Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

By Andrew Bansal

August 20th 2014, The Whisky-A-Go-Go, West Hollywood CA: Based out of Cleveland, Ohio, Chimaira have been purveyors of the modern American heavy metal sound for over 15 years. They released their seventh studio album ‘Crown Of Phantoms’ in the summer of 2013 and began touring immediately after, carrying on the touring cycle this year and embarking on the ‘Artery Metal’ North American run with support from The Plot In You, Upon This Dawning, Allegaeon and Silence The Messenger. The caravan made a stop at the Whisky-A-Go-Go in West Hollywood last Wednesday August 20th, for a gig that turned out to be a mixed bag of the good and the bad, and a roller-coaster ride for the attendee. Continue reading “Chimaira & Allegaeon Perform At The Whisky”

By Andrew Bansal
[Videos by Arturo Gallegos]

August 19th 2014, Five Star Bar, Los Angeles CA: It’s been a great month of underground metal here at the Five Star Bar, and the venue along with the efforts of promoters HPLC and Thee Static Age did it yet again last Tuesday with another doom night, this one featuring Los Angeles amplification overlords Destroy Judas as headliners with touring support acts Usnea and Augurs, and local openers Wovoka.  Continue reading “Destroy Judas, Usnea, Augurs & Wovoka Play At Five Star Bar”

Photos & video by Matt Nielson

August 18th 2014, The Slidebar, Fullerton CA: Based out of Seattle WA, two-piece funeral doom act Bell Witch embarked on a two-week US West Coast run with Portland OR’s Ephemeros, and arrived in Southern California to play a free show in Fullerton with support from Los Angeles’ own Ancient Altar and Phoenix-based Funerary for an all-doom ceremony at the Slidebar, organized by the hardworking metal promoters at Midnite Collective. Our man Matt Nielson was in attendance and sent us some killer photos and video footage that we thought we should share with you.  Continue reading “Seattle’s Bell Witch Headlines Doom Night At Slidebar Fullerton”

Review by Andrew Bansal
[Videos by Arturo Gallegos]

August 16th 2014, IAm8Bit, Los Angeles CA: The fourth annual edition of Echo Park Rising is in full swing this weekend, and day 2 of the multi-venue, multi-genre festival bore witness to the performances of fast-rising Los Angeles-based groups The Shrine and Obliterations, most certainly the two heaviest bands on the entire 3-day lineup, as they took the stage at a video game art gallery called IAm8Bit for an event presented by Pabst Blue Ribbon and DoLA.  Continue reading “The Shrine & Obliterations Perform At IAm8Bit Gallery For Echo Park Rising”

Review by Andrew Bansal
[Videos by Arturo Gallegos]

August 15th 2014, Five Star Bar, Los Angeles CA: Even in their short three-year existence so far, Los Angeles quintet Pendulous have blown minds and heightened senses with their brand of doom metal. Following the release of their debut EP ‘Mirrored Confessions’ last year, Pendulous began working on new material for a full-length album, which is now complete, and they embarked on a little West Coast run to present these tunes live. They returned home to play at the Five Star Bar with Sutratma and Weightlessness, and with original headliner Gravecode Nebula dropping out due to unavoidable vehicle problems, Pendulous became the headline act at this event, and despite the reduced lineup, a solid turnout and a great show was expected by promoters The Elegy Ensemble and everyone involved. Continue reading “Pendulous, Sutratma & Weightlessness Play At Five Star Bar”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

 August 13th 2014, The Viper Room, West Hollywood CA: Over the past couple of years, Sunset Strip legends Steel Panther have become a global phenomenon, a much larger entity than the band that toiled in West Hollywood clubs week after week for more than a decade. But last night they took it back to the roots, back to where it all started for them under the name Danger Kitty, as they participated in the Viper Room’s 21st anniversary celebration week with a very special show, as Jam Prancer.  Continue reading “Steel Panther Return To Roots As ‘Jam Prancer’ At Viper Room”