A fantastic example of technical death metal with wild creativity. With death metal and deathcore, your mileage will vary in the vocals. Jonny Davy’s bark is shocking through the runtime so be prepared. As deep and fierce the vocals get, the instrument work from Job For A Cowboy is just as brilliant. One of the most cleanly played albums I’ve heard in metal, and that’s saying something for how technical it all is. This is an onslaught to your ears and you will have to take a step back during a full playthrough to take it all in. The music itself is so good that it’s hard to ignore how well-polished Moon Healer is, especially the singles which still stand out as some of Moon Healer’s best. Moon Healer will not be for everyone due to the intensity, but it should be more than enough for death metal and technical metal fans. Job For A Cowboy is back. 8/10.
Best Tracks: Forever Rot Beyond The Chemical Doorway
“Experience a sonic journey like no other with Job For A Cowboy’s latest album, Moon Healer. This groundbreaking release showcases the band’s evolution into a new realm of musical prowess, blending intricate melodies with powerful rhythms to create a truly immersive listening experience. From the haunting vocals to the thunderous drums, each track on Moon Healer captivates the listener and leaves them craving more. Dive into this masterpiece of modern metal and let Job For A Cowboy guide you through a celestial adventure unlike anything you’ve heard before.” (Perplexity)
It’s about to get LOUD in Louisville as the long-running, fan favorite festival Louder Than Life returns for its 10th year in 2024! Producers Danny Wimmer Presents – one of the largest independent promoters in the U.S. – pulled out all the stops to celebrate a decade of Louder Than Life, North America’s Largest Rock Festival, including the mighty return of thrash gods Slayer to the stage. In addition to their headlining performance, Loudmouths can also look forward to metal heavyweights Mötley Crüe, Slipknot and Korn closing out additional nights of the four-day event, which returns to its home at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KYSeptember 26, 27, 28 & 29, 2024.
Five full stages will keep the destination event amped up all weekend, welcoming additional performances from Disturbed, Judas Priest, Five Finger Death Punch, Evanescence, Falling in Reverse, Breaking Benjamin, The Offspring, Staind, Till Lindemann, Chevelle, Dropkick Murphys, Halestorm, Gojira, Seether, In This Moment, Anthrax, Sum 41, Mastodon, Tom Morello, and many more. In total, almost 150 music acts will be part of the festival weekend, along with Louisville’s finest spirits and top local cuisine. The 2022 event was named Consequence’s Festival Of The Year and was nominated for Pollstar’s Festival Of the Year, and the 2023 edition marked a new attendance record with 180,000 people, so fans are encouraged to buy early and secure their spot for 2024.
Louder Than Life 2024 Festival Lineup ft. Slayer
“We’re thrilled to announce that Slayer will be reuniting for an earth-shattering performance at Louder Than Life,” says Danny Wimmer of Danny Wimmer Presents. ”I was at their last show at The Forum in 2019 and have been working since then to bring them back to the Louder stage! With over 140 bands on five stages, we’re celebrating our 10th Louder Than Life with the biggest lineup yet! P.S., come out and celebrate with us at TAJ this Saturday and we’ll buy your first drink.”
“On the heels of an incredible lineup announcement for Bourbon & Beyond, Louder Than Life solidifies why the Kentucky Exposition Center is the number one place to travel to in September,” said David S. Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues. “We anticipate festival-goers from around the world to come for the music and fall in love with all the things that make Kentucky such a great state.”
The full music lineup for Louder Than Life 2024 is as follows (subject to change): Slayer, Mötley Crüe, Slipknot, Korn, Disturbed, Judas Priest, Five Finger Death Punch, Evanescence, Falling in Reverse, Breaking Benjamin, The Offspring, Staind, Till Lindemann, In This Moment, Chevelle, Dropkick Murphys, Halestorm, Gojira, Sum 41, Seether, Tom Morello, Anthrax, Mastodon, Architects, Skillet, Clutch, Highly Suspect, Lorna Shore, Body Count, Spiritbox, Grandson, Nothing More, Sevendust, Jinjer, Poppy, Badflower, Starset, Sleeping With Sirens, Filter, Eagles of Death Metal, Juliette Lewis and the Licks, Marky Ramone Plays the Ramones Classics, Black Stone Cherry, PUP, Three 6 Mafia, P.O.D., Fozzy, Fugitive, Saosin, L.S. Dunes, Biohazard, Polaris, From Ashes To New, LIT, Show Me The Body, Joey Valence & Brae, Set It Off, Drug Church, Militarie Gun, The Armed, Narrow Head, Brutus, Bob Vylan, Fit For A King, The Warning, Whitechapel, Better Lovers, New Years Day, Health, GEL, Lilith Czar, Tim Montana, Point North, Holding Absence, Holy Fawn, Drowning Pool, Helmet, Saliva, Alien Ant Farm, Nonpoint, Finger Eleven, Powerman 5000, Local H, ORGY, Taproot, Tantric, Sponge, Trapt, Red, Adema, D.R.U.G.S., Ho99o9, The Chisel, Slothrust, High Vis, Soul Glo, Winona Fighter, Des Rocs, Veil of Maya, Oxymorrons, HED PE, Ill Niño, Damnage, Citizen Soldier, Alien Weaponry, CKY, Dead Poet Society, Kneecap, Teen Mortgage, Touché Amoré, Jeris Johnson, Jager Bonham, The Funeral Portrait, Nerv, Any Given Sin, Like A Storm, Deadlands, Mike’s Dead, Reach NYC, Self Deception, Lø Spirit, Jigsaw Youth, Royale Lynn, Descartes A Kant, Lowlives, Blame My Youth, Caskets, Silly Goose, Gozu, Black Map, Hemorage, Budderside, and Project MishraM.
Additional experiences include the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar, the return of Headbangers Hall, The Music Experience, Jack Daniel’s, Pegasus Distilled Experiences, Heavy Tiki presented by Jim Beam, Blackened Presents The Whiskey Bar, The Highland Grounds Wine Garden, and more to be announced.
Single day and weekend General Admission as well as Park Community VIP passes for Louder Than Life are on sale now starting as low as $10 down. Angel’s Envy Top Shelf VIP passes are sold out. New in 2024, Danny Wimmer Presents introduces the Loud Lounge Suites, allowing fans to party all weekend long like true rockstars. The suites will be located on top of the Angel’s Envy Top Shelf deck, offering up to 12 people the all-inclusive treatment with bottle service, premium parking, a dedicated host, all you can drink & eat, and a reserved suite seat to take in all the action on the two main stages plus access to both Angel’s Envy Top Shelf and Park Community VIPareas. For more information, fans can email groups@dwpresents.com.
In addition, Louder Than Life RV and car + tent camping passes are sold out, with a waitlist available. A very limited number of Elevated Glamping experience packages, which include both tent and RV options, are still available. Visit https://louderthanlifefestival.com/ for details on all camping and festival pass options. A record number of passes have been sold during the early bird sales period, so fans are encouraged to act fast to guarantee lowest level pricing and availability.
The JamPack hotel package also allows patrons to bundle festival passes, hotel and more to save up to 31%. Find all details at https://louderthanlifefestival.com/passes/. In addition, fans who want to celebrate the biggest eight days of music in the United States with back-to-back weekends in Louisville at Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life can purchase an Exacta Pass for less than $62 per festival day (the Exacta Pass starts at $489.99 plus fees).
Onsite parking for Louder Than Life is available for purchase via Kentucky Exposition Center. https://parking.kyexpo.org/ltl
Louisville locals are invited to celebrate the Louder Than Life lineup with three events this weekend, starting with a Dare to Care food drive at Kroger in Breckenridge this Friday, February 23 from 4:30-7 p.m., in which fans can donate five non-perishable items to unlock service fee free passes. On Saturday, February 24, Taj in Nulu will be celebrating with custom craft cocktails, photo ops, service fee free passes, a DJ and more from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. And on Sunday, February 25, there will be Louder Than Life pass giveaways at the Bellarmine wrestling match at Knights Hall at 1:00 p.m.
Louder Than Life is excited to announce its 2024 partners: LYTE, Budweiser, Kroger, Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam, Park Community Credit Union, Team Kentucky, Louisville Tourism, Kentucky Venues, Crowne Plaza Airport Expo, Marriott Downtown Louisville, Pegasus Distilled, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Beatbox Beverages, Cutwater Spirits, Angel’s Envy, IcyBreeze, Solo Stove, Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam Black, Maker’s 46, Knob Creek, Rabbit Hole, Jefferson’s, City of Louisville, KY Proud, Eargasm, The Music Experience, plus more to come.
Non-profit 2024 on-site partners include: Artists for Trauma, Demons Behind Me, Fxck Cancer, Take Me Home, To Write Love On Her Arms, plus more to come. The DWP Foundation will be supporting the following local nonprofits in 2024: Dare to Care, Fund for the Arts, Muhammad Ali Center plus more to come.
Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center is located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky.
Louder Than Life is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America.
Multi-platinum, chart-topping band Shinedown’s crossover hit “A Symptom Of Being Human” has debuted on the Top 40 chart. The track was the second most added song on the format this week behind Beyonce’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” with notable adds including Z100 and SiriusXM Hits 1.
“A Symptom Of Being Human” is the fourth #1 Active Rock single from the band’s acclaimed seventh studio album Planet Zero (Atlantic Records) and has extended the band’s record for most No. 1 songs on the Mediabase Active Rock Chart (21) and their record for the mostNo. 1’s in the history of Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart (19).The track also sits in the Top 10 at Alternative Radio, further cementing its multi-format success. PRESS HERE to download/stream “A Symptom Of Being Human” and PRESS HERE to watch the song’s official music video.
It’s rare for a rock band to break into pop music, but Shinedown has always believed that music is universal and doesn’t have to be put in a genre box, as evidenced by the response to “A Symptom Of Being Human” resonating with all listeners across multiple formats with its uplifting and important message about how we are all a work in progress. Collectively, “A Symptom Of Being Human” has amassed tens of millions of streams across all versions including a new live version, pop remix, acoustic version, and piano version.
Shinedown front man Brent Smith recently sat down with Rolling Stoneto discuss the success of “Symptom” as well as the band’s decades-long career speaking out and singing about mental health and the human connection – PRESS HERE to read.
It’s safe to say that there aren’t a ton of smaller metalcore bands from the early 2010’s that are still around. Whether it be the financial strain, the rigors of touring, or the evolution of the sound over the course of a decade, many local bands petered out for some reason or another. That isn’t the case for A Scent Like Wolves, who have held steadfast since their inception in 2010 and are arguably in their peak as 2024 has hit. Off the heels of 2021’s Mystic Auras, the metalcore group is set to release their newest offering, Distant Dystopia. After all these years, does the band still have it?
With something of a throwback sound, A Scent Like Wolves don’t necessarily adhere to the modern metalcore stylings that their contemporaries show en masse. Instead of interspersed trap beats and copy/paste song structure, Distant Dystopia is more keen on synthesizer backings and thall guitar riffs. The result is a satisfying blend that would fit right in with ERRA and Invent Animate, which makes sense as A Scent Like Wolves got Jesse/JT from the former to feature in Mystic Auras and Marcus Vic shows up on Distant Dystopia’s “Interstellar”. Tack on production from a veritable dream team of Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland and it’s a winning formula.
Even if I can’t help but think of ERRA/IA in the grand scheme of Distant Dystopia, one can’t have enough of a good thing; it brings me back to hearing Blueshift’s prog-metalcore opus in Voyager. Harmonies between both the guitar lines and vocalists across most songs makes for a unique dynamic that gives A Scent Like Wolves some much-needed it-factor. It’s a metalcore record where the soaring choruses resonate just as much as the riffs do, and no member is far behind the other. There’s some standout moments too, like the short-but-sweet “Starship”s frantic BPM or bringing in a curveball with ZOMBIESHARK! on “Reach Into Hell”. Vocals go unreasonably hard in interlude “Halcyon” as well, as there’s a lot of talent full-realized on this LP.
There’s a lot to love on A Scent Like Wolves’ Distant Dystopia. Right on par with Mystic Auras, there’s no songs that drag or feel like filler across the entire album. I’d love to hear the group wear their inspirations on their sleeves a little less, but like I said, if it sounds like a band I can’t get enough of, that’s hardly a problem for a casual listener. Despite the band’s long tenure, A Scent Like Wolves still feels underrated as the tight production and ample songwriting makes for a nice metalcore playthrough that should saddle in with the genre’s current greats. Here’s hoping more ears flock to A Scent Like Wolves with Distant Dystopia.
A Day to Remember is an American rock band from Ocala, Florida, formed in 2003 by guitarist Tom Denney and drummer Bobby Scruggs.
Foo Fighters is an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1994.
Green Day is an American rock band formed in the East Bay of California in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, together with bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt.
This is Idles taking things a step slower. The energy and attitude are still present even with a reduced tempo. The anger is what’s calmed down while still being fiercely direct in writing. Joe Talbot’s tone always come through in any situation. The singles “Dancer” and “Gift Horse” sound familiar but the majority of deep cuts on the album that prove IDLES have changed gears. It’s gritty but somehow uplifting. Love if a fing and that message is definitely proclaimed through the album. It’s meant to be positive even in the lowest notes. Less of a dance album and more of a movement through music, and I do feel this album stands out because of it. I don’t know if this would be the best introduction to all of Idles music, but I do know it works well in many ways and proves the group can inspire. 8/10.
“The new album “TANGK” from the band Idles is a departure from their previous work, as they explore the theme of love in a more melodic and experimental way. Lead singer Joe Talbot’s personal experiences have influenced the album’s focus on love, making it their warmest record to date. The band collaborated with producers Nigel Godrich and Kenny Beats, resulting in a blend of taut programmed drums, emphasis on melody, and analog tape loops. This has led to a surprising mix of influences, creating a sound that is both familiar and innovative. The album showcases a softer side of Idles, while still maintaining their signature intensity and authority.” (Perplexity)
“The first time we heard it back in our studio we just stared at each other with our mouths open,” says Courney Taylor-Taylor of THE DANDY WARHOLS about the wah-wah superpower added by legendary guitarist Slash to the new single and A.I.-produced video “I’d Like To Help You With Your Problem.” “What he played on the track is amazing. I’ve never heard him play quite like that, but what is so fascinating to me is that it is clearly him playing. As recognizable as a familiar human voice.”
Taken from their upcoming album ROCKMAKER, which will be released on March 15, 2024 via Sunset Blvd. Records, “I’d Like To Help You With Your Problem” is an anthemic rock track that surges with Slash’s trademark burning guitars. “The song has a real Vietnam-era acid rock sound,” he adds. “We wanted that kind of guitar playing on it, but we don’t have anyone in the band who can do it. Once we began discussing it, it became apparent that there wasn’t really anyone else whose hands we could put it in, so thus the Hail Mary to try and get Slash to play on it.”
The follow-up to “Danzig With Myself” which featured the inimitable Frank Black on surf guitar, “I’d Like To Help You With Problem” is the third single from the Portland, OR band’s 12th album (the revved-up and greased banger “Summer of Hate” was released in Summer 2023). Diving deeper into minor chords that often characterize post-punk, deep metal and goth, ROCKMAKER showcases the band’s alt-rock roots while exploring different reaches of the rock idiom (their last album Tafelmuzik Means More When You’re Alone was a three-and-a-half-hour exploration of what The AU Report characterized as a “soundtrack that would typically score a mid-16th century banquet”).
In addition to Frank Black and Slash, ROCKMAKER features celebrated British DJ and producer Keith Tenniswood (David Holmes, Primal Scream, Rotters Golf Club) of Two Lone Swordsmen who mastered the record and acclaimed British producer Jagz Kooner (Massive Attack, Kasabian, Garbage) who mixed it.
Formed in Portland, OR, The Dandy Warhols combined the best bits of shoegaze, alternative powerpop and heavy rock with a wicked satirical pen. Spawning alt-rock mainstays like “Bohemian Like You”, “Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth,” “Have a Kick Ass Summer (Me and My Friends)” and the synth-disco jam “We Used to Be Friends.”
The Dandy Warhols is Courtney Taylor-Taylor (vocals, guitar), Peter Holmström (guitar, keyboards), Zia McCabe (keyboard, bass, percussion), and Brent DeBoer (drums, backing vocals). ROCKMAKER will be available on March 15, 2023 via Sunset Blvd.
The Mars Volta have announced an upcoming string of live dates taking place this June with support from special guest Teri Gender Bender. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 16 at 10AM local time.
The band is confirmed to perform a set at this year’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, taking place June 14 in Manchester, TN. Tickets are on sale now: www.bonnaroo.com
The Mars Volta continue to support their most recent albums ‘The Mars Volta’ and ‘Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón’. The dates announced today are cities the band have yet to perform in since their return to performing together.
The upcoming film ‘Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird’ was recently announced to have its North American premiere at the upcoming SXSW Festival. The film shows the iconic duo’s journey from the hardcore scene in El Paso, Texas, to rock and roll acclaim; from growing up as minorities to their rise to success; from struggles with loss, and addiction to their blazing comeback. A depiction of love, death, and inspiration — with a soundtrack that has defined a generation. It was directed by Nicolas Jack Davies and produced by Clouds Hill Films in Association with Pulse Films.
June 9 – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre – Indianapolis, IN
June 10 – The Admiral Theatre – Omaha, NE
June 12 – Kemba Live! – Columbus, OH
June 14 – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival – Manchester, TN
Formed by guitarist/composer Omar Rodríguez-López and singer/lyricist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, The Mars Volta rose from the ashes of El Paso punk-rock firebrands At The Drive-In in 2001. On a mission to “honor our roots and honor our dead”, The Mars Volta made music that fused the Latin sounds Rodríguez-López was raised on with the punk and underground noise he and Bixler-Zavala had immersed themselves in for years, and the futuristic visions they were tapping into. The albums that followed were one-of-a-kind masterpieces, their songs of breath-taking complexity also possessing powerful emotional immediacy. After the group fell silent, a legion of devotees kept up an insistent drum-beat for their return.
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.
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
