I have always been one of those metal heads that claims to listen to all musical genres–except for country. But in the past year, I’ve realized that classic country songs, with their imagery and energy, are pretty hard to dislike. Take David Allan Coe’s “If That Ain’t Country” for example…
It doesn’t matter who synth metal band Element a440 is playing with. It could be a punk band, a DJ, or death metal group. The outfit’s only concern? To put on a theatrically, entertaining show, visually and audibly. In this week’s issue, we profiled the band and delved into the…
Looking on the surface is often deceiving. A simple glance at local band Element a440’s press photos might lead you to believe it’s a typical industrial/goth outfit. At first listen, you may compare the band’s sound to Marilyn Manson, ’80s punkers Big Black, or Stabbing Westward. But Element a440 doesn’t…
When the lineup for Rock on the Range was announced last week, a flurry of emails between myself and three other of my fellow chick metal journalists/enthusiasts ensued regarding flights, hotels, and tickets. We had all attended the weekend festival together in 2012, and relished the thought of a heavy…
Rebellious personas are to rock ‘n’ roll what cocaine was to the eighties: in high demand, deliciously indulgent, and a way to catch a buzz that makes it okay for men to rock garishly colored neon outfits. Stage names are a huge part of those heavy metal, punk, and rock…
Down and Warbeast @ Marquee Theatre|1/14/13So, it turns out there’s a reason it’s called “stoner metal.” I’ve been to several Down shows before, but two things stuck out to me during Monday night’s Down/Warbeast concert at Marquee Theatre. My friend (who goes by “Iron Maiden,” thank you very much) and…
As a metal head, I often face lots of people who assume I don’t listen to anything else. Of course, I’m guilty of it too. It’s the first agitated thought I have when douche bags roll up next to my car blasting Soulja Boy and all I want to do…
Texas-based thrash metallers Warbeast thrive off meat-grinding riffs, jackhammer double bass, a range of lyrical topics, and 180-degree hooks. Made up of veteran rockers that have been creating music for decades –the members’ resumes include Rigor Mortis, Gammacide, and Demonseed– Warbeast formed in 2006, and in 2010 released its debut,…
In his blustery way, Phil Anselmo has embodied everything that is right and wrong with the heavy metal lifestyle. Fronting the legendary Pantera, he raised the bar with one timeless album after another. In Down, he combined soul and sludge. With Superjoint Ritual, he brought forth a mix of hardcore…
I’m almost a little bummed that the world didn’t end on December 21. No War of the Worlds or 2012 scenes became a reality, although I was so sure that the only reason gas prices were down was because all the rich people were holed up in their submarines, burrowed…
The year 2012 brought an array of exciting moments in heavy metal, from album releases by veteran acts like Napalm Death and younger bands like Goatwhore, to some of the biggest ever heavy metal festivals, to a few of my personal favorite interviews with metal legends. Enjoy — and happy…
As 2012 draws to a close, we’ll be looking forward to the 2013 and spotlighting 13 Phoenix bands that will be making a mark on the Southwest throughout the new year. Lauren Wise brings us this look at I Was Told There’d Be Whiskey, a rootsy rock ‘n’ roll outfit…
If the end of days is upon us on December 21, in five short ones we may all be in line at the pearly gates. Or at the gates of Hell. You never really can tell. If it was up to you, which would you actually choose? The question was…
Sometimes it can be difficult to get pumped up for the holidays, especially nowadays, when the sacred dates are saturated with commercialism, consumer greed, and an importance on tradition that, unfortunately for many, lost its spiritual meaning a long time ago. See also: Your Holiday Heavy Metal Gift Guide Korn…
Orgy @ Joe’s Grotto|12/7/12Alt metal band Orgy had its heyday in the late ’90s/early 2000s, but after singer Jay Gordon retooled the lineup last year (Gordon is the only remaining original member) I was curious to see how they would actually fare live. Luckily, what I found at Joe’s Grotto…
What’s the most metal gift you’ve ever received? I can think of several that stick out: Led Zeppelin vinyl, a miniature model of Dimebag Darrell’s Razorback lightning bolt guitar, spike-bedecked high heels that would make a dominatrix envious, a stripper pole paired with a handle of whiskey. But I’ll admit:…
The holiday season always calls for some self-reflection, no matter if you’re a Nordic Satanic metaller keeping track of virgin sacrifices, or Taylor Swift rolling in gold coins Duck Tales-style from sales of her new CD — oh yeah, did you know if you call Papa John’s to order pizza,…
To continue my rant from last week about bitches who rock (see The Butcher Babies, Boobs and Blood) and in conjunction with Revolver Magazine’s announcement of their 2013 Hottest Chicks in Metal calendar, I must pay tribute to two more female-fronted bands that I saw last week at the Marquee…
It starts simply enough, with a pulsing electric guitar blip and waves of synths. “Brace for the glory, as you stare into the sky,” Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno moans through the fuzzy washes of noise. “Beneath, I know you can’t be tired,” he sings softly, as the twin guitars roar…
In the hands of Dutch symphonic metallers Epica, just about any subject matter can take on operatic proportions, from tales of romance to quantum physics. But lately, the six-piece’s style, which builds heavily on classical instrumentation, has focused on current affairs. With 2012’s Requiem for the Indifferent, guitarist/vocalist Mark Jansen…
Here’s what I expected from The Butcher Babies on the opening night of their “Hush Little Baby” tour: Sexy, sexy bitches; electrical tape-adorned boobs; vocals ranging from erotically melodic to ear-shatteringly demonic, intermixed with headbang-worthy breakdowns. For those of you who don’t know what you’re missing out on, we’re not…
Led Zeppelin was, is, and always will be a driving force in the evolution of heavy metal. Their heavy, guitar-driven blues rock opened the world to an intriguing new sound, influencing generations of bands. Now, more than 40 years after they first came together, they are still one of the…
