Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

May 10th 2014, The Troubadour, West Hollywood CA: Los Angeles-based hard rock band Diamond Lane self-released their second full-length album ‘Terrorizer’ yesterday on, and to celebrate the occasion they played a headline show at the Troubadour in West Hollywood that coincided with the release date. Presented and curated by prolific local promoter Lara Gladstone, this show also featured promising Rosemead CA blues-based hard rock outfit Delta Rose and three other local bands Love And A .38, Bad Romantics and Book Of Curtis. Continue reading “Diamond Lane & Delta Rose Rock The Troubadour”

Review & photos by Chad Alexander

May 9th 2014, Marquee Theatre, Tempe AZ:  Last Friday saw the return of 80s hard rock favorites Skid Row and Black Star Riders (formerly Thin Lizzy) to the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, AZ. Originally called Red River Opry when it opened in 1993 which catered to country acts, it’s since been converted, removing 1500 seats to allow more room for headbanging. Following their ‘United World Rebellion – Chapter One’ EP in 2013, their first release of original material in more than 7 years, Skid Row are ready to release Chapter 2 of this series of EPs on August 5 via Megaforce Records, and have embarked on a West Coast touring run with Black Star Riders to present their new material, along with the classics all of their fans always want to hear. Continue reading “Skid Row’s ‘United World Rebellion’ Tour Hits Marquee Theatre In Tempe AZ”

By Jason Williams

May 9th 2014, Mirror Image Studios, Anaheim CA: For nearly 12 years, speed/thrash metal band Rattlehead have invaded the scene with their blend of fast paced Thrash. Not to mention naming their band from the best song of Megadeth’s catalogue and one of the best songs in general (simply my opinion, of course) can’t hurt either. After recently releasing their latest EP ‘The Blackout Brigade’ independently, Rattlehead was set to play the Mirror Images Studios in Anaheim, CA. The venue’s popularity has been slowly rising, as Kataklysm and Destruction have played there in the past month. Although it will be a while for the name to be up there with say The Observatory, House of Blues, etc, it’s surely on its way. Tonight’s show had five other bands accompanying Rattlehead.  A local metal show on a Friday night minutes from my home? Please count me in. Continue reading “Rattlehead & Sirion Perform At Mirror Image Studios In Anaheim”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

May 9th 2014, The Redwood Bar, Los Angeles CA: Portland/San Francisco-based trio Prizehog have been spreading their brand of ‘celestial space sludge’ for the past eight years. They released their third full-length album ‘Re-Unvent The Whool’ via Portland’s underground record label Eolian Empire in March, and embarked on a five-week US headline tour with a hometown show on May 2nd. Traveling the treacherous road DIY style and making their way through the West Coast, they arrived in downtown Los Angeles for an intimate gig at the Redwood Bar last night. Continue reading “Space Sludge Trio Prizehog Plays The Redwood Bar”

Review by Andrew Bansal
[Photos by Joe Dolan]

May 8th 2014, The Canyon, Agoura Hills CA:  Oakland CA hard rock veterans Y&T are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion they’ve been on an extensive North American touring run which brought them to Southern California for a headline gig at the Canyon in Agoura Hills, wherein they went on to play a full two-hour career retrospective set comprising their greatest hits as well as deeper cuts. Continue reading “Y&T Rocks The Canyon On 40th Anniversary Tour”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

May 7th 2014, The Palladium, Hollywood CA: When one thinks of the acoustic/classical guitar as an instrument, he or she might not necessarily associate it with hard rock or heavy metal music, but as has been proven by some of the most legendary guitarists to have ever graced our favorite genre, there is no denying that the roots of electric guitar-playing lie in the classical guitar and there’s none better to demonstrate that than the Mexican duo of Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero, who on their classical guitars present a style of musicianship that comes across as a fusion of various elmenets and appeals to a broad range of audiences, but is inspired by classic rock and old-school heavy metal. Continue reading “Rodrigo y Gabriela: Taking Guitar-Playing Back To Its Roots”