Miss May I & The Word Alive celebrate 10 Year Anniversary of “Monument” & “Deceiver” ft Afterlife, Rozu, & Thousand Below | Photos + Review

August 19, 2019 Leave a comment

In the summer of 2010, two of some of the biggest bands in the metalcore and post-hardcore scene released what could arguably be some of the most important albums in their careers. Miss May I released their sophomore record “Monument” on August 16th, and exactly two weeks later, The Word Alive dropped their debut album “Deciever.” With the ten-year anniversary of both of these albums almost right around the corner, both bands embarked on a co-headlining North American tour to celebrate the occasion, bringing along Afterlife and Thousand Below to support them, as well as having some up-and-coming bands from certain areas open up their local date of the tour. 

Opening up the night was Denver-based metalcore band Rozu. Though their set was only twenty minutes, they put everything into their performance and put on a really good show. They played the four singles that they have out currently (“Dissolve,” “Divide,” “Faceless,” and “Anchor”), as well as an unreleased track called “Rue.”. The band’s metalcore sound showed through the energy and aggression found throughout their live set, and their performance overall really impressed me. 

Next up was Florida-based band Afterlife. The band dropped their debut LP “Breaking Point” back in January of this year, and primarily included songs from that in their setlist: “PSA,” “Throat,” “Broken Home,” “New Rage,” and “Giving Back The Pain.” However, they still made room in their set for an older track, which was “Vicious Cycle,” the title track from their debut EP of the same name. The band mixes elements from various types of rock, and particularly alternative rock and nu-metal, and that blend of influences showed really well through their set and the songs they chose for it. 

The third band on the bill was Thousand Below. The band opened the set with their latest single “Chemical,” which is one of the most melodic (and in my personal opinion, one of the catchiest) tracks that they’ve released so far. They followed that up with two more of my favorite songs of theirs, debut single “Sinking Me” and “The Love You Let Too Close,” the title track from their debut album that came out last year. The remainder of the set was filled with a few more songs from that album: “Vein,” which is one of the band’s most aggressive tracks and one that really got the crowd moving, “No Place Like You” and “Tradition.” The band has always stood out to me in the post-hardcore genre and their live performance was further proof of that. 

Second to last was The Word Alive, who began the set by playing their album “Deceiver” from start to finish in honor of the anniversary. This album in particular is one of their much more aggressive records, but also has plenty of powerful and memorable choruses and some meaningful lyrics, so as much as their set had the crowd moshing and surfing, it had them singing along for the hour long set. After those ten songs were finished, the band played some of their more recent tracks – “Trapped,” the lead single off of their 2016 album “Dark Matter,” “Misery,” a single that was released on its own awhile after the album dropped, and “Why Am I Like This?,” which is a song from their latest album “Violent Noise” and one of my personal favorites of theirs. 

Closing out the night was Miss May I, who played not only all the songs found on Monument when it first dropped, but also the tracks found on the deluxe reissue. After that, they concluded their set with three different songs that spanned from their entire discography: “Hey Mister” from “At Heart,” “Forgive and Forget” and “Shadows Inside,” the title track from their most recent release. They easily played one of the heaviest sets of the night, with people moshing and crowd surfing almost instantly, and put so much energy into their performance as well. 

This tour was my first time seeing all of these bands, and I loved it. Everyone on the lineup put on a great performance, and this tour was a great way to commemorate and celebrate the anniversary of two important albums for this genre of music.

7/30/2019 – Photos + Review courtesy of Megan Langley | Instagram

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Rockstar Disrupt Festival | Main Stage w/ Thrice, The Used, Sum 41, Circa Survive, and Atreyu | Photos + Review

August 9, 2019 Leave a comment

Rockstar Disrupt Festival – Main Stage Review

Venue: Five Point Amphitheatre on 7/20/19

As the festival stage bands finished, they transformed the stage for the main bands. All five of the main stage bands had 45-minute sets, where they were truly able to showcase their talents with full on lighting and theatrics. Although all of the acts performed on one stage, they truly made it look and feel special for the main stage bands.

The first of the main stage bands up was Atreyu from Yorba Linda, California. Atreyu has been a staple in the metalcore scene for quite some time. Although they had a 3-year hiatus from 2011-2014, they have still released 7 truly incredible albums over their career. I personally got into Atreyu in 2010 when their song “Ravenous” was on the video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. Although they didn’t play Ravenous, the band prepared a 10-song set filled to the brim with fan favorite songs, including “Bleeding Mascara”, “Becoming The Bull”, and their infamous Bon Jovi cover of “You Give Love A Bad Name”. This five piece consists of vocalist Alex Varkatzas, drummer and co-lead vocalist Brandon Saller, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, and bassist Marc “Porter” McKnight. I had never seen Atreyu live before this date, but I had been listening to them for years. Although I had somewhat high expectations, Atreyu still blew my expectations out of the park. Their stage presence was amazing, with band members jumping off risers and truly using every inch of that stage. The band somehow sounded even better live than on album, which is difficult to do with a band that sounds as good as Atreyu does on album. I was blown away from the moment they hit the stage to the moment they left the stage!

SETLIST

  1. Our Time Is Now
  2. Right Side of the Bed
  3. Becoming The Bull
  4. Ex’s and Oh’s
  5. When Two Are One
  6. You Give Love A Bad Name (Bon Jovi Cover)
  7. Bleeding Mascara
  8. Falling Down
  9. House of Gold
  10. Blow

Up next was Circa Survive from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Circa Survive’s sound is best described as a mixture of post-hardcore and progressive rock. I first got into Circa Survive when their song “The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is the Dose” released on Rock Band in 2007. A big highlight moment of their set was when vocalist Anthony Green jumped on the barricade and embraced fans during the first song “Act Appalled” from their 2005 album Juturna. The band played a 9-song set, which showcased songs from their whole discography minus Violent Waves. The band really got into their set, grooving with every note and truly showcasing a set filled with emotion and raw energy. The rest of the band consists of guitarists Colin Frangicetto and Brendan Ekstrom, bassist Nick Beard, and drummer Steve Clifford. I will say that Anthony Green’s vocals sound raspier in person, which honestly added to the band’s sound. I was thoroughly impressed with their set and I’m stoked to have finally seen them after listening to them for so long.

SETLIST

  1. Act Appalled
  2. Rites of Investiture
  3. Child of the Desert
  4. The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is the Dose
  5. Holding Someone’s Hair Back
  6. In the Morning and Amazing…
  7. Lustration
  8. Stop the Fuckin’ Car
  9. Get Out

Sum 41 from Ontario, Canada was up next. Sum 41 is the perfect mixture of pop punk, punk rock, and post-hardcore. The sun went down just as their set was starting, which made the lighting truly stand out. For their set, Sum 41 prepared an 11-song set that showcased songs from a majority of their discography. They were extremely tight and very high energy. I thought the colored smoke cannons added to the experience and created some truly amazing moments to capture. This five piece consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Deryck Whibley, lead guitarist Dave Baksh, bassist Jason McCaslin, rhythm guitarist Tom Thacker, and drummer Frank Zummo. It was so cool to finally see Sum 41. Their songs “In Too Deep” and “Still Waiting” were staples in my childhood and were played in several movies and TV shows I watched so it was surreal to finally see them. Their stage presence was energetic and engaging. They truly slayed!

SETLIST

  1. The Hell Song
  2. Motivation
  3. Over My Head (Better Off Dead)
  4. We’re All To Blame
  5. Out For Blood
  6. Fake My Own Death
  7. Walking Disaster
  8. We Will Rock You (Queen Cover)
  9. In Too Deep
  10. Fat Lip
  11. Still Waiting

The Used from Orem, Utah was the second to last band to hit the stage. The Used was actually the second band in the post-hardcore genre, next to Escape the Fate, that truly helped me get into the scene as a whole. Their song “Blood On My Hands” was a staple in my middle school life and hearing them play it live was something I’ve waited to hear again for years. The Used started their set with an animation projected on a curtain with a dramatic curtain drop going into their first song “Take It Away”. Once the curtain dropped, it was a spectacle of a set, with LED screens behind the drummer, smoke machines, and the infamous heart hanging from the ceiling. They not only set the scene with special effects but with a setlist that matched the whole look and feel. This four piece consists of vocalist Bert McCracken, bassist Jeph Howard, drummer Dan Whitesides, and guitarist Joey Bradford. Bert McCracken was like a little kid on stage. He was living his’ extra life on that stage and his’ positive energy truly radiated throughout the entire Amphitheatre. The Used is one of the top bands in the genre and it is apparent as to why, they demolish any stage they step foot on. I cannot wait to see them again next time they’re out here!

SETLIST

  1. Take It Away
  2. The Bird and the Worm
  3. Listening
  4. All That I’ve Got
  5. I Caught Fire
  6. Wonderwall (Oasis Cover)
  7. Buried Myself Alive
  8. The Taste of Ink
  9. Blood On My Hands
  10. Pretty Handsome Awkward
  11. A Box Full of Sharp Objects

Closing out the night was Thrice who were playing their hometown in Irvine, CA. This band has accumulated a large arsenal of music over their 20-year career, releasing 10 albums over that time. They showcased songs from several of those releases in their 11-song set. Thrice’s sound can best be described as a mixture of post-hardcore, progressive metal, experimental rock, and alternative rock. Their set was very atmospheric, with very colorful lighting and smoke to match. This four piece consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dustin Kensrue, lead guitarist Teppei Teranishi, bassist Eddie Breckenridge, and drummer Riley Breckenridge. I was not only impressed by their musical talents, but their whole aesthetics and stage presentation made their performance into a full on spectacle. There is no doubt why Thrice is still one of the biggest bands in the scene. They leave everything out on the stage and blew me away. I actually wound up ordering 4 of their CDs after watching their set. I was thoroughly impressed by Thrice and they were a perfect way to close out the Rockstar Disrupt Festival.

SETLIST

  1. Yellow Belly
  2. The Artist In The Ambulance
  3. Only Us
  4. Under a Killing Moon
  5. Just Breathe
  6. Of Dust and Nations
  7. In Exile
  8. Deeper Wells
  9. Beggars
  10. Black Honey
  11. The Earth Will Shake

The Rockstar Disrupt Festival was an amazing festival that gave the best of both worlds, a festival vibe and an amphitheater vibe all in one. I was so happy to check so many bands off my bucketlist to photograph all in one day. The bands truly went above and beyond and so did Rockstar for putting this whole festival together. I cannot wait to attend again next year! Thank you for creating a new tradition!

Thrice | The Used | Sum 41 | Circa Survive | Atreyu

Photos + Review courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram

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Rockstar Disrupt Festival | Festival Stage w/ Sleeping With Sirens, Andy Black, Four Year Strong, Memphis May Fire, and Juliet Simms | Photos + Review

August 8, 2019 Leave a comment

Rockstar Disrupt Festival – Festival Stage

Venue: Five Point Amphitheatre on 7/20/19

Entering into the amphitheater and seeing a familiar layout, it felt like a return to form for me. I went to the Vans Warped Tour yearly with my Dad from 2011 – 2018 so seeing the Five Point Amphitheater with merch tents and a Rockstar booth, I felt like a new tradition starting that still held close ties to the previous one. The Rockstar Disrupt Festival had two tiers of bands: the festival stage bands and the main stage bands. On my date, however, all of the bands played on the same stage. So, the festival stage bands were treated like Kings and Queens for a day.

I unfortunately missed Hyro the Hero, due to a family emergency, but arrived just in time to catch Juliet Simms. Juliet Simms was in a few bands but really hit it big once she competed on the reality competition show “The Voice” where she placed second. Since then, she has garnered a large following, especially in the Warped Tour and alternative scenes, which lead to her signing to Sumerian Records in 2019. She has released 3 albums over her career, which she showcased in her 6-song set. Juliet pleasantly surprised me with her stage presence and vocal style. I would describe her musical style as a mixture of alternative rock, indie rock, and pop rock. Her vocals are very raspy, and I was thoroughly impressed. I was slightly getting some Janis Joplin vibes. Her backing band consisted of drummer Lindsay Martin, guitarist Evan Potter, and bassist Justus Dixon. Juliet put her heart on that stage, and I was pleasantly surprised to say the least.

SETLIST

  1. 100 Little Deaths
  2. Say Hello
  3. Trouble Finds You
  4. Take Me
  5. Wild Child
  6. Bad Love

Next up was Memphis May Fire from Denton, Texas. Memphis May Fire is one of the first bands I got into when I was getting more into metalcore. When I found out that I would finally be photographing them, I was ecstatic to say the least. Memphis May Fire brought out songs from five of their six albums for their set, showcasing how diverse of a band they are. I personally got to photograph them during one of my favorite songs in their entire discography “Prove Me Right” from their 2012 release “Challenger”, which is still the bands bestselling record to date, reaching 16 on the top 200 Billboard Charts. Memphis May Fire would best be described as on the border between metalcore and post-hardcore, with some songs more on the hard rock side. The current lineup consists of vocalist Matty Mullens, lead guitarist Kellen McGregor, bassist Cory Elder, drummer Jake Garland, and touring rhythm guitarist Samuel Penner. Not only does Memphis May Fire truly slay in terms of sound, their stage presence was insane. I always love seeing Memphis May Fire and am so glad I finally got the chance to photograph them!

SETLIST

  1. The Old Me
  2. Prove Me Right
  3. Carry On
  4. No Ordinary Love
  5. Heavy Is The Weight
  6. Vices
  7. The Sinner

The next band up was Four Year Strong from Worcester, Massachusetts. Their sound is commonly referred to as “Easycore”, as they mix pop punk with post-hardcore and melodic hardcore. Coming on after Memphis May Fire would be hard for many bands to top. But, despite not moving to much, no one could deny Four Year Strong’s sound was truly amazing that day. They played four songs from their 2010 album “Enemy of the World”, which is still their bestselling album to date. Along with those four songs, they played two songs from their 2015 self-titled album “Four Year Strong”, two songs from their 2007 album “Rise or Die Trying”, and one from their 2014 EP “Go Down In History”. This band has had a long history in the scene, and the reason for their popularity is shown through their catchy music with riff-heavy melodic verses and choruses mixed with breakdowns. I have lived for Four Year Strong for years and am so glad to see them still going strong.

SETLIST

  1. Maniac (R.O.D.)
  2. Go Down In History
  3. Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die
  4. What the Hell is a Gigawatt?
  5. Who Cares?
  6. Find My Way Back
  7. It Must Really Suck To Be Four Year Strong Right Now
  8. We All Float Down Here
  9. Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)

Andy Black came up to the stage next. Andy Black is also known as Andy Biersack or as his previous stage name “Andy Six”. I used to listen to his band Black Veil Brides almost religiously, but even though I don’t listen to them anymore, I was looking forward to seeing what he had to offer in a solo performance. While Black Veil Brides’ sound centers around hard rock and heavy metal, Andy’s solo music is a good mixture of alternative rock, pop rock, and synth pop. Andy played a 7-song setlist, showcasing songs from his’ two albums “The Ghost of Ohio”, which was released in 2019 via Republic Records, and “The Shadow Side” which was released in 2016 via Republic Records. He also played a Billy Idol cover, which was pretty cool to hear. During the first song of his’ set, Andy went into the crowd and hi fived a bunch of the crowd members. It was cool to see him interacting with fans and truly engaging with the crowd. The support band behind him consists of drummer Sage Webber, bassist Niles Gibbs, and guitarist Lonny Eagleton. Although I am not the biggest Andy Black fan in the world, I was still thoroughly impressed by his’ showmanship and his musical style!

SETLIST

  1. Ribcage
  2. They Don’t Need To Understand
  3. Stay Alive
  4. Westwood Road
  5. Dancing With Myself (Billy Idol Cover)
  6. Ghost of Ohio
  7. We Don’t Have To Dance

Closing out the Festival Stage was Sleeping With Sirens from Orlando, Florida. Sleeping With Sirens, like Memphis May Fire, was one of the first bands I got into in the scene. I fell in love with their post-hardcore style and unique vocals courtesy of Kellin Quinn. The rest of this very talented band consists of drummer Gabe Barham, guitarists Jack Fowler and Nick Martin, and bassist Justin Hills. The band played a 7-song set, filled with fan favorites and 2 songs off their upcoming album “How It Feels To Be Lost”, which will be released via Sumerian Records on September 6th, 2019. One thing Sleeping With Sirens delivers consistently is a stellar performance. They are extremely tight as a band and are extremely high energy. They utilize every inch of the stage and truly slay. Sleeping With Sirens also delivers on sounding even better live. They are already stellar on record, but that unbeatable energy drives each song further and engraves that live experience into the brains of their viewers. It truly brought me back to how I felt when I first discovered their music years and years back. I loved their set and believe they were the perfect band to close out the festival stage.

SETLIST

  1. Kick Me
  2. Do It Now, Remember It Later
  3. Leave It All Behind
  4. Better Off Dead
  5. Break Me Down
  6. If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn
  7. If You Can’t Hang

The festival stage bands on the Rockstar Disrupt Festival showcased a variety of bands of many different styles that meshed beautifully. It truly set the stage for the main stage bands to come. I was truly excited to see bands like Sleeping With Sirens and Memphis May Fire again, and to finally photograph them, so it was a dream come true.

Sleeping With Sirens | Andy Black | Four Year Strong | Memphis May Fire | Juliet Simms

Photos + Review courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram

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YUNGBLUD w/ SAINT PHNX | Don’t Wanna Be A Loner Tour | Photos + Review

July 30, 2019 Leave a comment

One of the most talked about artists in music right now is YUNGBLUD. Over the past few years, he’s released his debut EP and LP, as well as a live album, went on a large amount of dates on the Vans Warped Tour (as well as making an appearance at the Mountain View show for their 25th anniversary event), and did a few national tours supporting not only those releases, but also the singles he’s released so far this year, with this particular tour being in support of his song Loner. I discovered YUNGBLUD’s music about a year ago, after hearing so many good things about his songs and live performances, and quickly became a fan. I discovered SAINT PHNX (who would be supporting him for these shows) more recently, and really enjoyed the music from first listen. All of this made me even more excited about attending the Don’t Wanna Be A Loner Tour.

Opening up the night was SAINT PHNX. The Glasgow, Scotland based act kicked off their set with their debut single “Reload” and my personal favorite song of theirs, “Death Of Me.” In addition to incorporating many of their other songs in their discography (“Rise,” “Nunchuck,” and “Dead Man,”) they also fit in a new song in the middle of the set. The trio (vocalist Stevie Jukes, drummer Alan Jukes, and touring guitarist John Cargill) had a ton of energy and did a great job of engaging the crowd, especially during their more energetic songs.

Not long after SAINT PHNX finished, YUNGBLUD took the stage, opening with the title track to his debut LP “21st Century Liability,” followed by the fun and energetic “I Love You, Will You Marry Me” and “King Charles” off of his debut EP. As the set progressed, he continued to play more songs from that EP (“Anarchist”) as well as a handful of songs from his debut album as well (“Medication,” “Die For The Hype,” “Machine Gun”). Some of the highlights of his set were some of his slower songs – “Polygraph Eyes,” where there was so much emotion shown in that performance and everyone in the crowd was singing along, and “Kill Somebody,” where everyone made their cell phone flashlights pink to match the color scheme of the album. As well as playing songs from his past releases, he also played two of his newest hits – “Parents” and “Loner,” and included an unreleased song earlier on in the set. Frontman Dominic Harrison also brings so much energy, moving and jumping around on stage constantly, and the crowd of nearly a thousand people did the same throughout his set.

This was my first time seeing both acts live, and I was very impressed. I absolutely loved the energy and passion found during both live sets, I think it definitely makes both of their performances really stand out, and as a whole, it was a great show.

YUNGBLUD | SAINT PHNX

Photos + Review courtesy of Megan Langley | Instagram

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Architects w/ Thy Art Is Murder and While She Sleeps | Holy Hell Tour | Photos + Review | 5/20/19

June 13, 2019 Leave a comment

On May 20th as I made my way past the line of fans literally wrapping around the punk-rock and heavy metal temple that is the Palladium in Worcester, MA, there was no doubt in my mind that the Architects show that night was going to be one for the books. Days later while the UK based metalcore band wrapped up the North American portion of their “Holy Hell” Tour in Chicago, I was still reeling from the show they put on. Whether it was the excitement buzzing through the venue, to the opening acts While She Sleeps and Thy Art Is Murder, to the granddaddy of them all Architects, the passion and energy felt that night was something I’ll truly always remember.

First up on the bill was While She Sleeps, hailing from Sheffield, UK. The metalcore band oozed energy and excitement and the crowd absolutely ate it up from beginning to end. From the very first song of the set “You Are We” the band came out packing a punch. Lead singer Lawrence Taylor delivered the highest quality of vocals and was backed by talented musicians Sean Long and Matt Welsh on guitars, Aaran McKenzie on bass and Adam Savage on drums. Seeing the crowd interaction with the band was one of the highlights of the night and you could certainly tell that each musician in While She Sleeps truly loved what they were doing. After this, I definitely put While She Sleeps on my list of bands I need to see again.

Next up was Thy Art is Murder. The Australian deathcore band came out swinging and absolutely delivered with every drop, strum and bang that they served us. Filling in for lead singer CJ McMahon was Nick Arthur from Molotov Solution and in my opinion, they couldn’t have picked a better vocalist. Nick’s vocal range, projection and energy was killer from beginning to end. For my first time seeing Thy Art is Murder, I was thoroughly impressed with the musical technicality the band brought and I can’t wait to see them again in the future.

Finally Architects graced the stage with not only amazing vocals and stage presence but a pretty kick ass light show, if I may say. The band never let up once during their sixteen song set, delivering hit after hit. Lead singer Sam Carter performed with such emotion and power that it was hard not to rock out with the crowd and scream all the words along with him. Architects never fails to put on a show that sends you on an adventure from beginning to end and if there’s any adventure I want to be on, it’s that one. The show simply was one of the best that I’ve ever been too and if you ever get the chance to see Architects in person in the future, don’t hesitate to buy your tickets because you won’t be disappointed!

Architects | Thy Art Is Murder | While She Sleeps

Photos + Review courtesy of Linette Ray

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PHOTOS – Movements USA Tour 2019

May 16, 2019 Leave a comment

Drug Church

Trashboat

Boston Manor

Movements

Photos & Review by Megan Langley | Facebook | Twitter

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REVIEW – Movements USA Tour 2019

May 16, 2019 Leave a comment

         Movements is a band I’ve been a fan of for quite some time. I’ve been following the band since their signing to Fearless Records and the release of their debut EP, “Outgrown Things,” back in 2016. I saw them live for the first time at Vans Warped Tour the following summer, and was really looking forward to seeing them again on this tour, as well as the other incredible bands that supported them.

          Kicking off the night was New York based hardcore punk band Drug Church. The five-piece instantly brought a ton of energy, and kept that energy going throughout their entire half-hour set. Their music has quite a bit of aggression as well, and this was easily the heaviest band of the night. The band primarily performed songs off of their new album “Cheer,” including singles “Weed Pin,” “Avoidarama” and “Strong References,” and they even fit in a couple of old favorites as well: “Drunk Tank,” “Banco Popular” and “But Does It Work?.” Every member of the band was constantly moving around the stage the entire time, and their set got the crowd moving as well.

        Second on the bill were Trash Boat, a pop punk band from the UK. Their music leans towards the heavier side of pop punk, and it shows even more through their live performance. Similarly to Drug Church, Trash Boat also brought a little bit of aggression and plenty of energy throughout their set, filling the setlist with a lot of their faster paced songs, such as “Strangers,” “How Selfish I Seem,” and “Tring Quarry” from their debut LP “Nothing I Write You Can Change What You’ve Been Through” and “Inside Out,” “Nothing New,” and a few others from their sophomore effort “Crown Shyness.” As well as aggression, this band puts a lot of passion into their performance, and it truly showed through the performances from every member during every song.

         Next up was another band from the UK, Boston Manor. This is a band whose sound has evolved over the years, and their set really showed that evolution, as they played songs such as “Laika,” “Burn You Up,” and “Lead Feet” from their more pop punk leaning debut record “Be Nothing,” as well as several songs from their more experimental second album “Welcome To The Neighbourhood,” including “Flowers In Your Dustbin,” “Halo,” and “England’s Dreaming.” This band has an incredible stage presence and did a really good job of engaging the crowd, with plenty of moshing and crowdsurfing going on throughout the set.

      Closing out the night was California based band Movements, a band whose popularity has grown tremendously in the past couple of years. The band’s music combines various influences from pop punk, emo and alternative rock, and their unique sound really makes them stand out. One notable thing about their performance is that they put so much emotion into every single song, from their more upbeat ones such as “Kept,” “Full Circle,” and set opener “The Grey,” all of which had the crowd moving, while slower ones like “Submerge” and fan favorite “Daylily” had every person in the room singing along. Each band on the bill was a little bit different, and from the variety and diversity found on the lineup to all the energy, passion and emotion that each band provided in their individual sets, it was a great show overall.

Photos & Review by Megan Langley | Facebook | Twitter

** Full gallery of photos of each band to follow **

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Knocked Loose w/ The Acacia Strain, Harm’s Way, Higher Power, and Sanction | Spring U.S. Tour | 4/30/19 |

May 12, 2019 Leave a comment

Knocked Loose 2-Steps Their Way Through The Majestic Ventura Theater

Date: 4/30/19

Venue: The Majestic Ventura Theater

Knocked Loose has accumulated quite the large and dedicated fan base in the Metalcore and Hardcore communities over the last several years. With only 1 EP, 1 Split EP, and 1 Album under their belts, the band set out on their first US Headlining tour, with supporting acts The Acacia Strain, Harm’s Way, Higher Power, and Sanction. This tour was a blast, filled with a variety of genres from metalcore, deathcore, hardcore, beatdown, and nu-metal.

The first band up was Sanction from Long Island, NY. Sanction is a good ole fashioned Metalcore and Hardcore mashup. Vocalist David Blom truly brings the energy to the bands’ performances. The band played 9 songs, 5 of which came from their 2018 EP “The Infringement of God’s Plan” that was released via Pure Noise Records. The band also debuted 2 brand new songs, which are most likely from an upcoming release. The band put on a solid performance. Was a good way to start the show.

SETLIST

  1. Introduction
  2. (New song)
  3. The Prophet Who Saw Fire
  4. Untitled
  5. (New song)
  6. The Infringement of God’s Plan
  7. Fixated Upon A Figure
  8. Iris (Lens of Depression)
  9. Sixhundredthirtyone

The next band up was Higher Power from Leeds, West Yorkshire in England. The band was very energetic from the start. They were a standout in terms of sound, with a mixture of Metalcore, Hardcore, and Nu-Metal. I was truly living for the band from the start of their set to the end. The band played an 8-song set, 7 of which came from their 2017 record “Soul Structure”, via Flatspot Records. I definitely recommend checking out Higher Power. They pack in a whole lot of energy both on record and live!

SETLIST

  1. World Gone Mad
  2. Can’t Relate
  3. Reflect (Intro Only)
  4. Looking Inward
  5. Balance
  6. Hole
  7. You Ain’t Much
  8. Burning

The third band up was Harm’s Way from Chicago, Illinois. This was a band I was VERY excited to see. I’ve been listening to them for almost 2 years now, but I had never seen this five-piece band live until this show. The band is good ole Hardcore and Beatdown. They have such an intense stage presence, which was truly amazing to witness. The band played an 8-song set, 5 of which came from their 2018 album “Posthuman”, which was released via Metal Blade Records, which happens to be one of my favorite record labels of all time. I had high expectations when seeing Harm’s Way live and they somehow blew those out of the water. I definitely recommend seeing them live.

SETLIST

  1. Temptation
  2. Human Carrying Capacity
  3. Last Man
  4. (Unknown)
  5. Infestation
  6. Call My Name
  7. Breeding Grounds
  8. Become A Machine

The biggest supporting act, The Acacia Strain, was up next. The band, hailing from Chicopee, Massachustts. The Acacia Strain was the most diverse and polished band on the lineup, with a musical style that mashes up Metalcore, Death Core, and Melodic Death Metal. Throughout the band’s career, they have released 8 Albums, 2 EPs, 1 Split EP, and a live DVD. The band played a 10-song set, which showcased 3 songs from 2004’s “3750”, 2 songs from 2006’s “The Dead Walk”, 2 songs from 2008’s “Continent”, 2010’s “Wormwood”, and 2012’s “Death Is The Only Mortal”. With such a widespread setlist, the band showcased all they have to offer, and slayed that stage from start to finish. If you want a diverse set, and to get soaked from vocalist Vincent Bennett splashing water on the crowd, then you need to check out The Acacia Strain live in a city near you.

SETLIST

  1. Whoa! Shut It Down
  2. 4×4
  3. Seaward
  4. Doom
  5. Carbomb
  6. Brown Noise
  7. 3750
  8. Beast
  9. Dust and the Helix
  10. The Hills Have Eyes

The final band up was the all mighty Knocked Loose from Oldham County, Kentucky. The band put on a wild set, which consisted of 14 songs, 9 of which coming from their debut album “Laughing Tracks”, which was released in 2016 via Pure Noise Records. The instrumentals were clean and slamming, with vocalist Bryan Garris driving their whole performance through with a lot of energy. Garris has one of the highest vocal tones in the scene, which is contrasted by guitarist and backup vocalist Isaac Hale’s lows and mids. The band had the crowd going wild, and while the crowd did do some hardcore dancing and crowdkilling, the band called for circle pits, walls of death, and other moshing types that are typical of the metalcore and metal genre as a whole. Stand out songs in their set for me were “No Thanks”, “Billy No Mates”, and “Mistakes Like Fractures”. I thoroughly enjoyed Knocked Loose’s set and will definitely be checking them out next time they come out to Southern California.

SETLIST

  1. By The Grave
  2. All My Friends
  3. Oblivion’s Peak
  4. Damned Earth
  5. Deadringer
  6. Blood Will Have Blood
  7. The Gospel
  8. Mistakes Like Fractures
  9. No Thanks
  10. A Fetish
  11. The Rain
  12. Last Words
  13. Billy No Mates
  14. Counting Worms

All in all, the Spring US Tour was a blast to attend and each of the bands offered something to this spectacle of a night. I cannot wait to see each of them again! Check them all out and give them some love!

Knocked Loose | The Acacia Strain | Harm’s Way | Higher Power | Sanction

Photos and Review courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram

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Ice Nine Kills – The Silver Scream | album review

October 11, 2018 Leave a comment

ink-tss

Ice Nine Kills is a band that has flown under many people’s radar for over a decade now. A band known by name, but never receiving recognition they really deserves. They’ve always been doing things their own way, putting  themselves on the map with their last release, Every Trick In The Book, which was a huge hit in the scene of heavy music.

October 5th, 2018, marked a new era for the band. The latest album from the band, The Silver Scream, is something unlike many people have heard. Every song is based off a popular horror film, everything from Halloween to The Crow. Ice Nine Kills didn’t hold anything back on this album.

The first two singles, The American Nightmare (A Nightmare On Elm Street) and Thank God It’s Friday (Friday The 13th) let fans know that they weren’t going soft anytime soon. A catchy chorus mixed with heavier verses, and a breakdown everyone could love, people knew to catch Ice Nine Kills on Warped Tour 2018, and to keep an eye on the band until October.

I’ve listened to the entire album, and now I can’t stop myself from listening. Lighter tracks, like Love Bites (An American Werewolf In London) and A Grave Mistake (The Crow) offer incredible songwriting and gorgeous singing. On the opposite end of that spectrum, songs like Stabbing In The Dark (Halloween), Merry Axe-Mas (Silent Night, Deadly Night) and Rocking The Boat (Jaws) hit hard with fun guitar riffs, energetic drumming, and some unclean vocals we’ve rarely seen from Charnas. The references to classic lines from the movies give every song its own little flare of nostalgia.  Many songs come completely out of left field, It Is The End (It) sticking out to me the most. Creepy voice acting, leading into chaotic and heavy verses, the song features ska punk band, Less Than Jake, offering some backing tracks to elevate the heavy guitars to a new level. The song makes you wanna move in any way you can.

The album shows tons of growth from the small metal band. Their ability to create and not take themselves 100% serious is obvious. The use voice acting, other genres, wordplay, and fun movie references, The Silver Scream gives you the creeps in the best way. Nostalgia and love for horror films makes my love for this album so much more personal. Ice Nine Kills has come a very long way, I have a feeling they can only go up from here.

Review & Photography courtesy of Emily Sulkowski

** click through to the link above to view photos of Ice Nine Kills **

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COUNTERFEIT. – together we are stronger | Review

March 23, 2018 Leave a comment

counterfeit.

Counterfeit is a U.K punk band that burst into the scene in 2015. Their most recent release, Together We Are Stronger, definitely gave them some well deserved attention. With dark lyrics, heavy guitar, and dirty, yet melodic vocals. This album is something many can enjoy. Their single, As Yet Untitled is a fast paced, energized and heavy track. Yet more mellow tracks like Letters to The Lost don’t disappoint with meaningful lyrics and beautiful singing, giving off some Nirvana vibes. This album gives you anything you want and more. Songs about rebellion, love, lust and loss, Together We Are Stronger is an album for anyone looking to find a new band that they can relate too. Punk in fact isn’t dead, Counterfeit is breathing a fresh breath of life into a scene that always needs something new.
Review courtesy of Emily Sulkowski.
Listen & purchase here : Spotify | iTunes | Amazon 

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