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The APMAS are long over but that doesn't mean we can't discuss some of our favorite performances of the evening. Though, not everyone was a fan of the APMAS this year there were definitely some absolutely stunning performances that did take place. So today I decided to compile a list of some of my favorite APMAS performances. In no particular order her our my top four performances. 4. Pierce The VeilPierce The Veil honored the late and great Chris Cornell of Soundgarden after his passing earlier this year. It was completely amazing and stunning in his memory. Pierce The Veil did a great job of covering this song because it a difficult song to perform. It was important that we honor those who really paved the way in the rock industry and Chris Cornell was definitely a pioneer of this. 3. The Pretty RecklessThe Pretty Reckless played their song "Hangman" at the APMAS and this is definitely one of my favorite songs of theirs. It's dark, it's grungy and definitely sums up The Pretty Reckless sound perfectly. As always, in my opinion, The Pretty Reckless sounded amazing. It was epic and entertaining, I loved seeing The Pretty Reckless being apart of APMAS because I have not really seen in the magazine. They're also amazing live. 2. StarsetThis was the first time I was exposed to Starset and I fell in love with the band's sound because it completely different than anything I've heard recently. They have a larger than life sound and I totally love the space theme which I totally love because it gives this a visual aspect to their music. I'm bummed I've never heard of Starset before the APMAS because now I am totally obsessed. 1. New Years DayNew Years Day played two songs at the APMAS they played "Defame Me" off their album Malevolence and they covered Garage's "Only Happy When It Rains" along side Lzzy Hale of Halestorm. If you know anything about me then you would know that New Years Day and Halestorm are two my favorite female fronted bands in the scene. It was almost like a dream come true seeing my two favorite female vocalists rocking out onstage together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What were your favorite performances of the APMAS 2017? Leave a comment down below (sorry it's late). Until then, See you in the pit! 🤘 Mari
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The Loudwire Music Awards are taking place on October 24th and here are the nominees!
Hard Rock Artist of the Year presented by Frontier Music SRL
Who are you going to be voting for? Until then, See you in the pit! 🤘 Mari Everyone loves a cover song now and then, it's phone to see our favorite artists takes on songs that are not their own. Cover songs can I either be hits or misses it all just depends on the person's preference. Now everyone is covering songs thanks to the Punk Goes Pop series it seems like all these bands happen to have covers. Here are five of my favorite covers that I simply love to jam to. 5. Heathens by Halestorm (original twenty one pilots)It was fun to listen to Halestorm's version of a popular song and I think that absolutely killed it. The song still stayed true to the original by twenty one pilots but became more rockier and heavier. Vocalist, Lzzy Hale, never fails to amaze and she completely owned the song and made completely believable. This cover is a different entity from the original but I feel drawn to this song and keep on coming back to it over and over again. 4. Du Hast by Motionless In White (original Rammstein)Singing is a difficult task and not everyone can do it, let a lone singing in a foreign language but Motionless In White managed to accomplish the task and exceed. Motionless In White covered "Du Hast" for Punk Goes '90s Vol 2 the song is originally by German metal band Rammstein. Chris Motionless, managed to nail the cover of this song despite the language barrier. This will forever be my favorite cover Motionless In White have ever done because of have well executed this song is. 3. Animals by Ice Nine Kills (original Maroon 5)Because of Punk Goes Pop it opens doors for people listen to music they thought they'd never listen to. That happens to be the case with Ice Nine Kills' cover of "Animals" off of Punk Goes Pop Vol. 6. They took "Animals" and made it their own if one didn't know better it could possibly pass as an original by the band. Though, the song is a fun pop song this cover still keeps it fun and upbeat. This also probably my favorite Ice Nine Kills cover. 2. Alabama Song by Marilyn Manson (original the Doors)Shock rocker, Marilyn Manson, covered the Doors song "Alabama Song" and I think that Manson did an incredible job of covering the song. It was just Manson and the piano it along has a burlesque feel and I really like the dark twist on the classic Doors song. It stood out to me because of this and is probably my favorite Manson cover and I know most people enjoy "Tainted Love" and "Sweet Dreams." 1. Gangsta by New Years Day (original Kehlani)New Years Day completely owned the track that gained fame after being included apart of the Suicide Squad soundtrack. The track is dark, sexy and fun, New Years Day's flair made this song become even more attractive than it already is. Vocally this some of Ash Costello's best work the inflection of the vocals is absolutely stunning and chilling. You definitely will prefer this version over this original if you are into music with a darker twist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What are some of your favorite cover songs? Leave a comment down below! Until then, See you in the pit! 🤘 Mari In wake of recent events in Charlottesville this past weekend, teenage punk rockers, Doll Skin, released a music video for their song "Puncha Nazi" off their latest release Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Sending their message loud and clear and taking a stance against the hate here is their statement they released a long with the video. "In the face of a world that holds a shocking amount of racist, fascist, white supremacists (aka Nazis), you have to stand up for what you believe in and you have to do it now. There is no space for hate on this planet. We will not allow it. The time to fight back is right here, right now. "Make racists afraid again." You can check out the music video here: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let me know your thoughts on the video down in the comments below! Until then, See you in the pit! 🤘 Mari SOURCES http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/doll_skin_puncha_nazi_video Acoustic songs are always a nice way to listen to songs in a different form. They can change how we think of the song and possibly the songs meaning. Personally, when I'm at school I like to put on some acoustic tracks of songs I love because they simply create a more peaceful atmosphere. Acoustic tracks can come across in many different ways they can butcher the song or give one a larger appreciation. Here are some of my favorite acoustic tracks I like to jam to. 5. Eyes Wide Shut by Conquer DivideI think that clean vocalist, Kia Castillo, really shines in this track because it turns the more rocky version of the song into something much more gentler. Hearing "Eyes Wide Shut" in this version creates a more haunting tragedy where you really hear the emotion of song in a much different way. It's a really smooth transition from full band to acoustic since not all bands can make a clean transition with the song feeling strong and impactful. 4. Jonathan by Ice Nine KillsIt could be possible that I love the acoustic version of "Jonathan" by Ice Nine Kills more than the full band version. I think that the acoustic version is so beautifully composed and really tells Jonathan's story well. It's a really beautiful version of the song that I think even non Ice Nine Kills fans can enjoy. It's definitely a tear jerker of a track and is probably one of the tracks that I recommend you check out the most on the list. 3. Freak On a Leash by Korn ft Amy LeeI know that this isn't my first time talking about the acoustic version of "Freak On a Leash" but I simply love this version of the song. Firstly, I love how tame the song is compared to the full band version of the song. Secondly, I love that this version features Amy Lee of Evanescence growing up listening to that band it just adds a nostalgic feel to the song. This is a really nice version of "Freak On a Leash" and translates well into an acoustic version of the song. 2. Harsh by Eyes Set To KillEyes Set To Kill have out a few acoustic tracks, but I really have to say that "Harsh" is my favorite acoustic track. I really love just hearing vocalist, Alexia Rodriguez, and the guitar it really just has a nice raw sound. There's something I just enjoy really raw songs and all of Eyes Set To Kill's acoustic songs sound raw so you really can't go with any Eyes Set To Kill song. This however, is by far is my favorite acoustic from Eyes Set To Kill. 1. Eternally Yours by Motionless In White (performed by Ricky Horror)There are many things that I love about "Eternally Yours" as an acoustic song. The first being that this song is performed by guitarist, Ricky Horror, which I think is just different than any other band has done since normally it's just the vocalist and the guitar. The second being is that this song haunting, haunting in a different way than the full band version of the song, it's haunting in terms that's melodic. After listening to this song it inspired me to create this countdown.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What are some of you favorite acoustic songs? Are some of them the same? Are some of them different? Leave a comment down below! Until then, See you in the pit! 🤘 Mari Melissa Cross is a big name in our music scene, she is most noted for her work in the Zen of Screaming. She has also worked several of our scene's favorite metalcore bands and today she has a feature with Vice News on HBO at 7:30. Along side Cross, you get see her working with Caleb Shomo of Beartooth, Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire, Beau Bokan and Jared of Blessthefall, Tyler Dennen of Sworn In, and Patrick Miranda of Movements. In this feature the classically trained vocalist describes how she came to be the woman who's helped trained our favorite vocalists behind the scenes. Definitely check out the features because it San Antonio stop of Warped Tour and support our scene. You can watch the clip of the video now on Vice News' YouTube channel. Check it out: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you think it's cool when our scene get's attention from outside sources? Leave a comment down below! (Because frankly I find it pretty cool!) Until then, See you in the pit! 🤘 Mari Whenever you talk about heavy music there is always something subjective about it. Everyone has there own definitions about what a heavy song could be to them and is something that is always the thing that people who enjoy the more heavier side of rock can't decide on. From death metal to thrash metal to metalcore everyone like a different type of music and they can decide for themselves what too heavy is for them. That being said here are my current favorite heavy songs which you may or may not agree with this is just my personal opinion. 5. Sunshine by Sworn InI love how pissed off vocalist, Tyler Dennen, sounds in the track as he spews out pure hatred for the person that the track is dedicated to. Which makes me keep on coming back too because along vocals the instrumentation has a groove too it which really keeps the song flowing. The track is part of a much larger concept which is a all about relationships an then album is called The Lovers/The Devil. If you want a song that has a nice melodic flow to it then I highly recommend "Sunshine" it will get stuck in your head all day long. 4. Lost by Conquer DivideThis probably is one of the more "tamer" songs on today's countdown featuring all-girl post hardcore/metalcore band Conquer Divide. The girl's of Conquer Divide can definitely punch with their music unclean vocalist, Janel Duarte, can definitely bring the aggression in the band's tracks. Though the band also have a really nice melodic aspect too them which you can definitely tell in the instrumentation and clean vocals by Kia Castillo. Definitely check out these girl's because they are definitely going to blow up one day and I feel like it will be as soon as they release their second album. 3. Never, Forever by Chelsea GrinI've definitely been jamming this more slowed down track by deathcore band, Chelsea Grin. It really just has this really emotional angst to it which I can't get enough of because it really just flows nicely with the vocals and instruments. I absolutely love the vocal style Alex Koehler did throughout the track because it's quite different than normal Chelsea Grin tracks. This song really embodies heartbreak and the end of a relationship and is a song that I feel like if you like 'core music then you'll definitely be blasting this song. 2. Break by Eyes Set To KillIt's been awhile since we have heard anything from Eyes Set To Kill so once I saw that had released a new single called "Break" I was instantly thrilled. I enjoy Eyes Set To Kill can still progress their sound with the track still being heavy and rock based. It was nice is a song that has a nice groove to it with high energy that would probably be amazing to see in a live setting. This definitely is going to get ESTK fans pumped for future releases...which by the looks of it judging from social media is going to be in the future. 1. Stacking Bodies by Fit For A King ft Levi BentonThe track off of Fit For A King's 2016 release Deathgrip has to be my current favorite song. Now you're probably reading the title of the song and wondering how brutal this track really is. Let me answer...pretty brutal. Ryan Kirby has to be one of my favorite unclean vocalist in the scene today because he really does pissed off and I love that when I'm listening to metalcore music. This track also features another one of my favorite vocalist, Levi Benton, of Miss May I which I absolutely love his feature in this track. This is probably one of my most played songs of the summer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What are some of your current favorite heavy songs? Leave a comment letting me know! Until then, See you in the pit! 🤘 Mari This morning Islander did an interview with Alternative Press to discuss their separation with Victory Records and debuted a new single called "Summer." The track was supposed to be apart of a seven inch that was going to be released at the beginning of the summer. Though, Victory Records and Islander decided to go their separate. Vocalist, Mikey Carvajal, says there is no vendetta against the label they just were the right fit for each other.
Islander begin the new chapter with their song "Summer," which is supposed to be a feel-good song. It is a song for a hope for a better and hope for a better tomorrow and evoke that type of emotion, as an overarching freedom. In conclusion this is what Carvajal said about the track. “I've always had that punk rock DIY spirit when it comes to making art, so in that respect it comes natural for me,” he says. “Not having to ask someone for permission to get your art to your fans feels incredible.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What do you think of Islander's new song leave a comment down below! Until then, See you in the pit! 🤘 Mari SOURCES http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/islander_interview_summer_premiere After being in The Word Alive for seven years Daniel Shapiro and the band have mutually parted ways with one another. This is what the band's statement about parting ways with Shapiro.
"Dear TWA family,The Dark Matter cycle has been the greatest ride of our lives. Because of your support, we’ve reached so many goals we never thought would be possible 9 years into our career. We’ve sold thousands of albums, streamed millions more and toured all over the world. All because of you. As we move into this next chapter of our career, creatively we have come to a decision to continue The Word Alive with Tony, Telle, and Zack. Moving into the creation of our newest album, Daniel and us mutually agreed that this would be the best decision for the band. Daniel is an extremely talented musician that we have called our brother for the last 7 years. We continue to do so and wish him the best in his future endeavors. The Word Alive has always been a family, past present and future members will always support each other. We’re extremely excited for the new chapter that is yet to come and look forward to sharing all of our plans for the rest of the year. As always, we appreciate your support on and off tour. We will be all over the world soon enough to continue this journey together. Telle, Tony, and Zack 🤘🏼" Shapiro also posted a statement to Facebook as well and this what he had to say; "Over the last 7 years, I was fortunate enough to tour the world with some of my best friends in The Word Alive. As of today, I will be heading off on a new musical adventure and I am excited to share with you where the road will take me. The guys and I will continue to support each other. I'm grateful for the time I had with this family and will always consider myself a part of this band. Thank you all for the love and support from all the fans, friends, family and crew! -Danielson" I wish Daniel the best of luck on his future projects! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Have comments about the subject leave them in the comments section below and I will do my best to respond to them. Until then, See you in the pit! 🤘 Mari SOURCES http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/the_word_alive_part_ways_with_bassist_daniel_shapiro Architects have been getting some hate after they canceled their appearance at Metaldays this year. So, drummer, Dan Searle, took to Twitter to share it from a musician's perspective. This is what he said;
"We've caught some heat for canceling Metaldays the other weekend. I understand are disappointed and have spent money....But unfortunately bands are comprised of humans and not machines and sometimes things arise that have to take priority. The way some people talk it's as though they think we cancel shows for a laugh. It costs us a fortune and we love performing. Disappointing to see such a lack of trust. We caught this same heat when had to cancel shows because Tom was ill. We shouldn't say why we were canceling because it was private. To be clear - we all fine and in good health but sometimes we have commitments that come up that get in the way. That's life I'm afraid! We would only cancel a show if we absolutely have to. We're not staying at home sunbathing and watching telly. Definitely not sunbathing - we live in England." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What do you guys think? Do you think Dan Searle has a good point? Until then, See you in pit! 🤘 Mari SOURCES http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/architects_drummer_dan_searle_why_bands_cancel_shows |
Mari LozanoSophomore music journalism student and aspiring concert photographer Archives
September 2017
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