United States of America
I'm a college student at Wright State in Dayton, OH graduating in Spring 2018. I write for my own site www.coveringthescene.com, freelance for the Dayton City Paper and remotely for four sites in California.
I cover the music scene local-international on all sites, interview bands, write show promos and cover live shows.
Dayton based three-piece Maharaja have infected audiences with their doom, sludge, desert rock brand of noise. Slowly dehydrating the crowds through heavy delivery and heat leaving them thirsting for more. Vocalist, bassist Eric Bluebaum, guitarist Angus Burkhart and drummer Zack Mangold play their hometown heavy habitat Blind Bob's Friday, March 9 with Black Mass, Led to the Grave, and Crewneck.
Atmospheric Ukrainian based five-piece Sleep In Heads will release their six-song album On The Air March 1. The uniquely progressive metal is led by ear-caressing vocalist Sonya. The band's moniker comes from her name, roughly translated from Ukranian/Russian to 'sleepyhead.'
The four-piece extreme metal outfit Merciless Reign have stamped and pounded their turf, making a name and following in the Akron/Cleveland area building a following among headbanging devotees with customized noise, volume and wreckage. Their Reign began in 2011, releasing a three-song demo and digital release of their first full-length 2014's, Catharsis Through Chaos.
Saturday January 20, The Brightside Event and Music Venue was filled with people from all over the area paying tribute to the memory of Wright State Graduate, artist and Canal Street Tavern owner Mick Montgomery. A pillar of the community since the early '80s, Montgomery opened the Tavern doors in 1981 giving anyone and everyone a chance to play the stage.
Gothenburg, Sweden's all female thrash group Ice Age started in 1985. They've sold thousands of demos, toured Europe with major festival appearances and their fan base and profile was growing without major label or indie support. Almost three decades after their split they've returned with debut release Breaking The Ice, available through GMR Music.
Dustin Behm has translated an unlimited amount of musical ideas through fingers to guitar with new release The Beyond. There's no telling where his fretboard thoughts and fantasies will go, note to note, riff to riff, but he's recorded 13 songs with insanely complex sound tapestries built to show what he's capable of on the neck.
For seven records the members of Nordic symphonic historians Leaves' Eyes have captured the Viking war cry and spirit in lyric, song, video, and on stage recreation. They've consulted the ancient saga's, perfecting their production for pin point presentation, playing hypnotic symphonic folk metal with history to study and riffs to head bang to.
Leaves' Eyes are the loud, proud, symphonic, growling scribes of Nordic history and the tellers of ancient sagas. Whether swinging swords on the shore, pillaging a village or playing in the forest they bring the middle ages to modern life, seamlessly intertwining music and narrative.
Edge of Paradise was created in 2011 by singer Margarita Monet and guitarist Dave Bates. After cranking out four releases by 2016, 2017 provided major moments like the release of the Alive EP, adding guitarist David Ruiz and making their European debut at the Netherlands Femme Festival.
Danielle Harris has established her presence in the horror genre with many beloved roles over the span of her career. Whether being stalked by Michael Myers in the original "Halloween" series, or returning under the direction of Rob Zombie, Harris has earned respect and notoriety as a scream queen in a genre filled with stalkers, slashers and splatter.
The Dead Daisies are musical kinfolk to the bands that reigned in the '70's as new record Burn It Down's 11 songs are inspired by the hammer of the gods along with a few rolling stones. It's a '70's classic rock sound with an updated, upgraded chrome job and dose of modern mojo with vintage...
British metal legends Judas Priest are set to release album 18, Firepower, March 9. The leather-clad legends are still cranking out new, heavy, valid metal. With a 40-year library of classic albums, not many bands can say they were part of metal's formation. Lightning Strike and Firepower are the first tastes of new electricity from...
Friday February 2, the 20-date The Witching Hour Tour featuring In This Moment, P.O.D., New Years Day and DED played Express Live in Columbus. It was a four-punch West Coast package with fans stacking the venue, many dressing as 'Blood Girls' or in Maria Brink attire.
New Years Day has tailored their vision from the beginning, dangling inner skeletons and personal demons for the world to see. With infectious sights and sounds vocalist Ash Costello has left her mark in every ringing ear and devoted eye. Like a haunted house she's painted grim portraits with harsh decayed brushstrokes.
In their nearly decade of existence, Sweden's all female Thundermother have gone through trials and tribulations, enough to put a permanent pothole in the road to success. Sole original member guitarist Filippa Nässil has soldiered on, carrying her vision high with pride along new blood in vocalist Guernica Mancini, bassist Sara Pettersson and drummer Emlee...
This four-man Arizona nu metal/hardcore band has spent the last several years touring and gaining exposure and visibility, while finding the perfect blend of sound and noise to fit their moniker. Already seasoned road dogs, they've incorporated part horror move, part loud introspection and part insane thrash party into what became Ded.
London Wilde and Dave Starr of WildeStarr released Beyond the Rain, on December 8, 2017, the third record in their trilogy and the most personal, telling the story of Wilde's late brother Gary. Lyrics and music tell the tales of the highs and lows he went through before the tragedy.
Hailing from Houston by way of Alameda, California husband and wife team Dave Starr and London Wilde have taken their band WildeStarr through three albums with their latest, Beyond The Rain coming out on December 8th. Both have extensive background experience with Starr's former band Vicious Rumors and Wilde's self-taught vocals and studio experience.
London Wilde and Dave Starr of WildeStarr released Beyond the Rain, on December 8, 2017, the third record in their trilogy and the most personal, telling the story of Wilde's late brother Gary. Lyrics and music tell the tales of the highs and lows he went through before the tragedy.
Rome, Italy's Wait Hell In Pain tackles the series issue of physical abuse against women on their debut Wrong Desire. The record's fictional main character May endures physical and psychological abuse, eventually reaching her boiling point. Knowing the past can't be changed and the ramifications of her emerging dark thought patterns, she contemplates escape by any means necessary.
(Due to severe weather conditions, original headliners Raven Black were unable to perform) Friday December 15 DF Productions and Events at The Venue Event Center in Fairfield hosted three bands that played on, despite Mother Nature tampering with the lineup.
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.
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.
'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.
In the late '70s and early '80s the New Wave of British Heavy Metal came to the U.S. Historically abbreviated as the NWOBHM, the movement included Iron Maiden, Motorhead and Def Leppard. Each band would achieve global success while Angel Witch, Girlschool and many others though influential, never achieved the same level.
Shaman's Harvest has created their version of an old-school throwback record in a way. They threw technology in the dusty ole garage, preferring 'vintage' analog to digital in the creation of a truly visceral journey in sound and production. Tales of the blues, country rock, the shadows of spirits passed, gospel healing, Native American and...
Since 1986 Prong has been one of the hardest working bands in heavy music, taking their crossover brand of hardcore punk inspired metal across the world and penning classics like Prove You Wrong, Whose Fist Is This Anyway and Snap Your Fingers. Main member Tommy Victor has cranked out New York flavored mosh pit metal...
On Saturday July 15, Screamer Magazine talked to Gemini Syndrome drummer Brian Medina and wizard-like vocalist Aaron Nordstrom on their bus under the haunting shadow of the Ohio State Reformatory before their set at this year's Ink in the Clink in Mansfield, Ohio. Though classified as alternative, prog and nu metal by both fans and...
Black thrash n' roll from Athens, Greece come from the guys of Böneyard recording their Below Mediocrity EP earlier this year via Witches Brew. The sound is a low budget throwback to the vintage sounds of the thrash masters from their back in the day infancy when they did the best they could with what...
Staked heretics from Athens, Fyrecross play traditional old-school metal with crosses between power, shrieking vocals and melody. The inquisition began when four NWOBHM influenced guys met in late 2013 with classic heavy metal on the mind. Guitarists Giorgos Skourtaniotis and Matt Kliszka, drummer Charis Kambitsis, bassist Theo Karageorgos and vocalist Raff Kritoulis make up the...
The sun rose on day three of Ink In The Clink 2017 as the weekend warriors bravely still standing in the prison's shadow returned for one more all-day go around, while for others it was a one or two day affair. Day three's individual ink exploits went to best realism, most unusual, black and grey...
The second day of Ink In the Click 2017 continued the tunes and tours, with the first tests of stamina, effects of sleep deprivation, and signs of sunburn were felt. Saturdays celebrated ink experiments included best large black and grey, color and traditional (5X7 and bigger) and color portrait.
Friday, July 14, Ink In The Clink 2017 began with the first of three all-day showcases featuring revolving bands on two stages side by side with the brick and mortar backdrop and towers of the Ohio State Reformatory under the sun. Mansfield, Ohio played host to the weekend of music, tattoo artists, vendors and fans...
On July 18 Express Live hosted the unholy evening bringing Behemoth, Lamb of God and Slayer to Columbus as Sirius XM Liquid Metal presented the rabid three-headed touring monster. The crowd filled the general pit area, throwing down like a human grenade leaving exhausted, battered and dehydrated bodies staggering in its wake.
Vixen vocalist Janet Gardner strays from the sound that brought her global fame with a new solo album that throws fists into several eras and genres from the '70s to the '90s and grunge to industrial while keeping her hard rock, big hair, stilettoed roots. Alongside husband Justin James, Gardner weaves magical webs like a...
Vixen is best known for being the first all-female '80s glam-era rock band. Attention from MTV and Headbangers Ball propelled them into the spotlight with worldwide recognition through endless touring. Hits like Edge of a Broken Heart and Cryin' made them household names in the late '80s, early '90s.
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.
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.
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.
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.