Remembering Anthrax, Testament and Death Angel (sigh)

Currently, I am ahead in my Maryland Deathfest band profile postings by a few days. Also I want to wait to see if Jerry Flores from Bloody Phoenix will reply to my email. So, I thought I would take a moment to share something fun I made last fall.For my fiancé's birthday, we traveled to …

Countdown to MDF X: (41) Napalm Death

Since none of the founding members of Napalm Death remain in the band, you could view this seminal grindcore band in several ways. For example, you could perceive them as an ideology, with each member who came afterward as perpetuating and developing that philosophy. Or you could see them like a brand, changing and evolving …

Countdown to MDF X: (42) Nasum

When someone dies suddenly, it often leaves those left behind with a sense that things were left unfinished. This is how Sweden's Nasum on their website described their state of mind for the last seven years since the tragic death of their frontman Mieszko Talarczyk in the 2004 tsunami in Thailand. This year, however, the …

Countdown to MDF X: (43) Artillery

Danish thrash metal godfathers Artillery will surely open up the pit Friday night at the Maryland Deathfest. Contagious riffs, fist pumping refrains and sing-a-long choruses are what this pure high energy rock and roll band are all about.Founded in 1982 in Denmark, the band has experienced many personnel changes and breakups  over the years. Today the …

Negru of Negură Bunget talks about Maryland Deathfest, first US tour

Among the most mysterious acts performing Friday night at the Maryland Deathfest is Romania's pagan black metal collective Negură Bunget. I first heard of this band just two years ago on MySpace (yes, I still maintain a profile there), when they reached out to friend me, randomly of course, probably trying to increase their fan base. …

Countdown to MDF X: (45) Unsane

As a child of the 80s, punk has and always will hold an honored position in my musical heart. Therefore I am happy to report that defining noise rock band Unsane will perform Friday, May 25 at the Maryland Deathfest. Formed in New York in 1988 when the members were still in college, only original …

Countdown to MDF X: (46) Ghoul

Like a horror comic book coming to life, Ghoul is dead seriously the funniest band set to perform on Friday night at the Maryland Deathfest. Their performance is just as much about the songs as it is about the show. Appropriately this group is just coming off of a tour of smaller venues with felllow …

Countdown to MDF X: (47) Setherial

Sometimes it is best to listen to a band without the distractions of the visuals presented in a storyline video. That is what I had to do with Setherial, a Swedish black metal band founded in 1993. I prefer to just listen to Setherial's excellent musicianship without watching their videos. The reason being, that in some …

Countdown to MDF X: (48) Macabre

If you like true crime, serial killers and Grimm's fairy tales AND you also love metal, then Macabre is your band.Hailing from Chicago, this clever trio includes Corporate Death (Lance Lencioni) on guitars, vocals, Nefarious (Charles Lescewicz) on bass guitar, vocals, and Dennis the Menace (Dennis Ritchie) on drums. They have been putting out recordings since 1987.Some …

Countdown to MDF X: (49) Demigod

Demigod's Friday appearance at the Maryland Deathfest reportedly will be their second to last show ever, EVER. (Their last show will be in June in their home country of Finland at the Tuska Festival in Helsinki.) But who knows for sure? Demigod has a record for breaking up and reuniting over their 22 year history. Why …