In Concert This Week

This week starts off with a bang as DevilDriver, Whitechapel, Carnifex, and Revocation invade Mill City Nights in Minneapolis tonight, Monday, June 2. Rivers of Nihil and Fit For An Autopsy start the night off early downstairs in The Nether Bar. One ticket gets you into both rooms. It all started at 5:45, and tickets for this 15+ show will be available at the door for $25.

If you'd rather catch some great local bands tonight, head over to Memory Lanes in Minneapolis for a free 21+ show with Pestifere, Gar, and Lockgnar that starts around 10:00. Technical metalcore band The Crinn had to drop off the bill due to a work conflict. We haven't heard much from The Crinn recently, but they are in the midst of recording a new album.

Stoner rock band Red Fang joins forces with punk band Big Business and American Sharks for a show at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Wednesday, June 4. This is an 18+ show, and advance tickets are still available for $15 through AXS.

Also on Wednesday, West Virginia's Bobaflex play Pov's 65 in Spring Lake Park with Romantic Rebel and LA Madness. Advance tickets are only $5 through Vitalculture, and it's an 18+ show.

On Thursday, June 5 metalcore giants Unearth bring Texas In July, Cruel Hand, and Armed For Apocalypse to Skyway Theatre Studio B. This is an early 15+ show; tickets are $15 in advance through Ticketfly. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their second album The Ongoing Storm, Unearth will be playing the album in its entirety.

The Triple Rock Social Club has alternative rock band Local H performing Friday, June 6 with support from Bad Veins and Young And Tender. It's an 18+ shows, and advance tickets are available from Ticketfly for $13.

Static-X frontman Wayne Static and Minneapolis's metal heroes American Head Charge have two area shows this weekend, the first being Friday night at the Wicked Moose in Rochester. The Friday night bill is rounded out by Smile Empty Soul, Thira, and Embrace The Ending. It's a 21+ show that starts early, and advance tickets are $25 through Ticketfly.

On Saturday June 6, Wayne Static and American Head Charge top a massive bill at the Skyway Theatre and Studio B in Minneapolis with Smile Empty Soul, Thira, Nuisance, Black Flood Diesel, Gabriel And The Apocalypse, Emergent, and Tepetricy. This show is 15+ and starts really early (12:00 noon doors), and only $25 in advance through Ticketfly. At both shows, Wayne Static will perform the complete Wisconsin Death Trip album to celebrate its 15th anniversary.

Lastly, punk band The Menzingers take over the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Saturday with support from Lemuria, Pup, and Cayetana. It's an 18+ show, and get advance tickets for $15 through AXS.

Summer Slaughter Tour 2013 Dates Announced, St. Paul on August 14

The full list of dates for this year's Summer Slaughter Tour have been confirmed, and it includes a stop in St. Paul at Station 4 on Wednesday, August 14. Topping the bill is The Dillinger Escape Plan alongside Animals As Leaders, Periphery, Norma Jean, Cattle Decapitation, The Ocean, Revocation, Rings Of Saturn, Thy Art Is Murder, and Aeon. Here is the list of confirmed dates:

July 19 - San Francisco, CA, The Regency Ballroom
July 20 - West Hollywood, CA, House Of Blues
July 21 - Santa Ana, CA, The Observatory
July 24 - Oklahoma City, OK, Diamond Ballroom
July 26 - Dallas, TX, House Of Blues
July 27 - Houston, TX, House Of Blues
July 29 - Lake Buena Vista, FL, House Of Blues
July 30 - Atlanta, GA, The Masquerade
July 31 - Knoxville, TN, Old City Courtyard
August 1 - North Myrtle Beach, SC, House Of Blues
August 2 - Silver Spring, MD, The Fillmore Silver Spring
August 3 - Worcester, MA, The Palladium
August 4 - Philadelphia, PA, Trocadero Theatre
August 7 - New York, NY, Best Buy Theater
August 8 - Toronto, ON, Sound Academy
August 10 - Clifton Park, NY, Upstate Concert Hall
August 11 - Detroit, MI, The Majestic Theatre
August 12 - Chicago, IL, House Of Blues
August 13 - Milwaukee, WI, The Rave Eagles Club
August 14 - St. Paul, MN, Station 4
August 16 - Denver, CO, Ogden Theatre

In Concert This Week - October 18, 2012

There’s a ton of great shows across a wide swath of metal, punk, and rock styles this week so do yourself a favor and get out to one of these shows!

It’s a night of rap metal at Station 4 in St. Paul tonight, Thursday, October 18 with (hed)pe, Sore, and Dopesic. Also tonight, alternative punk band Dinosaur Jr. and Shearwater play The Cabooze in Minneapolis.

Tomorrow, Friday, October 19 is an insane night with three wicked shows taking place. First, Greek symphonic black metal infidels Septicflesh return after over a year for a headlining show at Station 4 in St. Paul with Brazil’s insane thrashers Krisiun, Israeli/Dutch black/folk metal band Melechesh, Canada’s Ex Deo, and black metal band Inquisition from Seattle. Second, upstart doom metal bands Witch Mountain and Castle will level the Turf Club in St. Paul with Bisento, Leon Boots, and DJ John Henry. Lastly, Converge, Torche, Kvelertak, and Mourner will tear up the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis - this show is sold out!

Saturday, October 20 brings the return of Smashing Pumpkins for a sold out show at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul with special guest Anberlin. Not far from there, Station 4 in St. Paul has a local show that same night with Deretia, Daigoro, Eldergaad, and Compassion Dies.

Public Image Limited breaks a long hiatus to play Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Monday, October 22.

Relapse’s thrash band Revocation plays Station 4 in St. Paul on Tuesday, October 23 with support from A Life Once Lost, Ken Mode, Deretia, and Hate Beast.

Industrial/techno band Deviant UK brings their show to the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Wednesday, October 24 with support from Carved Souls, For All The Emptiness, and Thought Thieves. Punk and hardcore fans will want to get out to see Chicago’s Flatfoot 56 with locals In Defence and Hold The Throne at Station 4 in St. Paul on Wednesday, October 24.

To close the week, Christian rock band Classic Petra (the mid-80s version with singer Greg X. Volz) play at the Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park on Thursday, October 25 with Second Timothy. Guitarist Bob Hartman also tours with the current John Schlitt (ex-Head East) version of the band as Petra, so don’t be confused at what to expect at this show.

Concert Announcements - October 2012

The remainder of October brings a lot of bands to town that don’t tour much or who rarely make to this area, including Michael Schenker, Petra, The Afghan Whigs, Witch Mountain, and many others. Here’s the full details about shows recently added to the concert calendar:

Hardcore/metal band Converge brings with them Torche, Kvelertak, and Mourner to the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Friday, October 19.

Friday, October 19 also has a heavy doom metal bill of Portland’s Witch Mountain and San Diego’s Castle playing the Turf Club in St. Paul.

The Smashing Pumpkins show on Saturday, October 20 at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul is sold out.

Four local metal bands are teaming up for a benefit show for the Autism Society of Minnesota at Station 4 in St. Paul on Saturday, October 20. Deretla will be performing a tribute set to Death, Daigoro will pay tribute to Suicidal Tendencies, and Eldergaad and Compassion Dies will also play.

Rising thrash titans Revocation bring A Life Once Lost and Ken Mode to Station 4 in St. Paul on Tuesday, October 23 with local support from Deretia and Hate Beast.

Hailing from Chicago, Celtic punk band Flatfoot 56 headlines an all ages show at Station 4 in St. Paul with support from In Defence and Hold The Throne on Wednesday, October 24.

The legendary, ground-breaking Christian rock band Classic Petra (the mid-80s lineup of Petra with vocalist Greg X. Volz) will light up the Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park with Second Timothy on Thursday, October 25.

A must-see show is legendary guitarist Michael Schenker featuring Robin McAuley at Neisen’s in Savage with support from Lasher on Saturday, October 27. Apparently no advance tickets are being sold, and it will be $20 at the door.

The Afghan Whigs show at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Sunday, October 28 is now sold out.

(hed)pe makes their second appearance in the area this month as main support for Twiztid with Lil Wyte and Potluck at The Cabooze in Minneapolis on Tuesday, October 30.

UPDATE: I forgot about this report over at Blabbermouth that Robin McAuley will not be part of the current US Michael Schenker tour for medical reasons. We wish him all the best in his recovery from surgery.

Album Review Recap

There's a few bands coming to town yet in September whose latest albums I've previously reviewed. In case you missed them, here's a short recap. Click on the links to read the full reviews.

Revocation - Existence Is Futile (Relapse) - 9/10

Misery Index - Heirs To Thievery (Relapse) - 9/10

Revocation and Misery Index perform tonight, Thursday, September 16 at Station 4 in St. Paul as support to Despised Icon.

Swallow The Sun - New Moon (Spinefarm) - 9/10

Swallow The Sun's last performance in St. Paul with Finntroll and Moonsorrow on April 17, 2010 was reviewed here.

Swallow The Sun performs this Saturday, September 18 at Station 4 in St. Paul as direct support to Katatonia with Orphaned Land and Cold Colours.

Slash - Slash (EMI) - 7/10

Slash performs Thursday, September 23 at the Medina Entertainment Center in Medina.

Alation - Demo (Self-released) - 9/10 (updated here)

Alation's performance in Minneapolis with Echoterra on May 21, 2010 was reviewed here.

Alation performs Friday, September 24 at the Star Bar & Grill in Columbia Heights with Ugly Beauty and Bloodtrust.

Revocation Album Review

Revocation – Existence Is Futile

Relapse, 2009

9/10

The recent retro-thrash movement has spawned a multitude of bands that harken back to the classic Bay Area sound that can be entertaining at times, but mostly leave me disappointed at the lack of originality. Leave it to Boston’s Revocation to answer the call and finally release a thrash album that is innovative and compelling. Existence Is Futile perfectly strikes that delicate balance in twisting a well-worn style into something unique. “Enter The Hall” isn’t some thoughtful, acoustic introduction. The instrumental opens the album with serious, pummeling riffs before a vicious growl leads “Pestilence Reigns” into a drum clinic by Phil Dubois. Other exceptional tracks are “The Brain Scramblers”, “Dismantle The Dictator”, “Anthem Of The Betrayed”, and “The Tragedy of Modern Ages”. There’s absolutely no filler present on the album, and it holds up well when played through in its entirety. Four of the eleven songs are instrumentals but one doesn’t even notice this as the songs blaze by. Revocation draws in enough influences across the span of the album to avoid the one-dimensional sound of peers such as Evile and Warbringer. The shared vocals of bassist Anthony Buda and guitarist David Davidson are more akin to a death metal or hardcore band, and this also helps to bring a unique identity to the band. What has me most impressed is that elements of the songs have a shade of familiarity to them, but to the band’s credit it is difficult to say that their sound becomes an imitation of other bands. It also amazes me that just three individuals can create such a forceful sound. Revocation is far ahead of the competition in the race to be the new kings of thrash. Look no further for an innovative take on this well-worn style.

Revocation will be appearing at The Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Saturday, May 8 as direct support to Cattle Decapitation. Additional support will come from Enfold Darkness.