Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

By Andrew Bansal

August 29th 2015, Loaded Rock Bar, Hollywood CA: Los Angeles-based stoner rock quartet Yeghikian have been in existence for only a little over a year, but in the musical and non-musical aspects of all that entails being in a band, Yeghikian are already displaying the finesse and professionalism akin to that of a vastly experienced entity. They self-released a stellar debut full-length album called “You’re Next” in 2014, and have been winning the unanimous approval of LA audiences since. They left a longlasting impression on Metal Assault at a Viper Room headline gig in March 2015, and nearly six months later at Loaded Hollywood, they outdid themselves with a far superior performance that exceeded sky-high expectations. Continue reading “Yeghikian Dominate Loaded Hollywood With Thunderstealing Stoner Rock Jams”

Review by Lisa Burke

August 28th 2015, The Viper Room, West Hollywood CA: Philadelphia PA-based metal bands CKY and Foreign Objects, both led by vocalist/guitarist Deron Miller, performed a Los Angeles area headline gig at the Viper Room in West Hollywood last Friday August 28 2015, along with local military metal quintet Kings Of Carnage, and our writer Lisa Burke was in attendance to capture the event through her words. Check out her review below: Continue reading “CKY, Foreign Objects & Kings Of Carnage Perform At Viper Room”

By Andrew Bansal

August 27th 2015, The Whisky-A-Go-Go, West Hollywood CA: Longstanding Finnish melodic death metal quartet Insomnium released their sixth full-length studio album ‘Shadows Of The Dying Sun’ via Century Media Records in 2014, toured North America with Dark Tranquillity in early 2015, and are now back in the continent for their own headline tour, with support from fellow Finnish melodic death metal group Omnium Gatherum, arriving in Los Angeles for a gig at the Whisky-A-Go-Go in West Hollywood last Thursday August 27. This is a strange tour for Insomnium, with two of three original members guitarist/vocalist Ville Friman and vocalist/bassist Niilo Sevänen are both sitting out of the lineup and have been replaced by stand-ins Nick Cordle and Mike Bear respectively. But LA fans still turned up to the Whisky in huge numbers for this double bill of Finnish metal, and were treated to a show that met their expectations. Continue reading “Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum, Sirion & Voices Of Ruin Perform At The Whisky”

By Andrew Bansal

August 27th 2015, The Viper Room, West Hollywood CA: Following the release of their sophomore full-length ‘Electric Blood’ via Earache Records in August 2015, Atlanta, Georgia rock ‘n roll quartet Biters began a four-week US headline tour and descended upon West Hollywood for a gig at the Viper Room last Thursday August 27, sharing the stage with local novelty tribute act GayC/DC, and a special guest or two. In the six years of their existence, Biters have gained recognition and acclaim amongst media critics and veteran musicians that have touted the band as one of the best new rock ‘n roll bands on the planet. In front of an audience tailormade for them, they were about to show the Sunset Strip what they were made of, with a performance that will be remembered for a long time. Continue reading “Biters, Ricky Warwick, GayC/DC & Sebastian Bach Rock Viper Room”

By Andrew Bansal

August 27th 2015, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Hollywood CA:Even though several hard rock and heavy metal bands have been featured as musical guests on ABC television show ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, not many could have predicted that Richmond, Virginia quintet Lamb Of God would ever be one of them. The undisputed success of their recently released seventh studio album ‘VII: Sturm und Drang’ landed them this national television gig on Thursday August 27 2015. A few hours before the actual broadcast, they took the stage in an intimate Hollywood setting as representatives of modern American heavy metal, and while fans nationwide set their DVRs and those elsewhere waited anxiously for the JKL YouTube uploads, Lamb Of God’s Los Angeles faithful braved the heat to a brief taste of the band’s on-stage intensity and experience the new material live. Continue reading “Lamb Of God Performs On ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’”

By Andrew Bansal

August 26th 2015, Loaded Rock Bar, Hollywood CA: Los Angeles-based heavy metal warriors Huntress and Holy Grail combined for a one-off gig at Loaded Hollywood last Wednesday August 25, along with local thrashers Art Of Shock as opening act. Making a long-awaited appearance in front of hometown fans, Huntress and Holy Grail succeeded in packing the venue to capacity even on a school night, turning it into what felt like a weekend for all involved. Continue reading “Huntress, Holy Grail & Art Of Shock Pack Loaded Hollywood On School Night”