Vans Warped Tour Tickets On Sale, Lineup Announcement Tonight


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Tickets for the 2016 Vans Warped Tour, Presented By Journeys went on sale today at 10 AM local time.

Following the on sales which are expected to be brisk as in many years, the formal announcement of most of the lineup will be this evening at the Warped Tour event, live streamed from Full Sail University in Winter Park Florida. If you can’t be there in person, feel free to follow the event on Warped Tours’ social networks. In addition to the lineup unveiling, there ill be live performance from Warped bands. As reported this weekend, a leaked poster has revealed most of the supposed lineup, although the festival has neither confirmed or denied this.

 

Warped Tour 2016 webslider ghostcultmag


Guest Post: Joseph Spiller Of Caricature- End Of Year List


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As we dash towards the holidays and the end of the year Ghost Cult is feeling good about this season of giving. So we are giving our fans a chance to get to know our partners, peers, and friends  from bands in the world of music. They will chime in with some guest blogs, end of year lists, and whatever else is on their minds as we pull the plug on 2015. Today we have Joseph Spiller of progressive metal band Caricature. Caricature put out the acclaimed Shadows: Maxi Single this summer have a full-length in the works for 2016. Here is Joseph’s “Most Topesty Cool Favorite Releases of 2015”.


1. Tigran HamsayanMockroot

Tigran Hamasayan - Mockroot album cover 2015

How often can an album tote a definite influence of Meshuggah, Dave Brubeck, Keith Jarret, and Porcupine Tree? Add on top that this is still a pure jazz record? Pfffft. This is the sound of someone furthering and redefining a genre.

 

2. Fetty WapFetty Wap

Yeah, before anyone says it sucks because it’s not metal, listen to this record. Fetty is all hits, all the time. Zoogang knows how to make pop hooks as if it’s in their DNA.


3. Steven Wilson Hand.Cannot.Erase

Steven Wilson, by Melina D Photography

Steven Wilson, by Melina D Photography


Backing band of the century along with the golden god of Prog. Though it gets overly self-indulgent from time to time, Hand.Cannot.Erase is absolutely stunning.

4. Psycroptic Psycroptic

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Do you even riff, Bro? Joe Haley most definitely does.

 

5. GhostMeliora

Ghost, by Meg Loyal Photography

Ghost, by Meg Loyal Photography


I never got the hype on this band. I actually disliked almost everything prior to Meliora, but goddamn, did Papa bring that A-game with this heavily Dave Grohl “inspired” record.

 

6. Abigail Williams The Accuser

Abigail Williams The Accuser
Who doesn’t love a good comeback? Possibly the best thing Ken Sorceron has ever done. Crushing and beautiful with rich song structures. BUY THIS RECORD NOW!

 

7. Lamb of GodVII: Sturm Und Drang

Lamb of God, by Evil Robb Photography

Lamb of God, by Evil Robb Photography


After all that went on with Randy, the band came back and tell that tale along with snapshot a troubled time in the world perfectly. The riffs and drumming on this record are some of their best to date, and Josh Wilbur killed it on the production side.

8. Baroness Purple Record

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Another “Comeback Record” of sorts. Stronger, more refined, defined. The mesh of only the finest points of Yellow & Green mixed lush instrumentation and what sounds like an intense infatuation with The Cure. This one has it all.

9. Ellie GouldingDelirium

Ellie Goulding - Delirium album cover - Copy
Though not an immensely technical singer, Goulding has a golden voice. The slight raspiness and harmonically rich tambre makes me envious. This album is LONG for the pop genre, but its all top quality with fantastic hooks meshed with smooth beats and tranquil melodies.


10. Solution .45Nightmares In The Waking State

Solution 45 - Nightmares In The Waking State album cover - Copy
If you don’t know who this band is, we probably cannot be friends. GROOVES

EXTREMELY HONORABLE MENTION:
I’ll be MeSoundtrack

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The delayed release of the soundtrack to the documentary about the legendary guitar player, singer, songwriter, and former member of The Wrecking Crew, Glen Campbell, who has been battling Alzheimer’s Disease for the past few years. This has two live songs from his final tour that will blow your mind considering his state, along with songs from his daughter that will make you cry while your heart flutters. The title track, penned by Mr. Campbell himself as a final letter to his wife and family will give you goosebumps (unless you don’t have a heart.

 

Caricature on Facebook

Caricature on Bandcamp

Caricature on Twitter


Neshiima – Beware of Gifts


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Despite only having a handful of bands playing that style, Nu-Djent/Djent-hop may well be one of the most divisive genres in metal nowadays.  Glaswegian five-piece Neshiima not only fall into that category, but have thrown in a grand concept into their latest release.

Self-released via GoFundMe, Beware of Gifts is the second release from the band –– following on from last year’s Distance EP. The mini-album’s concept centres around the Japanese myth of Urashima Taro; where a fisherman rescues a turtle, visits a dragon god under the sea, and time travels.

That sounds like a recipe for something pretty expansive/potentially pretentious, the concept doesn’t overpower the music, and really just makes for some nice artwork. Musically, Neshiima have their fingers in a lot of pies. Anyone familiar with the groove and grime of Devastator or Hacktivist will be in familiar ground, but the rapping is only one part. Liam Hasslewood does a decent job of showing off his vocal range, managing to combine harsh screams reminiscent of an early Corey Taylor and decent – if occasionally a little lacklustre – clean vocals all into one package.

If early Slipknot had a Djent-phase, they’d probably sound pretty similar to Neshiima; it’s aggressive, it’s melodic, with a twist of rapping that fans of UK grime music might enjoy. The Meshuggah-inspired palm mute riffs are an ever present; enjoyable but lacking variety – a problem with the entire Djent movement. The good tracks work very well; ‘Those Who Suffer’ is a good example of all the sporadic parts of their sounding coming together, ‘The Cycle’ packs a good heavy/light punch, while album closer ‘Play You Part’ is probably the highlight of the record.

But while clearly fans of the soaring melodic chorus, Beware of Gifts is guilty of being steadfastly mid-tempo most of the way through. While there is variety in both the vocals and the riffs on offer, nonetheless Neshiima never really get the blood pumping.  ‘Above the Storm’ falls short, lead single ‘Become the Storm’ has the variety but lacks any real impact, while ‘So Easy’ passes by without leaving much of an impression.

Neshiima know how to do heavy, and have a talent for blending all the elements into one mixing pot, but the melodic elements often fall flat and aren’t memorable. But they have managed to put a spin on things and there really aren’t many bands who sound like them, so that should be applauded. Potentially ones for the future.

 

6.0/10

 

DAN SWINHOE


Cold World – How the Gods Chill


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When a band has as prominent an underground reputation as Cold World it is hard to miss the hype that’s been surrounding the release of their latest album, How The Gods Chill (Deathwish). As a new listener to the band, their reputation certainly preceded and it was hard not to start the album with high hopes. Firmly rooted in their usual hardcore style, this record also mixes influences from the rap scene, collaborating with artists like Kool G and Meyhem Lauren.

Despite not usually a fan of rap, this rapidly pans out as the most exciting part of the album with ‘Hell’s Direction’ beginning being one of the few genuinely enjoyable moments. The main vocals in comparison lack any real depth and, despite switching between shouted and sung sections, fail to add any life or interest to the music. It’s obvious these musicians are proficient, however, like the vocals, the music’s lack of any real variation quickly leads to the album becoming repetitive and boring.

The riffs may have a slightly punk feel but the music wanders too often into the realms of catchy, which is at odds when the band is so busy also trying to be angry. Cold World may be trying to capture the struggle of real life struggles however whatever rawness they manage to capture is quickly counteracted by the polished production sound.

While the band may have a steady stream of followers and continue to build a strong reputation on the underground, there is very little about this album that really inspires. While the hardcore scene continues to produce a wealth of talented artists and exceptional albums, anyone would be forgiven for giving this one a miss.

3.0/10

Cold World on Facebook 

 

CAITLIN SMITH


Biohazard – Death Threat – Death Before Dishonor – Sworn Enemy at the Presidents Rock Club, Quincy MA


Ajax 10What a venue name for one of the most ignant shows I have laid eye and fist upon to date. After some difficulty with finding the guest list, I was admitted inside despite my age not being quite 21. Whoops. Thanks Colin (of Arabia?) for the oversight!Continue reading