Born and raised amid the rich musical history of Seattle, Washington, Ayron Jones has been one of rock music’s biggest success stories of 2021. His debut solo album, “Child of the State” (he previously issued two independent releases with his band Ayron Jones and the Way), spawned the hit single “Mercy,” which spent a month... Continue Reading →
Even with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 is quite the year for Danko Jones the band, marking 25 years in action and seeing the release of its 10th studio album, the superbly rocking and appropriately titled “Power Trio” (Aug. 27, 2021, Sonic Unyon; read Live Metal’s review). Live Metal’s Greg Maki recently caught up with... Continue Reading →
Former Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing could stay away only so long before heavy metal called him back. After leaving the band in 2011, he re-emerged in early 2020 with a new outfit, appropriately named KK’s Priest. He recruited a couple old friends for the band, vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens, who fronted Judas Priest from... Continue Reading →
After a year and a half, touring—the lifeblood of most metal bands—is back. For Butcher Babies, the return to some form of normalcy begins Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at the Metal in the Mountains festival in Pipestem, West Virginia. From there, the band will launch its “Butcher Babies vs. Goliath” tour, on which it will... Continue Reading →
What started as a reason to simply play some music and have a good time has grown into a band that’s pushing 20 years in business. When longtime Guns N’ Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed and Quiet Riot guitarist Alex Grossi started the cover band Hookers & Blow in 2003, it wasn’t with the intention of... Continue Reading →
It’s remarkable that New Jersey deathcore crew Lorna Shore exists today, never mind that it’s enjoying the biggest success of its career. The band was still reeling from the dismissal of its former vocalist in the wake of sexual abuse allegations against him when the COVID-19 pandemic hit—a week into its European tour with Decapitated.... Continue Reading →
After more than two decades in the game, Nonpoint has gone independent with the launch of 361° Records. With a series of EPs, the band is upending the traditional album cycle release pattern rock acts long have employed and, in the words of frontman Elias Soriano, is writing the most “irresponsible” music of its career.... Continue Reading →
More than two decades after announcing its arrival with the instantly iconic single “Lit Up,” Buckcherry refuses to slow down. Its ninth album, “Hellbound” (June 25, 2021, Round Hill Records; read Live Metal’s review), is one of its best, and the band has a packed touring schedule through the end of the 2021. Live Metal’s... Continue Reading →
For Light the Torch, 2020 was to be filled with a new album and plenty of touring to support it. Those plans, of course, changed completely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Skip ahead to June 2021 and the band’s second album, “You Will Be the Death of Me” (Nuclear Blast Records; read Live Metal’s review)—following... Continue Reading →
The CEO, a hard rock band out of Georgia consisting of five successful entrepreneurs/musicians, was set to launch in early 2020 and even had released its first music video. But then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the band—Mack Mullins on vocals, Vince Hornsby (Sevendust) on bass, Chase Brown and Beau Anderson on guitar, and Joseph... Continue Reading →
