SERENADE – ONIRICA
Formed in 2009 with debut record Wandering Through Sorrow under their belts, Italian symphonic new blood Serenade changed direction, sound and band members straying from an early gothic sound to a heavier, progressive thrash feel. Sophomore release Onirica has the hallmarks of the symphonic greats, bombastic sounds, grandiose guitars and the searing, stirring soprano delivery of vocalist Claudia L...[Read More]
Terrifier – Weapons of Thrash Destruction
Vancouver BC’s, Terrifier marked 2011 with their thrash debut Destroyers of the Faith. They may have borrowed a few words from Priest but they adapted their sound according to the rules and ramming speed pits of early West Coast thrash. They’ve sounded their war cry grabbing handfuls straight from the white hot molten furnace, hurling fistfuls of liquid metal lava to any and all non-believers and...[Read More]
Black Mare – Death Magick Mother
Imagine the scene in The Shawshank Redemption when Andy plays the record over the PA system as the ladies sing about something so beautiful it couldn’t be put in words. Sera Timms has put words to the music though it’s almost a distant background accompaniment. Like a distant alluring voice in the mist or a hypnotic, subliminal call in a dream. Black Mare is Los Angeles based Timms’ solo endeavor ...[Read More]
Curse of Cassandra Release Nekonomicon at Blind Bobs
Ohio’s feline fatale Curse of Cassandra played Blind Bob’s Friday, November 17 releasing their spell casting Nekonomicon album. Surrounded by a diverse crowd of cosplay, costumes, cat and kitten fans and those who were electro-friendly. Despite past tour issues, Cassandra has made a reputation of proven persistence and resilience in the face of devastating roadblocks. Cincinnati trio, Playfully Y...[Read More]
Belphegor Raises Hell in Columbus
The Alrosa Villa stage was hung with hell’s fury Friday, November 10 as The North American Totenritual came to Columbus via Columbus Events Group. The Death Black Metal Crusade continued its tear across the nation, headlined by Austria’s macabre masters Belphegor. Playing a sordid selection of older blasphemies, a handful from Totenritual, and a few ritualistic classics. Their show was half-horror...[Read More]
HorrorHound Slays the Holidays Red
‘Tis the season… to be jolly, thankful and wield sharp objects that glisten red in the snow. A time to be with loved ones, sharing a similar passion for killer cinema. During the first weekend of November, HorrorHound went a slashing in Columbus finishing 2017 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. A weekend celebrating the family non-friendly holiday classics we’ve come to love and adore like an uns...[Read More]
Columbus Screams for The Iron Maidens
Saturday September 16, the Alrosa Villa was packed with people paying tribute to the four bands playing tribute to four metal forefathers. Both levels of the venue were stacked with metalheads ready to hear their favorite Judas Priest, Metallica, Dio and Iron Maiden songs. Defenders of the Faith opened the evening paying homage to the Metal God and Priest with classic Halford era tunes, though the...[Read More]
Ohio Renaissance Festival Goes Back in Time
On September 9 and 10 the Time Travelers Weekend at the Ohio Renaissance Festival brought all manner of character, creature from Stormtrooper to gate-keeper to thy majesty’s medieval kingdom. Villagers walked, gazed and marveled at those in costume. Travelers from near and far away kingdoms, worlds and galaxies made the pilgrimage to the holy grounds of outdoor annual cosplay. Costumes ranged from...[Read More]
Insatia – Phoenix Aflame
High-spirited, high-flying female fronted symphonic metal from Tuscan by way of Montreal, QC comes from the four members of Insatia. Like the flowing astral angel in the cosmos on the cover, Zoë Federoff, ascends listeners up with heavenly operatic vocals, melding a sound intertwining Siobhán Fahey (Shakepeares Sister) and Anette Olzon (Nightwish). The music plays with a ballerinas grace as her v...[Read More]
Kabbalah – Spectral Ascent
Kabbalah comes from Pamplona, Spain, comprised of drummer Carmen, bassist Marga formerly of local band Las Culebras and guitarist Alba. The curiosity of the esoteric mystery’s that loom in the darker realms of witchcraft and closed door arts intrigued the ladies to create new music in 2013. They began a unique, impressive cycle of music that’s progressed to this year’s Spectral Ascent. Primitive S...[Read More]
Nervecell – Past, Present …Torture
Nervecell answers the territorial question of what would happen if Dubai invaded ancient Egypt with musically-heavy atrocities. Breathing life and voice into their own god’s with thrashing loud, heavy, technical guitars, blistering drums and a voice from the abyss itself with bludgeoning death metal bowing to Nile, Morbid Angel, Deicide, Behemoth and Origin in the Middle East. Formed in 2000, thei...[Read More]
The Show Must Go On: I Died Trying Returns
Saturday, July 8, I Died Trying returned after a four year hiatus with a one man show performed by multi-instrumentalist Tony Goff who played two 45-minute sets at the Actors Theatre in Fairborn. It was a rare sit down affair but the experience everyone shared that night was one for the ages. The performance in scope and delivery went far beyond a rock show as Goff sweated out multiple built up em...[Read More]