Music News

Clutch Pittsburgh, PA Live Review

The almighty stoner rockers Clutch hit Pittsburgh on tour in support of their newest album The Book of Bad Decisions.

Published

5 years ago

August 13, 2019

JJ Ulizio

By JJ Ulizio
Photos by: Jason Nelson

The almighty stoner rockers Clutch hit Pittsburgh on tour in support of their newest album The Book of Bad Decisions. With them they brought metalcore masters Killswitch Engage who were repping their soon to be released eighth album Atonement. Originally planned to be an outdoor show, it was moved indoors due to the possibility of inclement weather according to the “grapevine.”

Kicking the evening off were New York hardcore thrash/punk legends the Cro-Mags. Playing an intense set they warmed up the crowd and primed them for the rest of the evening. A short and tight set kept the pace high as they bulldozed through their set to clear out for Killswitch to take the stage.

Next up was Killswitch Engage from Westfield, Massachusetts. I was incredibly excited for their set, it was my first time seeing them since the return of vocalist Jesse Leach. Their set was on point, with a set list consisting of old favorites and newer songs sprinkled through in between and they didn’t stop. They gave the energy to the crowd and the crowd threw it right back at them. I was definitely impressed with how well Jesse was able to sing some of the songs that were written from Howard Jones era in the band. As they made their way through their set it was more like a sing-along session because the near capacity crowd was louder than the band for songs like “In Due Time”, “My Last Serenade”, or “The End of Heartache” from the Jones era. Closing things out with the fan favorite cover of “Holy Diver” from the late Ronnie James Dio.

The highlight of the night was touring stalwarts and personal favorite of mine, Clutch from Germantown, Maryland. Clutch have long established themselves as masters on the road. When you venture out to see them, you know your going to be treated to an excellent performance with the biggest change being the set list. I’ve had the opportunity to see Clutch perform close to a dozen times and each time it has become fun to try and guess which songs will be on the set list that evening. Will the lean toward the classics from the ’90s like “Spacegrass” and “A Shogun named Marcus”,or songs from the more blues charged era like “Electric Worry”.

As expected they did not disappoint with the set-list. The band kicked it off with “Gimmie the Keys” and followed with “Vision Quest”, and “Firebirds!”. They plowed through 17 songs, rounding things out in a manner for their to be favorites for anyone in the set. Vocalist, Neil Fallon, made his way all over the stage waving his hands in the air like a possessed down south preacher. Songs from the new album, of course adorned the set, along side the fan favorites and tributes to Willie Nelson, and a cover of the ZZ Top song “Precious & Grace”. They jammed relentlessly, keeping true to their reputation of being a road band and closing things out in their encore with “Electric Worry” and the raucous “X-Ray Visions”.

Book of Bad Decisions by Clutch is on sale now & Atonement by Killswitch Engage will be available on 08/16/19. Make sure to pick them up when you can, and definitely catch any of them when they hit your city on tour.

Clutch will be touring the US through October of 2019 and then hop over to Europe to round out the year with dates in Germany, France and Spain in December.

About Author

JJ Ulizio

JJ has been a contributing writer and huge asset to Empire and Empire Extreme since the very begining. He is always digging for new bands and has a true heart and desire to see the bands grow and succeed.

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Music News

CREED GREATEST HITS VINYL

Published

5 months ago

June 14, 2024

Ron

Creed who just recently reunited and about to embark on tour. Re-Released their 2004 Greatest Hits on Vinyl. It’s got a nice clean look and sound to it. It comes with 2 vinyls and has 13 tracks. The thing I found interesting is that in the song “What’s this Life For” the God of Goddamn is edited off the track.

The vinyl comes in many variants from Walmart and Target. If you are a fan of Creed this vinyl is a must in your collection . Go buy the vinyl and go check out Creed when they come to a city near 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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Music News

N.a.s.H. “Vox Populi”

Published

5 months ago

June 6, 2024

Ron

NY. Rock and Roll band N.a.s.H. Have just put out a new single “Vox Populi”. If you’re into good ole rock and roll that’s gritty and fun this band is someone to check out. It’s very “commercial” rock like in the style of band like Creed and Nickelback, which isn’t a bad thing if you’re into that. The video has a cool silhouette style to it and is a fun song.

THIS IS A SPONSORED REVIEW BROUGHT TO YOU BY TAG PUBLICITY

About Author

Ron

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CD Reviews

Ministry – HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES

Published

8 months ago

March 1, 2024

Josh Drespling

As we near the collapse of mankind and the imminent doom of our political system, a perfect stage has been set for the outspoken rebels to flood the airwaves with dissident upheaval bathed in musical bliss. With the end looming, no greater landscape could welcome the reemergence of the enigmatic Al Jourgensen and company with their latest release, HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES, via Nuclear Blast Records. Scheduled for a March 1st 2024 release, Uncle Al, along with guitarist Cesar Soto, Paul D’Amour, formerly of TOOL, on bass, John Bechdel on keys, Roy Mayorga (ex-STONE SOUR) on drums, and newly added guitarist Monte Pittman, form the current incarnation of the long-lived Ministry.

This album is an open-book commentary on our American society at large, bathed in slow-burn angst and distortion injected with punk rock/thrash riffs and samples galore.

Within the opening seconds of track one, a female voice proclaims, “What was once forbidden becomes fringe, and what was once fringe becomes mainstream.” Soon Al’s vocals take over with a distorted and effect heavy declaration of “horny little boys filled with hormones and hate, waging war on women ‘’cause they can’t get a date,” thus laying the groundwork for the entire album. As “B.D.E.” (Big Dick Energy) continues, a heavy yet simplistic guitar riff drives the song forward while increasing the energy level and tempo. Al’s vocals continue with his immediate, recognizable attitude and tone, stating, “No one can justify the toxic behavior.”

“Goddamn White Trash” is perhaps the most accessible and rythematic song on the release. It has hints of the Psalm 69 days of the band. Chants of “USA, USA” ring out along side screeching guitar noise reminiscent of Mike Scaccia’s playing style.

Track three is titled “Just Stop Oil,” and it dives into yet another realm of political advocacy. Jourgensen delivers, “Dehumanization at a cellular level. Policy set by the corporate devils, There must be resistance, we cannot be silenced, There is the existence of possible violence” in a growled whisper.

On the track “Aryan Embarrassment,” we are treated to a none-more-fitting guest appearance from what I believe is activist and Dead Kennedys front man Jello Biafra, who delivers a rap-style series of vocal lines backed by a driving rhythm. Jello wails, “How on Earth did all this happen? Plagues of militantly stupid” Followed by “Scamming on the punk scene. Oi, oi, oi. Ain’t proud of you boys at all.”

Another standout track is “New Religion” which starts with a classic industrial riff and buries itself in the repetitive, slow-burn heaviness that has become the Ministry standard as of late. Followed by “It’s Not Pretty,” which opens as a haunting acoustic piece that I imagine being set in a post apocalyptic landscape with the reverberating lyrics “It’s not pretty. This is the end of the world to me. This is the end of society.”

“Cult of Suffering” strays from the format of the balance of the album and could be firmly placed on an Alabama 3 album, and it may feel at home on a Surgical Meth Machine release.

Rounding out the album is a little ditty called “Ricky’s Hand.” This is a synth pop throwback to the early days of Ministry and leaves us longtime fans eager to hear the longtime teased rerecording of some of the very early Ministry material. This track has a Devo, Information Society, and even Depeche Mode feel to it and is a perfect bookend to a solid release from an iconic band.

Ministry will be on tour throughout the summer with Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper and Helmet.

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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