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Trivium in concert with Conniption and The Bloodline (1-21-16)

Post #324

Touring in support of their newest album, Silence in the Snow, Trivium made a stop in my neck of the woods in southeast Wisconsin and I got myself a ticket, in spite of it being on a week night. It has been far too long since I've managed to see Trivium live, plus this would be my first chance to see them as a headliner! They've put out 3 albums since I last saw them on Mayhem Fest in '09, so there would be plenty of new songs in their set, plus I also got a chance to see two other up and coming bands: Conniption and The Bloodline. I had been following The Bloodline in recent months, since Mike Sylvester of Fist to the Sky joined their touring line-up, but Conniption were completely new to me. I had no idea what to expect. As soon as Conniption started playing I knew I was in for an awesome night of thrash and power metal. Conniption are from Milwaukee, WI, and they perform an intense brand of traditional metal or power metal- fast-tempo, power-riffs, numerous extended guitar solos, and a vocal style akin to Iron Maiden. One of the songs in their set was an instrumental, featuring multiple guitar solos- traded off between lead guitarist Bill House and vocalist/guitarist Michael Brigham. The two played competitively, razzing each other while the other was playing their lead... sort of the way that Sam Totman and Herman Li of DragonForce do. After their opening set, it was time for The Bloodline. The Bloodline are a Chicago-based melodic metalcore band, and a perfect warm-up for the likes of Trivium. Their style fluctuates between melodic vocals, and hardcore screams in a well-balanced ratio. Vocalist Travis Neal had a commanding stage presence while singing either style. I was reminded of Five Finger Death Punch's Ivan Moody, and it wasn't just their coincidental image of shaved heads, this dude can really sing... and scream. At every point where the song called for it, bassist Mike Sylvester was right there providing the backing vocals, also with both the melodic or hardcore style. Their brutal heaviness and intensity got the crowd energized and moshing ensued...

Next up was the band the whole venue had been waiting for with eager anticipation. Trivium- a band who in my opinion are the best to come along in thrash metal since the genre's beginnings in the mid-1980's. Trivium- whose music I regard as highly as I do Metallica's or Megadeth's. Trivium- a band who almost single-handedly restored my faith in metal's future when I first heard their song 'Entrance of the Conflagration' nearly 10 years ago... Trivium took the stage as the classical music of 'Sn0fall' played as their intro. The crowd gave them an enthusiastic welcome, the release of their anticipation almost palpable... The band launched immediately into the title track of their new album, 'Silence in the Snow'. Power chords, thundering drums, and headbanging ensued almost immediately. After that they quickly mixed things up, playing a song from nearly every one of their albums in quick succession. They gave the crowd some of their older and well known hardcore classics like 'Rain' and 'Like Light to the Flies' from their landmark Ascendancy album, while ensuring each song was packed with potent energy, and they gave a kick-ass performance! Matt Heafy was a perfect front-man: Keeping the crowd engaged, and entertained. He mixed some goofing off stage antics in with the expected venting-of-rage that Trivium's lyrical style lends itself to. For the first few minutes of their performance he stuck his tongue out for the crowd in a variety of manners, playing to the smartphones that were snapping pics every couple seconds. He struck several poses while his hands kept jamming out riff after riff. But he would let the crowd get too complacent either, asking us to keep the emotions high and loud even between songs. We in the audience were more than happy to oblige. We gave our all to show our support with screams, headbanging, moshing, and fist-pumping as often as possible.

The band as a whole was in top form on this wintry night. Bassist Paolo Gregoletto provides the melodic backing vocals, and Corey Beaulieu the hardcore backing vocals, while Matt switched back and forth with expert vocal control. Not to be overlooked is their brand new drummer, Paul Wandtke. Hired on by the band right at the start of this tour, replacing previous drummer Mat Madiro on short notice, he nailed all the drum parts like a pro. Heafy gave him a special nod right before he launched into 'Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr', the band's trademark song, and one with the most intense drum-intro I've ever heard.

Trivium left the stage but it was mere seconds later that chants of "TRI-VI-UM! TRI-VI-UM! TRI-VI-UM!" started up... And we kept it going for several minutes until another taped intro began to play. The crowd erupted in cheers with recognition of the track 'Capsizing the Sea', the intro to their 2011 album, In Waves. Matt Heafy again thanked us for being a great crowd, but also instructed us to sing the two-word chorus "In Waves" as loud as we could, and when the song kicked in, we did! I know I was screaming myself hoarse as the mosh-pit grew to encompass at least half the square footage of the entire venue. A fitting conclusion to a killer set-list by one of my favorite bands.

Here are the songs performed on this night. You should find they make an excellent playlist! You cna find the songs of each band downloadable through their websites, also listed below.

-The Torrent
-Sonata #1 in b minor
-(Come On) King of the Road
-Let the Wolf Out

-We Are One
-Dead and Buried
-With Fire (Comes Absolution)
-The Blackout

-Sn0fall (intro)
-Silence in the Snow
-Into the Mouth of Hell We March
-Tread the Floods
-Built to Fall
-Like Light to the Flies
-Throes of Perdition
-Becoming the Dragon
-Down From the Sky
-Until the World Goes Cold
-Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr
-Capsizing the Sea (intro) After the show I also took advantage of a meet - n - greet they offered for Trivium. Getting to hang with these guys after the show was a truly special honor. I headed to the balcony of the venue and waited a while until the band came out and made the rounds, taking a couple minutes to chat with each fan in the room, and sign their CD's or LP's too. They were very humble, very personable, and professional guys! I wish I had thought of some more meaningful stuff to talk with them about, but I was starstruck, and simply grateful for the opportunity to meet them and say a few words. You may recall that I missed a chance for a meet and greet when I attended Mayhem Fest, but this night made up for it.

Don't forget to follow each of these bands on facebook:
The Bloodline

My pics from the show...

Posted by headbanger_71369 at 2:53 AM No comments: Labels: Concert Review, Conniption, Hardcore, Music Mix, Power Metal, The Bloodline, Thrash, Trivium


Jake Stratton-The Survival (EP 2014)

Post #323

Jake Stratton, the guitarist and songwriter from the band Ten With Strangers, reviewed previously on this blog, released a solo-project CD in 2014 entitled 'The Survival'. This has a bit of a different vibe than either of the TWS releases, since Jake himself also does the lead vocals here, but there is enough of his unique songwriting style to recognize the similarities. This EP rocks with a rock 'n' roll/pop-punk vibe and contains plenty of catchy hooks, melodies and clever lyrics to draw you in. At times it sounds like a 90's pop-puck effort, at others an 80's hard rock staple. In either case Jake Stratton gives you the kind of catchy hard rock that Ten With Strangers' fans might expect.

This'll Have to Do -This 'un-ballad's lyrical theme reminds me of the Sara Bareilles hit 'Love Song' in that it is not the kind of song that the title may imply. To clarify: Bareilles sings "I'm not going to write you a love song today..." The entire song in an inspiration from her record label's request for a love song from her. In 'This'll Have to Do', Jake sings, "Someday, when I tell you 'so-long!', I'm gonna write you a beautiful love song, and 'til then, this'll have to do..." Did I mention this is my favorite track on this EP?

Rock and Roll Warriors -If Green Day were to write a song telling the story of rock n' roll music from it's inception through the end of the 90's, it might sound like this. Jake starts with Chuck Berry, and walks us through the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's until thrash, glam, and grunge have all been introduced. It is a kind of anthem encouraging rockers to keep on rockin'.

Fallin' in Love Again -A song inspired by the Fountains of Wayne hit 'Stacy's Mom', it carries a similar pop-punk feel, but portrays the opposite scenario. Equally taboo; in this song the middle-aged man falls in love with a lady half his age...

I Don't Know - Another straight-up pop-puck type of rock song. The riff is one that sounds like it would fit right in on Green Day's 1997 album Nimrod.

March of the Zombies -Jake Stratton chooses to close this EP with perhaps the heaviest song it has to offer. This song is pretty much a description of living in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. It plods along with a slow tempo, perhaps to imitate the slow and methodical lurch of the stereotypical zombies from the old movies...

You can download all of Jake Stratton's music at Broadjam.com: http://www.broadjam.com/artists/albums.php?artistID=21904

You can also visit the Ten With Strangers Facebook page...

Additionally both of the full-length Ten With Strangers releases can be purchased for download or CD at CBaby.com: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/TenWithStrangers
Posted by headbanger_71369 at 12:03 AM No comments: Labels: independent music, Jake Stratton, Ten With Strangers


Post #322 Posted by headbanger_71369 at 11:26 PM No comments: 


Swirl-Self-titled EP (2013)

Post #321

SWIRL are an up and coming hard rock band from southern California. While keeping a fresh sound to their formula, they truly are like a pure rock 'n' roll band. Some may call them modern hard rock, or pop metal, but as I'm a minimalist when it comes to defining genres, I'll just call them rock n' roll. SWIRL's 2013 debut, self-titled EP delivers 7 quality tracks that show you their potential. From several listens through the EP as a whole I can say these guys are a band about positive vibes, uplifting lyrical themes, old-fashioned hooks, solid musicianship and just letting the good times roll. They fuse solid grooves, memorable riffs, and skilled technical abilities into a modern heavy rock 'n roll product. Vocally their singer has a tone and pitch that reminds me of Sammy Hagar, so any 'Red Rocker' fans out there might want to pay attention... Each song has something to offer, and I'll touch a bit on each one now... along with a memorable or catchy lyric from each as well.

Fourth of July - * The EP opens with a straight-up hard rocker. A mid-tempo, classic groove sets the tone of this song about a hot babe that '...lights me up like it's the Fourth of July!'. My favorite line has to be when the singer says, "Like Johnny Cash, for you, girl I'll walk the line."

Spell - Fantastic and groovy bass intro on this one. The bass guitar continues to drive this song throughout. 'Breaking from your spell' is a lyrical analogy for seeing the true side of someone in a bad relationship.
"You got your money but you ain't got no soul..."

Rise Up - This is another song that has a classic rock 'n roll feel. Carries a theme of true self-empowerment and anti-entitlement...
"We gotta take back what we own. We're the kings and the queens of this world..."

We Are Alive - * This one's a little harder, little faster. It's built on a great catchy riff, but really pulled me in with the anthemic key-change at the 2 minute mark!
"Realize that we are human beings, not robots or machines."

Message - * A cool echo-effect at the start of this one makes it catchy from the start. It is a slow-tempo, heavy number, and the vocalist employs a scratchy, raspier tone to his voice. It almost seems like it could be post-grunge, and reminiscent of Candlebox.
"You gotta take a stand, no one's gonna hold your hand..."

Time to Fly - *** Hands down, this is my favorite track on this EP. Primarily played in a minor key, it transitions to an uplifting theme at the choruses, and strings come in to compliment the song.
"They tell her that she's wasting her time, losing her mind, better get back in line and follow the blind."

Mad Disease - A darker and heavier number again, perhaps the heaviest offering on this mostly mainstream rock recording. The lyrics of this one depict an anti-drug theme.
"Needle to vein, there's no more pain. You had the world at your feet, now you're falling from grace..."

SWIRL have opened for a number of well known metal bands from the 80's and 90's, and if the chance arises that they play somewhere in the midwest, I look forward to possibly catching them live... follow them on their facebook page to keep up with their tour schedule.
Posted by headbanger_71369 at 12:18 AM No comments: Labels: independent music, Rock N' Roll, Swirl


2015-16 Independent Band of the Year: Scars Of Armageddon

Post #320
Congratulations to Scars of Armageddon for narrowly eclipsing VIA (Violence In Ascension) to claim the title of 'Independent Band of the Year' for www.happyheadbanger.com. Scars of Armageddon are based out of McHenry, IL (a far, far northwestern 'suburb' of Chicago). There will soon be a link to their main website in this blog's left-hand sidebar, a review of their independently recorded album 'Never Sleep... Again', and monthly posts of their upcoming performances. In the meantime you can start following their Facebook page to keep up on what they have going on... Posted by headbanger_71369 at 12:55 AM No comments: Labels: I.B.O.Y. Poll, independent music, Poll Winner, Scars of Armageddon


Ian "Lemmy" Killmister: 1945-2015

Post # 319 Posted by headbanger_71369 at 11:53 PM No comments: Labels: Classic Metal, Hawkwind, Lemmy Kilmister, Motorhead, Punk, Rock N' Roll, Space-Rock
