Iron Maiden. Pepsi Center. 04.13.16 Iron Maiden defy imagination. They are timeless is every sense of the word. After over forty years in existence, their reach continues to extend to all corners of the Earth. While most heavy metal bands from the 80’s have long since retired, or morphed into something completely unrecognizable, the guys who were responsible for classics… Read more →
Black Sabbath. 02.15.16. Pepsi Center “Let’s have a fucking wild time tonight!” The Prince of Darkness leaned forward and gripped the mic stand with his painted black fingers while six brilliant flames shot several feet into the air behind him. “You ain’t fucking loud enough! I can’t hear you!” It wouldn’t be surprising if Ozzy Osbourne actually is deaf at… Read more →
2015 was an interesting year in music. I spent time with many releases, across a spectrum of sounds, and I enjoyed every minute of the adventure. That being said, when I tried to define my favorite albums, I found myself in a difficult position. How does someone rank Jason Isbell in association to Grimes? How does Chris Stapleton’s obliteration of the pop country… Read more →
Slipknot. Lamb of God. Red Rocks. 08.19.15 Slipknot closed the night with “Surfacing”, a ‘national anthem’ for outsiders around the world, and although the lyrics read like something scribbled in the journal of a disturbed teenager, it didn’t stop thousands of grown men (and some women) from screaming along with their fists in the air. “Fuck it all! Fuck this… Read more →
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Red Rocks. 07.05.15 The Mayhem Festival began its inaugural march through the United States around the same time I made the decision to move to Colorado. I wasn’t listening to a lot of metal back in 2008, and even if I was, I wouldn’t have made the trek to see Slipknot and Disturbed. It’s just… Read more →
As with the past few years, the image above is slightly deceiving. It is not a true representation of my favorite metal albums of 2014. What it does represent is another impressive run by Profound Lore Records — the one man operation from Canada that continues to ship outstanding releases year-round. I didn’t think I’d have much to say when… Read more →
King Diamond is an icon. The man behind the mask is legendary on so many levels. His songwriting, storytelling, stage presence and survival skills place him in the upper echelon of heavy metal frontmen. He never garnered mainstream fame the way Ozzy Osbourne, Ronnie James Dio or Rob Halford did, but you would be hard pressed to find an individual in the… Read more →
2013 was a great year in music. I’d argue it was among the best in the past 10 years. The diversity among the overachievers was remarkable. Representative artists from hip-hop, pop, rock, metal, hardcore and electronic music all brought their best to the table, but it was those albums that obliterated genre definitions that really stood out. Those undefinable sounds… Read more →
As with last year, the image above is slightly deceiving. It is not a true representation of my favorite metal albums of 2013. What it does represent is another impressive run by Profound Lore Records — the one man operation from Canada that continues to ship outstanding releases year-round. Many of the CDs pictured above are worthy of mention, but… Read more →
The last time Watain defiled the Marquis Theater was almost three years ago, and like last night, the ritual corresponded with the first signs of a greedy winter. The final season never wants to wait her turn — instead, she blasts through autumn with brute force — ripping leaves from high on trees and delivering them to frozen gutter graves… Read more →
The Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado is a seasonal destination. Sure, tourists can be found exploring the century-old venue every day of the year, but it isn’t until Spring that the rocks really shine. The scene on the ground might change from night to night, depending on what acts are booked to grace the iconic stage, but if you are… Read more →
