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Review: Emmure – Live at Altar Bar Pittsburgh, PA 3/7/2014

Posted in Artist Watch, News, Photos, Reviews, Shows on March 22, 2014 by Randy

The Mosh Lives Tour is the second tour to come to the Altar Bar in Pittsburgh with a stacked line up. With Emmure headlining, it was bound to be a kickass tour, especially with support from killer bands Volumes and Thy Art is Murder, including two big up and coming bands (Sworn In and Gideon). Altar Bar was sold out, and if this first show is a sign of things to come you better be ready for one hell of a beating. From the first song to the last note, shit got CRAZY in Pittsburgh! There was everything from hardcore dancing to stage diving, and even some blood shed… and that was just the first two bands!
Sworn In kicked things off…these guys are in the process of taking the industry by storm and are sure to be headlining these intense tours within a year or so. They’re just a group of young kids who play really heavy music and write deep dark lyrics that connect with kids so well, and they have showmanship like no other. If you’re into any kind of deathmetal/deathcore, then they are a band that needs to be on your radar.

The second band to take stage is Alabama hardcore band: Gideon. They have been working like crazy the past three years or so playing tour after tour and leaving every bit of themselves on stage after every performance. Next to perform was Thy Art is Murder and Volumes; both bands brought the roof down (like there was any left to be brought down after Sworn In and Gideon) and made everyone in the building get up off their feet. During both sets there were circle pits all over the venue on top of kids stage diving and guitar players climbing on speakers for solos and epic bass drops.

Last but certainly not least, was Victory Records flagship band Emmure, led by Frankie Palmeri. Frankie and Emmure have been the center of attention over the last few weeks due to their new album (Eternal Enemies), and one track specifically that blatantly suggests that kids should take guns to school…but as Emmure has witnessed before, bad publicity is better than no publicity. With that said, they clearly showed that they were worthy of the headlining slot. With all the haggard bodies after the first four bands you’d almost think that the place would be emotionless by the time Frankie and the boys took the stage. Think again, because the floor came alive with no safe place for anyone. They played nearly every song that you can think of, from tunes off their first record to some fresh jams that hadn’t been heard by many. If you have yet to purchase tickets for the show in your town, I suggest that you do before it’s too late because you’ll regret missing these brutal bands all at once.

https://www.victoryrecords.com/emmure

emmure, a set by logan.rocktribune on Flickr.

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Review: Chimaira at Altar Bar Pittsburgh, PA 2/5/2014

Posted in All Metal, Artist Watch, News, Photos, Reviews, Shows on February 20, 2014 by Randy

Regardless of the insanely low temperatures, there was one thing that pierced the air near the Strip District that Pittsburgh hadn’t experienced in quite some time: a hard hitting metal tour led by none other than the great Chimaira. The band kicked of 2014 by announcing their headlining “Celebrate the Chaos” tour, which includes some pretty chaotic bands on the bill as support. (Fit for an Autopsy, Reflections, Oceano, and I Wrestled a Bear Once)

The show opened up with two local bands playing, and well, let’s all be happy they weren’t a notion of things to come for the night. I’m not sure if it was ill preparation or just the pressure of opening for some stellar acts, but the locals dropped the ball on this one. They seemed to have problems of every sort…from instrument difficulties, to long stuttering pauses in between songs, and what seemed to be nerves in their voices, regardless if it was during clean vocals or demon like screams. The verdict? Weaksauce.

Following the openers, Reflections stepped up and took control of the venue and everyone in it. By the midway point of the opening song they managed to have the whole floor turn into a huge mosh pit full of flying elbows and spin kicks. Continuing the barrage were Fit for an Autopsy and Oceano…two very heavy metal bands who both put on a good show filled with hard hitting guitar riffs and demon like “pig squeal” vocals that really got the crowd out of their shell and into circle pit after circle pit. But let’s not forget to mention the two bands everyone came for, I Wrestled a Bear Once and Chimaira. If you haven’t seen IWABO live, put it on your bucket list because you are missing out on some technical guitar riffs, unique female vocals, and their ability to connect with every single person in the crowd during and in between songs.

There is a reason Chimaira have been around for Fifteen years and are still going strong. Not only did they have an innovative style that set them above every other band of the new wave American Metal, but they possess an array of songs that enable them to put on a clinic. From Mark Hunter’s (vocalist) intensity on stage to their ear piercing guitar riffs, they leave their presence known before the first song is over. While on this tour you can expect Chimaira to play songs off their most recent release “Crown of Phantoms,” to the old-school favorites “Resurrection,” “Power Trip,” and even “Pure Hatred.” This tour is still in its early stages so check out the dates when it comes to a city near you. Oh yeah, brush off your moshing boots and go to a show, because a tour this badass doesn’t come around very often!

Chimaira, a set by logan.rocktribune on Flickr.

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Review: Stolen Babies @ Chicago House of Blues 1/28/2014

Posted in All Metal, Artist Watch, New Music, News, Photos, Reviews, Shows with tags Chicago, House of Blues, industrial, Logan Rendulic, metal, music, Pop Evil, Randy Hall, rock, shock rock, Stolen Babies, Stone Sour, The Rock Tribune on February 7, 2014 by Randy

Circulating on rock radio right now is a very intriguing band that goes by the name of Stolen Babies. Their sound is very reminiscent of early Industrial Metal, mixed with a strong Shock Rock influence. Sprinkle a little accordion in there, maybe some 55 gallon drum, then choose either a guitar or bass (never both at the same time), and wa-lah.

Stolen Babies are currently embarked on tour with two power house bands in rock (Stone Sour and Pop Evil), and most dates on this tour have been sold out. We were fortunate to cover the Chicago House of Blues stop, and honestly, we were mind blown. They are the opener for this tour, and with only 3 bands on the bill, they had ample time to melt faces. From the first note, to the last riff, they managed to strangle hold the crowd. Regardless if they’ve never been heard, their arsenal of songs is a crowd mover…exploding with an instant pit, full of elbows and crowd surfers.

The band consists of Dominique Lenore Persi (vocals), Rani Sharone (bassist and guitarist) and Gil Sharone on drums. One interesting thing about the band and their sound is Dominique…and she isn’t just a vocalist. On certain songs she beats away at that 55 gallon barrel hanging from what appears to be an engine hoist, giving a slight percussion that you’d expect to hear in bands like Slipknot and Mushroom Head. But, there’s more: the unique sound doesn’t stop there because she also plays an accordion… YES, AN ACCORDION! This throws a completely different aspect into this band’s sound that has already separated them from traditional rock/metal bands. To say the least, these guys are a true experimental rock band and have certainly found their niche in an industry constantly looking for new sounds.

-Pop Evil highlights included Leigh Kakat coming out and climbing on the crowd to sing
-Stone Sour’s Corey Taylor played Alice in Chains’ “Nutshell” solo, and also the first 2/3 of “Through Glass” before the band erupted
-Within each set, there were some sound issues

Only a few more dates remain on this tour…check them out below. If you aren’t able to make it to a show, definitely get on your computer and check out Stolen Babis online and hear their fascinating sound for yourself.

-Randy Hall and Logan Rendulic © The Rock Tribune, 2014

Feb 6 Thu   Anaheim, CA
Feb 8 Sat   Las Vegas, NV
Feb 9 Sun Tempe, AZ
Feb 11 Tue El Paso, TX
Feb 13 Thu Dallas, TX
Feb 14 Fri Houston, TX
Feb 15 Sat   San Antonio, TX

Stolen Babies, a set by logan.rocktribune on Flickr.

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Sworn In – Edinboro University 12/13/2013 [Photos]

Posted in All Metal, Artist Watch, Featured, News, Photos, Reviews with tags concert, Edinboro University, Like Moths to Flames, Logan Rendulic, metal, music, photos, rock, Sworn In on December 19, 2013 by Randy

When ‘Sworn In’ and ‘Like Moths to Flames’ got together to do a little four city run, everyone knew it was bound to be an intense, fun filled couple days. Students of Edinboro University displayed just that: a semester ending, angst ridden adrenaline release. No one can truly forget the opening bands that actually made a night like that possible, with ‘Melrose’ and ‘Bail Easy’ (Erie Pennsylvania locals) bringing waves of friends along, packing the house. Other openers included Tuesday’s Too Late and Motives, each holding their own and playing amazing sets that almost remind me of something you’d witness if you were at a Letlive performance.

Hats off to the headliners…Like Moths to Flames and the Erie/Edinboro area are fairly familiar with each other since this was second time they’ve played there in about nine months. Sworn In on the other hand had many faces in the crowd that I’m sure they had never seen before, but regardless of it being a new crowd or old friends, the band always delivers a hard hitting show. Taking place on Friday the 13th, it makes you wonder if it gave Sworn In even more reason to come out and pummel the crowd, showcasing sadistic vibes like they do at all other concerts they play.

Needless to say, if you didn’t make it to this show or any of the other shows these two bands played, then it sucks to be you. Don’t fear, because they are both far from being done and will surely be playing in a town near you before you know it. DON’T MISS IT.