It has been nine years since Stabbing Westward played in Baltimore, and I was thrilled to see them return to perform my favorite album. They brought along Acumen Nation and Priest as supporting acts. Both Acumen Nation and Priest put on an incredible show, and I loved how they energized the crowd. It’s fantastic to have a band like Acumen Nation, which has been around since 1988, alongside Priest, a newer band, and the fans truly enjoyed both sets. 

Stabbing Westward is one of those bands that really resonated with me at a pivotal time in my life. This album was released during my junior year and fit my experiences perfectly. It’s one of those albums I would listen to from start to finish, and then I would just start it over again. I’m excited that the band is releasing a new version of this album, reflecting how they would have approached it if they had the freedom to mix it and create without outside interference. 

What we got to hear was amazing. I loved the fresh sound to it but still keeping the core of what that album meant to them and to the fans. Coming out on stage with my 3 favorite songs on the album, “I Don’t Believe,” “What Do I Have To Do,” and “Falls Apart.” But hearing some of the other tracks on that album brought back so many memories of the past, like “Shame,” “So Wrong,” and even hearing the cure cover “Burn” and “Dawn” from the Escape From LA Soundtrack. 

The concert was amazing. We were supposed to have an interview with Chris, but because of the Canadian fires, he was saving his voice for the show and meet ‘n greets, but we will have that interview soon for you. 

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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I’ve been incredibly excited about the Ex-Faces show since it was first announced. I’m a huge Mushroomhead fan and love that the members of this group have come together to enjoy the music. 

It was incredible to see J-Man, Waylon, Stitch, and Lil Dan together again. Adding Gravy and Mr. Murdernickel to the mix—especially since I never got to see him play live despite being a Mushroomhead fan near Cleveland since ’96—made it even better. I love that the guys genuinely looked like they were enjoying being on stage together, celebrating their time in this band and their experiences with Mushroomhead.

Hearing classic songs like “Bwomp,” “These Filthy Hands,” and “Sun Doesn’t Rise” was fantastic, but getting to experience deep cuts like “Eternal,” “1200,” and even the cover of “Crazy” was incredible. The Ex-Faces played 16 songs and could have kept going; the crowd definitely wouldn’t have minded. 

I know this band and project are more than likely temporary, but I’m fully down for a few more tours and maybe even some more ex-members joining the trek. Even though I was sad that our stop didn’t have Pig Benis, I was super stoked that we had his OG brother Murdernickel. Go out and see this tour while you can, and let’s all get a little crazy and never let it go.

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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Whoop Whoop, Pittsburgh! The long-awaited day arrived on June 27th, 2026, when the Dark Carnival made its way to Stage AE on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. And let me tell you, not even a rainy Pittsburgh afternoon could dampen the spirits of the Juggalo faithful. The skies may have been grey, but inside that venue, it was a pure, unadulterated party for the entire gambit of the Juggalo family. There were guys like Butch Shipton (seen in the photo to the right) who is anticipating attending his 25th Gathering of the Juggalos this summer. Alongside him were fresh-faced fans who have become the next generation of Juggalos thanks to outlets like TikTok and Instagram. I witnessed grandparents enjoying the time of their lives with their children and grandchildren.

The weather didn’t matter one bit to the night of chaos and celebration. Neither did the fact that the city was absolutely buzzing with activity. While we were getting down with the clowns, the Pittsburgh Pirates were battling the Reds just down the road, Nelly and Three Doors Down were rocking Point State Park, and drone shows were lighting up the sky over the Point. But for the Juggalos packed into Stage AE, there was only one show that really mattered.

As the rain subsided and the Faygo began flying, they kicked off the evening with “The Show Must Go On”, setting the tone for a night that would feature a near-perfect mix of old-school Juggalo flavor.

Violent J and Shaggy wasted no time diving into the classics. Hitting hard with “Hokus Pokus” from their 1997 platinum album The Great Milenko. They had the crowd losing their minds and soaked with Faygo after just a few notes. That track actually went gold in 2022, selling over 500,000 units, and it was easy to hear why: that infectious “Streets of Cairo” melody had everyone bouncing from the front barricade to the fence at the back of the lawn.

“Birthday Bitches” and “My Axe” kept the energy sky-high before they dropped “Fuck the World”. There was not a person in the crowd who was not singing along to every word of the classic tracks. After a quick Faygo break (because you’ve got to stay hydrated for the mayhem), they launched into “Tilt-A-Whirl”, followed by “The Neden Game”, a notorious gameshow track that’s become a fan favorite. Then came “Boogie Woogie Wu”, a dark classic from The Great Milenko that describes multiple murders over a creepy, slick beat. It’s horrorcore at its finest, childishly describing mayhem in a way that only ICP can pull off.

DJ Clay took center stage for a solo to give J and Shaggy a breather before they brought back the wickedness with “Play With Me” and “Stomp” along with another Faygo break (the crowd was getting thirsty), and then they hit us with “Let’s Go All the Way” and “In My Room”.

One of the highest energy moments came when they did their version of the Geto Boys’ classic “Assassins”, a nod to the horrorcore roots that run deep in hip-hop history.

“Down With the Clown” brought the energy to a fever pitch before they closed with the epic “Pass Me By”. This track, also from The Great Milenko, is one of the more thoughtful Joker’s Card closers. It paints a picture of what it’s like to make it to the Carnival after death, hanging with Jimi Hendrix, Selena, and Eazy-E, with Faygo on tap and no more worries. It’s a song about finding peace, and the message of the Dark Carnival shines through lyrics like “We all gonna die, but I’m not gonna fry.” The crowd filled the stage and commenced drowning Pittsburgh in its own Faygo Armageddon. As the Faygo flew from the front to the back of the venue, fireworks exploded overhead, welcoming the Juggalos to Shangri La.

It was a glorious, sticky, sugary mess that you had to see to believe. The wicked clowns brought it proper to the Steel City and showed fans, both young and old, why they have remained a main stage in the music industry for decades. They delivered a fun-filled night of great music and excitement.

Here’s the best part, ninjas. The Carnival keeps rolling; the Pittsburgh show was just one stop on the Clowns’ massive 2026 tour, and the insanity is far from over. The boys are hitting cities coast to coast, so if you missed this one, you’ve still got plenty of chances to get down with the clown.

Not to mention the 26th Annual Gathering of the Juggalos is just around the corner. August 19th through 22nd will see the Gathering moving to a brand-new “river-infused realm of dopeness” at Mother Nature’s Riverfront Retreat in Macks Creek, Missouri. That’s right, after years in Thornville, Ohio, the family reunion is heading to the Lake of the Ozarks area for a four-day epic festival with music, wrestling, and enough Faygo to fill the Mississippi.

There are several dates remaining on the current tour until the group veer off course for the Gathering and multiple festival shows, and then they hit the road again for a slew of dates leading up to the infamous hometown Hallowicked show in Detroit.

So what are you waiting for, ninja? Grab your tickets, grab your hatchet, and get your face paint ready for the Gathering. The Dark Carnival never stops—it evolves, changes shape, and reconfigures into something so unexpectedly dope that it’ll blast the ghost right out of your body. This is the sign you’ve been waiting for.

See you in the pit, Juggalos. Whoop Whoop!

About Author

Josh Drespling

Josh is the Publisher and creator of Empire Extreme and it’s sister publication Kingdom Extreme Magazine. He is an accomplished writer, photographer and graphic designer. He is always conjuring up new ideas and has a amazing passion for the music industry and all the things that surround it.

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