It’s a Sick New World. Why not celebrate in Vegas April 2025?

Whelp, nothing we can do about the election now, no matter what side of the political fence you reside on. Politics aside, one positive entity that the future of this country holds is Sick New World Fest, returning to downtown Las Vegas on April 12th, 2025. Being held again at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, […]

RED rocks for the Lord with friends in Flint, Michigan

The Machine Shop exploded with energy on the night of September 12th, 2024. Don’t take any band for granted at this venue… Or maybe you should, because you would have been pleasantly shocked and changed your mind. The first band to come onstage was Kingdom Collapse, hailing straight from Texas. Guitarist David Work and bassist […]

5FDP, Marilyn Manson & Slaughter to Prevail bring anarchy to Anaheim

Anaheim’s Honda Center was roaring Friday, September 6th with metalheads stoked to catch Slaughter to Prevail, Marilyn Manson, and Five Finger Death Punch. Home of The Mighty Ducks was a nice, cool air-conditioned venue for all the rockers dressed in black to escape the Los Angeles heat and get rowdy in a mosh pit… or […]

Five Finger Death Punch & Marilyn Manson don’t disappoint Nashville

Nearly 15 years have passed since I last attended a concert by Five Finger Death Punch or Marilyn Manson. I distinctly remember my first time seeing Five Finger Death Punch; lead singer Ivan Moody was clearly grappling with substance abuse issues, which heavily impacted the band’s performance. At the time, every metal magazine seemed to […]

Metal mania with Megadeth at Los Angeles’ YouTube Theater

Intensity and electricity filled Inglewood on a Thursday night as the parking lot for the YouTube Theater quickly filled up. Upon arriving, food and merch vendors were seen hustling as doors opened, with many food and drink vendors in their respective tents and trucks selling some of the most fantastic food I have ever tried. […]

Mayhem returns to SoCal this fall after nine years of fest hiatus

Mayhem Festival is returning as a single-day destination event in Southern California this October 12th, 2024. This will be the first Mayhem event since the fest’s last touring run in 2015, making this announcement long overdue. The festival is also calling back to its roots by returning to the Glen Helen Amphitheater in San Bernardino, […]

Lamb of God & Mastodon make Cleveland circle up & crowd-surf

On August 9th, Jacobs Pavilion in Cleveland, Ohio, was THE place to be for metal fans. Lamb of God and Mastodon came to town for their Ashes of Leviathan Tour, a special event celebrating the 20th anniversary of Mastodon’s Leviathan and Lamb of God’s Ashes of the Wake albums.  The night started with Unearth and […]

Slipknot kicks off 25 years of Here Comes the Pain Tour in Indiana

The Ruoff Center in Noblesville, Indiana is an earthen-built venue that looks like an impact crater had already hit it before the arrival of the Here Comes the Pain Tour. Hours before gates opened, dedicated fans were already queued in their vehicles to enter, a rare treat to see a full venue for each opening […]

The mariachi metal majesty of Metalachi in Fullerton, CA

On a beautiful Saturday evening in Fullerton, California, the incomparable Metalachi — the world’s first heavy metal mariachi band — took the stage at The Charleston, presented by Tangent Productions. With the band’s unique fusion of traditional mariachi music and classic heavy metal, Metalachi delivered a performance that was as eccentric as it was electrifying. […]

Metal memories with Mike’s Dead at Welcome to Rockville 2024

A metal outfit by the name of Mike’s Dead is going full-force right now, consisting of the totally brutal art of self-expression. The music rockets you into an emotional abyss made up of equal parts strength, joy, and utter pain. Represented by Hopeless Records (a label fitting the artist’s subject matter), Top Shelf Music got […]

Experiencing the earth-shaking Welcome to Rockville 2024

Welcome to Rockville Fest conquered Florida once again this year! It has become Top Shelf’s annual trip to the NASCAR International Speedway by the shores of Daytona Beach. This festival is produced by the one and only Danny Wimmer Presents: one of the most riveting and largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America.   […]

Lacuna Coil creates chaos in Nashville

It’s been 30 years since Italian metal icons Lacuna Coil began captivating the world with their beautiful and operatic style of music. Being a longtime fan, I had never managed to align my schedule with their tour dates. So, when their Ignite the Fire Tour was announced, I was thrilled to see Nashville listed as […]

Sick New World 2024

Sick New World made its crushing sold-out debut in 2023 and there’s no stopping this fantastic fest, bringing together the best in modern rock. With their second year, C3 Presents has proven SNW to be a landmark for Las Vegas festivals. Along with their second year came upgrades! Everyone got wristbands this year! It was […]

Intervals rocks Detroit with instrumental metal madness

A unique night, for sure, happened at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit. Different bands who had a similar sound, yet all sounded so different came together on April 12th, 2024. There was something for everyone to enjoy with this lineup. Makari and Body Thief started the night, warming up the crowd. Makari brought the alternative […]