Metal Magnitude

Ultimate Jam Night at NAMM 2025

February 14, 2025February 16, 2025ChelseaConcert Reviews, Features

Ultimate Jam Night took over the Anaheim Convention Center Arena at NAMM 2025, with a 30-piece orchestra and 80-person choir to accompany over 80 featured musicians, primarily from the Rock and Metal worlds. Presented by RCF, the setlist featured a variety of classics, ranging from Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Rush, Pat Benatar, Santana, and Jimi Hendrix, to Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, Whitesnake, and so much more. Ultimate Jam Night recently celebrated their 10th Anniversary as an event, residing at Hollywood’s world-famous Whisky A Go Go.

Paulie Z not only hosted this Ultimate Jam Night NAMM edition, but gave several performances of his own. This NAMM Jam Night also helped support the David Z Foundation, and the Guitar Center Music Foundation donated guitars to be signed by the musicians and auctioned off to support LA Wildfire victims.

Paulie Z opened the show with “Hello There/Dream Police” and “Still of the Night” – a tribute to the late John Sykes – with Ultimate Jam Night creator Chuck Wright kicking off the show and Whitesnake’s own Marco Mendoza and Doug Aldrich joining in the latter, plus Mitch Perry, Joe Travers, and Sven Martin. Later, Paulie Z also performed a solo vocal cover of “We Are The World”, with an impressive range of impressions of every individual artist who sang on the original. He continued to show his vocal diversity in an operatic performance of “Nessun Dorma” along with the orchestra and choir, before switching back to the metal later for “The Trooper” with Jessica Falchi, Gabriel Connor, Luis Kalil, and Aquiles Priester.

“Heartbreaker” featured a lineup reminiscent of Metal Allegiance the night before, with Alissa White-Gluz, Frank Bello, and Alex Skolnick, plus the addition of Kenny Aronoff and Doug Aldrich. Randy Jackson of Zebra took to the stage for a “Ramble On” rendition, along with Chuck Wright and Marco Minneman. As an East Coast artist, it isn’t too often that Randy is seen in SoCal, so this was an unusual treat.

We were also treated to Donnie Vie, original Enuff Z’Nuff vocalist, making a somewhat rare appearance to sing “I Am The Walrus”, with full orchestra and the lineup of Dave Moreno, Stu Hamm, Alex Kane, Steve Dawson, and Griffin Tucker.

Derek Day showed a favoring of the classic rock scene with his covers including Cream, Pink Floyd, and The Who’s Tommy, for “Sunshine Of Your Love” (featuring Pan Rocks, an LA-based steel pan orchestra), “Time”, duetting with Roberta Freeman while featuring Scott Page on sax, and “The Acid Queen” with Debby Holiday on vocals. Vernon Reid, Doug Wimbish – 2 out of 4 members of Living Colour – Norwood Fisher, Stephen Perkins, Sean McNabb, and Forrest Everett were all amongst the varied lineups for these three songs.

Singer/Songwriter Rachel Lorin showcased her strong pop-rock vocals well-suited to Evanescence’s “Bring Me To Life”, teaming up with Hal Sparks for the dual vocal dynamic of the song, with their band of Ira Black, Marten Andersson, August Zadra, Aquiles Priester, and Sven Martin. Hal Sparks also shared hosting duties with Paulie Z, and performed earlier in the night on “Them Bones”, with Doug Wimbish, Sam Bam Koltun, Luis Kalil, and Marco Minnemann.

Debby Holiday, an Ultimate Jam Night regular, made several appearances throughout the night, including in a duet with Jason Charles Miller for “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (also featuring Wyzard, Quist, Tal Bergman, Mike Mangan, and Mitch Perry) and a strong performance of “The Acid Queen”, also featuring Derek Day, with Sean McNabb on bass for his first gig of the night before heading down to road to perform in Ronnie Montrose Remembered a little later on.

Next up was Michael Starr giving such an authentic channeling of Diamond Dave himself on “Hot For Teacher”, the vocal resemblance was uncanny. He kept the 80’s vibe going with Bon Jovi’s “Runaway”, made even more authentic by the presence of Phil X, and rounded out with the band lineup of drummer Joe Travers, bassist Bryan Beller, and Olivia Malbran on keys.

Dewey Bragg was here for his second show of the NAMM week, having performed with Kill Devil Hill at the Metal Hall of Fame Gala. He also brought some other Metallers back on the stage with Jack Gibson, Ira Black, and Jeremy Colson for “Bark At The Moon”. Tomasina Abate then gave a powerhouse rendition of “Painkiller”, with the same band lineup plus the addition of Doc Coyle, who also appeared at the Metal Allegiance show the evening prior. dUg Pinnick made a highly-anticipated appearance to follow, bringing Matt Starr and Rafael Moreira to the stage with him for “Voodoo Child”.

Zoe Infante and Adi Argelazi completed the lineup of vocalists for the night, covering Blondie with band members Matt Starr, Jace Jensen, Quist, Alex Kane, and Rush with Mike Hetzel, Tim Starace, and Billy Alexander, respectively. In a surprise appearance, Mark Tornillo arrived with Gary Holt, Lloyd Grant, Chris Kael, and Chris Kontos, all joined by Ira Black for the always classic and heavy “Ace of Spades”. Paulie Z returned to the stage with “Baba O’Riley”, as Pan Rocks joined in once again, with featured violinist Eliza James, along with the return of Chuck Wright, Mitch Perry, Sven Martin, and Joe Travers to close out the show.

Ultimate Jam Night was a special gathering of musicians, industry, and fans under the NAMM Arena roof for an excellent night of music. For those in the LA area, or if you happen to visit, Ultimate Jam Night takes place regularly at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood. For more info and updates on upcoming shows, visit: https://www.ultimatejamnight.com.

Metal Allegiance 2025 at House of Blues Anaheim, CA

February 5, 2025February 6, 2025ChelseaConcert Reviews

Metal Allegiance took over Anaheim, CA on the opening night of NAMM 2025, making the House of Blues a stage for metal legends, and a home for the metal community. An enthralling range of covers, the presence of well-loved Metal Allegiance tracks, powerful support, and an array of surprise guests made for an unforgettable night. This year’s show was sponsored by Jackson, EVH, Charvel, and IK Multimedia.

Lost Legacy was the first to hit the stage, paving the way with their heavy East Coast sound.

New York’s Wicked made their second West Coast appearance in a row for the week, following a dynamite two-song performance at the Metal Hall of Fame with a longer set to open Metal Allegiance. During their interview on the Metal Hall of Fame Red Carpet, Wicked said that they have a new album on the way, and it will be great to see more from this band bringing their vibrant and vigorous brand of “High Energy Rock N’ Roll” to the stage and studio.

OTTTO was next up to bring their heavy touch and solid setlist to the stage. OTTTO features bassist Tye Trujillo, son of Metallica’s Robert Trujillo, a foreshadowing of his father’s surprise guest appearance for the Metal Allegiance finale.

The “Pledge of Allegiance” to Metal is an essential first track to open the show, a staple of the Metal Allegiance set, this time with the lineup of John Bush, Alex Skolnick, Andreas Kisser, David Ellefson, Mark Menghi and Mike Portnoy.

The iconic Mike Portnoy never left his spot behind the kit for the whole night, holding it down for the entire duration of a 2+ hour show with an outstanding performance through all different styles and genres of rock and metal covers alongside Metal Allegiance originals with a constant rotating lineup. Completing the “Core 4”, Alex Skolnick, David Ellefson, and Mark Menghi effortlessly proved why they hold that title, upholding metal legacies and showing their versatility amidst action-packed jams and surprise guest appearances.

Photo by Alissa

Andreas Kisser shredded a great deal of the show before swapping his guitar spot with Doc Coyle, until the two shared the stage later on. Naturally, Kisser had to return to the stage for Derrick Green’s arrival to claim Sepultura’s own “Territory”. John Bush also made a killer return for Anthrax’s “Hy Pro Glo” – following Metal Allegiance originals “The Accuser” and “Bound By Silence” – with a special guest vocal appearance from Frank Bello, alongside guitarists Jeff Loomis and Jack Gibson.

Mark Tornillo ripped through the vocals of “Fast As A Shark”, “Terminal Illusion”, and “Light Up The Sky” – an unexpected Van Halen cover.

Troy Sanders took to the stage next, starting with his two well-known Metal Allegiance feature tracks, “Liars & Thieves” and “Let Darkness Fall”, before throwing in another unexpected cover with “Parasite” by Kiss. Sanders wasn’t quite done showcasing his heavy-melodic vocals just yet, as he wrapped up his set with Metallica’s “Disposable Heroes”.

David Sanchez of Havok was the next surprise guest to arrive, giving “A Lesson In Violence” along with Exodus’ own Gary Holt and Jack Gibson, Mark Menghi, and the first appearance of Brandon Ellis for this show.

(Photos by Alissa)

Bobby Blitz brought out his bold and unmistakable vocals for three tracks in a row: “Mother of Sin”, his original song with Metal Allegiance from their 2018 album; Overkill’s iconic “Elimination”; and a Ted Nugent cover of “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang”.

Though Chuck Billy was on the bill, he did not make an appearance at this show, but there were still plenty of special guests, including Alissa White-Gluz, who surprised the audience when she took to the stage for a performance of “Symphony of Destruction”, joined by Jeff Loomis, Angel Vivaldi, David Ellefson, and Alyssa Day.

Marty Friedman – whose NAMM Guitar Jam was set to take place the next evening alongside John 5 and Nita Strauss at The Observatory OC – also arrived as a rare guest to join Metal Allegiance for the tracks “Dissident Aggressor” and “Killers”, bringing back Mark Tornillo and John Bush, respectively.

One more surprise guest – though, again, somewhat foreshadowed by OTTTO’s presence earlier in the night – stunned the crowd when Robert Trujillo showed up unannounced for a cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs”. This track had every instrument but drums doubled, with Mark Menghi and Robert Trujillo sharing the bass spot, Alex Skolnick and Andreas Kisser on guitars, and Mark Tornillo and Bobby Blitz trading vocals. Finally, this illustrious night of metal came to a close – not that anyone truly wanted it to – with a performance of Motörhead’s “Iron Fist”, featuring the full cast of characters that made up the Metal Allegiance lineup of NAMM 2025.

It’s always great to see the exciting show and group of legends that Metal Allegiance assembles around NAMM time. Keep an eye out for news and tour updates via: https://www.metalallegiance.com.

Special thanks to Metal Magnitude Media Assistant Alissa for photo contributions!

Wicked Full Gallery:

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Metal Allegiance Full Gallery

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Metal Hall of Fame 2025: Feature and Red Carpet Interviews

January 31, 2025January 31, 2025ChelseaConcert Reviews, Features

Another year, another successful Metal Hall of Fame! 2025 marked the 9th Annual Metal Hall of Fame event, taking place in Anaheim, CA and surrounding the events of NAMM 2025. This year’s inductees were: Dimebag Darrell, Rikki Rockett, Tony MacAlpine, Dangerous Toys, Life of Agony, KNAC Radio, Alissa White-Gluz, Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein, Cannibal Corpse, Burton C. Bell, and Jeff Young. This year’s event featured a new virtual aspect, as it also served as a fundraising livestream telethon to benefit the Southern California wildfire victims.

SoCal Guitarist Ronny North started the show with some shredding perfect to set the tone for a night of metal. Metal Hall of Fame Founder Pat Gesualdo joined Hosts Eddie Trunk and Cathy Rankin as they arrived to announce the 9th Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala. New York’s Wicked kicked off the night’s festivities with two explosive rock n’ roll tracks to bring up the energy in the room.

The first award was given to Jeff Young, who also performed early on in the Gala, showcasing the heavy sound of his new band.

KNAC Radio gathered a slew of personalities to accept the award on behalf of the radio station as a collective.

Dangerous Toys was inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame by their first manager, Tim Heyne, who told the story of how he first signed the band, and Jason McMaster spoke about Bloody & Bruised: The Untold Story of the Back Room documentary, which includes much of the band’s story.

Alissa White-Gluz was given the responsibility of two awards in the same night – one for herself, and one that she accepted on Doyle’s behalf. She accepted both gracefully, with expressions of gratitude and appreciation for the metal community at every turn.

Pamela Parks introduced Rob Barrett of Cannibal Corpse to induct the band into the Metal Hall of Fame.

Munsey Ricci, President and CEO of Skateboard Marketing, Ltd. and Metal Contraband – also a past Metal Hall of Fame Inductee – gave two induction speeches this year: one for Tony MacAlpine, who was present to accept his award, and the other for East Coast-based Life of Agony, who were not able to attend in person, but sent a video message to show their gratitude to the metal community. Munsey accepted Life of Agony’s induction on their behalf, with a promise to get together with the band and present their award to them in person.

A performance from local LA band Alibis momentarily shifted away from the awards ceremony, keeping the energy up with a strong Hard Rock sound.

A video compilation highlighting Burton C. Bell’s career followed Pamela Parks’ speech, as she told of her evolution from fan to friend of Burton in the course of their lives. Burton delivered a heartfelt speech expressing his journey as an artist and thanking fans for the support as he accepted his award.

Thumpdrag featuring Chris Poland hit the stage for the next performance, including “Peace Sells” in their set, followed by another heavy set from Kill Devil Hill.

Inductee Rikki Rockett was unable to be present due to the unexpected incident of a wildfire evacuation near his home. It was noted that his home was still standing at the time of the event, but due to the extenuating circumstances, it was understandably not possible for him to reach the show. Tommy London accepted Rikki Rockett’s award on his behalf, telling stories of his first memories of hearing Poison and crediting their legacy.

The awards gala came to a close with a video tribute to Dimebag Darrell, featuring Phil Anselmo and Zakk Wylde. Pamela Parks returned to the stage alongside Eddie Trunk and Billy Graziadei of Biohazard to present the award. Dimebag’s widow, Rita Haney, not only accepted his award but was given a Metal Hall of Fame Induction of her very own, for all that she does to keep his name and legacy alive.

The All-Star Jam took over the stage for the rest of the night, with a rotating lineup including Marc Lopes, Jeff Young, Chris Poland, Tory Stoffregen, Dewey Bragg, and many more, alongside a raffle with Chris Poland’s amp amidst the prizes, and all proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross.

As always, the Metal Hall of Fame Gala was preceded by a red carpet, where I spoke with Marc Lopes, Wicked, Pat Gesualdo, Alissa White-Gluz, Eddie Trunk, Burton C. Bell, Britt Lightning, and Tommy London. Check out the video below:

Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in the 9th Annual Metal Hall of Fame!

Interview: Austin Ingerman

July 3, 2024ChelseaInterviews

Metal Magnitude’s Chelsea spoke with Austin Ingerman of Gunshine (and formerly New Years Day), when they released their EP “Checkmate” via Grove Records/The Fuel Music, discussing the formation of Gunshine, working with Producer Chris Collier, the art of self-recording demos as an artist, styles and influences, combining classic rock elements with modern guitar work, performing at WWE Wrestlemania with New Years Day, touring with Jackyl, Austin’s background as a musician and experiences living in LA, and more.

For more on Gunshine, visit: https://www.gunshineband.com

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Album Review: Kerry King – From Hell I Rise

May 29, 2024May 30, 2024ChelseaAlbum Reviews

Raging riffs and solos reign through the tracks of From Hell I Rise, Kerry King’s first album release to follow Slayer’s farewell show on November 30th, 2019. A lucky 13 tracks represent King’s solo full-length, showcasing his new personal brand of metal, produced by Josh Wilbur.

King opens the album with some memorable riffing on the instrumental “Diablo”, accompanied by his new solo band lineup, comprised of fellow guitar legend Phil Demmel (Machine Head), Thrash drumming icon Paul Bostaph (Slayer, Testament), and “Bass Beater” Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah) holding down the low end, before leading with a whammy-induced transition into “Where I Reign”, introducing the presence of Marc Osegueda, who brings a powerful vocal touch to Kerry King’s songwriting that creates a team surpassing any vague suggestion of just “Slayer meets Death Angel”.

Bostaph leads the way into “Residue”, a rhythmic headbanger worth a few extra listens, as Demmel and King trade high-energy solos in the first track off the album to get a music video. The other is “Toxic”, with an unmistakably classic Thrash tone and subtle Slayer riff nods.

“Idle Hands” are far from it in terms of the players, and bassist Kyle Sanders particularly stands out to the ear on this one. The driving force of “Trophies Of The Tyrant” is a somewhat complex track that’s constantly shifting time, layering guitar harmonies, and chugging out a verse that feels like an angrier, thrash-ier “Immigrant Song”, only in terms of rhythm, followed immediately by more driving aggression in “Crucifixation”.

By this point, we know this record is far from just a one-time listen, with a strong first few tracks and plenty more to go. “Tension” gives a momentary break from the high-speed pace that’s been propelling us through the tracklist so far, taking an almost atmospheric approach. That break doesn’t last long as “Everything I Hate About You” throws us back in Hardcore-style, with an attack running a little over a minute, and “Two Fists” keeps up the same attitude. “Rage” is self-explanatory and may just as well have been the title track, but after letting loose some “Shrapnel”, King saves the definitive title track, twin guitars and all, for the very end.

Lyrics are defined with intense topics, social commentary, and a certain boldness that’s characteristic of King, who has never shown a hint of hesitance in continuing to create post-Slayer metal. “Easter eggs” can certainly be found in songs like the title track, where “From Hell – through fire, I will rise until blood rains from the skies” stands as a lyrical nod to a King-cowritten Slayer track. Nonetheless, King’s solo work distinguishes itself as a new journey, locking in the tone of new Thrash in 2024.

Top 3 Tracks:

1. Residue
2. Trophies of the Tyrant
3. Where I Reign

From Hell I Rise is out now on Reigning Phoenix Music.

Physical copies of the album, as well as other Kerry King merch, can be found at Kerry King’s Official Website or via: https://kerryking.rpm.link/fromhellirise.

Stream the album via Apple Music (Affiliate Link), and check out the preview below:

Rock For Ronnie 2024

May 24, 2024May 29, 2024ChelseaConcert Reviews, Features

Another tribute to the great Ronnie James Dio has successfully taken place with Rock For Ronnie 2024. On May 19th, 2024 in Woodland Hills, CA, fans, friends, and many special guests in the form of an All-Star Jam gathered alongside headliners Quiet Riot to celebrate the life and music of Ronnie, and, as always, benefit the great cause of the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. Founder Wendy Dio commemorated the progress of this non-profit’s goals, presenting Dr. David Wong and Dr. Sandeep Kapoor of The Regents of the University of California with a $25,000 check, to fund their cancer detection and prevention research in Ronnie’s name.

Rock For Ronnie 2024 welcomed on-site donations to the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund through a specially created Garden of Hope, raffle, merch, and the auction of two special guitars, including a one-of-a-kind Dio-themed guitar designed by PBS Guitar Builder to the Stars, Jim Cara, stage-played by Lita Ford, plus a Quiet Riot guitar signed by the full band. Selling at $11,000 and $7,500 respectively, this pair of guitars alone raised over $18K for the Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund.

The event held the theme of “Year of the Dragon” in association with Ronnie James Dio’s on-stage persona and the current year in the Chinese zodiac. Rock For Ronnie 2024 was hosted by Radio/TV Personality Eddie Trunk, currently featured on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation and Faction Talk. Openers X-Comm and Billy McNicol Band kicked off the day, followed by Jason Charles Miller. After the check ceremony, Host Eddie Trunk returned to the stage to introduce the Dio Disciples, with a lineup featuring vocalists Terry Ilous (XYZ) and Dyna Shirasaki (Hammer of the Broads), in addition to Scott Warren (Dio, Heaven & Hell) on keyboards, Simon Wright (Dio, AC/DC) on drums, Sean McNabb (Quiet Riot, Dokken) on bass, and Ira Black (Bulletboys, Vio-lence) on guitar. Dio Disciples played a full set of tracks from Ronnie James Dio’s discography spanning Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Dio.

Up next was a rotating lineup of special guests, billed as Eddie Trunk’s All-Star Band, performing a varied setlist that covered Dio and Black Sabbath tracks, while also venturing outside of the Dio discography to create a packed setlist of classic Rock and Metal jams, featuring songs by Whitesnake, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, Deep Purple, and many more.

Opening up the All-Star Jam was the lineup of Abby Gennett (Slunt), Julia Lage (Vixen), Brett Scallions (Fuel), Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns), and Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper, Hollywood Vampires), kicking off the set with some Black Sabbath.

Next up was Neil Turbin (Anthrax) leading a heavy rendition of “Breaking The Law”, with Brian Tichy (Whitesnake) and Robert Sarzo (Hurricane) on guitar, Daniel Bermudez (Wilt) on drums, and Julia Lage.

Vocalist Patrick Stone (Budderside), bassist Marty O’Brien (Daughtry, Lita Ford), and keyboardist Dennis Atlas (QRST) then joined Robert Sarzo, Brian Tichy, and Daniel Bermudez for a high-energy “Crazy Train” and “Helter Skelter”.

Sax player Scott Page (Pink Floyd, Toto, Supertramp) naturally joined in when Pink Floyd’s “Money” hit the setlist.

Keith St. John (Montrose, Raiding the Rock Vault) showed off his vocal versatility, kicking off his portion of the set with “Train Kept a Rollin’”, joined by Robert Sarzo, Julia Lage, and guitarist Marc Ferrari (Keel), drummer Ronnie Ciago (BrandX, Circa), and Bill McBride, before switching up the lineup to add Doug Aldrich (Dio, Dead Daisies, Whitesnake) while bringing back Marty O’Brien, Dennis Atlas, and Glen Sobel for “Still of the Night”. Dewey Bragg (Kill Devil Hill) then joined this lineup, switching the vocal spot with Keith St. John.

Emerging solo artist Andry, also known as “The Voice of Greece” and “Blues Metal Queen”, made a bright return to the Rock for Ronnie stage this year, paying tribute through a powerful performance of “Children of The Sea” with Brian Tichy now on drums, alongside Robert Sarzo, Julia Lage, and Dennis Atlas, followed by a high-energy jam on Deep Purple’s “Burn”, for which Marty O’Brien returned.

Lita Ford performed two of her own well-loved classic tracks, “Cherry Bomb” and “Kiss Me Deadly”, with her band featuring Patrick Kennison (Lita Ford, Heaven Below) and Mårten Andersson (Lita Ford, Steelheart), and Glen Sobel on drums. Lita also spent some time showing off the unique design of the Dio guitar to be auctioned off for the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund following her performance.

Headliners Quiet Riot, currently comprised of Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Dio, Whitesnake), Alex Grossi (Quiet Riot), Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative), and Jizzy Pearl (Love/Hate), closed out the day as part of their 40 Years of Metal Health tour, with a full set of Quiet Riot hits, including “Bang Your Head (Metal Health)”, “The Wild and the Young”, “Cum on Feel the Noize”, “Let’s Get Crazy”, “Slick Black Cadillac”, and more.

It is always wonderful to gather in honor of Ronnie James Dio’s memory with those who love, appreciate, and respect his music and legacy. \m/

Check out Metal Magnitude’s highlights video here:

To find more information, keep an eye out for future events, and donate to the Dio Cancer Fund, visit: https://diocancerfund.org.

Interview: Ihsahn

May 9, 2024May 9, 2024ChelseaInterviews

Metal Magnitude’s Chelsea spoke with Ihsahn to discuss his new self-titled record; the process of releasing an album in the modern landscape of 2024; his origins as a songwriter and musician; the complexity of the new album and its orchestration and arrangements; some musical analysis of Ihsahn’s work, including his unique approach to scales and modes; his interest in film scoring and its challenges; Peccatum and his connection of music and life with his wife Heidi (aka Starofash); partnership with Matt Heafy through Trivium and Ibaraki, and more. Check it out below:

For more on Ihsahn, visit: https://www.ihsahn.com/

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Sammy Hagar Honored with Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

May 2, 2024May 8, 2024ChelseaFeatures, News

On April 30th, 2024, Hollywood, California honored The Legendary “Red Rocker” Sammy Hagar, with an official ceremony to unveil his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

His wife, Kari Hagar, celebrated the honor by his side, along with family and close friends, including event Emcee Guy Fieri, longtime manager Tom Consolo, John Mayer, Chad Smith, and Van Halen/Chickenfoot/The Circle bandmate, Michael Anthony.

Sammy Hagar’s star is located in front of Amoeba Music, at 6212 Hollywood Blvd.

The Red Rocker’s star is the 2,779th on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in the category of Recording. Hollywood Walk of Fame Producer, Ana Martinez, states, “The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to honor rock legend Sammy Hagar for his contributions to the world of Rock & Roll music. From his humble beginnings in Fontana, California to strolling the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a young boy, he has truly come a long way!”

You can watch the replay of the ceremony livestream via The Hollywood Walk of Fame Official YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/live/any90F1bQao?si=p6ykWz1r1bkHIl7k.

Sammy Hagar is heading out on The Best Of All Worlds tour for the Summer of 2024, with a band lineup of Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Jason Bonham, and featuring special guests Loverboy. Hagar says of the tour, “It’s crazy to think that it’ll be 20 years since Mikey and I played these songs with Van Halen on the 04’ Best of Both Worlds Tour. With Joe on board, we can take a deeper dive into those years. We’re going to touch on some hits from my entire career but seeing fans old and new really embrace the new collection set off something in Mikey and I. We were at my Birthday Bash in Cabo for my 76^th and looked at each other and high fived, like ‘let’s do it.’ We pulled out a couple of them and it was an instant lovefest with the fans from our first riffs”.

Keep up with Sammy Hagar via: http://www.redrocker.com.

Interview: George Lynch

April 6, 2024April 6, 2024ChelseaInterviews

The End Machine: Jeff Pilson, Steve Brown, Girish Pradhan, George Lynch

Metal Magnitude’s Chelsea spoke with George Lynch about the latest album with The End Machine, The Quantum Phase on Frontiers Music Srl, the sci-fi/dystopian roots of The Quantum Phase, adding Girish Pradhan to the lineup and what he brought to the table, the longtime partnership of George Lynch and Jeff Pilson, George’s signature Desert Eagle guitar and work with ESP Guitars, updates on Lynch Mob’s Farewell tour, Mr. Scary Guitars, and more. Check it out below:

Follow George Lynch via: https://georgelynch.com/

https://www.instagram.com/georgelynchofficial

For more on The End Machine, visit: https://www.facebook.com/TheEndMachine/

Find more on the ESP George Lynch Desert Eagle here: https://www.espguitars.com/products/32059-gl-desert-eagle

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Interview: Carl Canedy of The Rods

March 24, 2024March 24, 2024ChelseaInterviews

Metal Magnitude’s Chelsea spoke with Carl Canedy about the latest album with The Rods, “Rattle The Cage”, the art of remote recording, his work with Adam and the Metal Hawks, keeping the integrity of authentic drumming in a modern digital landscape, his go-to gear, the challenges of producing, new music coming from The Rods and Canedy, and more. Check it out below:

Follow Carl Canedy via: https://canedyband.com and https://www.instagram.com/carlcanedy/

For more on The Rods, visit: http://www.therods.com

Subscribe to Metal Magnitude’s YouTube channel for more Classic and Modern Hard Rock and Metal interviews and content!

Interview: Dave Gregor and Eric House of Morta Skuld

March 13, 2024March 13, 2024ChelseaInterviews

Morta Skuld recently brought their classic Death Metal origins to a new production, with the release of their 7th album, Creation Undone, via Peaceville Records. Frontman Dave Gregor and Drummer Eric House gave some insight into the making of the album, connection with the label, and Milwaukee Metal Fest:

Congrats on the awesome Death Metal work that is Creation Undone! “We Rise We Fall” is a perfect single to start the album with, it gives a strong intro to Morta Skuld for those who haven’t heard you before, and a nice treat for the long-time fans to have a new album. How did you begin the process of following up the 2020’s full-length Suffer For Nothing?

Dave Gregor: I appreciate the kind words, and basically it just starts with the itch to write. We also like to remain current with our music and try to release something every 3 years or so, to remain not only fresh but to give fans new material when we can.

Dave, aside from some session work with Lycanthropy, Morta Skuld has been the main band you’re known for since you founded it. During the hiatus before reuniting the band, were you still working/performing in the music world at all?

When the band broke up in 1998, I tried for a couple of years to find replacements but was finding that it was just too difficult at that point and basically got impatient. I then decided to start another original band from scratch but something that was a little different, a little bit more radio friendly, which had hints of Fear Factory and other bands of that genre. The goal with that band was to try to get to a different level and to be a little bit more mainstream and basically after 6 years that band ran its course.

You kept a connection with Peaceville Records, though it was under their sub-label Deaf Records when you were working with them originally. What was it that brought you back to this label?

When we first signed to Deaf Records, we released Dying Remains, and then later on when Deaf Records went out of business so to speak, that is, when we got picked up by the actual Peaceville label. I have always remained in contact with Peaceville since we started on that label and I just felt that since we already had three prior releases on Peaceville Records it would just be a great homecoming for us, not to mention I always have felt the label has treated us really well and had some iconic releases as well.

“Unforeseen Obstacles” feels like one of the more “old-school” sounding tracks to me, with that perfect classic Death/Thrash tradition infused into it. Any background to share on this song?

“Unforeseen Obstacles” was just one of those songs that just came together really quickly and I don’t think we really had any premeditated idea for it to sound that way. I think it was just something that was a natural progression between the four of us and just came out naturally.

“The End of Reason” either feels like two different time signatures in sync, or some deceiving syncopation – can you talk about what’s happening here songwriting-wise?

Eric House: It’s a syncopated/polyrhythmic feel that puts a feel of 4 against 3, or the other way around. I didn’t know what the exact term for it is, but it’s something that I like to incorporate with my drum beats when I can.

Morta Skuld performed at Milwaukee Metal Fest last year, but that wasn’t the first time, as you were also part of the lineup in 1998. How does it feel to have this major metal festival back again, and so close to home?

Dave Gregor: Having the Milwaukee Metal Fest back was such a great thing to happen for not only us but for our city, it was iconic for so many years and we were pretty much a staple band of the Milwaukee Metal Fest for many many years in a row. It was definitely very enjoyable to play, but not only that, was very very cool to reconnect with a lot of the bands that we haven’t seen in so many years, or haven’t had the chance to play with in so many years. It was definitely our honor and pleasure to have played this last year. We look forward to playing the Milwaukee Metal Fest again in the years to come.

“Perfect Prey” stood out to me, especially because of how prominently the bass comes through. You played this one at Milwaukee Metal Fest, and also have an upcoming music video for it. What can you tell us about the making of the video?

“Perfect Prey” was one of those songs that we really wanted to showcase since we felt it had a lot of the basic elements of a good Death Metal song. We have been looking around for quite a while to figure out who we were going to work with on this video and Jason Meudt had done some really cool videos in the past that we really liked, so we teamed up with him and basically went to a friend of his’ farm and basically filmed it in one of the barns on that farm.

Chris Djuricic and Dave Otero both worked on the production for this album. How did you end up connecting with them?

We have worked with Chris many times before, especially on the last record Suffer For Nothing, his input not only recording but getting a good song recorded in the process that it takes has always been something we enjoyed and not to mention it’s different every time we go in the studio. David Otero was somebody that we were looking at to master our last effort Suffer For Nothing, but unfortunately the timing just didn’t work out, so this time around we teamed up with him as we really loved a lot of his mastering works on his other efforts with other bands and we really wanted the sonic sound, and just the heaviness, but with the clear production that he gets with his mastering.

What’s on the horizon for Morta Skuld?

As far as plans for us this year, we’re going out with our friends at Skeletal Remains for a short run on the west coast, and then we are going to South America to share another run with Malevolent Creation.

Any message to share for the longtime Morta Skuld fans?

We just really appreciate our fans and we thank them for all their support. We definitely are hoping that they like our new record Creation Undone as much as we do.

And any message for the brand-new ones just finding you now?

For the new fans, please go check out our Facebook page or Instagram page, check us out on Spotify, go and follow us and that way they can keep current with what we are doing and hopefully come out and see us on one of our tours.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions! Creation Undone is incredibly heavy, feels old-school and new-school at the same time, and has some very interesting things happening musically. Great work and best of luck to you!

I thank you for your time and I thank you for your interview. I appreciate all the support and appreciate your time and effort. Cheers.

Listen to Creation Undone via Bandcamp here and follow Morta Skuld via Facebook and Instagram.

Interview: Mike Evans of Profiler

March 8, 2024March 13, 2024ChelseaInterviews

Profiler is a UK Nu-Metalcore band on the rise, who recently released their debut album, A Digital Nowhere, via SharpTone Records. Frontman Mike Evans took the time to answer some questions via email about the band and new album. Check it out below:

First off, congrats on the upcoming release of A Digital Nowhere on SharpTone Records!Yourself-titled EP, Profiler, was a great introduction to the band, and A Digital Nowhere feels like it ties in nicely while expanding much further on the sound you introduced on the EP. What was your first step in moving towards a full-length?

Thank you very much for your kind words. Essentially Covid happened which sort of pushed me into writing music for Profiler again. During the lockdowns I had more time than I was used to and put this into writing the record. Two years later we have a finished product which is a massive relief after such an uncertain time.

I notice you guys use the term “Nu-Metalcore” to describe your style. What drew you to these particular genres – Nu-Metal and Metalcore – that you wanted to infuse them in your own music?

I have always been a fan of nu-metal growing up, listening to Limp Bizkit, Deftones, Incubus etc. But with the new wave of metal core with bands such as Northlane I also wanted to bring in a modern influence. We think that both genres tie in nicely which is why we describe ourselves this way. But hopefully in time we can be defined by our own sound.

Talk about each of your musical backgrounds, how you got into songwriting and music in general?

I was always interested in music but it wasn’t until I started learning classical guitar that I developed the idea for it to be a career. I transitioned to electric and begun self learning metal and downtuning. From here I started writing riffs of my own which has now developed into songwriting for the band.

Specifically about your vocals, Mike, you have wide range of talents for melodic singing, heavy screaming, and rapping. Did you have any formal vocal training, or otherwise, how did you discover this range?

Thank you very much. I have had a bit of training, and more recently (after the recording process) I have had some professional training for tour endurance. But essentially I have just practised over years by myself pushing my voice around to see what I can do. For example screaming in the car on the way back from work and learning styles from YouTube.

Mike, you started Profiler as a solo project – did you always have a vision to broaden it into a full band to play live, or was this more of just an outlet for your creativity in the beginning?

I always wanted to be in a band so I think this was an eventuality. It just took a bit of work finding the right people to coincide with what I envisioned.

Technology is a running theme throughout Profiler’s music – from tracks like “Glitch Theory” on the EP to the whole concept of a title like A Digital Nowhere. What inspired that theme?

The ideas have stemmed from spirituality and philosophy. Terence McKenna for example has incredible concepts and projections about where our species and technology is heading. He discuss the idea of a technological singularity, discussing if we keep rapidly developing technology there will be a point of no return. This theme is explored in the album.

“All In Forever” is an epic opening track and first single to have, because it’s full of so many surprises. The killer bass work in the beginning makes you wonder if you’re about to hear a technical Prog-y track, then the scream enters and you realize the heavy song you’re in for, until you reach a chorus that’s pure melody, and then get hit with a rap twist. Can you explain some of the process of making this song in terms of both writing and recording?

Sure thing. Actually it is a guitar line in the beginning but everyone thinks it’s bass haha. It was basically pulled apart and put back together multiple times and went through a huge amount of change which is why it is such a dynamic song. It’s the only one on the album that took significant time to get right. We are really happy with how it turned out.

The technology theme continues into tracks like “Operator”, but it got a bit of a Punk treatment as the shortest track on the album – can you talk about the making of this track and music video?

This track was actually written very quickly. It’s one of those ones that was done in a day which is crazy, it just clicked. It is more of a conceptual song about Neo & Trinity in the film franchise The Matrix. The video was just organic. We found a really cool space and had a great time filming. We just spent a load of time in post getting the effects right and it turned out great.

“Consumed” is such an interesting track, it feels atmospheric and soothing, yet melancholy at the same time. Any particular story behind this one?

This track is actually about 4 years old. It’s a song I wrote before I started Profiler but wasn’t actually explored as it didn’t sit right in the E.P. It’s a really good fit for this album and I’m super stoked to have it professionally recorded and released.

You worked with Producer Chris Coulter – what made you choose him, and how much material did you already have before starting to work with a producer?

We loved working with Chris and chose him because we heard great things and felt his style of production would fit really well on the album which it did. We had all the songs ready to go before we approached him. We’ve been sitting on the songs for a while, so we were raring to go.

What was the most challenging song to bring from original idea to actual recording?

“All In Forever” for sure. This track was a struggle to get correct. But so glad with the result.

Can you share what to expect from Profiler coming up?

We are super excited to be going on tour with Vended and Gloom in the corner in May. The dates can be found on our instagram page @profilerband This will be our first proper tour and will be a great opportunity to see us live.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions! Really digging A Digital Nowhere. Wishing you the best of luck and looking forward to hearing more music from you guys in the future!

Thanks for having me.

Find A Digital Nowhere here and learn more about Profiler via Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Feature: NAMM 2024

February 27, 2024March 8, 2024ChelseaConcert Reviews, Features, Interviews

The NAMM Show 2024 at Anaheim Convention Center

The first Winter NAMM since 2020 made a full-force grand return, as brands and bands alike gathered in Anaheim, CA in January 2024, for the familiar course of networking, jamming, and musical merriment. Metal Magnitude was there to capture it all, enjoying the full musical atmosphere, but keeping a keen eye out for anything that stood out in the Rock and Metal spaces. Naturally, we were pleased to find plenty.

Before NAMM officially began, the 7th Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala set the tone for the busy week, celebrating the iconic musicians and members of the music industry who have secured their place in the history of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Metal Magnitude was on the red carpet to cover the event, and you can check out the coverage here: https://metalmagnitude.com/metal-hall-of-fame-2024-feature-and-red-carpet-interviews/.

The first day of NAMM kicked off strong, with plenty of exploring to do – but first, it was time to meet up with some metal musicians. Metal Magnitude stopped by the ddrum room to interview Chris Kontos, who had plenty of great things to say about his connection with ddrum and his recent arrival to the Forbidden lineup:

Next door in the Dean Guitars room, Wayne Lozinak of Hatebreed shared details on his new signature guitar with the brand:

Over in the Peavey room, Adrian Vandenberg showed off the revival of his classic signature guitar, made with some modern upgrades, and shared the latest in his world of Vandenberg:

NAMM would hardly be complete without the She Rocks Awards, a yearly tradition by this point in its 12-year run so far, and a fantastic night honoring women in music. This celebration is always so much fun, and 2024 was no different, this time with the ceremonies thoroughly integrated into NAMM itself by taking place within the Convention Center, and hosted by classic Pop Icon Susanna Hoffs, with Red Carpet interviews by Lyndsey Parker (She Rocks Awards 2022 Honoree – Metal Magnitude had the chance to interview her and many others during the 2022 gala, which you can watch for a quick throwback here! https://youtu.be/h9VrulbWeK8?si=njZHob84-rVTGvC7)

Honorees for this evening were: Jamie Deering (Deering Banjo Company), Laura Karpman (Multimedia Composer), Melinda Newman (Billboard), Lindsay Love-Bivens (Taylor Guitars), Sylvia Massy (aka, “The Radiant Being”, Producer), Holly G (The Black Opry), Kelsy Karter (Kelsy Karter & The Heroines), Britt Lightning (Vixen, Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp), Bonnie McIntosh (I Prevail), Lindsey Stirling (Electric Violinist/Songwriter), Debbie Gibson (Pop Icon).

Metal Magnitude captured some She Rocks 2024 Red Carpet moments – feel free to take a moment of your own to look through the gallery here: https://metalmagnitude.com/she-rocks-awards-2024-red-carpet-photo-coverage/.

Later that night was another celebration, this one purely metal, with the 10th Anniversary of Metal Allegiance. The Core 4 was joined by a rotating lineup of surprise guests, and you can check out Metal Magnitude’s coverage of the event here: https://metalmagnitude.com/metal-allegiance-at-house-of-blues-anaheim-2024/.

Heading into the weekend, there was plenty of gear exploring to do, with both planned and surprise interviews along the way. Geezer Butler was a special guest to be found at the Ashdown booth, signing his book, Into The Void: From Birth To Black Sabbath – And Beyond.

We spent some time at the Vega-Trem booth, where we found Søren Andersen (Glenn Hughes, Mike Tramp) giving a performance of tracks off his instrumental album, Guilty Pleasures:

After the interview, Søren was kind enough to do an interview about his music and connection with Vega-Trem:

We also had a few moments with Cody Henderson of Dazzle Guitars, who spoke about his guitar building career and work with Joe Perry:

Fans of the J-Rock scene will easily recognize “Samurai Guitarist” MIYAVI, who stopped by the Donner Music booth with drummer Anthony Paul Lopez for a quick showcase:

Next up was one of metal’s favorite YouTubers, known for his work in a variety of bands, including The Chug Project, Feared, and The Haunted, in addition to his solo instrumental music, and as a Producer, Personality, and the Founder of Solar Guitars. Ola Englund appeared at the XVIVE booth for a four-song performance, followed by an interview with Metal Magnitude:

We ran into Mixi and Merritt of Stitched Up Heart, who also stopped by the XVIVE booth to see Ola:

It was great to catch up with them since Metal Magnitude last interviewed Mixi for the release of To The Wolves (https://metalmagnitude.com/interview-mixi-of-stitched-up-heart/).

Ryan Roxie could be found all throughout the weekend at the Hughes & Kettner booth, and he explained his connection with the brand, as well as the latest in his world of Alice Cooper and podcasting:

Phil X closed out the XVIVE booth, which made for some tricky timing as the showroom was starting to close down and shut off the lights – luckily, we had a moment for a few brief Bon Jovi updates from Phil:

Naturally, gear is the focal point of all of NAMM, so we stopped by the TonePros booth to talk with Brian Devereaux, TonePros Sound Labs International rep and Owner/CEO of Marquis Distribution, specializing in wholesale guitar parts distribution, and Fred Kowalo, who is an established guitar and bass tech, working with the likes of Megadeth, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society, Dream Theater, and more:

Rand Rognlien of MusicNomad also gave us some insight into the brand’s work with the Rock and Metal worlds and how their products can benefit players:

Roaming the showroom naturally leads to some cool finds, and here are a few booths that caught our eye.

Minarik Guitars always has an eye-catching booth, with unique guitar shapes.

ESP displayed the Desert Eagle on loan from George Lynch, supplemented by a full room of ESP/LTD guitars and basses.

Ernie Ball Music Man showcased their Custom Design Experience, alongside their known models.

Ibanez is always reliably connected with the Rock/Metal world, including through their display of signature guitars from Steve Vai, Tim Henson and Scott LePage of Polyphia, Joe Satriani, and Paul Stanley, as well as the EHB series multiscale basses.

Cream Guitars’ display certainly popped, as probably the most unique one on the floor. Cream is an up-and-coming brand known for their highly customized and aesthetically loud designs, which also come through with solid tone.

Aristides Guitars has become a staple booth at NAMM by this point, showing off their modern designs that are well-suited to the Shredders and Heavy players.

It was great to have NAMM back in its familiar form, with another Winter NAMM already on the horizon for the second-to-last week of January 2025.

Follow and subscribe to Metal Magnitude on social media for more Classic and Modern Hard Rock and Metal content, and keep an eye on out for updates on NAMM 2025 and beyond!

Metal Allegiance at House of Blues Anaheim 2024

February 9, 2024March 7, 2024ChelseaConcert Reviews

Metal Allegiance - House of Blues Anaheim 2024

January 25th, 2024, Anaheim wrapped up the first day of NAMM festivities with the 10th Anniversary of Metal Allegiance at House of Blues. This was Metal Allegiance’s first gathering at House of Blues Anaheim since 2020, making their return all the more grand alongside the 10th Anniversary celebration. The event was sponsored by Dean Guitars, ddrum and Heavys Headphones, with openers Dieth, Held Hostage and Quor.

The Metal Allegiance lineup has reliably consisted of “The Core 4” – Alex Skolnick, David Ellefson, Mark Menghi, and Mike Portnoy – from the start, but as Metal Allegiance is known for their live lineups of surprise guests, you never know who might make an appearance at their shows. Special guests this night included: Chuck Billy (Testament), Bobby Blitz (Overkill), John Bush (Armored Saint), Chris Poland (Megadeth, Kings of Thrash), Phil Demmel (Machine Head), Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves), Brann Dailor (Mastodon), Gary Holt (Exodus), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), Hel Pyre (Nervosa), Troy Sanders (Mastodon), and Wayne Lozinak (Hatebreed).

Chuck Billy, Bobby Blitz, John Bush, and Troy Sanders led the rotating vocalist lineup throughout the show, sometimes teaming up for covers, like when Billy and Blitz performed “Hellraiser” (Ozzy Osbourne) together. Some other covers that made the setlist were “Wrecking Crew” (Overkill), “Kill The King” (Rainbow), and “Wake Up Dead” (Megadeth), as well as plenty of Metal Allegiance original tracks, including “Bound By Silence”, “Can’t Kill The Devil”, “Mother of Sin”, and “Pledge of Allegiance”.

Chris Poland and David Ellefson were both following up their performance as Kings of Thrash at the Metal Hall of Fame the night before. Metal Magnitude was on the red carpet for the Metal Hall of Fame, and you can find that coverage here: https://metalmagnitude.com/metal-hall-of-fame-2024-feature-and-red-carpet-interviews/.

Not just one, but two members of Mastodon took the stage for this show, Troy Sanders and Brann Dailor. Plus, Wayne Lozinak of Hatebreed was in town, promoting his new signature Dean Guitar, which he showed to Metal Magnitude at NAMM here: https://youtu.be/WFOn9YiZTuI?si=cXhF9VzynEXaNt0r.

After an incredible 16-song set full of the constant energy of a dizzying lineup rotation of legends, the final encore brought every performer back on stage, for three iconic covers of “Damage, Inc.” (Metallica), “Damage Case” (Motörhead), and “Iron Maiden” (Iron Maiden). Before that, the main set closed with a reminder to “Pledge Your Allegiance” to Metal Allegiance, and keep coming back for more.

Keep an eye out for updates from Metal Allegiance via: https://www.metalallegiance.com
Subscribe to the Metal Magnitude YouTube Channel for Classic and Modern Hard Rock and Metal content (plus more from NAMM!) here: https://www.youtube.com/@metalmagnitude.