Hard Rock and Heavy Metal news, reviews, and interviews.

Groove Metal

PHIL ANSELMO Debuts Solo Track

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Philip H. Anselmo and The Illegals will release their debut album, “Walk Through Exits Only,” on July 16.

The track “Usurper Bastard’s Rant” is now available for streaming.

Anselmo revealed that the song was inspired by how predictable and watered down music has become. He told Rolling Stone, “Traditions were meant to be celebrated and/or destroyed. The celebration is worn out in my view. It’s time for more destruction, and this is exactly the point of ‘Usurper Bastard’s Rant.'”

You can hear the song here.


DORO, SISTER SIN and More Live in Tempe, Ariz.

Last month, TBOS had the honor of interviewing the Metal Queen, Doro Pesch. The interview was transcribed in four parts, and the audio was featured on Blabbermouth.net.

Doro Pesch onstage. Photo by Alec Damiano.

Doro Pesch onstage. Photo by Alec Damiano.

Saturday, we had the pleasure of seeing and hearing Doro do what she does best–making people headbang till their necks turn sore!

Tempe’s Rocky Point Cantina held an epic mini metal-fest Saturday night, with a total of six bands performing.

Local Phoenix bands Unconscious Minds, Hands of a Traitor, Epyon and NightSphere primed the audience for Sister Sin and DORO.

First up were classic/thrash metal outfit, Unconscious Minds. They made Pantera fans proud with their soaring vocals and melodic bass lines.

Vocalist Manny Lopez of Unconscious Minds. Photo by Alec Damiano.

Vocalist Manny Lopez of Unconscious Minds. Photo by Alec Damiano.

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Unconscious Minds were the first act of the night and played a thrashing set. Photo by Alec Damiano.

Next were metalcore group Hands of a Traitor. They were definitely the youngest out of all the local bands, and they had a dedicated fanbase moshing in the audience. If you’re into newer metal like Asking Alexandria, this band is for you.

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Hands of a Traitor tear it up as their fans moshed in the background. Photo by Alec Damiano.

Epyon played an impressive instrumental set that reminded concertgoers of classic Metallica (think “Orion”) and Death Angel. They also announced that they had found a singer, though the band performed as an instrumental quartet.

Members from Epyon played an instrumental classic metal set. Photo by Alec Damiano.

Members from Epyon played an instrumental classic metal set. Photo by Alec Damiano.

The last local band to perform was power metal act NightSphere. They made an impressive stage entrance with dimmed lights and fog floating through the air.

Power metal outfit NightSphere. Pictured are singer CJ McConnell and guitarist Elsthon Gomez. Photo by Alec Damiano.

Power metal outfit NightSphere. Pictured are singer CJ McConnell and guitarist Elsthon Gomez. Photo by Alec Damiano.

Next were Swedish glam metallers Sister Sin. They played a nine-song setlist, which included tracks from all their albums. Four of the songs were from their latest record, “Now and Forever”. Liv Jagrell interacted energetically with the crowd, actually stepping off the stage to greet fans at one point. The audience was left clamoring for more after they finished.

Liv Jagrell, the amazing frontwoman from Sister Sin.

Liv Jagrell, the energetic frontwoman from Sister Sin. Photo by Alec Damiano.

Finally, at 11:20 p.m., headliners DORO took the stage. They played 20 songs, about half of which were from Pesch’s previous band, Warlock. Highlights from the set were “Hero,” which was written as a tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio, a cover of Judas Priest’s “Breaking The Law”, and the Warlock anthem “All We Are,” where the members from Sister Sin returned to the stage to sing along and engage with the crowd.

Doro Pesch

Doro Pesch, DORO’s frontwoman and namesake, interacts energetically with the clamoring crowd. Photo by Alec Damiano.

Saturday night was an unforgettable night for Tempe metalheads. The headliners more than delivered and great local talent was also showcased.

Sister Sin joined DORO onstage for a memorable rendition of "All We Are". Photo by Alec Damiano.

Sister Sin joined DORO onstage for a memorable rendition of “All We Are”. Photo by Alec Damiano.


American Gangsters: Interview with Broadway Mob

Last week, TBOS conducted an interview with Broadway Mob, a death metal band from Minot, N.D. They discuss their upcoming album and the importance of supporting local music.

Here are some snippets from the talk.

The Blog of Shredding: So why did you choose the name Broadway Mob? It’s such an atypical name for a death metal band.

Tony Waswick (vocals): (laughs) I guess that’s more Tom’s story than anything.

Tom Shepherd (drums): We live in a town that had a lot to do with Prohibition in North Dakota, and Broadway Mob is a Prohibition gang from that era. And Broadway is the main street in our town, so it just seemed kind of fitting.

TBOS: Your first song is called “Blessed By Thor,” and you described it as a “jaw-dropping experience” because you hadn’t heard anything like it. Could you describe it? Like why would you say that?

Shepherd: I personally had never played anything like that.

Waswick: Yeah, I’m kind of in the same boat. There was nothing I’d been involved with before. It was kind of eye-opening to see how fast it came together with the three of us playing together for the first time. I think it was that first night (when) we really got it written, so it’s kinda eye-opening that way. And jaw-dropping, as far as the song goes, it’s different to us… It’s just awesome.

Shepherd: And Colin? Colin wrote it, so he’s gotta say something.

Colin Swanson (guitar): Actually, it changed quite a bit from how I originally had it. But it sounds a lot better than the way I envisioned it going at first.

TBOS: And you’re working on a possible debut album, am I right?

Waswick: Yeah. It’s been kind of half-a—- in the works for over a year, but now it’s just kind of down to the core of the band again. We’re kind of really buckling down on it, say, “Let’s just f—— do it.” You know, get some good songs written, get whatever we’ve got, make it as good as it possibly can be.

You can hear more of the interview below.

Thanks to the guys from the Mob for recording the videos!


Mayhem in Muncie

TBOS sat down with Zach Clifton, drummer for Indiana death metal band Nezera. He revealed their plans for their upcoming album, “Demons to Some, Angels to Others,” their single “It’s Not The Bath Salts,” and their appearance at an upcoming metal festival.

You can hear the full interview below.