Alternative Metal
Skillet Frontman John Cooper Attempts to Clarify Comments About Cardi B, The Grammys, and Hitler
Skillet frontman John Cooper has attempted to clarify his recent remarks comparing Cardi B’s “WAP” performance at the 2021 Grammys to speeches by Adolf Hitler. Cooper said his initial comments were “misrepresented” during a follow-up episode of his “Cooper Talk” video podcast, denying he compared Cardi B or the Grammys to any dictators. The Christian rock singer and self-described conservative sparked controversy when he tried to explain that a positive reception of Cardi B’s sexually charged Grammy performance with Megan Thee Stallion was an example of the “woke” public mistaking evil for good. He then used Hitler’s propaganda speeches as a historical example, saying that “every dictator in history says that what they were doing was good,” and that people are “forced to applaud” the “sexu...
Serj Tankian on His New Elasticity EP: “I Definitely Thought These Songs Would Have Worked Out for System”
Serj Tankian has just released his new solo EP, Elasticity. The title is inspired, in part, by System of a Down’s landmark 2001 album,Toxicity, and the singer has made no secret about the songs being originally intended for his acclaimed metal band. The collection features five new songs, including the recent singles “Elasticity” and “Electric Yerevan”. One listen to the EP, and it’s not difficult to see how these tracks would have fit nicely into the System of a Down canon. Tankian approached System with these songs a few years back, and as he explained to Heavy Consequence, the band members even worked on a few of them. However, ultimately creative differences led to any recording plans coming to a standstill. We asked Tankian what he felt more: regret about not recording the songs with ...
Serj Tankian Releases New Solo EP Elasticity: Stream
Serj Tankian has unveiled his new solo EP, Elasticity, featuring five new songs he had originally hoped to record with his multiplatinum band System of a Down. The EP Is available to stream in its entirety below. “When I conceived possibly doing another record with the guys from System of a Down a few years back, I started working on a set of songs that I arranged in rock format for that purpose,” Tankian explained in a press release. “As we weren’t able to see eye to eye on the vision going forward with an SOAD album, I decided to release these songs under my moniker.” It’s easy to see how these songs would have fit within the System of a Down mold, as they have a quirky metal vibe reminiscent of the band’s acclaimed musical output. The track “Your Mom” is especially in the System vein, a...
Puscifer to Perform Money Shot in Its Entirety for Upcoming Livestream Concert
Puscifer have announced their second livestream event, dubbed “Billy D and the Hall of Feathered Serpents Featuring Money Shot by Puscifer”. The virtual concert goes live on April 17th at 5 p.m. ET and will be available for on-demand viewing. As the name implies, Puscifer will be performing 2015’s Money Shot in its entirety, reviving the Lucha Libre wrestling themed performances of that album cycle. And like the band’s previous cinematic livestream, the upcoming show promises eye-popping costumes and set pieces, with Puscifer performing at the historic Mayan Theater in Los Angeles. “In this prequel to his alleged abduction during Existential Reckoning, we find Billy D trudging through what has been referred to as the Bermuda Triangle of the Southwest,” singer Maynard James Keenan explained...
Korn to Stream Concert from Set of Stranger Things: Drive-Into Experience
Korn have announced a livestream performance, dubbed “Korn: Monumental”, that will see the band performing from within the setting of Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience in Los Angeles. The concert goes live globally on April 24th. The virtual show is Korn’s first livestream event. To celebrate the occasion, they’ll be playing rare deep cuts and select tracks from 2019’s The Nothing for the first time ever, as the band was unable to properly tour in support of its most recent album due the pandemic. “We hope you take part in this experience with us,” frontman Jonathan Davis said in a press release. “And though it is not the same as performing live with you here, we still want to bring you some great music and a fun show.” Korn will be performing amidst scenes from the popular Netfli...
Deftones Announce Limited Edition White Pony Tequila
Deftones have unveiled their latest branded liquor, White Pony tequila, in a collaboration with Abre Ojos Tequila. It follows numerous Deftones craft beer releases and marks the latest White Pony-themed alcoholic beverage. The collab continues the 20th anniversary celebration of the band’s legendary White Pony album. Fittingly, Deftones have rang in the occasion with drinks, and Abre Ojos’ White Pony tequila is the most potent offering yet at 40 ABV. The limited release of 2,880 bottles will be available for purchase March 15th online and in California, Tennessee, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland, and Washington D.C. “The limited-edition Añejo was handcrafted in the town of Tequila, Jalisco,” reads Abre Ojos description. “It is aged up to two years in American Oak us...
Life of Agony to Release Feature-Length Documentary The Sound of Scars
Life of Agony have announced the screening of their new feature-length documentary, The Sound of Scars, starting April 16th. The two-week virtual screening of the documentary will include a Q&A discussion with the band and the director, moderated by SiriusXM’s Shawn the Butcher. Tickets are available for pre-order at this location with a portion of proceeds going to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and All Out. Directed by Leigh Brooks, the 90-minute film compiles personal archive footage, rare photographs, and lost interviews, along with new, never-before-seen conversations with the band and their family members. Footage was also shot over the past two years while the band was on and off tour. Per the press release, the documentary “tells the story of how three friends overcam...
Serj Tankian: I Respect John Dolmayan Very Much, But Not His American Political Views
Over the past year or so, a political divide has played out indirectly between System of a Down bandmates Serj Tankian and John Dolmayan. While Tankian’s views are strongly on the left, Dolmayan is firmly planted in the right, when it comes to American politics, in particular. Tankian supported Bernie Sanders during the presidential primaries, and repeatedly voiced his displeasure with the Trump administration. At one point during the height of the 2020 protests, the singer even called for the end of the Trump regime. And right before Trump’s presidency ended, Tankian declared, “I’ve never seen a president suck so much,” following a U.S. agreement with Turkey that appeared to minimize Armenia’s cultural heritage. Dolmayan, on the other hand, took to his Instagram account to label Democrats...
Tim Commerford: Rage Against the Machine Will “Never” Play Drive-In Shows or 10% Capacity Venues
Last year, Rage Against the Machine were set to reunite for perhaps the most anticipated rock tour of 2020. Whether the band embarks on its rescheduled outing this year remains to be seen, but bassist Tim Commerford suggests that it won’t happen until they can play in front of packed venues. The pandemic forced Rage Against the Machine to table their first tour in 10 years, just a few weeks before it was set to kick off. As of now, the rescheduled dates are slated to begin June 3rd in El Paso, Texas. It just so happens that Texas is set to lift all capacity restrictions (and foolishly end mask mandates) beginning next week, but that’s not the case in most states. Either way, Commerford is not looking to play drive-in shows, where people watch from their cars, or reduced capacity concerts. ...
Evanescence Unveil New Single “Better Without You”: Stream
Evanescence’s long-awaited new album, The Bitter Truth, is set to arrive in just a few short weeks. In advance of its March 26h release, the band has unveiled the LP’s latest single, “Better Without You”. The new single marks a bold statement for singer Amy Lee, with a press announcement describing the song as follows: “An f-you to the forces that have attempted to hold her back, ‘Better Without You’ is bandleader Amy Lee’s unapologetic declaration of independence.” Musically, “Better Without You” is hard-driving rocker, with Lee delivering her signature soaring vocals in the chorus. Fans have gotten a substantial preview of The Bitter Truth, as “Better Without You” follows previous singles “Wasted On You”, “The Game Is Over”, “Use My Voice”, and “Yeah Right”. Editors’ Picks The...
Tomahawk (Mike Patton) Unleash New Song “Dog Eat Dog” with Brutal Music Video: Stream
The Mike Patton-fronted alternative metal act Tomahawk has unveiled the second single from its upcoming album Tonic Immobility, due out March 26th. The new song, titled “Dog Eat Dog”, comes with a brutal music video. The track is another crisp slice of heavy melodies, following the sound outlined on the previous single “Business Casual”. The inexhaustible Patton is never one to skimp on his vocal performances, and he delivers another strong outing on “Dog Eat Dog”. Lyrically, the new song offers a humorously pro-canine stance, with Patton stating, “Dogs patiently wait, obediently, for humans to snuff each other out…so they can take over the world. Dogs rule!!!!” The accompanying video, directed by Eric Livingston, takes a more serious look at the inherent competition in our society — ...
Tom Morello Tapped as Executive Music Producer for Upcoming Netflix Film Metal Lords
Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello is set to serve as the executive music producer for the upcoming Netflix film Metal Lords, due out later this year. The film is also the first feature-length project in a partnership between Netflix and Game of Thrones showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff. A brief press release described Metal Lords as a “coming-of-age comedy” with a plot synopsis many young metalheads can relate to: “Two kids want to start a heavy metal band in a high school where exactly two kids care about heavy metal.” Metal Lords is written and co-produced by Weiss and will be directed by Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist). Benioff serves as an executive producer, keeping the Game of Thrones pairing intact. The film stars Jaeden Martell (Knives Out, It...
