The lineup for the 2023 Blue Ridge Rock Festival is now official.
Festival organizers announced the full lineup for the festival Thursday. This year’s festival, which is scheduled to take place Sept. 7-10 at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, VA, includes a number of established and up-and-coming acts.
Among the most notable of the acts set to perform at this year’s festival are the likes of Slipknot, Machine Head, Exodus, Testament, Overkill, Dope, Five Finger Death Punch, Lamb of God, Of Mice & Men, and Shinedown. Also on the bill for this year’s festival are the likes of Finger Eleven, Danzig, Megdeth, and I Prevail.
Among the most notable of the up-and-coming acts on the festival’s schedule this year are the likes of Psychostick, Heartsick, and Spiritbox.
Nonpoint, 10 Years, Scott Stapp, Tantric and others will perform as part of the festival’s pre-party.
Single-day passes, 3-day general admission, 4-day General Admission and VIP packages are all available now here. Audiences can also purchase weekend or single-day passes now for 25% down as part of the festival’s 3-month payment plan.
More information on the 2023 Blue Ridge Rock Festival is available at:
Late last week, up-and-coming independent metal outfit Raider announced a new tour schedule set to launch this month. The North American tour, which is scheduled to launch April 14 in Toronto, ON and to run through May 14 in St. Catherine’s ON, also features performances scheduled in cities, such as Boise, ID; Los Angeles, CA and Two Rivers, WI. The upcoming month-long tour is in support of the band’s forthcoming sophomore album, Trial By Chaos. Scheduled for independent release Friday by the band, this eight-song record shows promise for the band as potentially one of the next big names in the hard rock and metal community. That is proven in part through its featured musical arrangements, which will be discussed shortly. The lyrical themes that accompany the intense musical content adds even more to the album’s appeal and will be discussed a little later. The sequencing of the overall content across the album’s 39-minute run time rounds out the album’s most important elements and puts the finishing touch to its presentation. To that end it will also be addressed later. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of Trial By Chaos. All things considered they make Trial By Chaos a sleeper hit among this year’s field of new hard rock and metal albums and independent albums.
Trial By Chaos, the forthcoming sophomore album from Raider is a presentation that metal fans and the band’s established audiences alike will appreciate. That is due in part to the record’s featured musical arrangements. From the record’s outset to its final bars, the arrangements featured across the album blend elements of thrash and death metal within each work, creating plenty of engagement and entertainment. While the style is relatively the same from one song to the next, leading to comparisons to works from the likes of Arch Enemy, Exodus, and Testament. The changes in the arrangements are just enough that the sounds actually change from song to song even as the general overarching thrash and death metal approach remains throughout the album. The result here is a collection of songs that both in terms of sound and style offer audiences plenty to appreciate right from the beginning. This forms a solid foundation for the album’s presentation.
Building on the foundation formed by the album’s musical content is the lyrical content that accompanies said material. From one song to the next, the themes presented in the record are mostly positive. Though there is also at least a little bit of sociopolitical commentary in the single, ‘Rite of Conquest.’ When the band premiered the single in early February, it noted in a collective, prepared statement, the theme is that of humanity being so driven toward conquest that it has turned that drive to other planets. In the bigger picture, this is a commentary about human greed and desire to control everything, especially through military force.
In regards to its positive, motivating content, audiences need look no further than ‘Fearless,’ which serves as the album’s midpoint, and the album’s title track, which opens the record. ‘Fearless’ finds front man Angelo Bonaccorso delivering a message of internal strength in the song’s lead verse and chorus as he sings/screams, “Binding round the mind/Fear does form a cage/Marvelous was the dream/But the terror was great/Binding nigh deep inside/Pulsing through the veins/Claws clutching my very fate/Under the gun I’ll never bend/I’m a thorn in the flesh of doom’s evil hand/Fearless to the end.” This message of facing off against all of that negativity in life, including in one’s own mind is not unfamiliar in the metal community, but even here it is just as hard hitting as in any other song. The impact of the message continues in the song’s second verse, in which Bonaccorso sings/screams, “Futile to resistance/The battle’s in the brain/Trapped between chaos within and the entropy of space/Unknown adversity lying in wait/Time slowly grinding away.” Even here, this comes across as a reference to battling mental health issues before the determination to overcome that negativity returns again in the chorus’ refrain. The sense of determination to fight on continues even more in-depth in the song’s third verse. There is a lot more in the third verse, but suffice it to say, the message here is entirely positive. Together with everything else in the song, the overall lyrical content presents a welcome theme of overcoming the battle and winning the fight. When that positive message is paired with the song’s equally fiery musical arrangement, the whole makes the power in the song’s lyrical message all the more impacting.
Moving backward to the album’s title track/opener, this song’s theme also centers on overcoming adversity, but in this case it is more of a generalized adversity, more so than mental health. This is inferred as Bonaccorso sings/screams in the song’s lead verse and chorus, “Everlasting awakened abomination/The maelstrom that devours all of creation/Opens wide its spiral maw/Guiding fire/Steel me against all destruction/From wisdom, let chaos crawl/No force of evil can break my resolve/I will outlast them all/Trial by chaos/Bound for glory/My purpose is one/Trial by chaos/Endure the fury/Or fall to oblivion.” This opener makes one think of perhaps the awakening of Cthulu or something similar, but the overall message is, again, quite clearly just that of facing negative in life; of being single-minded in overcoming that adversity, whatever it may be. The message is furthered in the song’s second verse, which states, “Unafraid/I’ll never fall/When chaos reigns/You’ll find me still standing tall/I vow to stand triumphant/Let courage bind my bones/In this should I fail/my soul will turn to stone/And so I descend deep into the unknown/Twisting through the darkness/With this ancient formless foe.” The song returns to its chorus again from here, reiterating that strength against that evil, that negative force. It is yet another example of the positive messages presented throughout the album. The album’s penultimate entry, ‘Juggernaut Cerebrivore’ is yet another positive message that is also a commentary.
The commentary and message presented in ‘Juggernaut Cerebrivore’ comes across as being that of promoting individuality and not letting businesses control us. This is inferred in the song’s lead verse and chorus, which state, “Spellbound human mind/New currency of greed/Boiled brains will oil the iron jaws of industry/High up on its throne/Spreading mighty wings/Juggernaut Cerebrivore deceives/All the world enslaved by this illusion/Bowing down, still, at the master’s feet/Another trophy for the empire of lies/Submission of your soul to their machine/From awakening to the end of our days/We are the offering. Buying their way/Bled on the altar of ill-gotten gain/The one million serve while the one gilds his grave.” This is a powerful, unique way to address the matter of the power that industry and capitalism has on the world. From the amount of focus we put on working and making money for others, to spending so those in higher positions can live comfortable lives (and deaths) this seeming theme is delivered in quite the engaging fashion here. The message continues as the band promotes the noted individuality in the song’s second verse, which states, “Autonomy of thought/Circling the drain/Infiltrator binding to your brain/Surrendered to the screen/Reprogrammed through the eyes/Juggernaut Cerebrivore divides.” In this case, the song is noting television and the internet is that juggernaut, and the role it has in dividing us, preventing us from thinking for ourselves. So between those forces and the impact of industry, the song is addressing the forces that control us and eliminate our individuality, turning us into a singularity of sorts. It is yet another powerful theme that while familiar in its own right, is certain to resonate with audiences because of the unique way in which it is presented. When it is considered along with the themes noted in the other songs examined here and with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole makes clear the power of the album’s lyrical themes.
When the overall lyrical content featured throughout Trial By Chaos is considered alongside the album’s overall musical content, that whole does more than enough to keep audiences engaged and entertained. The sequencing of said content puts the finishing touch to the presentation. As noted, the energy in this record is constant from the album’s outset to its end. Even in a moment such as the opening bars of ‘Juggernaut Cerebrivore’ the subtlety used in the song’s opening bars is only temporary and does so well to lead into the powerhouse presentation that follows. The constant energy in the songs that pairs with the constantly changing sounds in the arrangements joins with the constantly engaging lyrical themes to make the whole fully engaging and entertaining for the band’s audiences and metal fans alike. The overall presentation makes Trial By Chaos an easy candidate for one of this year’s top new hard rock and metal albums and even new independent albums.
Trial By Chaos, the forthcoming sophomore album from Raider, is a powerful new offering from the independent metal outfit. It is a record that is certain to appeal to a wide range of audiences. That is due in part to its featured musical arrangements. The arrangements are each full throttle compositions that expertly blend elements of thrash and death metal for a whole that impresses from beginning to end. That is because even as the style remains the same from song to song, the styles change just enough to keep things interesting in each song. The lyrical themes that accompany the record’s musical arrangements are all familiar topics but are presented in such fashion that they are original, and in turn just as engaging and entertaining as the album’s musical arrangements. The sequencing of said content brings everything together, completing the album’s presentation. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered they make the album a sleeper hit among this year’s field of new hard rock and metal albums, and independent albums.
Trial By Chaos is scheduled for release independently by the band Friday. Pre-orders are open now here. The album’s track listing is noted below.
Trial By Chaos Track Listing:
Trial by Chaos
Rite of Conquest
New Dominion
Fearless
Labyrinth
Ark of Empyrea
Juggernaut Cerebrivore
Devour the Darkness
The schedule for Raider’s upcoming tour in support of its new album is noted below:
RAIDER Trial By Chaos North American Tour:
Friday, April 14 – Toronto, ON – Bovine Sex Club Saturday, April 15 – Windsor, ON – Chelsea Underground Sunday, April 16 – London, ON – Rum Runner’s Monday, April 17 – Jeffersonville, IN – Losers 812 Wednesday, April 19 – San Antonio, TX – HiTones Thursday, April 20 – Houston, TX – Acadia Friday, April 21 – Euless/Dallas, TX – Big Rob’s Saturday, April 22 – Albuquerque, NM – Ren’s Den Sunday, April 23 – Tempe, AZ – The Beast Monday, April 24 – Tucson, AZ – The Edge Wednesday, April 26 – Los Angeles, CA – The Redwood Thursday, April 27 – Fresno, CA – The Great Room Saturday, April 29 – San Francisco, CA – Thee Parkside Sunday, April 30 – Portland, OR – High Watermark Monday, May 1 – Vancouver, BC – Bully’s Tuesday, May 2 – Seattle, WA – Funhouse Wednesday, May 3 – Boise, ID – The Shredder Thursday, May 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – Aces High Saloon Friday, May 5 – Colorado Springs, CO – Vultures Sunday, May 7 – Des Moines, IA – Lefty’s Tuesday, May 9 – Menomonie, WI – Zymurgy Brewing Wednesday, May 10 – Two Rivers, WI – Whisky D’s Thursday, May 11 – Hamilton, ON – Doors Pub Saturday, May 13 – Kitchener, ON – Maxwell’s Sunday, May 14 – St. Catherine’s, ON – The Warehouse
More information on Raider’s new album and is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Thrash metal band Space Chaser premiered the video for its latest single to kick off the week.
The band debuted the video for its new single, ‘Juggernaut’ Monday. The video features the band performing its new single in what looks like some sort of industrial factory type of setting as a backdrop. That footage is complimented with a story of a rather large armored vehicle making its way across an alien landscape, firing at anything that moves as the song plays over the whole.
The band talked about the video’s concept and how it works with the song in a prepared statement:
“Freeze your ass off in a Berlin club for two days and assemble a disrupted desert landscape from another planet? We thought that was a fantastic Space Chaser idea!,” The statement reads. “Together with our buddies from Peregrine Films we brought the Juggernaut – the merciless, warmongering monster – to life and sent him on a destructive journey. In well known “sci-fi meets thrash metal” style, we deliver the matching short film for our song “Juggernaut” and headbang our brains out along the way. Watch out that you don’t get buried under the tank chains! BOOM!”
The musical arrangement featured in ‘Juggernaut’ will resonate almost immediately with audiences. The riffing lends itself so easily to comparison to works from the likes of Accept, Testament, and the band’s Metal Blade Records label mates in Artillery. Even with this in mind, the arrangement still boasts its own identity separate from those acts’ works, making it all the more engaging and entertaining.
‘Juggernaut’ is featured in Space Chaser’s 2021 album, Give Us Life.
Courtesy: Metal Blade Records
In other news, Space Chaser is scheduled to head out on a brief nine-day tour Thursday in Osnabruck, Germany. The short tour run is scheduled to last through March 11 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The tour’s schedule is noted below:
02.03.22 DE Osnabrück Bastard Club 03.03.23 DE Oberhausen Kulttempel (Thrash Speed Burn Festival) 04.03.23 NL Arnhem Willemeen 05.03.23 BE Bree Ragnarock 06.03.23 DE Siegen Vortex 07.03.23 DE Wiesbaden Schlachthof 08.03.23 DE München Backstage 09.03.23 AT Wien Viper Room 10.03.23 DE Leipzig Bandhaus 11.03.23 NL Eindhoven Welcome to Hell Festival
More information on Space Chaser’s new video and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Kreator and Sepultura are bringing their “Klash of the Titans Tour” to the United States this spring.
The bands are set to launch the co-headlining tour May May 12 in Harrisburg, PA. The tour is scheduled to run through June 10 in New York, NY. It will feature performances in cities nationwide, such as Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA.
The tour’s schedule is noted below. Tickets are available through Sepultura’s official website and that of Kreator.
KLASH OF THE TITANS North America 2023 KREATOR + SEPULTURA Co-Headline Tour Special Guests: DEATH ANGEL + SPIRITWORLD May 12 – Harrisburg, PA May 13 – Worcester, MA * May 14 – Niagara Falls, NY May 15 – Silver Springs, MD * May 17 – McKees Rocks, PA May 18 – Charlotte, NC * May 19 – Atlanta, GA May 22 – Dallas, TX * May 23 – San Antonio, TX May 25 – Phoenix, AZ May 26 – San Diego, CA * May 27 – Los Angeles, CA May 28 – San Francisco, CA * May 30 – Seattle, WA * May 31 – Vancouver, BC Jun 02 – Salt Lake City, UT * Jun 03 – Denver, CO Jun 05 – Minneapolis, MN * Jun 06 – Chicago, IL Jun 08 – Toronto, ON * Jun 09 – Montreal, QC Jun 10 – New York, NY *
* SEPULTURA Closing
Sepultura Andreas Kisser said he is looking forward to joining Kreator on the road, especially because Kreator was “a very strong influence in our early days.” He said “it’s great to see they (Kreator) are stronger than ever.”
Mille Petroza, Krator front man shared Kisser’s enthusiasm about the tour, saying “I’m really happy to be back in the U.S. this May with the mightiest of all…Sepultura.”
Both men said they were also equally looking forward to sharing the stage with Death Angel, which, along with Spiritworld, will be a special guest on the tour.
Kreator’s tour with Sepultura is just one live run the band has scheduled. The band is scheduled to join Lamb of God and Municipal Waste for the “State of Unrest 2023 Tour” starting Feb. 15 in Munich, Germany. Tickets are available for that tour here.
The band is also scheduled to join Testament for a handful of dates in South America from April 19 to May 2. Tickets are available for that tour here.
More information on the tour is available along with all of Sepultura’s latest news at:
Late this past September, veteran power metal band Stratovarius returned with what is now its 16th album in the form of Survive. Released Sept. 23 through earMusic, the record more than seven years after the release of the band’s then latest album, Eternal (2015). The new album’s release has given audiences reason to be excited as is. The recent announcement of a scheduled performance April 23 at Metal Fest alongside the likes of Kreator, Testament, and Accept in support of Survive has given audiences even more reason to be excited for the band. Survive is a welcome addition to this year’s field of new hard rock and metal albums and proves it was well worth the wait. This is proven in part through the record’s features musical arrangements, which will be discussed shortly. The lyrical themes that accompany the record’s musical arrangements are just as important in the album’s appeal as its musical arrangements and will be examined a little later. The record’s production rounds out its most important elements and will also be discussed later. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album. All things considered they make Survive another powerful offering from Stratovarius that is also among the best of this year’s new hard rock and metal albums.
Survive, the latest album from Stratovarius, is an impressive new offering from the veteran power metal band that will appeal to a wide range of hard rock and metal audiences, including the band’s established audience base. Its appeal comes in part through its featured musical arrangements. The arrangements are once again a variety of fully engaging and entertaining power metal compositions for the most part. The only time when the band pulls back at all comes late in the record’s 57-minute run as the band makes its way through the contemplative opus, ‘Breakaway.’ Even in that moment, the contemplative approach is limited to the song’s verses. The choruses meanwhile are just as energetic and fiery as the rest of the album’s content. As with so much of Stratovarius’ existing work, the arrangements featured here immediately lend themselves to comparison to works from the likes of Sabaton, Visions of Atlantis, and Dragonforce in the best way possible. Stylistically, the arrangements are similar but in terms of the general sound, each song still boasts its own identity separate from those of the other noted bands and even from other songs that Satratovarius has crafted throughout its extensive catalog. To that end, the arrangements featured in this record are unquestionably important to this album.
The musical arrangements featured in Survive are just part of what makes the album appealing. The lyrical themes that accompany that content add even more to that appeal. That is because of their diversity and accessibility. Right from the record’s outset, the band delivers an uplifting, encouraging message of determination and perseverance in the album’s title track. The band noted in an interview about the song that it was inspired by everything that the band has been through over the course of its life and that it is by connection, a song about survival. Longtime front man Timo Kotipelto sings on the theme in the song’s lead verse and chorus, “I have seen the truth/I’ve seen it in my dream/I have found my voice/But don’t know what to say/Oh, I have lost my way/And no one’s here to find me/I loathe my loneliness/I hate the emptiness/I’m hanging on a wire/Ablaze and set on fire/Waiting for the crack to come/I snap and let it go/I fall through the darkness/About to lose it all/I fall against the odds/I played and lost it all/Saw the future/Now it’s gone/Only the strong will survive/I will try to find the strength inside/Only the strong will survive/I will not give up/As long as I’m alive/Only the strong will survive.” The self doubt and eventual determination exhibited here in the first verse and chorus is continued in the song’s second verse, furthering the encouragement to push on as Kotipelto sings, “An eternal road where demons go to die/Runs through this barren land/Where my madness lies/Have I now lost my mind/Am I mute, deaf and blind/I scream without a sound/I just can’t let it out.” From there, he returns to the chorus, which presents the noted determination of the song’s subject, reminding audiences once again that they can overcome those personal doubts. When this clearly delivered message of inspiration is paired with the song’s equally powerful musical arrangement, the message is delivered even more strongly, making for quite the impact.
The uplifting message delivered through the album’s opener/title track is just one example of the importance of the album’s lyrical themes. The seeming theme featured in the album’s midpoint, ‘We Are Not Alone’ continues to exhibit that importance. In the case of this song, the overall picture comes across as a theme of unity over divisiveness. It does this by reminding listeners how insignificant we as a race are in the universe. This is most clearly inferred in the song’s chorus as Kotipelto sings, “In the end/We’re the same/On a universal scale/The world moves on/We just have to go along/In the end/All we are/Is a speck of dust/Among the stars/And we all hope/That we’re not here all alone/We are not alone.” So again, what audiences get is a deep, welcome theme promoting unity against an interesting bigger discussion on whether there is intelligent life out there. It is a unique way of delivering such a familiar theme that makes the theme all the more engaging and entertaining here. The message is furthered in the verses as the song’s subject waxes existential about his place in the world, which we all do. This makes the theme even more accessible to audiences and further shows the importance of the album’s lyrical themes even more.
‘World On Fire,’ which comes even later in the album’s run, is yet one more example of the diversity in the album’s lyrical themes and its overall importance. In the case of this song, the band noted in an interview that it is a commentary about the impact that humans are having on the fate of the planet’s environmental status. The topic is illustrated throughout the song, beginning with its lead verse and chorus, which state, “Our world is on fire/Don’t you dare to close your eyes/It’s time to realize/We lost the game/And are to blame/Mankind will expire/Better start to think/’Cause the ship’s about to sink/The storm is here/The end is near/Our world is on fire/Every day we saw the signs/Every day we closed our eyes/Now we pay for every choice that we’ve made/This is the moment that defines/Is all we’ll ever leave behind/A world we betrayed/Our world is on fire/Destruction/Now burning/Our world is on fire/Warning/Now the heat is rising/There’s no returning/Our world is on fire.” That mention at the end of the chorus about the heat rising sounds like it could be a reference to the world’s overall temperature rising, a direct reference to human’s role in the natural process that is climate change. The mention of burning happening could be a reference to the wildfires that have charred so many thousands of acres of forests the world over in the century-plus. The direct finger pointed at the human race, saying humans closed our eyes in a damning but true indictment of human’s role in what has happened to the planet. That mention of this moment being that which defines what we leave for the next generations is a warning to humans that if we do nothing, there will be nothing to leave behind. It is a familiar overall theme that is clearly presented without being preachy. The second verse continues in similar style as the fist and the chorus. To that end, there is no real need to examine its content. Simply put, the overall theme here is its own, separate from the rest of the lyrical content presented in Survive and also hits hard through its accessibility. It even further shows the importance of the album’s lyrical themes as part of the record’s whole. When it and the other themes examined here are considered along with the rest of the album’s lyrical content, the whole pairs with the album’s overall musical content to make the record’s overall content more than reason enough to hear this presentation.
While the content featured in Survive is unquestionably important to the album’s presentation, it is just part of what collectively makes the album so appealing. The production that went into the record’s production rounds out its most important elements. That is because it creates such a positive general effect. The production that went into the album ensured the vocals and instrumentations in each song were expertly balanced. The result is that there is zero problem understanding the lyrics being sung, and what’s more there is no problem actually hearing the vocals. At the same time, there is also no problem hearing the best of each band member’s performance. Each musician gets his own attention in each song to the end that every line comes together for a whole that is fully engaging and entertaining if only through its general effect. Of course as noted, the general effect is not all that this record has going for its presentation. That content examined works with the production thereof to make the album in whole a successful offering and new addition to this year’s field of new hard rock and metal albums.
Survive, the 16th new album from Stratovarius, is a strong new offering from the veteran power metal band. The record’s success comes in part through the record’s featured musical arrangements. The arrangements are another collection of powerhouse power metal compositions that are easily comparable to works from the likes of Sabaton, Visions of Atlantis, and Dragonforce. The lyrical themes that accompany the album’s musical arrangements are important to the album in its own way in their diversity and accessibility. The production that went into the album creates a positive general effect thanks to the attention and time spent balancing the vocals and instruments in each song. The positive general effect that results from that attention works with the album’s overall content to give audiences so much to enjoy here from start to end. The end result is that Survive becomes a record that will appeal equally to Stratovarius’ established audiences and hard rock and metal fans alike. They make Survive a record that will easily survive for the foreseeable future.
Survive is available now through earMusic. More information on the album is available along with all of Stratovarius’ latest news at:
The first leg of “The Bay Strikes Back Tour” is well underway, and this fall, the tour will continue with even more dates.
The dates for the tour’s second leg were announced Friday. The second leg of the tour, which features Testament, Exodus, and Death Angel, is scheduled to launch Sept. 20 in Phoenix, AZ and to run through Oct. 15 in San Jose, CA. The schedule includes stops in cities, such as Hartford, CT; Fort Wayne, IN and Reno, NV.
The full schedule for the second leg of “The Bay Strikes Back Tour” is noted below.
Saturday, 10/8/2022 – Calgary, AB – Palace Theatre
Monday, 10/10/2022 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore
Wednesday, 10/12/2022 – Ventura, CA – Majestic Ventura Theater
Thursday, 10/13/2022 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
Friday, 10/14/2022 – Reno, NV – Cargo
Saturday, 10/15/2022 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic
The first leg of the tour is underway. It is scheduled to stop off in Baltimore, MD tonight. The current schedule for the first leg of the tour is noted below.
5/1/2022 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage 5/2/2022 – Boston, MA – House of Blues 5/3/2022 – Philadelphia, PA – Theater of Living Arts 5/5/2022 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount 5/6/2022 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom 5/7/2022 – Cincinnati, OH – Madison Theater 5/9/2022 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE 5/10/2022 – Cleveland, OH – The Agora 5/11/2022 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall 5/12/2022 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre 5/14/2022 – Joliet, IL – The Forge 5/15/2022 – Joliet, IL – The Forge 5/17/2022 – Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre 5/19/2022 – Denver, CO – Summit 5/20/2022 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot *More dates to be added
More information on the new tour announcement is available along with all of Testament’s latest news and more at:
Independent hard rock band Pierced will release its debut album, Cheers To Brutality this spring.
In anticipation of the record’s release, the band premiered the video for the album’s lead single, ‘You Can’t Play God With Me,’ Monday through BraveWords. The video is a straight forward presentation that features the band performing its new single on a simply lit sound stage.
The musical arrangement featured in ‘You Can’t Play God With Me’ is a composition that thrash metal fans will enjoy. More specifically, the arrangement will appeal to fans of bands, such as Testament, Exodus, and Overkill.
The lyrical theme featured in the band’s new song delivers a familiar sociopolitical message, said front man Rob Middleton.
“’You Can’t Play God with Me’ basically describes your modern day power trippers, the people who seek control over the majority of us, whether it’s corporations, so-called experts or our own government, telling us what they think is best for us,” he said. “They use the fear machine to force conformity which for a guy like me, immediately triggers resistance.”
Cheers To Brutality was produced by Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob, Her Chariot Awaits, Stereo Satellite).
More information on Pierced’s new single, video, and album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Testament has parted ways with drummer Gene Hoglan.
The band released a statement on the lineup change in a prepared statement released Friday. The comment is noted below.
To all our Testament fans around the world, First off, we are beyond grateful to have had Gene Hoglan behind our drum throne for ten years, several albums and countless tour dates. Unfortunately, our brother Gene’s additional tours and solo endeavors in 2022 conflict insurmountably with Testament’s rescheduled dates after two years of lost time due to the pandemic. Rather than Testament having to reschedule upcoming dates (yet again) or Gene having to cancel his own plans, we have decided to amicably part ways. We understand that this announcement will cause some disappointment but rest assured: There is no drama, only the best of vibes between us. As Gene embarks upon a new chapter, we thank him from the bottom of our hearts for bringing the most powerful drum beats to Testament and heavy metal. We have no doubt he will continue to bring it as only he can. Gene will always be family and we ask all of you to join us in wishing him only the best of luck going forward!
Also rest assure that we will continue to deliver yet another top notch addition to Testament and will reveal soon! We will see you all on tour very soon! – Testament
Courtesy: Adrenaline PR
As Testament works to find a replacement for Hoglan, the band is preparing for its re-scheduled “The Bay Strikes Back Tour.” The tour, originally scheduled to take place last year, was postponed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now scheduled to launch April 9 in San Luis Obispo, CA and to run through May 20 in Salt Lake City, UT.
The tour, which will also feature performances from Exodus and Death Angel, has its schedule noted below.
Bay Strikes Back 2022 dates: 4/9/2022 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater 4/10/2022 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues 4/12/2022 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues 4/13/2022 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues 4/15/2022 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre 4/16/2022 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater 4/19/2022 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom 4/20/2022 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall 4/21/2022 – Austin, TX – Emo’s 4/22/2022 – Dallas, TX -Amplified Live 4/23/2022 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues 4/26/2022 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade 4/27/2022 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz 4/30/2022 – Sayreville, NJ -Starland Ballroom 5/1/2022 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage 5/2/2022 – Boston, MA – House of Blues 5/3/2022 – Philadelphia, PA – Theater of Living Arts 5/5/2022 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount 5/6/2022 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom 5/7/2022 – Cincinnati, OH – Madison Theater 5/9/2022 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE 5/10/2022 – Cleveland, OH – The Agora 5/11/2022 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall 5/12/2022 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre 5/14/2022 – Joliet, IL – The Forge 5/15/2022 – Joliet, IL – The Forge 5/17/2022 – Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre 5/19/2022 – Denver, CO – Summit 5/20/2022 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot *More dates to be added
More information on Testament’s lineup change and tour is available online along with all of Testament’s latest news and more at:
The wait is finally over for Exodus’ new album, Persona Non Grata.
The long-awaited album released Friday. Along with its release, the band also premiered the lyric video for the album’s new single, ‘Prescribing Horror’ Friday. The song is the album’s third, following the release of ‘Clickbait‘ and ‘The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves).‘
The musical arrangement featured in ‘Prescribing Horror’ is different from that of most of the music featured in Persona Non Grata. Instead of the high-energy works for which the band is known, this song’s arrangement is a heavy, plodding composition. It is comparable to some of the works from the band’s first two albums, Burn My Eyes (1994) and The More Things Change… (1997). The vocals that accompany that heavy, rich guitar line give the song even more of an interesting presentation, as does the bass work.
According to comments made by guitarist Gary Holt, the song’s lyrical theme is a warning about drug use.
“As we have finally come to the day of Persona Non Grata’s release, something we’ve been eagerly awaiting for what seems like an eternity, we are pleased to share one last lyric video with you, my personal favorite song on the album, ‘Prescribing Horror,” said Holt. “A little tale of motherhood and a drug, and what happens when greed comes before life and safety. The story of Thalidomide.”
Courtesy: Nuclear Blast Records
In other news, Exodus is scheduled to launch “The Bay Strikes Back Tour” next spring alongside Testament and Death Angel. The tour was originally scheduled to take place last and this month, but was postponed last month due to impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The band announced the postponement early last month.
Holt offered the following statement on the postponement.
“We are saddened to announce that the Bay Strikes Back tour is being postponed, but the risk of canceled shows due to positive tests leading to tour personnel being quarantined and isolated is just too great at this time,” said Holt. “We want to feel safe, enjoy the tour and be able to hang out with our close friends. The silver lining in this is that Tom Hunting no longer needs chemo and will have more time to work his way back to doing a full tour. He will make his return behind the drums at Aftershock but a full tour requires more preparation, so that is the good part.”
Guitarist Eric Peterson expanded on Holt’s statements.
“We were really on the fence with this decision, but seeing other bands make it through with a few mild cases and other bigger bands just canceling their entire tours, we felt it is in our best interest to postpone these shows to ’22,” he said.
Fellow guitarist Alex Skolnick echoed his band mates’ sentiments in his own comments.
“It gives none of us any pleasure to be the bearers of bad news yet again, but here we are,” said Skolnick. “Although “Bay Strikes Back” is a top tour package for theaters, the reality is this: It can’t afford to take the risks that top-grossing larger venue tours have been taking. The type of disruptions Kiss and other large outdoor venue tours have experienced could cause our shows to be permanently canceled – a lose/lose for everyone. The fact that a lower-budget tour such as ours is limited to indoor venues with tight backstage space only adds to the risk. It should go without saying that calling off these dates was a ‘last resort’ decision, and everyone involved would much rather this weren’t the case. However, this is the new reality we’re all in. All we can do is hope for everyone’s understanding, which we ask for sincerely.”
Death Angel front man Mark Osegueda also chimed in on the negative news.
“Usually when I’m asked to contribute a quote to an announcement it pertains to something I’m extremely excited about,” he said. “In this case, I’m gutted… It pains me to announce that The Bay Strikes Back U.S. Tour is being postponed. No one was looking forward to this more than me. But, on the brighter side of things, the tour is in fact going to happen – just at a later time. And I can assure you that the already ravenous to play live members of Death Angel promise to provide a crushing set during a crushing tour. The Bay WILL Strike Back!”
The new dates for the “Bay Strikes Back Tour” are noted below.
Bay Strikes Back 2022 dates: 4/9/2022 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater 4/10/2022 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues 4/12/2022 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues 4/13/2022 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues 4/15/2022 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre 4/16/2022 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater 4/19/2022 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom 4/20/2022 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall 4/21/2022 – Austin, TX – Emo’s 4/22/2022 – Dallas, TX -Amplified Live 4/23/2022 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues 4/26/2022 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade 4/27/2022 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz 4/30/2022 – Sayreville, NJ -Starland Ballroom 5/1/2022 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage 5/2/2022 – Boston, MA – House of Blues 5/3/2022 – Philadelphia, PA – Theater of Living Arts 5/5/2022 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount 5/6/2022 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom 5/7/2022 – Cincinnati, OH – Madison Theater 5/9/2022 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE 5/10/2022 – Cleveland, OH – The Agora 5/11/2022 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall 5/12/2022 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre 5/14/2022 – Joliet, IL – The Forge 5/15/2022 – Joliet, IL – The Forge 5/17/2022 – Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre 5/19/2022 – Denver, CO – Summit 5/20/2022 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot *More dates to be added
More information on Exodus’ new album, live dates, comic book and action figure is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Organizers of the annual Aftershock Festival have announced the schedule for this year’s installment of the annual event.
Now in its ninth year, the festival is actually a rescheduled event from 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused the event to be re-scheduled last year. As with its 2019 edition, this year’s installment of the Aftershock Festival is officially sold out. It is scheduled to take place this weekend from Thursday to Sunday at Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA.
The festival grounds are located at 1600 Garden Highway. Sacramento, CA.
Attendees at this year’s festival will be required to follow strict COVID-19 guidelines. Those guidelines are noted here.
The 2021 edition of the Aftershock Festival is scheduled to open at 4:25 p.m. ET Thursday with a performance by Oxymorrons, on the Coors Light Stage. Fit For A King follows at 4:50 p.m. on the Jack Daniel’s Stage. Death Angel and Exodus will follow Oxymorrons at 5:25 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. respectively on the Coors Light Stage. Meanwhile back on the Jack Daniel’s Stage, Knocked Loose is scheduled to follow Fit For A King at 5:55 p.m.
From there, Anthrax, Testamentand Cypress Hill will keep the music going between the two stages. Cypress Hill’s performance on the Jack Daniel’s Stage at 8:50 p.m. will close out the evening’s activities.
Friday will see the festival expand to three stages, with music starting at 12:45 p.m. from Contracult Collective on the Coors Light Stage. Ayron Jones will take the stage first at 1:20 p.m. Friday on the Kolas Stage. Performances from acts, such as Crobot, Pop Evil, and Rancid and many others will keep things moving through the day. Metallica will headline Friday’s events beginning at 8:55 p.m.
Moving on to Saturday, American Teeth and The Black Moods will open the day’s schedule at 12:30 p.m. and 12:35 p.m. on the Coors Light Stage and Kolas Stage respectively. Also notable acts featured on the day are those, such as South of Eden, Another Day Dawns, and Atreyu, as well as Anti-Flag, Mudvayne, and Alien Weaponry. The original lineup of The Misfits rounds out the day at 9:10 p.m. on the Jack Daniel’s Stage.
Even as the weekend winds down Sunday, the music will not let up. Sunday’s schedule opens at 12:20 p.m. on the Jack Daniel’s Stage with a performance by Law. As the day continues, performances from the likes of From Ashes To New, Pennywise, Mastodon, and Rise Against are also scheduled. Metallica closes out the weekend’s festivities at 7:55 p.m. ET on the Kolas Stage.
Along with lots of music, this weekend’s festival will also feature just as much food, drink and entertainment. The full details on all of that are noted below.
Additional food & beverage, and other experiences onsite include:
· Caduceus Wine Garden, highlighting Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards, owned by Arizona resident Maynard James Keenan, co-founder of international recording acts TOOL, A Perfect Circle, and PUSCIFER.
· Coors Light Coldstream serving with frosty draft technology, complete with actual ice crystals
· Deep Eddy Vodka -Deep Eddy’s Dive In Trailer is a place where people come together to enjoy good times that never seem to end. Where strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet. While at Aftershock stopby and see us at the Deep Eddy Dive In Tour and raise a glass to being back together!
· Dr. Greenthumb’s – Founded by the Godfather of insane brains, B-Real of Cypress Hill
· Fxck Cancer / Dyin 2 Live Dreams Program
· It’s Ronz World – custom guitars, rock shop and art
· Jack Daniel’s Mobile Distillery Tour Experience – Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Cheers your friends make your own history at Aftershock when you rock out at the Jack Daniel’s Main Stage with Metallica!
· KOLAS – Stop by the Loud Lounge to level up Aftershock vibes with t-shirt ripping, body art and more. KOLAS will also provide dynamic delivery outside the festival grounds. Stop by the KOLAS footprint all weekend long to learn more!
· Mortus Viventi – Live Tarot Card Readings
· The Blackened Bar – Aftershock is proud to continue the collaboration with Metallica’s Blackened Whiskey. The pop-up will feature Blackened, a super-premium American whiskey blend, crafted by the late Master Distiller Dave Pickerell and finished in the earth-shattering music of Metallica. This exciting collaboration marks the latest in a long line of amplified guest experiences only available through Danny Wimmer Presents music festivals.
· The Loud Lounge – Get heady and hang in the Loud Lounge with Kolas, Clown Cannabis, California’s Finest CBD, Heavy Grass, Dr. Greenthumb’s, Helpful Hemp and more.
· Take Me Home – not for profit, volunteer based foundation that has been saving the lives of homeless animals since 2001.
· weedmaps – Located inside the Loud Lounge. Fans can learn about cannabis delivery by downloading the weedmaps app all weekend long. Stop by the booth for fun giveaways and prizes and if you forgot your clear bag, weedmaps has your back.
Aftershock Festival is presented and produced by Danny Wimmer Presents. More information on the festival is available along with all of the festival’s latest news at:
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