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Raven Black: The Black Hallows Tour: Lovedrafts Show Review

Ron

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My good friends and Dark Carnival enthusiast Raven Black made their way back to the east coast after a few years, this time bringing with them Cultus Black, Casket Robbery, Dying Oath (who just joined the tour), and Illusions of Granduer, who came to open up the show.

Illusions of Grandeur opened up and got the crowd at LoveDrafts ready for a night of killer music. If you haven’t had the chance to see IOG in person, I urge you to do so. The band combines theatrics, melodic riffs, and vocals that are stellar.

Casket Robbery was up next, and this was my first time seeing the band. If you like your music dark, heavy as fuck, and growls that will knock your dick in the dirt, then Casket Robbery is the band for you. Holy Fuck is this band heavy and, oh, so good. I hope I get to see them again very soon.

Cultus Black was next, and if you haven’t heard of this band, you’re missing out. Led by former Motograter singer James Legion. This band keeps the theatrics and glow paint alive. Killer songs, banging vocals and creepy masks, and a singer covered in black-light body paint, what more could you ask for? This was my first time seeing the band live, and they did not disappoint and got the crowd into it.

My favorite people in the world were up next Raven Black. The core of Raven Black is Raven on vocals and Muppet on drums. New to the mix of misfits are Maezi on guitar and Syd on bass.

Fans of Raven Black call themselves Rejects and were in full gear for the show. It’s been a while since I’ve got to see a headlining Raven Black show, which is always the best because they can play more songs that I love hearing. Opening up with “Hear Me Cry,” the mood was set for a fun time with the Dark Carnival. I got to hear my favorite song again, “The Blackening,” and got to hear “Still Healing,” which I haven’t heard in a long time. Raven Black always puts on the best shows, not only because of the crazy props and theatrics that are on the stage but also because of how amazing Raven is when interacting with the fans on and off the stage. I truly feel that this lineup of the band is the best. The way each other feels off the next, and you can tell that the band is having so much fun on stage and truly happy to be playing for the fans. If you get a chance to see this tour, I urge you to go and get some merchandise to help support DIY bands and keep independent metal running.

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COLD: 25 YEARS OF 13 WAYS TO BLEED ON STAGE/20 YEARS OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF PAIN TOUR

Ron

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COLD came back into Baltimore to bring us an anniversary of 2 amazing albums, “13 ways to bleed” and “a different kind of pain. Bringing along with them Thrower, University Drive, and September Mourning.

Thrower opened up and this was my first time seeing this band from Texas. The best way I can describe them is a good mix of 90s grunge with a little modern rock. They had a really cool sound and had a great vibe on stage. The band did a really cool eerie rendition of Blue Oyster Cults “Don’t Fear the Reaper”.

University Drive was up next and this was also my first time seeing the band, even though they have toured with Cold a few times, I just haven’t got the chance to see them. UD has 3 members of Cold in the band making them have double duty on tour. I thought UD were really great, I loved the sound and the stage energy. The music is also different from Cold, so it makes a good combo with the band. Having 3 guitarists was crazy on stage but seemed to work so perfectly.

September Mourning was up next, and after an early van issue on tour, they were able to come back and rock out for the crowd. September knows how to get the fans ready and eager to have some fun and listen to some theatrical metal. I loved the tv screens on each side showing you some art and lyrics and all things September Mourning while the band played .

Cold was up next and everyone in the house was ready to sing, to laugh, to cry, to remember when and where these songs were a huge part of our lives. It’s crazy that 13 ways to bleed is 25 years old and Different kind of pain is 20, where does the time go? Cold always takes us on an emotional rollercoaster when they come to play, but this time it was different. We got to hear 25 songs from both albums that both played a huge role in my life and the lives of the fans at the show. I love seeing Cold play, and seeing the crowd cause everyone knows the lyrics, sings to the top of their lungs and show so much emotion for a rock/metal concert.

I love the combo of both these albums. They both take you on a journey of life, with all kinds of feelings along the way. Feelings of hope, depression, fear, pain, sadness, anger , having no faith to having faith again, to drug use and suicide. Ya that sounds a lot like Emo music, but Cold was this way before Emo was a thing, plus the music is way better. I love that Scooter takes times to tell the fans about certain songs and the meaning and inspirations around the lyrics, I also love that everyone has their own opinion about the lyrics and how they mean to them. It was great to hear these albums in full because normally you may hear a few of the tracks but it’s great to hear songs you haven’t heard Live in years or ever.

Cold just doesn’t compare to any other bands out there. Not only is Scooter one of the best lyricists and poets of the 90s-2000s but also is such a great man, loving father and truly a gem within the world of musicians that let their ego take control. Scooter and the band are truly for the fans, they always make sure to take time to meet the fans, take photos, sign autographs and talk about how the songs of the band have impacted them personally. I’ve got to hang out with my friends with the Kid Dreadful camp and got to see how excited and truly interested that the band are into her life and her art. It’s just makes you love this band anymore.

I can’t wait till they come back again and maybe in 2028 we can get the 30 year anniversary of the “Self Titled” album and get to hear the songs that first got me into the band. It’s crazy that I’ve been going to see Cold for 25 years. The one thing that’s been the same in those 25 years is my love of this band. This band has honestly saved my life many times and helped many others too.
THANK YOU COLD.

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WEDNESDAY 13:THERES NO SUCH THINGS AS MONSTERS MARYLAND SHOW REVIEW

Ron

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MURDER TO THE LEFT…MURDER TO THE RIGHT. HORRAY FOR WEDNESDAY 13, STITCHED UP HEART AND DEAD RABBITS

The Dead Rabbits opened up and started the show off with great music, awesome rabbit masks, and “Escape The Fate” singer Craig Mabbit’s birthday. This was my first time being able to see the band live, and they put on a great show. With songs like “Dead by Daylight,” “Dead Again,” and “Deer in the Headlights,” Dead Rabbits got the crowd pumped for a good time.

Stitched Up Heart was up next, and it had been a while since they played in Maryland. The band has always put on a hell of a show, and singer Mixi always brings such energy and fun to the shows as well. She’s always talking to fans and being genuinely an amazing person. When she’s on the stage, you can tell she’s in her element. The crowd was really getting into them, and the band even got to have a little mosh pit. With songs like “To the Wolves,” “Catch Me When I Fall,” and “Sick Sick Sick,” Stitched Up Heart always puts on a hell of a show and gets the crowd pumped.

The Duke of Spook. MR. MOTHERFUCKING13. WEDNESDAY 13 was up next, and the crowd was ready to be shocked and rocked. Playing a good mix of Muderdolls In the Valley of the MurderDolls and Wednesday 13’s first “solo” album, Transylvania 90210. You know when you go to a Wednesday 13 show you’re gonna hear some fun songs, you’re gonna hear some great songs, and you’re just gonna have fun. I was excited to hear a few songs that I haven’t gotten to hear in a while, like “Ghost of Vincent Price,” “Rambo,” and “God is a Lie.” We also got to hear a few songs off the new album that comes out on April 25th called “Mid Death Crisis,” songs like “When the Devil Commands,” “In Misery,” and “No Apologies.

With the new album coming out Wednesday, Wednesday 13 has a new addition to the band: guitarist Ashes (DevilDriver, Static X) has joined the WED13 camp. Which is awesome because not only is he a good friend, he’s a kick-ass guitarist and just an all-around badass and great guy. Wednesday and the band came out for an encore and gave us a few more songs to bang our heads to, like “Slit My Wrist” and “Love at First Fright,” and ended the night with “I Love to Say Fuck,” in which, during the end of the song, Wednesday broke his umbrella, looked at just the handle, laughed, and used it like he was leading an orchestra.

It was a great night of music and hanging out with great friends. We got to celebrate the lives of MurderDolls Joey Jordison and Ben Graves. And the show just happened to be on Paul Gray’s (Slipknot) birthday.

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Paleface Swiss Pittsburgh Show Review

George Archibald

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A packed crowd gathered outside the Roxian Theater in Pittsburgh tonight for The Cursed Tour featuring Paleface Swiss, Stick to Your Guns, and Nasty. The crowd was lined up across the front of the venue and several blocks down the street, with all types ready to get out their weekly frustrations this Friday eve. Hardcore, deathcore, and beatdown will be the soundtrack to usher in the weekend for all in attendance tonight.

Nasty would kick off things; this band comes from Belgium and has a metalcore/beatdown sound to them. Nasty also released their latest EP on March 14th, called Black My Heart, which features a single with tourmates Paleface Swiss entitled ‘Talk.’ From the first note, Nasty cranked the energy to 11, heavy riffs and fast, heavy vocals coming right down the barrel. The pit was going hard and fast with bodies careening into each other for the whole set. The band was just as energetic, pacing the stage while performing and running across the stage; vocalist Mathias even jumped down into the crowd for a part of the set.

With the crowd now primed and firing, Stick to Your Guns took the stage next. This Californian hardcore outfit dropped an album in early 2025 entitled Keep Planting Flowers. Their high-energy set had this Pittsburgh crowd bouncing to every song. The pit kept turning as crowd surfers were starting to come over the barricade now. The band played through many of their hits, “Invisible Rain”, “Keep Planting Flowers”, and “Spineless”, before wrapping up.

Paleface Swiss took the stage in a fury of angst. As soon as the lights rose after Un Pobre Nino Murio finished, the venue was in chaos. Vocalist Marc Zelli Zellweger ripped right into “Hatred”, pacing the stage as the crowd whipped into a frenzy. The music was fast and heavy as security had their hands full with moshers, crowd surfers, and occasional injuries along the way. The band played through “Nail to the Tooth”, “The Gallow”, and “Rivers of Sorrow” before throwing the crowd into another gear with “Please End Me”. The pace was unrelenting as the band came back out for an encore, closing out with the single Love Burns.

If you are looking for a fast-paced, heavy show, mark off the calendar to see The Cursed Tour. These bands came to play their asses off, and you won’t be able to stand still the whole show.

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