behest of Serpents, Hannan, Killstreak, Widow7, and Nailed Shut MA

Weekend General Admission and VIP passes, as well as Single Day GA and VIP passes are on sale now starting at $10 down on layaway. Weekend GA passes start at $199.99 plus fees, Weekend VIP start at $479.99 plus fees (with a very limited number remaining), Single Day GA start at $99.00 plus fees. Purchase festival passes and parking at www.inkcarceration.com.

INK passes have sold out well in advance the past three years and early bird pass sales for 2024 have been record-breaking, so fans are encouraged to buy early to reserve their spot for the popular destination event that draws fans from every state and many countries around the world.

Fans looking for a full rock experience in Ohio can purchase the special SONINK pass which includes General Admission passes to both Sonic Temple in Columbus, OH (May 16-19) and Inkcarceration for seven nights of unforgettable music and memories. SONINK is available for $399.99 plus fees.

For a fully immersive weekend experience, fans are encouraged to explore the INK camping options, which include access to the Thursday Night Campground Party in the campgrounds (only available to campers). Weekend Camping Packages are available for both Car + Tent and RVs. Admission to the festival is not included in Weekend Camping Packages and must be purchased separately. Hotel packages bundling hotel nights and festival passes are also available. Details on all festival passes, including hotel packages, camping and parking passes can be found at https://inkcarceration.com/passes/.

In 2023, Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival brought together 75,000 music fans over three days, and it’s estimated that upwards of $10 million was invested back into the local economy of Ohio’s Richland County, with more than 40% of festival goers hailing from outside the state of Ohio.

Inkcarceration is co-produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America, and Reinkcarceration LLC, a partnership that formed with the original founders of INK in 2021.

For more information on Inkcarceration please visit:
Website: www.Inkcarceration.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Inkcarcerationfestival
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkcarcerationfestival/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InkcarFestival
Hashtag: #inkcarceration, #ink24

“The Inkcarceration Festival 2024 lineup is set to be an electrifying experience for rock and metal fans. The festival, taking place from July 19 to 21 at the Historic Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio, will feature headlining performances from Shinedown, Breaking Benjamin, and Godsmack. In addition to these iconic headliners, the lineup includes a diverse array of artists such as The Offspring, Chevelle, Bad Omens, Halestorm, I Prevail, Parkway Drive, and many others. This three-day event promises an unforgettable experience for music enthusiasts, set against the backdrop of the historic prison where “The Shawshank Redemption” was filmed”

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Inkcarceration Festival 2024

POWERWOLF Announces 2024 North American Tour

POWERWOLF Announces 2024 North American Tour
Featuring Support from UNLEASH THE ARCHERS

Beginning August 29, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA
Tickets On Sale this Friday, February 9

New Studio Album Coming in 2024!

Following last year’s massive sellout debut shows in North America, Germany’s currently reigning leaders of heavy metal, POWERWOLF, are thrilled to announce their highly anticipated return to western shores! The Platinum-selling, top charting band will return in 2024 on their very first full North American tour, featuring support from Canadian power metal frontrunners and label mates UNLEASH THE ARCHERS. The tour will begin in Los Angeles, CA at The Hollywood Palladium on August 29 and visit a slew of major North American cities, coming to an end in Laval, QC at Place Bell on September 15.

Tickets for POWERWOLF‘s 2024 North American tour go on sale to the general public this Friday, February 9 at 10:00 AM local time, with select pre-sales launching tomorrow, February 7 via POWERWOLF, Spotify, Blabbermouth and Knotfest. For tickets and more information, make sure to check local venue listings and www.powerwolf.net/tickets.

POWERWOLF 2024 North American Tour w/ UNLEASH THE ARCHERS:
8/29 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Hollywood Palladium
8/31 – Denver, CO @ The Ogden Theatre
9/03 – Chicago, IL @ The Riviera Theatre
9/04 – Cleveland, OH @ The Agora Theatre
9/05 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
9/07 – Tampa, FL @ Jannus Landing
9/08 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
9/09 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
9/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
9/13 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
9/14 – New York City, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
9/15 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell

If last year’s world-class debut North American performances were any indication, fans know that tickets for this rare and awe-inspiring experience will sell out at near lightning speed! POWERWOLF‘s first shows in New York City and Montreal sold out within days, so local fans should not hesitate to witness the ‘Wolf in 2024.

POWERWOLF says about their return to North America:
“Last year, our debut in America and Canada left us spellbound, facing sold-out venues and an incredible crowd. The energy was unreal, and we didn’t want to miss it again. It’s going to be sheer madness! This tour marks the official live debut of songs from our upcoming album – don’t miss the excitement!”

Click here for photos and footage of Powerwolf’s
FIRST North American performance in NYC!

“German metal band Powerwolf is set to conquer North America with their highly anticipated 2024 tour. The tour will kick off in Los Angeles, California at The Hollywood Palladium on August 29 and will culminate in Laval, QC, at Place Bell. Fans can expect an electrifying and theatrical performance, as Powerwolf is known for their energetic shows and great crowd interaction. This is a must-see for metal enthusiasts, as the band promises to deliver a holy heavy metal mass like never before. Don’t miss the chance to experience Powerwolf live during their 2024 North American tour, supported by Unleash the Archers.” (Perplexity)

Galleons – Violent Delights | Album Review

For a post-hardcore band to truly stand out, it’s quite a tall task. Tastemakers and casual listeners alike tend to stick labels on groups or immediately compare them to something they’ve heard before. That’s why when I first listened to Galleons ahead of Metropolis in 2020, something clicked and I knew I was on to something special. Headed up by Valiant Hearts vocalist Tom Byrne, uncleans from Sergey Rodionov, and instruments from Maxim Shepelev and Evgeny Starshinov, the international act followed up Metropolis with an unreal self-titled in 2021 that really saw the scene start to notice this underrated four-piece thanks to legendary vocal features and a throwback sound that longtime fans of the genre haven’t heard in eons. After 3 years, it’s time for Violent Delights to solidify the seminal group and really bring them into the spotlight. How does Galleons’ fourth offering fare?

In a sphere where a 10-track album is the norm, Galleons said “forget that” and has 15 offerings for us on Violent Delights. To expound, 5 singles may seem like overkill, but that tracks as only 1/3 of the record – and drew a lot of ears with features from Craig Owens (Chiodos), Ryo Kinoshita (Knosis, ex-Crystal Lake), and Andrew Wells (Eidola). But Galleons is a band where features are just the cherry on top; new listeners will come to love how Byrne is in a class of his own with his satisfying inflection, massive range, and clever melodies that just resonate so well. Just put on “Yakisoba Dare” and try not to get this infectious opening crammed in your head.

When one thinks of what makes post-hardcore so appealing, some initial thoughts could turn to monumental choruses, bombastic guitar runs, groovy bridges, etc. What goes into Violent Delights is leaps and bounds past the surface-level norm, as Galleons throws everything at the wall and it sticks like superglue. Take opener “You Who Swallowed A Falling Star”, a synth-laden, riff-heavy affair, and juxtapose it with the very next track “Kiss the Sky”, a soaring ballad with a sense of rising action as the album is just getting started. It’s also evident early on that mastering duties from scene veteran Kris Crummett pays dividends in elevating Galleons’ succinct songwriting, bringing punctual guitar chugs, unrelenting double bass kicks, and crystal-clear vocals to the forefront.

While Galleons can take tender, relaxing vocal sections, they’re also not afraid to push their range to the limit on Violent Delights. Case in point, “Vagabond”, my easy favorite, packs a wallop at the same time as it tells a story with its reminiscent lyrics. It’s definitely a case of a song transcending musical notes and instead peeking into the listener’s imagination. Galleons’ flair continues in “Kismet”, dropping my jaw during a swerve tempo-change into an off-beat drum pattern whilst Byrne sings for the stars. This track is a testament to Galleons fragmenting their songs against the grain of “verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-end” and instead opts for a varied, multi-faceted approach.

In an interview I conducted with Byrne in 2020, he shared of Galleons’ future, “We already have about 5-6 decent demos for a fourth album, and we’re once again surprising ourselves with the direction it’s taking”. So even 4 years ago, the seeds for Violent Delights were being planted – and the full realization of each track is astonishing. I can only imagine seemingly random moments like “Blue Lagoon”‘s guitarwork or “Cashmere”‘s melancholic romance theme came to be several years ago. The double-pronged vocal delivery of Byrne’s delicacy and Rodionov’s intensity, both of whom sound considerably more comfortable and defined than earlier Galleons records, makes for a front-to-back singing clinic. And that’s not to say the instruments fall behind – with guitars as the focus in “Russian Roulette” and “The Downtown Dinosaur Gang pt. 3” and off-kilter drums from start to finish, “firing on all cylinders” undercuts just how cohesive Galleons has become.

The obvious question in a 15-track album is, “where’s the filler?” or “are some songs noticeably stronger than others?” These don’t apply to Violent Delights. The songs with vocal features aren’t the best pieces of the pie; tracks like “Lament” and “Violent Delights” stand on their own as the excitement just doesn’t let up at any point – a scalable feat for a record this long. Where Metropolis and Galleons draw soundscapes from some genre staples, Violent Delights is Galleons coming into their own with a definitive uniqueness that isn’t easily emulated. Even if you played the hell out of Violent Delights‘ 5 singles, there’s so much to unearth with this record, and after initial listens, I know I’ll be sticking this into regular rotation throughout the remainder of 2024. As Violent Delights has racked up nearly a million streams on Spotify alone before it’s even out, it’s no hyperbole to say that Galleons is flourishing at long last.

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Lamb Of God & Mastodon Announce Ashes Of Leviathan Tour

LAMB OF GOD & MASTODON
ANNOUNCE THE ASHES OF LEVIATHAN TOUR
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS KERRY KING AND MALEVOLENCE

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF ASHES OF THE WAKE & LEVIATHAN

TOUR KICKS OFF JULY 19 IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TX THROUGH 
END OF AUGUST WITH STOPS AT ICONIC VENUES LIKE DENVER’S RED ROCKS
AND LOS ANGELES’ THE KIA FORUM

GENERAL ONSALE BEGINS ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9
SPECIAL ARTIST PRE-SALE BEGINS TODAY, FEBRUARY 6
GO TO ASHESOFLEVIATHAN.COM FOR TICKETS

Today GRAMMY® Award-nominated metal titans Lamb of God and GRAMMY® Award-winning band Mastodon announce the co-headlining Ashes Of Leviathan Tour. The tour finds the two iconic bands join forces to celebrate the 20th anniversary of two seminal releases: Lamb of God’s biggest-selling album Ashes of the Wake and Mastodon’s acclaimed sophomore album Leviathan, which were both released on August 31, 2004.  Both bands will perform their respective albums in full. Special guests Kerry King and Malevolence will support throughout the tour, with Unearth on select dates.

Kicking off on July 19 in Grand Prairie, TX at the Texas Trust CU Theatre, the North American arena and amphitheater run will take them through the US and Canada, culminating on the exact 20th anniversary of each album on August 31 in Omaha, NE at the Astro Amphitheater. The tour will notably make stops at iconic venues such as Denver, CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Los Angeles, CA’s The Kia Forum.  See below for full tour routing.

A special artist pre-sale launches today, February 6 at 12:00 PM eastern time with the general on-sale starting on Friday, February 9 at 10:00 AM local time. In addition, Lamb of God and Mastodon will have special VIP ticket packages available starting today. Go to www.ashesofleviathan.com for tickets.

Click here for a video on
10 GREAT Punk Goes… Covers!

In addition, both bands will be supporting a charity of their choice throughout the tour, and fans will have the opportunity to opt-in to donate at check out when buying their tickets.

Lamb of God will support the Living The Dream Foundation, which makes dreams come true for music fans living with life threatening illnesses. Dream Days include hanging out onstage, backstage, and special meet and greets with their favorite bands and artists. To learn more, visit https://ltdfoundation.org.

Mastodon will support the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. After their manager Nick John tragically passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2018, Mastodon partnered with the organization and has raised nearly $60,000 to fight the disease and support researchers and patients around the globe. The Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research is focused on finding a cure for pancreatic cancer, and empowering patients and families whose lives are touched by this disease. Founded in 1997, the Hirshberg Foundation funds groundbreaking scientific research, provides patient education and support, and sustains hope that this cancer will be eradicated once and for all. To learn more, visit https://pancreatic.org.  

Lamb of God’s most recent studio offering, 2022’s Omens, notably marked the band’s sixth consecutive Top 15 debut on the Billboard 200 in addition to capturing #1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums Chart, #3 on the Top Album Sales Chart, #3 on the Top Rock Albums Chart, and #5 on the Top Vinyl Albums Chart. Not to mention, it has amassed an unprecedented 60 million streams and counting. Get it HERE and be on the lookout for more from Lamb Of God soon.

Mastodon‘s latest studio album, Hushed and Grim, a double LP recorded at the band’s Atlanta studio, Ember City, was produced by David Bottrill (Tool, Rush, Muse, Peter Gabriel). This album, their most expansive song-cycle to date, features 15 distinct tracks and achieved their third consecutive #1 debut on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums Chart. Hushed and Grim also earned them a GRAMMY® Award nomination for the track “Pushing The Tides.” Additionally, the album’s single “Teardrinker” secured a top 10 position on the Rock radio charts, a further testament to the band’s widespread acclaim. Listen HERE. More from Mastodon in the near future.

The Ashes Of Leviathan Tour Routing:

Fri, Jul-19 Grand Prairie, TX Texas Trust CU Theatre

Sat, Jul-20 Austin, TX  Germania Insurance Amphitheater

Sun, Jul 21 Houston, TX  713 Music Hall 

Tue, Jul-23 Jacksonville, FL  Daily’s Place

Wed, Jul-24 Orlando, FL  Orlando Amphitheater

Thu, Jul-25 Alpharetta, GA  Ameris Bank Amphitheatre  

Sat, Jul-27 Raleigh, NC  The Red Hat Amphitheater

Sun, Jul-28 Richmond, VA  Virgin Credit Union LIVE! 

Tue, Jul-30 Pittsburgh, PA  Stage AE

Wed, Jul-31 London, ON  Budweiser Gardens

Thu, Aug 01 Montreal, QC  Bell Centre

Sat, Aug 03 Uncasville, CT  Mohegan Sun Arena

Sun, Aug-04 Manchester, NH  SNHU Arena  

Tue, Aug-06 Bangor, ME  Maine Savings Amphitheater

Thu, Aug 08 Reading, PA  Santander Arena **

Fri, Aug-09 Cleveland, OH  Jacobs Pavilion **

Sat, Aug 10 Sterling Heights, MI  Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre @ Freedom Hill **

Tue, Aug-13 Moorhead, MN   Bluestem Center For The Arts Amphitheater 

Thu, Aug 15 Calgary, AB  Scotiabank Saddledome

Fri, Aug 16 Penticton, BC  South Okanagan Events Centre

Sat, Aug 17 Kent, WA   accesso ShoWare Center 

Sun, Aug 18 Portland, OR  Theatre of the Clouds

Wed, Aug 21 Los Angeles, CA  The Kia Forum 

Fri, Aug 23 Phoenix, AZ  Arizona Financial Theatre

Sat, Aug 24 Rio Rancho NM Rio Rancho Events Center

Sun, Aug 25 El Paso, TX  El Paso County Coliseum 

Tue, Aug 27 Magna, UT  The Great Saltair  

Thu, Aug 29 Morrison, CO  Red Rocks Amphitheatre  

Sat, Aug 31 Omaha, NE  The Astro Amphitheater 

**No Malevolence, Support from Kerry King & Unearth

ABOUTLAMB OF GOD:

Nobody has waved the flag for 21st century American heavy metal higher or harder than Lamb of God. The Richmond, Virginia-based band have quietly emerged as the genre’s foremost torchbearers with a feral intensity brewed at grimy basement shows and uncanny power amplified on some of the world’s biggest stages. Along the way, they have garnered five career GRAMMY® Award nominations, sold over 3 million albums worldwide, packed arenas around the world, and tallied over 1 billion streams and counting—a true rarity for a group this heavy. Following the world-burning New American Gospel in 2000, they delivered a classic in the form of 2003’s As the Palaces Burn, which Rolling Stone touted as one of “The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time. They served up back-to-back gold-certified records with Ashes of the Wake [2004] and Sacrament [2005]—christened “Album of the Year” by RevolverWrath [2009] catapulted to #2 on the Billboard 200 followed by consecutive Top 3 entries Resolution [2012] and VII: Sturm und Drang [2015]. Metallica handpicked them as direct support on various tours, while they’ve welcomed everyone from Chino Moreno of Deftones to Chuck Billy of Testament to appear on tracks. Following 2020’s unanimously acclaimed Lamb of God, the2022 blockbuster Omens arrived as their sixth consecutive Top 15 debut on the Billboard 200, 1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums Chart, #3 on the Top Album Sales Chart, #3 on the Top Rock Albums Chart, and #5 on the Top Vinyl Albums. On its heels, they canvased North America with Pantera and launched one of their own biggest headline tours. Still, they continue raise the flag for metal without apology or compromise—just unrivaled integrity.

ABOUT MASTODON:

GRAMMY® Award-winning band Mastodon have quietly evolved into one of the most influential, inimitable, and iconic rock bands of the modern era. Since emerging in 2000, the Atlanta quartet have defied both sonic and thematic boundaries with an uncategorizable, undeniable, and uncompromising vision unlike anything else in music. This vision manifested over the course of canonical albums such as Leviathan, which landed on Rolling Stone’s coveted The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time. Following the seminal Crack The Skye [named one of the best albums of 2009 by Time], they earned three consecutive Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 with The Hunter [2011], Once More ‘Round the Sun [2014], and Emperor of Sand [2017]. Out of six career nominations, they received a GRAMMY® Award in the category of “Best Metal Performance” for “Sultan’s Curse. They are the rare creative force whose music can be felt everywhere from Game of Thrones, Adult Swim, The History Channel, and DC comics films to Coachella and Bonnaroo. They notably supported the Hirschberg Foundation For Pancreatic Cancer Research with a rendition of “Stairway To Heaven” in honor of late manager Nick John. The group reached another critical high watermark via their ninth full-length, Hushed and Grim. Featuring the GRAMMY® Award-nominated “Pushing The Tides,” it marked the band’s third straight #1 bow on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums Chart. It concluded 2021 on over a dozen year-end lists with Rolling Stone raving, “we get everything from some of the band’s hookiest rockers to date to some of their most awe-inspiring epics.” Evolving as they usher rock into new realms, they forever remain the same unpredictable trailblazing beast—Mastodon.

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Lamb Of God Mastodon Ashes Of Leviathan

10 GREAT 2000’s Emo Albums (yes, really)

Emo music has a strong place in nostalgic minds and hearts. Emo also doesn’t get the credit that the bands and albums deserve. This video looks at 10 GREAT 2000s Emo Albums (yes, really). 

10 GREAT 2000’s Emo Albums (yes, really)

Thanks to HelloFresh for sponsoring today’s video.
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and receive one free breakfast item per box while subscription is active. 

AFI “Girl’s Not Grey”
Armor For Sleep “Car Underwater”
Death Cab For Cutie “The Sound Of Settling”
Matchbook Romance “Monsters”
Motion City Soundtrack “Everything Is Alright”

Click here for a video on
10 GREAT Punk Goes… Covers!

Say Anything “Alive With The Glory Of Love”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9WKZpC9UbU
Story Of The Year “Until The Day I Die”
Taking Back Sunday “Great Romances Of The 20th Century”
Thursday “Understanding In A Car Crash”
The Used “Take It Away”

Emo /ˈiːmoʊ/ is a rock music genre https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zntsH1ceN5Icharacterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics. It emerged as a style of hardcore punk and post-hardcore from the mid–1980s Washington, D.C. hardcore scene, where it was known as emotional hardcore or emocore. The bands Rites of Spring and Embrace, among others, pioneered the genre. In the early-to-mid 1990s, emo was adopted and reinvented by alternative rock, indie rock, punk rock, and pop-punk bands, including Sunny Day Real Estate, Jawbreaker, Cap’n Jazz, and Jimmy Eat World. By the mid-1990s, Braid, the Promise Ring, and the Get Up Kids emerged from Midwest emo, and several independent record labels began to specialize in the genre. Meanwhile, screamo, a more aggressive style of emo using screamed vocals, also emerged, pioneered by the San Diego bands Heroin and Antioch Arrow. Screamo achieved mainstream success in the 2000s with bands like Hawthorne Heights, Silverstein, Story of the Year, Thursday, the Used, and Underoath

“The 2000s saw the release of several influential emo albums that left a lasting impact on the genre. AFI’s “Sing The Sorrow,” The Used’s “In Love And Death,” and Death Cab For Cutie’s “Transatlanticism” are among the most notable. AFI’s “Sing The Sorrow” is a significant album that blends alternative rock, post-hardcore, and emo-pop, receiving critical acclaim. The Used’s “In Love And Death” is another iconic album that contributed to the band’s success in the emo and post-hardcore scenes. Death Cab For Cutie’s “Transatlanticism” is widely regarded as one of the best indie rock and emo albums of the 2000s, showcasing poetic lyricism and an indie sound palette. These albums, along with others from the 2000s, played a pivotal role in shaping the emo genre during that era.” (Perplexity) 

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10 GREAT 2000’s Emo Albums

Alice Cooper is Back with “Alice’s Attic” Radio Show, Touring and More

Alice Cooper

You can’t keep a rock ‘n’ roll legend off the airwaves!

Rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Famer ALICE COOPER is relaunching his long-running radio show today, Monday, February 5 with a new name and a new syndication partner.

“Alice’s Attic” will now be syndicated via Superadio.

Cooper will be working with the same creative team from his long-running and much-loved “Nights With Alice Cooper” radio show and the new program will feature a curated mix of classic and some obscure rock, with an occasional “future classic” song, plus Cooper’s stories and commentary about the music and artists he features.

New shows will air for five hours Monday through Thursday, with reconfigured shows on weekends. Local radio stations throughout the U.S. and Australia are already airing the show, with additional stations there, as well as in Canada and the UK expected to sign on shortly.

“To all of my insane radio minions, I’m BACK. And if you thought 20 years of ‘Nights With Alice Cooper’ was weird, just wait until you get into
‘Alice’s Attic!’ Just think about who or what could be lurking in all these dusty old boxes. We’ve got the same team behind the new show and so you’ll find the show fairly familiar, but we’re all looking forward to getting a little more creative with introducing new elements to keep things from getting stale. Speaking of stale… what IS that smell??!”

2024 will be a busy year for Cooper, as he has lots of international touring on deck. He will be headed to Australia in April and to Europe in June and July.

Additionally, Cooper will return to the road in the U.S. for another summer trek with Rob Zombie. All dates are below, with additional dates to be announced soon.

Cooper’s 29th album Road is out now via earMUSIC. 

ALICE COOPER ON TOUR:
WITH ROB ZOMBIE:

8/20 — Albuquerque, NM — Isleta Amphitheater
8/22 — West Valley City, UT — Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/24 — Lincoln, NE — Pinnacle Bank Arena
8/25 — Saint Paul, MN — Xcel Energy Center
8/27 — Milwaukee, WI — American Family Insurance Amphitheater 
8/28 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH — Blossom Music Center
8/30 — Clarkston, MI — Pine Knob Music Theatre
8/31 — Noblesville, IN — Ruoff Music Center
9/1 — Maryland Heights, MO — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9/3 — Burgettstown, PA — The Pavilion at Star Lake
9/4 — Syracuse, NY — Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
9/6 — Mansfield, MA — Xfinity Center
9/7 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center
9/8 — Camden, NJ — Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
9/10 — Bristow, VA — Jiffy Lube Live
9/11 — Charlotte, NC — PNC Music Pavilion
9/12 — Alpharetta, GA — Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
9/14 — Austin, TX — Germania Insurance Amphitheater
9/15 — The Woodlands, TX — The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
9/17 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP
9/18 — Fort Worth, TX — Dickies Arena

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