Vicki Siolos
Metal Scene Growing in India
"The winds of change have been blowing furiously over ," writes Express India's Pallavi Jassi -- but he's specifically referring to India's music scene as a hotspot for metal acts. With a much wider demographic, which now reaches between 13 and 35 years old, considered as the main meat of India's growing metal consciousness, the genre is thriving in the far Eastern country...
Rob Halford’s Metal God Apparel Hits Stores
Some say Rob Halford invented the heavy metal style, and the time has finally come to get the goods. After announcing the launch of Metal God Apparel three months ago, the legendary Judas Priest frontman previewed his new collection in downtown New York on Wednesday...
Rise Against, ‘Savior’ — Behind The Scenes Video
Lions and tigers and bears ... and bunnies! The latest Rise Against video for the single 'Savior' is no trip back to Oz, but director Kevin Kerslake (Stone Temple Pilots, Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins) worked with the veteran punk band to put a tongue-in-cheek twist over political undertones...
Skyfire’s Martin Hanner Gushes on Epic Death Metal
Martin Hanner of Skyfire recently stepped in as a guest blogger for Decibel magazine's online digs to talk about the five most underrated melodic death metal albums. He includes the Crown, Embraced and Decameron, but you'll have to read up to see what he chose for the top slot...
Insomnium Get Through the Dark Times
About.com may not seem like the most metal destination on the internet, but it often offers straight-forward interviews, reviews and breakdowns about the genre. Main section writer Chad Bowar recently interviewed Finnish band Insomnium about their new album, 'Across the Dark,' and digs into the meaning and efforts behind the record's creation...
Slayer and Metallica Dominate Soldiers’ Playlists
As frightening as it is fascinating, a New York-based music theorist named Jonathan Pieslak has been talking to soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and an overwhelming conclusion of the study is that heavy metal factors heavily in their mental experience...
Theatre of Tragedy Return to Their Roots
Elaborate imagery and dramatic piano parts are what make European gothic metal an ever-appreciated genre. Norwegian sextet Theatre of Tragedy just released 'Forever Is the World' on Germany's AFM Records, and it's revived their old fan base as well as magnetized new listeners...
Metal Inquisitor Waxes Historic On Powerviolence
Wikipedia is a beautiful thing, and while you can find information on just about anything, it's brilliant to come across the blogged gems that really illuminate a forgotten chunk of history. In this case, there is indeed a wiki for powerviolence -- a much more raw version of punk and grindcore that has stayed so below the radar that only the most extreme of fans or pretentious wannabes still talk
Struck by Lightning Premiere Demo With Revolver
Revolver magazine recently premiered a demo from stoner-metal band Struck by Lightning. Titled 'The Watchful Eye,' vocalist and guitarist Gregory Lahm says "'The Watchful Eye' is about life as we know it coming to an end." Their label, Translation Loss, also features Giant Squid, Irepress and Total F---ing Destruction...
Drummer David Witte Is a Chocoholic
Being the drummer for both Municipal Waste and Burnt by the Sun, David Witte has learned how to equally enjoy the bounties of life outside of music. He talked, at length, with Decibel magazine about his love for chocolate and his appreciation to have the lifestyle he does...