Metal collective, Metal Allegiance – comprised of core members David Ellefson (Megadeth), Mark Menghi (King Ultramega), Alex Skolnick (Testament), and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) – have announced their annual return to Anaheim, CA. They play at the House Of Blues (400 Disney Way), Thursday, January 22, 2026. Keep reading below to find out more.
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Tag Archives: Alex Skolnick
ALBUM REVIEW: Testament – Para Bellum
On Para Bellum – (Nuclear Blast Records) Testament continues to uphold the legacy of quality decades in the making. Despite not being the household name like the bands of the Big Four, these had chops that rivaled Megadeth’s most shredding line-up. Of the Big Four, Slayer was the only band darker and more aggressive than the classic mid-to-late Eighties period for this band. While this new order marks the debut of Chris Dovas, the former drummer of Seven Spires, whose youthful exuberance gets the job done. Bassist Steve Di Giorgio (Death, Death To All), who goes back to “The Gathering.”Continue reading
Killswitch Engage, Snapcase, Alex Skolnick, Deadguy, and More Come Together for the Charity Album “The Dogs Of Hope”
The Iodine Recordings label is set to release a charity compilation, featuring alternative and metalcore a-listers, to raise funds for a no-kill animal shelter in rural alabama. Due to arrive on August 8th, The Dogs Of Hope features contributions from Walter Schreifels, Orange 9MM, Killswitch Engage, Alex Skolnick, Deadguy, and others. “Pigs on the Wing (Part 1)” by Schreifels is already available to stream. Keep reading below for more.
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ALBUM REVIEW: Changeling – Changeling
Rebranding himself simply as Changeling for this eponymously titled release, German guitar maestro Tom Geldschläger (aka Tom Fountainhead) is one of those musicians who never seems to stop working. Whether it’s projects like Despotic, NYN or My Atomic Majesty, his studio engineering and session musician work, or as a music clinician, author, and speaker on music production and musicians’ mental health, Geldschläger always keeps a full diary. Continue reading
Metal Allegiance (David Ellefson, Mark Menghi, Alex Skolnick, Mike Portnoy) Book Their Annual Los Angeles Area Show Around NAMM
Metal Allegiance is entering their second decade together, and unlike most other metal supergroups or collaborations, Metal Allegiance continues stronger – and heavier – than ever. Beginning as a celebration of heavy metal, Metal Allegiance is powered by the almost tribal bond shared between the extreme music community’s most revered trailblazers, armed with a list of contributors onstage (and off) that read like a Wikipedia entry on the genre itself –whose “core 4” is comprised of David Ellefson, Mark Menghi, Alex Skolnick, and Mike Portnoy. On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the band – which in addition to the core 4, will also include Chuck Billy (Testament), Bobby Blitz (Overkill), John Bush (Armored Saint), Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves & God Forbid), Brandon Ellis (The Black Dahlia Murder), Marty Friedman, Gary Holt (Slayer / Exodus), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), Jeff Loomis, Mark Tornillo (Accept), Angel Vivaldi and more – will perform at what has become an annual event for the band at the House of Blues (400 Disney Way) in Anaheim, CA. Continue reading
CLASSIC ALBUMS REVISITED: Lamb of God – Ashes of the Wake 20th Anniversary
On August 31 Lamb of God’s Ashes of the Wake (Epic Records) officially turns twenty. I was still in highschool and vividly remember stopping by Bullmoose Records in Salem, New Hampshire to pick up my copy. But that’s not to say that those were simpler times.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Imperial Triumphant – Spirit of Ecstasy
When the death metal scene blew up in the early nineties, it was exciting to watch fresh new blood delivering a much-needed kick up the backside to many lethargic established acts. However, with little room for growth and proliferation of bands all covering the same ground, stagnation, and panic soon set in. Just as their predecessors had found, forward-thinking and experimentation were often frowned upon while the alternative was perceived as merely playing safe or laziness. It was survival of the fittest in a catch-22 situation and the fans were a fickle and unforgiving judge.
ALBUM REVIEW: Sepultura – Sepulquarta
Not content with sitting on their hands, Brazilian thrashers Sepultura decided early on during the Coronavirus Lockdown to do something constructive with their new found spare time. After touring plans for their current record were cut short by the pandemic, the band contacted seemingly everybody in the world of metal and proceeded to embark upon Sepulquarta (Nuclear Blast), a live album recorded with each member in isolation.
Mike Portnoy, Dee Snider, Chris Jericho, Ray Luzier, John Moyer, and More to Raise Money for The David Z Foundation Livestream Tonight
Stars from across Rock and Metal will join together on a livestream to raise money tonight on the David Z Foundation Livestream. David Z (David Zablidowsky) was the brilliant metal and progressive rock musician best known for his work in bands such as Adrenaline Mob, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and ZO2, died three years ago on July 17th, 2017 when a tractor-trailer collided with Adrenaline Mob’s tour bus. Check out the updated poster from Mike Portnoy’s tweet below. You can donate at the GoFundM link below and watch the live stream including artists ranging from Mike Portnoy, Dee Snider, Chris Jericho, Ray Luzier (Korn), John Moyer (Disturbed) Rikki Rockett, Don Dokken, Richie Kotzen, Billy Sheehan, Jeff Scott Soto, Carmine Appice, Eddie Trunk, Marco Mendoza, Joel Hoekstra, Tiffany, John Pooper, Alex Skolnik, Charlie Benante, Dug Pinnick, Ra Diaz and more! Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Testament – Titans Of Creation
Whenever the time-honoured, if ultimately pointless “if it had been a Big Five…” question raises its ugly head, Bay Area bruisers Testament always find themselves at the forefront of the conversation. Even alongside names such as Exodus, Overkill, and Kreator, such is their… ahem, legacy (sorry), it’s not uncommon to find them as one of the top two preferred choices.Continue reading