Skeletonwitch, Oathbreaker, Iron Reagan, and Homewrecker recently shook Philly’s Underground Arts venue to its core with an unrelenting line-up of some of the best in in the underground world. Per usual- BlowTheScene.com‘s Dante Torrieri was on hand to capture and deliver an exclusive set of photos for your viewing pleasure below the fold.
Homewrecker slings some seriously intense, raw Slayer-worship on it’s latest EP Extinction by Design, shifting gears at all the right moments, from churning death-groove to evil thrash. Recorded and mixed by Andy Nelson (Harm’s Way, Eternal Sleep), and mastered by Brad Boatright (Nails, Full of Hell), the new EP hit the streets in mid-October on Good Fight Music to solid reviews from the metal community with Decibel Magazine noting “Homewrecker have cast off their shackles of servitude to their influences, and have begun to napalm a path all their own… So concussive and so jam-packed with madness, it’ll take at least a dozen listens before you even understand what’s laying you low.”
Oathbreaker formed in 2008 and released their debut full-length Maelstrom in 2011, which was followed by the critically-acclaimed Eros Anteros full-length in 2013. On the band’s most recent LP, Rheia, which was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Loma Prieta), Oathbreaker have truly hit their stride and carve a new path for their blackened/post-metal sound. Rheia is a deeply personal album that showcases the artistic strength that vulnerability brings. Watch the music video for Oathbreaker’s “Immortals” courtesy of RollingStone.com below. The song appears on their recently released landmark album which has been praised by countless publications in North America and abroad. This record features the most honest, fragile and self-reflective lyrics that Oathbreaker has written thus far in its 8+ year long career. Philly fans were treated to an added surprise as John Dyer Baizley of Baroness joined the group onstage for a joint performance (pictured below). See Oathbreaker on tour in support of Rheia in Europe from through December 18th with WIFE.
Oathbreaker with special surprise guest John Baizely (Baroness) at Underground Arts in Philadelphia October 26, 2016
Crossover punks Iron Reagan call upon thee to join the holy order of thrash on their latest full-length, Crossover Ministry. Across 18 tracks and thirty minutes of frantic, punk-metal fury, Iron Reagan mix a blitzkrieg of relentlessly catchy riffs and irresistible, mosh-ready grooves with punchy, thrash gallops and hardcore punk attitude. Watch a teaser for the album, which provides a preview of several tracks on the album and hilariously spoofs late night bible-thumping informercials, below. Formed in 2012, Iron Reagan are no strangers to the fine art of crossover thrash. Comprised of scene veterans Tony Foresta, Phil Hall, Mark Bronzino, Rob Skotis, and Ryan Parrish, between them they fill, or have filled the ranks of Municipal Waste, Cannabis Corpse, Mammoth Grinder, Darkest Hour and numerous other bands. Since their inception, Iron Reagan have toured the world almost non-stop, with high-caliber acts in the punk, hardcore and metal worlds such as Poison Idea, Napalm Death, Voivod, Skeletonwitch, The Black Dahlia Murder, GWAR, Seven Seconds, Eyehategod, etc. including appearances at Hellfest, Full Terror Assault, Brutal Assault, This is Hardcore, Party San Open Air, and numerous others. Now in 2017, Iron Reagan will release their third and best full-length album yet, Crossover Ministry. Kurt Ballou of God City Studios was called upon to mix the record with guitarist Phil (Landphil) Hall handling the recording. Hear their vicious sermon on February 3rd at a circle pit near you, and stay tuned for song premieres and tour dates to be announced soon.
Skeletonwitch have transcended genre boundaries over the past decade with their trademark mixture of blackened thrash, death and heavy metal. It should therefore come as no surprise that their new EP, The Apothic Gloom (out now), features some of their catchiest riffs and most pummeling rhythms to date, as well as more shredding than ever before. Channeling new energy via the addition of Adam Clemans (Wolvhammer) on vocals, the Ohio-based quintet headed to Baltimore’s Developing Nations Studio earlier this year to record The Apothic Gloom with producer Kevin Bernstein (Noisem, Mutilation Rites). Eager to showcase their new sound, the band released the new song “Well of Despair,” described by Noisey as “a cold blast of icy, melodic black metal,” in advance of their appearance on this year’s Decibel Magazine Tour alongside Abbath, High on Fire and Tribulation. Skeletonwitch have cemented the group’s reputation as one of metal’s most important acts landing themselves on high visibility tours with the likes of Danzig, Ozzy Osbourne’s Ozzfest, Arch Enemy, Children of Bodom, Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, Ghost B.C., and The Black Dahlia Murder and extensive headlining jaunts, including a 63 shows in 65 days run.
Without further ado enjoy an exclusive round of photos by BTS Senior Photographer Dante Torrier (Useless Rebel Imaging)
Homewrecker
Iron Reagan
Oathbreaker
Skeletonwitch
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