Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

By Brian Wyner

February 22nd 2017, The End, Nashville TN: Nashville’s nickname is Music City USA and the state of Tennessee is home to all thing country music. So Music City USA is the heart of this country theme, making it the place to be for all things “cowboy’. When it comes to heavier music in this town, the scene is much more intimate. The End is a venue located in an area called Elliston Place, far away from the Honky Tonks downtown. Elliston is a little more relaxed, less touristy, and the place where you might find that rare Nashville native. The End is one of the only clubs in the city listing its capacity at 200 and one of the only places that plays and hosts heavy music. With all that said, and it being a Wednesday night, a lot of local punk and hardcore kids came out to see the mighty Iron Reagan. Continue reading “Crossover Takeover: Iron Reagan plays Headline Show in Nashville”

By Andrew Bansal
(photos by Brad Worsham)

February 22nd 2017, The Observatory Orange County, Santa Ana CA: Not that they ever need a reason to go on tour besides the unwavering urge to do what they do best, Southern California crossover thrash/hardcore punk/skate punk legends Suicidal Tendencies released their 12th full-length studio album ‘World Gone Mad’ in September 2016 and in support of the record, they started a U.S. headline tour with opening acts Crowbar and Havok last night, at home with a sold-out show at The Observatory Orange County in Santa Ana CA. ST fans from LA, OC and surrounding areas gathered in massive numbers, expecting nothing less than the absolute best from the band, and it is safe to state that not a single person went home disappointed. Continue reading “Possessed To Dominate: Suicidal Tendencies Begin U.S. Tour with Sold-Out Orange County Show”

By Rosie Walker
(photos by Brian Wyner)

February 21st 2017, Oddbody’s, Dayton OH: It was a warm February evening when we pulled up to Oddbody’s music venue. Trying to soak in every second of the rare weather; we didn’t mind having to park far away for DevilDriver’s sold-out show. It also gave us time to absorb the unique area in which this venue is located. Oddbody’s rests at the end of a sad-looking strip mall that has seen better days. Next store, a closed Family Dollar provided some ambiance with its million florescent lights still turned on. Down on the corner there is a Family Video that’s actually open and operating. It felt like we time warped back to 1998. Yet according to Dayton.com, Oddbody’s is rated the #1 place in Dayton, Ohio to hear live music, so it couldn’t be all that bad. In fact, for being the bookend of a dismal strip mall, the venue is quite pleasant. Continue reading “Claws in So Deep: DevilDriver, Death Angel bring ‘Bound By The Road’ Tour to Ohio”

By Andrew Bansal
(Live photos by Brad Worsham)

February 19th 2017, The Wiltern, Los Angeles CA: In support of their recently released fifth full-length studio album ‘The Last Hero’, hard rock/alt metal group Alter Bridge embarked on a North American headline tour with opening act Nonpoint, and towards the end of the run, played in front of a packed house at The Wiltern in Los Angeles last Sunday February 19th, a gig that also featured Them Evils as the local opener. Presenting material new and old for the large gathering of their LA fans, Alter Bridge showed that there’s more to them than just another radio rock band. Continue reading “Fortress of Rock: Alter Bridge, Nonpoint & Them Evils pack The Wiltern”

By Andrew Bansal
(photos by Matt Nielson)

February 18th 2017, Malone’s, Santa Ana CA: German classic hard rockers Scorpions have a long 50-year history, stylistically divided into the krautrock-influenced albums of the ’70s and the “commercial” sound that dominated their music in the ’80s and onwards. But of course, it is further segregated based on the various lead guitar players they had through these eras. Ulrich Roth, better known as Uli Jon Roth, was in the band from ’73-’78 and contributed to four studio albums. His last shows with the band were in Tokyo, Japan in 1978, which were recorded for the ‘Tokyo Tapes’ live album, released the same year. Continue reading “In Trance All Night Long: Uli Jon Roth brings ‘Tokyo Tapes Revisited’ Tour to Orange County”

By Rosie Walker
(photos by Brian Wyner)

February 18th 2017, The Warehouse, Clarksville TN: Clarksville, the fifth largest city in Tennessee, is known for being quaint and rather historic. Yet the town draws more than just antique shoppers. In the last couple of years, The Warehouse has become a prominent venue that hosts a lot of heavy metal acts. Though Trip Advisor only rates the venue at #7 out of the fifteen bars in Clarksville; it is a pillar that supports the Tennessee and Kentucky heavy music scene. Saturday night was a prime example. Continue reading “For The Horde: Havok, Exmortus & Extinction A.D. thrash Tennessee”