Justin Jacobs

Listening to the crisp, speedy metalcore of Thrice circa 2001 and the bass-rumbling, earthy rock of Thrice circa 2009, you might hear two different bands. And in a way, you'd be right -- little about the Orange County act's early and recent music is similar, something longtime fans have debated for years as each subsequent release shifts the music further away from Thrice's roots...

With 'Artwork,' the Used have created their rawest, loudest and most raging record since the band's self-titled debut began smashing faces in 2002. Live, however, the Used go the opposite direction -- they seem a bit tired. During the band's hour-plus set in Atlanta, Used frontman Bert McCracken performed with bouts of infectious energy that were overshadowed by his too-frequent letting the audie

Kiss clearly had their priorities straight Oct. 26 in Atlanta. In front of a packed -- and face-painted -- crowd, the classic rock act's frontman Paul Stanley laid out the band's agenda for all to hear. "Some bands stand onstage and tell you how to stop global warming, who to vote for or how to end the war...

Describing a Metallica show is a more difficult task than it might seem -- simply because all the appropriate natural disaster references have likely been said. Was it like a hurricane of rock? Well, yes. A violent earthquake? Yes, quite. A violently whipping tornado of guitars...