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VALKYRIE Sign to Relapse Records; Complete Recording New Album

  By James McQuiston • July 31, 2014

Relapse Records is proud to announce the signing of Virginia hard rock riff worshippers VALKYRIE. Formed in 2002, VALKYRIE consists of brothers Jake and Pete Adams (Baroness, Samhain) on guitar and vocals, Alan Fary (Earthling) on bass and Warren Hawkins on drums. Drawing heavily from the classic eras of hard rock and heavy metal, VALKYRIE play guitar driven rock n’ roll replete with infectious solos and catchy, powerful vocals. The band has drawn numerous comparisons to greats like Thin Lizzy, Scorpions, Black Sabbath, early Iron Maiden, and Deep Purple.  Continue reading

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HIGH ON FIRE Announces North American Tour Dates

  By James McQuiston • July 31, 2014

HIGH ON FIRE have announced summer tour dates. The globally celebrated heavy metal pioneers will kick off the must-see live performances on August 12 in Cambridge, MA as headliners of the inaugural Converse Rubber Tracks Live Tour. The just-announced run will continuewith stops in Toronto (Aug. 14), Brooklyn (Aug. 15), Los Angeles (Aug. 19) and San Francisco (Aug. 20). Tickets for the Converse Rubber Tracks Live Tour are free (see below for ticketing links) and the jaunt will coincide with Converse Rubber Tracks “pop-up” recording studios in each city, providing opportunities for emerging artists to unleash their creative spirit. Continue reading

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Keys N Krates Announce New EP Every Nite

  By James McQuiston • July 31, 2014
Keys N Krates are about to be rewarded by Every Nite, the fresh new EP from the Canadian musical masterminds. Still flying high off the success of their undeniably catchy hit “Dum Dee Dum,” Keys N Krates are ready to launch into the next phase of their journey with this 6 track offering, which aptly demonstrates their evolution as a band, as well as their loyalty to the unique fusion of hip-hop and electronic music that they’re known for. Set for release on September 23 on Dim Mak Records, Every Nite displays the seamless blend and complementary juxtaposition between the drums, keys, turntables, and live sampling that so clearly distinguishes Keys N Krates Continue reading
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Shudder Inside My Head CD Review

  By James McQuiston • July 30, 2014 ,

Inside My Head is the current release from Detroit’s Shudder, providing listeners with a solid collection of tracks that paint a full picture of the band’s styles, influences, and technical skills. Black and White is a track that blends together the technical virtuosity of bands like Tool with the emotional fury of metalcore acts. Of particular note during this track has to be the sizzling guitar work and the supremely intricate drum line that weave their way through the effort. Change? Gets things much more gritty and grungy, while the band crafts a track that would work nicely on rock radio rotation. The production of Inside My Head allows each of the disparate elements of Shudder to shine even as each subsequent effort showcases a cohesion that few bands could create. Continue reading

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Superfix Feature

  By James McQuiston • July 30, 2014 ,

Superfix is a Los Angeles-centered band that features Kalen Chase (formerly of Korn) that is poised to take the hard rock genre by storm. The Lion’s Storm has sharp guitar work, emotive vocals, and a drum line that is authoritative and ground-shaking. There are hints of A Perfect Circle, Deftones, and Incubus here even as the guitars continually set the act in bold new directions. Continue reading

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SON LUX REVEALS VIDEO FOR “LANTERNS LIT”

  By James McQuiston • July 30, 2014
Joyful Noise Recordings is excited to share the video for Son Lux‘s “Lanterns Lit” from their 2013 full-length Lanterns. The video premiered via Noisey, where they noted that “Son Lux makes music that is bewitching. Elements of electronica and classical music are gently folded together beneath a beautiful cracking voice.” Noisey called the video “Beautifully shot… something absolutely worth watching again, and then again, and then again.” Continue reading