Of Monsters and Men
Of Monsters and Men, the Icelandic phenomenon, ascended from local fame to global acclaim with the monumental success of their debut album ‘My Head Is An Animal’ in 2011. The album’s platinum status was solidified by the chart-topping track ‘Little Talks’ which achieved a rare quintuple-platinum certification from the RIAA. Breaking records, the band marked a historic milestone by becoming the first Icelandic group to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify. Their exceptional talent also led them to a coveted performance on the iconic stage of Saturday Night Live. Not limited to music, Of Monsters and Men’s influence extended to prominent film and TV soundtracks including The Hunger Games, The Walking Dead, and Beat Bugs. The band’s live presence dazzled audiences at renowned festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Firefly, while they shared the stage with Florence + the Machine during an electrifying arena tour. Amidst this whirlwind of success, their 2015 album ‘Beneath The Skin’ soared to the Top 3 of the Billboard Top 200, and the band even made a cameo on the hit series Game of Thrones. Now, the talented collective returns with their highly anticipated album ‘FEVER DREAM’, showcasing captivating tracks such as ‘Alligator,’ ‘Wild Roses,’ and ‘Wars’.
Read MoreGolden Earring
Golden Earring is a Dutch rock band, founded in 1961 in The Hague as the Golden Earrings. They achieved worldwide fame with their international hit songs “Radar Love” in 1973, which went to number one on the Dutch charts, reached the top ten in the United Kingdom and went to number thirteen on the United States charts, “Twilight Zone” in 1982, and “When the Lady Smiles” in 1984. During their career they have had nearly 30 top-ten singles on the charts while releasing 25 studio albums.
The band’s lineup consists of co-founders Rinus Gerritsen (bass and keyboards) and George Kooymans (vocals and guitar), along with Barry Hay (vocals, guitar, flute and saxophone), and Cesar Zuiderwijk (drums and percussion). All musicians in the present lineup of the band have been continuous members of the band since 1970. Golden Earring continues to perform monthly, performing electric and acoustic shows. Golden Earring earned a unique place in global music history!
Elijah Blake
Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Elijah Blake takes listeners on a haunting journey with the release of his latest single and captivating video, “Ghostbuster,” via MNRK Music Group. “Ghostbuster” is a sonic masterpiece produced by Elijah and Rell The SB, blending classic R&B sounds with contemporary innovation. Elijah Blake’s distinctive voice and production push the boundaries of musical expression as he sings about lost relationships, “can’t get you out of my head, out of my brain, chasing after love, that I know has been dead, you’re just a ghost of my past that keeps coming back.” Known for his chart-topping collaborations with industry giants, Blake’s new release delivers a haunting and soulful experience as a first taste of his new studio album, due out in June 2024.
“With ‘Ghostbuster,’ I wanted to create a sonic and visual journey that transcends boundaries, allowing listeners to immerse themselves in a hauntingly beautiful experience. It’s a blend of my musical roots with a modern twist, and I’m thrilled to share this artistic expression with the world,” — Elijah Blake.
Elijah Blake’s remarkable career has seen him collaborate with numerous artists, contributing his songwriting talents to hits like “Climax” (Usher), “No Love Allowed” (Rihanna), and “Presidential” (Rick Ross). These collaborations have solidified Blake’s reputation as a creative force in the music scene.
Jackyl
A raunchy, fun-loving, and hard-hitting rock band led by chainsaw-wielding frontman Jesse James Dupree, Georgia’s Jackyl emerged in the early 1990s with a sound rooted in Southern hard rock and no-frills heavy metal. The group’s eponymous 1992 debut album was certified platinum on the strength of the rock radio hits “Down on Me,” “When Will It Rain,” and “The Lumberjack,” the latter of which featured Dupree’s infamous chainsaw solo. Jackyl’s mainstream success eventually waned, but through heavy touring and the releases of well-received efforts like Best in Show (2012), Rowyco (2016), and 30 Coming In Hot (2022), they have maintained a dedicated following that few other bands from the era can claim.
Jackyl was founded in Kennesaw, Georgia in 1991 by vocalist Jesse James Dupree, guitarist Jeff Worley, drummer Chris Worley, bassist Tom Bettini, and guitarist Jimmy Stiff. A shared fondness for AC/DC and Lynyrd Skynyrd led the five-piece to start crafting their own blend of hard rock and Southern boogie around their native state. Record executives got hip to their live show, which included chain saws, among other things, and soon the band signed to Geffen. Jackyl’s 1992 self-titled debut quickly found favor with hard rock audiences through the singles “When Will It Rain,” “I Stand Alone,” and “Down on Me.” However, the most attention was drawn by “The Lumberjack,” an ode to burly chainsaw-wielders that witnessed a power tool solo by Dupree. His chainsaw abilities became their recognized gimmick, and the like-minded Ted Nugent took the band on the road.
Jackyl’s sophomore long-player, Push Comes to Shove, appeared in 1994 and peaked at number 46 on the Billboard 200. Recorded in Vancouver with Juno Award-winning producer Bruce Fairbairn, the album’s title track charted both at home and in the U.K. After playing Woodstock ’94 and touring with ZZ Top and Aerosmith, the band parted ways with Geffen and moved to Mayhem, marking the occasion with a live album before leaving the label only a year later for a jump to Sony. Arriving in 1997, Cut the Crap got some traction on rock radio — the single “Locked and Loaded” featured guest vocals from AC/DC’s Brian Johnson — but was ultimately overshadowed by popular alternative rock acts. Sony dropped Jackyl, so they signed to Shimmering Tone and released the ancillary B-sides collection, Stayin’ Alive.
Dupree issued a solo album, Foot Fetish, ahead of the release of the band’s fifth full-length effort. Arriving in 2002, Relentless featured a new lineup — Bettini and Stiff departed, and former Brother Cane guitarist Roman Glick was brought into the fold — and saw the group working once again with Brian Johnson. An eight-year hiatus preceded the release of 2010’s When Moonshine and Dynamite Collide, which was released on Dupree’s own Mighty Loud Records and featured a cover of Janis Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz” and a lyrically retooled cover of “Just Like a Negro,” originally by the funk rock band Mother’s Finest. The band issued Best in Show two years later, which included the mainstream rock-charting single “Favorite Sin.” The reliably rude and rowdy Rowyco appeared in 2016, and in 2022, the band celebrated its 30th anniversary with the aptly named 30 Coming In Hot.
All That Remains
All That Remains have established a remarkable fusion of intense metal and captivating melodies, creating an enduring musical identity. The band, consisting of Philip Labonte as the lead vocalist, Jason Richardson on lead guitar, Mike Martin on rhythm guitar, Anthony Barone on drums, and Matt Deis on bass, has achieved significant success with multiple chart-topping hits on Active Rock Radio, sold-out global concerts, and over 500 million streams. Remaining true to their artistic vision, All That Remains has flourished independently, earning prestigious accolades such as a Platinum certification for their iconic track ‘Two Weeks,’ Gold certifications for ‘What If I Was Nothing’ and their rendition of ‘The Thunder Rolls’ by Garth Brooks. Their albums ‘Overcome’ and ‘For We Are Many’ achieved gold status and Top 10 positions on the Billboard 200, with consistent Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top Rock Albums Chart, including multiple entries in the Top 5. In 2022, the band commemorated the anniversary of their groundbreaking album ‘The Fall of Ideals’ with a sold-out tour, reaffirming its status as a cornerstone of the metalcore genre, as lauded by Revolver. Despite facing industry challenges, personal losses, and adversities, All That Remains has emerged resilient, releasing empowering singles like ‘Divine,’ ‘Let You Go,’ and most recently, ‘No Tomorrow,’ marking their transition to fully independent music production and encapsulating the essence of their musical essence.
Read MoreBig Time Rush
Separately, they’re four individuals. Each one undeniably talented. Each one poised. Each one built to entertain. Together, Big Time Rush comprised of Kendall Schmidt, Logan Henderson, James Maslow and Carlos PenaVega becomes something far more. Yes, when the members of this beloved boy band unite, it’s as if everything else melts away; an unspoken connection instantly ignites. “We can glance at each other and with the smallest look, we’ll understand what’s needed or how great something was or what we need to do next,”
Henderson, speaking specifically to the magic the members of the acclaimed group creates when they hit the stage for one of their undeniable live performances: “Onstage is a time where we can be almost completely fluid. It does really take you out of whatever’s going on at the moment and you can just be free. It’s a feeling like no other.”
This unity, this unique and special ability for musicians to coalesce so naturally with one another, goes a long way in explaining why Big Time Rush was and always has been something that needed to be protected and cherished and treated with the utmost respect. And yet life has a way of taking us all on a winding path to the present. Big Time Rush too have been on a journey to arrive at where they now stand — united, excited and thrilled to move forward in their mission to spread joy, happiness and, of course, superb music, to their longtime legion of fans.
Dayseeker
Dayseeker is an expansive progressive metalcore band originally from Orange County, California. They are known for creating explosive anthems with a melodic, arena rock flair. Dayseeker started their journey in the early 2010s and gained recognition with their official debut full-length album ‘What It Means to Be Defeated’ in 2013. Their musical evolution continued with the release of ‘Origin’ in 2015, followed by ‘Dreaming Is Sinking/Waking Is Rising’ in 2017, showcasing their growth amidst lineup and label changes. The band further solidified their sound with the success of albums like ‘Sleeptalk’ in 2019 and ‘Dark Sun’ in 2022.
Founded in 2012 in Orange County, Dayseeker comprises former Arms Like Yours members Rory Rodriguez as the vocalist and Alex Polk as the guitarist, alongside Gino Sgambelluri, Andrew Sharp, and Mike Karle. Their musical journey began with the release of an untitled EP in 2013, leading to a record deal with InVogue Records. With notable releases like ‘Origin’ in 2015 and ‘Dreaming Is Sinking/Waking Is Rising’ in 2017, Dayseeker established their presence in the music scene. Despite challenges in 2016, including member departures and a label switch to Spinefarm Records, the band persisted and delivered impactful albums like ‘Sleeptalk’ in 2019. Their latest album, ‘Dark Sun,’ released in 2022, reflects significant personal experiences, with standout tracks like ‘Neon Grave’ capturing emotions and resonating with listeners.
Drowning Pool
Drowning Pool is an alternative/nu-metal band that combines muscular drums, angry riffs, and dark themes. The group found mainstream success in 2001 with the release of their platinum-selling debut album, Sinner, which included the hit single Bodies. After the death of vocalist Dave Williams in 2002, Drowning Pool relied on a rotating cast of lead singers (Jason Jones, Ryan McCombs, and Jasen Moreno) to deliver hard-hitting efforts like Full Circle (2007), Resilience (2013), and Strike a Nerve (2022). Founded in 1996, Drowning Pool represented the vision of drummer Mike Luce and guitarist C.J. Pierce, who formed the band after relocating from New Orleans to Dallas and hooking up with bassist Stevie Benton. Although they initially performed as an instrumental trio, their sound coalesced with the arrival of Dave Stage Williams as vocalist. Drowning Pool experienced success from the outset. When a copy of their first demo reached members of Sevendust, they were invited to tour with the industrial metal group. Tours with Kittie and (hed) p.e. followed. Their second demo, recorded after two years on the road, reached the Top Ten on Dallas radio station KEGL and led to a contract with the Wind-Up Records label. Produced by Jay Baumgardner (Papa Roach, Godsmack, Coal Chamber), their first album, Sinner, became an instant hit. It was certified platinum within six weeks of its release, while their first single, Bodies, was one of the most frequently aired videos on MTV for a new band. They reached out to an even greater audience with dynamic performances at Wrestlemania XVIII and Ozzfest during the summers of 2001 and 2002. Unfortunately, their streak of success was not to last. Shortly after rousing the crowd at Ozzfest in Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 3, 2002, Williams was found dead of natural causes on the tour bus. In the wake of that tragedy, the band forged ahead. A concert film, Sinema, featuring more than two-and-a-half hours of footage, was released in late 2002. In January 2004, the band announced the addition of singer Jason Gong Jones, and their sophomore effort, Desensitized, followed several months later. In 2006, former Soil singer Ryan McCombs assumed the vocal duties, and a year later they released Full Circle, which was followed by live album, Loudest Common Denominator, in 2009. A self-titled album dropped in 2010, making McCombs the first DP singer to record more than one album with the group. However, it was not to last: he departed the following year, and was replaced by Suicide Hook vocalist Jasen Moreno, who made his official debut on 2013’s Resilience. Three years later, Moreno would match McCombs’ record with the announcement of the second Moreno-led and sixth overall Drowning Pool album, Hellelujah. Produced by Jason Suecof (Deicide, Motionless in White), the release featured the uncompromising single By the Blood. Originally slated for release in 2020, the band’s seventh long-player, Strike a Nerve, was pushed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Billed as their heaviest effort to date, the 11-song set saw the band digging hard into their blue-collar Southern metal roots. ~ Craig Harris & Neil Z. Yeung, Rovi
Read MoreJane’s Addiction
Los Angeles quartet Jane’s Addiction are one of the most influential and iconic rock bands to come from the late-’80s and early-’90s alternative boom. Hotly pursued when they first debuted in the mid-’80s, they released a pair of landmark albums — 1988’s Nothing’s Shocking and 1990’s Ritual de lo Habitual — before dissolving in 1991. Subsequent reunions yielded additional efforts (2003’s Strays and 2011’s The Great Escape Artist), and they maintained their cult status into the subsequent decades. After over a decade without newly recorded music, the classic lineup returned in 2024 with “Imminent Redemption.” Formed by flamboyant frontman Perry Farrell, formerly of the band Psi Com, Jane’s Addiction played a hybrid of rock music: metal with strains of punk, folk, and jazz. Rising from the Los Angeles underground, the quartet — whose classic lineup comprised of Farrell, bassist Eric Avery, drummer Stephen Perkins, and guitarist Dave Navarro — had already released its debut effort — a self-titled live recording from the Roxy in Hollywood — by the time they were signed to Warner Bros. following an aggressive bidding war. Their official studio debut, Nothing’s Shocking, landed in 1988 and immediately courted controversy. The band’s abrasive sound and attitude (typified by the nude sculpture on the cover, which Farrell created with his muse and partner at the time Casey Niccoli) led to some resistance, but Jane’s Addiction began to break through to an audience — the album spent 35 weeks on the charts and the band toured with Iggy Pop and the Ramones.
Despite internal band struggles and ongoing tensions, they recorded their next album in 1989. Again featuring provocative cover art by Niccoli, the sophomore set Ritual de lo Habitual arrived in 1990 and was the band’s commercial breakthrough, reaching the Top 20 in the U.S. Boosted by the singles “Stop!” and “Been Caught Stealing,” which were also hits on MTV, the LP was eventually certified multi-platinum. Soon after, Farrell inaugurated the traveling rock festival Lollapalooza as a farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction, alongside acts such as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nine Inch Nails, Butthole Surfers, Living Colour, Rollins Band, Violent Femmes, and Body Count. After the tour was completed at the end of the summer of 1991, the group split. Farrell would continue to be involved with the organization of the annual Lollapalooza festival for the next several years; he also formed Porno for Pyros with Perkins in 1992, releasing their debut record the following year. After a couple of quiet years — which included forming Deconstruction, a band that didn’t release any records until 1994, with Avery — Navarro joined Red Hot Chili Peppers at the end of 1993.
By 1997, Perkins and Farrell had dissolved Porno for Pyros, while Navarro was about to resign from Red Hot Chili Peppers. After Navarro began playing with his two former bandmates again during Porno for Pyros’ final tour, a Jane’s Addiction reunion tour was announced for fall of the same year. The only catch was that Chili Peppers bassist Flea replaced Avery (Avery refused to participate, as he concentrated on his new band, Polar Bear). To coincide with the short tour, the newly reunited Jane’s Addiction issued the album Kettle Whistle, which compiled classic live performances and demos alongside a few newly recorded tracks. The album didn’t fare well on the charts, but the reunion tour was a rousing success. It didn’t lead to a permanent re-formation, however, as members went their separate ways once more after its completion. A planned film documentary of the reunion tour failed to materialize, and Rev, a best-of compilation that chronicled Farrell’s work (with Jane’s, Porno, and a few new solo tracks) was issued in 1999. His first solo full-length, Song Yet to Be Sung, saw the light of day in 2001. Navarro’s debut solo effort, Trust No One, was issued a month earlier than Farrell’s, as another Jane’s Addiction reunion was announced the same year. Avery again refused to participate, with his spot being filled by former Porno for Pyros bassist Martyn Lenoble.
Saliva
After acquiring front man Bobby Amaru in 2011, Saliva became infused with new blood, energy, and spirit. The same energy launched Saliva’s career in 2001 with the release, Every Six Seconds – a certified Double Platinum-selling album, containing the hits, “Click Click Boom” and 2002 Grammy nominated, “Your Disease.” Saliva’s in-your-face, anthemic writing style continued with a certified Gold-selling album Back in to Your System with hits: “Always,” “Raise Up,” and the Nikki Sixx co-written, “Rest In Pieces.”
Saliva has been making waves on the charts recently, with their last single ‘High on Me’ climbing its way into the Top 20 on both Mediabase and Billboard charts. Their music continues to resonate with fans and gain recognition in the industry. Saliva’s highly anticipated new album, Revelation, has officially dropped and is now available for streaming on all major platforms! If you’re a fan of hard-hitting rock music, you won’t want to miss this. Saliva will continue to release music. The new music has a contemporary feel but sticks to the blue collar roots that their fans love.
Saliva is Brad Stewart (bass), Wayne Swinny (guitar), Sammi Jo Bishop (drums) and Bobby Amaru (vocals).
Alien Ant Farm
Southern California’s Alien Ant Farm employ a freewheeling blend of nu-metal, post-grunge, and punk-pop that landed them mainstream success when their quirky, souped-up rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” topped the Billboard Alternative Songs charts in 2001. The band continued to maintain a steady radio presence throughout the aughts, delivering a string of efforts like Anthology, truANT, and Up in the Attic, that owed more to alt-metal outliers than the work of many of their peers did. Side projects, personnel issues, and major-label chicanery prompted a long studio hiatus that ended with 2015’s Always and Forever. Fans endured another long wait before the group served up their sixth long-player, 2024’s Mantras.
Alien Ant Farm was formed in Riverside, California, in 1996 by singer/songwriter Dryden Mitchell, guitarist Terry Corso, bassist Tye Zamora, and drummer Mike Cosgrove. All were bored with their day jobs and sought something else to break them from corporate norms. Music allowed them to express themselves freely, and a friendship was born. They independently released their debut album, the cheekily-titled Greatest Hits, toward the end of the ’90s, and before long, enough noise surrounded the band – they won the award for Best Independent Album at the 1999 L.A. Music Awards – that Papa Roach’s Dreamworks imprint New Noize offered the group a deal.
Two years later, they made their major-label introduction with ANThology. The LP’s lead single, “Smooth Criminal,” was a funky metallic mix of Michael Jackson’s original song and appeared in the hit film American Pie 2. The track hit number one on the modern rock charts, and the album eventually went platinum. A year later, between tours of Europe, the band was back in the studio recording new music. “Bug Bites” appeared in director Sam Raimi’s massively successful Spiderman in May 2002. While traveling in Spain to a gig in Portugal that same month, the group’s bus collided with a truck, killing their driver. The band and crew members suffered various injuries as well, most seriously Mitchell, who fractured his C2 vertebra. Thankfully, he came out of surgery able to walk, though he suffered some nerve damage and a slight loss of motion.
Committed to getting back to work and pushing the incident aside, Alien Ant Farm hit the studio to record their follow-up record. truANT was issued in May 2003, as Dreamworks was dissolving as a label. As a result, the album barely made a splash on the U.S. charts, though the single “These Days” managed to crack the Top 30. Guitarist Corso exited the group and was replaced by Joe Hill, while Zamora left for college after recording the band’s fourth effort. The resulting Up In the Attic appeared in July 2006 via New Door Records, as hardcore vet Alex Barreto (Chain of Strength, Inside Out) entered on bass. Up in the Attic didn’t perform well, and the group entered a period of uncertainty. Bassist Tye Zamora departed to attend college–Alex Barreto replaced him–but he came back along with Terry Corso in 2008. However, progress was not linear for AAF: various side projects took a front seat until they started to play shows in 2009 (the same year as their first live album, Alien Ant Farm: Live in Germany).
The original lineup reunited in 2010 and played regular shows over the next three years. As they started recording a new album, Zamora left once again. Tim Peugh replaced him, and with the new bassist aboard, they set out to record a new album, Always and Forever, which appeared in 2015. The ensuing years saw the band continue to tour and put out the occasional single, most notably a muscular cover of Wham!’s “Everything She Wants” in 2020. The song appeared on the group’s U.K.-charting sixth studio long-player Mantras in 2024.
Corey Taylor
Corey Taylor redefines what it means to be a Renaissance Man. In the span of a year, he’ll go from fronting Grammy Award-winning hard rock leaders Slipknot and Stone Sour to penning a New York Times-bestseller to acting in a film. No matter what he does, he always manages to connect as well. You’ll hear him not only because he’s typically the loudest one in the room (which doesn’t hurt his cause either), but because he’s also got something to say.
Now approaching two decades, Slipknot’s rise is legendary. In addition to notching a 2005 Grammy Award in the category of “Best Metal Performance” for “Before I Forget,” the group has achieved four multi-platinum albums with .5: The Gray Chapter fast approaching gold status. They’ve headlined sold out tours globally as well as numerous festivals Rockstar Mayhem Festival (twice), Rock on the Range, Download (U.K.), Rock In Rio (Brazil), Soundwave (Australia), and Slipknot’s very own Knotfest, in the U.S., Japan and Mexico. Simultaneously, Stone Sour built a legacy of their own. The band’s canon includes two gold-selling albums, a platinum single in “Through Glass,” as well as the sprawling two-disc epic House of Gold & Bones Parts 1&2, which even encompasses an acclaimed graphic novel series of the same name for Dark Horse Comics. Everybody from Dave Grohl to Travis Barker and Tech N9ne have sought Taylor for collaborations.