It is now coming up to three years since the tragic passing of Power Trip frontman, Riley Gale. A true performer and metal legend from the beginning of the musical career till the end. Acting as both a testament and memory capsule to Gale’s memory and legacy comes a live album from the band’s vault from 2018, deep into the band touring the seminal Nightmare Logic.
For a band named after one of ‘tallica’s finest songs from their early vintage period, you might be forgiven for thinking that Boundless Domain (MNRK Heavy) is a record full of modern Thrash Metal bangers … but you’d be wrong. Creeping Death purvey pure and unadulterated Death Metal, taking in all forms of the gory art with splashes of old-school, blackened, and doom thrown in the mixer.
Avenged Sevenfold are potentially one of the most divisive metal acts out of the US since Metallica. All you need to do is look at their previous two albums, 2013’s Hail To The King & 2016’s The Stage to see the extreme polar oppositions these albums created. The former for how the band wore their Metallica influence on their sleeve, creating their own version of The Black Album, and then the following 2016 release throwing all of their previous influences and sounds up in the air, bringing in outside sources from the likes of Pink Floyd, and creating a wholly new progressive rock/metal experience.
While paring Enforced’s third album, War Remains (Century Media) down to a violent interbreeding of Seasons In The Abyss and Nightmare Logic may seem a little unfair and reductive, nonetheless, it immediately focuses the mind on the sort of aggressive perfection you have in store on this utter treat of metallic pummelling. Continue reading
Enforcer has had some solid success in their career with their easily accessible traditional Heavy Metal style. With some many bands going back to more old-school stylings it’s easy for bands to get lost in the shuffle. Enforcer has been able to stand out ahead of the pack with consistent material and commitment to their style. While the band has constantly gone on record to state that they aren’t merely an old-school retro act, their latest album, entitled Nostalgia (Nuclear Blast) seems to beg to differ.
dreamstime_l_14823565 Photo 14823565 Slayer Jeff Hanneman c Tomas Hajek Dreamstime.com
Jeff Hanneman, legendary guitarist of Slayer passed away on May 2nd, 2013, ten years ago. Although the band continued for six more years without Jeff, they missed the co-founding Thrash Metal rhythm and lead guitar innovator. Ghost Cult continues to fly the flag of Slayer, high. In the time since he passed, Ghost Cult covered Slayer just as heavily in Jeff’s life, as they released a final studio album with Jeff’s contributions (Repentless), had a legend and friend hold down his spot live (Gary Holt of Exodus), released a comic book with Jeff’s likeness, completed their final world tour ever of two years, released an incredible film/music video trilogy (The Repentless Killogy), former bandmate DaveLombardo wrote a loving tribute to his fallen friend, and we have created two career-spanning retrospectives (read them here and here) on the end of the band. From the time Jeff passed and every night on that final world tour, Slayer honored Jeff during ‘Raining Blood’ with the “still reigning” banner. Hail Jeff and hail Slayer!
As I show up to Strummers, where Brujeria’s Matando Güeros 30th Anniversary Tour is playing tonight in Fresno, California, a fan ran up to the door and asked the guard if the show will still be happing in an hour. Walking into Strummers saddens me to not see a big crowd, but people spread out and some up close to the stage as Art of Shock is performing.
After teasing it for a while on social media, classic Bay Area Thrash band Forbidden has announced a reunion. Forbidden’s lineup now features original guitarist Craig Locicero and bassist Matt Camacho, guitarist Steve Smyth (ex-Testament, ex-Nevermore), drummer Chris Kontos (ex-Machine Head, ex-Testament), and vocalist Norman Skinner (Niviane). Forbidden’s will perform at Belgium’s Alcatraz Metal Festival in August, as their first show back. Past notable members include founding vocalist Russ Anderson, Robb Flynn (part of the Forbidden Evil lineup and release), Gene Hoglan, Paul Bostaph, Tim Calvert (RIP), Glen Avelais, and others. Forbidden’s last album was the excellent Omega Wave in 2010.
Get ready to embark on a musical journey like no other with our new series Sonic Voyage – the Discography show hosted by the one and only Ojayy of Ghost Cult Mag. For our first episode – Metallica! Whether you’re a die-hard music fanatic, or just wondering how many albums a band has, Sonic Voyage is the new destination for exploring the depths of the music world.
Queensrÿche brought their Digital Noise Alliance tour to The Marquee Theatre in Tempe, with fellow metal legends shredder Marty Friedman, and Bay Area thrash/heavy metallers Trauma (the original band Cliff Burton was in before he joined Metallica). Locals Show N Tell and Spiritual Suicide opened. Continue reading