I receive a lot of CDs for review. Sometimes there are those which stand out from others. Our Own Devices is one such CD. While I have been hesitant about putting a genre to bands. sometimes it has to be done. I have had a while to digest this CD and delve into its depths and it falls into the Progressive Metal category. From the opening it grabs a hold of you. The formula that came together to make this CD come to life is nothing short of miraculous. The musicianship and vocal work are world-class and the world should step up and take notice. The CD is full of songs that are uniquely Mindcage and yet familiar to the ears. Just when you are lost within the dystopian world Mindcage paints with Our Own Devices its over and you find yourself back in your own everyday world reaching for the replay button to hear it all again. Stellar vocals, killer riffs, chest crushing bass and thunderous drums all included. There is a very cool story being told in this CD and I challenge you all to find it and come back here and post about your thoughts and musings. Here is the track listing:
1. Cadence March
2. For All Mankind (The Dark Design)
3. Our Own Devices
4. The Human Race
5. At Full Steam
6. Firefly
7. The One Constant
8. Arabella’s Arc
9. The Serenity Sequence (Renaissance Pt. I)
10. The Grand Restoration (Renaissance Pt. II)
I have been trying to pick some standout tracks and there are only two that I can put above any of the others. “The Human Race” and “Firefly” love ’em both and I think you will as well. Kudos to Mindcage for an OUTSTANDING piece of work.
Be sure to check Mindcage out online at: http://www.mindcagemusic.com and https://www.facebook.com/mindcageband and if that isn’t enough check out the video for “The Human Race” :
Special shout outs to Kinematic Music for getting behind a band like Mindcage and to Michael Wagener for incredible mixing and production.
“Our Own Devices from Mindcage will leave you breathless and wanting more.” – the Hellion
MINDCAGE RELEASES EPIC VIDEO FOR “THE HUMAN RACE;”
OUR OWN DEVICES DROPS TUESDAY
The official video for “The Human Race” from Florida-based progressive metallers Mindcage is now online athttp://youtu.be/uczkeEevnGc The full album, OUR OWN DEVICES, drops Tuesday, September 17.
A dark and powerful short movie, the video introduces the character of Arabella Vash, a young woman who exists in a utilitarian clockwork society. She is becoming empowered by visions and dreams, and about to start her journey to find the band of rebels, The One Constant (portrayed by the band), that she will lead. “The Human Race” is her awakening, and call to power.
In search of an appropriate post apocalyptic steam punk setting for their video, Mindcage chose to film in the historical district of their hometown of Pensacola FL. With the vision, creativity and costuming skills of Airship Isabella [http://airshipisabella.com/], an authentic and innovative steam-punk troupe from New Orleans, Mindcage was able to convey their vision of The One Constant and the dystopian world in which they live.
Jason Thomsen directed and edited “The Human Race.” He recently served as assistant director on “Girl from Iceland” (a Kinematic Entertainment Production). The track features vocals by Hydrogyn’s Julie Westlake.
OUR OWN DEVICES is mixed by rock legend Michael Wagener (Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Alice Cooper, Megadeth, Dokken, and Overkill). The core members of Mindcage – Dietrick Hardwick (writer, guitarist), Brian Howell (bass) and Craig Nudo (drums) – have been connected personally and through music for almost thirty years. Jeff Hignite, a recent but important addition, brought not only lyrical contribution but also his powerhouse vocals.
TRACK LIST:
1. Cadence March
2. For All Mankind (The Dark Design)
3. Our Own Devices
4. The Human Race
5. At Full Steam
6. Firefly
7. The One Constant
8. Arabella’s Arc
9. The Serenity Sequence (Renaissance Pt. I)
10. The Grand Restoration (Renaissance Pt. II)
Dangerdog Music Reviews: 5/5 stars
Our Own Devices is quite impressive: between the idea, lyrics, vocal arrangements, brisk guitar, and accomplished arrangements, it easily stands in the fine tradition of conceptual progressive metal albums like Queensryche’s Operation Mindcrime. Very recommended.Mindcage
OUR OWN DEVICES will be available on the band’s website www.mindcagemusic.com,
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-human-race-single/id692323537, amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F7CDATY and at your favorite record store.
I have had the chance to listen to this CD and it is GREAT! Review coming soon!
-the Hellion
RIGHTEOUS VENDETTA, NOISECREEP.COM PREMIERE “THIS PAIN” MUSIC VIDEO
New full-length “The Fire Inside” out October 8
CODY, WYOMING – Wyoming rock/metal act on the rise Righteous Vendetta has teamed up with Noisecreep.com to premiere a music video for the band’s new single “This Pain,” taken from the upcoming release The Fire Inside, out October 8, 2013. Check out the clip online at:http://noisecreep.com/righteous-vendetta-this-pain-exclusive-video-premiere/.
Singer Ryan Hayes told Noisecreep, “‘This Pain’ was a song that came to us as we witnessed people in our personal lives become victim to suicide. The song exists to speak to both young and old that no matter what pain you may be going through in life it can be overcome. Love is the key and it is all around us. The video was a visual representation of what we wanted ‘This Pain’ to be.”
After checking out the new video, fans can pre-order The Fire Inside online at:http://vibedeck.com/righteousvendetta.
1. Defiance
2. This Pain
3. What You’ve Done
4. With Love
5. The Fire Inside
6. So Long
7. Inside My Eyes
8. Fight Back
9. Far Away
10. Back to Life
11. Losing Control
12. For the Skeptic
13. John The Revelator
Righteous Vendetta is currently gearing up for an upcoming run on the Taproot headlining “Fall to Action Tour” which will kick off on Wednesday.
The band will follow the Taproot quest with a stint of tour-dates in support of Trapt beginning on Halloween.
A list of all confirmed dates can be seen below.
With a fierce, DIY approach, Righteous Vendetta will look to build upon past successes, including multiple hit singles – “This Pain” spent 15 weeks in the top 20 on Billboard’s Christian Rock chart and “The Fire Inside” broke the top 10 at Christian Rock and spent 10 weeks in the top 20 – and over 800 shows played around the globe.
Stay tuned for more information on Righteous Vendetta and The Fire Inside.
9/18 – Milford, OH @ Bocca Billiards
9/19 – Nashville, TN @ 12th and Porter
9/20 – Montgomery, AL @ Rock Bottom
9/21 – Biloxi, MS @ WCPR Fest
9/24 – Merriam, KS @ Aftershock
9/25 – Sauget, IL @ Pop’s
9/26 – Memphis, TN @ New Daisy Theater
9/27 – Tupelo, MS @ Goodtime Charlie’s
9/28 – Columbus, GA @ WRCG 1069 ROCKS Presents
10/02 – New Port Richey, FL @ Bourbon Street
10/03 – Clermont, FL @ The Q Room
10/04 – Destin, FL @ Club LA
10/05 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
10/07 – Charlotte, NC @ Chop Shop
10/09 – Fayetteville, NC @ Drunk Horse Pub
10/11 – Springfield, VA @ Empire
10/12 – Woodstock, VA @ Chili Cookoff
10/13 – White Marsh, MD @ House of Rock
10/15 – Reading, PA @ Reverb
10/17 – Akron, OH @ The Rock Factory
10/18 – Battle Creek, MI @ Planet Rock
10/19 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Piere’s
Righteous Vendetta w/ Trapt…
Righteous Vendetta online…
www.facebook.com/righteousvendetta
www.youtube.com/user/RighteousVendetta
Righteous Vendetta is…
Ryan Hayes – Vocals
Justin Olmstead – Guitar
Isaiah Perez – Drums
Carl Heiman – Guitar
Zack Goggins – Bass
trying to bring you cool stuff all of the time
-the Hellion
TAD MOROSE RELEASES “BENEATH A VEIL OF CRYING SOULS” TEASER
First album in 10 years “Revenant” out this fall
SWEDEN – Swedish veteran power metal act Tad Morose has uploaded a teaser of a new track “Beneath A Veil Of Crying Souls” to YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy5iIygNzj8. The song will appear on the band’s impending seventh studio album Revenant, out November 20, 2013 on Despotz Records. A music video for the track will surface in the coming weeks.
Regarding the signing of Tad Morose to Despotz Records, founder Ömer Akay said, “Tad Morose is a band that I’ve followed since my teenage days. They have their unique sound of melodic power metal and a touch of prog metal. After a decade of silence, it will be an honour to put Tad Morose back on the map again!”
Added guitarist Christer “Krunt” Anderson, “It was through our new management Lena Graaf on GMR Music Group that we came in contact with Despotz Records. They seem to be a hard-working and innovative record label, so to sign with them feels very good. It will be very exciting to work with them and we look forward to the release of our seventh album Revenant in November.”
Stay tuned to www.despotz.se for the latest information on Tad Morose and Revenant.
Tad Morose online…
looking forward to hearing more from these guys!
the Hellion
Outlaw Metal Band ATTIKA 7 Appearing Live this Friday (Sept 13) and Saturday (Sept 14) at KUPD’s Desert Uprising in Phoenix, AZ and Operation Kick Ass in San Diego, CA
Supporting AVENGED SEVENFOLD, VOLBEAT, HALESTORM, HIM, ALL THAT REMAINS, AIRBORNE and More
ATTIKA 7 will be performing new material ‘Dance of the Dead’ and ‘Darkness’ along with their instantly famous cover of The Eagles’ ‘Witchy Woman’, which is exploding on the radio all around the country as we speak… Look for the release of ATTIKA 7‘s Dark Metal version of ‘Witchy Woman’ coming soon!
Also, make sure to watch the new current season of SONS OF ANARCHY, co-starring Attika Axe Man RUSTY COONES as “Rane Quinn”, SOA Nomads President!
For Booking and info contact info@attika7.com / visit www.attika7.com.
my bro Rusty gave me a special autograph
Attika7? Hell yes what are you waiting for? Time get your ass kicked!
the Hellion
In 2001 a band caught my ears, that band was Avenged Sevenfold. “Warmness On The Soul” from their debut release Sounding the Seventh Trumpet was the song that did it. I dug the sound and the imagery the band was trying to present. I thought to myself if this band managed to keep it together, and not breakup, they had the potential to become a great band.
They released three more albums Waking The Fallen, City Of Evil, and the self titled Avenged Sevenfold. Each album brought enjoyable music and showcased their growth and talent as songwriters and musicians. And then in 2009 disaster happened, founding member and drummer James”The Rev” Owen Sullivan passed away. Was this end of a band that I was sure would rise to the top?
James “The Rev” Owen Sullivan (February 9, 1981 – December 28, 2009)
I cannot imagine their thoughts at the loss of their comrade in arms and yet, they muddled through it and released Nightmare in 2010. Pulling in Mike Portnoy (one of The Rev’s idols) to complete the drum work The Rev had started and including the vocal tracks he had laid down. Nightmare was met with critical acclaim and launched A7X into mega stardom.
Due to the fact that The Rev played a part in the songwriting process of A7X people began speculating as to the survival of the band post Nightmare. Mike Portnoy toured with the band briefly before leaving the band. Arin Ilejay was then tapped to become their permanent drummer.
2013- Hail To The King was released on August 27th and I was scheduled to shoot their performance on August 30th. What can I say about this album? My prediction from 12 years ago has come true. A7X has managed to knock everyone off the charts and put ROCK N’ ROLL back on top as it should be. Congratulations guys, your perseverance has paid off.
Now, to address the naysayers to the album. There has been postings and rumblings on how A7X has “ripped off” Metallica, Megadeth, Guns N’Roses, and Iron Maiden. Well if you give it some thought you will realize that those bands were some of the bands who inspired the members of A7X. Go through your records and listen to them again and you will hear similarities to other bands in almost all of them in some way or another. How long has it been since a hard rock act has been on top of the charts? A7X has gone to ground and pulled from those influences and made a damn good hard rock record. Thank you gentle men, thank you very much. And to the naysayers: how many records have you sold recently, and what is your tour attendance like?
Now, on a lighter note, here’s some of the pics I shot from their stellar performance on Day 1 of The Revolt On The Rio Grande powered by Rock Star Energy Drink.
M. Shadows
M. Shadows
Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates
M. Shadows
Johnny Christ
Zacky Vengeance
Arin Ilejay
A7X stage setup
Hail To The Kings indeed
the Hellion
Silence, silence
Silence when you speak to me!
-Lemmy Kilmister
Like the juggernaut you prayed would keep on crushing you, like the friend that still royally pisses off your parents and like a loyal standard of crunchy, greasy, punky, bluesy, gutsy screw-you rock’n’roll, MOTÖRHEAD stride out through their 38th year brandishing more swagger and attitude then your ears could begin to comprehend.
On October 22, 2013, MOTÖRHEAD will deliver their 21st studio album, an enormous and prophetic Aftershock. Recorded at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, it is a true leveler, a crushing confirmation of everything MOTÖRHEAD stands for, marching from the dust storm to deliver 14 belting statements which see MOTÖRHEAD in perhaps their best writing form for years. There’s swagger, there’s punch, there’s speed and there’s dirty filthy grooves, Lemmy Kilmister, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee showing clearly that MOTÖRHEAD is not simply a band, it’s a genre!
That genre, more than ever, resonates with hearty independence and swashbuckle. Whether it’s “Heartbreaker” throwing hooks and riffs into your head, the double-kick concussiveness of “Paralyzed” with Campbell’s fuelled attack, or the thunderous ride-off-the-Rickenbacker Motörcharge of “Going To Mexico”, Aftershock takes gleeful twists and turns which re-announce the Motörlegend. There’s the smoky biker bar blues in the shape of “Dust And Glass”, Lemmy’s late-night vocals evoking last-call and melancholy, the pogo-powered punk-spiked stab of “Queen Of The Damned” and the deliciously steamy, humid mournful “Lost Woman Blues” which midway through decides to kick over the stool and stomp out the saloon door.
Aftershock track listing:
Heartbreaker
Coup de Grace
Lost Woman Blues
End Of Time
Do You Believe
Death Machine
Dust And Glass
Going To Mexico
Silence When You Speak To Me
Crying Shame
Queen Of The Damned
Knife
Keep Your Powder Dry
Paralyzed
Aftershock is available in four different formats, wherever music is sold! The album can be purchased in CD (limited edition digipack), CD (jewel case), Vinyl (gatefold – 180-Gram Single LP), and digital formats. A North American pre-order will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Steal it if you must, buy it if you can!” says Lemmy, who’s pride in the album is so immense that guests to his home and dressing room in the last couple of months have been treated to extremely loud airings of the rough mixes, while Phil Campbell adds, “I really think the variation on the album shows that we’ve dug deep and produced some of our best work for a long time.”
“It is,” says Mikkey Dee, “a really, really strong MOTÖRHEAD album, one that really does define everything this band stands for.”
He’s not wrong. Because MOTÖRHEAD are MOTÖRHEAD are MOTÖRHEAD…and their Aftershock will be felt worldwide…
Learn more about MOTÖRHEAD at these websites:
Official Lemmy Facebook: www.facebook.com/OfficialLemmy
Official MOTÖRHEAD Facebook: www.facebook.com/OfficialMotorhead
Official MOTÖRHEAD Twitter: @MyMotorhead
Official MOTÖRHEAD Website: www.imotorhead.com
it’s MOTÖRHEAD, just buy it
-the Hellion
Friday. Day 1 of Revolt on the Rio Grande. Not getting press passes until 4:00 P.M. made for a very rushed and chaotic afternoon. Unfortunately no interviews on this day but in return– main stage photo opportunities were full on. I arrived in time to catch the main stage acts put on one hell of a show.
Halestorm— What can I say? I was every bit pleased with their performance that I thought I would be, and a bit more. Lzzy Hale, Arejay Hale, Joseph Hottinger, and Josh Smith really gave all. This band is powerful in every sense of the word. Whether it’s a hard rocker like “Daughters of Darkness” or a more mellow “Here’s to us”, they make you FEEL every word and riff right down to the bone. I’ve been a fan of Halestorm for a couple of years now, and that was solidified by finally seeing a live performance. If you are not board yet, I highly suggest you jump on before they leave you in the dust. Halestorm Played a few songs from “The strange case of… Halestorm”, Giving something in their show that some bands just don’t…. diversity. Young or old, there is something here for everyone.
It’s been a few years since Korn was in my life in a live setting. The last time I saw them they were “Headless”. The return of Brian “Head” Welch has come with major fan approval. Korn’s set at this years Revolt on The Rio Grande was phenomenal!! There is no middle ground with this band. You either love them, or haven’t heard of them. I was lucky enough to be front and center for this bombastic set. I tell you… from the first note played… goosebumps!! Jonathan Davis owns any crowd he is in front of still to this day. Not only was the bands sound so incredibly loud, the audience was deafening as well. Just another tribute to how relevant this band was and still is. But was there ever any doubt? Not likely. Korn… One of the most important bands of the last 20 years, if not ever.
Charlie Owens!
photo courtesy of Charming Liars
Charlie Cosser, the Hellion, Mike Kruger, Charlie “MF” Owens, Gabe Gambino – photo by Mrs. Hellion
One of the caveats to covering a show like Revolt On The Rio Grande Day 2/Rock Star Energy Drink Uproar Festival 2013 is sometimes when you have several interviews scheduled you sometimes miss other bands sets. This, unfortunately, was the case with Charming Liars. We were off interviewing The Dead Daisies during their set so we do not have live photos or a review of their set. We do, however, have a kick ass interview with Charlie and Mike. I will also post a link to the video for “New Disorder” which is where the nun/crossbow/devil reference is from. Here is the interview:
Really digging this band ad their music. Make sure to check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/CharmingLiars and at http://www.charmingliars.com
Check out their video for “New Disorder” :
Charming Liars, pretty kick ass band, great attitude and we wish them all of the success in the world!
Team HellBangs
the Hellion Rocks 