There’s something to be said for a local band having the gall to throw a CD-release party in 1995. “Before that,” laughs Rich Fourmey, “everything was a tape-release party. So we said, to hell with it. We’re gonna shell out thousands of dollars and have a CD.” It’s the kind…
There’s something to be said for a local band having the gall to throw a CD-release party in 1995. “Before that,” laughs Rich Fourmey, “everything was a tape-release party. So we said, to hell with it. We’re gonna shell out thousands of dollars and have a CD.” It’s the kind…
Things are really hit-or-miss when it comes to heavy metal covers of pop songs. There’s been some great ones (Exodus’ “Low Rider,” Marilyn Manson’s “Tainted Love”), and some not-so-great ones (Children of Bodom’s “Oops I Did It Again,” Evile’s “Born This Way”), to be sure. But when you get some…
Al Jourgensen is 54 years old–a veteran in the metal scene–and has gone through more than most can fathom. He’s sold millions of albums and endured a decade of habitual drug abuse. He’s also been pronounced dead three times along the way, and has a ton of stories about roadie…
Kansas City’s Aaron Dontez Yates has dipped his hands into both the worlds of hip-hop and rock ‘n’ roll, sold more than one million albums, founded a record label, and been featured in a ton of video games and films–including the upcoming sequel to the huge underground cult hit Devil’s…
When it comes to Hollywood, metalheads are usually portrayed in a… not so flattering light. We’re the drunks and stoners, braindead from too much head-banging, clad in grimy vintage band t-shirts and greasy hair. Well, that may be so. But who is Hollywood to judge? I’d take our stereotype over…
Hawaii-bred reggae rock group Iration take change in stride. Each of their albums explores a different side of their musical influences–ranging from drummer Joseph Pickens’ love for Lamb of God to lead vocalist/guitarist Micah Pueschel’s penchant for the Beatles–while keeping their roots in traditional reggae. Earlier this year in April,…
Mickey Avalon is constantly loaded. He’s loaded with clever rhymes and catchy hooks, played by DJs to writhing Hollywood club kids who don’t understand that half of the dark memories Mickey shares are actual experiences. When he started out around 2004, he was loaded with the burden of family members…
I admit I have an issue with mainstream heavy metal. Some of the musicians possess undeniably impressive technical prowess, but they appear determined to adhere to strict marketing regulations or to develop a meathead attitude, further perpetuating the stereotype known as “jock metal.” A first glance at the bill for…
Finnish rock band HIM is known for causing a lot of weird controversy. First, a lot of people get angsty when it comes time to define their sound–the band has been categorized as everything from slow alt-rock to melodic metal to gothic metal. But they’ve been around since 1991, and…
Elvis, Johnny Cash, King Diamond, Black Sabbath, Ramones, Fats Domino, Motorhead–these are just a few of the influences that make Danish rock band Volbeat tick. And it seems to work out for them. They’ve been headlining in Europe for almost a decade, and all of their studio albums have been…
The VMA’s, Miley Cyrus, “twerking,” foam finger-humping–I’ll be so happy when all the bullshit about this Disney star turned disgusting excuse for a pop culture icon is over. Usually it’s supposed to be hard to look away from an emotional trainwreck, but Miley Cyrus’s dead eyes and awkward tongue-wagging was…
In heavy metal, there’s nothing better than an extremely talented guitarist. When a musician truly knows how to work some magic with that instrument it demands to be revered and acknowledged. But there’s a trade-off for said talent: Creative people are often labeled as “weird” by their peers from a…
Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein is most often identified as a celebrated member of horror punk act the Misfits, brought into the band at the tender age of 16 in 1980. Originally a roadie for the band, he was taught how to play guitar by his brother, Misfits bassist Jerry Only,…
Heavy metal and contact sports always seem to go hand-in-hand. Both share the same kind of aggression and unpredictability. Revolver’s Golden Gods Awards has a “most metal athlete” category. And in football, one of America’s favorite sports to get all amped up about, teams trot out onto the field to…
Last summer, local metal band City in the Sea was included in our list of 10 Bands You Need to See This Summer. Since then, the five-piece band has been scooped up by Sumerian Records, and toured the country incessantly, including a spot on the epic production that is known…
The only thing better than rocking out to great live metal is rocking out for a great cause. With that in mind, four upcoming metal shows are celebrating metal legends and local idols, and they should have a spot on your concert calendar. We’re talking Slash, the best of Arizona…
I’m quite curious to know what hardcore Korn fans think of the new single. Personally, I love Korn. It was one of the bands that set the stage for me to explore the realm of heavy metal, tracing it back decade by decade. But here’s the problem with the band’s…
The first time I visited Mesa-based Heavy Metal Television (www.heavymetaltelevision.com), this past spring, I was sure there had to be a catch. The more I watched, the more sure I was. It was too simple: A local website was serving a metal cocktail with current technology and a television format…
Hollywood-based retro-rock outfit Vintage Trouble may only have one studio album, 2012’s The Bomb Shelter Sessions, but the band’s résumé is impressive nonetheless. Vintage Trouble already has opened for The Who, Dave Matthews Band, and Bon Jovi. The band played alongside Kiss’ Paul Stanley at his 60th birthday party, and…
Matthew Paul Miller, otherwise known as Matisyahu (translated to “Gift of God” in Hebrew), has been putting out his blend of traditional Jewish themes, reggae, beatboxing, alternative, and slightly psychedelic rock since 2004. From the beginning, he was known for his signature beard and Hasidic garb, and strong Jewish faith…
I used to look forward to the arrival of Shark Week like it was a new Hatebreed album release — amped up and eager for new material and bloodshed. Unfortunately, after a couple years of tuning in, I realized that the masterminds behind the programming didn’t really care to bring…
