Fat Rad Catering and Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage Host 'Small Bites of Hope' for Mental Health Awareness & Suicide Prevention

At some point in our lives we hit rock bottom. Some of us are lucky enough to be resilient, however there are many who struggle with reaching a turning point once it hits. Going through traumatic experiences causes a ripple effect over months, even years. It pours into daily lives and hinders our daily endeavors in society.Those emotions often go unnoticed by friends and family until it's too late to reach out to anyone enduring any form of depression. As advocates to mental health awareness and suicide prevention, Chef Brian Tsao (featured on Beat Bobby Flay and Chopped) and Nick Emde of Fat Rad Catering took to the cause by hosting their pop-up culinary event Small Bites of Hope in conjunction with the non-profit organization Hope For the Day. The event was held to raise awareness on mental health issues and suicide prevention. 

Small Bites of Hope took place at the Gibson Guitars Showroom in Midtown Manhattan on May 18, 2017 from 6PM - 9PM and paid homage to Mental Health Awareness Month. The event was also joined by Jesse Leach, frontman of the renowned heavy metal group Killswitch Engage who took the stand that evening to deliver a heartfelt speech on what the cause means to him and how others can reach out to help anyone going through chronic depression and mental illness. Jesse spoke up about his own experiences with chronic depression and addressed the possible ways we can recognize anyone needing the help they need and deserve, a crucial necessity they would otherwise feel ashamed to ask for. Brian Tsao discussed how he himself dealt with the realization of needing therapy, which addressed the topic of how mental illness does not mean a person is "crazy", but that we all experience moments of feeling hopeless and helpless. Brian Tsao's speech also touched on how important it is to have organizations such as Hope For the Day, where many who are experiencing these issues are able to find solace with others who are or were in similar situations. The organization reaches out with a reassuring slogan of how "It's ok not to be ok". The touching slogan helps to eliminate the shame attached to harsh stigmas of social and cultural factors, which prevent many from expressing their issues with mental health such as depression, PTSD and thoughts of suicide. 

Scryer Photo last joined Fat Rad Catering at their company launch party in January 2017 at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn, NY. The company has since then garnered a large clientele in the music industry through extreme professionalism and high quality catering services and successfully sold out Small Bites of Hope. Many in attendance last week were accompanied by friends and family to learn more about Hope For the Day's mission directly from its Founder and CEO Johnny Boucher who gave a speech as well that day. With a full board and staff, Hope For the Day constantly host a variety of events and have spoken to crowds of hundreds to raise continued awareness in communities all around. HFTD has brought so many people together to show that they are not alone in their battle, that there are others who are just like them who have found a support system amongst each other to never give up and for all to realize and always remember they are worth it. All too often, a lack of mental health organizations and programs leaves many good and brilliant people vulnerable to falling through the cracks of society,with the idea that the topic is too taboo to share or discuss.

Coincidentally, legendary singer Chris Cornell of the iconic grunge bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, sadly and unexpectedly passed away the same day of Small Bites of Hope, which became a poignant reminder of the cause. For many internationally known touring musicians, Chris Cornell's passing evokes the high demands of the music industry. Requests for tickets that day shot through the roof, despite being completely sold out. In honor of Chris Cornell, Nick Emde served his "Louder Than Love" cocktail made with Blackcraft Ghost Pepper Whiskey, Blue Curacao and Ginger Ale. The one and only Jesse Leach served as DJ for the night on the Gibson showroom's soundboard and later dedicated a 40 minute playlist of Soundgarden and Audioslave as a tribute to Chris Cornell. 

Small Bites of Hope welcomed its patrons with their delectable signature brand of "comfort food", the menu consisting of:

  • Vegan appetizers

  • Crostini with hummus

  • Asparagus and cheddar quiche

  • Vegetarian sushi

  • Beef and porkbelly sliders

  • Bacon and grits topped with shrimp

  • Snowdays Snow Cream (Taiwanese shaved ice, all dairy with a snow texture which finishes like ice cream)

The event was proudly sponsored by Sixpoint Brewery with the Crisp and Sweet Action cans as the selection for the night. All other proud sponsors listed on the step and repeat backdrop at the venue entrance included Metal Injection, Metal Blade Records, Outerloop Management, MetalSucks, Gibson Guitars, Uncle Dougie's, Snowdays, ArtistFlags.com, Blackcraft Spirits, All In Merchandise and more. Small Bites of Hope was larger than life in achieving success for an event that provided everyone with a vast amount of information to share with anyone suffering from thoughts of suicide and mental illness. People came together from different walks of life and shared experiences and stories with one another throughout the evening. All proceeds go directly to Hope For the Day's suicide prevention and mental health awareness programs. Small Bites of Hope also reminds us that mental health issues and suicide can affect any and everyone. It emphasizes the importance of organizations like Hope For the Day and the You Rock Foundation so that we don't feel alone or ashamed to seek help if/when we find ourselves unable to stand back up again. 

CANE HILL At Irving Plaza - 'Let's Get Abducted Tour'

Louisiana bred nu-metal band Cane Hill laid down an aggressive performance at Irving Plaza on March 10, 2017 on the “Let’s Get Abducted” tour with headliners Attila.  Bad Omens, New Year’s Day, and Vesta Collide were the other supporting bands on the tour. Since their formation in 2013, Cane Hill have given heavy metal fans a swift kick with their debut self-titled EP Cane Hill released in October 2015 and their full length studio album Smile released in July 2016 via Rise Records. Throughout their studio releases, Cane Hill have hit the road with Bullet For My Valentine, Asking Alexandria, and Atreyu to name a few, as well as hitting the stage with Vans Warped Tour 2016.

Cane Hill had a no B.S. approach when they opened their set. Described as “head bangin’, beer drinkin’, pot smokin’ metal”, these guys are an animal of their own in the nu-metal scene.  Cane Hill are ferociously in your face during every song they perform live and there are no limits to what they’re capable of on stage. About three songs into their set, the crowd were able to place the combined influences of Korn and Slipknot with a lick of Industrial Metal in Cane Hill’s music and vocals. This happened to be extremely well received when fans began tossing themselves over to the stage barricade in waves. With every extended and impressive deep growl from lead vocalist Elijah Witt during a break down, the floor of Irving Plaza shook with jumping fans.  With that followed the barbaric mosh pit that Cane Hill are known to incite.

Nearing mid-set, Cane Hill had clearly received new fans, those who observed from the venue bar soon came forward to join what had then become somewhat of a moshing danger zone. A word of advice for anyone seeing Cane Hill live for the first time, have a thick skin in their mosh pits as they are a band that can keep their audience in motion for the entirety of their sets. It was awesome to see not only Cane Hill performing, yet partying with fans from the stage. When guitarist James Barnett lost balance from jolting his body aggressively while playing, falling slightly into drummer Devin Clark’s drum kit, and then spitting at Witt (who spat right back at him), it was evident that Cane Hill have not let tour life take away from the band’s roots and purpose of why they perform the music they love. We thought we had seen the last of Elijah Witt on stage for the night until he reappeared to perform with Bad Omens during their single “Glass Houses”. Cane Hill represent that devil may care attitude that lies within Metal fans. They provide us with a familiar sound, yet memorable live performances that follow us from concert to house party speakers.

Cane Hill will return to the stage on April 21st for 420 Fest 2017 in Ft. Worth, TX, followed by dates in July for Chicago Open Air 2017 and Rise Above Festival 2017. Cane Hill are in continued support of their latest album Smile which was released July 15, 2016 via Rise Records and can be purchased on iTunes here.

Facebook – Cane Hill

BLACK ANVIL Forge Gramercy Theatre

New York City is warming up sooner than expected this year and Metal concert momentum is picking back up at our major venues with it. The True Mayhem  A.K.A. Mayhem headlined a sold out show at Gramercy Theatre on February 19, 2017 with support from Immolation and New York’s own Black Metal band Black Anvil. As one of the few Black Metal bands in NYC, Black Anvil are regarded as the most notable band of their genre in the NYC Heavy Metal scene.  Black Anvil were on tour with Mayhem since January 20, 2017 up until February 19th at Gramercy Theatre, with some dates in Canada during the tour. Black Anvil premiered their single “Ultra” from their fourth studio album As Was, which debuted on January 13, 2017 via Relapse Records.

Black Anvil opened their set with “On Forgotten Ways”, setting the atmosphere with dim red lighting for the sinister intro of the eight minute song.  Centered in front of their New York Black Metal logo as it appears on the new album As Was, Black Anvil’s bassist/lead vocalist Paul Delaney screeched lyrics into the mic while picking away on bass with steadfast precision during the opening song. The fourth song on the setlist “Nothing” was the performance that prompted fans at Gramercy Theatre into a moshing frenzy. Those at the front of the stage barricade chanted along with Delaney to the melodic part of the song before its pummeling speed break down. Drummer Raeph Glicken could be considered the primary facet during Black Anvil’s live performances, keeping the band solid and tight through the most challenging song segments. Guitarist/vocalists Travis Bacon and Jeremy Sosville take an insightful approach to trade off riffs and solos.

Black Anvil impressively hold their own as an opening act and prove that they were meant to share the stage with the headliners such as the legendary Mayhem. Black Anvil’s entire setlist included tracks “On Forgotten Ways”, “May Her Wrath Be Just”, the album titled single “As Was”, “Nothing”, and the brooding melodic “Ultra” in that order.  Purchase Black Anvil’s new album here and stay tuned for future tour dates.

 

BLACK ANVIL:

MAYHEM:

KING'S X REIGN OVER STAGE 48

Stage 48 welcomed King's X to New York City on Saturday, November 19, 2016. Despite cold heavy rain, King's X fans lined up outside by the venue before doors. Any fan of rock music in the 80's and on, know that King's X were grunge before grunge was a thing. Some would call them the undeclared forefathers of grunge. After a handful of shows during Spring and Summer 2016 and in Cozumel, Mexico after, King's X returned the U.S. for more tour dates beginning in Florida on November 10th through December 10th.

Honolulu Rock/Blues quartet Kings of Spade opened the show for King's X under cascading red, orange, and blue lighting during their set. Kings of Spade grooved the audience into a bluesy swing that would later carry the vibe into the hard rocking "Groove Machine", the opening song for King's X. Drummer Jerry Gaskill entered the stage to repetitive bellowing chants of "Jerry". Gaskill sat behind the drum kit with a broad smile, opening his arms out to the cheering crowd, thanking fans for the warm welcome. Front man Doug Pinnick and guitarist Ty Tabor joined Gaskill on stage with their timeless appreciation for every fan in the room. 

King's X couldn't have brought a better atmosphere to Stage 48 that evening, with bright psychedelic patterns bouncing of the venue's LED screen towering behind them setting the pace to each song. King's X move the floor beneath you with Tabor's Drop-D dark melodic chord voicings during "Vegetable" and many others like it. Jerry Gaskill crashes and chimes away on cymbals towards the end of the song, with amused approval from an onlooking Tabor who wore his sunglasses the entire set. The audience shouted wildly as "Vegetable" tapered off with thumping bass by Pinnick. One of the best moments to look out for during a King's X concert is Pinnick getting into the groove and grunge as he steps away from the mic and jams with full emotion, before returning to the mic with his raspy and soul inspired vocal melodies. Pinnick's vocals have been a key and unique factor in King's X authentic and original sound. "Run", the fifth track on the setlist went all out with strobe lights to heavy rhythms on guitar. 

For nearly six and half minutes, King's X performed an instrumental to "Cigarettes" as fans sang vigorously to the lyrics of the song. Doug Pinnick's face lit up every time with gratitude as fans shouted, "Hey", holding the note as the song calls for. Ty Tabor's high guitar bend at the end of the song caused an eruption of applause. King's X made the show about their fans and love nothing more than having a "jam session" during their concerts with them. After their final song "We Were Born to Be Loved", fans cheered for an encore and received a generous one with hits such as "Lost in Germany", "Dogman", "Goldilox", and "Pillow".  Anyone who has not listened to music by King's X, or have never seen them live would certainly have been able to understand how revolutionary they became in combining Grunge, Progressive Rock, and Blues inspired Alternative Metal for three and a half decades. It was during "Goldilox" that you could witness the band's true appreciation for their fans as Doug places his hand over his heart, overwhelmed by dedicated King's X fans singing the opening lyrics to the song. 

Full King's X setlist at Stage 48 included, "Groove Machine", "The World Around Me", "Flies and Blue Skies", "Vegetable", "Run", "Looking for Love", "Pray", "Black Flag", "Cigarettes", "Summerland", "Over My Head",  and "We Were Born to Be Loved". The encore performance included tracks, "Lost in Germany", "Dogman", "Goldilox", and "Pillow". For future updates and tour news, check out King's X on Facebook and official website here. 

FACEBOOK: King's X

FACEBOOK: Kings of Spade

KINGS OF SPADE - PHOTOS: 

UNEARTH Tear Up The Stage At Gramercy Theatre

Gramercy Theatre continues to keep heavy metal alive and loud even on a Sunday night as Unearth set up shop on their tour with the Swedish melodic death metal heavy hitters Soilwork on November 13, 2016. The North American "Fury Tour" was headlined by Soilwork with support from Unearth along with Wovenwar, Battlecross, and Darkness Divided. "Fury Tour" commenced back on October 14th in Rhode Island, making New York its twenty-fifth and third to last tour stop. Since 1998, Unearth have provided fans with six full length albums and two EP’s, their latest full length album released in 2014 titled Watchers of Rule, a tasteful  combination of melodic death metal and hardcore arrangements. 

Unearth opened their set beneath dark red and green lighting, facing the rabidly waiting Heavy Metal patrons of Gramercy Theatre. To the surprise of many, Wovenwar drummer Jordan Mancino had not dismantled his drum kit. It was made apparent to the audience when Mancino returned to the stage with Unearth, that he was subbing in for drummer Nick Pierce. Pierce has been recovering from back surgery and was unable to recover in time for the tour. With performances by Battlecross, Darkness Divided, and Wovenwar prior to their set, the venue was heated up for Unearth and Soilwork on that chilly night in New York City. Unearth emerged with full force leading fans into chants and fists in the air. Lead singer Trevor Phipps' powerful vocals are recognizable the moment he belts out the first verse.

Unearth put the crowd into sweaty motion during the 2002 EP titled track "Endless" and "This Lying World", to name a couple on the setlist that night. Yet Unearth is not your typical Hardcore band. Aside from their thundering dirty breakdowns which brought fans into a moshing frenzy, they kept the music catchy with high-octane octive laden riffs. To switch things up, guitarist Ken Susi comes in on clean vocals, nearly splitting the stage in two afterwards with air jumps and  spiraling  leaps beside guitarist Buz McGrath. Phipps' announcement for "Endless" was one he thought that many old fans would appreciate hearing. The crowd's reaction was exactly the one you would expect from die hard Unearth fans, as Phipps raised his beer, spawning a circle pit among the aggressive crowd of heavy metal fans. Shirts flew off, horns were high up, and Unearth could clearly see how berserk the New York City heavy metal scene is. It wasn't a complete Unearth show until a fan literally flung himself over the crowd to the front of the stage. Some other songs performed that night included "The Great Dividers", "The Swarm", "Last Wish", "Giles", "Never Cease", and "Zombie". With the "Fury Tour" wrapped up, Unearth head out to Europe on December 1st and join Iced Earth, Ensiferum, and Kataklysm on the "Headbangers Ball Tour" until December 19th. Check out Unearth on Facebook for future tour dates and news and their latest album Watchers of Rule available on Spotify and can be purchased here on iTunes. 

 

STARKILL Kick Off North American Tour At Gramercy Theatre And Release New Album 'Shadow Sleep'

Gramercy Theatre opened its doors to Melodic Death Metal band Starkill last Friday, November 4th. Since their formation in 2012, Starkill have rapidly built a strong fan base in heavy metal, which has placed them on bills with renowned international touring acts such as Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquility, and Sepultura. November 4, 2016 at Gramercy Theatre was an especially eventful concert for Starkill as they released their third full-length album Shadow Sleep while kicking off their North American tour as direct support for Dark Tranquility the same day. Although Shadow Sleep was just released last week, Starkill are currently and constantly dedicated to writing new material. Shadow Sleep is a dexterous compilation of catchy riffs, impressive lead guitar scales and symphonic tones glazed over Starkill's gritty chugging on rhythm guitar. 

We first saw Starkill live this past Summer at Gramercy Theatre opening for Ne Obliviscaris and were excited to hear that they were returning to New York City in the Fall. One of the most gratifying things at a concert is seeing a band for the first time that not only sounds colossal live, yet simultaneously conquer the stage. That is exactly the first impression concertgoers experience during Starkill's performances. One of the opening songs was  the album title track "Shadow Sleep", a song that tastefully transitions from thunderous death metal double kicks, to melodic choruses and power metal break downs. Starkill present a brilliant dynamic to their audiences.

Fans were immediately drawn to the band's theatrical lighting and stage presence as soon as they entered the stage. Bassist Shaun Andruchuk and guitarist Tony Keathley are masterful performers alongside Parker Jameson who assumes the onerous task as lead guitarist and vocals. Spencer Weidner was intensely focused as he executed rapid and complex hits and kicks on drums which resonated throughout the venue. Shaun Andruchuk is not one to be designated to one side of the stage, as he could constantly be seen running across and back to perform for fans on each side, throwing his hair into a whipping spin. A comical moment during the set saw Andruchuk jokingly flipping off Jameson as they performed side by side. Aside from their admirable musicianship, Starkill were high energy and their fan interaction truly demonstrated their enthusiasm and determination for a successful North American tour with Dark Tranquility, Swallow the Sun, and Enforcer. 

Starkill's anthemic sound and music arrangements are progressive from the norm in Melodic Death Metal.  Mid set, Starkill clearly amassed many new fans from those who initially watched quietly and were later jumping and throwing their fists in the air. To sum it up, Starkill are an impressive and multifaceted quartet of headbangers with much promise in the heavy metal scene. Currently making their Canadian tour stops, Starkill will be on tour with Dark Tranquility until December 7th in Houston, TX. Shadow Sleep is on Spotify and iTunes and available for purchase here. Watch Starkill's first official music video for "Burn Your World" from the new album Shadow Sleep and be sure to check out Starkill this month at future tour dates below! 

DARK TRANQUILITY: 

TOUR DATES: 

  • 11/04 New York, NY – The Gramercy Theatre

  • 11/05 Worcester, MA – The Palladium

  • 11/06 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero

  • 11/09 Montreal, QC – Foufounes

  • 11/10 Quebec, QC – Le Cercle

  • 11/11 Ottawa, ON – Mavericks

  • 11/12 Toronto, OT – The Opera House

  • 11/13 Westland, MI – Token Lounge

  • 11/14 Pittsburgh, PA – Altar Bar

  • 11/15 Cleveland, OH – Agora Ballroom

  • 11/15 Columbus, OH – Park Street Saloon

  • 11/17 Crest Hill, IL – Bada Brew

  • 11/18 Milwaukee, WI – The Rave

  • 11/19 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock

  • 11/20 St Louis, MO – Fubar

  • 11/21 Merriam, KS – Aftershock

  • 11/22 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater

  • 11/23 Salt Lake City, UT – In The Venue

  • 11/25 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theater

  • 11/26 Seattle, WA – El Corazon

  • 11/28 Reno, NV – PB&J’s

  • 11/30 Anaheim, CA – City National Grove

  • 12/01 San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick

  • 12/02 Las Vegas, NV – LVCS

  • 12/03 Tempe, AZ – Club Red

  • 12/05 Dallas, TX – Trees

  • 12/06 Mac Allen, TX – Cine El Rey

  • 12/07 Houston, TX – Scout Bar

 

 

STARSET Make A Landing For Highline Ballroom Demonstration

Starset's "Demonstration" was presented at Highline Ballroom in New York City on October 7, 2016, a clever use of the term by the band to refer to a tour date. Starset formed in 2013 in Columbus, OH by Dustin Bates, well known as the former lead singer for Downplay. Starset have made headlines with their sci-fi concept behind the name of the band and their progressive alternative rock sound that is described as Cinematic Rock. In the story line surrounding the band, Starset have been commissioned by The Starset Society for the purpose of raising public awareness of The Message, scientific knowledge that has been ignored and concealed which would prevent salvation for the future of humanity. Starset's debut album Transmissions was released in July 2014 followed by a tour with Breaking Benjamin that began in January 2016 and lasted until August 2016. Starset's demonstration at Highline Ballroom comes after performing at major music festivals in September such as Texas Mutiny 2016, Houston Open Air 2016, and Ten Sixty Five Music Festival 2016. Keeping the momentum going and much to the excitement of fans, Starset announced this month that they are teaming up with Marvel to release a graphic novel due out Fall 2017.

Doors opened at 7:00PM with only one opening performance by Long Island band Gambit to kick off the show. Gambit describe their genre of music as Sincere Electronic Pop comprised of band members Lyle Kamesaki, Jeff Ballantyne, Ricky Wells, and Justin Parker. By the end of Gambit's set, fans were warmed up for Starset and proceeded to move closer to the stage. Others in the crowd donned the Starset masks fully equipped with remote controlled LED lights, which will also be available with the purchase of Starset's upcoming graphic novel. As Starset prepared to take the stage, the venue played Starset's instrumental music while the only lighting had been provided by a large projection screen, adorned with the Starset logo behind the drum kit fell over the crowd. 

Starset performed the entirety of Transmissions that night, opening their set with the minute and a half album intro "First Light" which starts off with the deep vibration of a mechanical siren seeming to prepare the audience for launch or evacuation. The frighteningly dramatic "First Light" intro allows you to imagine yourself venturing out into an unknown region of the universe. The crowd shouts loudly as Starset takes the stage to follow their introduction with "Rise and Fall". Fans grew even more enraptured to see Starset live in full space suit costumes, blue and red LED lit masks and with their overwhelming sci-fi themed stage production. "Rise and Fall" came in heavy as the stage was washed out in purple and blue lighting. Everyone in attendance threw their fists in the air to welcome Starset to the stage during the song, which later quiets down into an enigmatic piano solo and with tones building back up softly. You can imagine making a scientific breakthrough, crossing an atmospheric barrier or discovering some uncharted intergalactic territory as "Rise and Fall" comes to a close. 

Dustin Bates' voice was sultry and melodious as the ballad "Antigravity" opened up with Dustin on keys. About thirty seconds in, fans already began singing along. Dustin also switches between keys and his Emulator Dual View System, which is responsible for the majority of electronic elements in their music. Starset followed "Antigravity" with "Halo", "Telescope", and "Point of No Return" in that order. Fans also sang along to "Dark on Me", a thoughtful song that plays on heartstrings and like other songs on Transmissions can be interpreted in many ways by the listener to relate with. To set the mood for "Dark on Me", white strobe lights moved horizontally against the fog to create a surreal vibe for the song. Simply put, "Dark on Me" has "all of the feels" and in our opinion, one of the best tracks on Transmissions. Another highlight throughout Starset's performance happens when the band members "reset" as robots after every song, an intriguing and entertaining addition to their concerts that fans seemed to enjoy enormously. Starset successfully executed the concept of the band's storyline with the message of cognizance surrounding politics and science. This comes as no surprise as Dustin holds a Ph.D in electrical engineering, has conducted research for the U.S. Air Force and taught at the International Space Museum.  

What was also interesting to watch was Dustin performing with two mics, a standard SM58 as well as a Shure Green Bullet to emulate the transmission sounding vocals on the album. Starset ended the show with "My Demons", another song that the audience sang along to with vigor under the flamboyant pink and blue lighting. The breakdown for "My Demons" comes in three minutes into the song with guitarist Brock Richards and bassist Ron DeChant standing atop individual platforms, grooving into a synchronized headbang. Adam Gilbert beat the hell out of his green LED lit drum kit (say that five times fast). As if performing live isn't hard enough, Starset transcend  fan interaction and stage presence. Starset's musical influences range from Nine Inch Nails to Hans Zimmer and a second album is said to be released before the end of 2016. 

Between The Buried And Me & The Devin Townsend Project Transcend Modern Music at PlayStation Theater

PlayStation Theater welcomed Between The Buried And Me and The Devin Townsend Project's co-headlining tour "Transcending The Coma" with direct support from Fallujah on Friday, September 16, 2016. Prog/Rock and Heavy Metal fans lined up outside the venue at 6:30 P.M. with the concert expected to begin at 7:00 P.M. Tickets went on sale May 20, 2016 and the first leg of the tour began early this month on September 9th in Nashville, TN with east coast tour dates to start. The tour kicked off as long and highly anticipated with Between The Buried And Me's continued promotion of their latest and most dramatic album Coma Ecliptic. The Devin Townsend Project are also touring in support of their new album Transcendence which was just released this month on September 2, 2016. Fallujah also join the tour to promote their newest album Dreamless which was released on April 29, 2016 and since then has been exalted by fans upon its release.

It was only when PlayStation Theater's General Admission area became amass with fans at 8:30 P.M. that San Francisco Bay natives Fallujah kicked off the evening with their set. Fallujah's stage lighting illuminated to a deep red and purple, introducing the rapid chugging instrumental "Sapphire" featured on their 2014 album The Flesh Prevails. Fallujah entered the stage to atmospheric and ambient tones of an Axe-Fx, to face a ravenous crowd ready for a night of Prog Metal. Fallujah followed up with the new Dreamless album track "Amber Gaze" with guitar lead trade offs between guitarists Scott Carstairs and Brian James, sending the audience into a frenzy. Lead vocalist Alex Hofmann shouted to New York City fans for horns up before the "Amber Gaze" breakdown which sent the band into a tailspin of headbanging. Fallujah performed two more songs from The Flesh Prevails album, "Alone With You" and "Allure". The rest of the set list included songs from the new album "Scar Queen", "Abandon", "Wind for Wings", and "The Void Alone". Fallujah were the ideal support act for the "Transcending The Coma" tour, immediately engaging the audience with an "in your face" approach of bellicose vocals and setting the stage with melodic trance like ambiance. With Dreamless being Fallujah's third album released through Nuclear Blast, this album has definitely made a good impression on the metal scene and only means bigger things to come for them and to fans. Once the "Transcending The Coma" tour wraps up, Fallujah will join the Impericon Never Say Die! Tour 2016 on November 3, 2016 in Germany, see more dates here! 

With a packed venue, concertgoers poured out into the bar area for beer refills while taking a moment to view the merch tables and keeping friends held tight to the front of the stage to hold their spots. If fans hoped Between The Buried And Me would be playing any songs prior to Coma Ecliptic, they were sadly mistaken, however would not be disappointed in the least. BTBAM announced back in May that they would be performing only music from Coma Eclpitic in full during the "Transcending The Coma" tour. Since its production in 2014 and BTBAM's eighth studio album, they have stated to be proud to perform the album in its entirety to fans and offer them the full effect of what the band intended it to be.  Coma Ecliptic hit the #1 spot on Billboard's Hard Music Chart in 2015 as well as making "Transcending The Coma" tour the first time Between The Buried And Me perform the entire album during a live set. 

In complete darkness, the audience shouted in anticipation as BTBAM's faint glimpse of silhouettes became visible when they entered the stage. It was only when bassist Dan Briggs began the intro to "Node" on the keyboard, did the venue go into an uproar of cheering as a dim spotlight appeared on frontman Tommy Rogers while fog billowed behind them across the stage. "Node" is a haunting and enigmatic track off the new album, setting the mood for a dramatic performance of Coma Ecliptic. As the song progressed, guitarist Paul Waggoner came in with back up vocals while the crowd sang along. Blake Richardson comes in on drums near the end of the song with a startling crash and theatrical lighting. The haunting tune of "Node" transports listeners to a dystopian-like environment with Waggoner's guitar leads full of progressive groove, making it the best opening song to do justice to the live performance of Coma Ecliptic. 

Between The Buried And Me followed "Node" with the orchestrated, seven and a half minute heavy hitter "The Coma Machine". The song carries on with the sci-fi concept of the album which depicts the story of a man who voluntarily enters a coma to escape his current life to experience his past life. The man then decides whether to remain in one of those lives, continue the journey through other past lives, or wake from the coma to return to his present life.  BTBAM mastered the concept of the album and music production so much so, that listeners can imagine taking the journey themselves. Constant alternate timing, a mysterious direction in the sound of the album, and a light show that could send anyone into epilepsy were the meat and potatoes for the excellent BTBAM set that evening. If anyone in attendance had not seen them live before, their brilliant virtuosity was made apparent that night at PlayStation Theater. 

Between The Buried And Me's show was a journey itself. Tommy Rogers is dramatically intense, seeming to painfully plead through his melodic and dirty vocal delivery, as if to express the emotions of the protagonist. Equally impressive, was Dan Briggs' ability to switch between keys and bass during abrupt changes in melodies. Hands clapped to the beat of the dark and menacing "Dim Ignition". Throughout the entire set, BTBAM maintained a sinister vibe on stage with extreme low lighting and strobes, the venue completely engulfed in darkness with the only source of light emanating from the stage. Some opted to enjoy the show more comfortably in the seated section of the venue. BTBAM were a major success in conveying the story of Coma Ecliptic to fans old and new and provided the audience with a climactic finale. Between The Buried And Me will continue touring with The Devin Townsend Project into early March 2017 beginning on January 30, 2017, see more BTBAM dates here. Be sure to purchase Coma Ecliptic and experience one man's mysterious and relatable journey. 

When fans hear the name Devin Townsend, we imagine the prog rock genius on stage delivering a cosmic and seismic performance along with his renowned facial expressions of shock, all while bending his guitar strings into another dimension.  The Devin Townsend Project did all of it and more after Between The Buried And Me concluded their set. Opening their show with Devin's 1997 single "Night" from the Ocean Machine album, PlayStation Theater had not been louder all night with fans screaming and shouting. Before entering the stage, strobe lights blinked on and off to a popping beat of a countdown intro, leading fans to clap along to the clicking sound of the strobes. The band entered in full force under a wash of blue lighting. Devin began playing immediately, shedding an excited smile over a crowd of screaming fans who observed his glowing guitar in awe. Devin was attentive to fans the entire evening with set list hits such as his solo tracks "By Your Command", "Hyperdrive", "Ziltoid Goes Home", one of our personal favorites "March of the Poozers", and "Kingdom". "Rejoice" from the 2014 Z² album was the fourth song on the set list and soon after "Where We Belong" from the 2012 release Epicloud. Songs performed that night from Transcendence included "Failure", "Stormbending", and The Devin Townsend Project's final song of the night "Higher". The always comical and maniacal Townsend had essentially demanded one of his songs to go screw itself at one point during the show. Devin Townsend is gifted when it comes to fan interaction, creating an intimate and casual environment between himself and fans attending his concerts. The Devin Townsend Project concluded the show with an encore acoustic performance of "Ih-Ah!" followed by the larger than life, heavy metal track "Higher", a song worthy of playing during a sudden revelation. 

GOTHAM ROCKS: WEEKEND OF WRECKAGE

It seems as though every new Weekend of Wreckage has been finding itself in the deadliest of seasons. However, the support within the local New York Rock and Heavy Metal scene is so close knit that no amount of unforgiving weather could keep bands, friends, and fans alike, away from The Rock Shop in Park Slope, Brooklyn this past August 12, 2016 (Day 1 of the Gotham Rocks Presents: Weekend of Wreckage). 

As doors opened at 7:30PM, the first act began sound check on stage for their 8PM opener set. Crowd The Airwaves are a three-piece, female-fronted punk rock band from Brooklyn, NY. Bassist Heather Lee Marvin and guitarist Christina Elliot opened their set with the band’s new drummer Jerad Lippi and their popular Devil May Care EP single, "Blood". Alternating, powerful vocal harmonies and tight, upbeat rhythms give these ladies a sound all their own. Heather is also quite the entertainer on stage; always boisterous with a larger than life persona. Their newest song debut, “Roots” is a bluesy, catchy number with many vocal highs and lows. They also announced the release of a new EP in the near future. The ladies of Crowd the Airwaves started the evening off with a strong set and draw to really get the party started. Crowd The Airwaves are a band the scene loves and respects, with a huge potential to grow from the local scene. 

DeepState are a dynamic Alternative Metal band from Queens, NY. With influences seeming to come from everything like Queens of the Stone Age to Tool, they are quite the interesting and unique act to listen to and witness on stage. Lead singer Joe is the most recent addition to the group, and while their original vocalist definitely displayed adequate power Joe brings a whole new dynamic and stylistic approach to the band’s vocal and overall delivery. Rapid staccato screams and insane inhale/exhale belts could make him a staple on the scene alone, but the rest of the band; Mark, James and Tony, really provide a solid backbone that is the true meat and potatoes of the unmistakable DeepState sound. The band made sure to thank Brooke and Gotham Rocks for the opportunity between heavy-hitting numbers and one point Joe even crooned darkly for a fan’s up-close cellphone recording. Their set was tight and vastly entertaining. 

    The next big act to take the stage was Libricide; a popular local melodic/progressive rock band via Brooklyn and Long Island, NY. With influences reminiscent of, but definitely not limited to, that of Incubus, Alice in Chains, STP and the like, and with just the right amount of tastefully progressive elements, they’ve got some of the catchiest and most upbeat tunes this side of the local scene. Their set began with the ever-energetic “Encumbrance Removed” with hooky choruses and a wicked-shredding outro solo. Jumping from there right into other gregarious crowd-pleasers like “Critical Mass” and “No Accident”, they had the audience visibly pumping as they broke into their own rendition of “Higher Ground”. Even with some slight technical difficulties mid-set, the group pulled back nearly effortlessly, getting right back into the atmosphere of cultivating groove, dancing, and genuinely enlightened fun. Libricide finished off their set with the two lead singles from their 2015 self-titled debut, “Somebody’s Daughter” and “Shavings Carver”. Between effectual vocals and insightful lyrics, dynamic chord structures and meritorious guitar leads, and an energetic rhythm section and hilarious stage banter is why this group has come as far as they have on the scene.

Fall of the Albatross is an instrumental Progressive Metal band from Queens, NY. Formed in 2007, the group has many modern stylistic elements reminiscent of bands like Animals as Leaders and Between the Buried and Me. Their music is heavy hitting but also has plenty of softer and more dynamic sections and overtones. Guitarists Harold McCummings and Colin Ruhwedel were all progged out with 7-strings and headless guitars, fusing heavy metal riffage with undeniably groovy breakdowns. Their set was very instrumentally impressive and definitely got fans talking. 

Unconscious Disturbance began developing their groundbreaking mixture of Rock and Metal at an early age. The two brothers, guitarist and lead singer Kiko and drummer/vocalist Daniel Freiberg, almost co-front the band together live and have been playing together for many, many years. Bassist Danny Dahan did not stop moving, no matter the tempo. Sadly the group’s set was cut somewhat short due to time constraints but was ended properly with “something heavy” (the song “Let It Rain”) at a fan in the crowd’s behest. Having performed in front of thousands of people in Brazil, Unconscious Disturbance maintained the same amount of energy at The Rock Shop for NYC fans. Check out their new single "Scream" on Spotify!

Sun & Flesh are a self-described “loud” rock and metal band from Brooklyn, NY. The group sounds larger than life live, with hard-hitting riffs and beats and chanting anthemic gang vocals. Guitarist Christoph Manuel paraded around the last few songs shirtless, shredding away and dropping to his knees during their last song "Bored".  Aside from great guitar work, Sun and Flesh vocals are a crowd stimuli and a returning favorite of Weekend of Wreckage. Be sure to catch Sun and Flesh on their "2016 Olympics Tour" featuring A Collegiate Affair tonight in Winchester, VA and up to August 27th at Kaboom in Garner, NC. Find Sun and Flesh on YouTube where their newly released promotional video is available for view here.

Even with minor technical difficulties at The Rock Shop, all bands were professional and played exceedingly well to an abundant crowd of rock and prog/rock fans. Food and booze kept flowing as folks stuck around to chat and listen to many of the acts they hadn’t initially come for. It started the weekend off with a bang and really got things rolling for a great Night Two (the following evening). Three cheers and many beers to Brooke von Berg and the whole crew at Gotham Rocks for the as usual superb event hosting and helping to keep the local scene pumping. Every band played their hearts out and caught the ears of this otherwise broadly diverse audience. And if you didn’t get your fill then, Night 2 was just as eventful.

 

 

Co-Written By: Harun Gadol

Winter Nights Open For Ne Oblivisicaris At Gramercy Theatre

Gramercy Theatre welcomed Ne Oblivisicaris, Black Crown Initiate, Starkill, and Winter Nights on Friday, July 29, 2016 with Melodic Death Metal band Winter Nights opening the show. A line of fans wrapped around the corner of the venue and Gramercy Theatre filled up rapidly once doors opened at 7PM. As a band based in New York City, Winter Nights have once more been offered the opportunity to open for yet another big international touring band. 

Before taking the stage at 7:30PM, Winter Nights held down the fort at their merch table while greeting friends and fans in Gramercy Theatre's lounge area downstairs. With a doom like intro, Winter Nights opened their set with "Starved For Energy" as lead vocalist and guitarist Jeremy Farfan delivered guttural vocals into the mic. "Starved For Energy" starts out mellow and the builds up to a quicker tempo about forty seconds after the intro of the song. Photographers in the photo pit moved around hastily from stage left to right to get their photos of Winter Nights before the third song "Enounters of The Frozen North" was over. 

In between songs Jeremy Farfan effortlessly engaged the audience as he spoke to the crowd in his proverbial demonic spoken voice which he maintained throughout their set when addressing fans between songs.  Martin Tune performed with fervor on bass with a stage fan creating an effect of wind through his hair between headbanging. Lead guitarist and vocalist Efrain Farfan kept the energy going on stage left, performing back to back with Jeremy Farfan during the set, while drummer Andrew Lobosco rose from the drum throne to cheer with fans. Winter Nights closed out their set with the melodic and melancholy "Unmarked Grave" and the haunting "Doomsday Code".  

Winter Nights formed in 2007 and have since then shared the stage with Nile, Insomnium, Dark Tranquility, Exmortus, Lich King, and Krisiun to name a few. In 2014 Winter Nights released their LP titled An Endless Apocalypse and have maintained a lyrical concept of death, apocalypse, and afterlife. Winter Nights recently released their latest single "Encounters of The Frozen North" on July 20, 2016. Follow Winter Nights on Facebook and stay tuned for more information on new music, future shows and tour dates! 

Winter Nights' set was followed by a whip lashing performance by Starkill who are currently promoting their 2014 album Virus of the Mind and music from their 2013 release Fires of Life. Starkill took the stage with a variety of professional stage lighting that would immediately invite new fans into Starkill's world of Melodic Death Metal. Easy to say, Starkill are a band in sync with each other and their music leaves fans old and new ravenous for more. Starkill concluded the end of their set with guitarist Tony Keathley tossing his guitar above himself and catching it single handedly as the lights dimmed for Black Crown Initiate to begin taking the stage. Starkill return to Gramercy Theatre on November 4, 2016. 

Black Crown Initiate set the stage blood red with "For Red Cloud" from their latest album Selves We Cannot Forgive, released on July 22, 2016 under eOne Music. Since announcing the departure of guitarist Rik Stelzpflug, Black Crown Initiate did not let their fans down with the arrival of ex- The Faceless and Glass Casket guitarist Wes Hauch. Since 2013, Black Crown Initiate have managed to stack an EP,  two full length albums, and tour support for Ne Obliviscaris under their belts. Black Crown Initiate provide the exact imagery and sound a death metal concert should feel like. Selves We Cannot Forgive is available on iTunes, Amazon, in Best Buy, and FYE. Check out future Black Crown Initiate tour dates here. 

With a packed Gramercy Theatre at 10:00PM, fans waited patiently until the projection screen rose to present Ne Obliviscaris walking to the front of the stage. Lead vocalist Xenoyer rested a foot on a speaker at once, his black hair fanning out in a whipping circular motion causing an uproar of cheers from the crowd. During the second and third songs, Tim Charles retrieved his violin from its stand to perform his renowned solos which many in attendance had been anticipating. During Ne Obliviscaris' set, musicians and gear heads admired Cygnus' (Brendan Brown) custom made Status m2 headless mahogany bass guitar. Ne Obliviscaris tastefully combine Death and Black Metal, Jazz, and Flamenco into their music. The dynamic and progressive nature between the band and their music production are just a couple of aspects about Australian death metallers Ne Obliviscaris that draws fans from far and wide to their concerts. Ne Obliviscaris will be headlining their Devour Me - North American Tour 2016 up until August 13th, their last performance being held in Anaheim, CA at Chain Reaction and will return to touring in Europe on September 29th. More tour dates here.  

Ne Obliviscaris:

KAMELOT AND DRAGONFORCE PACK OUT THE MARLIN ROOM AT WEBSTER HALL

Kamelot have finally returned to their U.S. fans for a 2015 North American tour to support the release of their new album Haven, which made its debut on May 5th, 2015. Packing out The Marlin Room at Webster Hall in New York City, Kamelot and tour mates Dragonforce are on the road until their final show together on May 22, 2015 at Iron City in Birmingham, AL.

Before Kamelot took the stage, Dragonforce entered striding onto the stage without a dry seat in the house to open up their set with the powerful 2004 classic “Fury of the Storm” from the Sonic Firestorm album. Effortlessly gathering cheers from the crowd, Dragonforce’s lead vocalist Marc Hudson was a ceaseless force of hair raising long and melodic high notes. Long time fans showed intense enthusiasm to see guitarist and back up vocalist Herman Li perform his famous, high energy guitar solos and electrified facial expressions that revealed endless passion for music and performance. The “Three Hammers” single joined Herman Li and fellow lead guitarist Sam Totman to stand back to back for the power guitar solo shredding that Dragonforce is so famously known for. The entire set also included their singles “The Game”, “Operation Ground and Pound”, “Symphony of the Night”, “Cry Thunder”, “Valley of the Damned”, a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”, and an encore performance with the worldwide Dragonforce hit single, “Through the Fire and Flames”. Fans will be ecstatic to hear that the band, after considerable debate, will be releasing the first Dragonforce Blu-Ray/DVD, “In The Line Of Fire” this July 2015 which follows the band on tour. The DVD is set to feature extreme camera angles, including music from the set list and more. Dragonforce will continue touring this year to promote their latest album Maximum Overload well into the end of August 2015.

With a new album, terrific tour lined up, and die hard fans, Kamelot plowed through the doors of Webster Hall ready to conquer U.S. heavy metal stages with their Classical/Power Metal sound laced with Progressive Metal styles. The speed single “When the Lights are Down” was the ideal opening song for the stage lighting to rise and hover over the massive crowd. Kamelot made their tour stop worthwhile for fans in The Marlin Room of Webster Hall. From Tampa, Florida, Kamelot are one of the few Power Metal bands originating in the U.S. with lead singer and Swedish native Tommy Karevik’s smooth and passionate vocal range tastefully placed in heavy metal music where screams and growls are otherwise heard. The vocal style for Kamelot’s dark, heavy, and high energy music has bestowed success upon the band since 1998. Bassist Sean Tibbetts kept the energy high amongst a head banging crowd with his deep thumping notes and famed long wild blonde braided hair tossed high and low to the the beat of each song. Lovely special guest and live vocal support Linnéa Vikström engaged Kamelot fans with her lacy and  fierce transition of vocals while inviting the crowd to sing along. Kamelot’s set brought fans together with other performed hits such as “Ghost Opera”, “The Great Pandemonium”, “Veil of Elysium”, “My Confession”, “Center of the Universe”, “Song for Jolee”, “Karma”, drum solo by Casey Grillo, “Revolution”, “Torn”, “Insomnia”, “Veritas”, keyboard solo by Oliver Palotai, “Forever”, and last but not least, an encore performance of “Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife)” and “March of Mephisto”. Karevik called out and beckoned to the crowd to cheer for their camera man who briefly filmed Kamelot and the roaring fan interaction towards the end of their set, a performance by both Kamelot and Dragonforce is one The Marlin Room of Webster Hall will remember for months to come until their return.