Read Part I HERE Dead Rhetoric: How do you handle the lead parts between Jared and Ryan? Towne: It doesn’t need to be a competition – even if he has one, and I don’t- we try to make it as musically Read more […]
How many bands in heavy metal can say they’ve stayed the course as teenagers a decade later in that same outfit? Of course, there’s Death Angel (who had a drummer starting pre-adolescence), but rare Read more […]
Even in the quieter months of the year, the video streams are still rolling out regularly. It’s a chance to refresh memories on some recent releases (perhaps in regards to a tour) or promote an upcoming Read more […]
The first time diving into this column for the year is always easiest. Pooling more than 2 months of content into one feature makes for a plethora of possibilities. Not to mention it being the dead of Read more […]
Pennsylvania probably isn’t your first guess when you hear a sound that’s folk influenced, with a European sense of grandeur. Yet a rising crop of these bands are slowly popping up across North America, Read more […]
Best known for his work as the bassist for the neoclassical-oriented progressive metal band Symphony X, Mike Lepond has spread his wings into numerous bands and projects over the years. It would be difficult Read more […]
With two albums now under their belt, including last year’s excellent The End of Faith, Bloodhunter have started to make a name for themselves as an act within the extreme metal scene worth paying attention Read more […]
Those with their ears to the ground within the extreme music scene have no doubt already witnessed the heaviness and expansive nature of Harms Way. Hard to truly pigeon-hole, they take a massive piece Read more […]
Fortunate to establish numerous relationships with passionate music followers across the globe led me to discovering Organized Chaos. Otherwise, how would one normally find that a progressive metal outfit Read more […]
Read Part I HERE. Dead Rhetoric: As you mentioned, there were a ton of people interviewed for this film, but was there anyone that you wanted to get involved that it just didn’t work out with? Bob Read more […]
In a sea of flashy, ‘go for the drama’ documentaries sits the ever-growing collection of Inside Metal. Soon to encompass six releases (3 two-part DVDs) that go for an in-depth look at the beginnings Read more […]
Read Part I HERE. Dead Rhetoric: What is the band’s stance on intricacy and technicality versus hooks and feel when it comes to Perennial Quest and songwriting? Are there times where you dial things Read more […]
Injecting the power/progressive metal community with fiery harmonies and explosive melodies, Perennial Quest are another welcome newcomer band to not only a thriving New England scene, but also necessary Read more […]
The best heavy metal to these ears has that essence of purity and sincerity. For many discovering the style, the roots of the movement with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal from the late 70’s through Read more […]
Purveyors of classic heavy metal well rooted in NWOBHM and USPM platforms, Visigoth seemingly burst on the scene from their Salt Lake City, Utah base thanks to signing with Metal Blade Records, who released Read more […]
Anything that Davide Tiso puts his hands into tends to be along more creative, avant-garde lines. You’ll never get the ‘norm,’ so to speak. As an artist, he has always come across as genuinely Read more […]
Many bands in the metal scene face an uphill battle. Whether it’s having a sound that is too far outside the norm, not finding the space for themselves in the market, or having life get in the way of Read more […]
Since their early days, Israel’s Orphaned Land have brought a distinctly unique sound to the progressive metal realm. Combining strong musicianship, Middle Eastern instrumentation and flair, as well Read more […]
German thrash has similar pockets of acts that broke through the big time (Destruction, Kreator, Sodom) and the undercurrent who plugged away even when the genre may have fallen by the wayside. Consider Read more […]
Even with the drought of material that tends to come with the last month of the year, December usually works as a time to start the promotion for early 2018 releases. In other words, there’s just as many Read more […]
Our last Rapid Fires of 2017 features albums in the often perilous position of being released near the end of the year. This usually means they’re out of the year-end list fray, not to mention getting Read more […]
After acquiring new vocalist Elina Siirala back in 2016, Leaves’ Eyes quickly set sail across the world to showcase their invigorated spirit. With plenty of live energy pooled from their collective Read more […]
Death metal vanguards will no doubt look upon 2017 as one of its best years since the style’s glory days, which would be anywhere between 1990 and 1994. Get past those years and it’s saturation beyond Read more […]
Once metal becomes infused in the blood, it’s usually for life. The pursuit, the thrill, the challenge all become one – seeking out that next fix to satisfy the body and soul with the power and electricity Read more […]
While the Italian metal scene has had a couple of breakthroughs internationally (Lacuna Coil probably the biggest, Rhapsody (Of Fire) as well), it’s a scene ripe with talent in many sub-genres. HyperioN Read more […]
Currently the third-longest tenured member in venerable Chicago doom outfit Novembers Doom, guitarist Vito Marchese evidently has an entirely separate creative itch to scratch, hence, his excellent instrumental Read more […]
Generating a healthy amount of buzz, Monolith Cult seemingly have come from nowhere to truly impress the metal community on their second full-length Gospel of Despair. This UK group penetrate through a Read more […]
Doing this column for a few years at this point, it’s still just as exciting to find the ‘next big thing’ while randomly scrolling through different genres and new releases at Bandcamp. It goes Read more […]
With so many bands in the metal landscape, it’s rare to find one that surprises and impresses out of nowhere. Massachusetts-based The Offering buck the odds though, and are bound to elicit a response Read more […]
As I sit down to write this column, the season’s first snowfall is blanketing the New England countryside, signaling it’s once again time to ponder the year that was in music and reflect on which releases Read more […]
