Alter Bridge — “The Uninvited,” from the album Fortress (2013).
Florida bands
Weekly Focus: Alter Bridge, Pt. II, Day Three
Alter Bridge — “Coeur D’Alene,” from the album AB III (2010).
Weekly Focus: Alter Bridge, Pt. II, Day Two
Alter Bridge — “Buried Alive,” from the album Blackbird (2007).
Weekly Focus: Alter Bridge, Pt. II, Day One
Alter Bridge — “Shed My Skin,” from the album One Day Remains (2004).
Album of the Week: Alter Bridge’s AB III
Is it bad when one of a band’s weaker albums is still stronger than other artists’ best albums? That’s how I feel about AB III. It is not at the top of their catalog, in my opinion, yet Alter Bridge has undoubtedly done something special with this record. Standout tracks such as “Wonderful Life” and “Words Darker Than Their Wings” have this offering in my player more often than not.

5 Bands/Artists You Should Be Following (#20)
1. Greyhaven (UK)
Alternative/modern rock from London. For fans of Bring Me the Horizon, A Day to Remember, Walk the Moon, etc. Back in May, Greyhaven was featured on a Metal Hammer tribute to Avenged Sevenfold. They covered “Hail to the King.” Here are two originals from the band: “Breathe” and “Truth”.
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2. Playing Savage
Funk/soul/rock with a hint of hip-hop, based in Vienna. For fans of Res, Michael Jackson, Alabama Shakes, etc. Playing Savage is busy writing and recording new music! In the meantime, check out the Spotify page, as well as these two songs from the YouTube page, “This Is Love” and “Get Off of My Back.”
3. Moonfall
Alternative/pop/rock band from New York. For fans of Fall Out Boy, twenty one pilots, Panic! At The Disco, etc. According to their Instagram, Moonfall has “so much in the works” but “so little we can say.” You can, however, check out the lyric video for “Windswept,” and the video for the first song I heard, “Lost.”
4. Dare Defy
Hard rock/metal music from Florida. For fans of Killswitch Engage, Taking Back Sunday, Finch, etc. (with a touch of Slipknot). Dare Defy’s first EP is available via Spotify. They are currently booking shows and Labor Day weekend, they will be playing the Blue Ridge Rock Fest alongside such acts as Puddle of Mudd, Orgy, Lamb of God, and Jonathan Davis. Listen to the songs “Love Sick” and “Burn.”
Facebook – Instagram – YouTube
5. Indogen
Melodic progressive rock from Arizona. For fans of Tool, A Perfect Circle, Pink Floyd, etc. Indogen is working on new music and playing live in and around the Phoenix area, so if you’re anywhere nearby, check out their Facebook page and get to a show! Crank up the volume and jam “Autopilot” and “Implosion.”
5 Bands/Artists You Should Be Following (#18)
1. Meka Nism
Metal from Florida. For fans of Arch Enemy, Within Temptation, Nightwish, etc. Meka Nism just released their latest EP, The War Inside, in May and are now booking shows. Check out the title track and “Bring the Sun Back.”
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2. Love The Hate
Rock from Mobile, Alabama. For fans of 10 Years, Tantric, Chevelle, etc. Love The Hate recently opened for From Ashes to New and Bad Wolves at a hometown show. Their latest album, Burn, is available for purchase through various digital outlets. Get a taste of Burn on ReverbNation, and listen to “Bleed the Weak” now!
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3. A Light in the Darkness
Progressive metal from Texas. For fans of Lamb of God, Soilwork, early Trivium, etc. A Light in the Darkness currently has two EPs available — Conspire and Athens to Piraeus — on digital platforms such as iTunes and BandCamp. Here is “Ransom,” from Conspire.
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4. Skynd
Electronic/industrial/dubstep duo that formed in Australia. For fans of Sköld, Die Antwoord, Skrillex, etc. Skynd premiered their video for “Gary Heidnik” recently, which features Korn front man Jonathan Davis. This is my new favorite band. Thus far, their songs and videos have been delving into the minds of murderers, and I love it! Please check out both of their singles, “Elisa Lam” and “Gary Heidnik.”
Facebook – Instagram – YouTube – Twitter
5. Hank the Businessman
Folk/progressive rock from Pennsylvania. For fans of Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Jason Mraz, etc. Hank the Businessman released the Mountain EP in June. Here are my two favorite songs, “One” and “Tangled.”
5 Bands/Artists You Should Be Following (#17)
1. Devil in Disguise
Hard rock/metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada. For fans of Avatar, Avenged Sevenfold, early Stonesour, etc. Devil in Disguise released their debut album, Welcome to Hell, earlier this month. Check out the first single — “Sick Of You.” And I have it from a very reliable source that the next single and video will be out soon!
2. Dark Summer
Hard rock from Florida. For fans of Three Days Grace, I Prevail, Crown the Empire, etc. Dark Summer has a show at House of Blues in Orlando on August 25th. Their latest album, Full Circle, is available now. Dark Summer has also been entered in the neXt2rock contest, hosted by 95.9 Rock in Melbourne. Visit their Facebook for more info. Here are “Push” and their cover of Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do.”
3. Black Water Rising
Rock/metal from New York. For fans of Black Label Society, Theory of a Deadman, Shaman’s Harvest, etc. Black Water Rising has a few shows on the horizon. Their newest album, Electrified, was released in late 2017 and is available in both digital and physical formats. Listen to “Brother Go On” and “Dance With the Devil.”
Facebook – Instagram – YouTube
4. A Few Memories
Electronic/industrial music from Paraguay. For fans of Orgy, Dope Stars Inc., Mindless Self Indulgence, etc. You can check out A Few Memories’ full discography via bandcamp. Below are two songs from their latest EP, Llamando a Venus: “Espejismo de Escape” and “Mundo Enfermizo.”
5. Silent Echoes
Hard rock from Florida. For fans of Beartooth, The Amity Affliction, solo Ben Bruce, etc. Silent Echoes have some upcoming shows, which you can find on their Facebook. Their debut EP, Getting Through, is available on digital platforms such as iTunes. The new album, Lullabies, is coming soon! Hear the title track now!
5 Bands/Artists You Should Be Following (#16)
1. Maybe If You Hit It
A hard rock band from Florida. For fans of Pop Evil, Theory of a Deadman, Shinedown, etc. Maybe If You Hit It has recently returned to the scene and is ready to give their fans something new. In the meantime, check out “No Regrets” and “Texas Swagger.”
2. Prescription Happiness
Industrial/dark ambient music from the UK. For fans of Nine Inch Nails, Orgy, Deftones, etc. Prescription Happiness is currently booking shows and has just gotten their merch store up and running. Listen to “Hide and Seek” and “Still Breathing.”
Facebook – Instagram – YouTube – Official Site
3. In Vein
Hard rock/metal from Indiana. For fans of Escape the Fate, The Used, Motionless In White, etc. In Vein just released a cover of Rob Zombie’s “Meet the Creeper,” and their single “Haunt Me” can be streamed on Spotify. Here are two of my favorites, “Death Of Me” and “Behind the Curtain.”
4. Romance & Rebellion
Alternative/pop/rock from California. For fans of early Fall Out Boy, Justin Timberlake, 5 Seconds of Summer, etc. Romance & Rebellion is currently promoting the Amps & Anthems EP. Crank up “For a Moment” and “Boys Don’t Cry (BDC).”
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5. Lindsy Says
Rock & roll from Georgia. For fans of Lynam, My Darkest Days, Sixx AM, etc. Lindsy Says is touring to promote their first CD. Here is their first single, “Hold On Me,” and a live video of them playing “Headlights.”
Playlist Challenge, Day 423
Marilyn Manson — “New Model No. 15”