The Cream of the Crop: Metal Allegiance rocks Anaheim with Metal Hits and Deep Cuts

By Andrew Bansal

January 25 2018, House Of Blues, Anaheim CA: All-star heavy metal supergroup Metal Allegiance, created by bassist and songwriter Mark Menghi, features Alex Skolnick (Testament), David Ellefson (Megadeth) and Mike Portnoy as members of the core quartet alongside Menghi. The band writes and records original songs as well as performs covers with the help of guest musicians, and through the two studio releases and past live shows, Metal Allegiance has boasted involvement of the who’s who of heavy metal. Every year, the group convenes to play a show in Anaheim when all members are in town for the NAMM convention, and judging from past concerts, it is always a show worth attending for all metalheads. So, this year I had no hesitation in choosing this one as my sole concert of choice for NAMM week, and I expected nothing but a stellar show. Continue reading “The Cream of the Crop: Metal Allegiance rocks Anaheim with Metal Hits and Deep Cuts”

Best Live Performances Of 2017

By Sebastian Vazquez

Let me preface this by saying that it was ultimately difficult in determining what would make my top twenty. So much can affect one’s concert experience, such as being slightly ill, hung over, attending with different people amicable or not, various intoxicants etc. I strongly believe that one could attend the same exact show, if it was even possible under the most perfect circumstances to replicate, and experience it in many different ways. Thus, I decided to omit any personal, subjective factors that influenced my experience at any concert. I also was at loggerheads if I should factor sound quality, as it greatly determines how an artist’s performance will be heard, but I ultimately determined that I should. Sound quality actually knocked down my favorite concert of all the year from number one to number two, so more on that later. Continue reading “Best Live Performances Of 2017”

Ticket Giveaway: Metal Allegiance @ House Of Blues Anaheim

The all-star ensemble of Metal Allegiance, featuring the core four members Mike Portnoy, David Ellefson, Alex Skolnick and Mark Menghi and many other guests including the who’s who of the heavy metal world, will gather next Thursday January 25 for a show at the House Of Blues Anaheim, along with opening acts Edge Of Paradise and Superfix. Continue reading “Ticket Giveaway: Metal Allegiance @ House Of Blues Anaheim”

Satyricon announces Final US Tour, Inquisition to support

Norwegian extreme metal stalwarts Satyricon will return to US shores for one final time this Spring, in support of their latest album ‘Deep calleth upon Deep’. US-Colombian juggernaut Inquisition will serve as opening act, and the tour will also include two stops in Canada. Check out the dates below, along with a statement from Satyr. Continue reading “Satyricon announces Final US Tour, Inquisition to support”

Album Review: Machine Head – Catharsis

By Andrew Bansal

Oakland, California group Machine Head can legitimately be regarded as modern-day heavy metal giants, having formed in 1991 and carried on successfully through the past nearly 27 years, releasing 8 full-length studio albums and touring the world several times. Over the course of their career they haven’t been shy of experimentation and have copped their fair share of criticism, as from their groove-oriented thrash beginnings on the first two albums ‘Burn My Eyes’ (’94) and ‘The More Things Change…’ (’97), they swung wildly to a nu metal / rap metal recipe on the next two, ‘The Burning Red’ (’99) and ‘Supercharger (2002). Thankfully, they returned to doing what they do best on subsequent albums, i.e. playing groovy, proggy thrash, and this phase produced their best work as they hit their peak on the albums ‘Through the Ashes of Empires’ (2003), ‘The Blackening’ (2007) and ‘Unto the Locust’ (2011). The 2014 follow-up ‘Bloodstone and Diamonds’ was somewhat of a letdown from the dizzy heights of the previous three but was still fairly well-created and well-received. But now, Machine Head is ready to release their ninth album ‘Catharsis’, and it is the kind of album that is certain to leave fans scratching their heads, wondering what on earth happened to what truly was a great band not long ago. Continue reading “Album Review: Machine Head – Catharsis”