Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

By Lisa Burke

November 11th 2016, The Viper Room, West Hollywood CA: As any genre of music goes, there is no black and white, cut and dry, yes or no approach that has to be followed to succeed, as there are many opportunities of individual style within a set genre. In regards to the booming era of 1970s punk rock, a few different styles emerged and soared off in their own directions, and one significant early pre-Ramones punk band that washed up on the shore of New York City during that time and was one of those influential staples that other popular bands were inspired by, although they themselves never gained too much prospect on their own during their heyday, was The Dictators. Back in the early days of Twisted Sister and CBGB’s, The Dictators were forming a stable line up and counting to four any chance they could get. On Friday November 11th 2016 at The Viper Room, forty-two years after their origin, the boys were back in action on the west coast. Continue reading “East Coast Proto-Punk On The Sunset Strip: The Dictators Pack Viper Room”

By Andrew Bansal

November 11th 2016, Non Plus Ultra, Los Angeles CA: Joining forces with Swedish old-school hard rock group Horisont, Cincinnati OH stoner rock quartet Electric Citizen are in the midst of a three-week US headline run, and visited Los Angeles last Friday, except that the show was moved last-minute from the Teragram Ballroom to a D.I.Y. basement called Non Plus Ultra in the East Hollywood area. Word about this venue change spread quickly enough, and fans of vintage rock n’ roll took upon this new adventure to congregate for what turned out to be an evening of high spirits and great heavy music, perhaps more enjoyable than it would have been as an undersold event at the original venue. Continue reading “Reigniting Heavy Music: Electric Citizen & Horisont Rock D.I.Y. Space In Los Angeles”

Review by Andrew Bansal, photos by Robert DeAnda

November 9th 2016, Complex, Glendale CA: Returning to the States for the first time since their summer 2014 co-headline run with Scale The Summit, German progressive metal group The Ocean recently completed a two-week US headline tour with support acts North and The Gorge, ending with the final show in the LA area at Complex in Glendale, for another Church Of The 8th Day presentation, albeit with no local openers, for a change. The Ocean’s 2013 full-length concept album ‘Pelagial’ certainly catapulted them into the absolute top bracket of active prog bands, and they performed it in its entirety on the said 2014 US tour, strengthening their fan-base around these parts. They released a split EP called ‘Transcendental’ with Mono in 2015, but fans eagerly await the full-length follow-up to ‘Pelagial’, and to whet their appetite for the band’s next creative step, The Ocean played a powerful and unabatedly insane 75-minute set which not only showcased the class and quality of their musicianship and live performance, but also displayed the clear extent to which they are loved and admired in the LA prog metal circles. Continue reading “Progressive Delirium: The Ocean, North & The Gorge End Tour In Glendale”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

November 8th 2016, The Echoplex, Los Angeles CA: After years of inactivity following the release of their self-titled third full-length album in 2010, Providence RI mathcore group Daughters have re-emerged to play shows and write new music, and took the stage at the Echoplex in Los Angeles last Tuesday November 8th 2016, as part of a short run of US headline dates with support acts The Body and Loma Prieta. The line of ticket holders outside the venue pre-show was long, and locals gathered at this nearly sold-out event, anticipating nothing less than sonic devastation. Continue reading “Apocalyptic Heaviness: Daughters & The Body Pack The Echoplex”

Review by Andrew Bansal, live photos by Robert DeAnda

November 6th 2016, The Viper Room, West Hollywood CA: Amidst the plethora of live music entertainment in Los Angeles, as various parts of the city witness national and international touring bands on a nightly basis and most such shows sell out or reach near capacity, local talent often gets overlooked and undermined. On a Sunday night, instead of going out to see an all-local lineup, most people would rather stay in and save up for the touring bands coming through town the week after. LA’s own hard rock/metal community has little to no regard for its hometown bands, unless they become a renowned touring act. By their own admission, Heaven Below and The Edge Of Paradise perhaps find themselves somewhere in the middle, Heaven Below having gained greater recognition of late because of vocalist/guitarist Patrick Kennison joining Lita Ford’s band, and The Edge Of Paradise nearing the end of what’s probably been the most active year of their existence so far, as they extensively toured the States. On Sunday November 6th 2016, both bands took the Viper Room stage for the Heaven Below ‘Good Morning Apocalypse’ album release show, and put on a show deeming them well worthy of some richly deserved attention from locals. Continue reading “Local Treasures: Heaven Below & The Edge Of Paradise Rock The Viper Room”

Photos by Joseph Acosta

November 6th 2016, White Oak Music Hall, Houston TX: In the midst of a five-week US headline tour in support of their sixth and final studio album ‘Dissociation’, mathcore legends The Dillinger Escape Plan visited the White Oak Music Hall in Houston, Texas with touring openers O’Brother and Cult Leader. Check out our photographer Joseph Acosta’s images from the show below:  Continue reading “Photo Gallery: The Dillinger Escape Plan, O’Brother & Cult Leader @ White Oak Music Hall, Houston TX”