By Greg Maki German act Venues underwent significant lineup changes—new singer, new guitarist—in the aftermath of its 2018 debut, “Aspire,” and on album number two, “Solace,” they’ve resulted in a tighter, heavier—and better—version of the band. Impressively, the band has upped the intensity without sacrificing any melodic sensibility—thank new singer Lela Gruber and her hypnotic,... Continue Reading →
By Greg Maki While the 2020 shutdown of the world wasn’t kind to any recording artists, it had the potential to be devastating to an act like Jinjer. The Ukrainian metal band had been surging in popularity around the world, first on the strength of the single “Pisces,” then on 2019’s one-two punch of the... Continue Reading →
By Greg Maki It’s been 10 years since Times of Grace released its debut album, “The Hymn of a Broken Man,” but it feels like even longer. Back then, Jesse Leach still was “former Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach,” and the project was most noteworthy for being his reunion with Killswitch guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz. Leach,... Continue Reading →
By Greg Maki Eighteen years after forming, Hookers & Blow, the glorified cover band led by Guns N’ Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed and Quiet Riot guitarist Alex Grossi, finally has recorded an album. And this self-titled affair is—you guessed it!—a covers album. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. In fact, it’s keeping perfectly in... Continue Reading →
By Greg Maki Even at Buckcherry’s height in popularity—think 2006-2007 when songs like “Crazy Bitch,” “Sorry” and “Everything” were burning up airwaves all over the country—its music never was what one would call hip. It’s never been “cool”—whatever that means—to be into a band that, for more than 20 years, has remained staunchly dedicated to... Continue Reading →
By Greg Maki If I had to predict the next act in heavy music to ascend to arena/festival headliner status, it just might be the Caleb Shomo-led Beartooth. The Columbus, Ohio-based band has been on a steady upward trajectory over the course of its first three records, earning one of the most dedicated fan bases... Continue Reading →
Review by Greg Maki “More Than Dreaming” opens “You Will Be the Death of Me,” the second album by Light the Torch, with a heavier riff and rhythm than almost anything on 2018’s “Revival.” For a few seconds, you might be tempted to think the band is reaching back to its Devil You Know days,... Continue Reading →
By Greg Maki For many music fans, the frontman is a band’s entire identity, and when that voice is gone, so are those fans. I tend to take the opposite route. I see a vocalist’s departure as an opportunity for the remaining musicians, a potential rebirth even for a veteran band with a long history... Continue Reading →
Review by Greg Maki What do you do when a pandemic hits in the middle of an album cycle and wipes out all touring plans for the foreseeable future? If you’re Myles Kennedy, best known as the singer of Alter Bridge and for Slash and the Conspirators, you write and record a new record. “The... Continue Reading →
Review by Greg Maki With recent years seeing a resurgence in nu metal, it’s no surprise that one of the most successful bands of that late-’90s/early-2000s era has re-emerged, as well. It’s easy now to overlook just how massive Staind was, given its inactivity for the majority of the past decade. Hitting at the tail-end... Continue Reading →
