Few bands can be credited with creating a legacy, however, legendary New York based extreme metal outfit SUFFOCATION have done just that. For 20 years now SUFFOCATION have been creating music that has become the very standard by which we judge all things extreme. Their fusion of technicality, groove and sheer unrelenting brutality has been imitated but never quite duplicated. Milestone records such as Effigy of the Forgotten, Pierced from Within, and Despise the Sun have influenced a wealth of today’s best musical talents. And now, with the release of SUFFOCATION’s Nuclear Blast...
Michel Ackerman's powerful transformation from being a top flight piano teacher to becoming a dynamic, emerging singer/songwriter began one night with a dream. The multi-talented performer was gigging heavily at clubs in his native Berlin, pondering a way for his deeper musical expressions to take flight when he dreamed he was performing on a stage in Cologne City in front of a large audience. Captured by the feeling that he was "grasped slightly on the cheek by a ghost," he has the sense that something had happened to dislodge his true life-and he soon began writing and recording the songs that he is at last releasing as his 4-song EP debut Kite. The full range of a journey this rich and expans...
My Dying Bride were formed by Aaron, Andy, Calvin and Rick in the summer of 1990, and after only 6 months of writing together released the now legendary demo Towards The Sinister. Progress continued apace with the release of their first 7" single God Is Alone for the small French label Listenable. The single sold out almost immediately causing eager whispers in the underground, bringing them to the attention of Peaceville Records, who offered the band a deal. The first release from this now infamous pairing was the EP Symphonaire Infernus Et Spera Empyrium (featuring the bands newest recruit Ade on bass), shortly followed by the band's first full-length album As The Flower Withers, avant-garde doom metal ...
Ben Cooley Hall grew up in a suburb of Boston, singing and playing violin from an early age. He picked up the guitar in college, after which he moved to Bozeman, Montana, and helped form the indie-pop outfit Birdbody Hank, serving on bass. The quartet opened for such noteworthy acts as Band of Susans and the Loud Family. Later, back in Massachusetts, Hall recorded a 3-song demo at Zippah Studios (1999) that helped him recruit Deb Klein to co-found The Mary Reillys: Hall wrote, sang, and played guitar, and Klein sang harmony and played bass and guitar. Keira Flynn-Carson later joined on drums. The Reillys won a small following in the Boston indie circuit, and recorded one EP (Sock Is The New Rock, 2001) and one LP (untitled, not yet released...
Valerie grew up in rural Birdsboro, PA, but always had her sights set on bigger and better things. She always jokes that she practically came out of the womb singing and knew at a very early age that music would be a significant part of her life. As a kid, she listened to The Beatles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and Aerosmith (her mom's favorite bands), which were a definite influence on her appreciation of music. She began singing in choirs at age 6, playing piano at age 7, and playing flute at age 8. Involvement in numerous music groups throughout her entire primary, intermediate, and high school years soon followed.Her passion for music led to her decision to study music in college, where she received formal training in ...
Now something of an auteur, the fourth installment in Cass McCombs' life and art is CATACOMBS, and it is a thing of rare imagination from an artist whose wisdom and mischief will appeal as much to those in the stately manors as his more familiar lost souls on skid row. Like his previous LP Dropping The Writ, CATACOMBSpossesses that rare ability to attack both the listener's heart with its melodies and textures, and head with its poetry and themes. It is, as wretchedly hackneyed as it is to say, one of those albums ‘without category'. Indeed, it is somehow without influence or even form at times as McCombs&nb...
On his 2008 debut EP Quadrilogy, singer/songwriter Brian Lee bared his soul and explored his darkest fears with four tracks that painted a portrait of a young American couple during wartime in the early 21st Century. Drawing on the title of his first full length album Moth, he heads away from the darkness and towards the light, unabashedly expressing his feelings of love, hate and frustration and painting richly emotional themes with the help of his Los Angeles based co-writer and producer Franchot Tone-who also produced Quadrilogy at his Crash Test Studios. Lee, who used the pseudonym Knugu on his previous project, had thought about calling his new album "Take Two," but chose ...
Power.If there was one word to describe Project 86 it would be this one. The band has built its reputation on it over the span of their thirteen-year career. From their intensity to their thought-provoking lyricism, anyone who knows Project knows the force that they bring. But on their latest release Picket Fence Cartel they are exploring power from a new perspective--not only through heavy sounds but through asking powerful questions to the listener."This is an intense record for us musically, which is the perfect vehicle for the ideas we are trying to present," Explains frontman Andrew Schwab. "Picket Fence Cartel is a picture of irony--of an entity with a shiny exterior with a corrupt core. This ...
The quirky and unexpected success of the explosive blues rock and R&B duo Groove Kings is proof that even those seemingly anonymous club dates can lead to fruitful musical connections. One night a few years back, Montreal based songwriter, producer and guitarist Howard Forman was jamming with a soul band in a local hotspot when the manager approached him between sets and told him there was a girl who wanted to sit in. "Usually," says the multi-faceted musician, who once upon a time was a session musician in R&B mecca Muscle Shoals, "this means some white chick who wants to be Aretha will warble ‘Respect' like a squeaky door hinge." Irene Marc's powerhouse rendition of ‘Chain of Fools' ...
Busdriver has returned to jolt rap back into shape with the virtuoso, gatling gun vocal stylings and poignant (and at at times dadaist) lyricism of his new record, Jhelli Beam. Appearing to only abide by the approaches cemented by his 15 some odd years spent in the underbelly of rap, Jhelli Beam not only effortlessly trumps all previous mind-bending performances of his earlier works, but gives them new context; highlighting their dexterity with nuggets of election year paranoia and absurdist humor.Still as one listens to what has become this latest grouping of 'songage' from the man in question, you can't help but taste the scrawny, sweat-slick thigh of rap's forsaken alt. universe as it trudges upw...
A lot of indie bands on the verge of a breakthrough love to talk about the chemistry between members that drives their music, but Dayton, Ohio based pop-rockers Lithium Seven take this concept a step further-on their website (http://www.lithiumseven.com/), they actually explain the parallels between the science behind their clever yet spot on band moniker and the magic that happens when they're writing and performing. Vocalists and guitarists Shawn and Soren Gormley, multi-instrumentalist Jim Armstrong (vocals, bass, mandolin, keyboards, guitar) and drummer Jon Carroll introduce their unique mix of folk, alt-rock, Americana, pop and blues to the world with their debut three song EP Some...
Playing dirty rock and roll and primitive blues, psychedelic iconoclasts Nebula have earned a reputation as one of the most influential bands to emerge from the Los Angeles underground rock scene of the last two decades. With a penchant for Fuzz-wah pedals, wild drums and debauchery, Nebula plays feedback-heavy, guitar-driven psychedelic rock in the tradition of The Stooges, MC5, Jimi Hendrix, and Cream-- laced with the spaced out sounds and dischord of Spaceman 3 and The Velvet Underground. Formed by frontman Eddie Glass out of the ashes of Fu Manchu upon the band’s split in 1997, Nebula toured relentlessly in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia, playing alongside bands like Mudhoney, Iggy and the Sto...
From their debut EP, Tin Type (boasting the cult hit, "Oh, Alberta!") to their Juno-nominated, full length albums Ambassador and Mountain Meadows, Elliott BROOD have earned the praise of connoisseurs and critics alike. They've won over legions of fans with their raw and energetic live shows and their atmospheric, richly crafted records, making a name for themselves worldwide. They've carried their tune through several cross Canada marathons, including headlining Exclaim! Magazine's Wood, Wires & Whiskey tour. The band has opened shows for Wilco, Blue Rodeo, Corb Lund and The Sadies. They have completed five European tours, playing Festivals throughout Europe, Great Britain and Scandinavia, including opening sp...
SUICIDE CITY was first conceived when Biohazard vocalist/guitarist Billy Graziadei met Karl Bernholtz, vocalist of the south Florida band The Groovenics. The pair was joined by drummer Danny Lamagna, who had been recommended by members of Sworn Enemy. Soon after, Groovenics guitarist AJ Marchetta was added to the fold, and the lineup was finally rounded out by former Kittie bassist Jennifer Arroyo.Not the type of band to just wait around for things to happen, ...
With the dawn of a new year upon us and almost a decade into a new millennium, the time is now for the return of Mythological Occult Metal’s forefathers to issue a new and unique vision. February 2009 will see the band’s first full length album since 2001’s famed Tara in the form of the eponymous-titled, Absu. The album sees Proscriptor McGovern leading a new band into what is easily its strongest/most accomplished material and promises not only to wave the flag high of it’s past, but to embrace the new with every bit as much vigor and aggression. To fully understand the musical mystery and mythology of the band, one has to dig deep into the roots of its complex gathering of artists and musicians. Only t...
The eighteen or so years that Omar Rodriguez-López and Cedric Bixler Zavala have spent making music together have been a prime example of the theory of musical evolution, a journey of exploration that's seen the duo refuse to stand still, maturing and growing ever bolder in their art. From Omar's first joining their previous group, El Paso's lauded and lamented At The Drive-In, and progressively pushing that band in more experimental directions that ultimately pulled it apart, to Omar's composing of epic scores and Cedric's creation of lyrical novellas to complement them resulting in The Mars Volta's first two albums, theirs has always been a partnership that has ...
New Again - For Taking Back Sunday it's more than an album title, it's a declaration. "We kicked around a bunch of different titles, but that one always remained the top of the list, and that's because it really does feel like a new band," vocalist Adam Lazzara says. Taking Back Sunday is not turning their collective back on what is already a storied past, not when their resume boasts three gold albums, two of which hit the top five (including a #2 debut for 2006's Louder Now), extensive touring with the likes of Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, and Jimmy Eat World, as well as co-headlining the Warped package and appearing at the historic Live Earth, all in-between th...
Award-winning, Glendale, AZ heavy music powerhouse JOB FOR A COWBOY blend stunning musicianship and cutting edge song craft to create the absolute embodiment of modern day extreme music. The band's hotly-anticipated sophomore album Ruination will see a July, 2009 worldwide release date via Metal Blade Records.In the two short years since the release of the band's full length debut Genesis, JOB FOR A COWBOY (JFAC) has progressed from "the band with the different name" to one of the leading lights for heavy music in the 21st century. JFAC formed in 2003 when vocalist Jonny Davy (16 at the time) and guitarists Andrew Arcurio and Ravi Bhadriraju (each 15 at the time) joined forces. The band would soon be joined by ...
Toronto indie roots band Rock Plaza Central are set to release their new album, At the Moment of Our Most Needing..., on May 26th. I recently had the opportunity to ask singer/songwriter Chris Eaton about the album and more.Here's how it went: T.O. Snob: First off thank you for taking the time to do this. You new album, At the Moment of Our Most Needing... comes out on May 26th. What should fans expect from the record? Chris Eaton: That's a really hard question. I think the album has a little more rock to it than the last record. Maybe more dynamics. But generally, I hope our fans trust us and will go along for the ride. The process was much different from t...
"What kind of music do you do?" is probably the most common question asked of any musician. While some scratch their heads or say, "Everything," Katey Laurel typically pauses for a second, glances upward, touches her lips as if deep in thought and says, "Folk-pop." This nebulous genre has grown from Jewel's "Pieces of You" days through Norah Jones' radio heyday to rule primetime television shows like Grey's Anatomy and modern film soundtracks with tunes by Ingrid Michaelson and Sufjan Stevens. Today, Folk-pop has come to be synonymous with introspective lyricism supported by beautiful melodies and sweeping acoustic or piano-driven production. It is the perfect blend...
I would like to preface this bio by saying I hate band bio sheets. They are boring, self-congratulatory, tripe, filled with all sorts of overdramatic adjectives and if I never have to read another band bio sheet again, I will die a relatively happy man.With that said, my name is George Pettit and this is a brief biography of Alexisonfire.Alexisonfire is the product of five kids from the liberal, suburban paradise of Southern Ontario. The band started as an escape from the banalities of adolescence; basically, it was something to do on the weekend. All five of us were active in our local music scene, which consisted mostly of kid promoted shows at local union halls. I think it is important to note, th...
Upon switching their name from Xecutioner to Obituary, the career of one of the most successful and influential Death Metal bands began. Hailing from Florida and featuring John Tardy (vocals), brother Donald Tardy (drums), Trevor Peres (guitar), Allen West (guitar), and Daniel Tucker (bass), the band signed to Roadracer Records, a now defunct division of Roadrunner, for the recording of their debut album—the immense and immeasurably heavy “Slowly We Rot” (1989). The album was engineered by the legendary Scott Burns at Morrisound Studio, which would come to be the most sought after facility for production of albums during 1990’s rise of the Death Metal genre. Unlike much death metal preceding it, t...
Well over a decade since its inception, CATTLE DECAPITATION has forged its not-so-humble beginnings in veggie gore-grind into one of extreme metal's most relentless forces, encompassing a sound as schizophrenic as their record collections but with a determined lyrical stance resolutely damning the ills of humanity. With 5 full-lengths and countless tours under their belt as well as having influenced the majority of today's rapidly-growing-in-popularity death/grind hopefuls, CATTLE DECAPITATION continue their own brand of spastic gore-drenched gr...
Sipo began working behind the scenes in recording studios and within two years became head engineer at a top facility, shaping sound for big name artists scoring platinum selling albums. The average person of this status might become too addicted to success and lucrative opportunities to leave this position, but Sipo had bigger creative plans all along. While helping other artists fulfill their creative dreams, he was hard at work writing his own songs and laying the foundation for his breakout as an indie/alternative rocker with Year Of The White Rose.The title of Sipo's first solo effort is rife with symbolism. The white rose is symbolic of death and rebirth, as in the shedding of his former self to p...
Sometimes, the old adage is really true. The stars align a certain way and it's up to us to use our innate talents to discover the call of destiny. Emerging now, at a time in our cultural history when her unique half Panamanian, half Trinidadian heritage can be celebrated rather than obscured, Estrella Cristina's musical course was set the minute her parents called her the Spanish word for "star." "Imagine," the Los Angeles based singer/songwriter says, "sitting at your window and looking up at the stars and thinking about what you wanted to be when you grew up. For me, it was always music." Well on her way to making her longtime dreams come true, Estrella shares her innermost heart with the world f...
Honeybrowne has made its mark on the Texas music scene and beyond by going song by song, gig by gig, album by album and Mile By Mile, as the title of the band's latest CD declares. Singer, songwriter and group leader Fred Andrews and his musical compadres come by their sound and success honestly, drawing from a rich palette of inspirations and then going out and road-testing the music they create to ensure that it makes a genuine connection with music-loving listeners. Combining good ole hard work with a vibrant love for the magic of music, Honeybrowne keep their eyes on the prize of being better and better each time out.So how does the band follow "this year's first must-hear," as Entertainment News & Views sai...
Combine extreme music with an edgy, biting implacability, complement it with politically motivated lyrics that have a distinct tendency to point the finger at grievances and aren't afraid of exposing abhorrent facts, and you just might get a sense of the pandemonium of sounds on Hordes of Chaos, the latest recording by Germany's cult thrash metal act, Kreator, scheduled for release on Steamhammer/SPV on 19 January 2009 (Germany: 16 January, US: late January). Even in 2009, the band prove themselves to be unusually innovative and a step ahead of the game, always ready to pursue new ideas and treat themselves and their fans to maximum authenticity. Frontman Mille Petrozza, along with drummer Jürgen 'Ventor' Reil, bassist Christian Giesle...
Lillian Berlin, vocals, guitar Eve Berlin, bass Bosh Berlin, drumsWrite an honest record about money, religion and war and you're liable to be branded with the loathsome anti-American tag, an unjust fate that's befallen no less a band than St Louis agit-rockers Living Things. But that's par for the course when your mom was a 60s radical and you burned posters of George Bush on stage at gigs during the 2000s. Say what you want about patriotism, but if they don't watch the Watchmen, who will? Damn good question. Luckily, the brothers Berlin - drummer Bosh, bassist Eve, and mastermind Lilian -- joined by guitarist Cory Becker, aren't willing to hazard a guess.On their latest barnburner, the political and socia...
New England post-hardcore group Vanna have spent the last several years on a personal journey, and it's the experience of living on the road that has helped them to discover who they truly are. After years of relentless touring and musical growth, the band has found balance with A New Hope, both literally and figuratively.Since the bands formation in 2004 Vanna - Chris Preece (vocals), Nick Lambert (guitar/vocals), Evan Pharmakis (guitar/vocals), Shawn Marquis (bass) and newcomer Chris Campbell (drums) - have built a strong following based on their killer live shows, which helped garner attention from Epitaph Records. The band signed with the label in 2005 and released their debut EP, The Search Party Never Came, the fo...
When John Brown's Body released their fourth studio album in 2005, the band looked forward to the happy grind of touring to support the release. With Pressure Points hailed by critics as "their strongest, most consistent effort to date," [Popmatters] JBB set out on tour and continued their efforts to conquer the world. Little did they know that they were about to go through a series of events that would significantly change the band. They endured the death of bassist Scott Palmer, the departure of several long time members (including singer and co-founder Kevin Kinsella), and throat surgery for lead singer Elliot Martin-enough challenges to end the career of many groups. Instead, JBB emerged with a brand new line-up and a fearl...
