Author: Mike Ritchie

The Witching Hour Tour – In This Moment, P.O.D., New Years Day & DED

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Friday February 2, the 20-date The Witching Hour Tour featuring In This Moment, P.O.D., New Years Day and DED played Express Live in Columbus.  It was a four-punch West Coast package with fans stacking the venue, many dressing as ‘Blood Girls’ or in Maria Brink attire. Hardcore, nu metal from Phoenix poured out the speakers… Read more »


NEW YEARS DAY – Diary of a Creep

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New Years Day has tailored their vision from the beginning, dangling inner skeletons and personal demons for the world to see. With infectious sights and sounds vocalist Ash Costello has left her mark in every ringing ear and devoted eye.  Like a haunted house she’s painted grim portraits with harsh decayed brushstrokes. Diary of a… Read more »


THUNDERMOTHER – Thundermother

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In their nearly decade of existence, Sweden’s all female Thundermother have gone through trials and tribulations, enough to put a permanent pothole in the road to success.  Sole original member guitarist Filippa Nässil has soldiered on, carrying her vision high with pride along new blood in vocalist Guernica Mancini, bassist Sara Pettersson and drummer Emlee… Read more »


DED – Bringing World Misanthropy

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This four-man Arizona nu metal/hardcore band has spent the last several years touring and gaining exposure and visibility, while finding the perfect blend of sound and noise to fit their moniker.  Already seasoned road dogs, they’ve incorporated part horror move, part loud introspection and part insane thrash party into what became Ded.  Vocalist Joe Cotela… Read more »


WILDESTARR – Beyond the Rain

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London Wilde and Dave Starr of WildeStarr  released Beyond the Rain, on December 8, 2017, the third record in their trilogy and the most personal, telling the story of Wilde’s late brother Gary.  Lyrics and music tell the tales of the highs and lows he went through before the tragedy. Wilde added excerpts from his journals… Read more »


WILDESTARR – Honor Fallen Family on Beyond the Rain

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Hailing from Houston by way of Alameda, California husband and wife team Dave Starr and London Wilde have taken their band WildeStarr through three albums with their latest, Beyond The Rain coming  out on December 8th.  Both have extensive background experience with Starr’s former band Vicious Rumors and Wilde’s self-taught vocals and studio experience.  Their music… Read more »


The Metal Alliance Tour Wreck Necks in Dayton

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The loud, nasty, skid row screech and smile of New Jersey’s green and black attack came to Dayton Saturday September 29 headlining The Metal Alliance Tour, Overkill, the band that claimed the sewer home, years before Pennywise.  The 20-date run featured New Orleans sludge lords Crowbar as well as speed demon thrash heads Havok, Black… Read more »


FOZZY – Judas

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Fozzy has returned with their seventh album Judas, filled with eleven songs of house shaking, crowd moving melody and drive.  What started as mostly a cover band with WWE superstar Chris Jericho has come into its own gaining fans, respect and longevity.  If Five Finger Death Punch and Skillet had a street fight, Fozzy could… Read more »


EXODUS – Waltzes Through Dayton

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“Remember, heavy metal forever!” Steve “Zetro” Souza yelled to the packed venue on Saturday September 13 as a piranha filled sea of fists and screaming voices rejoiced.  The Oddbody’s crowd appreciated their metal history, celebrating the set with a nearly show-long pit, honoring classics to the newest headbangers.  The bay area forefathers delivered, bringing a… Read more »


THEORY OF A DEADMAN Closes Ink in the Clink 2017

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The sun rose on day three of Ink In The Clink 2017 as the weekend warriors bravely still standing in the prison’s shadow returned for one more all-day go around, while for others it was a one or two day affair.  Day three’s individual ink exploits went to best realism, most unusual, black and grey… Read more »


THREE DAYS GRACE Headlines Day Two of Ink in the Clink

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The second day of Ink In the Click 2017 continued the tunes and tours, with the first tests of stamina, effects of sleep deprivation, and signs of sunburn were felt.  Saturdays celebrated ink experiments included best large black and grey, color and traditional (5X7 and bigger) and color portrait. Saturday brought 16 unshackled bands to… Read more »


JANET GARDNER – The Vixen Goes Solo

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Vixen is best known for being the first all-female ‘80s glam-era rock band.  Attention from MTV and Headbangers Ball propelled them into the spotlight with worldwide recognition through endless touring.  Hits like Edge of a Broken Heart and Cryin’ made them household names in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s.  They played to packed arenas with… Read more »