Category: Band/Artist Profile

An in-depth look at bands and solo artists

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Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Spite

Spite is one of the most impressive bands that I have seen live. They have so much energy and the crowd goes crazy for them! Their music is so intense and Darius’ vocals are insane! He can transition from inhales to exhales with ease and he is a wild man on stage! He will run around, wiggle his eyebrows, and will be in the crowd’s face all the time. He is a perfect definition of a frontman! I have seen Spite four times (three times at the Blind Tiger in Greensboro and once at the Ramkat in Winston-Salem) and they always surprise me. I definitely recommend seeing them.

Spite is known as an American deathcore band out of Southern California. They employ a blend of death metal, metalcore, and a new wave of nu metal within their deathcore realm. They formed in the Bay Area with Darius Tehrani (vocals), Stephen Mallory (bass), Alex Tehrani (guitar), and Cody Fuentes (drums). They dropped their independent EP, Misery, in 2015 before they signed to Stay Sick Recordings, a label created by Attila frontman, Chris Fronzak.

With their release of their first full-length, Nothing is Beautiful, in 2017 they drew comparisons to over deathcore heavy hitters – Thy Art Is Murder, The Acacia Strain, and Suicide Silence. Spite continues to push the bar for heavy music with each album that they release.

Spite has released one EP and 2 full-length albums: Misery (2015), Nothing Is Beautiful (2017), and Root of All Evil (2019).

Favorite songs: Kill or Be Killed and The Root of All Evil.

Have you seen Spite? What are your favorite songs?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW  

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Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Abbath

Photo by Courtney Breen @chewing.glass on Instagram

Abbath (the band) was formed in Bergen, Norway in 2015 by Abbath (the person; Abbath Doom Occulta). Their genre is Black Metal,  but their sound is not that easy to nail down (no pun intended). They are definitely Black Metal. Yet, they fuse German Thrash and symphonic to form a blistering, crushing sound. Combined with the howling, screeching, rasp of Abbath’s vocals and devastating guitar playing, they are definitely distinct in the metal scene.

Abbath (the person) is Olve Eikemo (a.k.a., Abbath Doom Occulta). He, along with Harold Naevdal (a.k.a. Demonaz Doom Occulta), were the founders of the legendary Black Metal band Immortal. As one of the groundbreaking artists in the dark world of Black Metal, Abbath worked with the giants of the genre; drummers like Hellhammer, Armagedda, Horgh, Padden, and Grim; guitarists like Demonaz, Tore Bretsath, and Varg Vikernes; and bassists like Apollyon, Iscariah, Ares, and Saroth; and bands like Bathory, Celtic Frost, and the band the began it all, Mayhem.

Abbath (the band) has had so many different members in it’s short life that only Abbath (the person) is original – the original “Creature” (drums), and a couple of drummers donning the “Creature" mask, bass players like King Ov Hell and Mia Wallace, and several great guitarists (too numerous to mention). As of this writing, Abbath (the band) is: Abbath (the person – guitar, vocals), Ole Andre’ Farstad (guitar), Rusty Cornell (bass), and Ukri Suvilehto (drums).

It is this lineup that I witnessed a few months ago when Abbath (the person and the band) came to Raleigh with Obituary (check-out my show review). H.O.L.Y C.R.A.P! What an awesome stage performance by the band, and an unforgettable performance by the person! Now, if you’ve never seen them, Abbath (the person) reminds me of a much darker, more evil, bringing the hordes of Hell with him, Gene Simmons. Not only the face paint (“corpse paint” for Abbath), but the stage persona and presence is incredible. The band was not overcome by this, however, as each was truly impressive in their own right.

Abbath (the band) has two studio albums, Abbath (2016) and Outstrider (2019). I know that Black Metal is an acquired taste, but Abbath do it well. Especially live! If you get a chance to check them out, recorded and/or live, do it! You won’t regret it!

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

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Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Pantera

Ahhh yes, Pantera, the band that opened the door for many bands that we listen to today. When Pantera first hit the scene, there was nobody like them. No band had the riffs and grooves like Pantera did. Now, when listening to bands, you can hear the influence that Dimebag Darrell (RIP) had on their music. He invented a whole new way to play and it would seem that his mind continuously thought of killer, crushing riffs. Phil brought a hardcore edge and sense of vocal rage to these riffs. Darrell’s brother, Vinnie, played some of the cleanest drums I have ever heard, writing most songs with his brother. And Rex masterfully thumped with anything and everything that developed. If I had to name one single thing that made Pantera special it would be the fact that this is a band where everyone was equally talented so no one outshined the other. Each seemed larger than life.

Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas that formed in 1981. Their best known lineup is Vinnie Paul (drummer) (RIP), “Dimebag” Darrell Paul (guitarist) (RIP), Rex Brown (bass), and Phil Anselmo (vocalist). They are credited for being part of the second wave of thrash metal. But they became much more than a thrash metal band, they offered metal the fury and force that propelled it into the powerhouse genre that it became. Pantera gets the credit for forming a metal formula which would inspire hundreds of bands to follow.

Before becoming the heavy hitters that we know and love now, they started as a glam metal band and released three albums in the mid 1980s with founding member Terry Glaze as vocalist. When looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera replaced Glaze with Anselmo in late 1986. They went on hiatus in 2001 and were disband by the Abbott brothers in 2003. The brothers went on to form Damageplan, while Anselmo continued several side projects. On December 8, 2004, Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed on stage by a fan. Vinnie Paul went on to form Hellyeah after his brother’s death. Vinnie Paul died of heart failure in 2018.  

Pantera has 5 full-length albums: Cowboys from Hell (1990), Vulgar Display of Power (1992), Far Beyond Driven (1994), The Great Southern Trendkill (1996), and Reinventing the Steel (2000).

Favorite songs: This Love, 5 Minutes Alone, Walk, Cemetery Gates, and Cowboys from Hell.

What are your favorite Pantera songs? Did you have a chance to see them live?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

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Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Whitechapel

Are you guys surprised that Whitechapel is my band of the week? Because I’m not. Whitechapel’s song, The Saw Is The Law, influenced my DJ name, The Saw. During my senior year of high school, “where we come from, the saw is the law” was my senior quote and I wrote it in the sand at the beach for the whole world to know that the saw is the law. I even have a saw blade tattooed on my shoulder blade, so you can say that I am a pretty big Whitechapel fan. This is because Whitechapel was one of the first deathcore bands that I got into. My brother used to play them when I was younger, and when I started to get into the music myself, they were one of the first bands I went back and listened to. I love their overall sound and how the music and vocals blend beautifully together. I also love their evolution, musically. They have tried different things on their most recent album, The Valley, and even though it is different from their previous records, they keep their theme of brutality.

I have seen Whitechapel four times, and every time they impress me. They always put on a great show and Bozeman’s voice is so powerful and strong and I don’t know how he can do his gutturals live. The entire band is in the crowd’s face throughout the whole show and it makes the crowd rowdier and more exciting. I got to meet Whitechapel and it was great to finally meet one of my favorite bands. They were so nice and they were all smiles when I told them that mg DJ name was influenced by them. When I said that I go to NC State, Bozeman said “go Wolfpack” and it honestly made my day.

Whitechapel is an American deathcore band from Knoxville, Tennessee and was founded in 2006. They got their name after the Whitechapel district in East London, England, referring to the series of murders committed by Jack the Ripper. They are signed to Metal Blade Records and have released seven albums: The Somatic Defilement (2007), This Is Exile (2008), A New Era of Corruption (2010), Whitechapel (2012), Our Endless War (2014),  Mark of the Blade (2016), and The Valley (2019).

Whitechapel has stated that they are influenced by a wide range of bands. A few are Cannibal Corpse, Meshuggah, Slipknot, Dying Fetus, Pantera, Slayer, Despised Icon, Nile, Behemoth, Amon Amarth, Morbid Angel, and Cattle Decapitation. You can hear these variety of influences within their music. Phil Bozeman (vocalist) stated in an interview that him and Ben Savage (lead guitarist) are more into death metal, Zach Householder (guitarist) is more into epic black metal, and Alex Wade (rhythm guitar) is more into hardcore. Within the guitars, you can hear the different riffs that represent their taste in music.

Current members: Phil Bozeman (vocals), Ben Savage (lead guitar), Alex Wade (rhythm guitar), Gabe Crisp (bass), Zach Householder (third guitar), and their touring drummer, Alex Rüdinger.

Favorite songs: The Saw Is The Law, The Somatic Defilement, Mark of the Blade, Elitist Ones, Brimstone, and Black Bear.

Have you seen Whitechapel live? What are some of your favorite songs?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

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Band/Artist Profile

Artist of the Week: Tash Sultana

Tash Sultana is an Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, described as a one-person band. Sultana grew up in Melbourne and has been playing the guitar since the age of three. She began her music career through busking (street performing) and gained a lot of attention from that. Sultana can play 20 instruments, including guitar, bass, trumpet, flute, percussion, and saxophone. Sultana is nonbinary and uses the pronouns they. They self-described themselves as a drug addict, at the age of 17, they developed drug-induced psychosis. Later in 2017, they were diagnosed with laryngitis.

Sultana shared a video on social media of them playing a song and within five days, gained one million views. They won the J Award for Unearthed Artist of the Year and had two tracks voted into the Triple J Hottest 100 in 2016 with their hit songs Jungle (No.3) and Notion (No. 32). They recorded the single Jungle at their home and gained over 40 million views. They then went into the studio and began working on the EP release, Notion, which was released in 2016. Their first full-length album, Flow State, was released on August 31, 2018. In 2019, they released 3 singles: Can’t Buy Happiness, Talk It Out, and Daydreaming.

When watching videos of Sultana playing, it looks like they lose themselves in the music. Their whole entire body is embraced within the music and you can see how much they put into performing. I first heard them back in 2018 when they released their album Flow State, and the first song I heard was Blackbird. When I first listened to that song, I was watching it on YouTube and the album cover would move while the song played. It was so trippy, and I got stuck in a trance watching the video and listening to them playing an acoustic guitar solo. When they started singing a few minutes within the song, I got chills. From that point on, I fell in love with their music.

Favorite songs: Murder To The Mind, Blackbird, Pink Moon, and Cigarettes.

What is your favorite Tash Sultana song?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

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Band of the Week: Megadeth

Out of the “Big Four,” Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer, my favorite would have to be Megadeth. Although I grew up listening to all four bands, Megadeth always stuck out. My parents tell the story (and have videos) of me as a toddler, marching around with my hands in the air dancing to Crush ‘Em by Megadeth. This was the only song that could get me out of any mood that I was in. I could be eating, sitting in the car, watching tv, or playing and when Crush ‘Em would come on, I would stop everything that I was doing to jam out to the song. I have seen Megadeth live twice. The first time was with my dad in Charlotte when I was 8 and I saw them at the Carolina Rebellion! I got on the jumbo screen during the rebellion because of my headbanging, it was awesome.

Megadeth is a thrash band from Los Angeles, California. Guitarist and vocalist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson formed the band in 1983, shortly after Mustaine was dismissed from Metallica. In. 1985, Megadeth released their debut album, Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good! Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? was released in 1986 and was a major hit with the underground scene. They then released a number of platinum-selling albums, such as Rust in Peace (1990) and Countdown to Extinction (1992). These albums brought along worldwide tours and public recognition.

Megadeth has sold 38 million records worldwide and received 12 Grammy nomiations. In 2017, Megadeth won their first Grammy Award for their song, Dystopia, in Best Metal Performance category. When they were walking up to accept their award, the orchestra played a Metallica song (which if you are in the loop of the relationship between Metallica and Megadeth, this was taboo).

Megadeth has released 17 albums: Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good (1985), Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?(1986), So Far, So Good… So What?(1988), Rust In Peace(1990), Countdown To Extinction(1992), Youthanasia(1994), Hidden Treasures(1995), Cryptic Wrtings(1997), Risk(1999), The World Needs a Hero(2001), Still Alive… And Well?(2002), The System Has Failed(2004), United Abomination(2007), Endgame(2009), Th1rt3een(2011), Super Collider(2013), and Dystopia(2016).

Mustaine was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2019. He recently received a clean bill of health from his doctors, after completing chemo/radiation.

Favorite songs: Crush ‘Em, Angry Again, Symphony Of Destruction, A Tout Le Monde, and Poisonous Shadows.

What is your favorite Megadeth song? Have you seen them live?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

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Artist Spotlight – Yola

Yola, born Yolanda Quartey, is a 36 year old Bristol, UK native. She has worked in the music business since the early 2000s backing for artists such as Massive Attack, The Chemical Brothers, and Iggy Azalea. In 2010, she joined Bristol band, Phantom Limb, as lead vocalist. She left the band when her artistic work began being put down by the rest of the band. To pair with her vocals, Yola began learning guitar and writing her own songs. In 2016, she released her first EP, Orphan Offering, but it did not reach audiences enough to make much of a name for herself outside of the Bristol scene. 

After Orphan Offering, Yola continued to develop her sound. She teamed up with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys and began crafting her debut album, Walk Through Fire. Named after a real-life experience of setting her kitchen on fire, Walk Through Fire serves as a metaphor for the artist leaving her old life behind and emerging as a transformed musician in the industry. The album is full of stories of heartbreak and turning the page on past relationships. Her style is colorful, integrating genres from singer-songer/American, to r&b, to pop, to the sounds of Muscle Shoals. The album is both heartwarmingly nostalgic and refreshingly modern. Through Walk Through Fire, Yola has made a name for herself in the music industry and left audiences excited for what she has to come.

– dj lizzo

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Artist of the Week: Neil Peart

On January 7, 2020 we lost one of the most prolific drummers of all time. Neil Peart, best known as the drummer and primary lyricist of RUSH, died from brain cancer (glioblastoma).

Peart was born in Hamilton, Ontario on September 12, 1952.  He first began in music with piano lessons, something he would later say had no impact on him. He was always drumming on various things around the house as a child, so at 13 his parents bought him drum sticks, promising that if he practiced for a year they would buy him a drum set. He began taking lessons on his new kit at 14. By his late teens Peart had played in several local bands

At 18, he moved to England hoping to further his career. It took about a year and a half before he became frustrated and returned to Canada. He joined a band named Hush, and they toured the Southern Ontario bar circuit. Soon, though, he heard that a rising band, RUSH, needed a new drummer to replace the band’s original, John Rutsey. Peart officially joined the band on July 29, 1974. Two weeks later Peart and RUSH were on tour, beginning in Pittsburgh, PA.

The band had one record out when Peart arrived, and in 1975 Fly by Night was their first offering with Peart. It was considered a successful record, though the next (Caress of Steel) was not. In 1976 RUSH released their breakthrough album, 2112, and the rest is history. The band has 19 studio albums, with ten exceeding one million copies sold in the US. They are ranked third for the “most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band" – Billboard.

Peart’s drumming style is fascinating! Its foundation is the rock bands of the 60’s and 70’s (John Bonham, Led Zeplin ; Ginger Baker, Cream). Into this solid base he added Jazz and Big Band techniques and styles. He played while holding his sticks butt-end out, giving him bigger sound and greater rimshot. Sometimes he played with a traditional grip and others with matched grip. His drum kits were 360 degrees around him, rotating to reverse the layout of the drums, with as many as 40+ drums.

Neil Peart – “The Goat" as he was affectionately known; “your favorite drummer’s favorite drummer,” other musicians would say; Variety wrote, “Widely considered one of the most innovative drummers in Rock history.” USA Today considered him “one of the best Rock drummers of all time, alongside John Bonham, Ringo Star (The Beatles), Keith Moon (The Who), Ginger Baker, and Stewart Copeland (The Police).” Best known for his “technical proficiency,” he was the youngest inductee into the Modern Drummers Hall of Fame in 1983. Over 40 years with RUSH… You are missed, sir.

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Band of the Week: Cannibal Corpse

Cannibal Corpse is one of the bands that I grew up listening to. My dad would play them all the time because they are one of his favorite bands. I distinctly remember hearing Hammer Smashed Face growing up (and also hearing the Radio Disney version which is hilarious!!!). I also remember seeing Cannibal Corpse on Ace Ventura’s Pet Detective when Ace was in the club. Cannibal Corpse was the band playing and is one of Jim Carrey’s favorite bands!!

Cannibal Corpse is one of the bands that helped develop the Death Metal scene. Originally from Buffalo, New York, the band moved to Tampa, Florida (where American Death Metal was just starting and picking up steam) so they could join this movement. Corpse formed in 1988 and the band has released 14 studio albums: Eaten Back To Life (1990), Butchered At Birth (1991), Tomb of the Mutilated (1992), The Bleeding (1994), Vile (1996), Gallery Of Suicide (1998), Bloodthirst (1999), Gore Obsessed (2002), The Wretched Spawn (2004), Kill (2006), Evisceration Plague (2009), Torture (2012), A Skeletal Domain (2014), and Red Before Black (2017).

Corpse has had little radio and television exposure throughout their career, but developed a cult following after their second and third records were released in 1991 and 1992. As of 2015, they achieved worldwide sales of two million units for combined sales of all their albums. This makes them the top-selling Death Metal band of all time.

Bassist Alex Webster came up with the name Cannibal Corpse. They have had several lineup changes in the band and only Webster and Paul Mazurkiewicz (drummer) are original members. The lyrics are drawn heavily on horror fiction and horror films. Their original singer, Chris Barnes, wrote the lyrics for the band, but when he left and was replaced by George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher, so Paul started writing most of the lyrics (and you can tell the difference in the lyrical content between the two writers). One thing that hasn’t changed is the solid beatings and groovy riffs like only Cannibal Corpse can deliver.

Here is how I explain their sound to someone who (oddly enough) hasn’t heard them: Pound. Pound. Roar! Groovy riff. Gutteral! Scream!! Pound. Pound.

I have seen Cannibal Corpse a handful of times (my favorite time I saw them was on Valentines Day, in Wilmington, NC where they toured with Obituary and Cryptopsy). Around age 8, I met Corpsegrinder (yes his neck is that big in person) and I also met their drummer, Paul! I told Paul that I saw them on Ace Ventura’s Pet Detective. He laughed and said, “That was a long time ago.” And it was a long time ago, now, that he said that!

Have you seen Cannibal Corpse? What is your favorite song? Mine is Evisceration Plague.

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

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Band of the Week: Slipknot

Ahh, Slipknot, one of the bands that got many people into metal for the first time. When talking to my friends and interviewing members of local bands, almost all of them said that the band that got them interested into metal was, in fact, Slipknot. I found this really interesting and I am trying to figure out why this band has influenced so many people and others did not.

I believe that one of the reasons that Slipknot was the first band that got a lot of people into metal is because they are VERY different. I haven’t seen or heard a band that sounds like Slipknot or that looks like Slipknot. I think this is what attracts people to them because it is like they are characters of a show. They set themselves apart from all the other bands in this realm of music and it refreshing to see. I have seen Slipknot twice: once at the Carolina Rebellion and on their tour with Marilyn Manson and Of Mice & Men.

Slipknot is from Des Moines, Iowa and was founded in 1995. After several lineup changes, the band settled on nine members: Shawn Crahan, Joey Jordison, Paul Gray, Mick Thomson, Corey Taylor, Sid Wilson, Chris Fehn, and Jim Root. Paul Gray died on May 24, 2010 and was replaced by Donnie Steele (2010-2014).

Slipknot is known for their attention-grabbing image, aggressive style of music, and high intensity stage performance. They rose to fame with the release of their debut album, Slipknot, in 1999. Their 2001 follow up album, Iowa, made the band even more popular. Their stage show is what also contributed to their success.

Slipknot is considered a Nu Metal band but their sound distances them from other Nu Metal bands, such as Korn. They describe their sound as “metal metal” and link the connection to Nu Metal as a coincidence since they emerged when that wave of metal was also emerging.  

The members perform wearing unique, individual facemasks and matching uniforms. Each member is typically assigned and referred to by a number based on their role in the band (#0 through #8), although this practice has not been used since the death of Paul Gray. The concept of wearing masks on stage derived from Shawn Crahan. Corey Taylor stated that it’s their way of becoming more intimate with the music. It is a way for the band to escape their normal and everyday lives. The uniforms and masks change when they release a new album.

Slipknot has 6 full length albums: Slipknot (1999), Iowa (2001), Vol. 3 Subliminal Verses (2004), All Hope is Gone (2008), .5: The Gray Chapter (2014), and We Are Not Your Kind (2019).  

Have you seen Slipknot? What is your favorite Slipknot song?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW