Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

By Andrew Bansal

August 14th 2015, Bombay Bar & Grill, Ventura CA: Gygax is a fantasy-themed rock ‘n roll entity comprising a group of immensely talented local Ventura legends and former Los Angeles champions, and was founded after the demise of Gypsyhawk. Having played their first ever live show at this year’s Schiedeck Music Festival in June, Gygax made their proper hometown debut at Bombay Bar & Grill in Ventura last Friday August 14 2015, with Ojai CA rock quartet Pleasure and Los Angeles rock ‘n roll newcomers Others. Ventura’s true rock ‘n roll supporters were in attendance, and based on the level of impact Gypsyhawk made with a mere two-album catalog and a shortlived five-year existence as a band, much of the same and beyond was expected from Gygax. Continue reading “Gygax Make Hometown Live Debut”

Photos by Brad Worsham

August 13th 2015, Slidebar, Fullerton CA: Los Angeles metal flagbearers Holy Grail have returned to active touring, much to the delight of their die-hard fans, and just concluded a four-week US run with a headline show at the Slidebar in Fullerton CA last Thursday August 13 2015, with Night Demon as main support. The Grail played a hefty mix of tunes from their two full-length Prosthetic Records releases ‘Crisis In Utopia’ and ‘Ride The Void’, along with two brand new compositions ‘Sudden Death’ and ‘No More Heroes’. Our photographer Brad Worsham was in attendance to capture some images. Check them out below, and LA folks are highly recommended to catch Holy Grail at Loaded Hollywood on Wednesday August 26. Continue reading “Photo Gallery: Holy Grail & Night Demon @ Slidebar”

Photos by Chad Alexander

August 11th 2015, Club Red, Mesa AZ: One of the most promising Canadian heavy metal to have emerged in recent years, Kobra And The Lotus recently completed work on an all-covers EP called ‘Words Of The Prophets’, due out on August 28 2015. On this five-track EP, the band pays homage to their Canadian music heroes. Kobra And The Lotus just concluded a short run of headline US dates, and as part of this run, brought their stage-scorching show to Club Red in Mesa, Arizona last Tuesday August 11. Our photographer Chad Alexander was in attendance to capture some shots for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy them below:

Set List:
01. High Priestess
02. Welcome To My Funeral
03. Battle Of Wrath
04. Hold On
05. Warhorse
06. Soldier
07. Forever One
08. Sign Of The Gypsy Queen (April Wine cover)
09. Guitar Solo
10. Lost In The Shadows
11. I Am, I Am

By Andrew Bansal

August 9th 2015, All Star Lanes, Los Angeles CA: Besides the musical style itself, the term “rock ‘n roll” implies a lot of things, and certainly entails the sheer electricity in a band’s performance. Los Angeles-based hard rock quintet Empty Palace embodied this very trait with their set at All Star Lanes in Eagle Rock last Sunday August 9 2015, as they put forth an exhibition of excellently portrayed quintessential classic hard rock, and proved to be too powerful for the venue’s sound system. Continue reading “LA Hard Rock Band Empty Palace Plays High-Voltage Set In Eagle Rock”

By Andrew Bansal

August 8th 2015, T. Boyle’s Tavern, Pasadena CA: As an ideal preparation for their upcoming week-long run of US West Coast dates with fellow Los Angeles group Diamond Lane, hard rock quartet Delta Rose performed at T. Boyle’s Tavern in Pasadena last Saturday August 8 2015, and were allowed to play a rather unusually long set. “This ain’t a Hollywood show, and we’re playing longer than 20 minutes”, said vocalist/guitarist Spencer Krasch, and sure enough, it wasn’t, as Delta Rose brought forth a hefty dosage of wholehearted rock ‘n roll to this stage, much to the delight and satisfaction of all attendees that contributed to an excellent turnout for this free, all-ages event put together by the folks behind the ‘Humpcast‘ podcast. Continue reading ““This Ain’t A Hollywood Show” – Local Band Delta Rose Plays Rare Long Set”

Review by Lisa Burke

August 7th 2015, Regent Theater, Los Angeles CA: Last Friday, Downtown Los Angeles’ Regent Theater hosted the Riot Grill Fest, featuring a line up largely consisting of all-female punk rock bands, headlined by Babes In Toyland. Our writer Lisa Burke was in attendance to capture the action through her words. Check out her review below: Continue reading “Babes In Toyland Headline Riot Grill Fest At The Regent”