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RAMMSTEIN INVADES LAS VEGAS 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND WITH KORN + STONE SOUR

By
Luke Spencer
-

Rammstein Invades Las Vegas 4th of July Weekend

with Korn + Stone Sour July 1st at T-mobile Arena

Ramm

RAMMSTEIN returns! The iconic German metallic industrialists, known for their pyro-maniacal live performances, are throwing down with the legendary KORN and STONE SOUR July 1st for a very special and exclusive one-night-only event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Tickets for this Independence Day weekend extravaganza, produced by Danny Wimmer Presents and Live Nation Las Vegas, will go on sale beginning Friday, March 31 at 12:00 PM PT and will be available at www.AXS.com. Tickets start at $49.50 and special VIP upgrades will also be available for an additional $99.00.  VIP upgrades include a custom event poster, dedicated entrance to the venue, access to a VIP-only lounge at Hyde, a commemorative laminate and a commemorative patch.

“Vegas is known to push the limits, and this will be a night of over-the-top experiences. This show is going to be a wild night and a great way to add some fireworks to your 4th of July weekend,” said Danny Wimmer, founder of Danny Wimmer Presents.

The triple-threat potency of this bill brings three-and-a-half hours of all the fire-breathing rock ‘n’ roll glory Sin City can handle to T-Mobile Arena. This is the chance to catch Rammstein in top roaring form, playing one of only a few scheduled U.S. shows in 2017 – and their only show with Korn and Stone Sour.

Korn is hitting the road this spring in support of their critically lauded latest studio album, The Serenity of Suffering, released last October. The track “A Different World” features a guest appearance from Stone Sour (and Slipknot) frontman Corey Taylor.

Stone Sour are hot on the tour grind in anticipation of their upcoming album Hydrograd, due this June on Roadrunner Records. With the record out in the world weeks before this show, fans are all but guaranteed to catch some of the band’s strongest new material – which Taylor has promised is “the best album we’ve ever done.”

Rammstein’s new documentary, Rammstein: Paris, is screening in over 1,000 cinemas in 46 countries. The film was shot in March 2012 at the Accor Hotels Arena in Paris during Rammstein’s “Made In Germany” tour, and was helmed by longtime collaborator and esteemed Swedish director Jonas Åkerlund. The band is also reportedly working on new material, and has been performing a new song, “Ramm 4,” a tribute to their past material, at live shows this year.

Patreon Q&A #5

By
Luke Spencer
-

The fifth informal Q&A for my patrons on Patreon!

You can join in on the questions for only $2 a month!  Click here = https://www.patreon.com/Rocked

Big thanks to Victoria Tobin for the Title Card work! Hit here up online to get your own work done by her!

https://www.facebook.com/8bitcookies/  https://www.twitter.com/8bitcookies

Album Review: Gitaroo Man – Official Soundtrack

By
Luke Spencer
-

A look back at the official soundtrack for Gitaroo Man on PlayStation2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcoDV-ssixI

https://vimeo.com/209930498

2017 Vans Warped Tour Lineup Revealed

By
Luke Spencer
-

2017 Vans Warped Tour®, Presented by Journeys® Lineup Revealed

Sick Of It All, CKY, GWAR, The Adolescents, Strung Out, T.S.O.L, 

Hatebreed, Emmure, Anti-Flag, The Ataris and Many Others Confirmed as 

the Tour Celebrates Its History of Punk Rock, Metal, Hardcore and More

wARPED tOUR

Contemporary Acts Include Andy Black, American Authors, Beartooth,

Dance Gavin Dance, Jule Vera, I Prevail, Neck Deep, New Years Day, 

Memphis May Fire, War On Women and more!

Tickets For All Shows On Sale Now, Purchase Here

Los Angeles, CA, and Winter Park, FL, March 23, 2017 – The entire lineup for 2017’s Vans Warped Tour, presented by Journeys, was revealed yesterday via a LIVE webcast, direct from Full Sail Live, the state-of-the-art performance venue on the campus of Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL. Fans in attendance were overjoyed to see the lineup for this year include not only current favorites and promising up and comers, but a deep list of legacy acts spanning the tour’s 23 year history. Blessthefall, Memphis May Fire, Jule Vera, Stacked Like Pancakes and Microwave also attended the live stream and performed during the webcast.

Now in its 23rd year, the Vans Warped Tour continues to solidify itself as the must attend festival over summer for rock and music lovers alike.

In the tradition of celebrating the tour’s musical roots, the lineup includes bands such as CKY, Sick Of It All, Municipal Waste, The Adolescents, Strung Out, T.S.O.L, Anti-Flag, Hatebreed and others, who are legends in the punk, hardcore and metal core world.

Returning this year is the Mutant Party Zone, which will provide festival-goers with two stages dedicated to heavy music from bands such as The Acacia Strain, Being As An Ocean, Blessthefall, Carnifex, Fit For A King, GWAR and any more.

The Vans Warped Tour has always been a place of music discovery and this year is no exception – the Full Sail Stage has up and comers like Boston Manor, Creeper, The Gospel Youth, Knocked Loose, Movements, and Trophy Eyes positioned to break this summer.

Overall, the tour continues to offer something for every fan, showcasing the best in pop punk, rock, hard core, hip-hop, dance and indie.

The Vans Warped Tour is the largest traveling music festival in the United States, and the longest-running touring music festival in North America. Originally conceived by founder Kevin Lyman in 1995 as an eclectic alternative rock festival, with a focus on punk rock, over the years the tour has grown to include a multitude of genres, including metal, hip hop, reggae, pop and more. It remains one of the best tours to attend to discover emerging acts, to learn more about wonderful non-profits and companies who are working to make a positive impact on the world that surround them, and to meet like-minded friends.

“As we enter our 23rd year on the road, continuing our mission of music, philanthropy and education is what I look forward to most.  The Vans Warped Tour is not for all, but every summer I look forward to seeing those fans who do chose to come and engage and be a positive force in our community.” – Kevin Lyman

In addition, the tour continues to host a wide array of amazing non-profits and educational workshops for attendees. Teens With a Purpose, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), Donate Life New England, Planned Parenthood, Keep A Breast, Testicular Cancer Foundation, and Project HEAL, just to name a few. Fans can see their favorite bands as well as become educated on these causes and how they can help.

Sierra Lyman comments, “Music has inspired change and social change has inspired music. Since its inception the Vans Warped Tour created a place where fans are not only inspired by their favorite artists, but also inspired to work with a cause they care about. This is pushed even further by opening up musicians to causes they never even knew about. By creating this community of nonprofits we are able to connect fans with their favorite musicians and also inspire some good in the world.”

The Entertainment Institute will return to the 2017 tour as well, hosting educational workshops and Q+A’s hosted by the industry’s most successful writers, artists, and photographers. A full listing of the guru’s hosting each workshop is available at http://www.thinktei.com/warpedtour

Tickets for this year’s tour on are sale now and can be purchased at vanswarpedtour.com

As a bonus for early ticket buyers, the first 500 tickets sold for each show will be at the lowest price available and will include a digital download of the Official Vans Warped Tour 50-song compilation.  The 41-date tour will commence June 16th in Seattle, WA and end on August 6th in Pomona, CA.

2017 Vans Warped Tour Line Up – Confirmed Performance Dates for each band and stage:

Journeys Left Foot Stage

Attila: 6.16 – 7.2, 7.6 – 8.6

Bowling For Soup: 6.27 – 7.2, 7.26, 7.27, 7.29,7.30

CKY: 6.16 – 8.6

Futuristic: 6.16 – 6.23, 6.25 – 8.6

Hawthorne Heights: 6.16 – 8.6

I Prevail: 6.16 – 8.6

Jule Vera: 6.16 – 8.6

Never Shout Never (Throwback Set): 6.27 – 7.7

New Years Day: 6.16 – 8.6

Sammy Adams: 6.16 – 7.28, 8.1 – 8.6

Watsky: 6.17 – 7.14, 7.16 – 7.18, 7.20, 7.21, 7.23 – 8.6

Journeys Right Foot Stage

American Authors: 6.16 – 7.19, 7.21 – 8.6

Andy Black: 6.16 – 8.6

Beartooth: 6.28 – 8.6

Dance Gavin Dance: 6.16 – 8.6

Goldfinger: 6.16, 6.17, 8.4 – 8.6

Hands Like Houses: 6.16 – 8.6

Memphis May Fire: 6.16 – 8.6

Neck Deep: 6.16 – 8.6

Our Last Night: 6.16 – 8.6

Save Ferris: 6.22 – 8.1, 8.5

Streetlight Manifesto: 6.24

Skullcandy Stage

Alestorm: 6.21 – 8.6

Bad Seed Rising: 6.16 – 7.4

Barb Wire Dolls: 6.16 – 8.6

Big D and The Kids Table: 7.6 – 7.16

Microwave: 6.16 – 8.6

Riverboat Gamblers: 7.29, 7.30

Sonic Boom Six: 6.16 – 8.6

Stacked Like Pancakes: 7.16 – 8.6

Street Dogs: 7.6 – 7.16

Twilight Creeps: 8.4 – 8.6

War On Women: 6.16 – 8.6

The White Noise: 6.16 – 8.6

William Control: 6.16 – 8.6

Hard Rock Stage

The Adolescents: 6.16 – 8.6

The Alarm: 7.7 – 7.16, 8.4 – 8.6

Anti-Flag: 6.27 – 7.24

The Ataris: 6.16 – 8.1

Bad Cop / Bad Cop: 6.16 – 8.6

The Dickies: 6.16 – 6.22, 6.24, 6.25

Doll Skin: 6.16 – 6.25

Fire From The Gods: 6.16 – 8.6

Municipal Waste: 6.16 – 7.2, 7.6 – 8.6

Sick Of It All: 6.21 – 8.6

Strung Out: 6.16 – 7.11, 8.4 – 8.6

Suicide Machines: 7.18 – 7.21

T.S.O.L.: 7.22 – 8.6

Valient Thorr: 6.16 – 8.6

Mutant North Stage

The Acacia Strain: 6.16 – 8.6

Being As An Ocean: 6.16 – 8.6

Candiria: 6.21 – 8.6

Counterparts: 6.16 – 8.6

Fit For A King: 6.16 – 8.6

Hatebreed: 6.21 – 8.6

Silent Planet: 6.16 – 8.6

Stick To Your Guns: 6.16 – 7.2, 7.6 – 8.6

Sylar: 6.16 – 8.6

Mutant South Stage

After The Burial: 6.16 – 8.6

Blessthefall: 6.16 – 8.6

Carnifex: 6.16 – 8.6

Emmure: 6.16 – 8.6

GWAR: 6.16 – 8.6

Hundredth: 6.16 – 8.6

Silverstein: 6.16 – 8.6

Sworn In: 6.16 – 8.6

Too Close To Touch: 6.16 – 8.6

Full Sail Stage

Bad Omens: 7.4 – 7.24

Boston Manor: 6.16 – 8.6

Carousel Kings: 6.16 – 7.4

Courage My Love: 6.16 – 8.6

Creeper: 6.16 – 8.6

Dukes, The: 6.27 – 7.2

Eternal Boy: 7.14

Fantastic Plastics, The: 6.16 – 7.2

Farewell Winters: 6.16 – 8.6

Feeki: 6.16 – 8.6

Gospel Youth, The: 6.16 – 8.6

Knocked Loose: 6.16 – 8.6

Montage: 7.18

Movements: 6.16 – 8.6

Naked Walrus: 6.23, 6.24

One Last Shot: 7.7 – 7.10

Playboy Manbaby: 6.22, 8.6

Sarah and The Safe Word: 6.29

Separations: 7.6 – 7.24

Shattered Sun: 7.26 – 8.6

tiLLie: 7.26 – 8.6

Trophy Eyes: 6.16 – 8.6

The Waves: 7.18

 

VANS WARPED TOUR DATES:
Tickets on sale at 10am local time on Wednesday March 22nd at vanswarpedtour.com

6.16     SEATTLE, WA

6.17     SALEM, OR

6.21     ALBUQUERQUE, NM

6.22     PHOENIX, AZ

6.23     LAS VEGAS, NV

6.24     SALT LAKE CITY, UT

6.25     DENVER, CO

6.27     NASHVILLE, TN

6.28     METAIRIE, LA

6.29     ATLANTA, GA

6.30     ORLANDO, FL

7.01     ST. PETERSBURG, FL

7.02     WEST PALM BEACH, FL

7.04     WILMINGTON, NC

7.06     CHARLOTTE, NC

7.07     CAMDEN, NJ

7.08     WANTAGH, NY

7.09     HARTFORD, CT

7.10     SCRANTON, PA

7.11     VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

7.12     MANSFIELD, MA

7.13     DARIEN CENTER, NY

7.14     BURGETTSTOWN, PA

7.15     HOLMDEL, NJ

7.16     COLUMBIA, MD

7.18     CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH

7.19     CINCINNATI, OH

7.20     NOBLESVILLE, IN

7.21     AUBURN HILLS, MI

7.22     TINLEY PARK, IL

7.23     SHAKOPEE, MN

7.24     MILWAUKEE, WI

7.26     MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO

7.27     BONNER SPRINGS, KS

7.28     DALLAS, TX

7.29     SAN ANTONIO, TX

7.30     HOUSTON, TX

8.01     LAS CRUCES, NM

8.04     MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA

8.05     SAN DIEGO, CA

8.06     POMONA, CA

 

About Vans Warped Tour:
The Vans Warped Tour, presented by Journeys, is well known as America’s longest running touring music festival of the summer. Since 1995, the tour has been a showcase for both established and up and coming talent, across a wide range of eclectic sub-genres.

The tour has also cemented its place in history by bringing alternative rock and skate culture from the underground to the forefront of global youth culture, while at the same time helping those in need through non-profit and eco initiatives.

Alternative Press readers voted the Vans Warped Tour as the “Best Tour/Festival” and Rolling Stone called it “America’s Most Successful Festival”.

Learn more about the Vans Warped Tour:

www.vanswarpedtour.com

Follow the Vans Warped Tour:

www.facebook.com/warpedtour

www.twitter.com/vanswarpedtour

www.instagram.com/vanswarpedtour

HELL OR HIGHWATER DROP “I WANT IT ALL” VIDEO – WATCH HERE

By
Luke Spencer
-

HELL OR HIGHWATER DROP “I WANT IT ALL” VIDEO – WATCH HERE

NEW ALBUM VISTA OUT MAY 19

HoH

Hell or Highwater, featuring Atreyu drummer Brandon Saller on lead vocals, have premiered the video for “I Want It All,” at Revolver. It’s the first single from Vista, their upcoming second full-length album and Spinefarm debut.

“For the most part, it’s all one shot, so we had a blast,” Saller told Revolver. “Best of all, we got to keep the car and the money… which was nice.”

Vista will be released on May 19. Pre-orders are HERE and HERE.

In advance of the album’s release, Hell or Highwater will hit the road with Nothing More, Black Maps, and As Lions. Dates are below, as well.

HELL OR HIGHWATER ON TOUR:

4/14: Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory#

4/15: Phoenix, AZ @ 98 KUPD Brufest*

With Nothing More, Black Map, As Lions:

4/25: Monroe, LA @ Live Oaks Bar & Ballroom

4/26: Baton Rouge, LA @ Varsity Theater

5/2: Destin, FL @ Club L.A.

5/3: Birmingham, AL @ Saturn

5/8: New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater

5/9: Reading, PA @ Reverb

5/10: Syracuse, NY @ The Lost Horizon

5/12: Columbia, MO @ Blue Note

5/13: Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s

5/15: Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theater

5/17: Ft. Wayne, IN @ The Rusty Spur

5/19: Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop

7/14: Chicago, IL @ Chicago Open Air*

# – Headline Show

*Festival Appearance

HOH Flyer

Album Review: Fire From The Gods – Narrative

By
Luke Spencer
-

A look back at Fire From The God’s full length debut Narrative.

https://vimeo.com/209138124

 

Text Review:

In this Patreon requested album review I was asked to listen to Narrative, the debut full length album from Fire From The Gods that was released in 2016.  I was somewhat familiar with the name from hearing the song “Excuse Me” on SiriusXM and hearing a combination of several genres in one song.  It’s only now that I get to dive into the band head first and really see what they are capable of.

Fire From The Gods is a five piece based out of Texas that combines rock, rap, reggae and several other elements into their music meant to leave an impact.  The debut Narrative according to vocalist AJ Channer goes from personal experiences to philosophical and social observations.  According to an interview he had before the album release, Channer said: “With Narrative, I wanted to talk about the political and sociological issues going on, along with what I’ve learned from my life’s experiences. I think people really appreciate the honesty, because I do as a fan when I hear someone open up from the heart.”

Personally, I become much more interested when I know an album isn’t 10 tracks of tear down the house, punch your enemies and party until you throw up.  It gives more reason to believe the artists put in effort and wanted to make their music matter as opposed to filling up an album to reach an acceptable time length and get a payday.  As I said earlier with my first experience with the band hearing “Excuse Me”, I felt like I was hearing an explosion on genres with a lot of volume.  It definitely fit inside the realm or hard rock radio and many people can agree there isn’t much like it on said radio rotations.

“Excuse Me” feels like a consistent transition of rap, metal, rock and reggae and then back into each other in different turns all while the hard sound and speed stays consistent.  The guitar riffs are strong and are loud but don’t overtake focus from the vocals.  Lyrically, there is a lot to take in and that goes for almost every song on Narrative as well.  When AJ Channer said he wanted to talk about political issues along with what he’s learned in life, he really meant it and proved in throughout these 10 tracks.  Redemption, revolution, living up to the expectations of media and Hollywood, there is a lot to take in through many different styles of music that gets thrown at you in rapid succession from track to track.

When you listen to this album from front to back you will get a bit of audio whiplash.  Just from the first three songs the style goes from hard rock to a ballad to the previously played “Excuse Me” which incorporates rap and reggae.  And somehow, Fire From The Gods does this all extremely well.  Nothing feels watered down or like an embarrassing attempt.  It also sounds natural in delivery.

“End Transmission” was the song that impressed me most on Narrative.  The flow from the harmonic guitars and range in Channer’s voice makes everything flow into this gorgeous sound.  It was while hearing the singing voice that I instantly made a connection to Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust and this song reminds me of that band in a lot of ways.  I feel that in the combination and demonstration of so many styles that it’s hard to focus on just one.  It’s like I said about that audio whiplash where you’ll hear one stile and then get swung into another.  That is not a bad thing in this case as they are organized and well performed, but it’s hard to appreciate the talent and meaning involved when you hear it in so many forms so quickly.

Songs like “Diversion” and “Composition” hit harder.  Tracks like “End Transmission” and “Evolve” are a bit more melodic.  It’s going to really be a personal preference on which songs you go for in Narrative but that might have been the point and strength of Fire From The Gods.  To not settle on one thing but to rather give you as much music in as many ways as they can deliver.  The music is solid and has good structure.  Even if listening to this album from beginning to end may not have the flow some people are looking for, that might be by intention.  Fire From The Gods will surprise many new listeners if they listen past the radio single and may get sucked in by the wide spectrum they are capable of presenting.

Fire From The Gods is now going to start their big touring this year with the Monster Energy festivals and playing other venues across the US.  If the following picks up and this band can deliver along with the performances on this album, then Fire From The Gods could be around for a long time due to their focus on wanting to make music with a bit more focus.  Overall, Narrative is a bold and impressive debut from a band that seems set on throwing the kitchen sink at the rock world.  If any of the styles or clips I’ve played in this video have peaked your interested, then you should give Fire From The Gods a chance you might not find another band like it for a long time.

XANDRIA Announces North American Headline Tour

By
Luke Spencer
-

xandria

German Epic Symphonic Metal stalwarts XANDRIA have taken things to the next level with their seventh studio album Theater of Dimensions.  (Order HERE). The album is a hyper-emotional affair that digs deep, lyrically speaking. It’s also an incredibly metallic effort.  There is a soundtrack-like, orchestral finesse inherent to the compositions, echoed by pounding groove and sophisticated shredding.

Now XANDRIA is ready to bring their breathtaking live show back to North America for a headline tour this May.  Support on the tour will come from label mates Kobra And The Lotus and Once Human.  The tour kicks off May 9th in New York, NY and runs through May 30th in Mesa, AZ.  A complete list of dates can be found below.

The band cannot wait to tour North America: “We are super excited to go on our first ever North American headline tour in May, playing east to west coast, along with the wonderful Kobra and the Lotus as well as Once Human. Let’s get these places rocked!”

XANDRIA, KOBRA AND THE LOTUS w/ Once Human:

5/9: New York, NY @ Webster Hall

5/11: Quebec City, QC @ La Source de la Martiniere

5/12: Montreal, QC @ Foufounes Electriques

5/13: Toronto, ON @ Garrison

5/14: Cleveland, OH @ Agora Ballroom

5/16: Joliet, IL @ The Forge Club

5/18: Denver, CO @ Moon Room

5/19: Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep

5/20: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Bar

5/22: Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven

5/23: Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater

5/24: San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge

5/26: Las Vegas, NV @ Adrenaline Sports Lounge

5/27: San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick

5/29: Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent Theater

5/30: Mesa, AZ @ Club Red-Mesa

311 To Release New Album “Mosiac” This Summer – Hear New Song “Too Much To Think” Here

By
Luke Spencer
-

MULTI-PLATINUM ROCK BAND 311 TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

‘MOSAIC’ OUT SUMMER 2017 ON BMG

311 are set to return with their 12th studio album titled MOSAIC, due out worldwide summer 2017 on BMG. The multi-platinum band’s first single “Too Much To Think” premiered at Alternative radio on Friday, March 10. Watch the lyric video for the song (here) and the group will launch a 40-show North American summer tour on June 22 in Cleveland. The new album MOSAIC is available to pre-order now at www.pledgemusic.com/ThreeEleven. Tour pre-sale tickets and VIP bundles start to go on sale March 14. Tour info at www.311.com/shows.

The 17-song MOSIAC was produced by John Feldmann (Blink-182, Panic! At The Disco, etc.) and Scotch Ralston (who produced 311’s iconic Transistor, Soundsystem and Stereolithicalbums). With MOSAIC, 311 are approaching their 10th consecutive Top 10 album debut on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart.

311 will hit the road summer 2017 for an eight-week headlining tour of North America. Marking the group’s 18th consecutive summer headlining the U.S, the outing features special guests New Politics plus The Skints / Passafire (on select shows). 311 will also make headline appearances at several festivals and radio events. *The full tour itinerary (June 22-Aug 20) is listed below and at: http://www.311.com/shows.

Catch 311 on tour this summer in the following cities:

DATE LOCATION VENUE
THU 6/22 Cleveland, OH Hard Rock Live
SAT 6/24 Montebello, Quebec Amnesia Rockfest
SUN 6/25 Detroit, MI The Fillmore
WED 6/28 Columbus, OH Express Live
THU 6/29 St. Louis, MO Pageant Theatre
FRI 6/30 Lincoln, NE Lincoln on the Streets Party
SUN 7/2 Chicago, IL Northerly Island Pavilion
MON 7/3 Kansas City, MO Crossroads
TUE 7/4 Indianapolis, IN Pavilion at Pan Am Plaza
THU 7/6 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
FRI 7/7 Hampton Beach, NH HB Casino
SAT 7/8 Portland, ME Maine State Pier
MON 7/10 Buffalo, NY Artpark
TUE 7/11 New York City, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
FRI 7/14 Long Island, NY Great South Bay Music Festival
SAT 7/15 Asbury Park, NJ Stone Pony Summerstage
SUN 7/16 Boston, MA Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
WED 7/19 Glen Allen, VA Innsbrook After Hours
FRI 7/21 Philadelphia, PA Penns Landing at Festival Pier
SAT 7/22 Hartford, CT CT Convention Center
MON 7/24 Washington, D.C. Fillmore Silver Spring
TUE 7/25 Washington, D.C. Fillmore Silver Spring
WED 7/26 Charlotte, NC Metro Credit Union Amphitheater
FRI 7/28 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
SAT 7/29 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
SUN 7/30 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
TUE 8/1 Boca Raton, FL Sunset Cove Amphitheater
WED 8/2 St Augustine, FL St Augustine Amphitheater
FRI 8/4 New Orleans, LA Bold Sphere Amphitheater
SAT 8/5 Houston, TX Revention Music Center
SUN 8/6 New Braunfels, TX Whitewater Amp
TUE 8/8 TBA, TX TBA
THU 8/10 Albuquerque, NM Sandia Casino
FRI 8/11 Denver, CO Levitt Pavilion
SAT 8/12 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheater
MON 8/14 Boise, ID Revolution Concert House
TUE 8/15 Eugene, OR Cuthbert Amphitheater
WED 8/16 San Jose, CA City National Civic
FRI 8/18 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Beach
SAT 8/19 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium
SUN 8/20 San Diego, CA Cal Coast Credit Union OAT
FRI 9/1 Virginia Beach, VA American Music Festival

 

Album Review: Black Map – In Droves

By
Luke Spencer
-

A look at California’s Black Map and the sophomore album In Droves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdRGK4mo1yk

https://vimeo.com/207845892

 

Text Review:

2017 is a time where rock consists of digital instruments and electronic midi effects layered under auto tuned vocals.  It’s a sign of the times for musicians now to jump on the electronic bandwagon in the rock scene and for many bands it works.  There are great bands and albums that are coming from this.  But outside of that, there is something to be said about a band that just hooks up their instruments and microphones and relies solely on natural performance.  Black Map, a trio coming from North California are that specific band that delivers solely with the standards that have made rock what it is through ability and creativity.  In the press release given from eOne, Black Map’s style is being described as a combination of big names like Tool, A Perfect Circle, Deftones and Baroness.   Along with those comparisons they have also been on tour with Chevelle, Bush, and Highly Suspect.  All good names to be associated with.

The next question is if Black Map sounds similar to such big names, then how do they have their own identity?  This isn’t the first band to have that question posed.  Fortunately for the case of these three they have a lot to offer in original ideas.  In Droves has over 15 tracks with progressive elements that make you feel like you are getting something for your time and money.  Throughout the 15 tracks on this album including three tying “Transit” interludes, you can clearly tell the light prog and connecting elements that Black Map use.  When hearing a single song from a band like this however it can sometimes be a hard sell.  Describing a band like this to someone who hasn’t heard it before can be even more difficult outside of saying “A band that doesn’t rely on effects and synthetic instruments”.

My first experience with Black Map was hearing “Run Rabbit Run” on Sirius XM Octane several months ago.  When I first heard the song, they reminded me a bit of Chevelle and the song stuck with me due to the main chorus and delivery of the title.  Now hearing this song along with the rest of the album helps to get a better perspective of the band and In Droves.  What I like about “Run Rabbit Run” is the build in Ben Flanagan’s vocal delivery as the song goes on.  His singing sounds clean in the first verse and then goes into a good shout during the chorus.  The guitar opening and high chords from Mark Engles drive this song and pair well with Flanagan’s octave and the song moves quickly at just over three minutes.  “Run Rabbit Run” also has a distinction in that it is definitely one of the harder and louder songs on In Droves.  Right after “Run Rabbit Run” ends, songs like “Foxglove”, “Ruin” and “Dead Ringer” set the tone of the album as slower paced and deep with plenty of rhythm.  It’s this flow that is the selling point of In Droves and distinguishes their sound as a band – also making a claim as to why they are being compared to names like Tool and Chevelle.

While “Run Rabbit Run” definitely will get the attention of rock fans, it’s these melodic deep catchy tracks that will hook many listeners.  Many of theses songs will require some growing time for sure, but after hearing songs like “Dead Ringer”, “White Fence” and the album closer “Coma Phase” you’ll come around on In Droves altogether.

I feel like Black Map has a knack for writing lines in a song that are unique enough to remember without completely reinventing the wheel.  The lyric “Dead Ringer for the living” makes you think about living life as a shell and a mindless cog in the machine.  This writing combined with some great riffs and bends from Engles create an atmospheric rock track.  There are definitely spaces of time and tracks that won’t hold your interests as others.  In the second half of the album after “Transit II” you’ll start feel a bit of repetition as that slower but rhythmic pace is kept at cruise control.  Some songs will stand out for one listener more than the other, but in the positive light there isn’t one track on the album that didn’t at least impress me a little at the talent involved.

These types of bands with a focus on instrumental creativity and creating an atmosphere without the help of a macbook pro-player live on stage is becoming less common.  It’s a shame because when a band like Black Map comes around with solid music and the ability to create something memorable, it takes that much more effort for their music to get attention.  Overall, In Droves delivers a lot of music with a thick connection between songs in a deep and rich rhythm.  This is the type of album that could help propel a band like Black Map to a good audience if it’s heard by enough people.  And now with radio play and touring alongside other big names, Black Map could be onto something great if this direction continues.

3TEETH TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM “SHUTDOWN.EXE” ON MAY 19TH

By
Luke Spencer
-

March 7, 2017 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles based industrial band 3TEETH has unveiled plans to release their highly-anticipated, second full-length album, <shutdown.exe>, on May 19th via OMF Records. Today, the band reveals the album title, release date, artwork and track listing for the upcoming record. Additional details and music will be disclosed in the coming weeks. Follow the band at https://www.facebook.com/3Teeth for additional updates.

3TEETH’s <shutdown.exe>, the long-awaited follow-up to their self-titled, 2014 album, was self-produced by the band, mixed by Sean Beavan (Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, A Perfect Circle) and mastered by Howie Wienberg (Deftones, Nirvana, Pantera, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden). The album features 13 songs that push their sound into new, undiscovered realms of orchestrated chaos and divine carnage with their signature fusion of experimental industrial, metal and synth driven rock that the band has become known for over the last several years.

“3TEETH are more than the sum of their influences. They are the sound of inevitability. A storm of rage and reason, man and machine, metal and bone.” – Sean Beavan (producer/mixer Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, A Perfect Circle)

Discussing the concepts behind the new record, frontman Alexis Mincolla says, “”The album centers around the idea of shutting down consensus reality tunnels, which is a way to describe the generally agreed-upon perspectives of what is considered real.”

Formed in 2013 in Los Angeles, 3TEETH is a transgressive artistic collaborative consisting of Alexis Mincolla (vocals), Xavier Swafford (keys), Andrew Means (drums) and Chase Brawner (guitars). Inspired by the early 90’s industrial scene and acts like Ministry and Nine Inch Nails, the four-piece boasts a unique amalgam of aggressive sound and compelling visual art that, combined with their cynical humor and provocative propaganda, ultimately ask fans to join their assault on consensus based reality.

Following a monumental, 2016 tour of the U.S. with legendary rock band TOOL, 3TEETH is riding a wave of momentum and anticipation leading up to the release of <shutdown.exe>. Stay tuned for more details regarding one of the year’s most awaited releases.

3ta

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