California Metalfest VI (11/24/12)

Every year, California gets to throw the biggest metal festival this state has ever seen. Featuring bands from all the major metal labels as well as locals and vendors, this event couldn't be bigger and better. This years lineup featured big names such as Bleeding Through, Upon A Burning Body, Darkest Hour, Asking Alexandria, A Skylit Drive, The Great Commission and what everyone was hoping for, the original lineup of Killswitch Engage who played their whole first album Alive Or Just Breathing to celebrate the ten year anniversary of it's release.

Gates opened at eleven in the morning and the line went on forever it seemed. The local bands took the stage early in the day. Some of the locals I have talked of before in my blog played today such as Paradigm and Beneath The Veil. Paradigm attracted a huge crowd as they played. The group presented the concert goers with new tracks such as "Plight of the Black Coats" and "As Ashes" and the new and loyal fans loved. Another good band caught around the same time Paradigm played was Of Legions. Of Legions was a heavy upcoming act that got the early crowd started and ready. Legends Shall Fall and You Only Live Once also were two of the earlier acts that caught a lot of attention. Legends Shall Fall brought their unique brand of deathcore destruction to the stage and You Only Live Once gave their fans a great show with their two female vocalists. Since there was four stages, I couldn't catch every act but I caught quite a few.

Time came that the big acts started playing and one of the first I caught was Attila who come out of Georgia with their "party metal" sound. Playing mostly songs off their recent release Outlawed such as Payback, White Lightning and Light Me Up, many beers, blunts and joints were up in the air. Afterwards I caught the band Veil of Maya. Veil of Maya is a very technical deathcore act and with tracks played live such as Unbreakable, Eclipse and Mowgli, many people gathered to check them out. I was able to catch many other acts such as the electro-post hardcore act I See Stars, the symphonic deathcore giants Winds of Plague, the tech death metal kings The Faceless, hardcore's finest Betrayal, and many others.

Later that night was the part everyone gathered for. Killswitch Engage took the stage and the crowd went insane. Their guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz came out with beer in hand and short cut jean shorts like he has made famous through the years. When vocalist Jesse Leach (original vocalist from the band's start till he left and Howard Jones of Blood Has Been Shed took over) took his place on stage, every camera went off and the start of their set began. They opened with the start of Alive Of Just Breathing and played the full album in it's entirety. With famous tracks like Fixation on the Darkness, My Last Serenade, Life To Lifeless and Vide Infra, the crowd went wild. There was moments of everyone singing along, crowd surfing, relentless pits and people just jumping around. It was amazing to see this performance live and know that a piece of my high school memories is back and not going away.

Another great part was the after party for all the bands, their friends, family and press as well. It was time to mingle with musicians, talk to label representatives and just enjoy a great day of music and metal. I have to say that this event was one of the best years I have experienced through the short but growing years of the annual California Metalfest. I am already looking forward to next year's!

Our Own Accord (11/15/12)

Another band that is not your usual metal outfit is Our Own Accord. Hailing from Whittier, the group has already been making an impact on the local scene. The group consists of Alex Gray on vocals, Julian Bastida and Bobby Cortez on guitars, Eric Yoakum on bass and Vic Karam on drums. The band has put together a great combination of progressive metal and hardcore in their sound.

After playing many events, shows and getting their name out there, the group has put forth more effort than most bands in the local scene. Our Own Accord is constantly seeking out new venues and shows to play and are some of the coolest guys to have a chat with.

The group most recently played at California Metalfest and definitely received a lot of love from the crowd as well as exposed some new tracks. The group keeps the energy flowing through out their stage time and will keep you moving out in the pit. For those who have yet to hear them live, you are missing out.

Thrown Into Exile (11/14/12)

While Thrown Into Exile is a relatively new band from Los Angeles, they have already become the talk of the town with high-profile opening slots for bands including Sepultura, Fear Factory, Chimaira, All Shall Perish, and many more. But it was this past summer's Mayhem Festival that was the biggest proving ground yet for Thrown Into Exile, as they were able to win the “Road to Mayhem” competition over dozens of other bands to secure a slot performing on the same bill as Slipknot, Motorhead, Anthrax, and Slayer which was a dream come true for all five of the hard-working bandmates.

Another sign of good things to come for Thrown Into Exile is the fact that they are currently working on their debut EP, which is being produced by Mike Spreitzer of DevilDriver. As if that were not impressive enough for a band that didn't exist at the start of last year, Thrown Into Exile's members have also received endorsement deals based on their musical skill and high profile from renowned companies such as EMG Pickups, Peavey Amplifiers, Coffin Case, and Pearl Drums.

How does a young band get such a great start? Founding members Mario Rubio and Colin Reed agree that it is all about one simple word: commitment.

For now, that means Thrown Into Exile will be working hard getting out on the road, getting involved in major tours, and writing and recording new music as much as possible. The music itself is whatʼs most important to the band. While not out to win any awards for being the fastest, the most complex, or the most brutal, Thrown Into Exile takes an approach where the song itself is what inspires the performances. The result is a band that does not rely on studio tricks to get their point across; instead, what you hear on the recordings is what you get at the live show. Itʼs not at all uncommon to see a person who would never previously heard of Thrown Into Exile jumping into the pit and getting crazy from their first exposure to the music.

I'd Rather Be Fishing (11/13/12)

I'd Rather Be Fishing is a metal/hardcore band fresh out of Long Beach and was one of the bands that I was able to see at California Metalfest. The band consists of Gaby Worsham on vocals, Cameron Good on guitar, Jacob Roberts on bass and Jerry Valenzuela on drums.

I'd Rather Be Fishing was the winners of the battle of the bands for a spot to play California Metalfest.

With a fusion of ferocious energy, catchy riffs and heavy breakdowns, this band is sure to be a great up and coming band. They are in the process of recording a demo as of now and plan to continue playing.

You Only Live Once (11/11/12)

You Only Live Once is a female fronted post hardcore band from Los Angeles, CA and started in September of 2010. Fronted by screamer Stephanie Isis and singer Ariel Sanson who were also seen on the TV shows The X Factor and America's Got Talent. Guitars are done by Valentine and Jaffy Valkyrie. Drums are done by Jared Salazar and bass is played by Louis.

With their vocalists' appearance on The X Factor and America's Got Talent, their fame skyrocketed. Not being favored by Simon Cowell, they did become favored among the music scene. With a unique mix of Stephanie's screams and Ariel's singing, their music is almost hypnotic in a sense to those who have not heard a female fronted band like Eyes Set To Kill or A City Serene.

Their songs like You Will Never Be Alone, I Should've Known and Look At Us Now all have a different sound but seem to be their popular tracks and played at all their live sets. Have a listen to this group and see why they are growing more and more fans daily.

Vale of Avalon (11/10/12)

A long time ago, in a So Cal city far, far away...well not a long time ago or far away butVale of Avalon was born. Vale of Avalon is from Fullerton and started in 2009.

Two siblings by the name of Richi (vocals) & Michelle Molina (vocals/guitars) were devoted to making their own band. Vale of Avalon started on one random day in September 29, 2009 in the parking lot of a Walmart. Three kids met each other that day while waiting in a Paramore Meet & Greet line. Michelle had camped out to be one of the first in line and was awoken very early in the morning to the sound of strumming. It was none other than Sam Torres (guitars). They spent the rest of the day entertaining the crowd with cover songs and Richi met up with them later & they decided a month later to start a band together.

When starting the band, Vale of Avalon wanted to do something that not many people have done before in the music scene. By mixing screamo/post-hardcore with indie and alternative instrumentals and sounds. Within two years of being a band, they never would of dreamed opening up for bands that inspired them like Falling In Reverse, Oh, Sleeper, Eyes Set To Kill, Aiden, Arms Like Yours, New Years Day, and many more.

This year, the group also embarked on their first tour. They joined in on the Lies & Deception Tour with Aura & Vanity in support of Love On The Lips Of A Whore. Due to their drummer's injury at work before the tour, they brought a different sound by being an acoustic three piece during an all deathcore and metalcore tour. Sadly also this year the band has announced their breakup.

KillGarry (11/7/12)

KillGarry is a unique melodic hardcore/metalcore project from Pico Rivera, CA. Ivan on vocals, Robles and Johnny Boii on guitars, Ferna on bass and Daniel on drums makes up the band. The group got their name from a street in their hometown called Kilgarry Avenue. They thought it would make a unique and meaningful name for their band as well as have a cool name in general.

The band has been a frequent guest at their local venue The Moose Lodge in Whittier since their manager Jesse Goytia books the venue as well for other local bands. The group has made a solid impact on their local scene with quite the dedicated following and hearing their songs, you'll see why.

Earlier this year the group recorded an EP which featured their anthem track "Risen" which has been a fan favorite. For those who have seen them live, you can feel the energy this group brings to the stage and also for myself, I have played two shows in the past with these guys and its amazing seeing their stage presence and feeling the energy they bring. Definitely a band that has the potential to make it far.