Alex Skolnick is probably best known as the guitarist for the legendary thrash metal band Testament. When not performing with the group Alex keeps busy with numerous side projects such as The Alex Skolnick Trio and, his latest endeavor Metal Allegiance, The group which features a laundry list of some of today’s top heavy metal performers is set to release their debut self titled album on September 18^th and Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Alex recently about the album and the group’s formation.

Adam Lawton: How did you first get involved with the Metal Allegiance project?
Alex Skolnick: It all happened pretty fast. I was on the “MotorBoat Cruise” playing with Testament and that’s where the very first performance under that name happened there. There were a bunch of us guys hanging out during dinner one night and some of the guys were talking about set lists. They wanted to add in some classic Van Halen and I was the guy who was pretty up on that stuff. I wasn’t really planning on playing and Mike Portnoy sort of threw it out there as a joke and I went along with it and everyone went nuts. We ended up having this great jam and afterwards we were talking about more shows in the future and I said I would be for it any time. I get a call one day asking if I would be interested in doing an album. I had never worked with any of these guys before but I was willing to give it a shot. I went in thinking it was going to be mostly an album of covers with possibly two or three original songs. Up until this point all we had played together was covers. When we got together the writing process just took off. We started off with just a couple songs we felt great about and it just sky rocket from that point on.

AL: Being that you all had never worked together before what was the creative process like for the group?
AS: We all are fans of this music and we wanted to make an album that we would be excited about putting out. We all had ideas as to what makes great album and we wanted to make sure that we captured the performance of each player involved with the record. There’s a lot of great stuff being recorded these days digitally but we wanted to take a more analog approach and incorporate elements from areas that inspired us to become musicians.

AL: Was a majority of this album created separately and sent back and forth via email or was there a point where everyone got together and recorded as a group?
AS: We worked in a couple different phases. The first phase involved the three core guys of the project. Myself, Dave Ellefson and Mike Portnoy were brought together by our mutual friend Mark Menghi. The four of us got together during the holidays and did our first session. A few weeks later we got together again for a second session. Those sessions were all done in a traditional band type recording session. In February we went out and did the “ShipRocked” Cruise and after getting back we began the next phase of work which we did in Long Island at Mike Portnoy’s home studio. There was some stuff that got sent back and forth via email but a majority of the album was done the classic way with everyone being present in the same recording space.

AL: When it came time to bring in the various guests who appear on the album who was the person making those decisions?
AS: The four of us myself, Dave, Mike and Mark made all of those decisions together. We call ourselves “The Core Four”. There was a constant stream of text messaging that we all would reply to where we all made suggestions related to the music. We decided that we would all have to agree as to who was going to be asked to be a part of the project. There were some ideas that didn’t end up happening as ultimately we felt they just wouldn’t fit and some of those may have helped sell more records but this wasn’t about that. Everything was about the feel of the track and how each piece fit and worked together.

AL: With the project taking on almost a life of its own is this something you guys hope to continue to expand on or, is this album the closing piece for the group?
AS: I believe we would like to keep this going indefinitely. There is no reason not to. We don’t want to be limited to just performing on cruise ships or at large events. We do have plans to do those types of events but we also want to do more. We have the album release show in New York at the Best Buy Theater which is going to feature most of the personnel from the album. That’s something that is going to be hard to duplicate on a tour but we are figuring things out as we go. We just announced our first international show in Mexico City which will feature the core group along with Mark Osegueda from Death Angel on vocals. There are a number of different levels that this project can work on which I think is going to be really great.

AL: Outside of the Metal Allegiance project what else are you currently working on?
AS: I have a lot of stuff going on. I have my first acoustic album out which is called “Planetary Coalition”. This is a world album and is something that I always wanted to make. I have a bunch of great artists featured on there including Rodrigo y Gabriela. Last year the trio recorded a live concert and it came out really well. We also recently wrote a few new songs and I think we are going to release that as a live album. I’m going to be a part of the “Axes and Anchors” cruise which is a cruise for guitar enthusiasts. Zakk Wylde is going to be there along with Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker and a bunch of other great players as well. Testament has mostly one off shows booked as of right now and in between those we are writing new material with hopes of having a new album out next year.

“Kill the Flaw”
Sevendust
Asylum/7Bros. Records
Produced by: Sevendust
Tracks: 11

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Southern hard rockers Sevendust are back with a brand new album titled “Kill the Flaw”. This will be the bands 11th studio album which coincidentally features 11 new tracks which were not only performed by the band but also produced by the group as well.

Sevendust continue in the tradition of their previous releases with “Kill the Flaw”. The album which will be the group’s third release in the corresponding number of years is spattered with the band signature sound which has been pounding eardrums since the late 90’s. While the album features familiar tones and textures it embellishes on those taking the listener and the band to new levels. Tracks like the albums opener/lead single “Thank You” which perfectly sets the stage for the subsequent track’s it blends the bands melodic yet raw style they are known for while songs like “Letters” with its catchy rhythmic choruses and the acoustic guitar tinged “Chop” both seem destine to be staples in the bands always impressive live show.

“Kill the Flaw” doesn’t reinvent the wheel but instead it capitalizes on the strengths Sevendust are known for. Lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon sounds stronger than ever as does the rest of the band consisting of Clint Lowery, Morgan Rose, Vince Hornsby and John Connolly. Together on “Kill the Flaw” the band proves that even after 20+ years in the music business you can still remain fresh and consistently put out solid records year after year. The album will be available Oct. 2nd via Asylum/7Bros. Records and is currently available for pre-order through the bands website www.Sevendust.com

Track Listing:
1.) Thank You
2.) Death Dance
3.) Forget
4.) Letters
5.) Cease and Desist
6.) Not Today
7.) Chop
8.) Kill the Flaw
9.) Silly Beast
10.) Peace and Destruction
11.) Torched

“Black Magic”
Motorhead
UDR
Producer: Cameron Webb
Tracks: 13

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

Motorhead the band that goes one louder brings you their latest studio offering “Bad Magic”. The album which was produced by Cameron Webb and released via UDR is the bands 22nd studio album and features 12 brand new tracks from the Lemmy Kilmister fronted group along with a unique cover of the Rolling Stones classic “Sympathy for the Devil”.

For me personally Motorhead ranks right up there as one of the most killer hard rock/heavy metal bands. Not only has the band been rattling speakers since the mid 70’s but they are one of the few solid acts from that era still putting out new music on a regular basis that still holds true to the bands original sound and style. “Bad Magic” is the latest offering from the band and sadly I just couldn’t get into the album. From a production standpoint the album is very tinny with little to no low end. At first I had thought something was wrong with my speakers but after about the 5th track I realized it was what it was. Though there were some notable performances such as the aggressive “Evil Eye” which features some great drumming by Mikkey Dee and the ballad like “Till the End” which contains an impressive solo from Mr. Phil Campbell other mentionable high points were few and far between.

Ultimate Motorhead fans will certainly want this for their collections because where else are you going to find Lemmy performing a Rolling Stones track? However if you’re a more casual listener or looking for a starting point in Motorhead’s impressive recording career I highly suggest starting at the beginning and working your way forward.

Track Listing:
1.) Victory or Die
2.) Thunder & Lightning
3.) Fire Storm Hotel
4.) Shoot Out All of Your Lights
5.) The Devil
6.) Electricity
7.) Evil Eye
8.) Teach Them How to Bleed
9.) Till the End
10.) Tell Me Who to Kill
11.) Choking on Your Screams
12.) When the Sky Comes Looking for You
13.) Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones Cover)

“23 Live Sex Acts”
Against Me!
Total Treble Music
Tracks: 23

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

“23 Live Sex Acts” is the latest offering from the band Against Me! As the title suggests the album features 23 live tracks which were recorded during various shows from the bands tour last year. The album is being released via Total Treble Music in both digital download and CD formats as well as on special edition colored triple vinyl.

If you have never experienced an Against Me! live show the band’s latest live album will get you as close as possible without actually being there. “23 Live Sex Acts” is easily one of if not the best live album I heard in a very long time. With a set list spanning the groups 13+ year career and capped off by near stellar sound production (I felt the bass could have been more present) I couldn’t have really asked for much more as the tracks blasted through my speakers. Older tracks like “Cliché Guevara” and “Pretty Girls (The Mover) sit perfectly with new tracks like “FUCKMYLIFE666”, “I Was a Teenage Anarchist” and the in your face “Osama Bin Laden and the Crucified Christ”. The album isn’t just a bunch of piped in crowd noise as at one point during the track “New Wave” front woman Laura Jane Grace stops the song to scold security for attempting to throw out a fan. Its brief moments like this that truly put you in the moment making the listening experience very real.

Whether you are a seasoned Against Me! fan who has seen the band countless times or you’re new to the group this album is for you. Over the course of 23 tracks you get an intense live feeling while being presented with a solid representation of the group’s diverse catalog. If you are any type of music fan at all then you would be doing yourself a tremendous disservice not picking up a copy of this album.

Track Listing:
1.) FUCKMYLIFE666
2.) Pints of Guinness Make You Strong
3.) Cliché Guevara
4.) True Trans Soul Rebel
5.) I Was a Teenage Anarchist
6.) New Wave
7.) Walking Is Still Honest
8.) Turn Those Clapping Hands Into Angry Balled Fists
9.) Transgender Dysphoria Blues
10.) Pretty Girls (The Mover)
11.) I Still Love You Julie
12.) High Pressure Low
13.) Don’t Lose Touch
14.) Miami
15.) White Crosses
16.) Osama Bin Laden and the Crucified Christ
17.) How Low
18.) Black Me Out
19.) Thrash Unreal
20.) Unconditional Love
21.) The Ocean
22.) Sink, Florida, Sink
23.) We Laugh at Danger and Break All the Rules

Greg Tribbett is probably best known for his guitar work with Mudvayne and Hellyeah which featured former Mudvayne vocalist Chad Grey and former Pantera/Damage Plan drummer Vinnie Paul. Greg’s newest project Audiotopsy is set to release their debut album titled “Natural Causes” at the end of the summer and Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Greg recently about the album, the group’s formation and the upcoming tour plans for this fall.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about how you guys came together to for Audiotopsy?
Greg Tribbett: Around July of 2014 I called up Matt McDonough and we got talking about putting something together as we both had nothing going on at the time. I ended up flying up to Matt’s house for a weekend and we wrote about seven songs in two days. We hadn’t played together for about 5 years by this point but things went really well. We decided we needed to get a singer and a bass player so we called Billy Keeton who we knew from the band Skrape. He had already been jamming with Perry Stern so those two sort of came as a package deal. We were really stoked at this point as we didn’t need to look for a bass player. We ended up going down to Florida to record those seven songs and we all gelled together great. It was a great time and things just came together really quickly.

AL: Was there ever any thoughts in your mind when you put the group together about how to distance it from your guys previous works with other bands?
GT: That was definitely on my mind. I didn’t want to sound like Mudvayne or Hellyeah as I have done all that. When I was writing I really tried to concentrate on originality and create things that were both new and fresh. I think we certainly accomplished that.

AL: Was the ability to come up with new material quickly something you have always been able to do or was this something new for you?
GT: It comes pretty easy for me. Usually I will just sit down and start thinking up riffs in my head and play them out on guitar. From there I will start working on the actual song. Within about 20 or 30 minutes I will have a song laid out. When Matt and I got together he was familiar with my work style from all the time we had spent with each other over the years. When I got to his house I came with most of the songs structures already laid out. There may have been one or two songs that we worked on together but for the most part things were pretty much done. I just let Matt do his thing over the riffs that I brought. We did the albums first 7 songs that weekend at Matt’s. A short while later I ended up writing another three songs that we also did at Matt’s. We originally were just going to release an EP but ended up doing a full length release instead.

AL: What type of single release plans do you have for the album thus far?
GT: We have the song “Headshot” out right now but I don’t really consider that to be our single or anything like that. The actual single will be coming to radio soon and that is called “The Calling”. We actually have plans within the next few weeks to do videos for both of those songs.

AL: What types of tour plans are in place to support the album?
GT: Right now we are looking at late fall or early winter to get out on the road. We have a lot of feelers out right now as there are a bunch of tours going out at this time. We are looking at all those and we plan to go with the best offer that suits us. From there we will make all the plans and whatnot that goes along with booking a tour. We will definitely be out there through 2016 promoting the band and the record. We want to go worldwide with this.

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“Metal Allegiance”
Metal Allegiance (Philip H. Anselmo, Charlie Benant, Chuck Billy, D. Randall Blythe, Rex Brown, Ron Tahl, Phil Demmel, David Ellefson, Alissa White-Gluz, Mathew K. Heafy, Gary Holt, Jamey Jasta, Chris Jericho, Andreas Kisser, Misha Mansoor, Mark Osegueda, Tim Owens, dUg Pinnick, Mike Portnoy, Troy Sander, Cristina Scabbia, Alex Skolnick, Steve Souza, Ben Weinman, Mark Menghi)
Nuclear Blast Entertainment
Tracks: 10

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Metal Allegiance the brain child of Mark Menghi is a who’s who of some of today’s top heavy metal performers playing collectively together as one group. What started off as a performance here and there has now morphed into a full album of original material. The album which is being released via Nuclear Blast Entertainment features 10 original tracks with performances from D. Randall Blythe, Alex Skolnick, Dave Ellefson and Mike Portnoy to name just a few.

Just when you thought you have heard it all the group known simply as Metal Allegiance goes and releases an album of completely original material. If just the thought of performers like Tim “Ripper” Owens, Philip H. Anselmo, Andreas Kisser and Ben Weinman all being together on one album doesn’t grab your attention then you better check your pulse. I can’t recall a compilation effort of this magnitude ever occurring let alone coming together to create one cohesive album. Tracks like the albums opener “Gift of Pain” which features a note worthy vocal performance by one D. Randall Blythe that instantly shreds your sense to the expansive, twisting and turning “Dying Song” you would be hard pressed to find something on this album that doesn’t appeal to you. A few other tracks I found worth mentioning are that of the over the top “Pledge of Allegiance” which has a classic thrash metal feel complete with dizzying guitar riffs, thunderous double bass and razor like vocal passages provide by Mark Osegueda of Death Angel, and the instrumentally driven “Triangulum (I. Creation II. Evolution III. Destruction)” which features some impressive lead guitar work by a laundry list of great players.

With a project as big as Metal Allegiance that certainly was a little bit of skepticism on my part as to how this album was going to work and sound. With so many working parts it was head spinning just reading the track roster in early press releases however immediately after listening to just a couple tracks it all made sense as the playing contained on each of the 9 (10 for the deluxe edition) was at the highest level it could possibly be at. You can almost hear each performance egging on the next to “top that” which made for an awesome listening experience. I really have to tip my hat to Mark Menghi for pulling this off and I hope that more of these albums will follow.

Track Listing:
1.) Gift of Pain (Blythe, Skolnick, Ellefson, Portnoy, Holt)
2.) Let Darkness Fall (Sanders, Skolnick, Ellefson, Portnoy, Brown, Menghi)
3.) Dying Song (Anselmo, Skolnick, Menghi, Portnoy)
4.) Can’t Kill the Devil (Billy, Skolnick, Ellefson, Portnoy, Demmel, Kisser)
5.) Scars (Scabbia, Osegeuda, Skolnick, Ellefson, Portnoy)
6.) Destination Nowhere (Heafy, Skolnick, Ellefson, Portnoy,)
7.) Wait Until Tomorrow (Pinnick, Jasta, Skolnick, Ellefson, Portnoy)
8.) Triangulum (I. Creation II. Evolution III. Destruction) (Skolnick, Ellefson, Portnoy, Mansoor, Weinman, Benante, Demmel, Thal)
9.) Pledge of Allegiance (Osegueda, Skolnick, Ellefson, Portnoy, Benante, Holt, Kisser)
10.) We Rock (Deluxe Edition Only) (Oseugueda, Jericho, Owens, White-Gluz, Billy, Souza, Skolnick, Ellefson, Portnoy, Kisser, Demmel, Holt)

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“The Twenty Fifth Hour”
Terror
Victory Records
Tracks: 14

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Los Angeles hardcore band Terror is back with a brand new full length album titled “The Twenty Fifth Hour”. This is the bands 6^th studio album and the follow up to the groups 2013 release “Live by the Code” which was also released via Victory Records.

“The Twenty Fifth Hour” immediately picks up where the bands previous release left off. Vocalist Scott Vogel hits the ground running with lyrics that speak true to the daily struggles that even someone completely removed from the hardcore scene can relate to. Tracks like “No Time For Fools” with its classic hardcore mid section break down to “Blinded By the Lights” which features a crescendoed ending adds to the proverbial icing on the cake to an already excitable track. “Trust No Face” which features an intense guest performance by No Warning vocalist Ben Cook is definitely worth a listen as is the albums closing track “Deep Rooted”.

Terror once again proves why they are easily one of my favorite hardcore bands out there. The band pulls no punches in its approach both lyrically and instrumentally as “The Twenty Fifth Hour” gives you something to think about while also providing you with some killer opportunities to bob your head to the beat. Though the album only clocks in at just over 22 minutes that brief period of time is utilized to its maximum potential.

Track Listing:
The 25th Hour
No Time For Fools
Bad Signs
Feed the Rats
The Solution
Blinded By the Lights
Trust No Face (Feat. Ben Cook)
Why?
Mind At War
Snap
Sick and Tired
Life Goes On
Both of You
Deep Rooted

Earth, Wind and Fire/Chicago
August 21, 2015
Starlight Theater, Kansas City, Missouri

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

They were two of the most popular bands of the 1970s and 80s, blessed with great writing, vocals and the two best horn sections of any act EVER! On Friday night, the Elements and the group from the Windy City got together and put on a show I hope to remember for the rest of my life.

Like other shows I’ve attended (Hall and Oates/Michael McDonald/Average White Band, REO Speedwagon and STYX), the show promised to be special because not only would you get to listen to the bands individually, there was also a great jam session with both groups on stage together.

The evening was kicked off with both bands on stage performing a few Chicago songs. After a rousing performance of “Dialogue Part I and II,” Chicago vacated the stage and Earth, Wind and Fire took command of the evening. Lead singer Phillip Bailey and company brought the crowd to their feet with “Boogie Wonderland.” Even at age 64, Bailey’s sweet voice carried the evening. Along with original group members bassist Verdine White, whose brother Maurice shared the bands vocal duties until forced to retire in 1994 for health reasons, and percussionist/vocalist Ralph Johnson, the band went on an extended jam session on “Serpentine Fire,” led by Verdine White’s heavy bass lines. This had anyone who wasn’t standing already up and dancing in the aisles. Other classics covered in the set included “That’s the Way of the World,”Let’s Groove,” and the groups contribution to the “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” film, a peppy “Got to Get You Into My Life.”

After a short intermission it was Chicago’s turn to take the stage, featuring original members Robert Lamm on keyboards and vocals and the amazing horn section of Lee Loughnane, James Pankow and Walter Parazaider. Playing favorites like “Make Me Smile,” “Just You and Me,” and “Saturday in the Park,” the band was spot on the entire evening. In fact, the only time the audience took a break and sat down was during “Colour My World” which, as I recall, was the first song I ever slow-danced to! It was also great when the band segued into “Get Away” after finishing “Hard to Say I’m Sorry.” The song always fades out when you hear it on the radio but on the album (I’m going to take a guess and say “Chicago 16”) it picks up nicely and gives the song a fun ending.

But the best was yet to come when, at show’s end, Earth, Wind and Fire returned to the stage and the two groups turned the energy up to “11.” Familiar hits, from “September” to “25 or 6 to 4” were performed with the power of not one, but two horn sections. I can only imagine that this is how heaven sounds! After three and a half hours the bands said goodnight to an adoring crowd who gave them a much deserved ovation.

The “Heart and Soul” tour, featuring Earth, Wind and Fire and Chicago, continues through September 6. If they’re coming your way make plans to see them. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

SET LIST: (Both groups) Beginnings, In the Stone, Dialogue (Part I & II), (Earth, Wind and Fire) Boogie Wonderland, Jupiter, Yearnin’ Learnin’, Serpentine Fire, Devotion, That’s the Way of the World, After the Love Has Gone, Got to Get You into My Life, Fantasy, Let’s Groove, (Chicago) Introduction, Questions 67 & 68, Make Me Smile, So Much to Say, So Much to Give, Anxiety’s Moment, West Virginia Fantasies, Colour My World, To Be Free, Now More Than Ever, Call on Me, Hard Habit to Break, You’re the Inspiration, I’m a Man, Street Player, Just You ‘n’ Me, Hard to Say I’m Sorry/Get Away, Saturday in the Park, Feelin’ Stronger Every Day, (Both groups) September, Free, Sing a Song, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, Shining Star, 25 or 6 to 4.

Here are the remaining shows on this leg of the Heart and Soul tour. For tickets click here.

August 28, 2015  – Toronto, ON – Molson Canadian Amphitheater

August 29, 2015 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Springs PAC

August 30, 2015 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center

September 1, 2015 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

September 4, 2015 – Raleigh, NC – Walnut Creek Amphitheatre

September 5, 2015 – Virginia Beach, VA – Farm Bureau Live

September 6, 2015 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Event Center

“This Summer’s Last Stand Tour”
Slipknot, Lamb of God, Bullet for My Valentine, Motionless in White
Date: Wednesday, July 29^th 2015
Venue: Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Darien Center, NY

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Slipknot’s “Summers Last Stand Tour” made a stop at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien Center on July 29^th. Along with the masked 9 piece band from Iowa was Lamb of God, Bullet for My Valentine and Motionless in White. With a line up this impressive the energy outside was running high and as the night progressed each act did a great job building on that energy.

Opening up the night was Scranton, Pennsylvania’s very own Motionless in White. The band performed a brief set which included songs off of each of the bands 3 albums. Though fans were still making their way into the venue those who were able to get through the slow moving security lines were treated to a solid performance by the up and coming metal band. Bullet for My Valentine would take the stage next performing a handful of songs off their upcoming album titled “Venom” in between the new tracks were fans favorites such as “Raising Hell” and “Waking the Demon” which both were definite highlights of the bands set.

Virginia metalers Lamb of God were up next and instantly took the night to the next level. Flanked by large video screens and an impressive lighting rig the visual elements of the show seemed much higher than previous shows by the band. Vocalist Randy Blythe stalked the stage like a deranged psycho path stalking his next victim while spewing out thought provoking lyrics. Drummer Chris Adler laid an impressive rhythmic path which guitarists Mark Morton, Will Adler and bassist John Campbell followed beautifully. The band performed a few songs from their recently released “VII: Sturm Und Drang” along with such LOG classics as “Ghostwalking” and “Laid to Rest” with the always prevalent “Redneck” closing out the set. The band sounded and looked better than ever which made for a great show experience. Shortly after the members of Lamb of God left the stage two giant red curtains emblazoned with large black S logos would close of view of the stage. As the anticipation built so did the crowd which seemed to almost double from when the house lights first came on.

Once the lights came back down and Slipknots “XIX” began playing through the PA it was on. Front man Cory Taylor dominated the stage as the band performed a variety of songs ranging from their break out hit “Wait and Bleed” to newer songs such as “The Devil and I” and “Before I Forget”. DJ Sid Wilson provided a bevy of entertainment as he jigged and shook his way around the impressive stage which included a giant devil head. Guitarist Mick Thompson and Jim Root handled the 6 string duties perfectly while new members drum Jay Weinberg and bassist Alessandro Venturella handled a fair share of the rhythmic duties which were highlighted at times by the addition of Shawn “Clown” Crahan and Chris Fehn. The band as a whole sounded better than ever and performed this night at the top of their game.

With a number of dates left on the “Summers Last Stand Tour” you would be doing yourself a tremendous disservice if you don’t catch one of the remaining dates. Each of the four bands leave nothing on the table making the night worthy of the price of admission and then some.

Motionless in White Set List:

1.) Break the Cycle
2.) Devil’s Night
3.) America
4.) Abigail
5.) If It’s Dead, We’ll Kill It
6.) Unstoppable
7.) Reincarnate

Bullet For My Valentine Set List:

1.) Now Way Out
2.) Your Betrayal
3.) Raising Hell
4.) Scream Aim Fire
5.) Army of Noise
6.) Tears Don’t Fall
7.) Waking the Demon
Lamb of God Set List:
1.) Walk With Me in Hell
2.) Now You’ve Got Something to Die For
3.) Still Echoes
4.) 512
5.) Ghost Walking
6.) Ruin
7.) Hourglass
8.) Vigil
9.) Laid to Rest
10.) Redneck

Slipknot Set List:

1.) Sarcastrophe
2.) The Heretic Anthem
3.) Psychosocial
4.) The Devil in I
5.) AOV
6.) Vermillion
7.) Wait and Bleed
8.) Killpop
9.) Before I Forget
10.) Sulfur
11.) Duality
12.) Disasterpiece
13.) Spit It Out
14.) Custer
15.) (sic)
16.) People=Shit
17.) Surfacing

Lamb of God
“VII: Sturm Und Drang”
Epic Records
Producer: Josh Wilbur
Tracks: 10

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“VII: Sturm Und Drang” is the latest release from Richmond, Virginia natives Lamb of God. The album which was produced by Josh Wilber features 10 brand new tracks from the metal band and is the follow up to the groups 2012 release “Resolution”

Right off the bat “VII: Sturm Und Drang” seems to have a different feel than previous Lamb of God releases. The album as a whole seems to be more melodic and cohesive. Each song appears to be meticulously crafted and showcases each of the members set discipline. “Still Echoes” kicks the album off like an atomic explosion as the blast beating provided by drummer Chris Adler sets the ground work for the guitar tandem of Mark Morton and Will Adler who play off one another beautifully.

“512”, the first single off the album was easily my favorite as its catchy sing along chorus and trudging rhythms make it worthy of blasting in the car with the windows down. “Overlord” gives us a taste of vocalist Randy Blythe’s melodic side. The track is a blues infused rocker that gets stuck in your head almost instantly. The introduction of more melodic pieces into the Lamb of God sound certainly doesn’t mean they have gone soft as tracks like “Anthropoid” and “Delusion Pandemic” are signature in your face LOG making “VII: Sturm Und Drang” the bands most well rounded release to date.

Track Listing:
1.) Still Echoes
2.) Erase This
3.) 512
4.) Embers
5.) Footprints
6.) Overlord
7.) Anthropoid
8.) Engage the Fear Machine
9.) Delusion Pandemic
10.) Torches

Royal Blood
“Royal Blood”
Warner Bros.
Produced by: Tom Dalgety, Mike Kerr, Ben Thatcher
Tracks: 10

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The self titled debut release by the UK based duo Royal Blood is an album you have to check out. When a traditional 4/5 piece band can make sounds as unique as those heard on “Royal Blood” that’s fairly impressive however knowing that Royal Blood consists of just two members  vocalist/bassist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher that changes things dramatically.

The debut album is a carefully constructed wall of sonic noise that keeps the listeners attention throughout each of its 10 tracks. Songs like the albums opener “Out of the Black” and the raunchy “Figure It Out” tear through your speakers will ease as Kerr’s gritty bass sounds cover the ground quickly making you second guess the need for guitars at all. Combined with Thatcher’s spot on timing and ability to play in the pocket each performance comes off polished and professional. The duo only further confirm this with such tracks as the robotic like “Ten Tonne Skeleton” and the in your face “Come On Over

Though I found the album didn’t quite capture all the power of the groups live element it certainly comes pretty close. With each track on “Royal Blood” having a little something for everyone it makes this a great addition to any music lover’s playlist

Track Listing:
Out of the Black
Come On Over
Figure It Out
You Can Be So Cruel
Blood Hands
Little Monster
Loose Change
Careless
Ten Tonne Skeleton
Better Strangers

Ghost
“Meliora”
Loma Vista Recordings
Produced by: Klas Ahlund
Tracks: 10

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“Meliora” is the latest release from the Swedish heavy metal band Ghost. The album is being released via Loma Vista Recordings and features 10 brand new tracks produced by Klas Ahlund. “Meliora” is the third release from the costume clad group and is the follow up to the bands 2013 release titled “Infestissumam”.

The latest offering from Ghost is certainly their most edgy release yet however the music still does little to live up to the bands dark imagery. With this being the first album to feature the newly anointed Papa Emeritus III signaling a new chapter for the band I had extremely high hopes. After hearing the album’s first single “Cirice” which features thunderous drums and a cool repeating guitar riff ala “Black Album” era Metallica I thought the band was off to a great start. Sadly much like the bands previous efforts there is a lot to sift through before getting to the albums more promising moments. That’s not to say the other tracks are bad musically as they all feature impressive arrangements however, those wanting a more straight forward metal sound might want to skip this. Along with “Cirice” I found the tracks “From the Pinnacle to the Pit”, “Mummy Dust” and  “Majesty” to be more to my liking as they featured simpler arrangements that were easier to digest while tracks like “He Is” and “Dues in Absenthia” feature church like orchestral sounds that left me reaching for the skip button.

Yes Ghost and their latest album “Meliora” is a decent album. Will it appeal to everyone? Probably not. There just seems to be a lot of droning and weighty productions elements which make the listening experience a bit annoying. Fans of the band unique sound will certainly enjoy the album as it is quite a bit beefier however I don’t see the album being strong enough to elevate the band to the next level and pull in an entirely new group of listeners.

Track Listing:
Spirit
From the Pinnacle to the Pit
Cirice
Spoksonat
He Is
Mummy Dust
Majesty
Devil Church
Absolution
Dues in Absentia

“Alternative Buffalo 107.7 Kerfuffle 2015”
CAKE, The Gaslight Anthem, The Airborne Toxic Event New Politics, Cold War Kids, Saint Motel, The Mowglis, Civil Twilight, The Valley Below, Uncle Bens Remedy
Date: Saturday, July 25^th 2015
Venue: Canal Side, Buffalo, NY

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Alternative Buffalo 107.7 held their second annual Kerfuffle music festival on July 25^th at the unique multifaceted venue known as Canal Side located in Buffalo, NY. The venue which as the names suggests is located on the canal and is nestled snugly underneath the nearby highway overpass and features its very own battleship. The unique surroundings proved to be the perfect setting for the annual music festival which featured 10 bands and a variety of local vendors.

Kicking off the nine and a half hour day was Art Voice Boom contest winners Uncle Bens Remedy. The group proved they were the perfect choice for this spot as they brought just the right amount of energy to help kick of the day’s festivities. The Valley Below would take the stage next followed by Civil Twilight and The Mowglis who despite being one member down still put on a solid performance for the growing crowd. Saint Motel would follow with their first ever performance in Buffalo and the crowd greeted them with open arms and praise especially during the playing of the groups hit song “My Type”. Cold War Kids, a group I was really interested in seeing were up next and despite what seemed to be a pretty solid performance by the band received only a luke warm reception from the audience which seemed to kill a bit of the day’s excitement.

New Politics would follow and almost instantly reinvigorating the crowd with their high energy stage performance. Lead singer David Boyd seemed to hold the crowd in his hand the entire length of the bands 30 minute which quickly put the day back on track for the near 12,000 people in attendance. The Airborne Toxic Event would be the first of 3 acts charged with closing out the day’s festivities. Sadly the band seemed less than interested in performing as the members sort of milled about the stage aimlessly going through the motions of a 40 minute set. After a brief set change New Jersey natives The Gaslight Anthem would follow by blasting through a 10 song set which featured crowd favorites “45” “American Slang” and “The 59 Sound”. Front man Brian Fallon and company took part in a playful game of kick the beach ball throughout the set which had the band cracking up making the performance fun for everyone involved.

Closing out the night were veteran performers CAKE who performed a variety of songs which spanned their 6 album catalog. With 24 years in the music business under their belt the band showed no signs of slowing down and treated the immense, sun baked crowd to songs such as “Frank Sinatra” Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” and the bands hit song “The Distance” which closed out the night.

Alternative Buffalo proved once again that they certainly know how to throw a party. With this being the stations second event of this magnitude it seemed to go off without a hitch and those in attendance seemed to really enjoy themselves. Great venue, music and weather made for an enjoyable concert experience and I cannot wait to see what they have in store for next year.

The Gaslight Anthem Set List:
1.) Handwritten
2.) Film Noir
3.) Biloxi Parish
4.) 1,000 Years
5.) Halloween
6.) 45
7.) Howl
8.) Mulholland Drive
9.) American Slang
10.) The ’59 Sound

CAKE Set List:
1.) Sheep Go to Heaven
2.) Frank Sinatra
3.) Love You Madly
4.) Italian Leather Sofa
5.) Wheels
6.) Mustache Man (Wasted)
7.) Long Time
8.) Sick of You
9.) I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor Cover)
10.) Never There
11.) Short Skirt/Long Jacket
12.) The Distance

Randall Blythe is probably best known for his work as lead singer of the band Lamb of God. In 2012 while on tour in support of their latest album “Resolution” Blythe was arrested upon entry into the Czech Republic as part of an investigation related to the death a fan at one of the bands shows 2 years prior. “Dark Days: A Memoir” is the first book release by Randy which details this ordeal from the days leading up to the arrest and the roller coaster ride which ensued during the preceding months. Media Mikes had the pleasure of talking with Randy recently about the book, what it was like reliving those experiences and also about the bands upcoming album and summer tour run.

Adam Lawton: What was it like going back through your journals and reliving those experiences during the writing of the book?

Randy Blythe: I think people were looking for me to have some sort of cathartic experience during the writing of this book and it just wasn’t. For the most part it was an unpleasant experience. It wasn’t fun while I was going through it and it wasn’t fun writing it. I think the story has value and there are some things in there that might help some people actually. I think this story needed to be told before my memories faded too much. I was thankful for the journals I had. It was weird to look back at them and read about this low point in my life. This wasn’t the first time I had looked back at journals where things weren’t going well but when I looked back at this specific journal and the fact that I was writing it while in a Czech prison was really heavy. There are some funny parts in the book but for the most part it was not a lot of fun going back. I learned a lot about the writing process through this whole thing but again it wasn’t very enjoyable.

AL: Did you have to do a lot of self editing when you were making your way through the chapters?

RB: I all heard was that we have to amputate things. (Laughs) That was more at the very end. Prior to that I was able to just write and write. When I write I am very clean and careful so there is not a lot of re-writing that has to be done. Aside from some grammatical era’s which the copy editors handled there wasn’t a lot of restructuring. When I first started I had this sort of romantic view of a writer/editor relationship as I had read stories about writers that I liked that had these intense relationships with their editors where they fought back and forth about what was going in the book. That’s what I was expecting but instead I got a lot of encouragement which is what I needed. I guess I wanted my hand held a little bit through the process but, I didn’t get that. (Laughs)

AL: Was there ever any worry about bringing further attention to these events and their relationship to the band?

RB: I had to examine that and certainly think about it for awhile. I don’t think there can be much more attention drawn to the situation that what has already happened. Anytime an article or something comes out whether its something it’s something as simple as going to Disney Land the events from the Czech Republic are going to be mentioned. No matter if it’s applicable or not it gets mentioned. There’s just so much misinformation out there about this that I figured if it’s going to be talked about I might as well set the record straight. If this brings the story to new people then at least they will know the real story. It won’t be something they found on the internet which needed to be put through Google translator or something like that. They get the straight dope from me. I wrote the book in a way that people from outside the metal scene will understand. I wanted people not from that world to read this as well. There is enough universal treatment and value related to personal accountability that no matter where you are in life you can relate to a degree.

AL: When this is all done do you feel you will be able to close the book on maybe just a small piece of that experience?

RB: Yes. I know I am going to be still continually asked about this but once press and everything is done for the book and it gets brought up later on I can just refer people to the 500 page book I wrote about it. That’s it. Just a very short answer as the book has everything people need to know about what happened.

AL: The first two songs from the band’s new album “512” and “Overlord” are quite different from one another can you tell us about that and if there was anything different in the creative process this time around for you guys?

RB: “Overlord” is actually the first song the guys have done where I can sing over the top of it. It isn’t a bid deal or something that was done consciously. One day Willie was playing some blues licks and I started humming along and that’s really all that happened. It just was very natural and organic. As far as how things were done with this album it was all the same. We have been doing this for 21 years now so we aren’t reinventing the wheel or anything like that. We have been doing this a long time and it is what it is. We just try and grow as musicians with each new album.

AL: The band kicks off a summer tour run in a few weeks can you tell us about that and any other plans you guys might have for 2015?

RB: We will be out on the road with Slipknot for 8 weeks. After that we have about a month off before heading over to South America for 3 shows. After that we head to Europe for about 5 weeks with Children of Bodom and then we will be in the UK with Megadeth.

AL: After what happened in the Czech Republic does traveling to these other countries every worry you at all?

RB: No. From time to time when I’m walking down the jet way I do get a little nervous. (Laughs) I have been around the world twice and it wasn’t ever like I was in hiding for two years or something like that. I was right back on the road immediately after everything was over.

Be sure to check out our review of “Dark Days: A Memoir” in the review section of the site.

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“Dark Before Dawn Tour”
Breaking Benjamin, Starset
Date: Tuesday, July 14th 2015
Venue: Tag’s Summer Stage, Big Flats, NY

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Breaking Benjamin kicked off their summer tour run in support of their most recent album “Dark Before Dawn” at Tag’s Summer Stage in Big Flats, NY on July 14th. Despite torrential down pours which prompted flash flood warnings mixed with heavy periods of thunder and lightning the show seemed to go off without a hitch.

Razor & Tie recording artist Starset would open the night hitting the stage performing their unique blend of techno infused rock. Clad in spacey lighted costume the members of the band laid a solid foundation for vocalist Dustin Bates who split his time behind the microphone and a giant touch screen control panel that seemed to be straight out of an “Iron Man” film. The group performed a variety of songs of their debut album “Transmission” including the hit single “My Demons” prior to the conclusion of the set. After a rather lengthy set change and still under foreboding skies the members of Breaking Benjamin would hit the stage to instant applause as they performed the song “So Cold”.

Throughout the bands 22 song set the band took time to show their appreciation for the crowds support throughout the numerous bouts of bad weather leading up to the bands performance. The nights set list was a combination of both new and old material with a handful of covers including Queen’s “Who Wants to Live Forever” and Tool’s “Aenima” to name just a few. The addition of the covers made me questions the bands decision as with 5 albums worth of material to choose from why not give the fans a little more of your own material as opposed to someone else’s. Either way all the hits were still there including the group’s 2002 break out hit “Polyamorous” which certainly was one of the songs garnering the night’s biggest applause.

With this being the bands first night of the tour I was a bit skeptical as you never know what to expect as things are generally still being worked out 2 to 3 shows into a tour however the band sounded great and right out of the gate seemed to be firing on all cylinders. Breaking Benjamin did not let bad weather hinder their performance and the sizeable crowd was very gracious. The tour runs through August so if you haven’t gotten tickets yet for the show closest to your area what are you waiting for?

Breaking Benjamin Set List:
1.) So Cold
2.) Angels Fall
3.) Follow
4.) Break My Fall
5.) Who Wants to Live Forever (Queen Cover)
6.) Unknown Soldier
7.) Sooner or Later
8.) Blow Me Away
9.) Failure
10.) Breath
11.) AEnema (Tool Cover)
12.) Phase
13.) Away
14.) Give Me a Sign
15.) Shallow Bay
16.) Imperial March/ Schism/ Smells Like Teen Spirit/ Walk
17.) Polyamorous
18.) Evil Angel
19.) Until the End
20.) I Will Not Bow
21.) Lights Out
22.) Dance with the Devil
23.) Intro
24.) The Diary of Jane