Category: Band/Artist Profile

An in-depth look at bands and solo artists

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Upon A Burning Body

Ahhh yes, the boys from San Antonio, Texas.  Upon A Burning Body (UABB) is one of my favorite bands, they were one of the first metalcore bands that got me into metal. Me and my cousin (who helped me find the bands that got me into metal) were going to go to a show and he showed me UABB. The first song that I heard was Intermission and I was instantly hooked.

UABB has this charismatic energy to them that immediately makes you want to move around. They also bring that same energy when performing. They are all running around and you can easily tell that they are having a good time.

I have seen UABB tons of times (and it never gets old!!!). I saw them twice back in 2016 at Amos’ Southend in Charlotte, NC, twice in 2017 at the Blind Tiger in Greensboro, NC, and once at Groundzero in Spartanburg, SC.  

When I saw UABB in Greensboro that one year, and I was in the front of the crowd singing the lyrics back to the band. Their bass player, Joe, always gives me a guitar pic when I see them. But their singer, Danny, dedicated Texas Blood Money (one of my favorite songs) to me and thanked me for jamming out during their entire set. After their set, Danny came down and gave me a hug and thanked me again. I went over to their merch booth later after the show and hung out with the entire band! It was a great moment and it honestly made my entire life. Now, when I see UABB, I hang out with the entire band! They are such cool guys!

UABB formed in 2005 in San Antonio, Texas. They have five albums: The World is Ours (2010), Red. White. Green. (2012), The World Is My Enemy Now (2014), Straight From The Barrio (2016), and Southern Hostility (2019).

UABB received some backlash with their publicity stunt in 2014. Danny Leal did a kidnapping hoax. Leal tweeted some weird tweets prior to his “disappearance” and then the UABB Facebook page wrote a post stating that he has gone missing. Come to find out, he was never actually missing and it was all a publicity stunt. It was said that the band did this behind the label’s back and it was not appreciated. This stunt did have some serious backlash that the band would have to deal with in the coming years.

UABB was then dropped from Sumerian Records sometime after they released Straight From The Barrio in 2016. This record was personally, my least favorite. They then got signed by Seek & Strike and released Southern Hostility in 2019 and it is honestly one of my favorite releases! They brought back the aggression and bone cutting riffs that we all know and love.  

Favorite songs: Intermission, Texas Blood Money, Sin City, All Pride No Pain, and The Champ is Coming.

Have you seen Upon A Burning Body? What are some of your favorite songs?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Dying Fetus

If y’all know me, then you already know how much I love Dying Fetus. This band will hand out beatings like it’s nothing. They are one of the most intense, skull crushing bands that I have ever listened to and I love them for it. When I first saw Dying Fetus back in 2017 at Summer Slaughter, I was in pure shock. Why you ask? BECAUSE I DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THESE THREE MEN AND ONLY THEM TO MAKE THIS KIND OF MUSIC. When you hear a Dying Fetus song, it is very intricate and technical, I thought there were more people in the band. But when I saw that there was ONLY THREE… I was shook.

Dying Fetus is an American death metal band originally from Greater Upper Marlboro, Maryland, that was formed in 1991. The group is known for their song titles, insane blast beats, slamming riffs and heavy ass breakdowns. There has been various line-up changed throughout the years, but John Gallagher (guitar, vocals) is the sole remaining original member.

The band has released ten studio albums: Killing on Adrenaline (1998), Destroy the Opposition (2000), Stop at Nothing (2003), War of Attrition (2007), Descend Into Depravity (2009), Purification Through Violence (2010), Infatuation With Malevolence (2010), History Repeats (2011), Reign Supreme (2012), and Wrong One to Fuck With (2017).

The band was founded by Gallagher and Jason Netherton. Gallagher first started off on drums because they could not find a drummer. The band soon found drummer Rob Belton and guitarist Brian Latta. This transition moved Gallagher back into the role of guitarist and vocalist.

By 2000, the band caught the attention of Relapse Records, who signed the band. This is when the band recorded Destroy the Oppositionwhere is featured stronger political themes. The songwriting on this album influenced the deathcore scene. After the release of this album their guitarist and drummer left the band and formed Misery Index. Gallagher then recruited guitarist Mike Kimball, singer Vince Matthews, and bassist/back up vocalist Sean Beasley. The band then released Stop at Nothing in 2003.

The Dying Fetus music video for “One Shot, One Kill” was on Headbanger’s Ball which helped them gain exposure along with being signed to Relapse Records and as well as going on a full North American tour with GWAR in 2005. The lineup changed, yet again, when their drummer and vocalist left. Dying Fetus’ bassist, Beasley, took over on vocals and Duane Timlin joined the band as the drummer.

The lineup then recorded War of Attrition in March 2007. THERE WAS ANOTHER LINUP CHANGE when the band fired their drummer due to incompatibilities and their singer left the band as well. Soon, the band found Trey Williams to play drums and the trio has remained ever since. If you need a refresher of who is in the band, they are John Gallagher (guitarist and vocalist), Sean Beasley (bassist and vocalist), and Trey William (drummer).

In 2009, Dying Fetus released Descend into Depravity and three years later they released Reign Supreme. Dying Fetus was trending worldwide when a fan stated back in 2014, that the Download Festival should give “new bloods” a chance. He later asked why they couldn’t give Lamb of God, Dying Fetus, or Carcass a chance. Soon, the hashtag #WhyNotDyingFetus? was trending. Due to them trending, Dying Fetus was soon confirmed to play at the festival. On June 23, 2017, Dying Fetus released their master piece that is, Wrong One to Fuck With.

Favorite songs: Subjected to a Beating, Fixated on Devastation, and Panic Amongst the Herd.

What is your favorite Dying Fetus song? Have you ever seen them live?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Parkway Drive

Carrion was the first Parkway Drive song that I had ever heard and I immediately got chills during the intro. From there, I went back into the band’s entire discography. This band will forever be one of my favorite bands not only because their music is kickass, but also because they are genuine guys. I met them at the Carolina Rebellion in 2018 and they were all super cool! They said that they liked my $5 Walmart sunglasses, and they also put hearts around their signatures on my poster.

Parkway Drive is from Byron Bay, Australia and they formed in 2003. The band has released six full-length albums: Killing with a Smile (2006), Horizons (2009), Deep Blue (2010), Atlas (2012), Ire (2015), and Reverence (2018).

The band got their name, Parkway Drive, from the street where their home rehearsal space was at. The home was also a venue for live shows because there was a lack of venues for punk rock and hardcore punk bands to play at. Parkway Drive played their first show at the Byron Bay Youth Centre.

The band flew to the United States where they recorded Killing with a Smile with Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz in just two weeks. Then the band got signed in 2006 to Epitaph Records. They went back to Dutkiewicz studio to record Horizons. The band hit the studio again to record Deep Blue, and according to Parkway Drive’s vocalists, Winston McCall, this record would be the rawest and heaviest record to date.

And as they say, the rest is history! The band has steadily been going up and getting bigger and bigger as each year passes. They went from playing at small house venues, to selling out big name arenas. Parkway Drive has “IT;” this edge to them, you can hear it in their music and you can see it in them when they perform live. They have this energy that puts their audience in a trance and you can’t help but jam when they play. They have that special combination that assures that the band will be even bigger! You can tell that they love what they are doing and that they’re playing for their fans. Having a band that is so genuine make it so far is honestly a breath of fresh air. Keep grinding, Parkway Drive. I can’t wait to see where you all go from here.

One of my favorite memories of seeing Parkway Drive was back in 2016 when one of their guitarists lost his shoe and a crowd surfer caught it and threw it back deeper into the crowd. The guitarist found this funny! And then out of nowhere, we had toilet paper being thrown around the crowd. It was awesome!

What is your favorite Parkway Drive song? Mine is Crushed.

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band Highlight // Wild Party

 

When I was a young freshmen here at state I stumbled upon this band called Wild Party. The first song I heard of theirs was ‘Life’s too Short’,  I was instantly hooked. The track (and that whole album) remains to be one of my absolute favorite listens to come back to. So one day, when went back to listen, I became extremely excited to find that they were back with some new tracks. In March they released the track ‘Recipe’ and in April we got ‘Getaway’. The artwork is very similar for the two tracks which makes me think an album may be coming our way. And I couldn’t be more hopeful because these two new tracks absolutely lived up to the last release. The tracks both sound a bit different from their old stuff, but they still have that solid Wild Party energy behind them. 

The first track ‘Recipe’ is an absolute bop. The lyrics are empowering and always leave me feeling uplifted. ‘Never gonna hit the brakes too slow, even if we make mistakes we know’ always puts me in a good mood and makes me want to work harder. The chorus will definitely stick with you too. Wild Party has always been good at having a smooth but interesting texture and strong instrumentation that really highlights the energy behind the lyrics. Getaway has a very similar vibe but the lyrics are a lot more critical in the meaning. ‘What’s with all our friends, They just talk and spend, All their time workin’, Like they’re mannequins’. Wild Party has always been one to sneak messages like this into their uplifting pop-rock-indie kind of music, and that’s what keeps me coming back.

– DJ Psyched

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Artist of the Week: Mac Miller

Photo by Clarke Tolton 

Over the weekend, it marked the one year anniversary of Mac Miller’s death (September 7, 2018). Mac’s death hit me differently than other artists death hit me. I remember my older brothers playing Mac Miller when I was growing up. I soon started listening to him on my own in middle school. It was like I grew up with Mac, he was a part of my childhood and my transition into adulthood. His death came as such a shock and even to this day, his presence is missed by many.

Mac Miller (Malcom James McCormick) was born January 19, 1992 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He began his career in the city’s hip hop scene back in 2007 at the age of fifteen. He signed a record deal with a Pittsburgh-based record label, Rostrum Records. This is where his breakthorugh mixtapes, K.I.D.S. (2010) and Best Day Ever (2011) we’re produced. Miller’s debut studio album, Blue Side Park (2011) became the first independently distributed album to top the Billboard 200 since 1995. In 2013, Miller founded the record label REMember Music. After releasing his second studio album, Watching Movies with the Sound Off (2013), he left Rostrum and signed with Warner Bros. Records in 2014. With them, he released three studio albums: GO:OD AM (2015), The Divine Feminine (2016), and Swimming (2018) which would be his last record.

When looking at videos of Mac Miller, he was always so happy and fun to be around. He had the personality and energy that influenced the people around him. He created great music that spoke to a lot of people. He was such a relatable artist. He spoke on subjects, feelings, thoughts, and situations that everyone goes through. He was an artist that was taken too soon.

On September 7th2018, Mac Miller was found unresponsive in his home. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Thousands of fans honored Mac Miller at Blue Side Park, the inspiration behind his debut album. The site has continued to be a place of his remembrance.  A tribute concert, Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life, was held on October 31, 2018, in Los Angeles. Many of his friends and collaborators performed. They also raised money for the newly-established Mac Miller Circles Fund, which aims to support youth arts and community-building programs in his memory. The charity had raised over $700,000 by January 2019. In May 2019, the renamed Mac Miller Fund issued its first grants, including $50,000 to MusiCares, where they help young musicians with substance abuse issues.

On September 4th2019, Cameron James Pettit was charged with distribution of a control substance, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, that were given to Mac Miller 2 days before his death. RIP Mac.

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Artist of the Week: Travis Scott (Kurt Cobain of this generation or an unidentified paradigm shift?)

image

Screenshot from Can’t Say music video 

How did I discover Travis Scott you ask? I didn’t find his music first, but I saw a picture of him wearing a Pantera shirt and I was like, “I like him.”

Scott formed a duo with his friend Chris Holloway in 2008 known as The Graduates and released their untitled EP on Myspace. That following year, Scott created a group called The Classmates and they released 2 projects. Over the next few years, Scott moved around between Houston, New York, and Los Angeles.

Scott’s first solo full-length project is a mixtape called Old Pharaoh(2012). His first full-length studio album, Days Before Rodeo, was released on September 4, 2015. The album featured musical acts from Quavo, Kanye West, Chief Keef, Young Thug, and many more. He then released Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, in late 2016. Then in 2017, Quvao from Migos and Travis Scott created Huncho Jack where they have dropped a collaboration album called, Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho.They just released a single in 2019 called Houdini.

And now we get to arguably one of the best releases ever. On August 3, 2018 Scott released Astroworld, which is one of my favorite records of all time. The inspiration behind the title of his third album comes from a theme park of the same name in Houston that Scott used to go to; it has since closed down. Scott put on a show near where the theme park used to be, which I think was god damn brilliant.

When looking at Scott’s musical influences, he has stated that he was influenced by Bon Iver, Kid Cudi, M.I.A., and Kanye West. Scott uses autotune heavily in his songs but he uses it in a way that is actually good and aesthetically pleasing. He also uses some of the most fire beats in his songs. Some people describe Scott’s style as a mix between traditional hip-hop and lo-fi. But Scott himself has said that he is not hip-hop.

image

bkmag.com

When talking about Scott’s music and live show, he has been compared to Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. Some have argued that Travis Scott is the Kurt Cobain of our generation. This is because there is a pivot in the hip-hop/rap scene that is going in the same trajectory that rock music went through when Nirvana hit the scene. What is this “pivot” you ask? When looking back at the punk rock scene, it was rebellion, anger, and aggression. But when Nirvana came out, the music was softer, and paired with easy to sing-along lyrics (that still had an emotional impact on the listener). And then next thing you know, Grunge music hit the scene. Now, there are grunge bands that are heavier than Nirvana but that is besides the point. With Hip-Hop/Rap, the traditional sound and way of doing things has been thrown out the window. New age rappers do not care about the traditions of the genre. Hence, a paradigm shift. Like any other genre, the music has to evolve into something else. These new artists want to bring something new to the table and try things that no one else has tried before. Cross overs into other genres is a great way to add new elements to your music.

Taking influence from other genres have been done for years. Especially when talking about metal and rap. These two have been influenced by each other for years. For example, Aerosmith and RUN DMC did a remake of Walk This Way in 1986. Anthrax and Public Enemy created a song called Bring the Noise in 1991. Korn has been heavily influenced by rap and even the band Attila has some roots in rap. When looking at XXXTEENTACION, he samples the intro of Slipknot’s Spit It Out in his song Off the Wall.

Travis Scott’s stage show has been heavily influenced by the metal scene. The intensity in which he performs is insane. He is always in the faces of the audience and he is always paying attention. He wants people to go crazy and be free. He wants the listeners and attendees to be 100% themselves and rage at his shows. If you look up live performances of Travis Scott, you will see people stage diving from the stage and jumping into the crowd from the nose bleeds. The mosh pits at his shows are absolutely insane. I get goose bumps every time I watch him perform live.

There are a lot of similarities between metal and rap genres and I am happy that artists are incorporating other types of styles into their music. Genres aren’t black and white. Trying to keep music in a particular genre does not benefit the listeners or the creator of the music. Music is something that should be experimented with because as listeners, we are waiting for the next big thing.  So why keep music in a box when it was meant to roam?

image

Photography by Colin Kerrigan 

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: KoЯn

KoЯn is known as a Nu Metal band from Bakersfield, California; formed in 1993. They are considered to be the ones who pioneered the sub-genre of nu metal. Their discography is very impressive: KoЯn (1994), followed by Life Is Peachy (1996), Follow The Leader (1998), Issues (1999), Untouchables (2002), Take A Look In The Mirror (2003), See You On the Other Side (2005), Live & Rare (2006), Untitled (2007), Korn III: Remember Who You Are (2010), The Path Of Totality (2011), The Paradigm Shift (2013), and The Serenity of Suffering (2016). They have released two songs in 2019: You’ll Never Find Me and Cold.

In 2005, Brian “Head” Welch left the band to fight his addiction with methamphetamines. Welch said that he tried everything, “rehab, stuff on the Internet, but nothing helped me kick it. I was trying on my own to quit and couldn’t do it. I wanted to die. No one knew what I was going through. I could not quit. Church was my last shot…. I would wonder why people would go up to the front after the service. But one day it was for me. I said [to God], ‘Show me how to quit’” (MTV News). Welch has written a handful of books about his life, experience in the band, his battle with drugs, and his relationship with God. There has also been a film that summarizes his books and talks about him and his daughter.

The band never got another guitarist to fill in Welch’s place, but they continued to release albums and tour. And then on May 5, 2012, Welch joined the band on stage at the Carolina Rebellion in Rockingham to play “Blind” for the first time since his departure seven years earlier. I had friends at that festival and they said that when they saw Welch join the band on stage, they started crying. Not only were people in the audience crying but the singer, Jonathan Davis, and Welch were teary eyed and hugging on stage. The video for it is awesome!

KoЯn has always been one of my favorite bands. I grew up listening to the first three albums and the family would all jam out to it. I first saw KoЯn at the Carolina Rebellion of 2016 and they played their self-titled record in its entirety. It was AWESOME!!! I love KoЯn because you can hear the emotion’s in Davis’ voice and the pain that he is in. Even though I haven’t experienced the things that he and the band has, it’s nice to know that someone else understands the struggles that people go through and it helps create an outlet for people. Oh, and their riffs are killer!! So there’s that!

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Artist of the Week: TLC

Ahhh TLC, the first girl group that I ever heard and loved. TLC consists of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes (RIP), and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas. I heard of TLC because of my mom! She listened to TLC back in 1992 when they first hit the scene. She used to play their album, crazysexycool, in the living room, in the bedroom, and especially in the car. I grew up listening to this album and all I can remember is dancing to this album all the time.

TLC embodies, to me, what a powerful, independent woman should be. They’re hustling, they’re independent, and they are happy! Their second album, crazysexycool (1994), is one of my all-time favorite albums! This album has represented my whole mood for 2019. When you listen to it you will understand why.

On April 25, 2002, Left Eye was in a car accident and passed away. This event was a sad time for the group, the fans, and the family of Lopes. But her music is still celebrated today and is being played by fans everywhere. There was a movie made in 2013 called CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story in which it went through the career and lives of the three girls. It was a great movie to watch and I recommend that everyone watches it at least once

I got to see TLC for the first time at the Walnut Creek Amphitheater in Raleigh! They came with Flo Rida and Nelly, but I just went to see TLC. I got chills when they first hit the stage because it was the first time that I heard the songs that usually play in my bedroom, played live. They played their greatest hits (and one of my favorite songs, Creep!). Their last song was Waterfalls and they talked about Left Eye before this song (it was one of her favorites) and when her part in the song was on, a screen of Left Eye singing the part came on and the audience held our camera lights in the air. It was a beautiful moment. 

What is your favorite TLC song? Have you seen them live before?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Thy Art Is Murder

Australia has always brought us some great bands: AC/DC, Parkway Drive, and In Hearts Wake. But there is one band from Sydney, Australia that has always piqued my interest, and that band is Thy Art Is Murder. This band is a band that I listen to when in need of an ass-whoopin’! Their sound can be summed up in two words: heavy and brutal.

One of the distinct sounds of Thy Art Is Murder is CJ McMahon’s voice. I can pick his voice out because of how strong and loud it is. Not only does he sound good on record but he also sounds good live. McMahon is one of the best front men I have seen. He is always engaging with the crowd and is always in their faces.

Another aspect of Thy Art Is Murder’s sound that sets them apart is the drumming. Their former drummer, Lee Stanton, was my favorite. He is one of the best drummers in metal (IMO). He can do one of the fastest double bass’ that I have ever heard, and he does it all with a straight face. If you ever see him playing live or in a music video, it doesn’t even look like he is drumming.

With Stanton’s drumming and McMahon’s voice, this band is a force to be reckoned with. Their bone-crushing sound will leave you beaten and tired but… in a good way. One of the times that I’ve seen them was at the Mayhem Festival in DC. They were so good, that it was difficult for WhiteChapel to follow them (and you know I LOVE some WhiteChapel)!

McMahon left the band for a couple of months but eventually rejoined and they released their most recent alum, Dear Desolation (2017). Thy Art Is Murder has released 3 singles this year: Human Target, Death Squad Anthem, and Make America Hate Again. They will be releasing their new album, Human Target, on July 26th.

Favorite songs: Holy War off of Holy War (2015) and Reign of Darkness of off Hate (2012)

What is your favorite Thy Art Is Murder Song? Are you looking forward to their new album?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Miss May I

Where do I begin with this band? Miss May I (MMI) was one of the first metalcore bands that I ever listened to. MMI is from Troy, Ohio and they have released 6 albums in their career. Their first album, Apologies Are For The Weak, turned 10 years old this year! This record has some of my favorite songs, such as A Dance With Aera Cura, Apologies Are For The Weak, and Forgive And Forget.

I first heard of MMI from my brother and my cousin. They would play them all the time, and the first video I ever saw of them was Forgive And Forget. Once I saw that video, I was hooked. I love the riffs and the melodies that MMI creates on their records. With each album, they have progressively improved their sound and have added new elements to their music. My favorite album is Deathless (2015). Their most recent record, Shadow Inside (2017), is a lot different than their previous albums. I really like the melodies that are on their most recent record and I still listen to it to this day. I am looking forward to what they create next.

I went to see MMI back in 2015, for the first time, at Warped Tour. This was the first show that I went to by myself and I only went for MMI. I got to meet them before their show and they all signed my ticket. I was in the front for their set and it was one of the happiest memories I have. I then went and got a picture with their lead singer, Levi Benton, and he said that he saw me jamming out.

Later I saw MMI when they went on tour to support their release of Shadows Inside. This was one of my favorite tours because on tour with MMI was Upon A Burning Body, Currents, and Kublai Khan. I got to meet them, again, and I got a picture with the entire band!

Miss May I is one of my favorite bands. I love their music and the sound that they have created. Not only are they great musicians, but they are great guys. Each time I have met them, it was nothing but smiles. They are always so excited to meet fans and they make every single one of them feel important.

I can’t wait to see what they create in the future!

They are going on tour, soon, and it’s for the 10-year anniversary of their first record! Are you going to go see them?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW