Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

By Andrew Bansal

August 4th 2015, All Star Lanes, Los Angeles CA: Toronto-based extreme metal/grindcore band Abyss released their debut full-length studio album ‘Heretical Anatomy’ via 20 Buck Spin earlier this year, and made a visit to the Los Angeles area on their touring run, headlining the All Star Lanes in Eagle Rock, for a gig put together by Crash The Clubs and also featuring Deadbeat and Our Place Of Worship Is Silence as local openers. There is no shortage of venues in this city, specially when it comes to underground music, and the closure of certain iconic venues definitely does not equate to the death of the scene. On that note, I ventured to All Star Lanes for the first time. Continue reading “Abyss, Deadbeat & Our Place Of Worship Is Silence Perform At All Star Lanes In Eagle Rock”

By Andrew Bansal

August 3rd 2015, House Of Blues Sunset Strip, West Hollywood CA: The Sunset Strip has been treated to a plethora of great live entertainment in recent history, and despite what old-timers fixated on the glory days of the 80s might keep saying, it has been far from ‘dead’. The House Of Blues has stood tall as the Strip’s premier club for the past 21 years, hosting all varieties of hard rock and heavy metal through this period, and is now closing its doors. Last night, the venue held its final show at this location, and taking into consideration the number of times Steel Panther has rocked this stage with consistent success, it was only appropriate for the Los Angeles parody glam kings to play the final show here. The show was not only sold out in advance but was streamed live all over the world. It was a fitting farewell party glittered with metal, comedy, tits, and some of Hollywood’s most loved and hated celebrity guest performers. Continue reading “House Of Blues Sunset Strip Says Goodbye With One Last Steel Panther Show”

By Andrew Bansal

August 2nd 2015, Complex, Glendale CA: Minneapolis MN stoner rock quartet Wicked Inquisition made a visit to the Los Angeles area on their ongoing touring run, for a gig with hometown bands Mammoth and Poweraxe at Complex in Glendale, presented by Church Of The 8th Day. As a refreshing change to Metal Assault’s last few outings at this venue, this three-pronged lineup of talented groups treated attendees to a low-key, relaxed evening of delightfully diverse jams. Continue reading “Wicked Inquisition, Mammoth & Poweraxe Perform At Complex”

By Andrew Bansal

August 1st 2015, The Airliner, Los Angeles CA: ‘Maidens Of Metal’ is a series of shows organized by Los Angeles-based promoters Metal Invictus, as a celebration of female musicians in metal. The fourth edition of this series took place at Metal Invictus’ home, the Airliner bar in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, and featured eight bands boasting of at least one female member. The lineup comprised Cowgirls From Hell (Pantera tribute), Suspended, Harlequin, Blade Killer, Sisters Ov The Black Moon, DoubleKill, Darkult and Molly Vamp. Continue reading “Suspended, Sisters Ov The Blackmoon & Blade Killer Dominate ‘Maidens Of Metal 4’”

By Andrew Bansal

July 31st 2015, The Echoplex, Los Angeles CA: Oakland stoner metal trio High On Fire embarked on a North American headline tour with Arkansas doom quartet Pallbearer, German ‘heavy magic rock’ group Lucifer, and Houston heshers Venomous Maximus as support acts, for an undeniably diverse lineup that is certain to attract large audiences wherever it goes, specially with all four bands having new(ish) releases under their belts. The tour began in San Diego on July 30 2015 and the day after, made its way to Los Angeles for a sold-out gig at the Echoplex, presented by Vacation Vinyl and FYF. The lines outside the venue were long and the anticipation among Los Angeles’ stoner/doom/sludge community gathered here was high. Continue reading “High On Fire, Pallbearer, Lucifer & Venomous Maximus Play Sold-Out Show At Echoplex”

Review & photos by Andrew Bansal

July 29th 2015, House Of Blues Sunset Strip, West Hollywood CA: After 21 years of hosting numerous shows and standing tall as the premier venue for hard rock and heavy metal, the House Of Blues Sunset Strip is in its final week of shows before it closes its doors at its current loction on August 7 2015. Last night, on July 29, the final metal show here was held, and was headlined by thrash veterans Anthrax, the band not only presenting a multitude of material old, new and rare, but also giving fans an opportunity to keep a souvenir in the form of a special shirt commemorating this event. Tickets were completely sold out four days in advance, and the atmosphere was all set for, in the words of Scott Ian and Joey Belladonna, ‘one last war dance’. Continue reading “Anthrax Give House Of Blues Sunset Strip Glorious Metal Farewell”