Electric Callboy came into the Maryland/DC area at the MGM Harbor and brought fans of all ages—from old to young—along for the ride. They were joined on this tour by Scene Queen and Polaris.

Scene Queen delivered a seriously fun set. She’s fully embraced what she’s coined as “bimbocore,” and I absolutely love it—and so do the fans. The crowd was already moshing and crowd surfing early on, and they kept that energy going all night long.

Polaris, from Australia, brought the metal. This was my first time seeing them, and they absolutely brought the kind of raw energy that drove the crowd wild. They played a killer set and are definitely a band to keep your eyes on.

Electric Callboy was the headliner, and they brought the rabid fans with them. Lots of people were dressed up in signature Callboy attire, and it’s been a while since I’ve seen so many young kids in a metal show crowd. Between all the costume changes, confetti, and streamers, Callboy delivered a killer set. They always put on a hell of a show—and always leave me questioning Germany: why haven’t you chosen them as your Eurovision entry?

We got to hear songs like “Hypa Hypa,” “We Got the Moves,” “Pump It,” “Hurrikan,” and many more. They also had an intimate moment during the set, right in the middle of the crowd, with a piano—performing acoustic versions of “Fuckboi” and a cover of “Everytime We Touch.”

The entire show was amazing—such a fun and wildly entertaining spectacle. I can’t wait to see them again.

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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Infected Rain is now on tour with Stitched Up Heart and Blackwater Drowning and made a stop at Zen West with local kick ass band Anoxia. 

The night crackled with electric energy and thrummed with unforgettable music. I loved that every band on the lineup featured powerful female vocalists—each with her own distinct style and stage presence, yet all of them fierce, commanding, and absolutely a force to be reckoned with.

It was an absolute thrill to see Lena and Infected Rain again. I love how they continue to evolve as a band and as a core of incredible artists every time I catch them live. I’ve been a fan for many years, and I always relish watching them perform—especially the way Lena connects with the crowd and her fans, which goes far beyond what most musicians ever offer. I would love to see them chosen as Moldova’s Eurovision entry, because we desperately need more rock and metal represented on that stage.

If this tour is rolling into your city, do yourself a favor and go check it out. It’s a phenomenal live show—the bands don’t just kick ass on stage, but they also happen to be some of the nicest, coolest people you’ll ever meet. You will not be disappointed. Plus, they’ve got some seriously killer merch that you absolutely need to snag while you’re there.

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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Resistor at Preserving Underground: Knuckle-Dragging, Wika-Wika Fury

New Kensington, PA – By the time Resistor took the stage at Preserving Underground on April 30th, the room had already been baptized. Inferious had spent their opening slot proving why they belong on this tour and Monochromatic Black followed suit. The crowd: sweaty, tired, and grinning stood shoulder to shoulder in the basement of a converted church, ready for the Long Island quintet to deliver the main course. They did not disappoint!

The “Knuckle Dragging Wika Wika Core” Arrives

For the uninitiated, a quick vocabulary lesson is needed. Resistor doesn’t just play heavy music; they’ve patented their own subgenre. They call it “knuckle dragging wika wika core”. The “knuckle dragging” part is the downtuned, beatdown-ready hardcore riffage that makes you want to punch a hole in the nearest wall. The “wika wika” is the turntable wizardry of Anthony Arce, a Manhattan-based DJ whose scratches and samples add an extra layer of chaotic texture to the band’s already ferocious sound.

And on this night, in the intimate confines of Preserving Underground, that sound hit like a freight train with no brakes. The band made up of Anthony Grambo on vocals, Anthony Conti on guitar, Ian Schneider on bass, Peter Smith on drums, and Arce on turntables launched into their set with the kind of immediate aggression that separates headliners from openers. Resistor brought a sharp, more hardcore-infused edge. The bass drum kicks vibrated your sternum. The turntable scratches cut through the mix like a knife. And Grambo? Clad in  Selena t-shirt didn’t just sing into the mic, he seemed to be wrestling it for control.

A Set Built for 2026

The band had good reason to be confident. Just over a month before, Resistor released their debut full-length album, BITE THIS!. Produced by Randy LeBoeuf (Kublai Khan TX, The Acacia Strain), the 30-minute, 10-track assault has been described as “an aggressive trip with a hardcore ethos” that blends nu-metal’s cocky swagger with 21st-century heaviness.

Setlist highlights came fast and furious. Opening with “BORN 2 BREAK,” the band immediately established the night’s tone: pummeling, unapologetic, and laced with just enough turntable chaos to keep things unpredictable. “L33CH” followed, with Arce’s scratches adding an almost industrial layer of noise to the already dense wall of guitar. By the time they hit “DEAD SOUL” a track the band has called “the perfect entry point” to the album the pit had fully reignited.

The Secret Weapon: Anthony Arce

What sets Resistor apart from every other heavy band on this tour is the turntable. In 2026, seeing a DJ on stage at a hardcore show feels almost nostalgic. A throwback to the nu-metal heyday of the late ’90s and early 2000s. But Resistor doesn’t use the turntable as a gimmick. Arce’s contributions are woven directly into the fabric of their sound, from the extra chaos on “PETTY FUCK” to the almost Deftones-esque atmosphere of “FROZEN AT 29”.

Live, those moments hit even harder. During “LOVE SONG (BULLSH!T),” Arce dropped into a scratch solo of sorts, that had the crowd throwing horns and nodding in appreciation. It was a small moment, but it underscored something essential about Resistor: they’re not just heavy for the sake of being heavy. They’re heavy with purpose, texture, and a genuine understanding of how different elements can collide to create something new.

Closing Strong

By the time they reached the set’s final tracks “XXXL” and “FEEL LIKE SHIT” the room was a mess of flying bodies, raised voices, and genuine appreciation. The band didn’t overstay their welcome. They played, they destroyed, and they stepped back, leaving the crowd to catch their breath before Filth’s headlining set.

Verdict

Resistor proved exactly why they were chosen for this 10th-anniversary tour. With a new album that’s been called “nothing short of an aggressive trip” and a live show that delivers every ounce of that aggression, they’ve positioned themselves as one of the most interesting heavy bands coming out of the New York scene. The “knuckle dragging wika wika core” label might sound like a joke, but the music is anything but.

Catch them on the remaining dates of the Back To Tha Gutta tour if you can. Just bring earplugs. And maybe a change of shirt.

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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