Sick New World 2025 is Canceled Citing “Unforeseen Circumstances” – Was to Have Hosted Metallica, Linkin Park, QOTSA, Evanescence, AFI, Ministry, Gojira, and More


After speculation by fans and industry pundits went wild for weeks, Sick New World 2025 has revealed they have canceled the planned event. hat event was scheduled to take place at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds in Las Vegas, NV on April 12th, 2025. Citing “Unforeseen Circumstances” the fest canceled in a post to their website and all social media. Fans have been promised full refunds within 30 days. This is the largest US festival cancelation since Blue Ridge Rock Festival went out of business and closed up shop just a few months after being announced. The lineup was to have featured a plethora of heavy hitters and legends featuring Metallica, Linkin Park, QOTSA, Evanescence, AFI, Ministry, Gojira, Acid Bath, The Flaming Lips, DOWN, Melvins, Testament, Meshuggah, Cannibal Corpse, Machine Head, Sisters of Mercy, Three Days Grace, Tomahawk, Cradle of Filth, Refused, Filter, Kittie, Terror, Mayhem, X, Poison the Well, The Hives, Carcass, Underoath, Daron Malakian’s Scars On Broadway, Sponge, Quicksand, Exodus, Stabbing Westward, Orgy, Lacuna Coil, The Birthday Massacre, Seven Hours After Violet, Dethklok, Dope, Scowl, Show Me The Body, Napalm Death, Dope, Arch Enemy, Twin Tribes, and more! The message from the fest also asked fans to stay tuned for future information regarding the fest. Continue reading


Sick New World 2025 Books Metallica, Linkin Park, QOTSA, Evanescence, AFI, Ministry, Gojira, Acid Bath, The Flaming Lips, Down, Melvins, Testament, Meshuggah, Cannibal Corpse, Machine Head, and More


Sick New World 2025 has revealed their huger lineup featuring Metallica, and now Linkin Park, QOTSA, Evanessence, AFI, Ministry, Gojira, Acid Bath, The Flaming Lips, DOWN, Melvins, Testament, Meshuggah, Cannibal Corpse, Machine Head, Sisters of Mercy, Three Days Grace, Tomahawk, Cradle of Filth, Refused, Filter, Kittie, Terror, Mayhem, X, Poison the Well, The Hives, Carcass, Underoath, Daron Malakian’s Scars On Broadway, Sponge, Quicksand, Exodus, Stabbing Westward, Orgy, Lacuna Coil, The Birthday Massacre, Seven Hours After Violet, Dethklok, Dope, Scowl, Show Me The Body, Napalm Death, Dope, Arch Enemy, Twin Tribes, and more!  The presale starts Friday 10/18 at 10am PT. You are signed up and will receive the presale code that morning. Tickets start as low as 19.99 down. Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Riot Fest 2024 Part 2 Live at Douglass Park


The heat raged on, and so did Riot Fest. After night one’s stellar lineup, Riot Fest’s second day continued to showcase the exciting and diverse lineup that the festival had in store. With alternative music icon Beck as Saturday night’s headliner, the day was infused with alternative rock, pop, and everything in between.Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Riot Fest 2024 Part 1 Live at Douglas Park


Benjamin Franklin said nothing in this world is certain except for war, death, and taxes. If he were around today, there’s no question he might consider adding Riot Fest to that list of definitive certainties.

Once again, Chicago held its very own Riot Fest – one of music’s most renowned Punk music festivals – in Douglass Park. Despite original plans to move the festival to the suburbs in Bridgeview, a month before the fest was to take place it was announced that Riot Fest would once again be held in Douglass Park as usual.Continue reading


Riot Fest Announces its Return to Chicago’s Douglass Park After an Initial Move


After deliberations with the Mayor of Chicago’s office, the Chicago Park District’s leadership, and Alderwoman Monique L. Scott, Riot Fest has decided to relocate the festival from the SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview back to its original home at Chicago’s Douglass Park. This is effective immediately for the 2024 festival! Continue reading


GIVEAWAY: Last Chance to Win Passes to Riot Fest to See The Return of Slayer, with Rob Zombie, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Suicidal Tendencies, Offspring, NOFX and More


For the second time this summer, we are giving fans a chance to attend Riot Fest 2024, the iconic annual punk rock and alternative music festival! Well known as a festival home to Punk, Hardcore, legendary Alternative Rock is going particularly Metal this year! Home to the exclusive and very first reunion show from Slayer, the fest will also host Rob Zombie, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Suicidal Tendencies, Clutch, GWAR, Drug Church, HEALTH, Brutus, Sunami, GEL, Lord of The Lost, Poison The Well, Pixel Grip, and more!  In addition to the recent announcement of the daily lineups, the fest has announced shuttle service, a community band contest in the Lawndale & Little Village neighborhoods and more! This year’s festival will take place at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, from September 20-22nd, featuring 90+ bands over 3-days, and will feature RiotLand, an immersive “Choose Your Own Adventure” world that promises to elevate the festival experience to new heights. Riot Fest, while reluctant to leave its longtime home in Chicago, made the difficult decision to relocate due to issues with the Park District, which paved the way for RiotLand, a 3-day version of which will be explorable on the Riot Fest website starting tomorrow. Fans can double tap their way through the various locations in this punk rock town. The giveaway ends in a few days, so enter to win now!Continue reading


GIVEAWAY: Riot Fest Announces Single Day Band Lineup, Shuttle Service to RiotLand and the Community Band Contest


Beck @ Chbm89 dreamstime_s_51047408

UPDATED: Win another pair of tickets to Riot Fest from Ghost Cult below!

Riot Fest, the iconic annual punk rock and alternative music festival, is excited to announce its 2024 daily lineup, shuttle service, a community band contest in the Lawndale & Little Village neighborhoods and more! This year’s festival will take place at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, from September 20-22nd, featuring 90+ bands over 3-days, and will feature RiotLand, an immersive “Choose Your Own Adventure” world that promises to elevate the festival experience to new heights. Riot Fest, while reluctant to leave its longtime home in Chicago, made the difficult decision to relocate due to issues with the Park District, which paved the way for RiotLand, a 3-day version of which will be explorable on the Riot Fest website starting tomorrow. Fans can double tap their way through the various locations in this punk rock town.Continue reading


Riot Fest 2024 Books Fall Out Boy, Beck, Slayer, Pavement, St. Vincent, NOFX, Rob Zombie, Bright Eyes, Sublime, The Offspring, GWAR, Dr. Dog, Mastodon, Suicidal Tendencies, Laura Jane Grace, and More


Riot Fest, the iconic annual punk rock and alternative music festival, is excited to announce its 2024 lineup, along with the introduction of an innovative new world, and a venue change, now with parking! This year’s festival will take place at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, from September 20-22nd, featuring 90+ bands over 3-days, and will feature RiotLand, an immersive “Choose Your Own Adventure” world that promises to elevate the festival experience to new heights.Continue reading


END OF YEAR GUEST POST: Justin Pierrot of Stormland – Top 15 Albums of 2023


We are still wrapping up all the goodness of 2023 with some fun guest posts from bands, friends, and fiends! Check out this list from Mobile-suit Gundam-inspired Technical Death Metal artist Justin Pierrot of Stormland! Justin is working on a new release for 2024, following his stellar last album, The Human Cost!

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Ghost Cult’s Album of the Year Countdown 2023: Part 1 (75-41)


 

2013 saw Ghost Cult crown Surgical Steel (Carcass) as our inaugural Album of the Year in a democratic aggregated vote process, untouched by editorial hands (other than the sliding of the abacus balls from one side to the other – or rather the logging of votes and the use of a rather rudimentary spreadsheet), a format we continue to utilise as the years pass, and the seasons grey. Our dedicated team of writers, editors, photographers make their submissions on demand following a month of much wringing-of-hands and profanities being aimed into the editorial mailbox.Continue reading