Louder Than Life

Tool

Tool (formed in 1990) is a Grammy Award-winning American alternative metal and art rock band that also lends influences from progressive and psychedelic rock, hailing from Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Gojira

Hailing from Bayonne, France, Gojira are a French metal band who blend elements of progressive, death, thrash and math metal to create their eclectic and unpredictable sound.

The Prodigy

Rising out from Essex, UK, The Prodigy have become one of the biggest electronic acts for over the past 20 years.

Danny Elfman

Daniel Robert 'Danny' Elfman is an American composer, record producer, and actor originally from California who was the lead singer of the rock band Oingo Boingo.

The Mars Volta

Mastodon

Art is a cyclical beast. The same can easily be said of Grammy Award nominated hard rock juggernaut Mastodon. The group’s four members recognize the importance of life’s omnipresent cycles on their sixth full-length album, Once More ‘Round the Sun. The band orbits around themes of loss and rebirth, twirling a sonic spiral of its signature robust riffing, hypnotically haunting soundscapes, triage of dynamic voices, and thundering seismic grooves. At the same time, this particular collection proves personal for Brann Dailor, Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher, and Troy Sanders. The very title says something slightly different for each member.

"Quite literally, Once More 'Round the Sun means a year-in-the-life," explains Dailor. "Lyrically, we were discussing things that happened to us recently, whereas in the past we looked further back for inspiration. It's about 365 days in this band. It was a tough and strange journey. We happened to be in the middle of completing a full rotation musically as everything else was going on."

"It's about being a man and trying to survive in the world. You’re facing all of the crazy shit that goes along with it," adds Hinds. "You've got to just keep rolling. It's the daily grind everybody deals with. It's grinding and rewarding."

Kelliher concurs, “A lot of crazy and epic things have happened in the nutshell of the past year. For me, I had recently gotten sober. I really focused my time on writing music instead of drinking and being hung-over. We were in a different space here. Another year has gone by, and we wrote this record.”

Sanders smiles, “The title itself deals with a cycle. Writing, recording, and touring are kickass experiences that we get to relive over and over again. We’ve got the ability to strap it on and go out another time. I look forward to riding this out once more with my three friends.”

Mastodon’s own collective cycle encompasses a staggering string of accolades. Whether it’s the public endorsement of peers as diverse as Metallica, Pearl Jam, Queens of the Stone Age, CeeLo Green, and Feist or unanimous praise from the likes of Time and Rolling Stone, the band continue to make an impression at every turn. 2011’s The Hunter saw them achieve their highest chart debut yet, reaching #10 on the Billboard Top 200, while the single “Curl of the Burl” notched their second Grammy Award nomination in the category of “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance”. In between scorching stages everywhere from Sonisphere and Download to Bonnaroo and Coachella, they scored the Josh Brolin sci-fi western Jonah Hex and have been sought out for soundtracks including Pixar’s box office smash Monsters University. As far as rock ‘n’ roll goes, their legacy irrefutably stands alone. However, that legacy expands yet again with Once More ‘Round the Sun.

In order to uphold a modus operandi of experimentation and evolution, the boys enlisted the talents of super producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush, Alice In Chains, Deftones, etc.) for the very first time. They holed up in his Falcon Rock studio in Nashville throughout the fall of 2013, cutting what would become Once More ‘Round the Sun. Given his passion for the band, Raskulinecz immediately clicked with the musicians.

“He was very hands-on,” says Sanders. “We were fans of the Deftones and Alice In Chains records he’d done, and we initially met him during the BlackDiamondSkye tour. He literally called Brann every six months reminding us that he was on the hunt to work with us when we were ready. This was the right time.”

“He was like a coach,” Kelliher goes on. “He brought some energy to the band. I remember he was like, ‘You guys are Mastodon. You’re one of the biggest bands in metal. Give me some of those chunky and thick riffs!’ He let us be who we are.”

It’s indisputable that Once More ‘Round the Sun is Mastodon through and through. Kelliher’s twelve-string acoustic guitar ominously heralds the record’s onset during album opener “Tread Lightly” just before crashing into an unmistakable roar from Sanders. Hinds churns out a psychedelic slide guitar solo during the title track that entwines with Dailor’s drums in entrancing, yet enigmatic union. The Kelliher-penned first single “High Road” pummels with an intense polyrhythmic guitar groove before snapping into another unshakable refrain from Dailor.

Kelliher explains, “I wrote that on a day off while we were on tour in Luxembourg. I was sitting in this rainy city on a Sunday. Nothing was open. I felt like I needed to write something to reflect how I was feeling. I started banging on a guitar. I was thinking Neurosis and The Melvins low-tuned with a little more pop sensibility for the chorus.”

“You can headbang to that one for days,” grins the drummer. “I love the simplicity of it. Lyrically, it’s an angry number where you want to see someone destroyed. It’s heavy-handed in that sense, but it’s the fantasy I felt at the time.”

Then, there’s “The Motherload”. Sharring vocal duties between Dailor and Sanders the track cruises from a propulsive six-string onslaught into an riveting chorus—one of the band’s biggest to date. “That one is personal for me,” Dailor admits. “It’s not wanting to lose someone and the powers-that-be are trying to take that person away, or the world is just against it. You’re doing everything you can and scrambling to hold on and salvage it.”

Nodding to their roots, “Chimes At Midnight” sees Sanders call out the words “Hearts Alive”, making a connection to the centerpiece of the band’s critically acclaimed 2004 breakout Leviathan. He reveals, “I never repeated a line on purpose, but I felt like it was time to!”

On the other end of the spectrum, Hinds delivers a raucous and raw departure in the form of “Halloween”. Wielding a thrashed-up punk riff, the song eventually explodes into incendiary soloing from the axeman in homage to his favorite holiday. However, the biggest surprise comes during “Aunt Lisa”, an anthemic send-off to Brann’s late aunt featuring Atlanta femme punks The Coathangers on a rousing gang vocal.

“This one came out pretty effortlessly. It’s about Brann’s Aunt Lisa, her wild spirit, and free personality. I love what The Coathangers did. They’re good friends of mine, and they owed me a favor because I got the Mastodon guys to dance around like girls in their video,” chuckles Hinds.

Brann continues, “My aunt liked anything I did. She definitely lived life to the fullest. If she walked in the room, all eyes were on her. I loved it. I don’t think I’ve ever come across energy like that before, and I don’t know that I will. You never knew what was going to happen when she was around. She had a huge impact on my life. I didn’t get to say goodbye to her properly. This is me trying to say goodbye.”

Everything culminates on the expansive finale “Diamond in the Witch House”. Boasting a vocal call-and-response between Sanders and Neurosis’s Scott Kelly, on his fourth Mastodon collaboration, the track unfolds in cinematic fashion over eight minutes punctuated by Kelliher’s hulking riffs. “It’s about the fragility of taking responsibility,” admits Sanders. “That’s what happens when you have kids. Precious lives are in your hands and dependent upon your actions. The idea spun from that. It’s about proving your worth and prevailing.”

Mastodon continue to prevail artistically, and this particular rotation, Once More ‘Round the Sun, upholds that tradition of progression. “We’ve built a band that’s been able to morph, evolve, and change,” Dailor concludes. “Our fan base expects greatness, but they also expect things to be weird and different. I feel confident that we’ve risen to that challenge.”

Hinds leaves off, “It would be nice if people walk away enjoying the listening experience. That’s the ultimate goal. It’s interesting to see. One thing I know for sure.they can’t walk away and say it’s not original.”

Black Label Society

The Official Black Label Society Page www.blacklabelsociety.com

Killswitch Engage

U.D.O. is a German heavy metal band founded by lead singer Udo Dirkschneider in 1987. Closely tied to the name U.D.O. is Accept, founded by Udo Dirkschneider and Michael Wagener (later to become a top producer) in Solingen, which was the predecessor of U.D.O.

U.D.O. is an incorrect tag for Udo Mechels.

After the breaking up of Accept in 1987, a large fan community followed Udo Dirkschneider and Stefan Kaufmann to U.D.O.

Starting with the first albums Animal House in 1988 and Mean Machine in 1989 U.D.O. proved to be pure heavy metal without any Trend-Sound influences. Both albums continued where Accept had left of in 1986 with Russian Roulette. Animal House was played in by Peter Szigeti (guitars), Frank Rittel from Warlock (bass), Mathias Dieth from Sinner (guitars),Thomas Franke (drums) and of course Udo Dirkschneider (vocals)

When Mean Machine was released in 1989 U.D.O. had a totally different look. From the line-up which had played on Animal House, remained besides Udo only Mathias Dieth (guitar). New were Andy Susemihl (guitar), Thomas Smuszynski (bass) and Stefan Schwarzmann (drums).

Even though the unwritten U.D.O. law No-Keyboards was broken, U.D.O. achieved an amazing success, with the album Faceless World, produced by ex-Accept drummer Stefan Kaufmann.

At first disputed, it turned out to be, with Udo Dirkschneider (vocals), Mathias Dieth (guitar), Wolla Boehm (guitar), Thomas Smuszynski (bass) and Stefan Schwarzmann (drums), U.D.O.'s most sold album so far.

Ministry

Born in 1981 in Chicago. In its early days, Ministry was identifiable by its heavy synth-pop material in line with the new sounds and technology that were being developed in the ‘80s. Ministry’s output began with four 12” singles on Wax Trax! Records in 1981 before the first LP With Sympathy in 1983 via Arista Records. As time progressed however, so did Ministry, quickly developing a harsher, and more stylized sound that the band soon became infamous for on seminal Sire/Warner albums Twitch (1986), The Land of Rape and Honey (1988), and The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste (1989). With the release of Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and The Way to Suck Eggs (1992), Ministry hit an all-time high in the mainstream musical realm and received its first Grammy nomination (the first of six). Eight more albums would follow on various labels including their own 13th Planet imprint. After a break in 2013, the band reformed, toured and signed to Nuclear Blast with three releases. AmeriKKKant (2018), Moral Hygiene (2021), and HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES (2024). Late 2024, Ministry signed with Cleopatra Records and released The Squirrely Years Revisited. Celebrating the early synth pop years with new studio takes.

Dethklok

Black Veil Brides

In an era when rock music is regularly declared “dead,” Black Veil Brides music videos have been viewed over half a billion times. The band (and its members) Instagram and Twitter accounts command over 10 million followers between them.

With a rightful reverence for the pop-cultural icons of the past, the young outfit has nevertheless fashioned their own collective future, with relentless fury. In the hearts and minds of their fans, Black Veil Brides represents an unwillingness to compromise and a resistance to critics (personal and professional), fueled by the same fire as the group’s own heroes, the iconoclasts whose creative output, once dismissed, is now canonized.

Underoath

Underoath has been a formative voice in progressive, heavy rock for almost two decades. Today, they share their blistering new single “Damn Excuses” out on Fearless Records. This release marks the first new music from Underoath since 2018’s Grammy-nominated full-length, Erase Me, and launches a brand new chapter in the band’s career. “Damn Excuses” was completely self-recorded and produced at guitarist Tim McTague’s studio, Feral Sound, in Tampa, Florida. It evokes the beautiful chaos that so many fans have found special about Underoath for years while still managing to break through new sonic and emotional boundaries.

This far into their storied career, Underoath has unsurprisingly faced their fair share of adversity. Through the trials and tribulations, a commitment to their craft and a sense of accountability rooted in mutual respect for each other has ensured that each new chapter for the band continues to mold their legacy in a positive fashion. With their shared history of remarkable accolades and trying hardships continuing to shape who the individual members are as people, Underoath is still just scratching the surface of what they can accomplish as a band. There are few acts in the annals of rock history that can say their best work is still ahead of them almost two decades into their career. Fortunately, Underoath falls into that category. As the world opens back up in 2021, the band is deeply committed to living up to the high expectations that fans (and themselves) have come to expect for anything associated with the project. It will undoubtedly be something special to witness as this next chapter in the Underoath story manifests.

Alexisonfire

Animals As Leaders

Animals as Leaders formed in 2007 by guitarist Tosin Abasi is an American instrumental progressive metal band from Washington D.C., U.S.

Thrice

En rykende fersk forestilling i tre akter.

The Home Team

Sophomore LP "Slow Bloom" out 10/22/21. Real Rockers Only.

IG: @thehometeam
TW: @thehometeamnw
Merch: thehometeammerch.com

Sleep Theory

pain is only temporary

Atreyu

Named after the lead character in the fantasy novel “NeverEnding Story”, Atreyu is a metalcore band based in Orange County, California, US, noted for crossing intense screamo stylistics with strong pop sensibilities.

Sunami

Filter

Filter is an American industrial rock and alternative metal group, formed by Richard Patrick and Brian Liesegang in 1993, hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

Between The Buried And Me

Formed at the turn of the millennium and adopting progressive metal sound, Between the Buried and Me, have made some large waves in the metal scene. Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, the band continue to do so.

Toadies

Toadies’ long-awaited eighth album, The Charmer, is their most personal and visceral release to date. One of the final recordings by legendary producer Steve Albini (Nirvana, PJ Harvey), the album captures the platinum-selling Fort Worth quartet playing live together in the studio for the first time, bottling their Southern-tinged grunge with raw power and urgency.

Formed in Fort Worth in 1989, Toadies broke through with “Possum Kingdom” and their million-selling 1994 debut Rubberneck, earning a reputation for unpredictable songwriting, heavy dynamics, and a sound that blends alt-rock intensity with the band’s roots in country, classic rock, and Texas grit. Their music has remained a cult favorite and live staple ever since, with growing crowds and celebrated anniversary tours.

The band partnered with Austin’s Spaceflight Records to release The Charmer, embracing the label’s artist-first, nonprofit model. Written largely during the pandemic, the album dives into themes of isolation, self-reflection, and inner conflict—delivered with the same restless energy and dark edge that has defined Toadies for over three decades.

Escape the Fate

Escape The Fate (formed 2004/5) is a post-hardcore band originating from Nevada, U.S., and are currently signed to Eleven Seven Music.

Jutes

As a 90's baby, Jutes' earliest musical influences were rock bands like Radiohead, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Third Eye Blind and Smashing Pumpkins. These are the sounds that have shaped Jutes' recent full length project titled “Ladybug.” From growing up on a farm in Ottawa, Canada to couch surfing in LA, Jutes has seen all walks of life. This contrast of culture comes through in the music, his personality and on stage.

Haste the Day

NEW SINGLE - OBLIVION - OUT 3/20! Music, shows, and merch 🎟️ 👕 🔗

https://linktr.ee/hastetheday

Holywatr

Locked Shut

I See Stars

I See Stars perfect a push-and-pull between sweeping hard rock, metallic energy, and electronic dance music on their fifth full-length album, Treehouse [Sumerian Records]. In order to achieve that often illusory balance, the Warren, MI quartet—Devin Oliver [clean & unclean vocals], Brent Allen [lead, rhythm guitar], Jeff Valentine [bass], and Andrew Oliver [vocals, keys, synths, programming, drums]—rebuilt their very foundation, creatively and personally.

“This is the most time we’ve had to create an album since 3D,” Devin admits. “We actually had time to reflect on our past, but most importantly what we want to become. Beyond the music, it felt like an evolution for us emotionally. We finally feel like the band we were meant to be. If you strip it down, it’s not just drums, guitar, bass, vocals, and minor production. The electronic aspects could be their own songs, and we aim to blend everything as seamlessly as possible.”

“We’ve had so many changes, and it’s an important time,” he goes on. “When we got back on stage, I had no idea what to expect, but our fans came out and showed love when we needed it the most. We wanted to give them what they deserve, which is the best record possible.”

In order to achieve that vision, the musicians took a different route. To record Treehouse, they enlisted a cadre of producers including Erik Ron [Panic! at the Disco, Saosin], Nick Scott [Asking Alexandria, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!], and Taylor Larson [Periphery, Veil of Maya] as well a mixing by David Bendeth [Paramore, Breaking Benjamin]. They would also track the bulk of material in Los Angeles—another first—and the rest in Detroit.

“Lyrically, this one discusses family issues,” continues Devin. “The past year has been really hard. I realized I’m on my own, and it’s do or die with this band. It’s my life.” It’s that honesty which will continue to resonate the loudest among listeners and why I See Stars shine. “This is the most honest we could be,” Devin leaves off. “That’s what I want people to see.”

The Word Alive

The Word Alive are an American metalcore band hailing from Phoenix, Arizon. They have been together since 2008 and are signed to Fearless Records.

Emery

Emery is an American post-hardcore band from Seattle, Washington. Emery formed in 2001 in Rock Hill, South Carolina but moved to Seattle, Washington in search of a better music scene.

Maylene and the Sons of Disaster

Arrows In Action

Empty Canvas is out now! Listen here: https://arrows-in-action.ffm.to/emptycanvas

The Pretty Wild

End It

Rivers Of Nihil

Rivers of Nihil have never fit neatly into a box, but with 2018’s Where Owls Know My Name, they transcended all labels applied to them. Returning in 2021 with The Work, they forged further into new territory, once again upending any expectations fans had placed on them. And now, following a new series of singles recorded in early 2023, the band returns with their self-titled album, out May 30 via Metal Blade, a triumphant statement that has once again shattered the ceiling of how far they are willing to go in search of new sonic terrain.

The Reading, Pennsylvania-based progressive death metallers spent 2021 and 2022 burning the candle at both ends with a frenzied tour schedule including headline runs of the U.S. and Europe, a jaunt on the European festival circuit and two runs in support of The Black Dahlia Murder and The Contortionist in North America. But once the latter tour wrapped up, they were short a band member.

For personal reasons, founding member and lead vocalist Jake Dieffenbach and the band went their separate ways. The split took place just three days after the recording of a live video and audio session for Audiotree’s new 'From Nothing' series, which was released on April 20, 2023. And while initially the band wasn't sure how to approach the release with the departure of a founding member and lead singer — or whether to release it at all — they decided to move forward with it to honor Dieffenbach's contributions to the group over the years and mark the beginning of a new chapter.

In March 2023, Rivers of Nihil wrapped up a recording session that saw the now four-piece band birth a considerable amount of new music featuring their previous bassist/backup vocalist Adam Biggs as the new lead vocalist/bassist. This recording session also marked the first appearance of new guitarist Andy Thomas (ex-Black Crown Initiate), whose vocals also play prominently in the music, as a member of Rivers of Nihil. These new singles are the first to showcase the band’s new lineup in full-on collaboration, and demonstrates that while this is a new, brave sound with tons of potential, it also carries the band's classic energy.

Released across all digital platforms on June 15, “The Sub-Orbital Blues,” the first single from those sessions, is about the dichotomy of living in a 21st century society rife with scientific and technological advancements such as artificial intelligence and ever more sophisticated space travel, while also dealing with the increasing threat of old world problems like out of control governments and the looming threat of world war.

The remaining three singles from the April 2023 recording session will be released leading up to the release of the band’s next full-length studio album, which the band is eager to begin work on.

Previous Releases:

2023: Audiotree From Nothing Sessions EP

2021: The Work

2018: Where Owls Know My Name

2015: Monarchy

2013: The Conscious Seed of Light

Find Rivers of Nihil at:

http://www.facebook.com/riversofnihil

http://www.youtube.com/Riversofnihilpa

https://www.instagram.com/riversofnihil/

http://www.twitter.com/riversofnihil

200 Stab Wounds

Riffs From the Septic Tank

156/Silence

If you know, you know.
If you don't, you will.

foxlakeband.com

sace6

Greyhaven

Greyhaven have magnified the scope of heavy music since emerging in 2013. The group transfixed audiences with Empty Black [2018] and This Bright and Beautiful World [2022], gathering streams in the tens of millions. Beyond praise from Revolver, KERRANG!, and more, New Noise Magazine professed, "Greyhaven have proven themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the post-hardcore and the heavy music scene at large with their latest release," and Blabbermouth applauded how "musicianship and eloquence are apparent." Throughout 2023, they assembled what would become Stereo Grief with producer Will Putney [Body Count, Norma Jean, Every Time I Die].

Expanding on the EP, which takes inspiration from the classic short story And He Built A Crooked House by Robert A. Heinlein, Mills states,"The EP is a loose story of someone navigating existential fear relating to all life and all death on a grand scale through a multi-dimensional lens. I was inspired by a short story I read while we were tracking that sort of serves as a backdrop for what's going on in the lyrics. Overall, I feel like this is the best material we've written so far and it's only hinting at where we're going. We couldn't be more excited to release it with a new team behind us."

He Is Legend

Hailing from Wilmington, North Carolina in the U.S., He Is Legend is a rock band that was formed in the 1990’s. Their genre of music is a mash of southern rock, screamo, punk and metalcore.