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Candlebox

Seattle’s Candlebox emerged in the early-’90s grunge scene, offering a unique blend of bluesy, classic-style hard rock. Their quadruple platinum debut album in 1993, featuring hits like “You” and “Far Behind,” propelled them to mainstream success. Despite a hiatus in 2000, the band returned six years later and has since released acclaimed albums such as “Into the Sun” (2008), “Disappearing in Airports” (2016), and “Wolves” (2021), showcasing how grunge elements can be refined for broader appeal. Candlebox bid farewell with their 2023 album “The Long Goodbye.”
Formed in Seattle in 1990 by Kevin Martin and Scott Mercado, Candlebox started as Uncle Duke before becoming the iconic band we know today. Their self-titled debut in 1993 marked the beginning of their rise in the rock scene, with hits like “You” and “Far Behind” making waves on mainstream and alternative radio. Despite facing a backlash with their second album “Lucy” in 1995, the band persevered and continued to evolve musically. Changes in the lineup over the years did not deter Candlebox, as they released albums like “Happy Pills” (1998) and eventually reunited with the original members for successful shows and new music, culminating in albums like “Wolves” (2021) and their final album, “The Long Goodbye.”

Fame on Fire

Fame on Fire is a genre-defying music group that is boldly pushing the boundaries of rock, hip hop, and heavy music. Unapologetically themselves, Fame on Fire stands out for their unpretentious, honest, and boldly brash approach to creating music. Their debut album, LEVELS, is a diverse, energetic, and emotionally-wrenching collection of songs that resonates with fans on a deep level. LEVELS holds multiple meanings, symbolizing the journey through the various levels of life – the ups and downs that all individuals experience. It also signifies the band’s relentless pursuit of growth and progress, always striving to level-up and move forward. This dichotomy defines Fame on Fire as a band that refuses to remain stagnant, constantly evolving their sound and honing their craft.

Faith No More

Faith No More, a band known for their fusion of heavy metal, funk, hip-hop, and progressive rock, has cultivated a significant cult following over the years. Their journey began in 1985 with the release of their debut album, ‘We Care a Lot,’ featuring the distinctive vocals of Chuck Mosley and the powerful guitar work of Jim Martin. Transitioning into their next album, ‘Introduce Yourself’ in 1987, Faith No More showcased a more cohesive blend of rap and metal, setting the stage for their unique sound.
In 1988, Mike Patton joined the band as the new vocalist, bringing an eclectic range of vocal abilities and a fresh, bizarre twist to their lyrics. This lineup change marked a turning point for Faith No More, leading to the release of their genre-defining hit single ‘Epic’ from ‘The Real Thing.’ Subsequent albums like ‘Angel Dust’ in 1992 and ‘King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime’ in 1995 challenged boundaries and explored complex musical territories, solidifying the band’s reputation as pioneers of alternative rock.
Despite lineup changes and artistic explorations, Faith No More’s influence continued to grow, culminating in a reunion tour in 2009 and the much-anticipated release of ‘Sol Invictus’ in 2015, their first album in nearly two decades. Led by the enigmatic Mike Patton, the band remains a powerful force in the music industry, captivating audiences with their innovative sound and electrifying performances across the globe.

Stone Sour

“Our only real idea was to make a kick-ass rock and roll album,” says Corey Taylor, lead singer of Stone Sour. Let’s lean back, let the songs do the talking, and make the best rock and roll playlist, mix tape, that’s ever been made. That was the only thing we held to, and everything after that was so easy. With this attitude, the band came up with the fifteen songs on Hydrograd, displaying a range of sounds and styles that Taylor describes as ‘a real coming-out party for Stone Sour.’ It’s not like the band is starting from zero—its five previous albums have sold more than two million copies, and earned them nine Top Ten Mainstream Rock singles (including ‘Bother’ and ‘Through Glass,’ which were certified gold and platinum respectively) and three Grammy nominations. But this time around, Stone Sour—Taylor, guitarists Josh Rand and Christian Martucci, bassist Johny Chow, and drummer Roy Mayorga—expands into new musical territory with supercharged impact.

Black Stone Cherry

Proud Kentucky rockers, Black Stone Cherry, emerge from a challenging few years triumphantly with a behemoth of an album, Screamin’ At The Sky (Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group), out September 29th. The four-piece band’s eighth album explodes with urgently-emotive pop-rock hooks; heartfelt, redemptive lyrics; headbanging riffs; powerful dynamics; thunderous drums; and its most thrilling musicianship yet. The 12-song collection is also BSC’s biggest and best sounding album. The self-produced studio record was tracked at a classic Kentucky theater, and it sounds like the guys are smashing down the hammer of the gods.
“The thesis of this record is adapting and moving on. In the last few years, a lot of what I knew from childhood went away. I lost my father, and now I am the oldest living man in my family,” says vocalist/guitarist Chris Robertson. He continues: “There is a lot of darkness on this album—I bared my soul—but it always foreshadows light at the end of the tunnel.” Adds guitarist/backing vocalist Ben Wells: “We see something beautiful letting pain out—you come out a better person.”
Screamin’ At The Sky has been a catharsis for Black Stone Cherry, and the quartet is savoring the calm after the storm. “A lot of bands would have thrown in the towel, but we came out the other side with some of the best music we’ve ever made,” Ben enthuses. Chris concludes: “ We’re in a great space—this band is as much as a family as it’s ever been.

Judas Priest

Judas Priest, a legendary heavy metal band hailing from Birmingham, England, has solidified their status as one of the most influential and enduring groups in the genre’s history. Formed in 1970, the band emerged during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal era, blending raw rock & roll power with a captivating stage presence. The band’s iconic sound was shaped by the piercing vocals of Rob Halford, complemented by the electrifying dual-lead guitar work of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing. Over the years, Judas Priest crafted metal anthems like ‘Breaking the Law,’ ‘Living After Midnight,’ and ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Coming,’ setting new standards for the metal genre with landmark albums such as British Steel (1980), Screaming for Vengeance (1982), and Defenders of the Faith (1984). Their music not only influenced the metal scene but also laid the groundwork for the evolution of speed and death metal.
The band’s journey was marked by significant milestones, including their induction into the prestigious Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, a testament to their enduring impact on music. Judas Priest’s history is deeply rooted in their early years, with core members Ian Hill and K.K. Downing forming the band in Birmingham during the early ’70s. Joined by talented musicians like Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton, Judas Priest embarked on a relentless journey of musical exploration and performance. Despite facing challenges, including lineup changes and shifts in musical trends, Judas Priest continued to push boundaries and captivate audiences with their powerful melodies and dynamic stage presence. Their resilience and dedication to their craft have solidified their legacy as metal icons, inspiring generations of fans and musicians alike.

Pop Evil

Playing a hard-hitting fusion of metal, grunge, and modern rock, Pop Evil went from working bars in their native Michigan to playing across the country and around the world. Their attack is rooted in taut, hard-edged guitars sounds, and booming percussion that shows the influence of hip-hop and industrial production techniques. Their second album, 2008’s Lipstick on the Mirror, became their first major-label release, 2013’s Onyx gave them a commercial breakthrough with the Rock Radio hit “Trenches,” and 2021’s Versatile consolidated their position as a leading post-grunge act. Pop Evil was formed in 2001 in the Western Michigan town of North Muskegon (not far from Grand Rapids) by vocalist Leigh Kakaty. Kakaty had previously worked in a local band called TenFive, and after they broke up, he recruited their former drummer Dylan Allison to join him in his new project. The first lineup also included guitarist Dave Grahs and bassist Jamie Nummer, and for their first few years they balanced gigs where they played their original material with jobs as a cover band to keep themselves together and raise money for studio time. Pop Evil put out an independent album, War of the Roses, in 2004, followed by an EP, Ready or Not, in 2006. In 2007, the group landed a management deal, and their second album, Lipstick on the Mirror, appeared in 2008. By this time, Matt DiRito took over on bass from Jamie Nummer, and they became a quintet with the addition of Tony Greve on lead guitar. Pop Evil landed a deal with the Universal/Republic imprint Pazzo Music who reissued Lipstick on the Mirror in 2009 with two hidden bonus tracks. The band’s relationship with Pazzo Music soured while they were recording their third album, and they severed ties with the label, with eOne Entertainment taking on the group and releasing War of Angels in 2011. Around the time of the album’s debut, drummer Dylan Allison suffered a neck injury, and Brian Kuhn took over behind the kit. Within a year, Kuhn was out and Joshua Marunde (who sometimes billed himself as Chachi Riot) became their latest drummer. This period also saw Tony Greve drop out of the band, and Jay Taylor briefly took over as lead guitarist, before Nick Fuelling filled the position in 2012. The band toured extensively after the release of War of Angels, sharing bills with Puddle of Mudd, Papa Roach, 3 Doors Down, and Drowning Pool among many others, as well as headlining shows of their own. In May 2013, Pop Evil issued their fourth LP, Onyx, through eOne, and the track “Trenches” rose to the top of the Rock Radio charts. They also signed a deal with Eleven Seven Music for European release of their music. In 2015, Joshua Marunde left the group, and drummer Hayley Cramer came on board in time to tour with Pop Evil in support of the album Up, released that year. The leadoff track, “Footsteps,” became a major hit on streaming services, and the band kept up their usual busy touring schedule. February 2018 brought the long-player Pop Evil, which spawned another streaming hit, “Waking Lions.” They hit the road with Disturbed, This Moment, Memphis May Fire, and Messer, and also toured Australia for the first time. After offering several fresh tracks in 2020, they delivered their sixth studio album, Versatile, in May 2021. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Motionless In White

In 2006, Motionless In White materialized out of Scranton, PA with an inimitable conjuration of sharp metallic rock, industrial, magnetic melodies, and larger-than-life visual imagery. The quintet—Chris Motionless [Vocals], Ricky Olson [Guitar], Ryan Sitkowski [guitar], Vinny Mauro [drums], and Justin Morrow [bass]—quietly clawed their way to the forefront of hard rock, gathering nearly half-a-billion cumulative streams and views to date. Following the success of Creatures [2010] and Infamous [2012], Reincarnate [2014] sunk its teeth into the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200, bowing at #9 and capturing #1 on the Top Rock Albums Chart. Both Graveyard Shift [2017] and Disguise [2019] cracked the Top 5 of the Top Hard Rock Albums Chart and Top Rock Albums Chart. Along the way, they sold out headline tours and supported everyone from Slipknot and Korn to Breaking Benjamin. Not to mention, Motionless In White have collaborated with Jonathan Davis of Korn, Maria Brink of In This Moment, Dani Filth of Cradle Of Filth, Tim Sköld of KMFDM, Caleb Shomo of Beartooth, and more. The five-piece kept busy throughout 2020 with the Deadstream event performance of Creatures for its decade-anniversary, a cover of The Killers’ “Somebody Told Me,” and the standalone single “Creatures X: To The Grave.” Now in 2022, Motionless In White are set to return with their new album Scoring The End of the World which sees them perfecting the poetically pummeling sound they patented.

Theory of a Deadman

Songs make statements at just the right time. Born at the intersection of insurgency and inspiration, music props up a sounding board for the people to be heard. Theory Of A Deadman amplify this voice on their seventh full-length offering, Say Nothing, releasing 1.31.20. The award-winning multiplatinum Los Angeles-based Canadian band—Tyler Connolly [lead vocals, guitar], Dave Brenner [guitar, backing vocals], Dean Back [bass], and Joey Dandeneau [drums]—flip the pulse of the world into scorching songcraft, integrating experimental vision, rock ‘n’ roll attitude, and clever pop ambition.
In the midst of this storm, Connolly and Co. speak up like never before. This album allowed me to say all of the things that were on my mind earlier, but I was too afraid to say, the frontman admits. This album is about what’s going on in the world, the state of American politics, and everything else. It was a completely different way of writing for us.
What makes this record important is the content, Brenner elaborates. Tyler approaches some really tough topics like domestic violence and racism. There are real discussions happening in the tracks backed by heavy stuff to make you think. We just want to write what speaks to us, Connolly leaves off. The best thing is when people sing lyrics back to you, or if a song gets somebody through a tough time. There’s something we all might be able to dig here.

Fozzy

Since the beginning, Fozzy has been about hard work, dedication and delivering great rock n roll to their devoted fans worldwide; reminding them that music is all about invoking dirty, sweaty, jubilation and doing it LOUDLY! However, calling them just “entertainers” would be abridging their talent, as Ward is one of the most versatile riffers in rock n roll and Jericho’s vocal range and passion for music makes him a worthy partner for The Duke. Throw in the powerhouse rock solid drumming of Frank Fontsere, the blazing leads of Billy Grey and youthful virtuosity of Randy Drake and it’s no surprise that Fozzy has skyrocketed into becoming one of the hottest rock acts in years.
But as much success the band had enjoyed, nothing compared to the juggernaut known as “JUDAS”. Released in May 2017, the song spent 6 WEEKS at NUMBER ONE on the highly influential ‘Big Uns Countdown’ on Sirius/XM’s Octane channel, amassed over 40 MILLION views for it’s video on YouTube and cracked the TOP 5 on the US Rock Radio Charts. With that giant hit in their arsenal, Fozzy continued their winning partnership with songwriter & producer Johnny Andrews by entering the TOP 10 twice more with “Painless” & “Nowhere To Run”, as well as gaining another TOP 20 with “Burn Me Out.” The band then embarked on their wildly successful Judas Rising Tour.

Limp Bizkit

Limp Bizkit is an infectious spirit. Any other details are merely salad dressing.

The Warning

The Warning is a Mexico-born sister trio comprised of Daniela ‘Dany’ on guitar, lead vocals, and piano, Paulina ‘Pau’ on drums, vocals, and piano, and Alejandra ‘Ale’ Villarreal on bass, piano, and backing vocals. With a lifetime of sisterhood and music, they have embarked on numerous tours, gained millions of streams, and captivated fans worldwide. Their dedication and hard work have molded their sound into alternative anthems with infectious hooks and a powerful hard rock edge. Emerging initially with independent releases, they rose to fame with their highly praised 2022 album ‘ERROR.’ They have shared stages with renowned acts like Muse, Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses, Royal Blood, The Pretty Reckless, and Three Days Grace, showcasing their talent at the MTV VMAs in 2023. Notable for their influence, Pepsi selected them as the representatives of Pepsi Black in Mexico. Their versatility is evident as they have been featured in prestigious publications like Vanity Fair, People, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour and also contributed to Metallica’s ‘Blacklist’ compilation with a cover of ‘Enter Sandman’ featuring Alessia Cara. Their journey continues with the upcoming release of their 2024 album ‘Keep Me Fed’ on June 28th under the label LAVA/Republic Records.