Avant-garde metal band Avatar is playing a few dates in North America this May! With them will be rap-rockers Oxymorrons and the all-female rock outfit Conquer Divide. Tickets are on sale at avatarmetal.com!
5/8 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
5/9 – Huntsville, AL – Mars Music Hall
5/10 – Greensboro, NC – Piedmont Hall
5/11 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
5/12 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
5/14 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
5/15 – Wallingford, CT – Dome at Toyota Oakdale Theatre
5/16 – Reading, PA – Reverb
5/17 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival 2024*
Carbonstone is releasing a new song, “White Noise,” on February 17, 2024, and this is one you don’t wanna miss! I was given an early listen of the forthcoming release, and it is certainly a standout track in the Carbonstone library.
“White Noise” has an edge, musically revisiting the band’s heavier side. The aggressiveness of the guitars, carried by the combination of a driving drum beat and rapid-fire bass line, are the perfect foundation for a song that is thematically dark.
Front man Corey James utilizes his voice to evoke a visceral reaction from his listeners. The melodic delivery of the verses offers an audibly interesting contrast to the music; the clear intonation, almost a croon, lends beauty to the tale of heartache: “You poison everything, like you did to me…” Both the lyrics and the vocal performance speak of disappointment, a resignation to the situation our narrator finds himself in. “Somewhere I can’t be found, and now this wavelength is severed/We’re nothing but white noise.”
However, as the track progresses, anger and frustration leak through, raw growls woven intricately throughout until the breakdown, when they crescendo into a lengthy scream of catharsis. “Suffocating, close to breaking, you left me buried alive,” Corey snarls, and a strong sense of breaking free seems to be implied. Perhaps the struggle is not yet over, but the light at the end of the tunnel has been seen.
“White Noise” is a song that deals with the complexities of our relationships, romantic and otherwise, and does so in a way with which we all can connect. This is a must-hear, so head to Spotify, presave it, and get ready for Friday!
Alternative/trap metal artist Seethe surprised his followers by abruptly releasing an EP, entitled Cavalier Dualities, to Bandcamp on January 29th. (It has since gone live on all major streaming platforms.) Staying true to the glitchy, yet melodic, sound that I have come to associate with Seethe, this trilogy of tracks is an eight minute, thirty-four second emotional purge – for both artist and listener.
Cavalier Dualities is a brief glimpse into the repeating cycle of various mental health issues, depression prevalent among them. Seethe never backs down from addressing darker subject matter, and this is again apparent in all three songs.
“Medicate” is the beginning phase. Whatever the struggle is with – mental health, addiction, etc. – this track references the attempt to best it, to medicate and cope and hopefully ascend from the depths, maybe even defeat it one day.
This is followed by “Smile.” In Seethe’s own words, “Smile” is about how, in life, sometimes all one can do is smile and move forward. Throughout the fight with one’s own personal demons is the occasional necessity to fake it ’til you make it, as they say.
The EP concludes with “In Two,” a heart-rending song in which our narrator realizes (s)he is back in the hole, that (s)he had a brief moment in the light but has yet again fallen into the rut. This brings us back to the start, the need to medicate, and the cycle continues.
The discordant music and vocal stylings seems to reflect the frustration and hopelessness that colors the whole sordid tale, a cry of “I’ve been here before and failed, but I have to keep trying.” And while Cavalier Dualities may be a story borne from the artist’s own battles, it is relatable to anyone who has ever persevered through a private, often unseen, war with oneself.
You can listen to Cavalier Dualities on your favorite streaming service! And once you’ve checked out the EP, ready yourself for Seethe’s next release: the new single, “Away,” which is dropping on Valentine’s Day!
Louisiana-based metal project We Are The Virus is releasing new music on February 29th! Put together and performed by front man Ryan Henry, “Get Bent” is an instrumental piece that clocks in at 3 minutes, 20 seconds.
The driving beat and intricate thrum of the bass form a solid foundation, and for the first minute or so, a rock-oriented riff is crafted upon this pedestal. But don’t let that lull you into complacency! At roughly the 1:14 mark, the listener is carried into a journey of guitar work, from delay effects to a shredding solo that speaks of WATV’s classic metal influences. The song then falls back into a maelstrom of drums, bass, and guitar, building to its rather abrupt ending.
The story behind the track? According to Ryan, the inspiration was a literal “get bent” to those people who are nothing but a problem in your life. Where words fail, music speaks, as they say, and “Get Bent” is a musically blistering “not anymore” to those who need to be dismissed for your own peace of mind.
Don’t miss “Get Bent” on your favorite streaming service, and be sure to follow We Are The Virus on their various socials so you never miss an update! And, if you would like to learn more about the band, check out the interview I did with Ryan back in November 2023.
Metal heavyweights Static-X and Sevendust had so much fun touring together last year that they’ve decided to do it again! With support from Dope and Lines of Loyalty, the second leg of The Machine Killer Tour starts February 1st in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Grab your tickets and VIP packages at static-x.org or sevendust.com!
2/1 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues, Myrtle Beach
2/2 – Orlando, FL – The Orlando Amphitheater at Central Florida Fairgrounds
2/3 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live
2/4 – Tampa, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa
John 5 will be touring early in the new year, and he’s bringing along some special guests! From February 1st to February 7th, Liliac will be accompanying him, and the week of the 21st to the 28th, Marty Friedman will be appearing. Grab your tickets and VIP upgrades at john-5.com!
1/26 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
1/27 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
1/28 – Las Vegas, NV – Count’s Vamp’d
1/30 – Colorado Springs, CO – Sunshine Studios Live
2/1 – St. Charles, IL – Arcada Family Theatre at Pheasant Run Resort#
2/2 – Turtle Lake, WI – St. Croix Casino#
2/3 – Green Bay, WI – EPIC Event Center#
2/4 – Kansasville, WI – 1175 Sports Park & Eatery#
2/6 – Angola, IN – The Eclectic Room#
2/7 – Harrison, OH – Blue Note Harrison#
2/8 – Lakewood, OH – Winchester Music Tavern
2/9 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop
2/10 – Columbus, OH – The KING of CLUBS
2/12 – Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
2/13 – Lititz, PA – Mickey’s Black Box
2/14 – Derry, NH – Tupelo Music Hall
2/15 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
2/16 – New Bedford, MA – The Vault Music Hall & Pub
2/17 – Rochester, NY – Montage Music Hall
2/18 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
2/19 – Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater
2/20 – Greenville, SC – The Radio Room
2/21 – Atlanta, GA – The Loft*
2/23 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall (Dallas System)*
Metalcore act Code Orange is touring in early 2024 with special guests Teenage Wrist and Soul Blind. Spy, Gridiron, and others to-be-announced will also be appearing on certain dates. You can grab tickets at codeorangetoth.com.
2/13 – Austin, TX – Emo’s Austin
2/14 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
2/16 – New Orleans, LA – Toulouse Theatre
2/17 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East
2/18 – Birmingham, AL – Zydeco
2/20 – Atlanta, GA – Hell at The Masquerade
2/22 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
2/23 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage*
2/24 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts*
2/25 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club*
2/27 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere
2/29 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
3/1 – Detroit, MI – The Shelter
3/2 – Chicago, IL – Metro Chicago
3/3 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
3/5 – Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater
3/6 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
3/8 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon+
3/9 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom+
3/10 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom+
3/12 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent+
3/13 – Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Trading Post Sacramento+
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