Tag: metal

Metal Injection Festival Will Conquer Orange County September 16th-17th

Rob Shepyer September 12, 2023

Having served the global extreme music underground since 2004 when they were launched by co-owners Frank Godla and Robert Pasbani, Metal Injection has become the premiere source for heavy metal and hardcore news, reviews, humor and more. To celebrate the magazine, its contributors, readers and the bands they love, Metal injection has evolved into a festival with just as much power and style as they’ve always put out. Since their inception, what’s made Metal Injection stand out from the rest of the flock is the exceptional curation and vision held by its creators and family of contributors. The very first Metal Injection Festival features that same sort of expert eye for talent and timing with two nights of metal and hardcore heavyweights, old and new. At the top of the first night’s bill, Saturday September 16th’s Observatory Orange County opening night features Max and Igor Cavalera returning to their first albums, Morbid Visions and Bestial Devastation. Those who experienced their more recent Arise/Beneath the Remains tours and their Roots revival before that, know this regression in form only adds up to more volume, brutality and mosh pits because these songs, though you might not know them like the back of

Candlemass at 1720 shot by Joshua Alvarez

Candlemass at 1720: The Church of Doom

Danny Ryan April 20, 2023

While doom metal is a metal subgenre that has come and gone in waves throughout its history, bands that enter the scene develop such a large cult following that there has never been a need for a huge influx of new artists taking on the sound. The 1980’s severely lacked newer doom metal artists with the oversaturation of hair metal and thrash at the time, but Candlemass boldly took the throne as the Kings of Doom for that era when they were needed most and have maintained their legendary status ever since. With heavier psychedelic rock and metal rising in popularity again, Candlemass have once again returned to Los Angeles for the first time in 6 years for a sold out show at 1720 Warehouse to reclaim their spot on that throne. If you’re in any way a fan of the olden days of heavy metal before blast beats and death growls, seeing Candlemass live is one of the most authentic ways to experience these roots of metal music that are rarely seen nowadays. Related: Speedy Speedy Speed Metal – Midnight at Union 1720 Warehouse has quickly grown to become one of Los Angeles’ most iconic venues with the wide

Resonant Sound Baths: Sunn O))) at the Lodge Room

Todd Anderson February 15, 2023

Having never heard SUNN O))) before, I had no idea what I was in for as I waited at the back door of the Lodge Room in Highland Park. I purposely didn’t look them up or listen to them. Sometimes I like going into a show totally blind and open to something new. And last night was something new, for sure. I’m either the worst person in the world to write about this, or the best. See, I thought I was going to see a metal show, a rock show, a show that fit into the box I had constructed that contains everything I thought I knew about a musical act. On stage the semi-circle of 10 stacks of amplifiers only spoke to it being loud but nothing else. Last night was a beautiful, profound, and absolute assault on the senses…. Almost spiritual in nature. When the first vibrations of deafening sound hit me I nearly panicked …I wanted to run, leave get out as quickly as I could … I closed my eyes and gave into the loudest droning guitars I had ever heard in my life It was an electronic exorcism performed by two cloaked figures wielding guitars

Detention With Danzig at The Montalban

Vanessa Burgundy February 14, 2023

Still seething with bliss from the uproarious decadence of Danzig Sings Elvis at the Hollywood Roosevelt on Devil’s Night 2021, we set our ticket alarm and grabbed 4th row for our second chance at seeing the dark King of Rock n Roll. Another historic Hollywood theater, The Montalban was an odd choice but we, and a sold out crowd, were there for it. Parking was a breeze next door and we stepped over the teenage, junkie living in the stairwell of the structure and headed down to the theater. The marquee was set with several, larger-than-life, close-up portraits of Danzig á la Elvis headshots that served as photo ops out front of the theater and in the lobby, as there were several reminders of no photography or recording inside the theater (more on this later…much, much, more). The crowd poured in, many excited first-timers, a mix of black-leather punks, leopard-print rockabillies, and even a few, tired, parents with their children. Let’s be honest, this was a predominantly over 40 crowd…which made it all that more confusing as to why we were treated as though we were in trouble at a high school assembly. Between the emails, signs, and repeated loud

Deafheaven at Lodge Room- A Perfect Marriage Of Time

Danny Ryan February 8, 2023

Deafheaven astonishingly achieved fitting their enormous, atmospheric sound into the intimate setting of The Lodge Room for 2 sold out nights, hosting different lineups and playing different setlists for each of them. As heavy metal further evolves with its experimentation and hardcore punk is currently seeing a revival in its popularity, artists that were early to adopt this innovative nature, like Deafheaven, are now seeing the respect that they deserve for breaking ground within these movements. With the environment of Night 2 shifting from their classic black metal influenced material to the shoegaze and emo sounds of their newest album Infinite Granite, Deafheaven showcased the importance for legendary bands within modern heavy music scenes, to continue to explore and evolve as these genres do alongside them. While Deafheaven is known for bringing a massive and theatrical presence to the audience with their live performances, Spiritual Cramp creates a completely different atmosphere with their upbeat, groovy sound that inspires pogo dancing in all directions within any room that they play. Spiritual Cramp is one of the most distinctively unique bands to come out of the punk genre in recent years, having the spirit of classic ‘77 punk rather than the hardcore

Morning Stars Over Lodge Room: King Woman’s “Celestial Blues” Release Party

Janky Smooth Central Command August 4, 2021

You’ve never heard an album more Chthonian than King Woman’s Celestial Blues What do I mean by that? I don’t mean this is the most raw, underground punk sounding album ever. What I’m saying is that with “Celestial Blues” King Woman has lent a voice and story to all the mysteries working beneath the surface layers of reality around us, be they the internal workings of the body, the mysterious processes of the Earth, the unfathomable cycles of birth and destruction in the cosmos, or the interplay of good and evil magic with everyday life. When King Woman closed out their Sunday night Celestial Blues album release party with a cover of the Stone Roses’ “I Wanna Be Adored”, I thought some kind of mind reading must’ve been at play because after seeing a full set of Kris Esfandiari’s doomy siren songs, my main takeaway was being genuinely impressed with how much she is utterly adored by her fans. They seemed to have her back unconditionally and after every song when the band let it all hang loose, the audience was there to catch them in rounds of applause, whistles and cheers. All that was missing from the evening was a

Maggots Unite!: Knot Fest Road Show 2019

Janky Smooth Central Command August 1, 2019

Photos by: Pedro Carrera Words by: Wesley Vanhook The sun was high and unforgiving over the San Bernardino hills for Knot Fest Roadshow. Anyone that’s been to the Glen Helen Pavillon knows just how hot the sun beats down. But the heat was no deterrent to the rabid maggots of Slipknot. Parking lot tailgating was in full-effect and the party was only just beginning. The gates opened and fans began pouring in for the masters of darkness Behemoth, as they were about to begin their dark ceremony. related content: No Rest ‘Till Knotfest This would be the second time I would see Behemoth touring North America in support of their latest album I Loved You at Your Darkest. The stage was set and as a banner of North America with a giant upside down cross was strewn over the stage. Behemoth then ripped into the wild track “Wolves of Siberia” and never let up, playing “Daimonos”, “Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer”, and the classic “Conquer All” Behemoth showed their live show is a force to be reckoned with. related content: Slayer’s Final So-Cal Show At Five Point Amphitheater: The Most Insane Review I’ll Ever Write With Behemoth setting the bar for

L.A. Thrashes Harder Than Ever Before: Sacred Reich and Vio-Lence at the Regent

Rob Shepyer June 8, 2019

Too quickly, this show sold out and had every metalhead that was too late for the party wishing they didn’t drink the night before so they could wake up in time to spend their hard earned money on a ticket to see two thrash legends on one stage. It was a stacked bill. Sacred Reich doesn’t come around too often and Excel puts on a great enough show that they should always be selling out any venue. Sworn Enemy isn’t a band we get to see often in Los Angeles and Yidhra, though hometown underground doom heroes are staples at Church of the 8th Day shows they’re a pleasure for any riff-lover to see. All these great bands weren’t the real reasons this mother sold out though. Bay area thrash legends, Vio-Lence had just reunited and this was their first and only Los Angeles show in over a decade. related content: The 1720th Circle Of Hell: Deicide At 1720 This was basically a touring festival the likes of Show Your Scars or Strike Fest and like everyone else in attendance, I expected more stage dives and mosh madness than your average metal gig. This was going to be one for

Photo Recap: Toxic Holocaust at Resident

Janky Smooth Central Command December 9, 2018

Toxic Holocaust is a band that shines most as a headlining act. It’s still a treat catching them on tour with bigger bands or at fest, but the mixed crowd they bring on their own makes for a wild (and occasionally dangerous) time. Their recent performance at Resident is a perfect example of metalheads and punks losing their minds alongside each other to some of the most memorable thrash tracks released over the past decade. The night opened with SoCal crossover act Take Offense and LA heroes Scrapmetal and Parasite. Resident has earned it’s title as the (unofficial) home of metal and punk this year and I’m excited to see what acts they host in 2019. Photos by: Dillon Vaughn Toxic Holocaust Take Offense

Luna 13 G.O.A.T. Witch Record Release Party at the Viper Room

Janky Smooth Central Command August 11, 2018

Luna 13 had their G.O.A.T Witch record release party at the Viper Room last Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018. The album was put out by LA’s iconic post-punk label Cleopatra Records. The group consisted of Lilith Bathory and Dr. Luna, which together created a dark visual black-metal bass theatrical experience. Other bands playing as part of the record release party included; The Audio Virus, Artifact Corruption, and Midnight Nightmare. Words and Photos by: Abraham Preciado

Los Angeles Strikefest at the Regent: By Die-hards, For Die-hards

Dillon Vaughn July 6, 2018

Festival season is here and California has no shortage of options for niche entertainment seekers; from Arroyo Seco Weekend and Smokin’ Grooves to Burger Boogaloo and Summertime in LB, whatever musical religion you subscribe to has it’s fair share of representation. Delving into the true deep-cut side of things, there’s one fest that stands out as the real assembly for die-hards: Los Angeles Strikefest. Created and lovingly curated by the heavy hitting Church of the 8th Day and Nightforce Productions (a new face in the LA metal scene) version 1.0 of Strike Fest didn’t pull any punches and delivered three nights of bucket-list worthy acts. related content: The De-Evolution of Burger Boogaloo The first evening was the shortest of the three but remained far from being a pre-show. Fans were treated to sets from Los Angeles’ own media darlings Dread and Blade Killer, Matt Harvey (of Exhumed) performing in both Pounder and the reunion of Dekapitator, and a very hyped and rare performance by Detroit’s Demon Bitch. Closing out the night was Nasty Savage, the band serving one of the most direct examples of bleeding for the art. Warned by security to watch for “flying glass and metal and shit”

Crushed at Communion: Cough and Grime at Union

Dillon Vaughn May 25, 2018

Union is a weird venue (and I say that entirely with love.) The range of genres and performers you can see there within any given three day period is unparalleled; multiple rooms and the willingness to take risks and work with promoters and musicians from vastly different scenes gives many acts a proper home beyond DIYs and dives – often juxtaposing seemingly alien niches on a single patio on the busiest nights. This lack of pretension has allowed some of the most intimate and (truly) stacked metal lineups to flourish here over the month of May – all beginning with Cough and Grime. related content: Satyricon’s Final Los Angeles Show At The Regent: A Night Too Blackened To Forget A quick glance at Midnite Collective’s past events reveals a finely curated selection of some of the most forward thinking and refined artists in doom and sludge – bands more than capable of exceeding the expectations set by the buzz and hype surrounding them: Cough and Grime being no exception to the standard. The night began with support from Midnight Collective favorites Trapped Within Burning Machinery and -(16)-, each delivering charged performances that set the tone perfectly. -(16)- has grown on