Leprous Featuring Earthside & Fight The Fight | Melodies of Atonement North American Tour | 9/27/24 | House of Blues, Anaheim, CA | Photos + Review

October 3, 2024 Leave a comment

I recently stumbled upon the mesmerizing sounds of Leprous and was captivated by their extensive discography, especially their latest album “Melodies of Atonement.” When I found out about their North American tour, I knew I couldn’t miss the chance to witness their brilliance live. Due to a medical emergency, Monuments was unable to perform on the tour as initially planned. However, Earthside and the electrifying Fight The Fight performed as opening acts, promising an unforgettable evening.

Hailing from Oslo, Norway, Fight The Fight set the stage on fire with their performance of “Serpent of the Sand.” Bathed in striking red and blue lights, they delivered an intense 30-minute set, showcasing nine songs, including tracks from their new album “Shah Of Time.” Their fusion of groove-heavy influences and a perfect blend of melody and heaviness left a lasting impression. With a stellar lineup of vocalist Fredrik Teig Bergstrom, drummer Sander Lambrechts, guitarists Tord Larsen and Tobias Rekke, and bassist Hans-Magnus E. Hermansen, Fight The Fight’s performance was an exhilarating mix of diverse sounds that left me craving for more!

SETLIST

  1. Serpent of the Sand
  2. Ascent
  3. Monarch
  4. Shining
  5. Heart of Stone
  6. A.I.
  7. Alien
  8. 12800
  9. In Memory

Earthside from New Haven, Connecticut was the next band to hit the stage. The band can be best described as cinematic progressive metal. This four-piece is quite unique as it is an instrumental quartet consisting of guitarist Jamie van Dyck, keyboardist Frank Sacramone, bassist Ryan Griffin, and drummer Ben Shanbrom. The band opened with their song “We Who Lament,” for which they recently released a video. Throughout the set, vocals from the featured vocalists on the album echoed through the backing tracks, adding a full-rounded sound to songs such as “We Who Lament” and “Let The Truth Speak.” The lighting during their set was dynamic, with lots of moody backlighting to enhance the atmosphere. The band played a total of five songs, most of which came from their newest album “Let The Truth Speak,” released in 2023 via Mascot Label Group and Music Theories Recordings. It was really cool to finally see Earthside live, especially since I’ve been online friends with Jamie for quite some time. They were truly incredible and really moved me.

SETLIST

  1. We Who Lament
  2. Pattern of Rebirth
  3. Watching the Earth Sink
  4. Let The Truth Speak
  5. The Closest I’ve Become

The all-mighty Leprous from Notodden, Norway hit the stage next. The band put on an amazing hour and 40-minute show with a fantastic light display. They started with the opening track “Silently Walking Alone” from their new album “Melodies of Atonement”, showcasing Einar Solberg’s incredible vocal range. Throughout the set, they performed a total of 15 songs. The band’s lineup includes guitarists Tor Oddmund Suhrke and Robin Ognedal, bassist Simen Børven, drummer Baard Kolstad, and keyboardist Harrison White. During the song “Faceless”, they invited local fans onto the stage to sing with them as their choir, which was a really cool moment. They closed with my personal favorite song “Atonement” and then came back for an encore, letting the fans choose between three songs. The crowd chose “Illuminate”, which was an amazing way to end the show. It was an incredible performance that left me speechless. They prepared an amazing tour, and with Earthside and Fight The Fight alongside them, they brought a progressive metal show that was to die for.

SETLIST

  1. Silently Walking Alone
  2. The Price
  3. Mirage
  4. I Hear The Sirens
  5. Like A Sunken Ship
  6. Slave
  7. Distant Bells
  8. Unfree My Soul
  9. Below
  10. Faceless
  11. Castaway Angels
  12. From The Flame
  13. Atonement
  14. The Sky Is Red (Outro)
  15. Illuminate (ENCORE)

Leprous | Earthside | Fight The Fight

Photos + Review Courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram | Facebook | X

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Incubus w/ special guest Coheed and Cambria | PHOTOS & REVIEW

September 18, 2024 Leave a comment

September 6, 2024 | The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

What a way to start a show with the Hardrock Legends, Coheed and Cambria. They begin the night with their album title song, “ In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3,” to get the crowd in the mood for what is to come and I can say personally, it was the best way to kick it off, Claudio never disappoints with his energy. 

It was a beautiful, cool Friday night at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, in Irving Texas. Coheed and Cambria played all their hits ranging from. “ Ten Speed (Of God’s Blood and Burial)”, “A Favor House Atlantic,” too, “A Disappearing Act,” “Shoulders,” and “The Liars Club,” from their 2022 album, Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind. 

It wouldn’t be a Coheed and Cambria show if they didn’t end it with their most popular track, “Welcome Home,” from their 2005 album Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV, Vol. 1 – From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. Wow, what a mouthful! It was a great way to end their set cause it get the crowd pumped for the headliners… Incubus.

The stage has been set, lights have been cut and the sounds from the first song “Nice to know you,” kicks on and you can just feel that it was going to be some Morning Views indeed.

The energy the band put on the entire night of the set was just calming, relaxing, putting you in a state of pure bliss. Playing the album in its entirety was phenomenal, the crowd was grooving along with the band playing the songs, “Wish you were here,” “Just a phase,” “11 am,” and then the acoustic version of, “Blood on the Ground.’ Just beautiful.

As the night progressed it just got better and better, Brandon singing his heart and soul out with such passion shows how much he loves this music so much, Nicole Row playing an incredible bass line with such accuracy you just had to see it to believe it. Just wow! Mike with the iconic guitar riffs and a surprise at the end that I will fill you in on in just a bit. Gavin with such technical sounds from his turntable brought so much to the band. Last but not least, we cannot forget about Jose Pasillas and his cool smooth drum technique, one more time WOW!!

Incubus was nearing the end of the album Morning Views, with their songs, “Have you Ever,” “Are you in,” but then they mixed in Phil Colins popular song, “In The Air Tonight,” which brought the crowd alive once again, but it didn’t stop there, just for a little bit of a kick they played a Rhianna cover!!! It was awesome to see them play, “Umbrella”

Aqueous Transmisson, which got you locked in on Mike playing the Chinese instrument the Pipa and it was everything just everything. Such a beautiful song you can listen to it so many times that you will never tire of it, ever. As the album came to a close they stayed on stage and gave the crowd what they wanted, the hits from all the albums, from “Anna Molly,” “Karma,” Pardon Me,” too, “The Warmth,” “Vitamin,” “Dig,” and the classic, “Drive.” What a way to end the night Incubus giving it all and playing their hearts, it was a great evening, with some Morning Views.

Coverage courtesy of Angel Castillo

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Imminence From Sweden With Love Tour @ The Studio At The Factory | Photos+Review

April 30, 2024 Leave a comment

Dallas, TX | April 23rd, 2024

As the first stop of The Black Tour for Imminence, from across the pond in the beautiful country of Sweden, they played The Studio at the Factory in Dallas Texas. I’m still in awe of how amazing, beautiful, ear soothing, and incredible this band is. It was just one hit after another, this band will grab you from start to finish.

It’s a challenge to put the show into words, they played these songs with so much passion that it was so hard to just look away, even for a second. Eddie Berg came in hot with the harsh vocal screams and soft soothing vocals with the second song, Paralyzed from their album Turn the light on. Harald Barrett and Alex Arnoldsson played their hearts out along side Peter Hanström, and Christian Höijer.

They worked this crowd so well that each person was locked in. Eddie can sing his soul out, but when he picked up that violin it was a whole different world we were immersed in. The bands songs that are well known are: Erase, Death by a thousand cuts, infectious and the debut of their new song Continuum. Holy hell the violin played a big role, it brought such beauty. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better they give you more and more.

As they were nearing the end of the set, Imminence played the title track from the album Heaven in Hiding, and the new title track from their new album The Black. I’ve started showing people this band cause I want to share everything that makes up Imminence with people and don’t feel my description does it justice. Closing out the night with, Le Nior from Sweden with love.

Coverage courtesy of Angel Castillo

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Legend, Eric Johnson plays Dallas, TX @ House of Blues

April 18, 2024 Leave a comment

April 4th, 2024

Wow! Simply wow! I have seen some amazing guitarist but never something like this in my life. Hearing Eric’s music on streaming doesn’t do it justice, just wait until you see it live.

As soon as Eric hit the stage the entire venue was locked on from the first second to the last, those first notes he played was nothing short of phenomenal. When he started the song Righteous it was magic all the way through. Other songs he played included Trail of Tears, Rafael, as well as a cover of Caravan by Duke Ellington. You had to see it to believe it. I was so into it that I took a moment to shut my eyes and went on that journey with the whole venue that night. 

When he played Desert Rose… man let me tell you I found myself again eyes closed, swaying to the sounds of the drums and the guitar riffs that I didn’t want it to end. It’s a incredible song. I was listening to it like on repeat on my way home that night. When Eric took a break, his pianist Sean took the reins for a bit and it was beautiful just beautiful.

As the night was coming to a close, Eric gave the crowd an Eric Johnson guitar solo in an amazing fashion that I wish I could see and hear it again. During his solo he transitioned to one of his most popular songs, the song that got me into his music as a young kid playing Guitar Hero 3 on Xbox: Cliffs of Dover.

He makes it look so simple, but in reality it’s not, for some of us who have tried to master it on Guitar Hero. Hysterical attempts to say the least. Hearing it live was just a whole groove session, a beautiful ride all the way to the last strum of that guitar.

Eric Johnson y’all, a great show, an amazing guitarist, truly a master of his craft and still rocking it to this day.

Coverage courtesy of Angel Castillo

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Oneus 2024 2nd World Tour La Dolce Vita in USA

April 17, 2024 Leave a comment

Date: March 28, 2024 | Venue: The Louisville Palace Theater Louisville, KY

ONEUS 2024 2nd World Tour La Dolce Vita in USA | Fandom Name: TOMOON

ONEUS Members:  Seoho 서호 or Lee Seoho (이서호), Leedo 이도 or Kim Gunhak (김건학), Keonhee 건희 or Lee Keonhee (이건희), Hwanwoong 환웅 or Yeo Hwanwoong (여환웅), and Xion 시온 or Son Dongju (손동주).

   안녕하세요 TOMOON!

                                                                                                                  annyonghaseyo

                                                  Hello TOMOON!

ONEUS (원어스)  debuted under RBW Entertainment on January 9, 2019, with a mini album “LIGHT US” and their title track, “Valkyrie.” ONEUS is a five-member group consisting of Seoho, Leedo, Keonhee, Hwanwoong, and Xion. Former member, Ravn, who originally debuted with the members as a six-member group, departed from ONEUS in October 2022. The group’s name, “ONEUS,” has two meanings – the first meaning is the members came together by gathering strength from every one of their fans. The second meaning symbolizes ONEUS’ mission to bring together regular people, who will work side-by-side to create a united world. The group’s fandom name, “TO MOON,” represents ONEUS’ fans as the “Moon,” who always orbit ONEUS, as the group represents the “Earth.” In addition, the group’s name, “ONEUS,” can be spelled as “One Earth” in Korean.

Milestones that ONEUS achieved in the past includes winning their first-ever music show win on MBC M’s Show Champion in 2021, for their lead single, “Luna,” which is off of the group’s 6th Mini Album, Blood Moon. In 2022, ONEUS joined the K-Pop competition series and reality survival show called, Road to Kingdom  – where already debuted male K-Pop groups competed to see who could be placed at the top, as well as gain eyes from a massive global audience in the process. This television program aired on Mnet to let lesser-known groups be seen by a global audience, as well as showcase each group’s charms, skills, talents, and overall potential of making it on the global stage. Out of the seven groups that competed, ONEUS finished in 4th place overall and has gained a bigger fan base because of the show’s program. The members also got a chance to release their digital single, “Come Back Home,” during the show’s airing.

The talented and underrated K-Pop group, ONEUS, took the stage at the historical Louisville Palace Theater in Louisville, Kentucky for their 2nd World Tour La Dolce Vita in USA. ONEUS opened with “Baila Conmigo” from the EP La Dolce Vita in 2023.

They played a few songs before they took a small break and talked with TOMOON introducing themselves, talking about food and what animals they are, and talking about how long it had been since the last time they came to Louisville. TOMOON was high energy and excited to see them again and packed the theater. TOMOON showed up for this show. They slowed things down so they could take a small breather from all the dancing for a few songs to make it more of an intimate show while singing to the hearts of their TOMOONS. There was a moment near the end of the show when one of the members saw a TOMOON in front eating their popcorn and was in shock that they were just unbothered while watching the show or when they took a small break on stage and Keonhee was showing everyone what he saw and he took the box of popcorn on stage to see if it was a real box of popcorn and it was funny and a cute moment. While they were saying their goodbyes one of the members said “Louisville is the best” in Korean and the translator had to question it like did he say that? He had to explain that it also had a different meaning and was a good moment where everyone laughed.

As for the lighting for the show, it was vibrant with all of their songs and each song for the LED BG effects was the MV’s for a visual. One of the songs LED BG had Traditional Korean Hanok or Palace to show us Korea. I can agree that Korea has a special place in my heart in history, architecture, food, shopping, and most importantly music.

Keep up with ONEUS on socials: Instagram | Youtube | Fanclub | Facebook

Thank you to Livenation, ONEUS, The Louisville Palace Theater, and RBW Entertainment for having us at The Camera Affect and In The Moment Productions for a great show. Please enjoy the moments we caught. We appreciate your continued support.

다음 공연 때 만나요, 안녕! 

daeum gongyon ttae mannayo annyong!

See you at the next show, bye!

Photos + Review by Chyenne Conner | Photography

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Ministry US Tour 2024 | Photos + Review

April 8, 2024 Leave a comment

On March 20th, 2024, the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania became
energized from the second the doors opened. The anticipation of the crowd grew as they
eagerly awaited for the arrival of the night’s performers: Ministry, Gary Numan, and Front Line
Assembly. It was very clear that the night would be more than just a show; it would be an
immersive hypnotic experience with raw emotion, mesmerizing visuals, and electrifying futuristic
sounds.

Starting off the night at 7:00pm was the Canadian electro-industrial band Front Line Assembly,
who immediately locked in the audience’s attention with their electronic beats and captivating
stage presence. Referring to themselves as FLA, the band is fronted by Bill Leeb and supported
by guitarist Matthew Setzer, drummer Jon Siren, and synthesizer/keyboardist Rhys Fulber.
Kicking off their set with their song “I.E.D.”, they transformed the venue into a sonic realm with
other hits including “Deadened” and “Millennium.” Each song radiated such intensity that it
seemed to put the audience under a synth spell. The pulsating beats and futuristic sounds were
so powerful that you could feel it throughout your body, which is an experience in itself. FLA’s
set served as a perfect introduction to a night that would continue to escalate with excitement.

The next set of the night was brought on by the talented Gary Numan. Gary Numan, the English
synth-pop artist, is considered to be the pioneer of electronic music. Numan’s iconic presence
reverberated throughout the venue, accompanied by guitarist Steve Harris, bassist Tim Slade,
keyboardist David Brooks, and drummer Jimmy Lucido. Together, they created an electrifying
journey for the syrienne. From the moment Numan stepped into the spotlight, his magnetic
stage presence was like no other, and completely commanded the audience’s attention. His
captivating movements radiated an aura that left the audience in another hypnotic synth spell.
He seamlessly matched the energy of both the music and stage visuals creating one of the most
immersive and mesmerizing performances I have ever seen. Nothing else seemed to exist
around me other than Numan on stage, seeing how passionate he was about performing. As he
unleashed classic hits such as “Cars” and “Metal” from his 1979 album The Pleasure Principle,
Numan accompanied those with songs from his more recent albums, Intruder, Savage (Songs
from a Broken World), and Splinter (Songs from a Broken Mind). Opening the set with the
haunting “Everything Comes Down to This”, he also incorporated songs into the set such as
“The Chosen”, “Love Hurt Bleed”, “My Name is Ruin”, and closed out the set with the compelling
“A Prayer for the Unborn”. Gary Numan’s performance not only showcased his musical
expertise, but solidified his status as a legend in the realm of the synth-pop and industrial
genres.

Closing out the night was the industrial metal band from Chicago, Illinois who paved the way for
the genre, Ministry. The headlining band had the audience eagerly waiting for what was to
come. They absolutely did not disappoint as the iconic frontman, Al Jourgenson, took center
stage next to his skeleton cross mic stand. Jourgenson was accompanied on stage by guitarists, Monte Pittman and Cesar Soto, bassist Paul D’Amour, keyboardist John Bechdel, and drummer Roy Mayorga. Since the second they walked onto the stage, each member radiated such passion.

Starting off their set with a song from their newest album HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES,
“B.D.E” brought an empowering energy to the stage right from the start. This song covered the
topic of toxic masculinity and violence against women, which had me head banging the whole
time. Ministry has always been a very political band, and each song resonated deeply,
highlighting the band’s commitment to addressing societal issues through their music. The
powerful visuals behind them put an emphasis on the topics being discussed in each song. After
playing a few other songs from their most recent album, the crowd’s energy heightened even
more as the gritty classic hits including “N.W.O.”, “Thieves”, “Just One Fix”, and “Stigmata”
echoed through the venue. Throughout their performance, I couldn’t help but notice the huge
mosh pit that opened up in the center, as many fans enjoyed this moment together. Closing out
their set with their most popular song, “Jesus Built My Hotrod” the crowd became even more
energetic, not wanting the night to end. Just like the rest of the night, the band did not only put
on a performance, but created a psychedelic and vibrant yet edgy experience that the whole
audience will forever remember. Ministry is such an iconic industrial metal band, and their
legacy will live on and continue to leave a lasting impact.

Ministry, Gary Numan, and Front Line Assembly, were some of the most mesmerizing and
talented performers I have ever seen. Each act brought their own unique and electrifying energy
and passion to the stage, creating hours of an immersive experience. The legacy of all three
performers will forever be respected and recognized in the industrial world, serving as
inspirations for the future.

Review & Photography courtesy of Kyra Britzke

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Exodus & Fit For An Autopsy w/ Darkest Hour & Undeath | Fall North American Tour | 11/24/23 | Photos + Review

December 9, 2023 1 Comment

Exodus & Fit For An Autopsy Obliterate The Stage in Anaheim

Venue: House of Blues in Anaheim, CA

Date: 11/24/23

Over the past several years, I have been lucky to check off many bands from my bucket list in terms of both seeing and photographing. I first saw Fit For An Autopsy back in 2017 and finally got them in front of my lens in January of 2022. This US tour is their biggest to date, and they co-headlined with the thrash metal legends in Exodus, who I finally got to check off my bucket list. The icons in Darkest Hour and the death metal boys in Undeath provided support for this tour. Coming through my favorite venue, the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA, this was a show I simply could not pass up.

Undeath from Rochester, NY opened the show up with a bang. This was my third time seeing and photographing these boys and they seem to get better and better each time. Vocalist Alexander Jones is a force to be reckoned with as he commands the stage. Guitarists Kyle Beam and Jared Welch brought the riffage and the headbangs galore. Bassist Tommy Wall is an absolute beast, strumming and creating those deep tones. Finishing out the band’s lineup is drummer Matt Browning, who’s clean and precise drumming holds the foundation down. The band played a mixed setlist of 7 songs, 3 of which came from their 2020 album “Lesions of a Different Kind” and 2 of which came from their 2022 album “Rise From The Grave”, both released via Prosthetic Records. The band even played two new songs, titled “Brandish The Blade” and “Cramped Caskets”, both of which continue the band’s sound of brutal death metal meets hardcore, which is truly a unique sound. I’ve loved seeing this band three times now, and I cannot wait to see and photograph them again!

SETLIST

  1. Rise From The Grave
  2. Necrobionics
  3. Brandish The Blade
  4. Cramped Caskets
  5. Acidic Twilight Visions
  6. Chained to a Reeking Rotted Body
  7. Lesions of a Different Kind

Darkest Hour from Washington D.C. was up next as direct support for the co-headlining tour. This is a band that has been on my bucket list for quite some time with their melodic death metal verging on metalcore sound that also has some inspiration from thrash metal. From the moment I saw guitarist Mike Schleibaum and vocalist John Henry walk out, I knew this was about to be iconic. Drummer Travis Orbin immediately blew me away with his intricate drum patterns that are truly showcased throughout the band’s nine song set. Bassist Aaron Deal was truly energetic, giving me the windmills and headbangs. Finishing out the band’s lineup is guitarist Nico Santora, who I previously photographed with one of his’ other bands Fallujah. He fits perfectly into Darkest Hour’s sound and is always so fun to capture. The band played a well-mixed set of songs spanning many of their albums, but primarily from their 2017 record “Godless Prophets & The Migrant Flora”, and a couple from their upcoming 2024 release “Perpetual | Terminal”. This was truly an incredible set with high energy that really set the stage for the co-headliners. I’m so glad I finally got to see and photograph these guys! I own all of their records on CD, so it was cool to finally check them off my list!

SETLIST

  1. Perpetual Terminal
  2. The Sadist Nation
  3. Stand and Receive Your Judgement
  4. Knife In A Safe Room
  5. Those Who Survived
  6. The Flesh & The Flowers of Death
  7. Rapture in Exile
  8. With a Thousand Words to Say but One
  9. Amor Fati

Fit For An Autopsy from Jersey City, NJ came up next as the first of the co-headlining bands to perform. I was beyond excited to see and them again as their 2019 album “The Sea Of Tragic Beasts” tied for first in my top albums of 2019 with Jinjer’s “Macro”. Their 2022 album “Oh What The Future Holds” had just dropped when I photographed them last year, and it’s been truly incredible to see their growth as a band in the span of the past year. The band opened with the title track “Oh What The Future Holds”, which set the stage for the set to come. With an incredible light show, the band came prepared with the theatrics. Vocalist Joe Badolato is front and center, and performed the best I’ve seen him, and that says a lot because he’s always pretty powerful on the mic. The band then went into the next track on the album “Pandora”, which is a very riff heavy song that showcases the talents of guitarists Pat Sheridan and Tim Howley, as well as the rhythmic bass coming from Peter “Blue” Spinazola. The breakdown in this song especially goes hard live, and the light show was on POINT here. The band then went into one of their new songs titled “Hellions”, which can be heard on the new split EP released in 2023 via Nuclear Blast titled “The Aggression Sessions” with Thy Art Is Murder and Malevolence, which is a heavy aggressive deathcore sounding song. The drums are especially booming in from Josean Orta. The band played some of my favorite songs, like “The Sea Of Tragic Beasts”, “Warfare”, and “Two Towers”, which were all absolutely incredible to see them play live. They had the crowd truly going nuts with crowd surfers and moshing galore.  The band played a total of eleven songs with songs from every album from 2017 on. This is truly Fit For An Autopsy at their best I’ve seen them thus far. I cannot wait to see and photograph them again and to continue seeing their growth.

SETLIST

  1. Oh What The Future Holds
  2. Pandora
  3. Hellions
  4. Warfare
  5. Hydra
  6. Iron Moon
  7. A Higher Level Of Hate
  8. The Sea Of Tragic Beasts
  9. Your Pain Is Mine
  10. Far From Heaven
  11. Two Towers

The all mighty Exodus from San Francisco, CA came to the stage next. I was very excited to finally see these guys after listening to their music for quite some time, and they surely did not disappoint. From the moment they walked out on the stage, they were insanely high energy. Opening with the song “Impact Is Imminent”, vocalist Steve Souza truly had control over the stage and the crowd. Guitarists Gary Holt and Lee Atlus were in total sync, riffing those thrash riffs that get the crowd going wild. Going into R.E.M.F. from their newest album “Persona Non Grata”, I was hooked in on that drum beat from Tom Hunting the moment the song started. The dude is an absolute machine and as the sole founding member of the band, he is truly the foundation. Alongside Hunting in the rhythm section is bassist Jack Gibson, who’s headbangs and rhythmic strumming truly adds that edge to the band. The band in total played ten songs that spanned over five of their twelve albums. With an expansive discography and history dating back to 1979, Exodus remains strong and prominent in the metal scene. I am so glad I finally got to see and photograph these guys. They were truly so much fun to capture with their high energy. I highly recommend seeing them when they hit a city near you!

SETLIST

  1. Impact Is Imminent
  2. R.E.M.F.
  3. Blacklist
  4. Fabulous Disaster
  5. Prescribing Horror
  6. The Beating Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)
  7. A Lesson In Violence
  8. Bonded By Blood
  9. The Toxic Waltz
  10. Strike of the Beast

This tour was truly one for the books to capture. With so many different styles of metal, it was a night that felt like a mixture of nostalgia and eclecticism. You have the thrash from Exodus, the deathcore and post-metal from Fit For An Autopsy, the melodic death metal and metalcore from Darkest Hour, and the brutal death metal and hardcore from Undeath. This was truly an incredible show that I cannot say enough was a night to remember. I am so thankful any time I get to do a show like this.

Exodus | Fit For An Autopsy | Darkest Hour | Undeath

Photos + Review Courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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Wrecking Ball Metal Madness 2023 | Photos + Review

November 4, 2023 Leave a comment

October 27 & 28 |  Dallas,TX

A night of chaos, death metal and metalcore, mosh pits, crowd surfing, stage dives, and non stop metal.

Creeping Death a local death metal group from Denton, Texas brought the madness to the stage. They sure do not disappoint when they come to town. They played some heavy hitting songs like, Bloodlust Contamination, Intestinal Wrap, The edge of Existence, and the last song called The Common Breed from the latest album Boundless Domain.

The next group that hit the stage was The Acacia Strain, Albany New York’s best deathcore band. They brought there best out to Dallas and fired it up like it was no one’s business with there songs, Carbomb, The Hills Have Eyes, Dr.Doom, Beast, and Skynet. This set was accompanied many stage divers and a giant most pit! The energy was intense, even after they got off the stage.

It’s been 4 years, FOUR YEARS, since Montreal, Quebec’s finest deathcore band, Despised Icon tore up the dance floor, and the stage. Being a fan of this band, I was just as amped up as the rest of the crowd. They came in with there best tracks, Snake In The Grass, The Aftermath, Beast, MVP, and a real banger of a song called Purgatory.

The headlining act. came all the way from Marlboro, Maryland, a technical death metal band, better known as Dying Fetus. They are a force to be reckoned with coming with some deep heavy hard drums, vocals and ear melting guitar riffs. From there old school tracks to the new bangers. The setlist included: Fixated On Devastation, Subjected To A Beating, Unbridled Fury, Grotesque Impalement, but let’s not forget these last two that got the crowd losing their minds, From Womb To Waste and Wrong One To Fuck With.

Overall it was a crazy night, with incredible performances from all the bands that played tonight.

Coverage courtesy of Angel Castillo

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Spending Halloween night with Buc-ee… I mean Polaris

November 1, 2023 Leave a comment

October 31st, 2024

Polaris’ The Fatalism Tour plowed through town on Halloween night, at the amazing Echo Lounge & Music Hall. Can you say they delivered with an amazing set? You bet your sweet Halloween candy they did. In true Texas fashion, they came to the stage wearing Buc-ee the Beaver onesies, form the world famous store Buc-ees. From that point forward it was on!!

        They opened with their first song from there new album Fatalism entitled, Harbinger. Starting with a smooth intro and onto a face punching riff to get this Dallas crowd going. Making the mosh pits go hard and the crows jump go harder. It didn’t stop there, next they played Nightmare, and from there the energy went sky high and blew the roof right off. Jamie Hails vocal energy that had the fans literally stretching passed the barricade screaming and singing the lyrics with him.

        After they played their fourth song of the set they took a little breather. Asking if the crowd wants more, they happily obliged and dug deep too their 2017 debut album The Mortal Coil, with the first song off that album, called Lucid. It was just pure energy from the back to the front, including the second level of the venue. You can feel the passion as Polaris performs.

        Two more songs in Polaris dedicated their next song Martyr to the memory of there guitarist Ryan Slew. He passed away June 19, 2023, the crowd clapped and cheered loud with the load roar of chants of Ryan’s name. Emotions took over and they delivered a powerful performance.

        Filled with emotion and passion they played song after song, but they weren’t done yet! Beginning the close out, with the first encore song being Pray for Rain, from their album The Death of Me. Crowd surfers flying over a fast paced mosh pit, fans head banging and singing along with the band that it was like they were just getting started all over again. However, they were not leaving Dallas without giving it the last blow from down under with the song The Remedy. WOOO!!!!! It’s all I can say cause holy hell this band was giving it all and left it all on that stage. Freaking amazing way to close out Halloween night in Dallas Texas.

Coverage courtesy of Angel Castillo

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The Gaslight Athem ft Catbite & Donovan Woods

October 8, 2023 Leave a comment

I was first introduced to The Gaslight Anthem in 2013 by my boyfriend, my go-to source for my personal music education. I fell in love with lead singer Brian Fallon’s poetic lyricism; I’ve always been a sucker for a song lyric that can stick in your head while stabbing you in the heart.  The Gaslight Anthem is a New Jersey rock band that in many ways seems like a sound from another era, an ensemble that somehow (thankfully) missed a change in mainstream music, staying with a 70s sound similar to Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, or The Steve Miller Band.

Their fall tour promoting History Books, their first single in nine years, stopped by The Factory in Chesterfield, MO on Saturday, September 23, along with Catbite and Donovan Woods. 

The night opened with Catbite, a Philadelphia based ska band, fronted by lead singer Brittany Luna. Their energetic sound reminded me of the rawness I remember from the late 90s/early 2000s garage bands (in the best of ways) and had a definite No Doubt “Tragic Kingdom” vibe, bouncy but raw. When Britt slowed down for “Bad Influence”, she was able to show off the soulfulness in her voice, a fantastic contrast to the upbeat ska punk of the rest of the set. 

Following Catbite was Donovan Woods, a folk singer-songwriter from Canada, whose baseball cap, beard, and build completely juxtaposed his soft voice and heartfelt lyrics. Donovan’s music gave the feel off people-watching outside a coffee shop; just small snippets of other people’s lives. Enough to pique my interest and make me wonder where their story goes when the music ends. Interspersed between his songs Donovan bantered with the audience, laughing with them as he told stories like deciding on a “short walk” to a Whole Foods he saw was “just across the park” (the park being St. Louis’s Forest Park, a 1,326 acre park that’s roughly one and half times the size of New York’s Central Park), or commenting that his ballad “Clean Slate”, a popular pick for weddings, is “better for a second wedding, since you don’t usually have much money for music for your second one.” 

The Gaslight Anthem kicked off their set with “45”, bringing the energy back up, a house party vibe that carried through the night.  Brian Fallon told stories about the band’s career between his songs, giving a peek into their 15 years together. 

Gaslight’s new song, History Books, was fourth in the set, an emotional song about ending relationships. The new track, one of ten on their new album, features fellow New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen. The album, History Books, will be available October 27, 2023.

Coverage courtesy of Elizabeth Rajchart

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