Concert Reviews

Evergrey – June 3, 2017 – Jewel Music Venue, Manchester, NH

In 1999, this scribe witnessed the first United States show of Evergrey, who flew over from Sweden based on internet message board fan support (pre-crowdfunding) with Perpetual Motion to play the Powermad Read more […]

Devastation on the Nation – May 22, 2017 – Trickshots, Clifton Park, NY

Those who enjoy technical death metal had to be smiling from ear to ear when this year’s edition of Devastation on the Nation was announced. Putting together long-running acts like Cryptopsy and Decrepit Read more […]

Arkona/Sirenia – May 14, 2017 – Firehouse 13, Providence, RI

Sunday, May 14 would mark only the second day of the Arkona/Sirenia co-headlining North America tour, in which Arkona is celebrating their 15th anniversary and Sirenia is visiting North America for the Read more […]

Xandria – May 9, 2017 – Webster Hall, New York City, NY

Xandria has been making a more committed push towards North America as of late, and with their latest release Theater of Dimensions in tow, it was time to time to finally deliver a headlining set (they Read more […]

Delain/Hammerfall – April 24, 2017 – Stage 48, New York City, NY

The expression ‘life gets in the way’ has applied to opportunities to catch Delain live on a number of occasions in the past few years. After the official US headlining run was announced following Read more […]

Sabaton – April 23, 2017 – Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, NY

Coming down off the almost 12 hours of music the day before at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival (which, yes, included all three acts in this tour package in slightly smaller doses), it was time Read more […]

Katatonia – Mr. Smalls Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA, March 18, 2017

Katatonia last visited Pittsburgh in 2013, playing to a relatively tepid crowd. Perhaps it was because the show was on a weekday, but the not-so-impressive turnout led this scribe to believe the Swedes Read more […]

Maximized – A Trinity of Amaranthe Shows

When it comes to doing show reviews, I have a tendency to cut to the chase and dive in, but when I go “Amaranthe-ing” (verb: to hit a string of Amaranthe tour dates) it seems like that would merely Read more […]

Epica – December 3, 2016 – The Palladium – Worcester, MA

Objectively, it seems a little silly to drive all the way to Worcester Massachusetts when there’s a perfectly viable alternative in New York City right there on the tour routing. However, given the Read more […]

Flotsam & Jetsam – November 18, 2016, The Chance Theater, Poughkeepsie, NY

A Friday night power/thrash delight, courtesy of a couple veteran outfits who have benefitted greatly thanks to their 80’s discography given a second go around in the digital consumption age. There’s Read more […]

Leaves’ Eyes, Omnium Gatherum – November 10, 2016 – Firehouse 13, Providence, RI

When headliners take nights off from a long tour run, support bands do whatever they can to set up smaller club shows and keep the financial needs floating. Leaves’ Eyes and Omnium Gatherum accordingly Read more […]

Dark Tranquillity – November 8, 2016 – Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, NY

With all of the tour hubbub going on in the fall, sometimes it’s nice to kill two birds with one stone. This particular concert merged the current Sonata Arctica and Dark Tranquillity tours, both great Read more […]

Steve Grimmett’s Grim Reaper – October 20, 2016 – The Chance Theater, Poughkeepsie, NY

Journeying back to my youth, Grim Reaper were a staple of the 1980’s traditional metal scene, a group on the tail end of the world renowned NWOBHM movement. Originally disbanding in the late 1980’s, Read more […]

Soilwork – October 15, 2016 – Stanhope House – Stanhope, NJ

Having headed to the Stanhope House during the summer for a much lower profile show, it was quite the surprise to see that the Fury Tour, comprised of Soilwork, Unearth, Wovenwar, Battlecross, and Darkness Read more […]

Among Creatures: 2 Nights of Huntress

Having gained a full appreciation for Huntress after their stint on the Arch Enemy US tour back in 2014, their current tour with Trivium and Sabaton seemed a great way to catch up with the band. But then Read more […]

The Dread Crew of Oddwood – By Bar and By Faire

September 16, 2016 – Tobacco Road – NYC, NY With a folk metal line-up from start to finish, it seemed a Friday night trip down to NYC would be needed. The Dread Crew of Oddwood teaming up with Read more […]

Devin Townsend Project/Between the Buried and Me – September 17, 2016 – The Palladium – Worcester, MA

As the fall season brings upon a bounty of different touring choices, this writer decided to forgo the NYC date of this tour the previous evening due to a combination of catching a different show in town, Read more […]

Nervosa – Two Thrash Nights in New England

Nervosa/Suspended – August 7, 2016 – The Wreck Room, Peterborough, NH Talk about having to roll with the punches. Imagine you’ve outlaid an extensive worldwide tour in support of your latest album, Read more […]

Summer Slaughter Tour 2016 – July 29, 2016 – The Chance Theater, Poughkeepsie, NY

Having witnessed the 2013 Summer Slaughter festival and seeing this year’s line-up (the fact that it was in Poughkeepsie certainly sweetened the deal), it seemed high-time that a second round was in Read more […]

Holy Grail, Savage Master – June 9, 2016 – Ralph’s Rock Diner, Worcester, MA

Another stellar lineup would hit Metal Thursday at Ralph’s this evening – featuring California’s road warriors Holy Grail in the middle of a small headlining tour with Kentucky’s Savage Master Read more […]

Delightful Delirium: 3 Nights of Lacuna Coil in New York

May 25, 2016 – Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY How many times to you get to catch a big name act like Lacuna Coil in the intimate venue setting at this point in their career? Despite the 2 hour Read more […]

Hate Eternal – May 19, 2016 – Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY

A real no-brainer to take a trip down to Brooklyn on a Thursday night to take in such a massive line-up of extreme metal, with both veteran and up-and-coming acts from start to finish, Hate Eternal’s latest Read more […]

Anvil – May 12, 2016 – Ralph’s Diner – Worcester, MA

Metal Thursdays have been a mainstay at Ralph’s Diner in Worcester, MA since 2006. Filling a need for the local and international scene for bands and fans alike, it’s been amazing to see it reach over Read more […]

Dead Lord – May 6, 2016 – The Crypt – Linköping, Sweden

The Swedish scene, for those of you unfamiliar with it, might not be what you think. Considering the high number of quality rock & metal bands per capita in this country, you’d think there was a huge scene Read more […]

Night Demon – April 27, 2016 – Firehouse 13 – Providence, RI

Ventura, California power trio Night Demon have taken the metal underground by storm ever since bursting onto the scene with their eponymous EP in 2012. The band has crisscrossed North America with the Read more […]

Amon Amarth – April 25, 2016 – Water Street Music Hall – Rochester, NY

Already being in Rochester, NY to visit family, it seemed like a perfectly good excuse to go catch Amon Amarth on their current tour at the Water Street Music Hall. Driving past the venue a bit past 7PM, Read more […]

Fear Factory – 3 Evenings with Demanufacture

While more and more bands are touring in support of a favorite album’s “fill in the blank” anniversary, few can rival the lasting impact of Fear Factory’s Demanufacture. An album that arguably Read more […]

Avantasia – April 15, 2016 – PlayStation Theater – Manhattan, NY

Avantasia, the heavy metal rock opera created by Edguy vocalist Tobias Sammet, is known the world over for its epic concept albums, impeccable musicianship, and cadre of special guest vocalists and musicians Read more […]

The Black Dahlia Murder – April 12, 2016 – The Chance Theater, Poughkeepsie, NY

With the promise of hearing The Black Dahlia Murder’s Unhallowed debut in its entirety, and snagging the DR-approved atmospheric death metal band Fallujah as direct support, catching this past Tuesday Read more […]

Metal Church/Hatchet – April 8, 2016 – The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY

Fear struck the hearts of many in the thrash community when Metal Church fired David Wayne – especially considering his one of a kind screaming propensities on those first two studio albums. Fortunately, Read more […]