Justina Villanueva
Castevet ‘Mounds of Ash’ — New Album
New York's Castevet dipped their black metal into a bit of Discordance Axis' grindcore. With seven intense tracks, their debut record, 'Mounds of Ash,' is a disturbing beast. Everything about the album -- which becomes available May 25 via Profound Lore (Yob, Portal, Ludicra, etc) -- is haunting, but not in the typical way that much metal music wants to scare you...
The Binary Code Find Inspiration in Gojira, Mudvayne and Each Other
The Binary Code make an intricate brand of death metal. Drummer Umar Fahim and guitarist Jesse Zuretti have a lot of skill. Watching the two live, it's easy to get sucked in. Rows of people either headbang or study the musician's movements with their jaws dropped...
Disaster Strikes Believe ‘Every Punk Deserves Health Care’
Boston's Disaster Strikes cares about your safety and healthcare. They have a song called 'The High Cost of Happy Faces' -- which is about the unethical treatment of employees by companies like Walmart. When the punk band opened up for Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine at New Nork City's Europa a couple of months ago, they told the audience that when a company doesn't give their
Disaster Strikes Got Organized on ‘Liberty Toast’ Thanks to Steve Austin
While most reviewers of Disaster Strikes' 'Liberty Toast' were impressed by the subject matter and a guest appearance from former Dead Kennedys frontman and Alternative Tentacles label owner Jello Biafra, the more exciting fact about the album -- at least to this writer -- is that the punk album was recorded by metal musician and producer Steve Austin (Today Is the Day)...
The Gloominous Doom Love Judas Priest and PBR
Do you think you have what it takes to front a ska-thrash metal band? Unless you can drink out of your prosthetic leg, put an illustration of said action on your debut record cover, hit a cowbell in beat with your ska-thrash band and proudly praise PBR as much as the guys in the Gloominous Doom, I don't think you're cut out for the frontman job...
Touche Amore Grateful Converge Took Them on Tour
When Touche Amore played Santos Party House in New York City on May 6, they couldn't stop talking about how much they appreciated that Converge took them out on the road. "The guy in the Sepultura shirt said I'm awesome! That rules!" frontman Jeremy Bolm exclaimed while grabbing and shaking the guy in the Sepultura T-shirt...
Disappearer Overcome Broken Strings And Genre Modifiers
"Mike from Phantom Glue in the house? Mike from Phantom Glue in the house?" asked Disappearer guitarist Thomas Moses. It was the inevitable, "I just broke a string" cry for help.
Justin Foley from the Austerity Program -- who also played on May 2 at Union Pool -- was already digging through his red and handy toolbox to give the fellow guitarist a new string...
Neurectomy Write Songs About Zoophiles and Zombies
"Who here likes dolphins?" asked Neurectomy frontman Joe Ippolito. The night was young at New York City's Lit Lounge on May 3. The three-band bill dropped to a two-band bill when Surrounded by Teeth canceled. But, this writer didn't care. I was there for the brutal death, dual guitar slaying of Queens' Neurectomy...
The Austerity Program Play Record Release Show, Stream Album
"Oh Mr. sound man! This is as looooooow as it gets," Austerity Program frontman Justin Foley sang into the mic during sound check. Don't worry. They are not sell outs -- yet. They didn't have a big fancy sound check where you need an expensive, exclusive VIP ticket to watch them tell their roadies to tune their guitars...
God Dethroned’s Touring Guitarist Also Plays in Abigail Williams
Ever try chewing chips with earplugs plugged into your ears? It sucks! Until God Dethroned plays in front of you -- drowning out the crunching sound. At least that's the lesson this writer learned when God Dethroned played Nokia Theater with Overkill, Vader, Warbringer, Evile and Woe of Tyrants...