AVENGED SEVENFOLD CRUSHES THE LAND OF CHOCOLATE - MAY 9, 2017 IN HERSHEY, PA

HERSHEY, PA – It has to be said if it hasn’t been already, Avenged Sevenfold is without a doubt THE premiere metal band of this generation, PERIOD. I was pretty sure of this assertion before the show in Hershey, PA even started, but after seeing “The Stage” tour with VolBeat on Tuesday night (May 9^th), I’m ready to put it on paper so to speak.

On Tuesday, May 9^th, Avenged Sevenfold pulled into town with VolBeat and Motionless in White in tow and turned a usually quiet little town into a raucous freak show; a scene that I was thrilled to be a part of. Pierced, tattooed and painted, the A7X fans were out in force and ready to see what their heroes had in store for them, but first, there were some opening acts.

Motionless in White kicked things off, and I will preface this review by saying I’m not a fan. If I were reviewing their album I would say that their music is formulaic and basically typical, and that they offer very little that’s new or dynamic to a metalcore sound that’s become quite overplayed. With that being said, I was fairly interested to see them before they went on because the last and only time I had seen them prior (July, 2014, Mayhem Fest in San Jose, Cali) they put on a hell of a show with gothic make up, all white garb and an interesting stage presentation. The other reason I was a little interested is because this band calls Scranton, PA home, and whenever a band returns to play for the home audience, they usually offer something interesting.

Well, I’m sad to report that this wasn’t the case. I will give MiW credit where it’s due, they played well, sounded tight as a band and fans of the band were pleased with their set list. However, the look that made them dynamic was gone. Chris “Motionless” was in a backwards hat, in regular clothes, and they offered nothing interesting in their set list from what I could tell. Now to be fair, they only had 30 minutes, and I’m not a fan so for all I know, they played some rarity that they haven’t played in years, but I didn’t get that feeling from the MiW fans around me. All in all, it wasn’t a bad way to start the night although, the rotation of Gojira and MiW for this tour makes me wish we would’ve pulled the OMG card (Oh My Gojira!) but I digress.

VolBeat might be the most unsung band in the history of metal. Often dismissed as some Rockabilly gimmick band, or as more of a commercial band, every time I see VolBeat live I’m reminded why they are so popular. Simply put, they kick ass.

Coming from a Prog Rock/Metal background, I thoroughly appreciate when a band mixes genres without being awkward, and VolBeat does this with the best of them. Singer Michael Poulsen brings a Rockabilly voice, and Elvis Presley/Johnny Cash style to some very heavy, at times, music. Now as I referenced above, VolBeat sometimes suffers from unfair criticism from “too cool for the room” metal fans that claim they are too commercial or their Rockabilly style is too gimmicky, and that they are not “heavy.”

RANT TIME: 

First off, let me say that nothing makes me roll my eyes harder than when some douche bag in a Slayer t-shirt, or some death metal shirt whose name is completely indecipherable, claims a band, ANY BAND isn’t heavy enough. WTF does that mean exactly? (Don’t answer that, it’s rhetorical and I don’t care what your opinion is on the “heavy” topic, because there is no right or wrong answer). Secondly, this claim that VolBeat isn’t heavy is possibly one of the dumbest I’ve heard since….well….Avenged Sevenfold isn’t heavy enough. With the exception of “Lola Montez” and “Black Rose,” the set VolBeat burned through was heavy as fuck.

So why does this claim continue to persist when it comes to VolBeat? Well, without getting into a 10-page dissertation in defense of VolBeat, and why these people who make these claims are the problem with this metal genre that I love so much, let’s just say that these perpetrators of this level of douchebaggery are simply threatened by anything that seems successful. It seems like a no brainer to me that if an Avenged Sevenfold, or a VolBeat can write appealing music that has amazing melodies, and charts, it’s only helping the metal genre, but these asshats act as if they are cheapening their precious metal. They happen to be good looking guys who girls like (un-metal), who have great voices (very unmetal) and write music that you can both SING and MOSH too (almost pop music)…..UNREAL CONCEPT RIGHT? Listen, Slayer fans….it’s called a melody, look into it.  

OH, and I’ll end this rant with this, if you think VolBeat is not heavy, look up the songs “Wild Rover of Hell, A Warrior’s Call,” or “Dead, But Rising” and tell me those aren’t heavy ass songs (again a rhetorical statement, I don’t care if you think they aren’t….you’d be wrong.)

END OF RANT

Now, onto the performance, seeing VolBeat in a non-festival setting is a new experience for me, and I will have to say it didn’t matter. VolBeat might be one of the most consistently solid live bands I’ve ever seen. They deliver EVERYTIME, and it needs to be said, I wouldn’t consider myself a VolBeat fan. I have very strange rules when it comes to music fandom that I couldn’t possibly get into right now (it’s an article all its own that if permitted, I will gladly share with you all). From the opening guitar riff of “The Devil’s Bleeding Crown” off their newest release “Seal the Deal & Let’s Boogie” to possibly their most recognizable closer “Still Counting,” the energy was at 100, and the crowd was continuously moving.

VolBeat brings what I would call a bouncy, high energy brand of metal to the stage, and it’s infectious. I’ve seen them 5 times now, and even when I’m not familiar with a song, I can’t help but jump, stomp, and fist pump to their songs. Michael Poulsen’s voice is flawless and unique, and the band is tight and energetic on every song. Despite having a guitar strapped to him for every song, Poulsen does a great job of fronting the band and pumping up the crowd at the right times….which is nearly every song. When it’s all said and done, I say whether you’re a fan of VolBeat or not, it’s a great concert going experience regardless.

VolBeat is a great band, and none what you’re about to read will nullify that fact, but the real reason the 10,000-plus screaming lunatics were in the building was for Avenged Sevenfold. Now, I started this review out with a BOLD statement, which said that “Avenged Sevenfold is without a doubt THE premiere metal band of this generation, PERIOD.” I stand by this statement SEVENFOLD after what I witnessed on this night. From the shredding of Synyster Gates, and the soaring yet gritty vocals of M. Shadows, to the over-the-top stage production that you just don’t see very often in rock/metal anymore, A7X have staked their claim for THE band to take the “Metallica” mantle after this summer.

Avenged Sevenfold has been a staple in the metal scene since the early 2000’s and one of the genres most successful bands since their platinum selling 2007 release “Avenged Sevenfold.” With 2 subsequent #1 releases in “Nightmare” and “Hail to the King” and their newest release, “The Stage” debuting at #4 despite it having a more progressive sound and a surprise release with little promotion, A7X has definitely earned the right to make the claim as the biggest metal act in the world, however, for some reason they tend to suffer a similar fate as VolBeat.

There’s a strong sect of metal fans that crucify this band unjustly, making claims that range from them not being heavy enough (again with that shit) to A7X ripping off other bands like Metallica and Megadeth. Now, a lot like my VolBeat section of this review, I can spend 10,000 words defending this band, but I’d rather just use the 10,000-plus fans I saw at the show to prove my point. Detractors, or true haters will go online and look up what the capacity for the Giant Center in Hershey, PA would be for a concert, and scoff that 10K tickets sold is well short of a sellout, and they’d be correct. The sellout capacity at that particular arena is 12,500.

So I can already hear the collective “See….they can’t even sell out an arena” but bear with me here. I contend that drawing 10K fans, in the small hamlet of Hershey, PA, when they have a stadium show opening for Metallica coming up only 2 hours away in Philly this week, another arena show 2-3 hours away in Baltimore this week, and another stadium show in New Jersey with Metallica coming up….10K fans, in a small town like Hershey on a Tuesday is remarkable, and they were not disappointed.

In a bold move, they opened with their 8 and a half minute, borderline Dream Theater-esque Progressive Metal-ish, title track to their new album, “The Stage,” which immediately revealed a stage show that had 3 giant screens on each side of the stage, and a box/screen structure in the middle of the stage behind new drummer Brooks Wackerman. Synyster Gates finger tapping intro into a thunderous drum fill and then 8 and a half minutes of Prog Metal ecstasy had this writer thrilled from the gate.

After the open, the heart pounding pace continued with a set list alternating between classic A7X tunes, and new songs from “The Stage.” From a performance standpoint, the highlights have to be vocalist M. Shadows and new drummer Brooks Wackerman. M. Shadows’ voice sounded as clear and strong as I’ve ever heard it and his witty banter and interactions with his audience left me feeling like he’s grown into one of the premier front men the genre has seen in some time.

“New” drummer Brooks Wackerman (he’s been with the band since 2015) is hands down the best drummer they’ve had since Mike Portnoy, and he may even be better for this band. He fits perfectly, but doesn’t fit perfectly, which in my opinion, makes him a perfect fit. Let me explain.

From a playing standpoint…..the younger Wackerman fits perfectly. Coming from a punk background (he played with legendary punk band Bad Religion for years) gives him the metallic chops needed to play A7X’s music, but his pedigree (his older brother Chad Wackerman has played with Frank and Dweezil Zappa, Steven Wilson, etc….it’s in the blood) gives him the technical prowess needed to handle The Rev’s inimitable style.

HOWEVER….have you ever seen Brooks Wackerman? Let’s just say, he looks more like the band’s manager than he does their drummer. Johnny Christ, Zacky Vengeance, M. Shadows, and Synyster Gates would stand out like a sore thumb in almost any “non-metal” setting, but Brooks Wackerman could fit in at a parent-teacher night at your most conservative elementary school. He’s a normal looking dude with extraordinary abilities behind the set, and that shone through during the show. Brooks Wackerman played every song perfectly and then some, adding his own nuance to The Rev’s playing without changing the song, and playing his own insane drum parts from “The Stage” to perfection.

The high moments of the show were numerous. After blistering through the first five songs, with my two favorite songs of the night, “Paradigm” from The Stage, and my all-time favorite A7X tune being in that group “Buried Alive,” the band took a poignant moment to remember some of those who have passed including their brother The Rev during the song “So Far Away.”

After the quiet moment of reflection it was back to the heavy with “Nightmare” and the newest single “God Damn” which featured possibly one of the creepiest, trippy background videos I’ve seen in a while. The video featured politicians with their heads replaced by an eye, and other eyes just roaming around with tentacles under it watching over….EVERYTHING. A7X actually had quite a few political statements to make with their vid screens, check them out on YouTube if you can find them.

Ok, so unfortunately, Motionless in White wasn’t the only negative to this show. Perhaps a slightly confusing moment occurred after a short instrumental piece performed by Zacky Vengeance and Syn Gates, a giant inflated astronaut was revealed and the song “Planets” from “Hail to the King” was performed. Now in the past, I have not been a huge fan of this song, however, it’s growing on me as the live performance this time around really hit me right. Between their performance, the screen production and the giant astronaut, it made for a very cool, but confusing moment.

Why was I confused? Being someone who has been to over 500 concerts, I’m used to certain things. One of them is the 'theming' of a show. The theme of “The Stage,” the album that they are supporting with this tour, is spacey, and the astronaut is like a symbol for this album, or so I understood it to be. So to use the astronaut for two songs from “Hail to the King” was a little confusing to me.

In addition to the above scenario, is the “Acid Rain” confusion. Look, I respect any artist that goes against the grain, and does what they want to do, regardless of what the fans think, and that’s the truth. As a former artist myself, I would never want to feel beholden to fans from an artistic standpoint. With that being said, this portion of the review will be a “fan” portion.

What is it with this song “Acid Rain” from “Hail to the King?” If you’re an Avenged Sevenfold fan and you’re reading this, please email me and tell me if you like this song, because this set was an absolute steam roller until they got to “Acid Rain.” Maybe the rest of the arena was touched and felt the emotion of this slow, atmospheric ballad, but in my section it was like thud. Now if this was the first time I saw this, I would discount it as something new that they are trying, but this was the THIRD time I’ve seen them close their set with this tune and I don’t get it. Maybe I’m just not a fan of the song, but it was even a low point vocally for M. Shadows, who was otherwise phenomenal throughout the show. It was one low note in 2-plus hours of high notes.

Now, it’s redemption time. The encore to this show might have been one of the best things I’ve ever seen live. (Side Note) PEOPLE….if you’ve never been to a concert, take this as a tip. If the band says “Thank you, good night” but the HOUSE LIGHTS don’t come on, they’re not done. MOST bands do at least one encore, whether the crowd calls for it or not. Ok, now…back to the show.

The encore consisted of a blistering version of their hit “Bat Country,” the 8 minute ode to necrophilia “Little Piece of Heaven” and the traditional closer “Unholy Confessions.” The part that made this an incredible encore was their performance of “Little Piece of Heaven.” Technical, tongue in cheek and just awesome, this is a great metal tune that is always a joy to hear live.

So overall, if this show is coming to your town, I VERY highly recommend it. Tickets are incredibly reasonable (unlike the Metallica shows) and the lineup with VolBeat and a rotation of various bands ranging from MiW, Day to Remember and Gojira….it’s worth every cent.

If you have any questions, or comments please email me at TheProgtologist@gmail.com.

Written by Chris Elio for Bloodrock  Media on May 10, 2017
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If you have any questions, or comments please email me at TheProgtologist@gmail.com.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE AND ANTRHAX IN ST. LOUIS, MO ON MAY 1, 2017

Monday, May 1st I arrived at The Pagent in downtown St. Louis, Mo and quickly noticed how many people were also arriving for the show. Rock fans did not care that it was Monday night, they were ready for a great show, no matter how much they would regret it the next morning.

The heavy metal openers, Code Orange definitely woke the crowd up. The band was running from one side of the stage to the other, making it nearly impossible to take pictures, but their energy and performance was so awesome, that it wasn't a let down. Later this year, they will be touring Europe with System of a Down.

The Devil Wears Prada was up next, they did an awesome job of keeping the fans on their toes. As fans continued to flood in for the show, the pit got more and more packed, which of course means a mosh pit is bound to break out. That is always a fun thing to see, fans not only enjoying music by singing along with the songs, but physically RAGING with their favorite bands.

By the time Killswitch Engage took the stage, The Pagent was full of screaming fans. Every song fans were singing and banging their heads along. Their set included many familiar tunes including, "My Curse", "The End of Heartache", "Arms of Sorrow", and "This Fire". KSE even rocked a couple of new songs for the fans, which is always very cool. One of the highlights of their performance was when Adam D approached the mic and dedicated "My Curse" to tits and proceeded to tell the crowd that if anyone wanted a body like his, all they needed to do for exercise was masturbate. The crowd erupted in laughter. Their closing song for their evening they did a cover of Dio's "Holy Diver" with a special guest, none other than Joey Belladonna, the lead singer of Anthrax. It was amazing and the crowd absolutely went crazy.

Last but not least, the headliners, Anthrax, took the incredibly dressed up stage. These boys always show so much energy, and this show as no different. Their set included performances of "Madhouse", "I am the Law", and of course…"Indians". The fans kept singing along with them all through their incredible set. Before leaving the stage, Anthrax threw their drum sticks and guitar picks out to the audience and took a bow.

Photos and article by Jennifer Pinckney for Bloodrock Media

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ADELITAS WAY W/ LETTERS FROM THE FIRE & MORE - DENVER, CO ON MARCH 21, 2017

A Tuesday night show usually means a light crowd, but March 21st,hundreds of Adelitas Way fans showed up to the Marquis Theater despite it being a week day.  The line-up for the evening was Manafest, The Black Moods, Letters From the Fire, and headliners Adelitas Way.

Four-time Dove Award nominee, Manafest opened the show.  Bringing to the stage an energetic mix of rap and rock, a perfect way to warm up the audience for the night ahead.  Next up, The Black Moods, it is almost impossible to define The Black Moods genre, as they blend rock music from the last four decades, creating a high energy, infections, and unique sound that is like a combination of Foreigner and Soundgarden. An insane mixture, that just works and the audience loved every minute of their performance.

Female fronted, Letters From the Fire, kicked off the second half of the show.  The crowd pushed closer to the stage, ready to rock, even those not familiar with the hard rockers, left that night new found fans of the sultry, rock vixen Alexa Kabazie. As this was the last night of the tour, Letters From the Fire was pranked by the other bands with eggs, which was quite the sight to see.  

Alexa Kabazie of Letters From the Fire in Denver, CO on 3/21/2017

Finally, Adelitas Way took the stage to close out the night, starting off their set by performing their upbeat popular songs including:  "Sick", "Alive", and "The Collapse".  They slowed it down a bit with "Closer to You" from their self titled first album, Adelitas Way.  This song is probably one of the first most fans heard from them, so the lyrics hold special meaning, and they performed it beautifully. Adelitas Way came back for an encore and the other bands got a little prank in on them, part of the drum kit was removed from the stage and Robert Zakaryan, lead guitarist for Adelitas Way, had a guitar playing partner.  His reaction was priceless.  

Robert Zakaryan of Adelitas Way in Denver, CO on 3/21/2017

Written by Jennifer Pinckney on March 25, 2017 for Bloodrock Media
Photos by Jennifer Pinckney for Bloodrock Media
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Lacey Sturm - A Conversation About Family, Life, Purpose, and Love

Lacey Sturm - A Conversation About Family, Life, Purpose, and Love

by April Baggins for Bloodrock Media

As my co-interviewer and I walked in the frigid February Michigan cold, toward the humble tour bus of Lacey Sturm, former front woman of Flyleaf, I began mentally running through the checklist of facts I had read, with my questions.  While my interviews are typically more conversational, not strict Q&A, I wanted to make sure that I didn’t forget what I had intended to ask.  My co-interviewer, Annette, a newbie to the interview scene, was anxious, not only was she new at interviewing, but Lacey Sturm just so happened to be one of her all-time favorite vocalists.  As we walked up the steps of the tour bus, I reminded myself not to swear, Lacey Sturm, a devoted Christian, would not appreciate a slip of the tongue. 

As we turned the corner of the tour bus, before me was an angel; a slight blonde cherub, cozied up to a small space heater, oozing love and compassion from every pore, with the smallest amount of exhaustion apparent, but welcoming nonetheless.  At 5’5” I’m rarely the tallest female in the room, but today would be the day I would be a giant, my frame shadowing her 4’10”, as I introduced myself and Annette, she didn’t seem to notice that she was in the presence of an orc.  She was friendly, open, pleasant and gentle.

Flint is the 11^th date on her 16 city headlining tour with Letters from the Fire, Stitched up Heart, and Palisades, I began the interview by asking how the tour was going.  She replies that it is going well, but opens up that the day before was the first day she felt tired.  Her son had an accident which resulted in an ER visit and a concussion diagnosis, and her dog was sick in PA.  Tears well in her eyes, not only from being stretched, but she didn’t think she come back onto the music scene, choosing motherhood over her career in 2012 was not easy, and these two situations are begging the question (for her) as to whether she made the right choice.  She is tough, she fights back the tears and says she is happy that tomorrow they are back in PA, so she can go home and see her dog.

When asked how she manages motherhood and her career, she quickly answers, “by making good choices”.  That she prays and she has a great support system with her husband, guitarist Josh, and they are lucky that her two boys can travel with them.  She speaks of her husband with an enormous amount of respect and admiration, he compliments and grounds her.

She speaks openly of her Christian beliefs, the moment that God saved her life, and how life is so much easier when we realize we are not God.  We are all sinners, all flawed, and it is not intended for us to be perfect.  That each and every person is one of God’s works of art and our job is to love one another.  Her gift is her voice; this is how she serves God.  She heals the broken with her lyrics, picking up the tiny, shattered pieces, and carefully puts them back into place.  Her words a map for the lost, she understands, she was once lost too, but God saved her.  Helping others is what brought her back to music.  She received thousands and thousands of letters from fans about how her words saved them and she realized that if these people needed her, that she had to be there for them.  She had to be their light in the dark.  Not because she wanted to force her Christianity onto others, as she understood that believing nor faith can be forced on others, they have to be ready to believe on their own time, but it was her job, as one of God’s architects.   

So her and Josh decided to do a solo project; no record labels, no pressure from large PR firms.  In February 2016, they released the honest and relatable melodic hard rock album titled, Life Screams, with fellow band mates Ben Hull (bass) and Drew Rodaniche (drums).  Every track is powerful and performed with heart-wrenching passion.  Lacey’s live performance is even more moving.  You can feel her absolute devotion to God through her lyrics and see the positive reaction by those in the audience, many of which throw their hands up in praise to Him, instead of the ‘devil horns’ typically seen in a rock audience. 

She has released two books, The Reason and The Mystery, about her journey in life.  Attesting that she is human, despite her profound awareness and connection to God, she has made mistakes, she has sinned, but she has found redemption, and has forgiven herself.  She has allowed herself to be vulnerable and has allowed herself to be loved; she has accepted who she is, and what she has to offer. 

In many ways my interview with Lacey was a conversation with myself, albeit an extremely tiny, adorable and, talented version of myself, but I digress.  When I was 17 years old I had a flawless plan to commit suicide, I had attempted many times before, but never anything that would ‘work’.  I did not believe in God, as Lacey did not, I had endured so much pain as a child, and if there was a God, he would never allow a child to be harmed the way I was.  Similar to Lacey’s experience, she denied His existence because she had so much pain and seen so much pain around her.  Then one day, THAT day, God saved us.  He told me I had a purpose, that I was loved, that I was meant to do wonderful things, and that my pain was a burden he bestowed upon me because I was strong enough to carry it, and only someone who has carried it could ‘save’ others.  That day changed my life.  Lacey had her experience in church, she felt God’s love shower her, and she realized she had ignored his grace but she was finally seeing it, feeling it, and accepting of it.  She had spent so many years angry and, that she failed to see the beauty and love around her.  That is the day she truly began to live.     

She and I talked about how God shows himself to us every day, some of us choose to see it, and others ignore it because they are scared or are not ready.  But every day we are blessed with His love, be it through a person we meet, or a ray of sunshine on our faces.  She, like I, carried so much around with us, focusing on every little negative detail, or as they say ‘sweating the small stuff’, until we realized that we were wasting the wonderful opportunity God gave us.  God blessed her with a beautiful voice, a voice with the power to reach millions of people, and to make a difference in their lives.  God blessed me with the gift of strength; I can be as strong as an army when required.  Every person on this planet has a purpose, a gift, it is up to them to harness that and use it for good. 

It took me a little over a week to write my summary of the show because I wasn’t certain on what to focus on, the actual show, or the experience of meeting her.  I decided that the show was impressive, as expected, however it dims in the comparison of sitting down and talking to her one on one.  I also wasn’t certain about how open I should or would be about who I used to be and who I am today.  But I decided to lay it out on the table, I have very little to lose by doing so, if Lacey can be open, so can I.

One of the many things that moved me with my conversation with Lacy is when Annette asked her if it bothered her when bands she is performing with swear or say negative things during their performances, without hesitation she said it did not bother her.  She said that when she performs with bands with a negative message, she knows how important it is to counter their negativity with her positive energy and love, this is her part in God’s world and one she is happy to play.   So the one thing I will say to anyone that reads this article is to remember you are loved, you have a purpose, and you are not alone.  For every negative word or feeling, there is something good or someone good, you just have to open your ears, mind, and heart to accept it.  It isn't easy, every day is a struggle, but I, and Lacey, will testify that it is worth it.

Check out Lacey’ Sturms album Life Screams here:   laceysturm.com/album/

Buy her books The Reason and The Mystery here:

barnesandnoble.com/w/the-reason-lacey-sturm/1118484964

barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mystery-lacey-sturm/1123942216

A full transcript of our interview with Lacey Sturm will be available February 11, 2017 on our website bloodrockmedia.com/lacey-sturm

#laceysturm #lifescreams #bloodrockmedia #thereason #themystery #flyleaf

Slayer with Anthrax and Death Angel

Written by Michael Welter on October 13, 2016 for Bloodrock Media

For me, live music has always been a family affair, the perfect escape and bonding opportunity. In 1979 my uncle Robb took me to see Kiss with Judas Priest. I was eleven years old and from that moment forward I have been hooked. Naturally, when my son turned nine, I took him to see Pantera. He still says it was the greatest day of his life. So it came as no surprise that while my daughter and I were seeing Black Sabbath in August, she snuck off only to return with a pair of Slayer tickets. This would be our third time seeing them.

On a gorgeous Indian Summer day, we made the drive to Indianapolis a few hours early so I could have a conversation with Ted Aguilar from Death Angel. Born and raised in San Francisco, Ted grew up in the middle of the thrash metal scene. He played in several local bands before joining Death Angel in 2001. Now, two weeks on the road, I ask how the tour is progressing. “It is truly awesome to be on tour with these bands. There are no egos. Everyone is just here to put on a great show and the crew makes sure it is an easy transition from town to town. It is a very comfortable environment.”

Between the three bands, they have nearly ninety years of ass kicking combined. Ted explains what contributes to their longevity. “We are lifers. We still have the hunger and that fire inside us. We will continue to do this as long as we are able.”

I mention that Death Angel plays with a certain finesse, going beyond the standard three chord progression and ask if that helps to keep them interested. “That’s what being a musician is about. There is nothing wrong with the regular three chord and some people do it well. We just like to expand our sound and mix things up. We have a large catalog to choose from day to day and we try to play a different set each time to keep us on our toes. We are into adding spice, you know, to craft each song to be better and that makes us better. We are always learning new ways to build upon our foundation.” Their new album The Evil Divide is on the Nuclear Blast label.

I lingered around the stage door for awhile in hopes of encountering Gary Holt. Not since hanging out backstage with Dimebag in the late 90’s have I been as determined to simply shake someone’s hand. Mission accomplished and in the meantime, Kerry King obliged me with a quick photo. Not bad for a Tuesday in Indiana!

I made my way to the soundboard to secure a spot and my kids met up with me there. Just a few steps back from the pit is close enough for safety and optimal sound.  Death Angel hit the stage and as Ted said before, it was exciting and full of energy. Their singer has a great vocal range and the bass player has excellent stage presence.  Both of them interacting with the crowd and quickly gaining new fans, myself included.  Blazing guitar riffs and thundering drums, they were the perfect start to an epic night. I have seen Anthrax a few times in the past and have to say, they seem to have a new head of steam. Touring behind their latest release, For All Kings, the band was tight and full of life. Lead shredder Jonathan Donais was particularly impressive, with a mild mannered demeanor and deliberate, lightning fast leads. Scott Ian was clearly having a great time while singer Joey Belladonna did his best to keep the crowd chanting along. The rhythm section kept the train rolling for a rowdy set.

One thing that can be said for Thrash Metal fans, Slayer fans specifically, is we are dedicated to the cause. As a tribe, we are not concerned if you are offended by our music, tattoos and attitude. Personally, I enjoy seeing the horror on someone’s face when I catch them reading my Slayer t shirt. I thrive on it. And being able to share the energy and experience with my kids takes it to another level.

I made my way back to the photo pit at precisely the right moment to post up in front of Holt. I get goose bumps thinking of it. The crowd was electrified in anticipation, with a crazed look in their eyes like a bull about to do his best the buck the cowboy from his back. As the lights go down, the prelude begins...curtain drops and it is on!

Holt comes out blazing, almost manic in his approach. Head banging from the first note at break neck pace, his hands too fast to see. He is the Godfather of Thrash and he proves it every moment on the stage. No other player could have filled Hanneman’s shoes. Throughout the set the band plays homage to their fallen brother, but this group is not living in the past. Three quarters through a world wide assault, they show no sign of slowing down.

On stage left, Kerry is doing his thing. It’s tough to call him a rhythm guitarist because his shreds are so precise and add the perfect accent to each song. Tom is in classic form, black t shirt and leather pants and smiling ear to ear. He is a no frills singer. No falsetto and no bullshit. He is clearly the captain of this ship and he engages the crowd of loyal followers from time to time. “Are you ready to have some Fucking fun?”

The crowd is repeatedly whipped into a frenzy, each time more and more driven. We hang on his every word and sing along to the soundtrack of our lives. For a few hours we forget about the world outside, leaving our troubles at the door. Releasing all our aggressions in the mosh pit, head banging on the fringe or simply through the feeling of belonging to something bigger than ourselves.

Near the end of the night, Araya sums it all up, laying it down on the table, “We have been in this relationship with you for over thirty years now. You all keep coming out because you love the music. We come back because we love making the music for you.” Fucking Slayer indeed!

3 Doors Down, Pop Evil, & Red Sun Rising - Memphis, TN on 9/21/2016

Written by Jennifer Pinckney on September 22, 2016 for Bloodrock Media

On September 21, 2016 in downtown Memphis, TN, I had the opportunity to see 3 Doors Down, Pop Evil, and Red Sun Rising at the Orpheum Theatre. The venue, classic and beautiful, typically hosting plays and musicals, is ready for a night of good ol’ rock n’ roll with a stellar line up of Red Sun Rising, Pop Evil, and 3 Doors Down.

Red Sun Rising kicked off the night with some serious energy.  Being the newest of the bands playing it took the crowd a few songs to warm up to them, but by their last few songs the crowd was engaged and really enjoying their performance.

Pop Evil never disappoints. In May 2016 they announced their new drummer, Hayley Cramer, and I had yet to hear them live with the new addition. And boy was she impressive!  Their entire set was mind blowing, each song performed with precision and an enormous amount of energy.

The headliner, none other than 3 Doors Down, has been around since the late 90’s, but they still rock the stage with absolute perfection. With line-up changes over the last few years, I thought maybe they wouldn’t bring it, but the new members click extremely well.  The crowd was eating out of their hands by the end of their set, as they should have been, their entire set was flawless. Their positive vibes and overall generosity and love for our service people oozes from them.  It was so refreshing to have their positivity when there is so much negativity in the world.

Overall, I loved the experience.  I was introduced to a new band, Red Sun Rising, and I was able to see two of my favorites perform, Pop Evil and 3 Doors Down.  Check out our other pictures on our website (bloodrockmedia.com), facebook (facebook.com/Bloodrock Media), or Instagram (instragram.com/Bloodrock Media).

Marianas Trench with Skylar Stecker - Nashville, TN

It’s a Wednesday night and I get to see a very talented 14 year old star Skylar Stecker along with the very entertaining Marianas Trench.

First on the agenda was meeting Skylar for a quick interview to learn more about this up and rising star. She was such a fun person to interview and a very sweet personality. You can tell how passionate she is about her music, and she is only fourteen! I was lucky to hear her doing sound check as well, but her performance on stage was breath taking. Her showmanship was very professional and her vocals very impressive. The crowd cheered loud for her. Her set involved her playing the keyboard and singing along with a guy playing acoustic guitar. She sang a familiar tune for the fans “Cake by the Ocean” which amped up the crowd for Marianas Trench.

Marianas Trench was ready to come out and the fans screamed with joy. It had been three years since they have been to Nashville, TN, so their fans were ready to see them again. They came out on stage and brightly began their set with their lit up guitars and very impressive production set. The fans sang along with every song and kept jumping and their hands up throughout their set. They showed amazing skill and I was so honored to get to photograph them. I will definitely have to see them again next time they come around.

Written by Jennifer Pinckney for Bloodrock Media

August 3, 2016

Amon Amarth Rocks Chicago

Amon Amarth in Chicago

Written by Jacek Leja for Bloodrock Media on May 10, 2016

You know, I really love to see how bands evolve.  Some bands change their sound, some bands even change genres, but in Amon Amarth’s case, these guys now put on a theatrical show to go along with their crushing and punishing riffs.  One thing I really noticed about Amon Amarth’s newest album, ‘Jomsviking’, is that the songs are written to pump up the audience.  You can almost hear and guess when the next chant, or sing along are coming next. Predictable, but not in a bad way. 

Now to talk about Amon Amarth’s stage presence.  We are all used to seeing Johann running across a massive viking ship on stage, but this time was a bit different.  A huge viking helmet, which had their new drummer’s kit on it, took up most of the stage.  The band played while actors LARPed during the performance.  Definitely a change of pace from your average metal show.  

I can definitely bet on Amon Amarth stepping up their stage game in the future, but for now they are still giving us fans a very sweet show pleasing to the eyes and ears.