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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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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Jamey Jasta’s Milwaukee Metal Fest 2023 Books Lamb Of God, Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies, Napalm Death, Dark Angel, The Black Dahlia Murder, Obituary, Shadows Fall, and More! 


 

Milwaukee Metal Fest 2023 has announced its comeback for 2023! The iconic, midwestern, multi-day event was the stuff of legends and is returning to prominence in 2023. Hatebreed frontman and podcaster Jamey Jasta purchased the rights last year and today announces the lineup for Milwaukee Metal Fest 2023. The rebooted event will take place on Memorial Day Weekend at The Rave/Eagles club. Get tickets at the link below. 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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GUEST POST: Greg Burgess of Allegaeon Shares His Top Albums of 2022


As one of of the axe-slinger supremes of the band Allegaeon, Greg Burgess is an expert at metal, not just riffs. His own band put out an album worthy of Ghost Cult’s Albums of the Year list, Damnum (Metal Blade), which you should get. We are super-stoked that Greg shared his list of Top Metal Albums of 2022 with Ghost Cult!  

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STAFF PICKS: Ghost Cult Senior Editor Steve Tovey’s Top Albums of 2022


Less waffle, more riffs. Favourite, not “best”. Here’s my Top 25 for you all (ranking is fairly nominal, and often based on gut at the point of submission). Lorna Shore ripped my head off, too, but I’ve only listened to it twice as I didn’t get to it at the point of release. That’s my one main omission (I think).Continue reading


Ghost Cult’s Albums of the Year 2022 Part 3 (20 – 1)


Press on, intrepid reader, to find out our top albums of 2022, as voted for by the cast, crew and hangers-on of the good ship Ghost Cult. Over 275 albums were nominated (including one stray and errant vote for Stryper… we’ve had words), some people lauded albums as the greatest of all time that no one else noticed, other albums picked up a steady stream of votes across the board without tickling the top of anyone’s charts, but through it all, we’ve been able to compile our team list of the best 75 albums of the year. And there are some absolute corkers, here. 75 of them, to be exact…

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Graspop Metal Meeting Books Pantera, Slipknot, Disturbed, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, Kreator, Meshuggah, Gojira, Parkway Drive, Testament, Voivod, and More


 

Pantera, Disturbed, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, Architects, Behemoth, Kreator, Meshuggah, Gojira, Parkway Drive, Testament, Voivod are among the 103 artists who have been added to the 26th edition of the Graspop Metal Meeting, set to take place June 15-18, 2023 in Dessel, Belgium. Tickets are on sale tomorrow at the links below. Continue reading


Watch Behind The Scenes Footage of Machine Head Performing in Dublin


Machine Head currently on a co-headline tour of Europe with Amon Amarth and The Halo Effect! Read our review here. The band recently released their 10th album Of Kingdom and Crown on August 26th, 2022 via Nuclear Blast/Imperium Recordings, They also made a surprise appearance at Bloodstock Open Air land also booked an intimate tour of the USA.Watch the clip now!

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Download Japan Festival 2022 Books Dream Theater, Bullet For My Valentine, Mastodon, At The Gates and More


After a two year wait, the third ever Download Festival Japan will be held this summer on August 14, 2022 at the Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Center in Chiba. Dream Theater And Bullet For My Valentine will headline this year’s edition, along with Mastodon, Steel Panther, At The Gates and The Halo Effect, and more bands to be announced. Continue reading