Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

By Andrew Bansal

December 6th 2016, The Satellite, Los Angeles CA: The Well and Beastmaker, two of the finest young three-piece bands to have surfaced in our world in recent times, embarked on a short US West Coast run to end their year of 2016. Contrary to consensus, not everyone has had a bad 2016, and you only need to ask these two bands, because they’ve both released stellar new albums and conquered more territories than ever before. On a tour which ended on December 12th, The Well and Beastmaker arrived in the Los Angeles area for a gig at the very aptly chosen Satellite on Tuesday December 6th, and even in front of an audience most of whom were probably jaded by this point from witnessing countless concerts this year, they did not disappoint whatsoever. Continue reading “Terrific Tuesday: The Well, Beastmaker & All Souls Perform at The Satellite”

Review by Jason Williams, photos by Joseph Acosta

December 6th 2016, The Observatory, Santa Ana CA: In 1997, somewhere in Espoo, Uusimaa, a region located in Finland, something magical would take place for the metal community. 17-year old guitar prodigy Alexi Laiho would form Children of Bodom, actually starting as a band named Inearthed four years earlier, but made the change to get out of a rip-off record label deal, thus setting the wheels into motion for a profound and legendary melodic death/power metal run. Known for stellar guitar work, often tongue in cheek lyrics, keyboard virtuosity, and unique catchy melodies for the time, Children of Bodom’s first three albums would be deemed magnum opuses and profoundly revered and admired by countless fans. Skip some years, and while their sound has changed no doubt, the very core of who the band is has stayed intact, and would be on full display at The Observatory (cough The Galaxy, of course cough), in Santa Ana, bringing forth a fantasic and diverse lineup in ex Immortal frontman Abbath, rising stars Exmortus, as well as Oni, hailing all the way from Ontario, Canada. The festivies couldn’t arrive soon enough. Continue reading “An Extreme Metal Evening To Remember: Children Of Bodom, Abbath, Exmortus, Oni Visit Orange County”

By Jason Williams

December 4th 2016, City National Grove of Anaheim, Anaheim CA: Living in America, we’re inherietly spoiled. From the ability to vote, create your own business, owning property in any state desired, this country definitely has it better than various places and countries. Musically however, and discussing metal specifically, we don’t have the luxury as Europe does, with quality festivals and tours all across the yearly calender. But on December 4th 2016, we would be given that luxury, as Finnish power metal legends Sonata Arctica played the Grove of Anaheim. Joining them were Leaves’ Eyes and Omnium Gatherum, solid symphonic and melodic metal bands with their own fanbases to bring along. Continue reading “Epic Metal To The Fore: Sonata Arctica, Leaves’ Eyes, Omnium Gatherum Perform At Grove of Anaheim”

Review by Andrew Bansal, photos by Robert DeAnda

December 4th 2016, Complex, Glendale CA: For San Francisco based doom metal trio Castle, 2016 has been an extremely busy year, with the release of their fourth full-length album ‘Welcome To The Graveyard’ and non-stop touring across North America and Europe. Their final US tour of the year was a ten-date West Coast run with Mos Generator, which came to an epic conclusion at Complex in Glendale CA last Sunday December 4th, as the two bands rocked the stage for a Church Of The 8th Day event also featuring local openers Ironaut and Others. Strangely enough, the past few Sunday nights have been great outings at this venue, thanks to the likes of Nik Turner’s Hawkwind and SubRosa. This promised to be yet another, with a lineup that looked all-killer, no-filler on paper and made it an eagerly awaited gig for concertgoers in the local underground. Continue reading “Heavy Majesty: Castle, Mos Generator Rock Glendale with Ironaut, Others”

By Lisa Burke

December 2nd 2016, Los Angeles CA: Last Friday, one of the most influential bands of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal genre Diamond Head graced Los Angeles to end a tour on which they already performed in our city less than a month ago, on November 3rd. As odd as this reoccurrence may have been, it was a worthy one as they still packed the house and gave more people a chance to see the legend that was and still is Diamond Head. Many of the fans definitely attended both shows and I highly doubt there were any disappointments involved. Continue reading “Still Alive And Evil: Diamond Head Ends North American Tour In Los Angeles”

Review by Andrew Bansal, photos by Robert DeAnda

December 1st 2016, The Roxy, West Hollywood CA: Longstanding New York based group Helmet has been highly influential in the hard rock/heavy metal realm through the nearly three decades of their existence, the ’90s in particular. Led by guitarist/vocalist Page Hamilton, they are still going as strong as ever, constantly pushing the creative envelope. Their eighth full-length studio album ‘Dead To The World’ was released on October 28th 2016, the first in six years. Having recently toured to perform the ’94 ‘Betty’ album in its entirety, Helmet set out on the road this time to present new material as well as selections representing their entire career. Combining with sole support act Local H for what promised to deliver quite the treat for ’90s heavy rock fans, Helmet brought their six-week North American headline tour to the Los Angeles area for a gig at the Roxy last Thursday December 1st. Continue reading “Sonic Avalanche: Helmet & Local H Perform At The Roxy”