Metal Assault: Gig Reviews

By Andrew Bansal

February 15th 2015, Loaded Rock Bar, Hollywood CA: After a few years of buildup since their 2010 inception, Novareign have risen as new representatives of progressive power metal in Los Angeles. Featuring in their ranks on guitar Balmore Lemus, former frontman of Exmortus and touring guitarist for Warbringer, Novareign put out a four-song demo EP called ‘Reign Of The Infinite Sun’ in 2014, and with the inclusion of new drummer Paul Contreras, they have solidified their lineup to work on a full-length album and play gigs along the way. They shared the stage with the likes of Skull Fist and Night Demon in San Bernardino and Fullerton in January 2015, and were the opening act at a free metal matinee show at Loaded Hollywood yesterday. Their first ever gig at this venue drew a good turnout even at 3 PM on a Sunday, and with the kind of performance they put forth, Novareign certainly made it worth the time and effort for those that cared to turn up. Continue reading “Matinee Shred: Novareign Impress Hollywood”

By Andrew Bansal

February 14th 2015, Complex, Glendale CA: Norwegian black metal band 1349 released their long-awaited fifth studio album ‘Massive Cauldron Of Chaos’ in September 2014, their first full-length release in more than four years. To present their newest creation of black metal savagery, 1349 embarked on the ‘Chaos Raids USA’ tour in early February 2015, headlining a skull-crushing package comprising Origin, Abysmal Dawn and Wolvhammer as support acts. The tour arrived in Los Angeles for a gig at Complex in Glendale, presented by Church Of The 8th Day. All tickets to the show were sold out in advance, the anticipation surrounding it was massive, and the atmosphere inside and outside the venue before the start of the show on a lovely California evening gave every indication of the possibility of a greatly memorable event for all involved. Continue reading “Chaos Raids Glendale: 1349, Origin, Abysmal Dawn & Wolvhammer Play At Complex”

Review & photo by Andrew Bansal

February 13th 2015, Blacklight District Lounge, Long Beach CA: Orange County’s newest and fastest-rising metal entity Morbid Eclipse turned quite a few heads with their demo releases and first few live gigs in 2014, and with an enhanced visual show which has offered something new each time they’ve played, they took the stage on Friday the 13th last night at Blacklight District Lounge in Long Beach, with a slew of local bands, for a 21+ show that cost merely $3 at the door. I saw Morbid Eclipse open for Raven and Night Demon in Santa Barbara under different circumstances a few months ago, but was certainly looking forward to my first proper Morbid Eclipse experience. The expectations were sky high, and they were not only met but were far exceeded. Continue reading “Morbid Eclipse Inducts Long Beach Into The Atomic Cult”

Review & photo by Andrew Bansal

February 11th 2015, The Whisky-A-Go-Go, West Hollywood CA: Known for his contributions to several hard rock/heavy metal bands and projects including those of popular artists such as David Lee Roth, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie over the years, guitarist John 5 has also maintained a solo career for the past decade, and even though his solo work has an unsurprisingly low-key fan-following as compared to the bands he’s been in, he’s not the kind of guitarist that puts out an album once in a blue moon. John 5 has consistently released solo albums full of excellent, highly respectable material, and the latest effort, his seventh solo full-length ‘Careful With That Axe’, came out in 2014. Throughout these solo albums he has displayed a style that’s individual but not overly pronounced or exaggerated. Currently, he is in the first phase of his first ever US tour as a solo act, named ‘John 5 & The Creatures’, and played a highly entertaining gig last night at a sold-out Whisky-A-Go-Go. Continue reading “John 5 Plays Sold-Out Solo Show At The Whisky”

Review by Andrew Bansal, photos by Karina Diane

February 7th 2015, The Observatory, Santa Ana CA: Extreme metal giants Cannibal Corpse began a North American co-headline tour with Polish blackened death metal mainstays and Metal Blade label mates Behemoth in late January 2015, along with Swedish death metal band Aeon, also on Metal Blade, and their fellow countrymen Tribulation as opening acts. A little over a week into the tour, the caravan arrived at the Observatory in Santa Ana to play a show that was already sold out far in advance. The line of ticket holders awaiting the doors to be opened was wrapping around the entire parking lot adjoining the venue, and the number of people desperately trying to find or purchase tickets by hook or by crook was also higher than normal. Cannibal Corpse has always packed this place to the rafters every time they’ve played here, and now with a tremendously popular co-headliner and a strong support cast, they enjoyed an even warmer and more intense Orange County welcome. Continue reading “Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth Satiate Orange County Extreme Metal Fans”

Review & photo by Andrew Bansal

February 6th 2015, Five Star Bar, Los Angeles CA: Purveyors of their self-christened brand of party wizard doom, Portland, Oregon-based trio Blackwitch Pudding set out on a four-week US headline tour and arrived in Los Angeles towards the end of this run, to play a gig put together by Thee Static Age and featuring local support from Yidhra, Colombian Necktie, Battery Axe and Blackleg. Blackwitch Pudding is a band I familiarized myself with only recently, and aside from their instant classic band name, there was something about their approach and theme, as evident on their most recent release ‘Covered In Pudding: Vol 1’, that drew me towards this gig, and the prospect of a somewhat theatrical live show heightened the anticipation further. Continue reading “Blackwitch Pudding Brings Party Doom Wizardry To Five Star Bar”