Monday, May 20th, 2013
Our Philly House Shows column returns with a feature direct from The Farm in West Philly as Wilmington, NC's brutal practitioners of bottom-heavy d-beat punk, No Tomorrow recently unleashed a mean set supported by Plague Dogs, Repellers, and Alement. Like many classic West Philly basements, The Farm comes complete with makeshift bar with a steady stream of golden ambrosia for the 21-plusers, with just a enough floorspace for the eager masses to let loose. Always a major plus- Black Orchid Foods was on hand to deliver some radically healthy home-cooked food for a more than reasonable donation. Just another touch ...
Monday, May 20th, 2013
Tempe, AZ's Marquee Theatre recently played host to an eclectic gathering of rock talents as Black Lips hit town with support from local acts Andrew Jackson Jihad, Destruction Unit, and Freaks Of Nature.
Despite their relatively young age, Athens, GA's Black Lips have a resume that reads likes a modern rock 'n' roll saga. Shortly after the formation of the band, founding members Alexander and Swilley were expelled from high-school during their senior in year in 1999, just following the infamous Columbine shootings. "They just figured we were up to some sort of subculture danger and didn’t want to take any chances, ...
Monday, May 13th, 2013
Orange Goblin, ASG, and KEN Mode recently tore through Philly’s North Star venue as part of Orange Goblin’s lengthy North American Tour. There was a little confusion at the door, so unfortunately we missed the first three bands and picked up as KEN Mode hit the stage with a burst of energy.
Already a contender for our Top Lists of 2013, Canadian rock band KEN Mode are supporting their fifth studio album, Entrench, which hit streets in March via Season of Mist. SputnikMusic.com hailed this latest effort stating, "..the album as a whole makes for an unnerving, yet oddly rewarding experience which needs to ...
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
Old-school thrash and hardcore reigned supreme as mainstays Suicidal Tendencies, Sick Of It All, DRI, and Waking the Dead stormed Philly’s Electric Factory venue with the Slam City Tour.
Hailing from Amsterdam, Waking the Dead set the evening in motion with their blend of thrashy hardcore and metal as the band continues to support a handful of releases on Dead Area Records. D.R.I. hit the stage next with their usual lewd humor and snarky cynicism that helped to pick up the energy of the evening. Still chock full of attitude now 30+ years active, the band fired off a wide cut of track selections that saw longtime fans mouthing every word. Despite ...
Monday, May 6th, 2013
The annual celebration of all things metal, The Metal Alliance Tour, hit Philly for the first time in its 3-year history with a sold out TLA crowd more than ready for Anthrax, Exodus, Municipal Waste, Shadows Fall, and Holy Grail.
We were bummed to have missed the openers, Holy Grail, who are supporting a ripping new effort on Prosthetic Records. If you’ve never checked out these Judas Priest riff-worshipers, Holy Grail just dropped a new music video for the title track, "Ride The Void," from their current LP. We got inside just in time for Shadows Fall who continue to support ...
Monday, April 29th, 2013
The Joy Formidable brought their massive sound and incredibly energetic show to Union Transfer along with the bands Blood Red Shoes and You Won't, both of which are two-piece bands. The UK rock band's headlining tour is in support of their most recent critically acclaimed full-length titled Wolf's Law which was released this past January on Atlantic Records. It's a follow up to their incredibly dynamic debut-record "The Big Roar", which was released exactly two years prior.
The night started off with the Cambridge, Massachusetts based low-fi/folk rock band You Won't. While only comprised of two members, their songs featured more instrumentation than most. Drummer, Raky Sastri, ...
Saturday, April 27th, 2013
One of the most unique and compelling tours of the Spring season featuring The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, and Stolen Babies recently plowed through Philly’s Union Transfer for a packed house.
Stolen Babies set the night in motion and proceeded to rally the crowd into an uproar, many fans came prepared with different trinkets to throw around including balloons, confetti, and poppers establishing an upbeat tone to start the evening. This multi-membered circus of dark-styled cabaret featuring ex-Dillinger Escape Plan drummer Gil Sharone, fired off a fierce set and won over a crowd widely unfamiliar with ...
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013
Reunited East Coast punk rock mainstays, Plow United, recently hosted their Philadelphia Record Release show at The Barbary with The Holy Mess, NONA, and Ma Jolie in tow.
Plow United are supporting their first new studio offering in 14 years, Marching Band, with a fresh batch of songs directly responding to the frenetic energy that resurfaced when Plow United took to a stage again in 2011. We had the pleasure of catching the band on Riot Fest during these reunion shows, with exclusive photo galleries that can be viewed HERE.
Marching Band has been received with open arms by ...
Sunday, April 21st, 2013
New York City street punks The Casualties, who are touring in support of their ninth studio album, Resistance, recently blasted through Philly with an intimate showcase at O'Reilly's. Presented by Philly Hardcore Shows with local punk mainstays Bucket Flush, Reading PA's Common Enemy, and newcomers Barbaric. Not to mention this was Tribe Thirteen's 20 Year Anniversary Show.
The Casualties debuted a new video for the song "My Blood. My Life. Always Forward" in March, directed by Lewis Smithingham (Exmortus, A Global Threat) that can be viewed below.
The band is currently headlining a cross-Canadian tour ...
Sunday, April 21st, 2013
Carrying the torch through its sixth year of rich folk tradition The Revival Tour 2013 recently hit Philly's TLA featuring performances by Toh Kay of Streetlight Manifesto, Jenny Owen Youngs, Dave Hause of Loved Ones, Rocky Votolato, and festival patriarch Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music) with Joe Ginsberg on upright bass and Jon Gaunt on the fiddle.
Loosely structured in the form of old-fashioned folk musician get-togethers, The Revival Tour is an ensemble collective in which the participating musicians collaborate and jam, frequently creating once-in-a-lifetime moments, of which, there was no shortage.
The Revival Tour 2013 will ...
Tuesday, April 9th, 2013
Boom went the dynamite as Seattle powerviolence mainstays Iron Lung, tore through Philly's First Unitarian Church with Dream Decay, Ed Schrader's Music Beat, Salvation, and Backslider in tow. Without a weak cog in this dense line-up of eclectic talents hosted by R5, Backslider broke the relative silence with a poignant 2-man assault, doing the East Coast pv section proud. Backslider is celebrating a great new studio effort, Consequences (stream below fold), that should not be missed by any fans of the genre. Philly locals and Youth Attack recording artists, Salvation followed up with an irate offering of properly pissed off hardcore that ...
Saturday, April 6th, 2013
It was the summer of 96' when Garbage dominated alternative radio and MTV with Buzz-track and music video of "Stupid Girl." Featured on the band's self-titled debut, it was composed around a bassline and a drum sample from The Clash's 1980 hit "Train in Vain." With a lyrical context of female empowerment, and Se7en-inspired warehouse video that took only 4-hours to shoot- Garbage would earn a permanent place in the 90s alternative scene punctuated with two Grammy nods.
Fast forward 17 years, 5 albums, countless live shows, and one hiatus later, the members of Garbage remain prolific.
Drummer Butch Vig has produced albums and tracks by Green Day, Foo Fighters, and ...
Monday, April 1st, 2013
Germany's industrial rock mainstays, KMFDM hit Philly's Trocadero Theatre on a current US Tour with support from Chant and Legion Within. KMFDM are supporting thier 18th studio album Kunst, which features Facebook-banned art by longtime cover artist Aidan "Brute!" Hughes, created to support Russian punk rock group Pussy Riot and Ukrainian protest group FEMEN.
KMFDM are set to begin a new batch of Spring tour dates in Oberhausen, Germany, Netherlands and special dates with the full band in France and the U.K.
KMFDM are a band that have managed to remain remarkably ageless with a consistently ...
Sunday, March 31st, 2013
Practitioners of technical, historical-themed metal and Nuclear Blast recording artists, Nile are celebrating their 20th anniversary with a month long US Tour seeing the band play two massive sets with music spanning their prolific career. The tour recently zipped through Philadelphia's Trocadero Theatre with Gloominous Doom, Sapremia, and Curser for a tight but enthusiastic crowd. Blow The Scene Senior Photographer, Dante Torrieri, was on hand to delivery exclusive sets of photos for your veiwing pleasure.
Nile recently released a music video for “Enduring the Eternal Molestation of Flame” which can be viewed in the YouTube player at the bottom. The clip was produced and directed by ...
Tuesday, March 26th, 2013
Deftones and Periphery recently ripped through Atlantic City's House of Blues for an elated gathering of fans as both bands support new full-length releases. Baltimore practitioners of progressive metal, Periphery, released Periphery II, on Sumerian Recordings in June with a #44 debut on the US Billboard Charts. Consistent touring has not prevented the band from preparing yet another full-length release entitled, Juggernaut that saw studio work begin in January. The reported concept album is to be released via Sumerian Recordings later this year. Fans got another batch of good news, as it was announced yesterday that Periphery will joining the Dillinger Escape Plan and Animals As Leaders on this year’s ...
Sunday, March 24th, 2013
Swedish metal juggernaut Soilwork hit Philly on the second night of their 54-date North American tour earlier in March with support by Jeff Loomis, Bonded By Blood and Blackguard. This, as the band's latest full-length effort, The Living Infinite, on Nuclear Blast Records, landed a #60 debut on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 Albums.
Checking in from The Trocadero in Philadelphia during the band's current headlining tour, Soilwork vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid had the following to say about the multi-chart news:
"We are so stoked to see the incredible success of our new album The Living Infinite! ...
Tuesday, March 19th, 2013
French metal juggernauts, Gojira steamrolled through Philly’s TLA with The Devin Townsend Project and The Atlas Moth for a standing room only crowd who was elated by the eclectic lineup.
Chicago’s post metal sensation, The Atlas Moth are a live experience to been seen as much as heard with an accompanying light show that it is simply awesome. Brooding drums develop into epic triple-guitar attacks that plunge from thick and catchy into the bowels of dark and sludgy with accompanying electronics and black metal-styled vocals resting on top. The band is currently supporting 2009’s full-length debut on Candlelight, A Glorified Piece of Blue-Sky, and 2011’s An Ache ...
Sunday, March 17th, 2013
We could think of no better way to celebrate St. Patty's Day than with an exlcusive batch of Dropkick Murpheys photos from recent performance at The Electric Factory in Philadelphia with Bryan McPherson and Old Man Markley. With a sound and live experience that has become the definitive American Celtic punk sound, Quincy MA's Dropkick Murpheys are celebrating 8th studio album, Signed and Sealed in Blood, which hit streets in January via the band's own Born & Bred Records.
Ultimate Guitar hailed the band for a, "..fusion of Celtic and punk is unmatched in the musical world today, mixing guitars, mandolins, bagpipes, accordions, ...
Sunday, March 17th, 2013
There are few bands to have emerged during the late 90s/early 2000s under the metalcore umbrella that have withstood the test of time. And let's be honest, most never withstood any test of merit, but today we celebrate a standout performance by a rare band that has flourished over the past decade- Buffalo's favorite sons of progressive, hardcore-rock n' roll, Every Time I Die, who thundered through Philly's Union Transfer last week.
The band's most recent full-length effort, Ex-Lives, hit streets in 2012 via Epitaph Records to rave reviews from critics and fans alike and debuted at a ...
Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
I like short songs, short sets, and a healthy dose of awesome as a cornerstone of my musical diet. For those on the same page, thrash masters Vektor, Iron Reagan, and Philly locals, Drones For Queens, broke off an ideal performance at the Kung Fu Necktie venue.
I arrived to hear some dense drum chops protruding through the PA speakers and was not surprised to find Evan Madden (Population Zero, Woe) ripping the skins in his new band Drones For Queens. Once again adjoined musically with his brother and shredding cohort, Shane Madden (Woe), this new addition to the Philly metal community shows a ...
Monday, March 11th, 2013
It was gathering of metal titans as Meshuggah, Animals As Leaders, and Intronaut blasted through Philadelphia's TLA venue last month. When you cover as many shows as we do, sometimes it's interesting to be thrown a curve ball. Such was the pitch, as we arrived to find out Meshuggah vocalist, Jens Kidman, was out of commission with a bought of the flu.
The result was a BTS first- Meshuggah decided the best coarse was to prop up a blow-up-doll in the front of stage, tape its fake hand and a mic to the chest with cardboard head of Jens strapped on top with a ball-gag. This, while having a recorded ...
Tuesday, March 5th, 2013
This NJ Photo Review showcases the second day of a great weekend for East Coast hardcore in February as Six Feet Under Records label-mates The Mongoloids and Agitator celebrated record release shows in Philadelphia and New Jersey with stacked rosters of hardcore cohorts. You can scope the Philly edition for all the festivities during the prior evening at O’Reiley’s, but today we focus on the Brick Township VFW as Title Fight, Turnstile, Beware, Cruel Hand, Stick Together, and Blind Justice would join the ...
Friday, March 1st, 2013
It was night where old-school thrash reigned supreme as Testament, Overkill, Flotsam and Jetsam, and 4arm shredded through Philadelphia's Trocadero Theater.
Testament released their latest full-length, Dark Roots Of Earth, in 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records to solid reviews from fans and critics. The album was produced and mixed by Andy Sneap (Arch Enemy, Exodus) with special bonus tracks recorded, mixed and mastered by Juan Urteaga (Cattle Decapitation, Heathen) at his Trident Studios. Fans were treated to a healthy mix of classic and new titles as the mainstays tore through a dense set. Testament will also head to ...
Thursday, February 28th, 2013
To the delight of Denver prog and metal fans, Valentine’s day was run amok as Between The Buried and Me, Coheed and Cambria, and Russian Circles ripped through the Ogden Theater. The day of the show, Denver got hit with its first noteworthy snowstorm of the year. This was a good indication that it was going to be quite an interesting evening. Denver seems to loose a grip on its wild and weird citizens when the city is covered in a blanket of snow.
The Ogden Theater was packed to the gills with die hard Between the Buried and ...
Our Philly House Shows column returns with a feature direct from The Farm in West Philly as Wilmington, NC's brutal practitioners of bottom-heavy d-beat punk, No Tomorrow recently unleashed a mean set supported by Plague Dogs, Repellers, and Alement. Like many classic West Philly basements, The Farm comes complete with makeshift bar with a steady stream of golden ambrosia for the 21-plusers, with just a enough floorspace for the eager masses to let loose. Always a major plus- Black Orchid Foods was on hand to deliver some radically healthy home-cooked food for a more than reasonable donation. Just another touch ...
Orange Goblin, ASG, and KEN Mode recently tore through Philly’s North Star venue as part of Orange Goblin’s lengthy North American Tour. There was a little confusion at the door, so unfortunately we missed the first three bands and picked up as KEN Mode hit the stage with a burst of energy.
Already a contender for our Top Lists of 2013, Canadian rock band KEN Mode are supporting their fifth studio album, Entrench, which hit streets in March via 
Old-school thrash and hardcore reigned supreme as mainstays Suicidal Tendencies, Sick Of It All, DRI, and Waking the Dead stormed Philly’s Electric Factory venue with the Slam City Tour.
Hailing from Amsterdam, Waking the Dead set the evening in motion with their blend of thrashy hardcore and metal as the band continues to support a handful of releases on Dead Area Records. D.R.I. hit the stage next with their usual lewd humor and snarky cynicism that helped to pick up the energy of the evening. Still chock full of attitude now 30+ years active, the band fired off a wide cut of track selections that saw longtime fans mouthing every word. Despite ... 
The annual celebration of all things metal, 
The Joy Formidable brought their massive sound and incredibly energetic show to Union Transfer along with the bands Blood Red Shoes and You Won't, both of which are two-piece bands. The UK rock band's headlining tour is in support of their most recent critically acclaimed full-length titled 
One of the most unique and compelling 
Reunited East Coast punk rock mainstays, Plow United, recently hosted their Philadelphia Record Release show at The Barbary with The Holy Mess, NONA, and Ma Jolie in tow.
Plow United are supporting their first new studio offering in 14 years, Marching Band, with a fresh batch of songs directly responding to the frenetic energy that resurfaced when Plow United took to a stage again in 2011. We had the pleasure of catching the band on Riot Fest during these reunion shows, with exclusive photo galleries that can be viewed 
Boom went the dynamite as Seattle powerviolence mainstays Iron Lung, tore through Philly's First Unitarian Church with Dream Decay, Ed Schrader's Music Beat, Salvation, and 
It was the summer of 96' when Garbage dominated alternative radio and MTV with Buzz-track and music video of "Stupid Girl." Featured on the band's self-titled debut, it was composed around a bassline and a drum sample from The Clash's 1980 hit "Train in Vain." With a lyrical context of female empowerment, and Se7en-inspired warehouse video that took only 4-hours to shoot- Garbage would earn a permanent place in the 90s alternative scene punctuated with two Grammy nods.
Fast forward 17 years, 5 albums, countless live shows, and one hiatus later, the members of 
Germany's industrial rock mainstays, KMFDM hit Philly's Trocadero Theatre on a current US Tour with support from Chant and Legion Within. KMFDM are supporting thier 18th studio album Kunst, which features Facebook-banned art by longtime cover artist Aidan "Brute!" Hughes, created to 
Deftones and Periphery recently ripped through Atlantic City's House of Blues for an elated gathering of fans as both bands support new full-length releases. Baltimore practitioners of progressive metal, Periphery, released Periphery II, on Sumerian Recordings in June with a #44 debut on the US Billboard Charts. Consistent touring has not prevented the band from preparing yet another full-length release entitled, Juggernaut that saw studio work begin in January. The reported concept album is to be released via Sumerian Recordings later this year. Fans got another batch of good news, as it was announced yesterday that Periphery will joining the Dillinger Escape Plan and Animals As Leaders on this year’s ... 
Swedish metal juggernaut Soilwork hit Philly on the second night of their 
French metal juggernauts, Gojira steamrolled through Philly’s TLA with The Devin Townsend Project and The Atlas Moth for a standing room only crowd who was elated by the eclectic lineup.
Chicago’s post metal sensation, 
We could think of no better way to celebrate St. Patty's Day than with an exlcusive batch of 
There are few bands to have emerged during the late 90s/early 2000s under the metalcore umbrella that have withstood the test of time. And let's be honest, most never withstood any test of merit, but today we celebrate a standout performance by a rare band that has flourished over the past decade- Buffalo's favorite sons of progressive, hardcore-rock n' roll, Every Time I Die, who thundered through Philly's Union Transfer last week.
The band's most recent full-length effort, 
I like short songs, short sets, and a healthy dose of awesome as a cornerstone of my musical diet. For those on the same page, thrash masters Vektor, Iron Reagan, and Philly locals, Drones For Queens, broke off an ideal performance at the Kung Fu Necktie venue.
I arrived to hear some dense drum chops protruding through the PA speakers and was not surprised to find Evan Madden (Population Zero, Woe) ripping the skins in his new band Drones For Queens. Once again adjoined musically with his brother and shredding cohort, Shane Madden (Woe), this new addition to the Philly metal community shows a ... 
This NJ Photo Review showcases the second day of a great weekend for East Coast hardcore in February as Six Feet Under Records label-mates The Mongoloids and Agitator celebrated record release shows in Philadelphia and New Jersey with stacked rosters of hardcore cohorts. You can scope the Philly edition for all the festivities during the 
