Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

By Andrew Bansal

May 29th 2014, The Whisky-A-Go-Go, West Hollywood CA: As a precursor to their tour of Germany, Arizona thrash veterans Sacred Reich announced two West Coast headline shows in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and they took the stage at the Whisky-A-Go-Go on the Sunset Strip last night for the first of these back-to-back shows. Having never seen this band live but hearing so many great things about them from others who have, this was an eagerly awaited show from my personal point of view, and another occasion wherein the Whisky would play host to the horde of Los Angeles’ loyal thrash metal fans. Continue reading “Sacred Reich Headlines The Whisky”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

May 28th 2014, The Whisky-A-Go-Go, West Hollywood CA: Singer/bassist extraordinaire Glenn Hughes and drummer Jason Bonham have once again joined forces following the breakup of their previous endeavor Black Country Communion, and along with young guitarist Andrew Watt, they’ve formed a new power trio called California Breed. A little over a week after the release of their self-titled debut full-length album via Frontiers Records, the band made their live performance debut at a sold-out Whisky-A-Go-Go last night. There was a large amount of hype surrounding the event, perhaps even more than expected as the show sold out of all its tickets several hours in advance, but it remained to be seen whether the band’s debut lived up to this hype. Continue reading “California Breed Makes Live Debut At The Whisky”

By Andrew Bansal

May 27th 2014, Loaded Rock Bar, Hollywood CA: Following their appearance at the recent Scion Rock Fest in Pomona as one of the headline acts, French psych rock quartet Aqua Nebula Oscillator extended their California run to further promote their 2013 release ‘Spiritus Mundi’, and visited the Loaded Rock Bar in Hollywood last night for a headline show of their own, along with fellow Tee Pee Records artists Mirror Queen and The Saint James Society and local opener OGOD. I could watch them for only a small portion of their set at Scion Rock Fest but was highly intrigued by what I witnessed and jumped at the opportunity to see them again so soon in a much smaller and potentially more apt setting. Continue reading “French Psych Rockers Aqua Nebula Oscillator Invade Hollywood”

By Andrew Bansal

May 26th 2014, Down & Out Bar, Los Angeles CA: Based out of Atlantic City NJ, metal quartet Hammer Fight are currently on a US tour and made their way to Los Angeles to headline Metal Monday at the Down & Out Bar in DTLA last night, along with local support acts Panties and Rusty Eye. Put together by prolific local metal promoters Church Of The 8th Day and Thee Static Age, the show promised an entertaining Monday night out for supporters of the metal underground in the area. Continue reading “Hammer Fight, Panties & Rusty Eye Play The Down & Out”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

May 25th 2014, Down & Out Bar, Los Angeles CA: This year’s Memorial Day weekend rolled in with a local rock night at the Down & Out Bar in downtown Los Angeles, featuring an eclectic lineup consisting of Rooftop Revolutionaries, Elixir On Mute, Downtown Attraction and Chelsea Doll. As is always the case with rock and metal shows at the Down & Out, this was a free show, but unlike most Sunday nights that are lightly attended, this being the Memorial Day weekend meant an excellent turnout, and things were all set for the show to begin at 9 PM. Continue reading “Rooftop Revolutionaries, Elixir On Mute & Others Perform At Down & Out Bar”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

May 24th 2014, The Satellite, Los Angeles CA: First formed in 1992 but then having gone into oblivion for a decade as a result of guitarist/co-founder Steve Brooks forming the band Torche, Floor is a Miami FL-based doom/sludge band that reunited recently and released their third full-length album ‘Oblation’ via Season Of Mist Records in April and are now on a US West Coast run, along with support act Thrones, to spread their low-end onslaught. They visited the Satellite last night for a well-attended headline show to present a combination of these new tunes and selections from the two pre-breakup albums. Continue reading “Floor Headlines The Satellite”