Chicago was the place to be on March 8th as Disturbed, Three Days Grace, and Sevendust took over the United Center for a night of pure, adrenaline-fueled rock. This wasn’t just any show—Disturbed was celebrating 25 years of their album, The Sickness, and they made sure the hometown crowd got an unforgettable performance. Also affected were all six Chicago Bulls’ championship banners that hung proudly from the United Center’s rafters due to the heat from the band’s performance which included a vast amount of pyrotechnics. It has been reported that the damage is minor and United Center officials are currently working on repairing the banner fabric. In that, the banners have been removed for the rest of this season but they do anticipate their return for next season.

Aside from the fiery snafu mentioned above, the concert itself was definitely an evening to remember. Atlanta band, Sevendust opened up the night with their signature blend of heavy riffs and raw emotion and did not come to play. After all these years, Lajon Witherspoon’s vocals are just as powerful, and the band brought insane energy to their set. They played classics like Black and Denial while throwing in some newer tracks that proved they still have plenty of fire left. It was the perfect way to get the crowd warmed up.

Next up was the wildly popular and Canadian powerhouse, known as Three Days Grace, and as soon as they kicked into Animal I Have Become, the crowd lost it. Frontman Matt Walst delivered a rock-solid performance but it was the return of Adam Gontier that caused everyone to jump-up and pay attention. I’m not sure how many times I heard in the hallways, “I wondered how they were going to pull that off.” And, pull it off they most definitely did. Their setlist was packed with hits like Pain, Never Too Late, and I Hate Everything About You. They even threw in So Called Life from their more recent album, which got a great response. The mix of old and new kept the energy high, and by the end of their set, the crowd was primed and ready for Disturbed.

Then came the moment everyone was waiting for—Disturbed. From the moment David Draiman was wheeled out onto the stage, on a wooden dolly, similar to that of Hannibal Lecter (face mask and all), you could feel how special this show was going to be and how crazy it was going to get. This was their hometown crowd, and they definitely went all out.

To celebrate The Sickness turning 25, they played a stacked setlist, featuring the entire album, including Voices, Stupify, and Down With the Sickness (which had the whole arena screaming along). They balanced the old-school classics with some of their later hits like Inside the Fire, The Vengeful One, and of course, their emotional cover of The Sound of Silence.

One of the coolest moments of the night was Draiman taking a second to reflect on how far the band has come since The Sickness first dropped in 2000. You could tell he was genuinely moved, and the crowd responded with a deafening roar.

The production was top-notch…tons of pyro (as mentioned above), insane lighting, and level of loud that was greatly appreciated and added a whole new level to the experience. It felt like a true celebration of Disturbed’s legacy, and they made sure every fan left the arena knowing they had witnessed something special.

If you get the chance to catch this tour, DO IT. Sevendust set the tone, Three Days Grace brought the nostalgia, and Disturbed absolutely destroyed in the best way possible. The energy, the setlists, and the sheer power of their performances made this a night to remember, especially for those who have been rocking with The Sickness since day one.

As far as the Bulls’ banner damage, we shall see how that plays out so, check back for updates!

Disturbed – OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Three Days Grace – OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Sevendust – OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Interview in Cleveland OH

by Drew

Silent Theory is an American nu metal band hailing from Moscow, Idaho. Formed in 2010 by drummer Mitch Swanger and lead vocalist Nick Osborn, the band has undergone several lineup changes over the years1. After Nick Osborn’s departure in 2013, Dakota Jerns joined as the lead vocalist in 2014, solidifying the current lineup.

The band gained recognition with their debut album, Black Tie Affair, released in 2011. Their subsequent albums, Delusions (2016), Hunt or Be Hunted (2021), and Tell Us How it Ends (2024), have further established their presence in the nu metal scene. Silent Theory’s music often tackles intense and emotional themes, resonating with fans through powerful lyrics and dynamic performances2.

With singles like “Fragile Minds” and “Shaking the Cages” achieving significant success on various charts, Silent Theory continues to push the boundaries of nu metal and captivate audiences with their unique sound

Drew: So, you are Dakota Jerns, the vocalist. Alright, cool. Alright, so. Let’s get started, yeah?

I’ve heard of you guys before and I’ve heard some music over the years. It’s like, “oh, who the hell is that?” I gotta go find them. Then I get to where I can find. It’s like I forget so and then I start and they’re like, hey, you want to cover sign there.

Dakota Jerns: Ohh nice!

Drew:You guys formed in 2010 in Moscow, Idaho when you hear Idaho that metal is the last thing I’m thinking of.

Dakota Jerns: OK, I have to ask… what is the first thing you think of when you think about Idaho?

Drew:Potatoes!

Dakota Jerns: Our biggest export, not our biggest import, which I mean it’s ridiculous.

And I don’t even think I have ever had Idaho potato. You know what I mean?

Drew:I saw that you guys, it was like founded by Mitch and Nick. Nick who left in 2013. And then after that you that came in to fill the vocalist slot. Very cool! After that transition, how long was it before you guys felt that you could green light this project and start making this band go forward?

Dakota Jerns: You know? Oh pretty immediately. I think we wrote songs the first weekend I came up. We were like, oh we like this! I think we did boogeyman, faceless and there was one other one. What was the other one that we did, Anywhere.

Anyways, that’s right. We did those 3, so we knocked those out pretty much in my audition week that I was up there. So it was a pretty immediate like, I always make the joke that I’ve never actually been like invited to be in the band that was just invited to do the audition. And I haven’t last. I just kept coming still.

Drew:(Laughing) That is awesome man! To get in, and just jive with the guys like that? Very cool! Yeah, I was looking back through my play lists because like I said, I’ve heard your songs here song there and when I was preparing for this, you are seriously peppered throughout my listening and streaming history!

In preparation for this interview, I was looking back through your catalog and I didn’t realize how far back you guys go with albums like “Black Cat Hair, Delusions, and Hunter be Hunted.” Now you are touring to promote the newest release titled “Tell Us How it Ends”.

(shuffling papers) I wrote too many things here. Sorry, man!

Dakota Jerns: You’re totally good.

Drew: When writing from CD to CD, what are you guys trying to do to keep the creativity growing and evolving?

Dakota Jern:Input, so everybody’s input is super important for keeping the creativity going. So, like the way we separated is these guys are really talented instrumentally, so they send a lot of the instrumentals to me. Then I write over the top and then we go over together and that way we just keep every song different and then we spend a lot of time individually on each song.

We’re a band that doesn’t really know when a single is going to hit, so we’ll just treat every song like it could be the next big song for us, which I think kind of adds to that consistency side of it. Like we treat every song like a single. So, we give it all that individual attention, which is just kind of also cool because we make a point to make each one different to we don’t want to repeat the same song. That’s why I’ve never done a fragile mind 2.0. Yeah, I think that’s mainly it, we separate those two parts and then bring them together at the end.

Drew:That is very cool, and to hear that you guys allow each other the freedom to create and then everyone has a say on the final product! Wow. Yeah, I am really in awe at this!

How is the metal scene in your hometown? Are there a lot of metal shows? Is there a metal scene there?

Dakota Jerns: Not at all. It’s dead. I don’t even think that our state knows we exist to be fairly honest. Yeah.

Last time we played in Boise was, what was it, 2020? 180 was that 2021 that. We did it, yeah.

With Gojira and that was like a fill-in replacement like last minute, is there a band from our area that could hop into this show like it’s so weird and I and I’ve known the radio people there for a while too. Yeah, there’s not a scene at all. Like, I can’t. I can’t name maybe 3 bands, even from Boise because I live in Boise. So, I’m in the capital. Yeah, I can’t name you even three rock and or metal bands that are killing it, right? Now I can’t think of anybody.

Drew: Not to sound rude, not in the slightest! You guys are easily categorized as metal, that is all fine and good! However, you are not in any way too hard for radio, you are not slash, speed, thrash, or black metal! How is it that you are not getting more radio play? That is really surprising to me!

George Swanger:

No. We are not. It’s just, see where we’re at is a small town.

Drew:This tour leg you are on, you have a total 10x stops to promote the new album, are there any cities you’re looking forward to or returning to?

Dakota Jerns: Oh yeah, for sure! New York is always fun just because my first time in New York was when we shot our last music video for the first song off of this album, and that was so much fun. Going back is going to be a blast. I haven’t been to Massachusetts, ever! Being able to go to Lowell, going to be cool because I know a little bit of history about Lowell. Yeah, like. It’s cool to hit the East Coast because we’re predominantly of West Coast fans and we do the Pacific Northwest a lot and those travel dates can be 5-6 hour drives from just one city. That’s to a secondary market city here. It’s like you go 2-3 hours, you’re in another state and that’s really helpful. East Coast is great.

Drew: I can say that we here in the East are happy to have you and anxious to see you play! I’m very limited on travel personally, but I can’t fathom how you guys live on tour. I can’t. I’ve spent three days with my friends in Cultus Black and Dead Animal Assembly Plant and they were on with Combichrist and the third day I shot a different show in another city. After those three days, I was dead man. Yeah. How you guys do this, I have no clue!

OK, moving on, man! Do you guys have any pre or post show rituals or practices to help you guys amp up or wind down?

Dakota Jerns:

After the shows? Food! Mexican food most of the time, if there anything that’s open after 24 hours is typically what we’ll do after the show. So I don’t know if we have any like pre show rituals per say. We don’t really have anything like that before a show. I’ve always wanted to do something, but not sure what.

For some reason with us, it’s Buffalo Wild Wings. I don’t know why we just happen to any city we go to Buffalo Wild Wings! Yeah, it’s not really a ritual, it just seems to always happen!

Drew:When I do go out of town, It’s just a thing I have to do, I have to have it hit a Chipotle everywhere I go.

Dakota Jerns: Now see, it’s a very similar thing. Yeah. It’s not so much a ritual habit of a habit. You know, life is like you can get anything, literally anything else. It’s even in your home city. Like, yeah, I have four of them in our area.

Drew:The lineup I saw on Wikipedia and there’s three Swanders (pronounced like Saunders) in the band, and I have siblings myself, and so how do you guys keep from any sibling rivalry being an issue? Sibling angst is kind of a part of nature in my experience.

Dakota Jerns: each other all the time. It’s not even like a situation where they’re just constantly in each other’s ear. I think that also helps. I mean, I can’t speak for them necessarily. I know George is here. So he could say probably to that. But yeah, I’m not sure how we keep it together.:I don’t know. Maybe I’m speaking out of turn and speaking for them, but being Irish twins being as close as. You guys are in age. I think that probably helps. I don’t know it cause you could say that a lot of the bands that have brothers in them are probably not a great example of like 30 bands. Ours seems to be fairly sturdy like we’ll have a fight that doesn’t last very long and usually I can’t think of the last time we had like a big fight and it’s usually about industry stuff. It’s never too like directed towards anyone individually. I don’t know. Also we separate this from like our daily life. So, like when we go home, we’re not always around

George Swanger: Of the three. I get left out of the loop and that’s just like how life has been in general, but it helps it like the biggest brother is also the most calm. And so if he was the is the biggest asshole, that would totally change the dynamic. It need to be a little different, but he’s the most calm and then. Than the oldest is more business sense and so he cares way more about that than I think the rest of us. And I’m the youngest and I’m the asshole, kind of.

Dakota Jerns: Everybody else in shock about Scott, the middle child. He’s very reserved. He’s easy going and yeah, the personalities fit really well. That’s very cool.

Drew: it’s more of a puzzle piece as opposed to grinding gears, that has to be helpful!

George Swanger

Yeah, that sounds good.

Drew: That’s awesome.

In your opinion… Why is the word abbreviation so long?

Dakota Jerns: Why is the word abbreviation so long?

Drew L. Yeah.

Dakota Jerns: This sounds like a joke… are you being serious? Is this part of the interview?

Drew: Just I throw in random stupid questions just to kind blindside people. I love the trip people up and see the reactions. When I interviewed Doyle, I looked at him and I said, “Do you think eyebrows are facial hair.”

Doyle looked at me, and straight faced says: “I don’t have any!”

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I love it. I just ask random stupid questions just to kind of trip people up, you know? It’s meant to be fun and catch people off guard. I promise, it is meant to be fun, no disrespect in the slightest.

Dakota Jerns: I get it. No, I don’t know why abbreviation is so long. (he said with a smile)

Drew: Did you guys have any other projects in the fire, on the on the back burner as they say?

Dakota Jerns: Yeah, we do. We have a couple of things coming up. We have some remixes of a couple of songs that we’re doing with some people off the new album, we have a thing we’re doing with beer union where it’s together. Both of us are doing a song together. We’ll release that one pretty soon here too. And then I think the goal is moving on from this next year to just continuously pump music anytime soon. Very cool. Like the album didn’t mean to necessarily mean an endpoint to an era. I just meant like drop the album and now we’re gonna keep pumping out new music. Yeah, the same thing in a month or two, we’ll have new music..

I don’t think we plan on the train stopping

Drew: Well, it’s like Davinci allegedly said: A masterpiece is never finished, only abandoned!

Dakota Jerns: Yeah.

Drew: Are there any other bands out there that you feel that are up and coming that?

Dakota Jerns: You guys listen to. Oh, yeah, totally. Like, recently. I’ve been listening to Thrown. I think Thrown killing it. They’re.

Personally, in my opinion, if I was doing a different project, I think that would be similar to what they are doing. Something like. You’ve got some of the bands that are popping up that I would say when I came out of high school, were just starting and now they’re like as big as they are. So, like, Bad Omens was just starting when I was just getting out of high school. Now they’re like, as big as they are. There’s a lot of them! I know The Funeral Portrait dropped an album the same time we did. They’re kind of on the same.

Drew: I know portrait. I’m actually photographing the next Friday.

Due to Funeral Portrait being in my Spotify favorites, that is where I was able to rediscover you guys! You were in the suggested listing. I was so happy, I finally had a name to the band that has so many songs I have heard over the last few years, and never really found!

Give me a moment to get this right… there’s no way of saying this without sounding rude or something, and it’s not meant to be. I love interviewing smaller bands, up and coming bands, catching local shows of bands because you don’t have the ego, and that mentality that you are above the fans. Yeah, most of the people I’ve met are really cool, but I love getting to know like people are on the way up because, you know, you get more down to Earth, you get to kind of see them on their way up, I mean this is a lot more intimate than you, you know, and it’s just more fun in my opinion!

Dakota Jerns: Here’s a question for you. Do you find the bands that have been around longer? That took a lot longer to get to that successful to be a little less egotistical than the ones that maybe have like that overnight success of like maybe two years and then they just knock it out and they’re already at the top, whereas like a band that struggled like 13 years to finally get to that arena level. I think those guys are a little less egotistical than the ones that just had it handed.

Drew: Wow… how can I answer this? In my experience, it is a case-by-case sort of thing. Surely circumstances are different for sure. There have been a couple of people that act like I’ve been owned this! I am a believer that you earn what you have, and what you get. While not every amazing band gets discovered, some of the best often are overlooked, sadly.

I do not care about how long I have listened to someone, I do not care about how bog or small your band is, if you have a nasty attitude towards people, and especially fans, I will listen to someone else, I will not photograph that person/band. Life is short, do what you love, and it is free to be a decent person.

I’m nobody of any importance in my opinion, and so I try not to have an ego! Look at this, you guys giving me time out of your day is a huge privilege and honor to me and if there is anything I can do to help you get more exposure to other bands.

Drew: So when you guys’ tour with other bands and stuff like right, you have three other acts on this on this show. What’s the kind of the criteria for other bands for you guys to come out with?

Dakota Jerns: Oh, we don’t really have one whatsoever. Like, for instance, Discrepancies, we’ve been tracking them for a while. We’ve been wanting to put something together, so we’ll reach out and we’ll be like, hey, are you available this time? So like, when we have a chance to put something like a.

Headlining run for ourselves, together we try to find bands that fit kind of what we.

Like I think Mitchell said it best the other night. He’s like, this is a great band to, like, hype you up for us? Like they’re so good at, like, getting you ready? Yeah. And like, that was perfect. And that’s how we kind of wanna be as an opener for a band as well. Like if we’re goanna open on a bigger tour, sure we’d wanna be the band. That’s like typing you up to get ready for that one. And so they’re killing it. We were so happy to be with them. And so I think if there’s a criteria in any way it would be the. We need a band that has that energy!

Drew: So when you guys are writing new music, what does your creative process look like? Is it more methodical or is it kind of just free range?

Dakota Jerns: Everybody has their own thing that comes together, like you said earlier. This last album iteration was a little different than what we did for delusions, our first album with me. We jammed music out and then we wrote it. And then I wrote the lyrics to. We went in the studio with it probably already pretty prod of it.

This time we went in kind of as a blank slate, and we wrote from the ground up and kind of built it around. And I kind of went more with my gut feeling on this go around. So when it came to the music, I kind of went with my first initial thought on what that should sound like. So in my head, when it came through, that was my first thought. And then I had. I have, like a booklet of lyrics that I’ve already built and sometimes.

Some things work, some things I make a really good thing on the fly. So it is a puzzle piece thing. But I also love to take the input of the other guys too. So if I’ve got a line that I’m Like “is this is good work?” People will be like, no, that’s shit. Stupid change that. So I love that too. So having all of the input is really helpful in the songwriting process for me.

Drew: While writing and prepping the new album, was there anything that you threw back in the vault to use for another release later?

Dakota Jerns: Yeah, sometimes like, it really has to not make the cut to even get to the point where it get. I wouldn’t even say it gets to me. But like when it gets to the point of like we’re goanna start working on this song, you know, it’s going to be like, good.

For instance, I’m not always around when Scott, Mitchell, George and Bob are putting together everything, they might be sitting on the computer and like, this sounds fucking stupid. They’ll change the rift and make it different. Then they’ll send it to me. And they’re like, so it goes through filters before I think I think get it. I’m not sure about that necessarily, but I think it does go through a filter process for sure for things that aren’t going to make.

Drew:Did you ever wonder if vegetarians are allowed to eat animal crackers?

Dakota Jerns: No, no, never, never. And I don’t ever think about vegetarians personally. Like, they’re not something that’s on my mind.

Drew:When you guys are on the road, is there any must must have snacks in the van?

Dakota Jerns: No we don’t have any snacks on the bus right now I’m so angry. I’m so hungry. Yeah. Red Bull is probably like the kidney stone creator, but Red Bull, is probably the most important thing for us is coffee.

These guys drink more coffee than they drink water and that’s insane. I would say the same thing. I’m like, if you ever want to run into a musician, just hit up like a come and go or something like that on the Interstate at like 3:00 in the morning. You’re gonna run into somebody probably famous at that point because that’s all we get. Like, by the time we’re done and loaded in, it’s like midnight. 1:00. If you’re in the gas station. So, like, the must have snacks. Probably gonna be like, you know, chips and cookies, which you can get right.

Drew: The video “Made Me This Way” the AI and that was phenomenal. I really loved that.

Dakota Jerns: Yeah! The Door Brothers killed it on that!

Drew: That was really fun to watch. I’ve watched it like 3 or 4 times right back-to-back!

Dakota Jerns: Since high school I was all about the multiplayer Call of Duty, doing everything like that. Going to destiny. Destiny from Destiny 2. I started with Dark Souls and so when I heard people say that this kind of reminded them like the beat, I kind of got that because I hadn’t played it up to that point. But I was thinking like If I had like a kind of industrial-ish, metal-ish, heavy Mushroomhead song, wouldn’t it be cool to have kind of like a steam punky type idea? So I came up with the idea of like a it was a junkyard. Geppetto was initially the initial thought for the whole thing, and then it molded from them like I told them that. And they took it and threw it into their software and built that. Over the course of like 2 weeks and so I think that’s what AI brought to that is, I’m not gonna like push AI as an advocation or anything like that. Push for bands like us in our size at the budgets that we have to make music videos to make something like that for what we paid for. It is insanely advantageous for bands of our size, yeah. We’re not going to have $30,000 to drop on a music video. I wish we did, but we don’t and we have a much smaller budget to drop on something like this. Yeah, that’s what you get. You something cool like that? I think AI will be awesome for that. I don’t think I should be used for every creative expense. For sure that was quite helpful!

Drew: I was getting speaking out about that. My wife and I both went to school for art. She has her BFA in Fine Arts and painting and an illustration minor. People started coming out using AI. She was hardcore against it. Now, the more she sees it, it’s actually giving me a lot of inspiration for photo ideas and stuff.

Dakota Jerns: That video that’s really nice. That’s awesome. I’m a painter too. So like I’ve still got some unused credits from college for painting and art and illustration specifically. Give the color blends. I only did black and white charcoal and people kind of said the same thing. They’re like, well, hey, how can you support AI and steals from artists thinking. I’ll support that when people start paying for my music again, because I can’t think of anybody advocating for the musician getting paid royalties or anything out, right? Yeah. I mean, look at what spot or what Spotify has taken from what basically Napster had created this big hole of, like, well, we’ll pirate music. No, no. We’ll give bands .06 sense of their song. Then we’ll give you credit for it. And that’s more than what, what I guess these brick and mortar artists.

Drew: Is there a platform that’s actually fairer to you guys as far as being more beneficial to artists?

Dakota Jerns: YouTube, I think pays out the highest if I’m not correct, is it YouTube, George?

George Swanger: I’m the wrong guy.

Dakota Jerns: YouTube Music, like if you if you throw on the YouTube Music, it seems to directly correlate with the channel as well.

Drew: Very cool! I’m trying to do what I can to support the bands in the ways I can!

Dakota Jerns: Basically, paying for like going to the show and paying out right is the best thing you can do for a band. But if you had to, you’d be.

Drew: What I like to do is when I go to shows, I never do selfies with bands. What I do is I buy a CD and have the band sign it because I don’t like pics of me! Just I feel like it’s too invasive to people.

Dakota Jerns: In the same way dude. It’s always weird that people want to take a photo with me, and they post it and I’m like… I’ve met a lot of people! Also, I always feel like I have a goofy smile or something weird about it, you know?

Take George! He loves it!

George Swanger

Nobody loves me more than a me and a mirror!

Drew: Looks like it’s going to get a good crowd.

Dakota Jerns

Yeah, this show had the highest presale so far.

Dakota Jerns

North Carolina is close to selling out, right? Yeah. This is our first time to the East Coast and we kind of did it as a trial run of, like, we’ll push this far and see what the turn out will be because we never know, you know, we don’t like headlining. I will say probably no band, probably likes them. Unless you’re, like, an arena Rock legacy act. I don’t think you like the headline. I always prefer to end earlier so that our fans can have that, you know, value of also going home at a good time. So last night last night our show got done. I want to say by 10:30p, or 10:40p, awesome! It was amazing cause we got on at like 9:45p or something like that. It was great and to have everybody stay and I’ve seen people filter out like if you go on at like 10:50 or 10:45 people are filtering out by midnight because they it was a Wednesday. You know what I mean? So it’s like I always advocated for people having a great time, but still getting home at a reasonable time too.

George Swanger

Yep.

Dakota Jerns

Start the show earlier and the show earlier. Get people home. Then you can have your Thursday shows, right? It sucks that you have to rely on Friday, Saturday, Sunday to be your markup!

Yeah. Imagine especially, I can imagine that. I mean I wasn’t sure what I was going to see up here as far as the crowd and maybe on Thursday. So yeah, but then we were like Lakewood was pretty big from what we had heard from the market. From what we had seen, this is basically Cleveland, right? Can I say that? Is it OK to say it’s Cleveland?

Drew: Yeah. You go that way about three blocks from where we are sitting, and it is literally

Dakota Jerns: Cleveland tonight, and no one’s gonna be like you’re an idiot, but yeah, I I thought the same thing. I was like no one will show up. And if they don’t, I never really care. Yeah, you know, it’s always fun to just play the three people too. We played in the bowling alley that had, like, maybe 13 people and people were like, bowling in the lane next to me, and I was like, “it’s fucking shoulder to shoulder in here!” That’s fun to me!

That’s never nerve wracking, having 300 people in front of me can sometimes be nerve wracking. Really! Never know if they’re there because of us, especially if you’ve got 5 or 6 bands on the bill, even if they are there for you. They might be trying you out with 300 people that you’re never sure, but if there’s only like 5 people there by like 11:00 and it’s you, they’re, you know they’re there for you 100%. You can do whatever! I’ll go down and dance with the mom or whoever!

Drew L.

Well, guys I appreciate this, so much! Doors are at 7 or something and so, I will leave you to your evening, and I will see you on stage! Thank you for coming to Cleveland, and many thanks for the interview!

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Review from one of their shows

Following a blistering triad of EP releases spanning nearly a decade, the idiom ‘leave them wanting more’ comes to mind, but Scour is about to satisfy that craving.

The extreme metal assemblage featuring Philip H. Anselmo (Pantera, Down), Derek Engemann (Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals), John Jarvis (Nest, Agoraphobic Nosebleed), Mark Kloeppel (Misery Index), and Adam Jarvis (Pig Destroyer, Misery Index, Lock Up) is merging metal and the macabre like never before.

Ready to come ripping into the atmosphere on February 21 via Housecore Records (and Nuclear Blast in Europe) Scour’s first full-length, Gold, solidifies the nightmares lying in wait with speed, aggression, and a diabolical vigor.

Guitarist Mark Kloeppel explains the influence of literature’s horror genre on the making of this album: “Philip has always been a scholar of horror literature and strange fiction. While the tough persona may not lend itself to images of a person reading and studying books for hours on end, nonetheless, that is the reality.”

Gold’s predecessors, the 2016 EP The Grey, 2017’s The Red EP, and 2020’s The Black EP laid the groundwork for this highly anticipated forthcoming release.

“In releases past,” Kloeppel continues, “the lyrical approach was more of a tapestry of abstract phrases linked together to invoke the kind of existential tormented feelings one gets from horror fiction. While that approach is still present on Gold, it has evolved to include vivid depictions of scenes and scenarios. Similar to horror and strange fiction, those painted scapes are used to extrapolate emotion as opposed to just the direct communication of the phrases themselves.”

On Gold, Scour’s aural fusion of black metal, grindcore, punk, and thrash influences help weave an experience of terror that surpasses that of a book or movie.

“I wouldn’t necessarily call the songs stories, but some songs like ‘Invoke’ and ‘Infusorium’ do have distinctive plot-like succession of scenes,” added Kloeppel.

An official video for the forthcoming album’s first single, “Infusorium,” was released this past November, and has now been followed by a video for Scour’s latest single, “Blades” – both of which are effortlessly incinerating the eyes, ears, and minds of extreme music lovers.

As the release date of Gold creeps closer, Scour bassist John Jarvis explained what exactly was unique about the creation this album: “On Gold, I believe we pushed each other to be the best we could, faster and heavier than before.”

“It’s hard to compare to my other projects because it’s so different,” Jarvis continued, “but I learned a lot during the tracking of Phil’s vocals. At one point he was layering some vocals I asked him where he learned that, and he said ‘Ozzy.’ Good enough for me!”

Jarvis then noted: “I’d say it’s the most intense album I’ve been a part of!”

Of the thirteen tracks on Gold, Jarvis commented that “Invoke” is his favorite: “[A]lways a reaction from anyone I’ve played it for. A song that forces you to head-bang with a catchy sing- along!”

And regarding which song Kloeppel is most looking forward to playing live he explained: “We have played ‘Infusorium’ once live already and I loved performing that and its solo in front of people. It’s got a good combination of varying parts. With the amount of sheer speed we do, that one gives a good head- banging change of pace.”

Fortunately, the release of Gold is just the beginning of this deliciously dreadful journey. Despite a steady touring schedule for Anselmo with Pantera, Scour will perform at this year’s Milwaukee Metal Fest in May sharing the stage with the likes of Black Label Society, Gwar, Down, Arch Enemy, and many others, as well as promising more for this era of Scour to come soon. Click here for information and tickets for Milwaukee Metal Fest.

Gold, which features a guest solo by Gary Holt of Slayer and Exodus, will be available on CD, LP, limited edition cassette (in the U.S.), and digital formats, and is guaranteed to melt your face off. Click here for pre-orders.

House of Blues

Cleveland, OH

October25, 2024

By Drew Latshaw

The Funeral Portrait formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 2014. Their music blends emotional hardcore, punk rock, and musical theater, and their lyrics cover topics like mental health, depression, love, and anger. The band’s goal is to represent outcasts and offer a safe and accepting community.

The Funeral Portrait has toured with acts like Shinedown, Underoath, Skillet, From Ashes To New, Starset, and Pvris. They’ve also been featured on the main stage at INKcarceration Festival, and currently they are touring with the Mongolian Metal band The HU and I was able to catch up with them at the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio.

It was wonderful to see the line outside of the House of Blues for this show. I can usually get into the lobby to get my credentials allowing me to skip the line most often, but this time I was required to stand in line. As I walked the 2 blocks in search of where the people waiting ended. Finally, I get to the back of the line, and Lee popped out the back side of the venue and was checking out the people waiting.

The Funeral Portrait kicked off the show at the House of Blues, and these guys did not waste any time turning it up to 11! They started off the show and you could tell who was there for them vs the others who were wondering who these guys were. I can say that it took maybe two songs, into the third of their set when Lee and the guys won over those who were not familiar with them.he HU hits C

It is a serious flex for the Funeral Portrait to be able to say that they are currently at #2 on the Rock Billboard with their song “Suffocation City”. This hardcore Emo band is constantly evolving and singing about mental wellbeing, depression, and the rest of the emotional gambit that makes us all human, and I will say that even if Emotional Music, or Metal is not for you, I can say with confidence that these guys will hit a chord that all of us can relate to and find comfort in.

The band’s setlist was a well-curated journey, featuring fan favorites and new material that showcased their evolving sound. Songs like “A Thousand Ways to Die,” “Like Father Like Son,” and “Suffocation City” brought out intense mosh pits and sing-alongs, as fans threw themselves into the music. The band’s tight instrumental work supported every high and low of Jennings’ vocals, adding depth and intensity to each song.

The House of Blues provided the perfect backdrop for this intense show. The intimate yet spacious venue allowed the sound to resonate deeply, immersing the audience in the performance. Lighting and visuals added to the dark, theatrical atmosphere, complementing The Funeral Portrait’s emotive style and enhancing the overall impact.

As their time on stage came to an end, the band left the stage to thunderous applause and cheers, with fans ready for the headliner, the HU. The Funeral Portrait proved once again that they are a force to be reckoned with, a band that brings an intense energy and authenticity to every performance.

This would be the 2nd time I have covered the HU. I knew what to expect when I was going in, but I can say that even when you think you know what to expect with the HU, stop assuming! They are going to knock the wind from your lungs, they are going to blow your mind, regardless how prepared you think you are!

I will admit that the first time I heard of the HU, the description made no sense, and just did not click in my head! A Mongolian throat singing metal band? WHAT!?! That does not compute! Then I looked them up on YouTube and their videos were phenomenal! The videos were bolstering of emotion and a modern day battle cry! Their music, to me it reached a melodic and yet primal part of me that wanted to run out and sack and pillage the next town over (not literally, but you get the point)!

The HU kicked off with a slow burn. As the band took the stage, dressed in mostly black traditional attire, the crowd was ready to go after the kick start from the Funeral Portrait, but there was this almost reverent silence as they got into formation. And then, the morin khuur (the two-stringed horsehead fiddle) started its haunting intro. Right from the first note, you could feel the room shift. When they broke into “Gereg,” “Hohochu Zairan,” and so on. It was not till almost at the end that they would play one of my personal favorites, “Wolf Totem,” it was like a war cry, and the audience roared right back.

The thing about The HU is that their music is incredibly heavy, but it’s not the typical face-melting guitar riffs. It’s this massive wall of sound made from traditional Mongolian instruments and chants, blended with driving rock rhythms that somehow just work. Hearing songs like “Yuve Yuve Yu” and “Shoog Shoog” live is a whole different animal compared to the studio versions. Every beat hit you in the chest like a heartbeat, and the throat singing? It is otherworldly—gravelly, deep, but in a way that sticks with you long after the last note.

About halfway through the set, the band paused to address the crowd, and though their English is limited, the emotion behind their words was real. They talked about unity and respecting tradition, and honestly, I’ve never seen a more diverse crowd of metal fans hanging on every word. It’s clear these guys are doing something that resonates beyond the music itself.

For the encore, they broke out “Black Thunder,” which pretty much turned the House of Blues into a battlefield. You could feel the energy bouncing off the walls, with everyone chanting and screaming the words right back at them. I swear, it was like the building was shaking by the end.

The HU isn’t just a band, oh no! They’re a Mongolian force nature. They way that they take to the stage and bring out the deepest emotion and absolute release is unparalleled. Seeing them live was a reminder that metal doesn’t have to be limited to guitars and screaming vocals—sometimes, it’s just raw, primal energy. They’ve carved out their own lane, and judging by the reactions in Cleveland, they’re only going to get bigger.

If you ever get the chance to see The HU live, make sure you do not miss it. This was hands down one of the most memorable shows I’ve ever seen in quite some time! These world class musicians and travelers are more than a concert, they are a cultural phenomenon!

Website| Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram |

Agora

Clevelnad Ohio

November 01, 2024

By Andrew Latshaw

November 1st wasn’t just a ordinary Friday night at the Agora Theater in Cleveland, GWAR once again proved why they’re one of the most legendary, outlandish, and utterly chaotic bands in the metal scene. My first concert as a teenager, without parental supervision, was when I saw GWAR in 1991 at a smaller club in Cincinnati, Ohio.  It has been over 30yrs ago, so it is a bit hazy. I remember walking into the venue with some newly acquired friends from my new high school.

As we were walking in one of the guys turned to me and said: “Dude, have you ever been in a mosh pit? Trust me when I say to stay away from the big guys! They have no center of gravity and they will fall on you!” I remember that clearly because that night losing my proverbial mosh pit cherry, I did have a bigger guy fall on me, and I cracked four ribs at that show, I am still laughing about that to this day! Fast forward 33yrs and the difference in the pit from 1991 to 2024 is night and day different!

That night in 1991 was my first taste of GWAR, and I can say I was hooked from that night on! As a long-time fan, sadly I have to admit that I have seen GWAR live only two times. I have seen every video they have put out, every documentary I can find online whether they are spoof or not, but this show still found ways to take things to a whole new level. With everything from outlandish theatrics to brutal riffs, they reminded the Cleveland crowd why they’re still at the top of their game, even after decades of shocking audiences around the world.

Just a reminder, this was November 1^st, the election had not happened yet, and so in true to GWAR form, they wanted to allow “We the People” (in the audience) a recap of who was running for the most powerful office in the land. Over the house speakers, we hear a gameshow like voice of the announcer introducing the two candidates. What ensued was a fight to the death between the candidates. As they were locked in hand-to-hand combat, Bonesnapper saw his opportunity and took it! He wielded his mighty weapon and started to slice and dice them both!

As the corpses of the candidates lay there spraying the fake blood all over the crowd and us photographers, they exposed that with both candidates out of the race, that they would turn on their time machine to bring back Obama! That is what happened! They flipped the switch, and Obama walked out on stage, greeted the crowd and apparently this did not please Bonesnapper too much! He bit into the neck of the former president and then tore the rest of his head off his shoulders, and we now had a 3^rd sacrifice spraying the crowd! Balsac, Beefcake, and Grodius all scolded Bonesnapper for killing Obama and that is when they flipped the switch again and that is when George W. came out on to the stage and he too was quickly cut down and spraying the crowd as his corpse was added to the pile.

On a side note, Blöthar would not be able to make an appearance this night… thanks to a member of the audience that I know personally, he sent me an article the next day explaining that Blöthar had sustained a groin injury prior to the show. This is why the guys made jokes about their absent member. The rest of the night the guys made jokes to excuse and or cover for his absence, saying that he was, and I quote: “stuck on the toilet dropping a massive shit starting earlier that day, and well into the night!”

They commented that this is because he eats nothing but pizza! I want to give the guys of GWAR a loud and solid shout out for making it through the show without their front man! They still gave us a hell of a show, and an unforgettable experience!

The stage was a blood-soaked battlefield, and from the second the band stormed on, it was clear we were in for one hell of a show. Bonesnapper led the charge with his larger-than-life presence, growling and roaring through the set with an intensity that only GWAR can deliver. The setlist for the evening had an array of nuclear tracks that took us through a their library and nostalgia for the times, they opened with a cover of “Never Gonna Give You Up,” “Gangnam Style,” and I was tickled to hear them close with “Hit Me Baby One More Time” and then “War Pigs,” each song packing a punch and inciting pits that turned the entire floor into a swirling sea of chaos.

True to form, GWAR didn’t just play music; they created a spectacle. The grotesque costumes, monstrous props, and unhinged storylines kept the audience’s eyes glued to the stage, waiting for what twisted antics would come next. And the fake blood? Let’s just say no one left the Agora Theater clean. The amount of splatter was insane, drenching fans in the first several rows – the “splash zone” veterans knew what they were getting into. People left covered in red, blue, and green goo, grinning ear-to-ear. It’s a GWAR rite of passage.

What impressed me most as a fan was how tight and refined they sounded musically. Behind the shock and gore, GWAR has always been a band of talented musicians. The guitar solos ripped, the bass thundered, and the drums set a relentless pace, filling the theater with an unholy energy that was downright cathartic.

The crowd was a true metal family – old-school fans, new blood, even a few shocked first-timers. Everyone was there to let loose, bang their heads, and celebrate metal mayhem. GWAR’s interaction with the audience was spot on, blending their brutal sound with dark, twisted humor. Between songs, Bonesnapper and crew taunted, insulted, and mocked, drawing cheers and laughter in equal measure. There were moments when it felt more like a twisted horror-comedy play than a concert, and that’s exactly what makes a GWAR show unforgettable.

In a world where so many bands take themselves too seriously, GWAR stands as a beacon of ridiculousness, unapologetically brutal and shamelessly bizarre. They don’t just give a concert; they provide an experience – one that longtime fans like me relish and newcomers will never forget. For anyone who missed this night, you have my sympathy – but for those who were there, we witnessed something insane, grotesque, and glorious.

As I got home from the show, I get this pic in my DM from Erik, a friend who was at the show, in the front row of the show. He got home, and he said: I hope your cameras were OK! Needless to say, he was covered in the stage spew from the opening to close!

Erik is a local musician playing in a couple of local bands  SYRINGE and Emerald Rage, and I just had to give him a quick shout-out and thanks for the pic because I do not think that words alone do true justice for those who have never been to a GWAR concert.

While I have spent time singing the praises of GWAR, for obvious reasons, I have not yet touched on the openers who were nothing shy of phenomenal!

Squid Pisser – Unhinged Experimental Onslaught kicked off the evening, a band whose sound feels like a relentless fever dream. This experimental grindcore outfit took the stage with a mix of thrashing riffs, chaotic effects, and piercing screams, pushing the limits of noise and structure. From the first note, Squid Pisser’s performance felt like a raw, unpredictable attack. They’re a band not for the faint of heart, but for those who can embrace the pure insanity and unpredictability of their music.

They started their set off, it was one of the most uncanny openings I have ever seen. This band, until this show, I had never heard of, the drummer came to the front of the stage, wearing ragged shorts, no shirt, and a mangled hood or mask over his face, and the words in big bold print on his stomach: HELP ME.

He stood there a few moments, staring into the crowd, and twitching his head in an erratic and spastic way. It was extremely unsettling! Out of nowhere, he let out this bone-chilling scream into the crowd, and while at the core, you know it is theatrics… at the moment, it was obvious that it did not sit well with a few in the audience.

After the unsettling display, he ran to his kit and got seated and ready to play! The rest of the band slinked out onto the stage in the most augmented and inhumane postures possible. All of them wearing masks that I could not make out what they were, or were supposed to be, and again, adding to the psychological toll they wanted to bestow upon us in the audience. Squid Pisser started playing, and it was brutal from start to finish! They were about halfway through their second song, and the vocalist ran off stage and came back out holding a pitcher of what I thought was beer. That is when he held it up high and yelled: “This is all the sperm we were able to collect today!” Then he slung it out onto the crowd!

As the music played, the fans in the pit were immediately caught up in the mayhem, as the band conjured a whirlwind of dissonance and energy. Their set was short, but the impact was visceral – they were the perfect opener to prepare the crowd for what was to come.

Dark Funeral was there in direct support, and if I were asked to sum them up I would have to say that a live show from Dark Funeral is “Melodic and Merciless”!

Following Squid Pisser’s experimental chaos, Dark Funeral brought a more structured yet no less intense vibe. The Swedish black metal legends enveloped the stage in darkness, literally and figuratively, with blast beats, tremolo-picked riffs, and the chilling shrieks of their vocalist Heljarmadr. Cloaked in black with corpse paint and a mesmerizing light display, Dark Funeral plunged the crowd into a cavernous world of melodic yet brutal darkness. Songs like “Nail Them to the Cross” and “Unchain My Soul” sent the audience into a headbanging frenzy, each song building layers of atmosphere that intensified with each breakdown. Dark Funeral’s sound was relentless, punishing, and yet masterfully delivered, providing a powerful contrast to the experimental style of Squid Pisser.

I have been listening to Dark Funeral for years, and this was the first time I have not only been able to see them but photograph them. It was well worth the wait, and the show was extraordinary! I can honestly say that I was warmed up and ready for GWAR by the time Dark Funeral and Squid Pisser had finished their sets, I was already worn out for the night! These guys’ performances were unlike anything I have ever seen, and I hope that when they make their way back I will be there again to cover another night of insanity!

Interview with Gwar

24 Hours of Gwar

Gwar  Website | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | TikTok } Instagram |

the Foundry Concert Club

Lakewood, Ohio

Oct. 17, 2024

by Andrew Latshaw

Thursday night, I made the drive from Canton to Cleveland for a show at the Foundry Concert Club in Lakewood, Ohio! Before I get too far with this, if you have not been to the Foundry, you need to hit his venue at least once! Their burgers are amazing! It is a fun and very intimate venue with some seriously kick ass food!

When I got there, the bands were wrapping up sound check, and setting up their merch tables. As I was walking around and saying hello to everyone, I saw the vocalist of Discrepancies first, and he was quick to give me a “bro-hug” and we exchanged hellos and formalities! That guy has a genuine smile that makes you want to buy this man a beer! He is such a down to earth person, and that is a very welcome attitude that is much needed in the world today!

Shortly after that, I bumped into Mitch Swanger the drummer first, I think? He verified that I was there to cover the show, and he went to get Dakota Jerns, the lead vocalist who I was set to interview prior to the show starting. Dakota came up to me, and offered the friendliest of hellos and a very stern handshake! We agreed to head to the tour bus where we could sit and proceed with the interview.

As time passed on, I was permitted to sit and hang with the guys on the bus, and then I realized that it was 5min passed the time for doors, and being that the Foundry is a smaller club, it does not have a photo pit, and so I thanked the guys in Silent Theory for the gracious hospitality and excused myself so that I could go grab my standing spot for the evening that was to come! It was show time! The first band to kick off the festivities was a local band by the name of Ground State from Bay Village area. These guys were not bad at all! They struck me as being relatively new, they sounded like they have an idea where they are going with their sound, but I felt that they have some room to grow! I tried to find them on social media and found nothing. I was hoping to tag them and share their pages to get them some traffic, sadly I found nothing

Next up was Dizasterpiece from New Jersey, and the bio on their page fits them to a T!

“Covered in tattoos, and usually sporting a band shirt from the early 2000’s hardcore scene, DIZASTERPIECE is a passionate, creative, realism-driven lyricist and Hip-Hop Emcee from New Jersey, with strong roots in the punk and hardcore community.”

Watching this group was a challenge! They were such high energy and just all over the stage! It was a challenge to catch any of them standing still long enough to get a good pic! The irony of that is, this is the kind of band you want to see! You want that high energy, you want that entertainment  value! This was a problem that I was happy to deal with!

I highly recommend Dizasterpiece! These guys, honestly took me back to the 90’s and 2K’s with their sound, and a couple of their tunes took me back even further! The sound that resonated with me the most, it was like they took the collaborations of Aerosmith and Run DMC, with the Beastie Boyz mixed in! Not kidding, that felt nostalgic and energizing!

The third band of the evening was Discrepancies from St. Louis, MO. I have missed these guys the last two or three times that they played Cleveland, and we were both happy to see each other in person finally!

Antonio Metcalf, the vocalist before the show saw me standing at the stage and he reached out with another “bro-hug” and thanked me for making it out, and told me that he really enjoyed the work I have done. That was an amazing compliment and was absolutely appreciated! Just a quickly as that exchange happened, Antonio started their set and the people in the audience went nuts! I do not recall a mosh pit opening up prior to Discrepancies, but I remember getting slammed into the stage repeatedly during their set!

Antonio was ripping through his vocals and the rest of the band were shredding like the pro’s they are! I am still processing their sound! Their concoction of rap and rock was on point to say the least! Their sound was aggressive, but still quite uplifting! You could tell that Antonio was commanding the room at the time, but as mentioned before he would smile and light up that room once again, and I swear I could hear the hearts of the ladiws in the room melting! He would chat with the crowd and engage often, talking about how he was wearing his favorite shirt from a spaghetti place in Detroit, horrible food but he loves the shirt! Great times were had!

As the night was drawing to a close, it was time for the headliner, the reason we were all there… Silent Theory! They were on their 2^nd stop of this leg of their tour to promote their newest CD: Visualizer

Sun, OCT 20 Dingbatz  – Clifton, NJ

Tue, OCT 22 Lovedraft’s Brewing Co – Mechanicsburg, PA

Wed, OCT 23 The Brooklyn Monarch – Brooklyn, NY

Thu, OCT 24 Taffeta – Lowell, MA

Sat, OCT 26 Hooligans Music Hall – Jacksonville, NC

Sun, OCT 27 The Rooster – Gastonia, NC

When I was sitting on the tour bus and chatting with the guys, primarily with Dakota, but as we were joking around and such, it was great to see these guys on a more grounded and level playing field, before they took the stage and they were hoisted up onto that platform as performers.

They were very relatable, and I had to get it out of the way early on, I asked about their hometown, and the metal scene there in Moscow, Idaho. They laughed when I asked, they said that they could not name two other metal bands from Idaho, let alone their hometown. I laughed, literally laughed at that! I told them that when I think of Idaho, music in general, not even metal, just music does not even come close to what populates my mind. They all chuckled and asked me what I think about when I hear Idaho. I answered immediately: Potatoes! That is the only thing that I can think of when it comes to Idaho, that they are geographically located next to Washington and Oregon.

As I mentioned before, it was time for Silent Theory to take the stage! As it happens, with a lot of headliners, the rush of the people to the stage, and I knew it was time to feel that push and get sandwiched into my spot for the remainder of the evening!

Over the years, I have hear Silent Theory pop up in random play lists, and suggested videos on YouTube, and such… never have I been able to hear them, and remember to go back to find them till I was asked to cover this show. Let me tell you, I am eternally grateful for this, because having had time to listen to their catalog, and learn more about their background and understanding their efforts, I can sincerely appreciate the work that they have given us!

Their newest CD, it is already a smash hit in my mind! Dakota mastering the vocals, and there times in his vocals that he channels the sound of the late and great Chester Bennington in my opinion! Please know that is purely my opinion, and that is what this is, nothing more. When Dakota hits certain keys and octaves, I have had to look and make sure I am listening to Silent Theory, and not my Linkin Park playlist!

There are certainly some better known songs to their following, Fragile Minds, Shaking Cages, Made Me This Way to name a few! These are some seriously slapping tunes! If you have not heard Silent Theory yet, hit YouTube, hit your streaming services and check these guys out!

The interview will go more in depth with the guys of Silent Theory, and how they feel about life, the industry, and their climb from Idaho to the limelight of the metal scene!

I will close with this thought… while these guys are not yet a household name, if they keep writing and performing like they are, it is only a matter of time before they are! If they are playing near you, trust me when I say that you will regret not seeing them live! These guys are going places, figuratively and literally!

Silent Theory Website | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter | Instagram |

Knocked Loose live at Chicago’s Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom on November 1st was a spectacle that won’t soon be forgotten, and honestly, I’m still processing it. First off, I knew they were heavy, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the sheer intensity of their live performance. The mosh pit? Absolute chaos. The band just didn’t let up for a second, and the crowd ate it up.

What really blew my mind, though, was how fast Knocked Loose has exploded in popularity. I’ve been following them for a while, but seeing the place packed with so many people, all screaming the lyrics and feeding off the raw energy—they’ve definitely come a long way from where they started. There were moments during the set when it felt like the whole venue was one massive, pulsing unit, and I realized that these guys are no longer an underground act. They’re now headlining shows in huge venues and drawing in crowds of people who just get it.

But back to the music—the breakdowns were insane, the speed was relentless, and the aggression? Just unreal. You could feel every note vibrating through you, and their stage presence was intense. It was clear these guys love what they do, and they’ve built an absolutely loyal following in record time. If this is what their live shows are like now, I can’t imagine how far they’re going to go. Knocked Loose is truly on a whole different level.

Click HERE for Official Website (Knocked Loose)

Click HERE for Official Website (Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom)

September 20, 2024
By Andrew Latshaw

The Winchester Tavern was buzzing with anticipation as fans of A Killer’s Confession packed into the intimate venue for the highly anticipated CD release party. The night promised to be a powerful showcase of their latest work, and the band delivered on all fronts. Let there be no doubts, when AKC throws a party, there is no holds barred!

The evening kicked off with a couple local openers Reticulas and High Early, and a not so local band, Cultus Black. These awesome people setting the tone, their high-energy sets warming up the crowd and building the excitement for the headliner and most anticipated AKC. The atmosphere was electric by the time A Killer’s Confession took the stage. The lights dimmed, the crowd roared, and the band launched into their opening sequence, instantly engulfing the room in a wall of sound.

Frontman Waylon Reavis, known for his commanding stage presence, was in top form. His vocals ranged from intense growls to melodic, haunting choruses, perfectly capturing the dynamic energy of the band’s new material. Reavis engaged with the crowd throughout the set, ensuring that every person in the room felt connected to the performance. The band’s chemistry was undeniable, each member seamlessly blending their skills to create a powerful, cohesive sound.

The setlist was a balanced mix of tracks from the new album Victim 1 and fan favorites. Playing the range of their catalog demonstrated the band’s ability to weave heavy riffs with atmospheric melodies, creating an emotional rollercoaster for the audience. The newer songs carried a raw, visceral energy that resonated with the crowd, many of whom shouted the lyrics back at the stage. The passion was palpable, both from the band and the audience, as the night progressed.

The highlight of the night came when the band played “GREED” from their new album. The song’s intensity, paired with a mesmerizing light show, created a cinematic experience that had everyone in the venue transfixed. The Winchester’s intimate setting allowed for a close connection between the band and their fans, making the performance feel personal and immersive.

The addition of the special guests was a powerful conclusion to the night! There was Aaron Nordstrom of Gemini Syndrome was on hand, J Mann and Shmotz from Mushroomhead also made appearances this night to thrust us older metalheads back to the late 90’s and early 2000’s! There was another special guest for the night that warmed a lot of hearts for sure! The crowd turned their screams and admiration to 11 with every guest, but then Morgan Bauer came out, and we were elated to see him return to the kit! He has been taking some time off and seeing him back in that seat just really hammered that cherry on top and finishing off the evening!

A Killer’s Confession always brings the energy to a fever pitch, and again I have to say that bringing back those blasts from the past took us over the edge. The crowd was left wanting more, a testament to the band’s captivating performance and the strength of their new material.

Not everyone has the history with these musicians that I do. For almost 30yrs these men have been in my life in one capacity or another. I remember hearing Waylon for the first time at a show in 2005, I have been a fanboy ever since. I have met J Mann and Schmotz many times over the years at shows all over the country. Seeing these guys on stage, and Morgan making his guest appearance… like I said, it completed the night.

For an old school metal head who will forever remain a kid at heart, these guys are more than musical nostalgia to me, they are a part of who I am today and for that I am eternally grateful!

Website | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram

Interview conducted Oct 17, 2024

by Andrew Latshaw

A breathtaking journey, Wild Medicine opens with a mesmerizing title track, setting the scene with “Come with me for a while / Then let me take the path alone.” The song was written with Australian troubadour Paul Kelly, who she got to know when they opened a string of Australian dates for Leonard Cohen. Thinking it could be the cornerstone of her next album, Hattie felt “Wild Medicine” sums up who she is and where she is in her life and career.
 
“Making this album, I was given the chance to go deeper and be more direct with my writing without censoring myself or getting lost in the human experience,” she describes. “I’d come to a point where I had a lot of chances to explore, found new ways to feel empowered, and not let the past hold me back.”
 
Inspired by powerful artists such as Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, and Heart, Hattie adapts their frames of reference and incorporates them into her work.  “The space that they embody, I find it to be luscious with depth, and it gets your blood flowing,” she says. “I’m interested in the female perspective and having that strong pulse.” “Ruined In The Rain” follows that direction with intensity through the lens of a woman who’s experienced great suffering in relationships. It’s a heartbreaking meditation on suicide.

 Hattie Webb is a force of artistry felt worldwide. The singer-songwriter-harpist from Kent, England, along with her sister Charley in their duo group The Webb Sisters, sang with Leonard Cohen for six years to over four million people and with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers on their 40th Anniversary international final tour. Leonard Cohen called Hattie’s solo work “Flawless, uplifting and utterly original.”
 
Hattie is managing an incredible balancing act, touring internationally with David Gilmour while preparing to release her second solo album, Wild Medicine, all with her toddler and newborn baby in tow on October 25, 2024 (pre-save/pre-order HERE). With an impressive lineup of collaborators, including  Roscoe Beck, Mike Campbell, David Grissom, Ron Blair, Stephen Barber, Patrick Leonard, and Paul Kelly, it’s inspiring to see how she balances motherhood and a thriving music career. 

Newport Music Hall

Columbus, Ohio

Avatar’s tour celebrating the release of their 9^th studio album “Dance Devil Dance”. This was their final headlining concert at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio. Later in the show Johannes mentioned that this was their 200^th show celebrating this new album.

Avatar rolled in to the Newport Music Hall, with the opener Mike’s Dead. It is no surprise to that this show was an electrifying spectacle that left the audience screaming for more. The Swedish heavy metal band, known for their theatrical performances and dynamic energy, transformed the historic venue into a whirlwind of headbanging, moshing, and exhilaration!

Opening with “Dance Devil Dance,” the band immediately set the tone for an intense evening. Frontman Johannes Eckerström commanded the stage with his signature painted face, evoking a twisted ringmaster vibe as he led the crowd through the band’s intoxicating setlist. His charisma was magnetic, his vocals alternating between deep growls and melodic singing is intoxicating, keeping the audience hooked from start to finish.

The guitar work of Jonas “Kungen” Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström was a standout feature, seamlessly blending heavy riffs with intricate solos, while bassist Henrik Sandelin’s thunderous rhythms, combined with John Alfredsson’s relentless drumming, created a powerhouse of sound. Tracks like “The Eagle Has Landed” and “Let It Burn” had the crowd chanting and jumping, fully immersed in the music. I must also add at this point of the show, I was actually concerned for the safety of the venue! This was a sold out show! As people were bouncing and pumping their firsts in unison, I could feel the cement flooring literally bounce! I was leaning against a huge I-beam and just kept my fingers crossed.  

The lighting and stage effects were nothing short of mesmerizing, enhancing the band’s dark, carnival-like aesthetic. The lightshow was synchronized perfectly with the music, adding layers of visual excitement to each song. The intimacy of Newport Music Hall, with its low ceiling and close-up view, made the experience feel like a metal circus in the heart of the city.

Mid-set, Eckerström took a moment to connect with the audience, reflecting on the band’s journey and expressing gratitude to the Columbus crowd for their energy. Johannes at this point took off the ringmaster’s coat of his stage costume, and he was left wearing a black shirt with his suspenders. He teasingly took the left suspender strap and enticingly took it halfway down his arm as he playfully looked at the crowd. The women started cooing and screaming out in delight! Johannes then snapped the strap back up onto his shoulder and gestured to his bare arms, and said: “THIS IS ALL THE SKIN YOU’RE GETTING TONIGHT!” The ladies in the crowd laughed and booed at the same time.

A couple more songs into the show, Johannes came out from the stand that was in front of the drum kit with ballons. He had his welcoming facial expressions of that psychotic clown you love! He had several balloons that handed out to the audience members. One person seemed to reject the balloon, and Johannes mad a sad face, and then popped the balloon, everyone laughed and cheered! Then he quickly hopped back onto the stage to continue on with the show. This genuine moment created a powerful bond between the band and their fans, making the night feel personal despite the chaos and intensity of the performance.

Closing with fan favorites like “Smells Like a Freakshow” and “Hail the Apocalypse,” Avatar left the stage with the crowd chanting for an encore. I have seen and photographed Avatar twice at this point, and I can say that they are easily one of the most entertaining bands that are actively touring! The energy that Johannes has, I seriously cannot understand how he can perform on that level of positivity and energy, night after night and city after city! It is unfathomable to me!

By the end of the night, Newport Music Hall was a sea of sweat, adrenaline, and satisfied metalheads. As we all filed out and scattered to various parking places, I overheard the sell out crowd rehashing their favorite parts of the show, and things that they cherished from the evening. I can say without hesitation, the night was a success, and it was unanimous that the show was phenomenal!

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