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.

Desecrated Adversary (11/5/12)

Desecrated Adversary is a heavy deathcore band from the Los Angeles area. With past members from previous local projects, these dudes aren't just your average local band. Starting in 2010, the group gathered and began writing music right away. The band consists of Torta on vocals, Joe Maldonado and Lester Garcia on guitars, High Hand on bass and Nick Moreno on drums.

The group have been working as a self-managed and self-produced project since day one. It is also a sure bet that any local metal and hardcore show you attend, these guys will be on the bill. Playing shows in Paramount, Huntington Park, East Los Angeles, Maywood, Corona and all over pretty much and they don't plan on stopping.

In late 2011/early 2012, the group released an EP titled Modern Day Slavery which did very well among the local metal scene. The track "Oblige" has been a crowd mover at every show that they have played. If you have not checked these guys out, do so now!

Goliath (11/4/12)

Goliath is a monstrosity of a band. With sold out shows, playing all over with their genre's heavy hitters and releasing Vendetta With The World, Goliath is a force to be reckoned with. Goliath hails from Los Angeles and got their start in 2010. The band features members Alex Sterling and Corey Dunn on dual vocals, Kevin Ricci and Michael Montoya on guitars, Brandon Allen on bass and Chris Morales on drums.

Within a short period of only two years, Goliath has released two EPs. Their first EP, Misanthropy, featured guest vocals from Ricky Hoover of Suffokate which got the group a lot of attention. Their most recent second release Vendetta With The World, has generated a buzz amongst many reviewers and fans alike. Tracks Society's Outcasts and The Cold Hands Of Karma have become their fan favorites as well as anthems for the familiar pit beasts, floor pounders and arm swingers.

This band is a must for those who enjoy good beatdown and deathcore straight outta Cali. Definitely for fans of Suffokate, Liferuiner and Betrayal.

A Love Ends Suicide (11/2/12)

From the city of West Covina, California, A Love Ends Suicide became a quickly growing act as a progressive metalcore band. The group released copies of their self produced 2004 EP throughout most of the United States, which helped build an admirable reputation in today's music scene. Shortly after beginning their full-time journey on the road, the guys of A Love Ends Suicide experienced what it was going to take to successfully bring their music the attention of as much of the world as possible.

The band consists of five members, four of which happen to be brothers. John Cairoli (vocals) has developed an intense, energy-filled stage performance, standing out among many other acts in the scene. Emir Abdo (bass, clean vocals), with intense stage presence on bass guitar, also compliments the intensity of the music with melodic vocal lines. Oscar Cairoli (guitar) helps create a sound like no other with his riveting guitar lines and musical influences combined. Andres Abdo (drums), the youngest of the pack, brings forth a great deal of strength, power, technique, and originality to the music. Matt Garcia (guitar) adds a big sound to the group with neck-breaking riffs and heart-pounding energy.

In May of 2006, A Love Ends Suicide officially signed to Metal Blade Records, with the generous and highly appreciated help of Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying. Their last release In The Disaster was their biggest and best known release as is still heard today. The group broke up in 2009 then later started up with a new name called Lets Fighting after a joke song on the show South Park called "Let's Fighting Love."

Aurora Black (11/1/12)

Aurora Black was a pretty well known, up and coming blackened death metal band from West Covina, CA. They have released three full lengths and an EP before disappearing into the darkness after 2008. The group first gathered in 2003 where later that year they recorded their debut full length The Silence Between Notes. They played local shows with bands from the area such as ExMortus, The Nauseating Stab and Antagonist.

By 2005, they had honed their sound and hit the studio to record Buried In The Sea which I feel is their best release personally. It captured the heaviness and sheer ferocity of death metal and the coldness and speed of black metal. After two years, they returned to record the EP Rest In Fire. The release was their first signed release on OMC Records.

In 2008, the group released their best work to date. The album was titled And The Skies Dreamed Infinite Sorrow which was released through OMC Records. The album showcased the band's full growth and potential that they had been working on. Tracks like Before The Sun Was Created, And The Skies Dreamed Infinite Sorrow and Lake of Organs were the singles from the release.

Intestinal Strangulation (10/31/12)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! For this Halloween, I bring you some local brutal death metal from a band that started in Whittier, CA in 2003. This group is Intestinal Strangulation. The three piece features Damien on guitars and vocals, Nick on bass and Jesus on drums. With energetic stage presence, crazy pits and lyrics that would make anyone want to claw out their own insides, the band was bound to go far.

They hit the studio in 2004 to record their self titled EP which featured vocals completely unheard of with depths that go beyond the depths of hell, chaotic guitars and drums playing faster than the speed of sound. In 2006, they released their debut full length Pathological Brutalistic Fermentation on Prodisc Records. Their debut was their last and latest work that became quickly a macabre masterpiece. With lyrics that sound like a screen play to a demented slasher film, the album fit in amongst the ranks of Cannibal Corpse and Six Feet Under.

Willow Wisp (10/29/12)

Willow Wisp is a gothic black metal group from Hollywood, CA. The four-piece formed in 1990 and includes M6D6M6A on vocals, Ibex on guitars, Eyajo Joseph on keyboards and Toe Knee on drums. They first released in 1994 a demo titled Variations. They went into hiding to write new songs until 1997 when they released The Building Up and Breaking Down of Matter on Pandaimonium Records. The album was not the group's best work and it wasn't until their 1999 release Delusion Of Grandeur: (A Gathering Of Heretics) that they finally starting getting some followers.

Following after came two EPs titled Continuation of Deterioration in 2002 and Incinerator Bound in 2005 as well as two full lengths titled Enmity in 2007 and Antihuman Manifesto in 2010. Antihuman Manifesto showcases the band's latest hard work into their progression of sound. The track The Dead Man's Ballad is probably the best of all their tracks and with their disappearance yet again, I'm guessing hopefully a new album in the works? Who knows but for now, check them out and enjoy!

Sothis (10/27/12)

Sothis is a symphonic black metal band from Los Angeles/Hollywood, CA. The group incorporates the feel and sound of Norwegian cold and bleak black metal and the haunting melodies of classical. Vocalist Drogoth, guitarists Scathe and Nylock, bassist Keres, keyboardist Asperia and drummer Dross make up the band. The six piece formed in 1999 but finally hit the studio in 2005 to record their self titled demo.

It was not until 2007 that Sothis got signed with Candlelight Records to record De Oppresso Liber and in 2008 they released it. The record did quite well and received rave reviews on many online publications. The group is still active but no word of them recording or anything at the moment.

A very mysterious band for those who have been looking up on them. Not much is to be found but their full length and a music video for the track De Oppresso Liber, Of Night and Silence and Sinister Nation. Hope to see more from this band soon.