Posted on

Morbid Angel Perform ‘Covenant’ & More At Fonda Theatre

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

November 29th 2013, Fonda Theatre, Hollywood CA: Florida death metal legends Morbid Angel need no introduction to extreme metal fans. Formed in 1984, Morbid Angel have released eight studio albums and slaughtering masses through worldwide tours over the years. Currently, they are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their iconic 1993 release ‘Covenant’ by playing it in its entirety on a North American headline tour, along with one song from each of the other seven albums in an anthological set. They aren’t taking any touring support acts this time around and are being aided by local support in whichever city they play in. For last night’s show at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles death metal bands Abysmal Dawn and Crypt Infection were chosen to fulfill this task, and the stage at this rather classy venue was all set to be crushed by the extreme metal onslaught that beckoned. Continue reading “Morbid Angel Perform ‘Covenant’ & More At Fonda Theatre”

Posted on

Monster Magnet, Royal Thunder & Anti-Mortem Play At House Of Blues

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

November 27th 2013, House Of Blues Sunset Strip, West Hollywood CA: Unlike a lot of their peers, New Jersey stoner rockers Monster Magnet aren’t a band that tours relentlessly, so when they do decide to do a tour, it’s quite an event for fans. Currently, they are on a North American headline tour which follows the release of their ninth studio album ‘Last Patrol’ which came out via Napalm Records in October. Along with them, the tour is bringing Royal Thunder from Altlanta, Georgia and Anti-Mortem from Oklahoma to audiences across the continent. The tour made a stop at the House of Blues Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, and the crowd gathered here were excited in anticipation of witnessing two decades of New Jersey stoner rock being captured by Monster Magnet’s set. Continue reading “Monster Magnet, Royal Thunder & Anti-Mortem Play At House Of Blues”

Posted on

Alice Cooper Raises The Dead At Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center

By Andrew Bansal

November 26th 2013, Segerstrom Center For The Arts, Costa Mesa CA: Over the course of a career spanning nearly five decades, shock rock legend Alice Cooper has always carried the reputation of thrilling audiences across the globe with some of the most spellbindingly entertaining shows ever seen. For the past year or so, Alice and his horde of musicians have been on the ‘Raise The Dead’ tour, consisting of a set of his best tunes along with a brand new stage show, one that certainly promised to maintain and enhance his longtime reputation as the unrivaled king of shock rock. The tour is nearing its end as the band did their penultimate show at the Segerstrom Center For The Arts in Costa Mesa, a debut gig at this venue for Alice Cooper. Having conquered just about every legendary stage on the planet, it was about time he stamped his authority at this venue. Continue reading “Alice Cooper Raises The Dead At Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center”

Posted on

Skinny’s Lounge Hosts Metal Monday With Cliff ‘Em All, Circle Of Violence & Others

By Andrew Bansal

November 25th 2013, Skinny’s Lounge, North Hollywood CA: Presented by local underground promoter Lara Gladstone, Metal Mondays is a new series of events hosted by Skinny’s Lounge in North Hollywood, featuring local talent and taking place once a month. The very first Metal Monday was held on October 28, and last night was the second show of the series, featuring Lethal Dossage, Enrot, Circle Of Violence, Cliff Burton-era Metallica tribute band Cliff ‘Em All, and Tormenter. In addition to the live music, a raffle was also to be held, to give away Rush DVDs and a pair of tickets for Megadeth’s upcoming show at the Grove of Anaheim. With only a 5-dollar cover and easy access to the venue via the Los Angeles Metro Red Line, there was plenty of reason and motivation for the LA concert goer to give this gig a try. Continue reading “Skinny’s Lounge Hosts Metal Monday With Cliff ‘Em All, Circle Of Violence & Others”

Posted on

Finntroll & Blackguard Perform At Grove Of Anaheim

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

November 24th 2013, City National Grove Of Anaheim, Anaheim CA: Known for their folk-infused extreme metal tunes and extravagantly impressive live shows, Finnish band Finntroll released their sixth studio album ‘Blodsvept’ via Century Media Records in March this year, and it took them a while to get to North America to tour in support of this album but they’re finally here, on a full headline run with opening acts Blackguard from Montreal, Canada and Metsatoll from Estonia. In the Los Angeles area, Finntroll have always pulled large crowds and put on stellar shows in the past, but this was their first show since their gig at the Key Club on February 8th 2011, on the Finnish Metal Tour with Ensiferum, Barren Earth and Rotten Sound. So this was an eagerly awaited event but with it being on a Sunday night, and all the way out in Orange County, Finntroll’s Southern California fan base was put to the test. Continue reading “Finntroll & Blackguard Perform At Grove Of Anaheim”

Posted on

Church Of Misery, Zoroaster & Against The Grain Perform At The Satellite

By Andrew Bansal

November 23rd 2013, The Satellite, Los Angeles CA: Japanese doom metal band Church Of Misery have been around for eighteen years and have developed a cult following for themselves in various parts of the world over this period. They released their fifth studio album ‘Thy Kingdom Scum’ via Metal Blade/Rise Above Records earlier this year, and currently they are on a North American headline tour with support acts Zoroaster from Altlanta, Georgia and Against The Grain from Detroit, Michigan. Church Of Misery’s Los Angeles fan base came out in numbers to attend this show, and with the kind of vibe the Satellite is typically known for, it promised to be an ideal setting for the Japanese quartet to establish their church of Sabbath in. Doors opened at 8:30, and at 9 PM began what promised to be a gloriously heavy dose of live music on a chilly Los Angeles Saturday night. Continue reading “Church Of Misery, Zoroaster & Against The Grain Perform At The Satellite”