New Music (6/4 — 6/10)

Halcyon Way: “Blame”

Threefold Maze: “Hope”

Real Friends: “From the Outside”

WSTR: “Bad to the Bone”

Bullet For My Valentine: “Letting You Go”

Unborn Generation: “Ritual”

Cane Hill: “It Follows”

Thrice: “The Grey”

Vein: “Doomtech”

PIG: “The Chosen Few”

Framing Hanley: “Puzzle Pieces”

Daughtry: “Deep End”

Auditory Armory ft. Eric Mann: “The Light That Was Lost”

Dance Gavin Dance: “Count Bassy”

Against the Waves: “As Above So Below”

Seether: “Against the Wall” (Acoustic Version)

The Bridge City Sinners: “Ashes”

Christina Aguilera ft. GoldLink: “Like I Do”

Sleeping Giant: “Preachcore Lives!”

Crossfaith: “The Perfect Nightmare”

Cast the Stone: “As the Dead Lie”

Kataklysm: “The Resurrected” (Live Video)

Badflower: “Ghost”

Sleep Token: “Jaws”

Letters From the Fire: “Naked in the Rain”

Mike Shinoda: “Ghosts”

Johnathan East: “Too Much ‘Bama in Me”

The Veer Union: “City of the Sun”

Threefold Maze: “Lost My Way”

Chino Moreno: “Brief Exchange”

Monster Truck ft. Dee Snider: “True Rocker”

The Smashing Pumpkins: “Solara”

The Night Flight Orchestra: “Lovers in the Rain”

Evanescence ft. Lindsey Stirling: “Hi-Lo”

Madball: “Rev Up”

Aversions Crown: “The Breeding Process”

Beyond the Fade: “Welcome to the Pain”

Trope: “Lambs”

Betrayer: “Embodiment”

Tremonti Cover Metallica Acoustically — on Hello Kitty Guitars

I shouldn’t love this as much as I do. Mark Tremonti and Eric Friedman play “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” on a Hello Kitty guitar and ukulele, respectively.

Via Loudwire:

5 Bands/Artists You Should Be Following (#7)

This installment could get rather lengthy. I saw three of the featured bands a few weeks ago, so I have a lot to say.

1. Locust Grove

A hard rock band from Oklahoma. These guys put on a kick ass live show, and they mean it when they say they’re bringing heavy guitar riffs back to rock. Lots of hair, gritty yet melodic vocals, and riffs reminiscent of Five Finger Death Punch, Sevendust, etc., Locust Grove could easily be your new favorite band. Check out the tracks “Monster” and “Menace of Society” below.

FacebookInstagramYouTube

2. Joyous Wolf

A rock band from California. These guys have been setting the world on fire this spring, being signed to a major label and playing such festivals as Carolina Rebellion and Rocklahoma. Joyous Wolf puts on one of the most energetic performances I’ve ever seen, in addition to their raw talent. I will not compare them to anyone else, but I will tell you they blend rock-n-roll, blues, and southern rock masterfully. The guys have currently left the road to record their first album. Here’s a taste of what you can expect.

FacebookInstagramYouTube

3. Blacktop Mojo

A hard rock/Southern rock band from Texas. You may have heard their cover of Aerosmith’s “Dream On,” thanks to Sirius XM Octane. Blacktop Mojo employs all the best elements of classic rock, rock-n-roll, and Southern rock to bring fans a sound that is pure joy to the ears. They put on a fantastic show, doing whatever it takes and giving 110% every time. It’s no wonder they have already cultivated quite the following. You can look at their tour dates on Facebook…and if you’re going to Louder Than Life in September, you will see them there!

4. Icon For Hire

A pop/rock/alternative band from Tennessee. For fans of Paramore, Pink, PVRIS, etc. Icon For Hire just finished a spring tour. Listen to them below and keep your eyes open for updates/announcements!

5. Dead Like Juliet

A hard rock/metal band from Italy. For fans of Bring Me the Horizon, The Amity Affliction, early Asking Alexandria, etc. You can get Dead Like Juliet’s latest album, Stranger Shores, now! Here is the most recent single, “Unwanted.”

And just because I like it…

FacebookInstagramYouTube

Bands You Should Know: Hot Gospel

Hot Gospel reached out to me via Instagram, requesting that I give them a listen. What they didn’t know is…they were already on my list of bands to check out. Based on my love of Asking Alexandria, Every Time I Die, and others, Hot Gospel seemed to fit the bill nicely.

I jumped on YouTube and listened to the songs available there, just to get a taste. I started with “Thanks For The Blood.” The opening riff hooked me immediately, and while I fully appreciate the growling screams, the clean vocals were very nice, reminiscent of early era M. Shadows (Avenged Sevenfold) mixed with Ben Bruce (Asking Alexandria). Honestly, the track filled me with the urge to dive into a mosh pit.

I followed the link to their Bandcamp for more. The best thing about Hot Gospel, in my humble opinion, is the fact that they don’t fall into the standard metal/hardcore sound. Many bands tend to become complacent, but thus far, Hot Gospel is nowhere close. They include the elements of several genres, then add their own unique twist to tie it all together.

I would highly recommend Hot Gospel to anyone who appreciates a fresh approach to a favorite genre. The band is currently recording a new EP, to be released in August/September. A single and music video will be out even sooner, so keep your eyes peeled; you know I’ll be sharing it here!

Check out the songs below and be sure to visit Hot Gospel on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, and their official site. If you sign up for their mailing list, you will get free stuff and merch discount codes!

Download Festival 2018

Download Festival is happening next weekend, June 8th — June 10th. In case you haven’t already seen the lineup, here it is!

There are a lot of good bands playing, you lucky peeps! Lol. If you’re going, have fun! ❤

10 Songs to Help You Through Hard Times

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, as I haven’t been in the best place mentally or emotionally for the past month. Music is the only thing that makes sense anymore.

I know we all have those songs that make us feel good, but what about the ones that are like a balm to our bruised hearts/souls? My recent struggles have led me to a few discoveries, one of which surprised me very much.

Alter Bridge: “I Know It Hurts”

Myles Kennedy is the king of uplifting lyrics. I can name a track from each Alter Bridge album that could be on this list, but “I Know It Hurts” takes the spot because of one simple line: “Now is not forever.” Sometimes, that is the best thing to remember.

Alter Bridge: “All Ends Well”

I said Myles was the king, right? “If you believe in nothing else, just keep believing in yourself.”

Almost Kings: “Better Than This”

There are actually a couple of songs from these Georgia natives that I could have chosen. However, “Better Than This” immediately struck a chord in me. I understand it so much more now.

Asking Alexandria: “Alone in a Room”

I know, I know. I haven’t shut up about this band or this song, but the lyrics describe my mindset so accurately that it’s scary.

Linkin Park: “Heavy”

Honestly, isn’t it nice to know you’re not the only one? This song has brought me to tears more than once, especially following Chester’s death.

Asking Alexandria: “Under Denver”

“Just wait and see, just sit and breathe.”

Andy Black: “Put the Gun Down”

This was the one that surprised me. I hadn’t listened to Andy’s solo record, then I randomly decided to let it play on Amazon. I ended up with this song on repeat. I couldn’t have found it at a better moment.

Blink-182: “Adam’s Song”

Self-explanatory.

Fun: “Carry On”

“May your past be the sound of your feet upon the ground. Carry on.”

Modest Mouse: “Float On”

My line has always been Don’t worry, even if things end up a bit too heavy. We’ll all float on alright.”

New Music (5/28 — 6/3)

Sisters Doll: “Strutt”

Asking Alexandria: “Someone, Somewhere” (Acoustic)

Wayward Sons: “Don’t Wanna Go”

Kamelot: “Amnesiac”

Gwenmarie White: “Skjemt Blod” (Bad Blood)

BrokenRail: “Ghosts of Tomorrow”

Trophy Eyes: “You Can Count On Me”

Halestorm: “Uncomfortable”

Veld: “Hatred Forever Dispersed”

Coheed & Cambria: “The Dark Sentencer”

Good Charlotte: “Actual Pain”

Bad Wolves: “Change (In the House of Flies)”

Slightly Stoopid ft. Chali 2na: “Higher Now”

Tremonti: “As the Silence Becomes Me”

Jesus Piece: “Curse of the Serpent”

Bury Tomorrow: “Knife of Gold”

Kataklysm: “Outsider”

Leprous: “Golden Prayers”

Hollywood Undead: “Gotta Let Go”

Atrocity: “Bloodshed and Triumph”

The 1975: “Give Yourself a Try”

Chelsea Grin: “Hostage”

Bad Wolves: “Remember When”

Fit For a King: “Tower of Pain”

Gorillaz: “Humility”

Mayday Parade: “It’s Hard To Be Religious When Certain People Are Never Incinerated By Bolts Of Lightning”

At Most Fear ft. Fronzilla: “Wicked”