This is an example of an act evolving through production and execution. The quality of sound and music from the previous albums to Take Me Back To Eden is a huge step up. Vessel’s voice is more pronounced and clear. He is as smooth as butter in a song like Aqua Regia and then fierce in Vore. A lot of skill behind that mask. As the album goes on it embraces more of the softer, smoother sound, especially in the second half where you hear almost a complete genre shift. From guitars to piano and saxophone, it all works. Sleep Token has finally made something completely atmospheric from beginning to end and you hear how it all connects. Take Me Back To Eden proves that if you give a chance to something out of the status quo, you will be rewarded with a sonic dream-like experience you’ll want to revisit. Eden sounds great and I’m all for going back. 9/10.
Sleep Token Take Me Back To Eden Album Review
Sleep Token “Vore”
Sleep Token are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 2016. The group are an anonymous, masked collective led by a frontman using the moniker Vessel. They have been categorised under many different genres, including alternative metal, post-rock/metal, progressive metal and indie rock/pop.
“Sleep Token are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 2016. The group are an anonymous, masked collective led by a frontman using the moniker Vessel. They have been categorised under many different genres, including alternative metal, post-rock/metal, progressive metal and indie rock/pop. In 2017, Sleep Token’s then-new label Basick Records published a description of the band which read, “A band that goes above and beyond simply writing and playing music, Sleep Token are said to be “the mortal representatives of the ancient deity known only as ‘Sleep’, led by the masked and cloaked figure appointed ‘Vessel’ … the master creator behind the music.” In the band’s only reported interview to date, with Metal Hammer at the time of their signing with Basick, frontman Vessel expanded on the lore of the band, stating that “We are here to serve Sleep and project His message.” When asked about Sleep, he stated that “He is everywhere, at all times. Vessel encountered Sleep in a dream, with promise of glory and magnificence if Vessel followed Him.”
Atlanta, GA rock n’ rollers Starbenders have unveiled their new single “Sex“ and the accompanying visualizer (via Sumerian Records). Speaking about the track, vocalist and songwriter Kimi Shelter commented:
“I almost viewed the story of the song playing out like a simulation, a video game. The goal of the game? Get some and don’t get burned. I tend to feel a lot of longing to be one of those seemingly light footed people that dance around all of the heaviness of meaning and consequence. As with most romanticization, I realize that the grass isn’t greener but it’s fun to play with in my mind. The poet has gone rogue.”
Starbenders “Sex”
Watch the visualizer for “Sex“here, stream the track here, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more Starbenders news coming very soon.
Starbenders are a rock-n-roll dream come true for every hard-luck dreamer occupying this third stone from the sun. Singer/songwriter Kimi Shelter is the love child Johnny Thunders and Joan Jett should have had, raised with an impeccable education from Blondie Elementary School, Def Leppard High, Bowie College, and a Ph.D from Siouxie Sioux University in Fuck All Y’all. Aaron Lecesne brings ripping bass lines, vivid musicality, fashionista chic, and lightning-rod stage energy. Kriss Tokaji is the literal embodiment of a Guitar Adonis whose fretboard mastery easily places him at the pinnacle of today’s young guns, a legend in the making. Then we have Emily Moon, the siren behind the drums, channeling her spiritual father (and namesake), Keith Moon, in a gorgeous tornado of sound and fury. This band has toured the world with everyone from Alice In Chains to Palaye Royale, destroying the entire house every time. They’ve issued twenty-six releases in eight years – singles, EPs, and LPs, including their 2020 full-length, Love Potions, for Sumerian Records. Another album’s worth of new material is currently awaiting release. With a work ethic as relentless as their fabulous vision, there is much more magic yet to come. (Written by William DuVall of Alice In Chains)
SPANISH LOVE SONGS, have revealed details on their upcoming new album ‘No Joy’ – the highly anticipated follow up to 2020’s critically acclaimed ‘Brave Faces Everyone’. ‘No Joy’ will be released on August 25, 2023 via Pure Noise Records.
Today, the band also release the first single and music video for “Haunted”, which can be seen on YouTube HERE. The track carries the saltwater-kissed vignetting of an Asbury Park summer, awash in Boss-inspired nostalgia and percussive acoustic guitar that build to some of the band’s biggest hooks yet. The video, directed by Hannah Hall, is a quirky view into a bar-band scene where everyone’s just looking for a good time.
“Haunted is a reintroduction of sorts for us,” explains vocalist and guitarist Dylan Slocum. “It lays out exactly the band we are at the moment, and after 9 months of writing and recording we knew it had to be the first to come out. We were ecstatic to bring it to life with Hannah”
Brimming with new wave pastiche, fluttering synths, shimmering walls of chorus guitar, and four-on-the-floor rhythms, ‘No Joy’ isn’t an exclamation point follow-up to the emotional catharsis of the landmark ‘Brave Faces Everyone’ as much as it is an exhale – the sound of vocalist and guitarist Dylan Slocum, his wife and keyboardist Meredith Van Woert, guitarist Kyle McAulay, bassist Trevor Dietrich, and drummer Ruben Duarte finding peace in quieter moments and embracing the negative space.
“This is the closest we’ve ever gotten to figuring out how to translate what I hear in my head with more clarity,” Slocum says.
Produced by the band and Collin Pastore (Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker, Illuminati Hotties) and mixed by Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, M83, Best Coast), the 12 songs on ‘No Joy’ continue to find Spanish Love Songs grappling with the messiness of what it means to be alive in the modern age – unsure of the answers themselves but confident that together, we can all come a little closer to the solutions.
If ‘Brave Faces Everyone’ was about mustering up the strength to barely break even in an increasingly bleak world, ‘No Joy’ is finding the internal peace required to stay in the black. As Slocum says, “it’s an album about finding happiness in what you have and your current moment. It might be your best moment, or it might not, but you have to find joy in it.”
‘No Joy’ Track Listing
1. Lifers
2. Pendulum
3. Haunted
4. Clean-Up Crew
5. Middle of Nine
6. Marvel
7. I’m Gonna Miss Everything
8. Rapture Chaser
9. Mutable
10. Here You Are
11. Exit Bags
12. Re-Emerging Signs of the Apocalypse
___
From Google Bard:
“Spanish Love Songs is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 2013 by lead vocalist and guitarist Dylan Slocum, guitarist Kyle McAulay, drummer Ruben Duarte, bassist Trevor Dietrich, and keyboardist Meredith Van Woert.
The band’s music has been described as emo, indie rock, and post-hardcore. Their lyrics often deal with themes of mental health, anxiety, and depression.
The band has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe. They have shared the stage with bands such as The Wonder Years, Modern Baseball, and Hot Mulligan.
With so much influence in the heavy music scene that Trivium and Beartooth have had over the last few years, it’s surprising that a co-headline tour like this hasn’t happened sooner. Both bands have put out a significant amount of solid music over the last six years and are consistent features at festivals around the world as well as being favorites of SiriusXM stations, so both bands have had prominent placement to massive audiences. The audience at The National last night saw firsthand that the live performances from each group is a definitive reason to support both Trivium and Beartooth respectively.
Trivium had the best stage setup I’ve seen the group work with over the years I’ve been following the Florida metal act. It has been great to watch and listen to Trivium evolve over the years by getting deeper into music writing and expanding the group’s stage presence. The detailed stage design based around Trivium’s latest album In The Court Of The Dragon gave color and life to the concert. Hearing the Richmond crowd sing along to “Strife” early in the set gave volume and life to a crowd wanting to be the best on Trivium’s tour. The staple of Matt Heafy riling the crowd up by stating a previous tour had the best audience up to that point is always a great moment as it causes a burst of one-upping from the current venue crowd.
Beartooth recently released the song “Sunshine” which has become a significant hit and a different style for the group. While Caleb Shomo said at the end of last year that he wasn’t sure how people would react to new Beartooth music, it was pretty clear that the crowd last night knew just about every lyric from every song played. It was to the point where Caleb Shomo was able to command the crowd into singing segments of songs for him. This was my first time seeing Beartooth in a club setting (I had only seen Beartooth at festivals before). I understand the appeal more seeing Beartooth in a full playlist live venue setting. Beartooth on tour is more of an experience than a performance. I was impressed with how well the group was able to connect with the audience.
Beartooth At The National In Richmond, VA
This was a fun show to see. That expression sounds simple and has been described for a thousand tours before, but seeing Trivium and Beartooth live last night was a great time that felt like one complete show. I want to see more tours like this where singers are able to engage with the crowd. More shows like last night where each band is able to perform well while enjoying themselves on stage. More crowds that are willing to sing along together and just enjoy the night. Last night had all of that and last night proved heavy music still has an audience.
Riot Fest Announces Lineup for 2023! Foo Fighters, The Cure, The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie and Queens of the Stone Age Headline September 15-17th at Douglass Park in Chicago
Riot Fest announces an unbelievable 2023 line-up, featuring headliners Foo Fighters, The Cure, The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, and Queens of the Stone Age. This stellar array of top-billed talent will be rounded out by Turnstile, The Mars Volta, Mr. Bungle, Tegan and Sara, 100 Gecs, The Gaslight Anthem, Death Grips, AFI and dozens of other fan favorites (full list below).
Founded in 2005, Riot Fest has presented nearly 20 years of incredible musical performances, exclusive reunions, and more—including freak shows, Lucha Libre, panel discussions and late night shows, creating unique annual weekend experiences in one of the world’s greatest cities. For 2023, along with the return of carnival rides and last year’s hugely popular wedding chapel, Logan Arcade will be on hand with free vintage arcade games, hosted by Riot Pop!!.
Tickets go on sale Tuesday, May 16th at 10am CDT, link here.
Riot Fest takes place in Douglass Park, a scenic, historic park easily accessible on Chicago train and bus lines. In addition to Riot Fest’s music, rides and other attractions, Douglass Park is surrounded by diverse neighborhoods rich in culture, excellent food and drink options and more.
Riot Fest 2023 Lineup
LINE-UP: Friday 9/15: Foo Fighters, Turnstile
Saturday 9/16: The Postal Service/Death Cab for Cutie, Queens of the Stone Age
Sunday 9/17: The Cure, The Mars Volta
070 Shake 100 Gecs AFI Ani DiFranco Balance and Composure Bayside Bearings Black Angels Bowling for Soup Braid Caroline Rose Cassyette CK Vassi Code Orange Corey Feldman Cults Death Grips Drain Earth Crisis Empire State Bastard Enola Gay Enter Shikari Eshu Tune / Hannibal Buress Fade ‘Em All Fake Names FEA Finch Fleshwater Flogging Molly Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls Free Throw Godspeed You! Black Emperor Gorilla Biscuits H2O Hawthorne Heights Head Automatica High Vis Hotline TNT Insane Clown Posse Jehnny Beth Just Friends Just Mustard Kim Gordon LS Dunes Microwave Mr. Bungle Nothing nothing,nowhere. Olivia Jean Origami Angel Parliament Funkadelic ft. George Clinton Pennywise Pinkshift Plosivs Pool Kids PUP Quasi Quicksand Ride Rival Schools Say Anything Screaming Females Silverstein Sleep Token Sludgeworth Snapcase Spitalfield Steve Ignorant Band / Crass Tegan and Sara The Aquadolls The Bobby Lees The Breeders The Bronx The Dresden Dolls The Exploited The Gaslight Anthem The Interrupters The Used The Wrecks Thursday Total Chaos Viagra Boys Warpaint White Reaper Yard Act Young Culture
___
From Google Bard:
“Riot Fest is an annual punk rock, alternative rock, and indie rock music festival held in Chicago, Illinois. The festival was founded in 2004 by Michael Petryshyn, Sean McKeough, and Andy Kaulkin. It is held over three days in September at Douglass Park, a 300-acre park located on the southwest side of Chicago.
Riot Fest has featured a wide range of bands from a variety of genres, including punk rock, alternative rock, indie rock, ska, metal, hip hop, and electronic music. Some of the most notable bands to have played Riot Fest include Blink-182, Green Day, The Misfits, The Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Machine, and Wu-Tang Clan.
In addition to music, Riot Fest also features a variety of other activities, such as a tattoo and piercing expo, a comedy stage, a silent disco, and a variety of food and drink vendors. The festival also has a strong focus on social justice and activism, and has partnered with a number of local charities.
Riot Fest is one of the most popular music festivals in the United States, and has been praised for its diverse lineup, its commitment to social justice, and its overall atmosphere. The festival has been named one of the “Best Music Festivals in America” by Rolling Stone, USA Today, and The Chicago Tribune.”
The Podcast That Rocked for 5/11/23. Farewell Sum 41, MTV News shutting down, new Queens Of The Stone Age, and more.
Farewell Sum 41 | The Podcast That Rocked
Farewell Sum 41 | The Podcast That Rocked
Discussion Topics: 0:00 – Intro 0:24 – Farewell Sum 41 2:35 – MTV News Shutdown 3:56 – Josey Scott’s Saliva 5:01 – New Queens Of The Stone Age 6:17 – Dolly Parton’s Rock Album 7:17 – Billboard Rock Airplay Top 3 8:31 – Thank you!
From Google Bard: “Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and consists of Deryck Whibley (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards), Dave “Brownsound” Baksh (lead guitar, backing vocals), Jason “Cone” McCaslin (bass, backing vocals), Tom Thacker (guitars, keyboards, backing vocals), and Frank Zummo (drums, percussion, occasional backing vocals). Sum 41 rose to mainstream popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s with their pop-punk sound. Their debut album, All Killer No Filler, was released in 1999 and spawned the hit singles “Fat Lip” and “In Too Deep.” The band’s second album, Does This Look Infected?, was released in 2002 and was also a commercial success. Sum 41 continued to release albums throughout the 2000s and 2010s, including Chuck (2004), Underclass Hero (2007), and Order in Decline (2019). The band has also toured extensively, headlining major festivals and playing sold-out shows around the world. Sum 41 is one of the most successful pop-punk bands of all time. They have sold over 35 million albums worldwide and have won numerous awards, including a Juno Award and a MTV Video Music Award. The band is known for their high-energy live shows and their catchy, anthemic songs. Sum 41 continues to be a popular band with fans of all ages.”
Blue Ridge Rock Fest 2023 Lineup September 7-10 At VIRginia International Raceway In Alton, Virginia
Slipknot, Five Finger Death Punch, Staind, Danzig, I Prevail, Flo Rida, Lorna Shore, Knocked Loose, Polyphia, Insane Clown Posse, Vanilla Ice & More Just Added To The Lineup
Festival To Feature Performances From Over 100 Bands In Total Over Four Days Single Day Passes On Sale Now At blueridgerockfest.com
For Blue Ridge Rock Fest 2023 Lineup: Single day passes have just been released, and are on sale now at https://blueridgerockfest.com. 4-Day General Admission and VIP passes, as well as 3-Day VIP passes are now at level 5 pricing. 3-Day General Admission passes are at level 4 pricing. Fans save by purchasing early, and with the Blue Ridge Rock Festival 3-month payment plan, fans can purchase weekend or single day passes for only 25% down, with no additional fees.
The festival has seen record-breaking sales so far, with 4-Day Rockstar passes and Artist Meet & Greet Passes already SOLD OUT (wait list available). Premium tent camping, TV camping and glamping sites are also SOLD OUT, but a wait list is available. A limited number of standard 5-night tent camping sites are still available, but fans are advised to purchase soon before passes sell out. Blue Ridge Rock Festival has also partnered with Fuse to provide exclusive hotel packages.
Independently-owned, Blue Ridge Rock Festival is the home of the “Fan Driven Experience,” with fans voting on the lineup and festival experiences through surveys across social media. What started as a one-day event in 2017 expanded to a 4-day festival in 2022, featuring almost 200 bands and proudly hosting a community of over 150,000 at the VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia.
Watch the Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2022 after movie here:
Blue Ridge Rock Festival is located at VIRginia International Raceway, 1245 Pine Tree Road in Alton, VA, within a few hours of many major cities including Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, Richmond, Virginia Beach and Washington, DC. In 2022, Blue Ridge Rock Festival entered into a multi-year agreement with Virginia International Raceway, which allows festival organizers to work on the site year-round.
Blue Ridge Rock Festival is sponsored by ZYN, Monster Energy, on! Nicotine Pouches, URW Credit Union, Fizzy – CBD Infused Soda, Mortus Viventi, and more.
Shiprocked 2024 Music Lineup Announced For Sold Out ShipRocked 2024
I Prevail,Killswitch Engage, Beartooth, Highly Suspect, Code Orange, Badflower & More Confirmed For Carnival Magic Cruise From Miami To The Caribbean, Visiting Bimini (The Bahamas), Ocho Rios (Jamaica) & Grand Cayman February 4-10, 2024
The dynamic music lineup for ShipRocked 2024 will be led by I Prevail and will also featureKillswitch Engage, Beartooth, Highly Suspect, Code Orange, Badflower, a special solo performance from Johnny Stevens of Highly Suspect and more February 4-10, 2024 onboard Carnival Magic. The 14th sailing of ShipRocked departs from Miami, Florida, stopping in three new ports for the ultimate rock music cruise vacation: Bimini, The Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Grand Cayman.
After record breaking attendance of over 4,000 guests in January 2023 and an expanded 6-day itinerary, staterooms for ShipRocked 2024 sold out in an unprecedented 3 days, well before the music lineup was announced. A waitlist is available at www.ShipRocked.com.
Here’s what some of the 2024 ShipRocked artists had to say about next year’s cruise:
Brian Berkheiser / I Prevail: “ShipRocked is an institution. And the fact we get to headline is a blessing. We are definitely ready to give all the ShipRockers a kick ass show! And defend our Family Feud title! See y’all there!”
Jesse Leach / Killswitch Engage: “Killswitch Engage, and our appropriately named High Seas Crew, are stoked to be a part of this event, and to play alongside some killer bands! We’ve always been about having a good time at our live shows, so this seems perfect.”
Caleb Shomo / Beartooth: “We’ve played ShipRocked a few times, and every time it’s hard to grasp how much of a family everybody feels like out there. Many attendees are returning customers, which is a good sign of a great event. Playing out in the open water is a pretty wild feeling; nothing can come close to that. We can’t wait to come back and rock the boat!”
Badflower: “ShipRocked is the epitome of rock n’ roll. And year after year it has become a family reunion with fellow bands and fans that have become friends…A true communal atmosphere and a lot of f*cking fun.”
Dorothy Martin: “So excited to be joining the upcoming ShipRocked cruise stopping in the Bahamas, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and can’t wait to jam with my Black Sheep in paradise! See you soon!”
The initial music lineup for ShipRocked is as follows: I Prevail, Killswitch Engage, Beartooth, Highly Suspect, Code Orange, Badflower, as well as Black Stone Cherry, BRKN Love, Cassyette, Catch Your Breath, Crobot, Dayseeker, Dead Poet Society, Dorothy, Eva Under Fire, From Ashes To New, Scene Queen, Tigercub, The Warning, Winona Fighter, Yonaka and more. The music lineup also features special performances by The Stowaways—ShipRocked’s fan favorite all-star band–and Johnny Stevens of Highly Suspect.
ShipRocked producer and creator Alan Koenig of ASK4 Entertainment said, “I say this literally every year, but SR24 might just be my favorite (initial) lineup yet! We work hard to provide a big tent for the incredible range of talent that exists in the world of rock music, and I couldn’t be more proud and excited about the variety of artists who will be vacationing harder with our guests in February!”
A floating music festival, a rock & roll summer camp held in the dead of winter, a family reunion for the growing number of ShipRockers who have forged lifelong relationships out of a shared passion for music (and an occasional bucket of beer) – ShipRocked is the premier rock music vacation, offering dozens of performances and unique collaborations, artist-hosted events and activities, theme nights, and ample opportunity for fans and bands alike to unwind and create new friendships in tropical paradise.
The ShipRocked community is very supportive of charitable efforts, especially the annual ShipRocked Cancer Sucks! onboard charity auction. During the 2023 cruise, the auction raised an incredible $125,000 for cancer research.
Throughout the year, ShipRocked’s community of “ShipRockers”–as well as others from around the world–are staying connected via “Making Waves – The ShipRocked Podcast,” which launched in 2020 and is available for free through iTunes, Spotify and Google Podcasts. “Making Waves” features interviews with ShipRocked alumni artists, as well as other top music artists, actors and entertainment industry experts. It’s distributed via Sound Talent Media / Evergreen Podcasts and is hosted by Chad Nicefield and Justin Press.
From Google Bard: “ShipRocked is the perfect way to experience a music festival in a unique and exciting setting. With its all-inclusive package and variety of activities, it’s the perfect vacation for rock and metal fans of all ages.
Here are some tips for planning your trip to ShipRocked 2024:
Book your cabin early. ShipRocked is a popular event, and cabins sell out quickly.
Purchase your tickets early. Tickets for ShipRocked are also in high demand, and they tend to sell out quickly.
Pack light. You’ll be doing a lot of walking on the ship, so you’ll want to pack light.
Bring comfortable shoes. You’ll be doing a lot of walking on the ship, so you’ll want to bring comfortable shoes.
Bring sunscreen. The sun can be strong at sea, so you’ll want to bring sunscreen to protect your skin.
Bring a hat. A hat will help protect your face from the sun.
Bring a camera. You’ll want to capture all of your memories of ShipRocked.
Bring a positive attitude. ShipRocked is a party, so you’ll want to come with a positive attitude and have fun!”
SEVENDUST Unleash Debut Single and Music Video for “Everything” from Upcoming 14th Album, Truth KillerScheduled for Release on July 28 via Napalm Records Now Available for Pre-Order HERE
Currently On Tour with Alter Bridge with More Dates in August and Others to be Announced
With excitement brewing after the release of their teaser track, “Fence,” GRAMMY® Award-nominated SEVENDUST are back with “Everything,” the debut single from Truth Killer. The song is the second piece of music from their 14th studio album, slated for worldwide release on July 28 via Napalm Records. The single is currently impacting active rock radio with early adopters already adding the single upon receipt.
The band – Lajon Witherspoon, Clint Lowery, John Connolly, Vince Hornsby and Morgan Rose – have filmed a performance music video that also brings the hypnotic album cover to life. The video was directed by J.T. Ibanez (P.O.D., Loveless, Orianthi).
Sevendust “Everything”
From the introspective opening of “I Might Let The Devil Win” to the classic SEVENDUST sound of “Fence,” the twelve songs on Truth Killer demonstrate that the band sounds as relevant today as they did on their 1997 self-titled debut. “Truth Killer,” “Everything” and “Holy Water” combine elements of the classic SEVENDUST sound with modern updates, pointing their lyrical lens at the world today and showcasing the musical diversity that has won the band a legion of loyal fans. The first song released was the album closer, “Fence,” accompanied by a claymation music video directed and animated by Ollie Jones.
With a reputation as being one of the best live bands and recently making headlines as the band you “don’t ever, ever, ever want to go on after,” SEVENDUST is currently on tour opening for longtime friends Alter Bridge. The tour resumes in August with the addition of Mammoth WVH as well with more dates to be announced in the future. As a band who loves to bring the music to their fans live, 2023/2024 will be busy years for SEVENDUST. More information on all upcoming tour dates and ticket and VIP info can be found here: https://sevendust.com/pages/tour.
SEVENDUST 2023 Tour Dates: May 11 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace * May 13 – Las Vegas, NV – Sick New World 2023 May 14 – Chattanooga, TN – The Signal * May 16 – Pensacola, FL – Pensacola Saenger Theatre * May 17 – New Orleans, LA – Fillmore New Orleans * May 19 – Dothan, AL – The Plant * May 20 – West Greenville, SC – The Foundry at Judson Mill # Aug 1 – Buffalo, NY – Outer Harbor Event Complex * Aug 2 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage * Aug 4 – Charles Town, WV – The Event Center at Hollywood Casino * Aug 5 – Grantville, PA – Hollywood Casino Outdoors * Aug 7 – Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union LIVE! * Aug 8 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion * Aug 10 – Quebec City, QC – Agora Port de Québec * Aug 12 – Mashantucket, CT – The Premier Theater (at Foxwoods Resort Casino) * Aug 13 – Johnstown, PA – 1st Summit Arena * Aug 17 – Fayetteville, AR – JJ’s Live * Aug 19 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Amphitheater * Aug 20 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port * Aug 22 – Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre * Aug 23 – Cincinnati, OH – Andrew J Brady Music Center * Aug 25 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe * Aug 26 – Milwaukee, WI – The Eagles Ballroom * Aug 28 – Fargo, ND – Outdoors at Fargo Brewing * Aug 29 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore * Aug 31 – Council Bluffs, IA – Harrah’s Stir Concert Cove * *Opening for Alter Bridge
Do you believe in monsters? Most of Richmond didn’t until last night when the Mighty Mastodon & Giant Gojira had a massive onslaught at Virginia Credit Union Live. What’s left is mostly destruction but a surprising amount of happy metal fans who saw the chaos firsthand at The Mega-Monsters Tour.
Troy Sanders said that this was the largest crowd Mastodon had ever played for in Richmond, a city that was helpful in launching Mastodon’s career. This performance was the visual entry to stoner and psychedelic metal that entranced the crowd at Virginia Credit Union Live through over an hour of hypnotic visuals and jam sessions.
Mighty Mastodon Destroys Richmond | The Mega-Monsters Tour 2023
Along with the Mighty Mastodon was the Giant Gojira wreaking havoc in the east. Gojira had the spectacle of pyro, smoke guns, and confetti, and the French metal juggernauts were also joined by Richmond’s own Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God. This was a big surprise for the crowd as this was an unannounced appearance.
Giant Gojira Destroys Richmond | The Mega-Monsters Tour 2023
Opening for the mega-monsters was one of the more popular names in metal, Lorna Shore. The formal address from Will Ramos was quickly forgotten as the impactful screaming through the band’s symphonic deathcore style ripped through the venue. The biggest shock was the look on the venue staff’s faces as they weren’t expecting such a sound.
This was one of the more enjoyable metal shows I’ve been to in years. The crowd was packed at the venue but it was a focused group all wanting to hear these bands play. The venue and stage were perfect for this setup so the bands, labels, and publicists all nailed it with venue choice. Richmond has a much larger metal audience than the rest of the United States may give credit, and last night showed that as over 50% of the audience had metal t-shirts on for different bands. That’s not including the Mastodon, Gojira, and Lorna Shore merch that was already worn and being sold that night.
The Mega-Monsters Tour highlights a better side of metal from the stage. Mastodon and Gojira are well-traveled and well-respected names that both know exactly how to deliver a consistent show. Each band played for an hour and there wasn’t the typical banter or time-filling that other bands rely on to make a performance seem longer. Mastodon and Gojira have the material that any metal audience would know and want to hear. The drumming from Mario Duplantier and screaming from Joe Duplantier always got cheering. The growl from Troy Sanders created crowd energy in every song. This tour was monstrous, and it left the fans going home happy.
The Mega-Monsters Tour 2023 will continue later this summer going from Ohio to Colorado in the United States.
___ From Google Bard:
“The Mega-Monsters Tour 2023 is a co-headlining concert tour by American heavy metal bands Mastodon and Gojira, with support from American deathcore band Lorna Shore. The tour will begin on April 18, 2023, in Portland, Oregon, and will conclude on September 16, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band consists of Troy Sanders (bass, vocals), Brent Hinds (guitar, vocals), Bill Kelliher (guitar), and Brann Dailor (drums, vocals). Mastodon has released seven studio albums, all of which have been met with critical acclaim. The band’s most recent album, Hushed and Grim, was released in 2021 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
Gojira is a French heavy metal band from Bayonne, formed in 1996. The band consists of Joe Duplantier (vocals, guitar), Mario Duplantier (drums), Christian Andreu (guitar), and Jean-Michel Labadie (bass). Gojira has released seven studio albums, all of which have been met with critical acclaim. The band’s most recent album, Fortitude, was released in 2021 and debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart.
Lorna Shore is an American deathcore band from New Jersey, formed in 2010. The band consists of Austin Dickey (vocals), Adam DeMicco (guitar), Erik Rutan (guitar), Will Ramos (bass), and Austin Archey (drums). Lorna Shore has released three studio albums, all of which have been met with critical acclaim. The band’s most recent album, To The Hellfire, was released in 2022 and debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The Mega-Monsters Tour is a must-see for fans of heavy metal music. The two headlining bands are both at the top of their game, and Lorna Shore is a rising star. This is a tour that is sure to be filled with heavy riffs, pounding drums, and soaring vocals.”
