CONCERT REVIEW: The Halo Effect – Unearth – High Command Live at The Worcester Palladium 


 

Upstairs at the Worcester Palladium, a venue that most closely resembles a bougie studio apartment, was the host of one of the most anticipated tours of the early summer. Let’s take a journey through the March to Milwaukee Tour, featuring supergroup The Halo Effect, Unearth, and High Command. First up for the night on this world premiere tour was Worcester Massachusetts’ own High Command. Bringing old-school heavy metal, a chain-link microphone stand, a guitarist wearing an executioner’s mask, and an 8-foot-long, broadsword on the stage… these folks sure as hell know how to open up a show. Pummeling riffs, teeth-grinding vocals, and grooves are so infectious. you may want to call a doctor afterward. If you close your eyes you would think that UFO and Goatwhore made a band together. Brandishing a long sword out on stage, I straight up thought they were going to break a pipe in the ceiling… remember, we’re upstairs at the Palladium. You got 8.5-foot ceilings, MAX. Awesome band, I had no idea that they were a local band until after the show. But that only makes the next band of the show even more hype moment for the crowd.

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INTERVIEW: Billy Sheehan of The Winery Dogs on Their New Album, and Longevity in The Music Business


 

Ghost Cult caught up with bass guitar legend Billy Sheehan of The Winery Dogs! Billy discussed the new album “III” – out now on Three Dog Records, launching their own label, the evolving role of labels in the music business, how Billy – Mike Portnoy, and Richie Kotzen all write together, the return of touring, how many guest sessions Billy really did during the height of the pandemic, and much more! Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: The Winery Dogs Live at Tupelo Music Hall 


 

Richie Kotzen, Billy Sheehan, and Mike Portnoy. Three dynamo musicians that need no introduction on their own, much less as a three-piece supergroup. The Winery Dogs rolled into Derry New Hampshire’s Tupelo Music Hall this past Sunday on their 2023 World Tour. Intimate venue, the cold weather outside, and hot music. Let’s dive in…

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STAFF PICKS: Ghost Cult Photographer Chris Small’s Top 20 Albums of 2022


Ghost Cult’s Chris Small (aka Smallz, Papa Smallz) has been an essential member of our live coverage team this year and chipped in a few other types of reviews over the years as well. When he is not voraciously consuming heavy music, he is also a dad, documents underground rap shows, and streams on Twitch. Here are his top 20 albums of 2022 list! Peace and Chicken grease, as Chris would say…

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FESTIVAL REVIEW: RPM FEST 2022 – Live at Millers Falls Rod and Gun Club


RPM Fest… three days in the woods at Millers Falls Rod and Gun Club in Montague, Massachusetts of Western MA with all of the homies, great food, great drinks, yard games, drag bingo, metal yoga, karaoke, and more metal, punk, and ska music than you can shake a battle vest at. It’s been two years since RPM Fest happened due to the ongoing pandemic. But this year it was able to make its mighty return as the official end-of-summer send-off party that it is known to be, this past Labor Day Weekend. 

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CONCERT REVIEW: Polyphia – Unprocessed Live at The Paradise Rock Club


 

Polyphia, Polyphia, Polyphia. What can you really say that hasn’t already been said? Well, if the show that they had at The Paradise is any indication… you can say a whole hell of a lot more! Because let me tell you something, I have never in my life seen a line that wrapped around the building twice to try to get into see a show at The Paradise when it was already sold out before the line started. Polyphia is a band that has been doing more for guitar driven instrumental music in the current day and age of rock, than I think anyone is even close to admitting to. Every tour they go on, be it here in states or in other countries, sell out almost instantly. They have some of the most innovative records to date that are much more than meet the eye while Tim Henson and Scott LePage may actually be the reincarnations Steve Vai and Joe Satriani with the mind of a wacked out Hip-Hop producer for a millennial ear. They sold out the club and there were people begging for tickets outside the whole night, let’s dive into this night shall we?

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CONTERT REVIEW: Suicide Silence – Carnifex – Lorna Shore and Others – Live at Big Night Live 


The Chaos & Carnage Tour 2022 or as I’m referring to it, “Deathcore Christmas”, came to Big Night Live and left nothing in its wake. First-timers, party starters, with new and old school legends came to play. 

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CONCERT REVIEW: Rise Against – Pennywise – Stick To Your Guns: Live at The Worcester Palladium


The Nowhere Generation Tour rolled into Worcester, MA with Pennywise and Stick To Your Guns and I’ve had tickets to see Rise Against four separate times in my life, and every time I’ve had to bail last minute, this show has been a long time coming. This night of the tour was the first of the tour for Jim Lindberg and the rest of the boys in  Pennywise and Stick To Your Guns, so needless to say, the energy of the show was through the roof from the jump!

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CONCERT REVIEW: Dragonforce – Firewind – Visions of Atlantis – Seven Spires: Live at Worcester Palladium


October 9th, 2009. That was the last time I saw Dragonforce live, with Sonata Arctica and Taking Dawn so needless to say, I was very excited for this show… in the same venue as last time, no less! Added only to the fact that this tour has been on the minds of everyone that originally planned to see it last year when Unleash The Archers were on the bill, but we now have Firewind, Visions of Atlantis, and New England based titans Seven Spires to look forward to. Let’s stop wasting time and get into this symphonic and power-metal night of fun.

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CONCERT REVIEW: Unleash The Archers – Æther Realm – Seven Kingdoms: Live at The Middle East


I haven’t been to a show downstairs at The Middle East since 2014 when Septicflesh and Fleshgod Apocalypse tour together for the Conquerors of the World Tour, so needless to say, this was both an exciting and nostalgic night. Dragon plated shoulder armor, Dungeons and Dragons lore discussions, and a theory about a giant tortoise God that will take over the universe alongside Cthulhu fill the air with anticipation for the first band to take the stage. 

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