One of my favorite new bands, He Whose Ox Is Gored, just released their video for their song “Paralyzer.” This track was recorded by Jack Endino (Nirvana, High On Fire) at Avast Recording Studio as part of Converse Rubber Tracks Seattle Series.
He Whose Ox Is Gored is a tremendous band, and they write great songs. Check them out when they come through your town (tour dates below).
He Whose Ox Is Gored- Paralyzer:
Tour Dates:
Heavy music comes in all shapes, sounds and vibes. Sometimes the band is just a full on gutteral screaming band that just thrashes about with their music. Other heavier bands incorporate brutality and riffs that make for some pretty intense tunes. And then you have heavy bands that can be “heavy” and “brutal” but still have a sense of melody that doesn’t compromise their intention to be heavy. Which brings me to Westfield Massacre. These guys have made music that combines heavy guitars along with thumping bass and groovy drums and soaring vocals that range from aggressive screams and melodic harmonies.
Led by the ever busy Tommy Vext on vocals, Westfield Massacre is a band for today’s heavy metal/rock circles. The rest of the band which includes Ira Black (Guitar),
Stephen Brewer (Guitar), Erik Tisinger (Bass), and Dio Britto (Drums), add their own personal flairs to writing groove laden and hook filled songs, that doesn’t come across as cheesy or “commercial.”
Westfield Massacre are about to release their second full length album. The first single “Only The Dead” is a great step forward for the band not just as writers but, as players as well. You can tell they were inspired to step up their game on the new album.
Westfield Massacre- Only The Dead:
Westfield Massacre- Self Titled Debut:
Mutoid Man have a new album coming out June 2nd and I couldn’t be more stoked. I’ve long been a fan of Cave In and Converge, so the idea of Stephen Brodsky (of Cave In) and Ben Koller (of Converge) making a second full length album is music to my ears. Their first EP Helium Head was a great introduction and exactly what you thought the music would sound like. Then on their debut full length, Bleeder, they stepped it up about 10 notches and delivered a very ass kicking record. The two new songs from their upcoming album War Moans, are blistering and full of intensity. This is one band that you should be playing with the volume turned all the way up.
Check out what Mutoid Man has to offer on their upcoming new album!
Mutoid Man- Kiss Of Death:
Mutoid Man- Melt Your Mind:
Mutoid Man Tour Dates with Special Guest Helms Alee:
06/04 Boston, MA – Great Scott
06/06 Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus
06/07 Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
06/08 Detroit, MI – El Club
06/09 Chicago, IL – Subterranean
06/10 Indianapolis, IN – Black Circle Brewing
06/12 Dallas, TX – Curtain Club
06/13 Austin, TX – Barracuda
06/14 Houston, TX – The Studio at Warehouse Live
06/15 Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon
06/16 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade (Hell)
06/17 Orlando, FL – The Social
06/19 Raleigh, NC – King’s
06/20 Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts – Black Box
07/06 Seattle, WA – Neumos
07/07 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
07/08 San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
07/10 Los Angeles, CA – Resident
07/11 Santa Ana, CA – The Constellation Room
07/12 San Diego, CA – The Casbah
07/13 Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge
07/14 Las Vegas, NV – Beauty Bar
07/15 Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
07/16 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
There is a rumor going around that the former singer of the band Dry Cell and X Factor contestant Jeff Gutt is going to be fronting Stone Temple Pilots. Which, if this is true, is going to be a really bad decision. To further cement why I think this would be a horrible choice, here is Jeff’s old band Dry Cell covering STP’s “Heaven and Hot Rods.”
Dry Cell- Heaven and Hot Rods:
We all know that feeling of watching a movie and noticing, wow, the music they picked for this is perfect. I really feel that way about the soundtrack for Dazed and Confused. Every song picked is perfect and really fits the vibe of the film. Having a soundtrack with Black Sabbath, Kiss, Deep Purple, and Lynyrd Skynyrd is tremendous enough. Then you add some other gems like “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith, and the most excellent “Stranglehold” by Lord Douche, Ted Nugent. Ok I’m done rambling on and on. Take a listen to one of the best soundtracks, and then later on go watch the movie!
Dazed and Confused Soundtrack:
The A to Z list continues to find the top ten bands/artists in the alphabet. Q is upon us and needs help to complete the list. As usual your suggestions are wanted in completing this list. These are in no particular order as well.
01) Queen
02) Queens Of The Stone Age
03) Queensryche
04) Quicksand
05) Q-Tip (of A Tribe Called Quest)
06)
07)
08)
09)
10)
I’ve long been intrigued by the bands people start after leaving a band they’ve been in for many years. Most of the time the new band is a departure from what they have been doing, and the new project is their way to break away from the musical path they were in with their former band. Which brings me to Bad Wolves. Formed by drummer John Boecklin, formerly of DevilDriver, Bad Wolves expands upon John’s creativity and explores different avenues of heavy, without being predictable and generic.
Joining John in Bad Wolves are vocalist Tommy Vext (Westfield Massacre, ex Divine Heresy), guitarists Doc Coyle (Vagus Nerve, ex God Forbid) and Chris Cain, and on bass Kyle Konkiel. The music they create blurs the lines of heavy rock and metal. Think a bit of Meshuggah with a bit of Sevendust. The first song released “Learn To Live,” is filled with thick riffs, aggression and melody. I personally am looking forward to seeing Bad Wolves live as well as hearing their debut album!
Check out “Learn To Live” below!
Bad Wolves- Learn To Live:
I’m not sure why this keeps happening. There seems to be a new thing going on in music where bands are releasing cover albums and E.P.’s. Granted things like this have been happening for a very long time, it just seems that over the past few years it’s become more prevalent. Recently, I came across a cover of Whitesnake’s “Still Of The Night” by Halestorm. I couldn’t believe what I heard. First off, when I was a kid, I was a big Whitesnake fan, as was my mom, and “Still Of The Night” was one of my jams. So, when I heard this atrocious cover, I felt compelled to have to share it with you all. This cover just doesn’t have the same “gusto” as David Coverdale singing it.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Halestorm- Still Of The Night
Whitesnake- Still Of The Night:
It’s been too long and the fans want it. The guys aren’t getting any younger, and there are so many people that want it. So how about Led Zeppelin gets back together. I’m not asking for new music, just play some shows. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones are one hell of a trifecta. Their legacy and influence is spread over multitudes of generations. And there are people like myself that would love to see the three of them play on stage. I do have one request that if they do decide to play some shows, don’t use Jason Bonham as the drummer. Dave Grohl needs to be behind the kit. Jason was good for the “Celebration Day” reunion they did a few years back but, it really needs to be Dave Grohl.
What do you all think? A Led Zeppelin reunion with Dave Grohl playing drums?!
Way back in 2003/2004 there was a group that consisted of Atticus Ross (Nine Inch Nails), Leopold Ross and Brett Gurewitz (Bad Religion). This group came about when Atticus was messing around in the studio and came up with some very interesting sounds that could become songs. Not long after the inception of the songs, Atticus recruited his brother Leopold to play drums and Bad Religion guitarist to play guitar and bass. On vocals Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan) was asked to take on the vocals for the EP.
The end result of this collaboration brought 5 songs of pure electronic hardcore with a healthy dose of industrial. You can tell from listening to this EP, why Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross work so well together. The songs are blistering and uncompromising. After the 5 songs finish, the EP leaves you wanting more but, it also leaves you pumped up and ready for anything.
Sadly though it is unlikely that Error will return anytime in the future as discussed in a 2009 interview. However, in a 2011 interview with Greg Puciato, he discussed the possibility of doing a second EP with Error. I personally would love to hear a new EP. Greg will be done with Dillinger soon, so why not!
Error- Error EP:
