FESTIVAL REVIEW: Milwaukee Metal Fest 2023 Live at The Rave – Eagles Club


The Rave/Eagles Club is an acclaimed live entertainment complex located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is a one-of-a-kind spot to catch a heavy metal show. The multi-stage and multi-floor building has a fascinating history and many music groups consider playing there a “rite of passage” as performers. The Milwaukee Metal Fest was launched in 1987 by music enthusiast and promoter Jack Koshick, which became one of the most renowned festivals for the heavy genres in the 1990s and early 2000s. All the greats from Slayer to Meshuggah to the Misfits were all part of the impressive lineups throughout the years until it shut down in 2004. After being absent for nearly twenty years, the fest has been brought back to life by Hatebreed‘s Jamey Jasta. He bought the rights in 2022 and put together a fest to take place on Memorial Day weekend at The Rave with some of the scene’s biggest bands. Continue reading


Jamey Jasta’s Milwaukee Metal Fest Adds Machine Head, Deeds of Flesh, Angelus Apatrida, Midnight, Warbringer, Bodysnatcher, Vended, Malignancy, Morta Skuld, Ripper Owens, and Pissing Razors


 

Milwaukee Metal Fest 2023 has added a slew of new bands including Milwaukee Metal Fest Books Machine Head, Deeds of Flesh, Angelus Apatrida, Midnight, Warbringer, Bodysnatcher, Vended, Malignancy, Morta Skuld, Ripper Owens,  Pissing Razors, and many more. Machine Head is a particular coup for the fest since they rarely do festivals, and none in the USA for many, many years. Hatebreed frontman and podcaster Jamey Jasta purchased the rights to the fest name in 2022, the rebooted event will take place on Memorial Day Weekend at The Rave/Eagles club. Get tickets at the link below. Previously announced to head up the fest are Lamb of God, Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies, Napalm Death, Dark Angel, The Black Dahlia Murder, Obituary, Shadows Fall, and many more will take part in the festival taking place Memorial Day Weekend 2023, May 25-27th, 

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Maryland Deathfest to Return in 2024


Gorguts at MDF 2014, photo by Hillarie Jason Photography

In a statement posted on social media, Maryland Deathfest has announced they will return! After a hiatus for 2023 the fest will return from May 23rd to May 26th, 2024. In a message to fans the co-founders of MDF discussed the hiatus and the the return as well as new dates for 2024. MDF 2024 will be their 20th fest in Baltimore. They did announce that aftert the upcoming London Desertfest, they are discontinuing all other festivals they have put on, Netherlands Deathfest, California Deathfest, and more will be no more. You can read a statement from the co-founders Ryan and Evan, below. MDF has operated for almost 20 years, put on 19 fests, and expanded to a global footprint, all while giving a greater voice to Death Metal, Avant-Garde Metal, Stoner Doom, and more genres, perhaps as much or more than any fest in the world.  Continue reading


Maryland Deathfest and Their Related Metalfests to Go On Hiatus in 2023


Gorguts at MDF 2014, photo by Hillarie Jason Photography

In a statement posted on social media, Maryland Deathfest is going on hiatus after the next MDF event in May 2022. That means in 2023 all of their related festivals are going on hiatus, including MDF, Netherlands Deathfest, California Deathfest, and more. You can read a statement from the co-founders Ryan and Evan, below. MDF has operated for almost 20 years, put on 19 fests, and expanded to a global footprint, all while giving a greater voice to Death Metal, Avant-Garde Metal, Stoner Doom, and more genres, perhaps as much or more than any fest in the world.  Continue reading


Internal Bleeding, Pyrexia, Cognitive, And Afterbirth Booked For East Coast Tribute To Erik R. Lindmark


As we previously reported, a tribute and benefit concert for late Deeds of Flesh and Unique Leader Records co-founder Erik R Lindmark, who passed away last month will be held in California tonight. Now a second event has been announced for February 2nd at Saint Vitus Bar, in Brooklyn, NY. Unique Leader artists Internal Bleeding, Pyrexia, Cognitive, and Afterbirth with all proceeds from the show going toward his daughter Bella’s fund. Continue reading


Memorial Show For Late Unique Leader Records Co-Founder Erik Lindmark Planned, GoFundMe Launched


Recently we learned of the passing of Deeds of Flesh guitarist and Unique Leader Records co-founder Erik R. Lindmark, who passed away on November 29th following a battle with sclerosis. Now a memorial concert and fundraiser has been booked, celebrating Erik’s life and supporting his family at this time. Taking place on December 20th at Sweet Springs Saloon in Los Osos, Ca and features performances by Crypolith and Stone Mountain. Donations will be accepted to benefit his wife and daughter. If you can’t attend, please consider donating to the GoFundMe campaign, which is supporting Erik’s wife and daughter. According to a press release by the label, more benefit shows are being planned. Continue reading


Unique Leader Records CEO & Founder, Erik Lindmark Has Died


In a blow to the heavy music community death metal musician and Unique Leader Records CEO & Founder, Erik Lindmark has passed away following a long illness. He was 46 years old. Erik built the label from scratch after his 1990s death metal band Deeds Of Flesh and his bandmates founded the essential label which has put countless death metal bands on the map. Unique Leader is planning to continue, but will not make any new releases in early 2019 to make a transition. A GoFundMe has been set up for Erik’s wife and child. We send our sympathies out to Erik’s family, friends and fans at this difficult time. Continue reading


Continuum Releasing The Hypothesis April 21st


continuum

Bay Area death metallers Continuum will be releasing their debut full length The Hypothesis on April 21, 2015 via Unique Leader Records.

The brain child of lead guitarist/composer Chase Fraser (Decrepit Birth, Animosity), Continuum was forged in 2009 and features the current working lineup of Fraser alongside guitarist Ivan Munguia (Arkaik, Deeds Of Flesh), vocalist Riley McShane (Son Of Aurelius), bassist Nick Willbrand (Flesh Consumed) and drummer Spencer Edwards (Son Of Aurelius). Together the Continuum collective provides a sound that rocks the very foundation of modern death metal.

Recorded mainly by Fraser with additional tracking and mixing by Zack Ohren (Suffocation, Fallujah, All Shall Perish et al.) at Castle Ultimate Studios, The Hypothesis delivers a scathing assemblage of engaging and abrasive compositions steeped conceptually in the mysteries of the infinite and the early but no-less-relevant and unsolved theories of the “continuum hypothesis.” This hypothesis was studied by a number of mathematicians including Georg Cantor in 1878, many of whom committed suicide before reaching a conclusion to the unfathomable question of infinity. This theme is brought to life by the lyrics of Mcshane, the artwork of Raymond Swanland (Deeds of Flesh, Psycroptic, Suffocation), and the mathematical compositions of Fraser.

The Hypothesis Track Listing:
01. Hypothesis: A Profound Discovery
02. The Epiphany
03. Hypothesis: Evolution
04. Absolute Zero
05. The Awakened Creator
06. Wasps In The History Of The Weak
07. Perspective
08. Where The Worlds Were Left
09. A Surreal Descent
10. The Steppes To Ascension

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