Mike Ritchie

Lacuna Coil Celebrated 20 Years of Comalies in Columbus

Italy’s Lacuna Coil spent part of the late summer touring the U.S., celebrating the 20th anniversary of third record Comalies. Among the trek the King of Clubs in Columbus, Ohio got them on September 21st packing a house of loud, devoted fans and asylum seekers, wanting to see the gothic masquerade in person. The 13 date tour began early September in Pennsylvania, ending in Illinois, saving the Bu...[Read More]

Wednesday 13 Brought 20 Years of Fear to Cincinnati

Wednesday, September 14 the ghoulishly loud ungodly horde that is Wednesday 13 brought their 20 Years of Fear Tour to Riverfront Live in front of a crowd of rabid, dedicated fans ready for the dug up decibels and delivery only they could unearth. It was a long, steady, sweaty set of old-school favorites, classics, newer tunes and some brand new material from the new Horrifier release. Fans were al...[Read More]

Wednesday 13 – The Hallowed Horrifier’s New Masterpiece

The following interview was conducted backstage at Riverfront Live, Cincinnati, Ohio on 9-14 with assistance from guest contributor Jacqueline Perrin. Wednesday 13 is known for their ghoulish and grandiose songs, stage performances and overall, extreme zest for the dead, afterlife.  Front man Wednesday has led the graveyard charge forward for two decades leaving a crypt full of releases in their w...[Read More]

Defacing God – The New Cult of Lilith

You could call them hells guitar chord choir, an unholy evolution evoking incantations and lyrical hymns or a five-way unholy resurrection with Denmark’s death metal necro-newcomers Defacing God at the helm. Led by the wicked hand of vocalist/lyricist and creative director Sandie Gjørtz, Her defiant desires and macabre mantras paint a burning portrait of Lilith as they see her, praising her wicked...[Read More]

Death Valley Girls and L.A. Witch Brought SoCal Vibes to Columbus

On Sunday August 7th two acts from SoCal came to Columbus, Ohio to invade Natalie’s Musical Hall and Kitchen bringing along the desert heat with mirages, illusions, psychedelic sounds and noisy cool garage rock. L.A. Witch and Death Valley Girls spent the summer burning up the road, clocking the miles, leaving crowds in their wake feeling like they experienced audio peyote. Hallucinogens weren’t n...[Read More]

Lita Ford Delivered Deadly at J.D. Legends

Friday, July 29 the outside stage area of J.D. Legends was packed for ‘90s rockers and ballad kings Firehouse as the reigning queen of metal Lita Ford took over the stage later in the evening. The place was filled with everyone from teens to classic generations ready to experience the veteran Runaway play everything from deep cuts to the favorites. Youth took stage early with acoustic guitars and ...[Read More]

Reborn Dead Tour Celebrated Leprosy-era Death in Cincinnati

July 21st the club and floor of Legends Bar in Cincinnati was rattled, shook and nearly decimated by the blunt force trauma of the five bands that blessed the stage that evening. The Reborn Dead Tour slammed into Southern Ohio smashing bones together and rattling retinas with a near continuous evening pit whether classic or circular. Singer, guitarist Matt Harvey Exhumed, Gruesome, Rick Rozz (ex-D...[Read More]

Krisiun – War Tested Gladiators of Death Metal

Formed in 1990, the Brazilian brothers of Krisiun have released 11 records in their blistering history, turning to 12, July 29th with the next savage offering, looming brighter than a thousand suns Mortem Solis. The three brothers from Sepultura country, specifically Rio Grande do Sul, have assembled another blunt, battering ram set of blistering audio bombshells destined to abuse speakers and sta...[Read More]

Coven: The Magickal Chaos Tour Spellbinds Southgate House Revival

Saturday June 25th two bands played the inner sanctuary of the Southgate House Revival. One a home town favorite, across the river and the other a veteran act, cultured in the occult with history stretching back to days of early Sabbath and the remains of the ‘60s, hippie dream. Perhaps their music and image were the antithesis of flower power and dropping out, though everybody in the building tha...[Read More]

The Glam Slam Tour Shined Loud in Harrison

Thursday, June 23, two of the glam scenes greatest showman and veteran performers Steve Summers of Pretty Boy Floyd and Chip Z’Nuff of psychedelic pounders Enuff Z’Nuff took over the Blue Note stage in Harrison, Ohio to a house of dedicated fans ready to rock out like the MTV generation. The Glam Slam Metal Jam brought new blood in The Midnight Devils, a new breed breathing fresh fire on glam’s et...[Read More]

We Were Promised Jetpacks Headlined Saturday’s Columbus Arts & Music Festival

Saturday June 11th marked day two of the Columbus Arts Festival rocking the Riverfront with a weekend of art, music with dozens of food vendors handing out sweets, spirits, beverages and festive franks. With nearly 200 vendors showcasing their art and talent for public consumption and purchase, anything and everything the human mind could conjure up using whatever media and materials available wer...[Read More]

The Bay Area Striked Back in Kentucky

Saturday May 7, the rescheduled Bay Area Strikes Back tour came to Northern, Kentucky. Classic thrash made a very loud return this year and the crowd followed suit with normal thrash behavior. The Madison Theater marked a sold-out show of the 34 show trek. The tour was finally rescheduled to spring 2022 after the world started functioning again. The loud, harsh, body surfing movement that began on...[Read More]

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