Metal music
Left To Suffer × Distant: The Feral Heritage North America Tour 2023
Left To Suffer and Distant are touring North America this summer with special guests Justice For The Damned and Cabal. Snag your tickets on Left To Suffer’s Bandsintown.
- 8/18 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Hell)
- 8/19 – Orlando, FL – Conduit
- 8/20 – West Palm Beach, FL – Respectables
- 8/22 – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
- 8/23 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club
- 8/24 – Philadelphia, PA – Warehouse on Watts
- 8/25 – Brooklyn, NY – The Meadows
- 8/26 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
- 8/27 – Hartford, CT – Webster Underground
- 8/28 – Bangor, ME – Queen City Cinema Club
- 8/29 – Montreal, QC – Fairmount Theatre
- 8/30 – Toronto, ON – Velvet Underground
- 8/31 – Pittsburgh, PA – Preserving Underground
- 9/1 – Lakewood, OH – The Foundry
- 9/2 – Detroit, MI – The Sanctuary
- 9/3 – Chicago, IL – Cobra Lounge
- 9/5 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
- 9/6 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
- 9/8 – Portland, OR – Dante’s
- 9/9 – Vancouver, BC – The Cobalt
- 9/10 – Seattle, WA – Funhouse at El Corazon
- 9/12 – Sacramento, CA – Old Ironsides
- 9/13 – Fresno, CA – Strummer’s
- 9/14 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction
- 9/15 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Underground
- 9/16 – El Paso, TX – Rockhouse Bar & Grill
- 9/18 – San Antonio, TX – Vibes Underground
- 9/19 – Ft. Worth, TX – Tulips
- 9/20 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
- 9/21 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street
- 9/22 – Kansas City, MO – Bottleneck
- 9/23 – St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House
- 9/24 – Nashville, TN – The End
Album Review: Breathing Theory’s Artificial
Breathing Theory is a band that toes the line between heavy and melodic with an unrivaled precision (think Starset meets Gemini Syndrome meets Breaking Benjamin), and they have proven this yet again with the release of their new album. Artificial hit all streaming services on May 26th. The album is made up of ten songs that run the gamut from provoking thought to tugging the heartstrings, and all are unforgiving in their extremes.
Artificial opens with the electro-metal-symphonic “Replicas,” an introduction to the theme set by the album’s title: a dystopian future run by artificial intelligence. The very first song begs the questions “Can we define what it is that makes us human? Are we alive, or are we just replicas?”
“Replicas” is succeeded by “Beautiful Disaster,” which showcases Breathing Theory’s hard-hitting riffs paired with heartfelt lyrics and frontman Cory Britt’s strong singing voice. The band sends listeners into audio whiplash by diving straight into the relentless “Collapse.” Here is a prime example of Cory’s harsh growls and screams, echoing the anger and frustration of the lyrics – “They’re starting fires so the smoke and hate won’t clear/Misdirection keeps you trapped in fear” – and juxtaposed by the pure cleans of the chorus.
The next track – “Your Frequency” – is another switch, not exactly a ballad but certainly on the more melodic end of things. This is one of my favorites on the record. The words are gorgeous, and I have the utmost respect for Breathing Theory’s refusal to shy away from that side of their genre.
“The Cure” is crafted into solid verses and an extremely catchy chorus. It is followed by “Transcend,” the heaviest song on the album, and “My Cancer,” the softest. “Tethers” feels like something you would hear on the radio (in the best possible way). It makes the head bob and is easily imaginable as one of the sing-along moments during a Breathing Theory show.
And then, the band drops in their rendition of Journey’s “Separate Ways.” I’ll admit, I didn’t see that one coming, but I cannot stress enough how much it absolutely works! Breathing Theory manages to maintain the integrity of the original while also making it their own, a truly impressive feat.
Artificial wraps with “Blackout,” and I am going to call this a ballad. Slow and steady, with sad lyrics, Cory’s haunting vocals, and a moody guitar solo (can guitar solos be moody?), I think it fits the bill.
There is not a single track on this record that I don’t like. A mix of alternative rock and metal with a metalcore edge and a trace of the grunge element, Breathing Theory definitely knows how to keep listeners intrigued and on their toes. Give Artificial a listen, or several, and follow Breathing Theory on their socials to see what’s next!
“Collapse” was the first single from Artificial. I knew I was going to love this album solely because of this song.
Song of the Day — Sleep Token: “Are You Really Okay?”
Alesana: The Trilogy Tour, Part II – A Place Where the Sun is Silent (2023)
Alesana has announced The Trilogy Tour, Part II. They will be playing the second installment of The Annabel Trilogy, A Place Where the Sun is Silent, from front to back! Joining them on this tour will be Limbs, Vampires Everywhere!, and Across the White Water Tower. Tickets are available at bandsintown.com/alesana, and you can purchase Alesana VIP packages at meetandscream.com.
- 6/15 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East
- 6/16 – Birmingham, AL – TrimTab Brewing Company
- 6/17 – Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Music Hall
- 6/19 – Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock
- 6/21 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
- 6/22 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger
- 6/23 – Austin, TX – Empire Control Room & Garage
- 6/24 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street
- 6/25 – Dallas, TX – So What? Music Festival 2023
- 6/27 – Kansas City, MO – recordBar
- 6/29 – Madison, WI – The Annex at The Red Zone
- 6/30 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
- 7/1 – St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House
- 8/10 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
- 8/11 – Jacksonville, NC – Hooligans Music Hall
- 8/12 – Spartanburg, SC – Ground Zero
- 8/13 – Orlando, FL – Level 13 Event Center
- 8/14 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
- 8/15 – Richmond, VA – The Canal Club
- 8/16 – Pittsburgh, PA – Crafthouse Stage & Grill
- 8/17 – Horseheads, NY – The L
- 8/18 – Brooklyn, NY – The Brooklyn Monarch
- 8/19 – Frenchtown, NJ – Artie’s Bar & Grill
- 8/20 – Harrisburg, PA – HMAC
- 11/9 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater
- 11/10 – Las Vegas, NV – The Space
- 11/11 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
- 11/13 – West Hollywood, CA – Whiskey a Go Go
- 11/14 – Fresno, CA – Full Circle Brewing Co.
- 11/15 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield
- 11/16 – Reno, NV – Virginia Street Brewhouse
- 11/17 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
- 11/18 – Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep
- 11/19 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
Song of the Day — Avenged Sevenfold: “G”
My favorite track from Life is But a Dream…, which is available everywhere now!
The Struts Announce Summer Dates With Mac Saturn
Tickets: thestruts.com
- 6/16 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
- 6/17 – Burlington, ON – Sound of Music Festival 2023*
- 6/18 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe
- 6/20 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
- 6/22 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
- 6/23 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
- 6/24 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
- 6/25 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
- 6/27 – New Orleans, LA – The Civic Theatre
- 6/28 – Austin, TX – Emo’s Austin
- 6/29 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
- 7/1 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
- 7/2 – Orlando, FL – The Beacham
- 7/3 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live
- 7/5 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
- 7/7 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
- 7/8 – Kirtland, OH – Wonderstruck 2023*
- 7/9 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl
- 7/11 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone
- 7/12 – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre
- 7/14 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live
- 7/15 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17
- 7/16 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
- 7/18 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
- 7/19 – Portland, ME – Aura
- 7/21 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
- 7/22 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
- 7/23 – Washington, DC – The Atlantis*
* No Mac Saturn
Ghost: Re-Imperatour 2023 (USA)
Ghost is touring the US again this summer! With support from Amon Amarth, the Re-Imperatour kicks off August 2nd in Concord, CA. You can get your tickets (if you haven’t already) at ghost-official.com.
- 8/2 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
- 8/4 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
- 8/5 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live Outdoor Venue
- 8/7 – West Valley City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
- 8/8 – Greenwood Village, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
- 8/11 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
- 8/12 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater
- 8/14 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
- 8/15 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
- 8/16 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
- 8/18 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
- 8/19 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
- 8/20 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
- 8/22 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
- 8/23 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
- 8/24 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
- 8/25 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
- 8/27 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
- 8/29 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
- 8/30 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place Amphitheater
- 8/31 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
- 9/2 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
- 9/3 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
- 9/5 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
- 9/7 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
- 9/8 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
- 9/11 – Inglewood, CA – The Kia Forum*
- 9/12 – Inglewood, CA – The Kia Forum*
* Ghost only
Song of the Day — Ded: “A Mannequin Idol (Lullaby)”
Blacktop Mojo: Sun On My Face Tour 2023
Tickets/VIP: blacktopmojo.com
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