Testament has long secured their legacy as the unofficial fifth member of the so-called “Big Four” of thrash metal (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax). As one of the few Bay Area thrash bands still around from the genres early years, and certainly one of the few bands that are still putting out consistent releases, Testament is about to head through Alberta with fellow thrashers Exodus and headliners Megadeth, who are celebrating 20 years since their monumental release Rust in Peace [Capitol, 1990].
While the concert’s line-up is sure to get any metal …

It has been said that idle hands are the Devil’s workshop. The same cannot be said for Hate Eternal’s Erik Rutan, at least the idle hands part. Rutan, the guitarist and lead vocalist for the Florida-based death metal four-piece, is one of the hardest working musicians in metal, with his band touring a good chunk of the year.
When he’s not on the road, you can most likely find him in his studio, Mana Recording Studios, working on any number of projects. This year alone, he’s had his hand in Nile’s …

Few metal bands have the mystique surrounding them that Cynic does. Originally formed in 1987, the band made a splash on the scene with their highly acclaimed first album, Focus [Roadrunner Records] in 1993, and then broke up shortly after its release. The band was one of the first to blend different genres, taking death and progressive metal and joining it with jazz and fusion. That mixture, along with liberal uses of female vocals and a vocoder is the core of Cynic’s sound.
In 2006, after 12 years apart, the band …

Since its inception in 1995, Vans Warped Tour has been associated with punk music. Over the last few years, however, the sounds coming from the festival’s multiple stages have grown more diverse, including genres of the indie rock, hip hop and reggae persuasions.
And because out of punk have the metalcore and hardcore styles emerged, it only makes sense that bands like Underoath and Dillinger Escape Plan have showcased their talents with the festival in recent years.
The 15th installment of the touring festival seems even more diverse, with even more metal-influenced …

John Baizley is knee deep in the recording studio. The lead singer, guitarist and visual artist for the proggy, sludgy metal quartet Baroness has been working on the band’s latest album, and fans of the group will be pleased to hear it’s almost a wrap and ready to hit the road.
“It’s going great,” Baizley says enthusiastically of the as yet unnamed album set for fall release. “Our drummer and bass player, Allen [Blickle] and Summer [Welch], have finished all of their commitments to the record, and those guys are back …