Live Reviews

Lights, lasers, fire, fireworks, three Japanese women, and headbanging heavy metal…it must be none other than BABYMETAL! Launching the release of the band’s brand new album, Metal Galaxy, on October 11 with a sold out arena show at The Forum in the heart of Los Angeles, BABYMETAL put on an amazing and larger than life performance that had the crowd pumped up from beginning to end.

From the fog filled darkness emerges a female figure dressed in white, angelic and surreal. There is something mystical about her, one can not avert their eyes. Is she even real? Is she of this Earth? As she begins to sing the most angelic yet tormented tones, it is quickly realized this is no ordinary rock show. This is September Mourning.

Saturday’s stream focused on two more of Avatar’s lengthy catalog of albums, this time around being a set that moved fluidly back and forth between Black Waltz and Hail the Apocalypse. Both records explored everything from groove metal to death metal.

The stage was immersed in moody darkness with large visuals in the background and only strobing, backlit lights on the band members for an immersive experience that complemented the pulsating music and lively stage performance. 

The date was November 28, 2021. The scene of the crime: Starland Ballroom in New Jersey. The Hip to Be Scared Severed Leg 2 Tour came slashing through, headlined by horror anthem juggernauts Ice Nine Kills with support from Bad Omens, Currents, and Fame on Fire.

Jose Mangin is best known as the host of SiriusXM’s Liquid Metal radio show and has brought the attention of thousands of listeners to some of the most incredible and unique bands in the world. Having had over 40 of these Taco Metal Parties, featuring past performances from artists such as Stone Sour, Megadeth, and Jonathan Davis, this time New Zealand band Alien Weaponry and Ukrainian act Jinjer were on the list.

On December 15th, Sacramento’s Holy Diver had a great show with Craig Owens and two Sacramento local bands, Aquageist and Saint Juniper. His set was a great mix of songs from all of his projects, like D.R.U.G.S, Cinematic Sunrise, Chiodos, BadXChannels, and Isles & Glaciers.

The Mayhem Festival is back! Arriving to find free general parking was a good omen for this Bad Omens headlined festival.

On November 18th, The Umbra Tour hit The Catalyst Club in Santa Cruz, CA. This tour featured Grayscale, Girlfriends, Cemetery Son, and Young Cultures.

Focusing on the band’s earlier albums with tracks off Thoughts of No Tomorrow, Schlacht, and playing the self-titled Avatar in its entirety, it was a wild but most excellent ride.