Welcome To Rockville took over the Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, May 18, 2023 with hopes of making up for last year’s disaster when most of day 2 and 3 performances were canceled due to severe weather in the area. Gates opened at noon for the largest crowd yet, in excess of 40,000 Rockvillians ready to party.

Bloodywood, a band from New Delhi, India, kicked things into high gear on the Space Zebra main stage. They have 2 lead screamers and a nu-metal sound with some Bollywood spice. They had plenty of messages to share about standing up for yourself and doing what you believe in. At the same time, Widow 7 was playing the Rockvillain third stage located in the middle of the festival grounds. Their sound was more traditional nu-metal.

Over on the Octane second main stage, Austin Meade was delivering southern rock with a bit of a country edge. The second VIP area offered some bleacher seating, but most of that area was blocked from any view of the stage and did not have any food options. It did have a bar tent and access to permanent bathrooms. Behind that was a path to the new location for the small 4th stage. Budderside was tearing up the DWPresents stage with their radio-friendly sound, highlighted by the excellent vocal stylings of Patrick Stone.

Competing next was Brutus, a trippy Belgian outfit led by singing drummer Stefanie Mannaerts and UK punk rockers Wargasm featuring Sam Matlock and Milkie Way. Then things really kicked into gear as the heavy hitters took over the main stages. Black Stone Cherry debuted “Out Of Pocket”, a great new song from their upcoming album “Screamin’ At The Sky”. The boys from Kentucky brought the high energy and emotion that they always do and had the crowd moving and singing along to their catalog of hits. Avatar got halfway through their second song when 5:00 hit, the sound was cut and the first evacuation of Welcome To Rockville 2023 was upon us.

Everyone calmly left the speedway, hoping that history was not repeating itself. The message repeated “Severe Weather Approaching. Please Exit Festival Site. Monitor Social Media.” Fortunately, the storm cleared and the gates reopened at 6:30 with a revised schedule. The only major lineup casualty was Trivium.

The main stage kicked off at 7:15 with Bullet For My Valentine delivering a tight intense 30 minute set. Singing along to “Your Betrayal” never felt so powerful – “I was told to stay away. Those two words I can’t obey!”. This festival has too many bands and not enough stage time. The band and the crowd were ready for twice as much as they got.

Puscifer hit the Octane stage for an artistic event, complete with psychedelic video effects throughout the show.

Rivals were playing at the same time around the corner at the “camping” stage. They are similar to Spiritbox in their sound, with many songs about self-empowerment.

The Cult played the main stage, but the real event was happening on the 3rd stage. Japanese female rockers Band-Maid put on an incredible set, showcasing their substantial musical skills. Their performance was fun and upbeat and their music got thrashy at times. The lead guitarist really shreds. They deserved a main stage slot, as there were so many people trying to see them and no room for everyone.

Rob Zombie experienced technical difficulties as his stage set video screens were stuck on endless reboot. After a 15 minute delay, they came out and played with only the main large video screen behind them working. Zombie apologized and mentioned that they were wasting time fixing it and had to cut the set short, as they were “not here to fuck with Slipknot. With all of you here, we don’t need that shit.” They played what people wanted to hear and a Zombie show is always entertaining, even without full production.

The revised schedule created an unfortunate conflict with Suicidal Tendencies playing at the same time as Slipknot. Mike Muir thanked the thousands who showed up, despite the other option. Half of the crowd had not seen ST play live before, and they got a kick-ass show and mini TED talks. Suicidal is one of the best live bands you can see, and you leave ready to fight for yourself and your own beliefs.

Slipknot was allowed to play well past midnight, with track and local officials allowed the event to run late. They were as intense and explosive as they always are. All in all, it was a very successful Day 1 for Welcome To Rockville 2023.

Keep up to date with the latest on future editions of Welcome To Rockville at https://welcometorockville.com/

Welcome To Rockville 2023 Day 1 Survives The Storm With Slipknot first appeared on Game On Media.

Louder Than Life

America’s Biggest Rock Festival

Returns To Louisville September 21-24, 2023 At

Highland Festival Grounds At Kentucky Exposition Center

Foo Fighters, Green Day, Tool, Avenged Sevenfold,

Godsmack, Pantera, Queens Of The Stone Age, Weezer,

Limp Bizkit, Megadeth, Rancid, Turnstile & More

General Admission And VIP Passes On Sale Now Starting At $10 Down At

www.LouderThanLifeFestival.com

After cementing its title as America’s Biggest Rock Festival with a record-breaking attendance of over 170,000 in 2022, Louder Than Life returns bigger and better than ever September 21, 22, 23 & 24, 2023 to Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY.

One of the top music events of the year, Louder Than Life will feature performances from a spectacular list of rock artists including: Foo Fighters, Green Day (making their DWP festival debut), Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, Godsmack, Pantera, Queens of the Stone Age, Weezer, Limp Bizkit, Megadeth, Turnstile, Rancid, Falling In Reverse, 311, Pierce The Veil, Run The Jewels, Corey Taylor, Coheed and Cambria, Royal Blood, Parkway Drive, Bad Omens, BABYMETAL and many more.

Louder Than Life is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents and features performances from more than 100 music acts on five stages, along with Louisville’s finest spirits and top local cuisine. The 2022 festival was named Consequence’s Festival Of The Year.

“The fans spoke and we listened! The Foo Fighters, Green Day, Tool and Avenged Sevenfold were our most fan-requested bands for 2023, so being able to deliver this massive lineup to them is so special,” said Danny Wimmer, Founder of Danny Wimmer Presents. “Louder Than Life and Bourbon & Beyond (Sept 14-17) are the eight biggest days in music and it’s all happening in Louisville this September. Can’t wait to see you there!”

“Louder Than Life always delivers a huge weekend and is one of the top economic events annually for Louisville, further cementing the city as a top destination for music festivals. Bourbon City loves welcoming fans for America’s Biggest Rock Festival, inviting them to experience the city’s Southern hospitality, area attractions and of course urban bourbon experiences,” said Cleo Battle, President and CEO of Louisville Tourism. “We’ve seen this weekend continue to grow throughout the longtime partnership with festival organizers Danny Wimmer Presents and look forward to celebrating our ninth year hosting Louder Than Life this September.”

Watch the festival announcement video HERE.

The daily music lineup for Louder Than Life is as follows:

Thursday, September 21: Foo Fighters, Weezer, Rancid, 311, Coheed and Cambria, Royal Blood, Code Orange, White Reaper, L7, Deafheaven, Nothing But Thieves, Sueco, Movements, The Bronx, Nothing, Nowhere., Mannequin Pussy, Beauty School Dropout, Pinkshift, Bob Vylan, Starcrawler, Starbenders, KYNG, Tigercub, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Guerilla Warfare, Asava

Friday, September 22: Tool, Godsmack, Limp Bizkit, Megadeth, Corey Taylor, Dance Gavin Dance, Bad Omens, Wage War, Avatar, Fever 333, Kittie, Enter Shikari, Miss May I, Fame On Fire, Dead Poet Society, Rain City Drive, Austin Meade, SIM, Tallah, Cassyette, Ten56., HANABIE., Gnome, Fox Lake, Widow7, Luna Aura

Saturday, September 23: Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera, Falling In Reverse, Pierce The Veil, Parkway Drive, BABYMETAL, Asking Alexandria, Dethklok, The Hu, The Amity Affliction, Memphis May Fire, Suicide Silence, Sleep Token, Whitechapel, Zero 9:36, Gideon, Strange Kids, Dragged Under, Jesus Piece, Afterlife, Another Day Dawns, Ithaca, Devil’s Cut, Reach NYC, Feast For the Crows, Dissonation

Sunday, September 24: Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age, Turnstile, Run The Jewels, Flogging Molly, The Interrupters, AWOLNATION, Rival Sons, Billy Talent, Mayday Parade, You Me At Six, Senses Fail, Viagra Boys, Boston Manor, DeathbyRomy, Jehnny Beth, The Emo Night Tour, Call Me Karizma, Ryan Oakes, Thousand Below, Holy Wars, Reddstar, Letdown., As You Were, Death Valley Dreams, JVK

Louder Than Life will be hosted by Jose “Metal Ambassador” Mangin.

Single day and weekend General Admission and VIP passes, as well as weekend Angel’s Envy Top Shelf VIP passes for Louder Than Life are on sale now starting as low as $10 down. Bundled pass plus hotel packages are also available via our partners at Fuse. Camping passes are sold out. For a full description of passes and pricing, and to purchase, please visit https://louderthanlifefestival.com/. A record number of passes have been sold during the early bird sales period so fans are encouraged to act fast to guarantee lowest level pricing and availability.

Fans who are interested in celebrating back-to-back weekends in Louisville at both Louder Than Life and Bourbon & Beyond the weekend prior (September 14-17) can purchase an Exacta Pass for less than $60 per festival day (Exacta Pass starts at $459.99 plus fees).

In 2022, 275,000 fans turned out for the back-to-back DWP festivals, creating over $43 million in local economic impact, an attendance boom at all bourbon distilleries along the urban bourbon trail, and more than 50,000 hotel nights.

Danny Wimmer Presents is proud to welcome new and returning partners which include: Angel’s Envy, Bardstown, BeatBox Beverages, Brother’s Bond, Bluegrass Distillers, Bird Dog, Budweiser, Bulleit Bourbon, Calumet Farm, Crowne Plaza Airport Expo, Cutwater Spirits, Eargasm, Elijah Craig, Ehrler’s Ice Cream, Four Roses, George Dickel, Hellflower Soap Company, Huber’s Starlight Distillery, Jack Daniel’s, Jefferson’s, Jim Beam, Kentucky Peerless,  Kentucky Venues, Knob Creek, Kroger, KY Proud, Larceny, Legent, Louisville Tourism, LYTE, Maker’s Mark, Maker’s 46, Marriott Louisville Downtown, Michter’s, Mortus Viventi, Old Forester, Pegasus Distilled Experiences, Rabbit Hole, Resilient Bottled in Bond, Stonehammer, Team Kentucky, The Music Experience, The Pretty Cult, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Wilderness Trail and more to be announced.

Louder Than Life non-profit partners include Artists for Trauma, Demons Behind Me, Fxck Cancer, Take Me Home, and To Write Love On Her Arms.

The Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center are located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky.

Louder Than Life is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America. Additional DWP events in 2023 will include Aftershock Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, GoldenSky Country Music Festival, Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival, Louder Than Life, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival and Welcome To Rockville.

Louder Than Life – Foo Fighters, Green Day, Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, Godsmack, Pantera, Weezer, Limp Bizkit & More Sept. 21-24 In Louisville first appeared on Game On Media.

Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, Godsmack, Pantera, Limp Bizkit Announced For Aftershock Festival first appeared on Game On Media.

The first 100 artists have been announced for Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2023, taking place at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia from Septmber 7th – 10th, 2023. With 5 headliners yet to be announced, and a total of 144 acts scheduled to appear,

BRRF 23 is shaping up to be THE rock festival of the year.

Get tickets, camping spots, and all lineup and venue information at https://blueridgerockfest.com/

Blue Ridge Rock Festival actively involves their fans in the selection of artists, using social media polls to help set the stage. The first 100 performers for 2023  have been announced:

Pantera, Shinedown, Limp Bizkit, Evanescence, Megadeth, Three Days Grace, Chevelle, Parkway Drive, Pierce The Veil, Motionless In White, Coheed And Cambria, Beartooth, Highly Suspect, Corey Taylor, Coal Chamber, Flyleaf with Lacey Sturm, Bad Omens, Black Label Society, Machine Head, Blue October, The Ghost Inside, Asking Alexandria, Spiritbox, VV, Tech N9ne, Testament, Biohazard, Job For A Cowboy, Cavalera Conspiracy, Jinjer, Vince Neil, Avatar, Static-X, The Amity Affliction, Slaughter To Prevail, Stephen Pearcy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Exodus, Overkill, Electric Callboy, Sleep Token, Atreyu, Finger Eleven, Taproot, Death Angel, Drowning Pool, Trustcompany, Memphis May Fire, Crown The Empire, Dayseeker, Senses Fail, Stabbing Westward, The Color Morale, Cold, CKY, Dope, After The Burial, Emmure, Northlane, Bury Tomorrow, Escape The Fate, Attila, Fit For An Autopsy, Gemini Syndrome, Adema, Alpha Wolf, Woe Is Me, Make Them Suffer, Holding Absence, Born Of Osiris, Kublai Khan Tx, Like Moths To Flames, Upon A Burning Body, Caskets, I Set My Friends On Fire, Vended, Landmvrks, Psychostick, Rain City Drive, Bleed From Within, Bodysnatcher, Stitched Up Heart, Eva Under Fire, Thousand Below, Angelmaker, Paleface, No Resolve, Tallah, Catch Your Breath, Ten56., Hanabie, Patient Sixty-Seven, Until I Wake, Dropout Kings, Eternal Frequency and Heartsick.

Campers get a free bonus on-site pre-party on Wednesday night, featuring Scott Stapp of Creed, 10 Years, Nonpoint and Tantric.

One of the great features of Blue Ridge Rock Festival over the years has been its ability to deliver unique special performances. So far, this year’s event promises:

• Parkway Drive bringing their full pyrotechnic performance usually only seen in Europe.
• Cavalera Conspiracy performing a special set of Sepultura songs.
• Electric Callboy exclusive U.S. festival appearance.
• Finger Eleven rare U.S. performance.
• Hanabie U.S. debut.
• Patient Sixty-Seven U.S. debut.
• Cold 30th anniversary performance of “Year Of The Spider” in its entirety.
• Attila performing “About That Life” in its entirety.
• Heartsick fan voted talent search winner.

Once again, BRRF will satisfy its fans desire for band reunions, including:

• Lacey Sturm and Flyleaf original lineup reunion.
• Biohazard original lineup reunion.
• Trustcompany original lineup reunion.
• Woe, Is Me original lineup reunion.
• Coal Chamber reunion.
• Job For A Cowboy reunion.
• Taproot reunion.
• The Color Morale reunion.

In addition to most of your favorite bands playing shows, this fest also showcases some speical lead vocalist solo performances:

• Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour.
• Ville Valo of HIM.
• Vince Neil of Motley Crue.
• Stephen Pearcy of Ratt.
• Scott Stapp of Creed.

Blue Ridge Rock Festival offers VIP upgrades, hip-hop after parties, acoustic performances and artist meet-and-greets. Plus plenty of music-based vendors and charities, and all the food and drink options you have come to expect.

Don’t wait. Get tickets, camping spots, and all lineup and venue information at https://blueridgerockfest.com/

For reviews and photos from previous editions of the Blue Ridge Rock Festival, click here.

BRRF22 Day 1

17 photos

BRRF22 Day 2

12 photos

BRRF22 Day 3

12 photos

BRRF22 Day 4

10 photos

Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2023 Announces First 100 Artists Including Pantera, Shinedown, Limp Bizkit, Evanescence first appeared on Game On Media.

Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival

Announces Spectacular Lineup Of Rock Heavyweights

For The Event’s Anticipated Comeback In 2023

Including Foo Fighters, Tool, Avenged Sevenfold & KISS,

Godsmack, Rob Zombie, Queens Of The Stone Age, Deftones, & Many More

Held At The Best Stadium In Rock,

Historic Crew Stadium In Columbus, Ohio

Memorial Day Weekend – May 25, 26, 27 & 28, 2023

General Pass Onsale HERE

The pinnacle of rock festivals in America is back! After a three-year hiatus, Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival returns to its home at the heartbeat of rock, the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, Memorial Day Weekend–May 25-28, 2023 — with a spectacular lineup of rock heavyweights that make Sonic Temple’s comeback one of the most anticipated events of the 2023 festival season.

The lineup includes headliners Foo Fighters, Tool, Avenged Sevenfold and KISS, along with top rock artists Godsmack, Rob Zombie, Queens of the Stone Age, Deftones, Falling In Reverse, Chevelle, Puscifer, Beartooth, I Prevail, Jawbreaker, Sublime with Rome, Bullet For My Valentine, The Pretty Reckless, Pennywise, Trivium, Black Veil Brides and many more.

Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents and will also feature creative elements designed by acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey. Jose “Metal Ambassador” Mangin will host the event with on-stage appearances and fan meet and greets.

“We’ve always enjoyed playing Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus and are excited to be a part of this year’s Sonic Temple,” says M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold. “It’ll be a blast to share the stage with Tool, Foo Fighters and others, we can’t wait to see and play for all of our amazing fans again.”

“It’s great to be coming back to Columbus,” adds Danny Wimmer, Founder of Danny Wimmer Presents. “Foo Fighters, Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, KISS plus 75 more, it’s our biggest lineup ever! There is so much history at Historic Crew Stadium, it truly is the heartbeat of rock for many of us…the excitement surrounding the return of Sonic Temple is unparalleled!”

“We are thrilled that DWP and Sonic Temple are returning to Historic Crew Stadium this year for what will be an enhanced and electric four-day atmosphere,” said Columbus Crew President of Business Operations Kristin Bernert. “We look forward to opening our doors to fans of the amazing acts in this year’s lineup to a place that has long been synonymous with energy and fun in Central Ohio.”

The daily music lineup for Sonic Temple is as follows:

Thursday, May 25: Tool, Godsmack, Beartooth, Bullet For My Valentine, Pennywise, Bad Omens, Suicidal Tendencies, Fever 333, Anti-Flag, Joey Valence & Brae, Bones UK, Ho99o9, The Warning, Oxymorrons, Angel Du$t, Bloodywood, Wargasm, Malevolence, Bastardane, OTTTO

Friday, May 26: Avenged Sevenfold, Queens of the Stone Age, Chevelle, I Prevail, Knocked Loose, Sleeping With Sirens, Badflower, Dorothy, Black Stone Cherry, Converge, Born of Osiris, Band-Maid, Lilith Czar, Des Rocs, Mothica, Fame on Fire, Dayseeker, Vended, Mike’s Dead

Saturday, May 27: KISS, Rob Zombie, Falling in Reverse, Puscifer, Trivium, Black Veil Brides, Rival Sons, Yelawolf Presents: Sometimes Y, Avatar, Senses Fail, From Ashes To New, Giovannie & The Hired Guns, Brutus, Dead Poet Society, The Violent, Point North, Tallah, Varials, Tigercub, Capital Theatre

Sunday, May 28: Foo Fighters, Deftones, Sublime with Rome, Jawbreaker, The Pretty Reckless, Awolnation, Nothing More, Grandson, White Reaper, Filter, Ayron Jones, The Bronx, Poorstacy, Zero 9:36, New Years Day, Nova Twins, Bob Vylan, Aeir, Starcrawler

Sonic Temple passes are on sale now. New passes in 2023 include Stadium VIP and the Columbus Owner’s Club (4-day pass). Returning pass options include Field GA, Field VIP and Stadium GA—all available as weekend or single day passes. For a full description of passes and pricing, visit https://sonictemplefestival.com. Prices start as low as $109.99 + fees. And through January 31, passes can be purchased for only $10 down, with layaway payments amortized evenly through April. Passes are also available at DWPSonic.com with “buy now pay later” via ShopPay.

Columbus Owner’s Club members will enjoy the ultimate VIP experience, including access to the field and dedicated seating in the stadium bowl; air conditioned lounge with private hosted bar, comfortable seating, and live audio and video of the main stage; complimentary hors d’oeuvres during lunch and dinner hours; dedicated festival merchandise booth; dedicated WiFi; air-conditioned, flushable restrooms; dedicated guest services staff; priority festival entrance lanes; premium parking and more.

In addition to festival admission passes, onsite parking, hotel packages and 300 weekend RV camping passes will be available during the presale window. Any remaining passes, parking, hotel packages and camping will be available for purchase during the general on-sale which begins Friday, January 13 at Noon ET.

Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America. Additional DWP events in 2023 will include Aftershock Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, GoldenSky Country Music Festival, Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival, Louder Than Life and Welcome To Rockville.

For more information on Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival, visit:

Website: https://sonictemplefestival.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sonictemplefestival  | @SonicTempleFestival

Twitter: www.twitter.com/sonictemplefest | @SonicTempleFest

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sonictemplefestival | @SonicTempleFestival

Hashtag: #SonicTempleFestival

Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival: Foo Fighters, Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, KISS, Godsmack, Rob Zombie, Queens Of The Stone Age, Deftones, & More At Historic Crew Stadium In Columbus, Ohio Memorial Day Weekend first appeared on Game On Media.

Tool, Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera Lead Welcome To Rockville 2023 Festival Lineup first appeared on Game On Media.

Korn, Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin, Evanescence To Headline 2022 Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival first appeared on Game On Media.

Louder Than Life 2021

Band Lineup Announced

METALLICA, NINE INCH NAILS & KORN

Headline The Largest Rock Festival In America

Expanding To Four Days September 23-26

At Highland Festival Grounds At KY Expo Center In Louisville, KY

Festival Also Features Judas Priest, Jane’s Addiction, Snoop Dogg, Machine Gun Kelly, Staind, Mudvayne, Rise Against, Cypress Hill, Gojira & Many More

Single Day & Weekend Passes On Sale Now At

www.LouderThanLifeFestival.com

An incredible music lineup has been announced for the sixth Louder Than Life, September 23-26, 2021 at Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Metallica (two nights / two unique sets), Nine Inch Nails and KORN will headline the largest rock festival in America, which will also feature performances from Judas Priest, Snoop Dogg, Jane’s Addiction, Staind, Rise Against, Mudvayne, Cypress Hill, Machine Gun Kelly, Anthrax, Gojira, Ghostemane, Seether, Pennywise, Beartooth, The Distillers, Killswitch Engage and many more.

Single day and weekend passes for Louder Than Life are on sale now at

www.LouderThanLifeFestival.com

starting at $99.50* for single day and $249.50* for 4-day (*plus fees).

Watch the official Louder Than Life announcement video:

“‘Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over‘ – Mark Twain. And I’m on the lookout for the best drinking whiskey in Kentucky,” says Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction.

“DWP has always considered Louisville home, so to be able to bring America’s Biggest Rock Festival back in 2021 means everything to us. After a year filled with challenge after challenge, we worked incredibly hard to curate a lineup worth the wait for our fans,” says Danny Wimmer, founder of Danny Wimmer Presents. “Weather got in the way of Nine Inch Nails in 2018, the pandemic derailed our plans for two big Metallica sets in 2020 – so to have them both back for 2021, along with KORN and the rest of this incredible lineup over four days, that’s the kind of ‘new normal’ that we’re all looking forward to.”

The current Louder Than Life lineup is as follows (subject to change):

Thursday, September 23: KORN, Staind, Cypress Hill, Anthrax, Beartooth, Sevendust, Knocked Loose, Wage War, Helmet, Escape The Fate, Zero 9:36, Hyro The Hero, Teenage Wrist, Currents, Jeris Johnson, Another Day Dawns, Blame My Youth

Friday, September 24: Metallica, Jane’s Addiction, Rise Against, Gojira, Killswitch Engage, Starset, Avatar, Fever 333, Turnstile, Cleopatrick, Dead Sara, ’68, The Blue Stones, South Of Eden, Tallah, Joyous Wolf, Contracult Collective

Saturday, September 25: Nine Inch Nails, Snoop Dogg, Machine Gun Kelly, Ghostemane, The Distillers, Asking Alexandria, Grandson, Code Orange, Ice Nine Kills, Spiritbox, Red, Butcher Babies, Bones UK, Diamante, Siiickbrain, UNITYTX, Dana Dentata, The Messenger Birds

Sunday, September 26: Metallica, Judas Priest, Mudvayne, Seether, Pennywise, Skillet, Sabaton, The Hu, Badflower, Mammoth WVH, Fozzy, Red Fang, Ayron Jones, From Ashes To New, Avoid, Tempt, Dead Poet Society, Like Machines

Louder Than Life will feature nearly 70 music acts over 4 days, with performances on three stages, along with award-winning bourbons, whiskey, spirits, craft beer, and the best food Louisville has to offer. Festival attendees will enjoy a variety of onsite food and beverage experiences, as well as sponsor activations that celebrate the bourbon culture and culinary heritage of this unique American city.

Single day and weekend general admission and VIP passes for Louder Than Life are on sale now. Festivalgoers are encouraged to buy early and save, since pass prices will increase in the coming weeks. A limited number of specially priced tickets for military personnel are on sale now via GovX. A limited number of Weekend Camping Packages are available for both car + tent and RVs. Admission to the festival is not included in Weekend Camping Packages and must be purchased separately.

VIP pass perks include (but are not limited to) access to all general admission areas in the festival grounds, as well as a dedicated festival entrance, access to a shaded “hang area” with dedicated bars, live audio/video streams of main stages, access to a front-of-stage VIP viewing area, dedicated merch tent, premium dedicated food and drink (for purchase), air-conditioned restrooms and a commemorative laminate.

Top Shelf VIP is Presented by Angel’s Envy and passes will include all the above plus an air-conditioned tent, front-of-stage viewing for the right main stage, additional viewing deck, all-inclusive premium drinks and complimentary hors d’oeuvres.

Louder Than Life is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America. Since debuting in 2014, Louder Than Life continues to develop and grow. In 2019, Louder Than Life welcomed more than 128,000 fans over three days, earning its spot as the largest rock festival in America. For 2021, festival organizers added a fourth day, with the festival kicking off on Thursday.

Over the coming months, Danny Wimmer Presents will be working with local officials to make sure the festival conforms to then-current social distancing protocols.

The Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center are located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, KY.

Louder Than Life is proud to welcome new and returning sponsors including Angel’s Envy, Bud Light, Bud Light Seltzer, Bud Light, Bulleit Bourbon, Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Expo Center, Ehrler’s Ice Cream, Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, FC Cancer, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jim Beam, Kentucky Venues, Kroger, Larceny, Louisville Tourism, Louisville Marriott Downtown, Mortus Viventi, Pegasus Distilled Experiences, Take Me Home, The Music Experience, TickPick and many more. In addition, the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar will make a triumphant return, featuring Kentucky’s finest and more, including Angel’s Envy, Beringer Bros., Boone’s Bourbon, Bulleit Bourbon, Cooper’s Craft, Elijah Craig Small Batch, Four Roses, Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam Black, Kentucky Peerless, Larceny Bourbon, Maker’s Mark 101, Old Forester, Resilient Bourbon, Wilderness Trail, and Woodford Reserve, with more to be announced soon.

For more information on #LouderThanLife please visit:

Website: www.LouderThanLifeFestival.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/louderthanlifefestival

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ltlfest

Instagram: www.instagram.com/louderthanlifefest

Louder Than Life 2021: Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, KORN, Judas Priest, Jane’s Addiction, Snoop Dogg, Machine Gun Kelly, Staind, Mudvayne, Rise Against, Cypress Hill, Gojira & More Sept. 23-26 In Louisville, KY first appeared on Game On Media.

2020 has been an atypical year for the music industry. The usual album and tour cycles have been turned on their heads. Some bands chose to hold their albums for when touring starts up again. Some bands found creative ways to release their albums, many with livestreams to go with it. Other bands took the opportunity to record and release unexpected music, and much more of that will be coming in 2021. Heavy Metal has always been a cathartic release, and that was much needed in 2020. There were plenty of incredible headbangers to help us get through it all. Here are our Five Fave: 2020 Mainstream Metal Albums.

5 – Lamb Of God – Lamb Of God

This self-titled album from metal masters Lamb Of God is everything you hope for. The sounds, the screams, the lyrical messages, are all American metal at its best. Vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and new drummer Art Cruz are in perfect sync.

4 – Trivium – What The Dead Men Say

Trivium has been kicking ass and taking names for a long time. They consistently deliver crushing tunes, full of aggression and lyrics that make you think. There is plenty to love about “What The Dead Men Say” and we simply cannot wait to finally hear these songs performed live.

3 – Killer Be Killed – Reluctant Hero

The second release from supergroup Killer Be Killed is outstanding.  The band has three lead singers, and they all take their moments to shine. KBK is The Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist/guitarist Greg Puciato, Soulfly / Cavalera Conspiracy / ex-Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera, Mastodon bassist/co-vocalist Troy Sanders and Converge drummer Ben Koller.

2- Armored Saint – Punching The Sky

Legendary thrash masters Armored Saint dropped their first new album in 5 years, and all of the pent-up energy is fully released on “Punching The Sky”. John Bush, Joey Vera, Jeff Duncan and the Sandoval brothers, Gonzo and Phil, are still as relevant and impressive 4 decades in as they have ever been.

1 – Avatar – Hunter Gatherer

Sweden continues to produce creative and dynamic rock bands, who continue to push themselves with each album release. Avatar continues to push boundaries with “Hunter Gatherer”, possibly their most completely satisfying effort to date. Check out their upcoming livestream specials coming in January.

Five Fave: 2020 Mainstream Metal Albums first appeared on Game On Media.

In the absence of new festivals to cover, GameOn.media is taking a look back at some of our favorite festivals, which we look forward to writing about and taking pictures of, just as soon as we are able to safely do so again.

Danny Wimmer Presents has become the leading producer of rock festivals in the United States, and one of their crown jewels is Monster Energy Aftershock Festival, which takes place in the fall at Discovery Park in Sacramento, the state capital of California. This event, held amongst the trees in the brilliant sunlight of the day, which fades into the cool crisp autumn evening, has become the biggest hard rock event west of the Mississippi. Fans travel from far and wide to catch up with old friends, check out the biggest legends in music, and discover the new artists which will become their favorites.

Aftershock Festival is perfectly curated to bring in the biggest acts of today, rare appearances by legends, and star-making sets by new bands. Headliners Slipknot, Tool, Blink-182, Korn, Rob Zombie, Disturbed, Shinedown, Limp Bizkit, Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch, Avenged Sevenfold, System Of A Down, Deftones, and Slash always put on a killer performance. This fest also offers the chance for younger fans to experience legends such as Alice In Chains, Anthrax, Testament, Megadeth, Faith No More, Nine Inch Nails, Weezer, Tech N9ne and Ozzy Osbourne. You should always show up early, as you may get the chance to be introduced to rising stars like Nothing More, Volbeat, Avatar, Ghost, Fever 333, Starset, In This Moment, Badflower and Highly Suspect.

More than 200 artists have graced the stage of California’s largest rock festival, including:

Get your tickets and all info NOW for the 2021 edition, expanded to 4 days and featuring 2 sets from Metallica, as well as headline sets from My Chemical Romance and Limp Bizkit – https://aftershockfestival.com/

These are some of our favorite pictures, captured between 2013 and 2019:

Best of Aftershock Festival

149 photos

Festival Rewind – Aftershock Festival first appeared on Game On Media.

Danny Wimmer Presents Announces

Lineup For Aftershock 2021

October 7-10 At Discovery Park In Sacramento, California

Metallica & My Chemical Romance

To Headline The West Coast’s Biggest Rock Festival

Also Featuring Rancid, Social Distortion, The Offspring, Machine Gun Kelly,

Rise Against, Volbeat, Gojira, Mastodon, Parkway Drive & Many More

Festival Expands With The Addition Of A Fourth Night, Headlined By Limp Bizkit

Single Day, 3-Day And 4-Day VIP & General Admission Passes On Sale Now

Danny Wimmer Presents is excited to announce the return of Aftershock — the West Coast’s Biggest Rock Festival — to Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA on October 7, 8, 9 and 10. The expanded 2021 event will be bigger and better than ever, including the new Thursday night concert, presented by Jack Daniel’s — an epic celebratory evening to kick off the anticipated return of the festival that has sold out for the last five consecutive years.

As previously announced, Aftershock 2021 will be headlined by Metallica (performing two unique sets, one on Friday and one on Sunday) and My Chemical Romance (Saturday), who were both confirmed for the sold-out postponed 2020 event. The incredible and diverse Aftershock 2021 lineup will also include: Limp Bizkit, Rancid, The Offspring, Social Distortion, Rise Against, Volbeat, Machine Gun Kelly, Mastodon, Gojira, SEETHER, Parkway Drive, and many more.

Passes for Aftershock 2021 are on sale now at www.AftershockFestival.com.

Rancid said, “We can’t wait to play at Aftershock 2021 with our Bay Area brothers Metallica. We first played with them on the Lollapalooza tour in 1996 along with the Ramones and later down the road we toured across South America together. It’s gonna be wild, see ya in the pit!”

The current Aftershock 2021 music lineup is as follows (subject to change):

Thursday, October 7: Limp Bizkit, Parkway Drive, Testament, Hatebreed, Exodus, Knocked Loose, Fit For A King

Friday, October 8: Metallica, Rancid, Volbeat, SEETHER, +LIVE+, Skillet, Suicidal Tendencies, Avatar, Pop Evil, Butcher Babies, Des Rocs, Ayron Jones, Crobot, Cleopatrick, Ego Kill Talent, Crown Lands, UnityTX, Contracult Collective

Saturday, October 9: My Chemical Romance, The Offspring, Machine Gun Kelly, Gojira, ?? ??? (TBA reunion), Anthrax, Killswitch Engage, Asking Alexandria, Body Count, Badflower, Thursday, L7, Atreyu, Bones UK, South of Eden, The Black Moods, Another Day Dawns, American Teeth

Sunday, October 10: Metallica, Social Distortion, Rise Against, Mastodon, Pennywise, The Pretty Reckless, Black Veil Brides, Steel Panther, Yelawolf, Grandson, From Ashes To New, Alien Weaponry, LAW, The Blue Stones, The Contortionist, Higher Power, Creeper, The Cold Stares

Passes are on sale now and can be purchased for only $20 down. Payments will then be spread out over the next nine months, beginning in December. Festivalgoers are encouraged to buy early and save since 3-Day and Single Day pass prices will increase in the coming weeks. 4-Day passes are very limited and there will be no single day passes sold for Thursday night. Passes for Aftershock have sold out for five years straight.

General Admission and VIP Aftershock passes start at following prices:

• Single Day General Admission: starting at $119.50 + fees
• Single Day VIP: starting at $249.50 + fees
• 3-Day General Admission (Friday, Saturday, Sunday): starting at $329.50 + fees
• 3-Day VIP (Friday, Saturday, Sunday): starting at $599.50 + fees
• 4-Day General Admission (Thursday night, Friday, Saturday, Sunday): starting at $379.50 + fees
• 4-Day VIP (Thursday night, Friday, Saturday, Sunday): $674.50 + fees

Pass purchasers will receive info about the festival’s Park & Ride shuttle program closer to the show, as there will be no onsite parking for Aftershock 2021.

VIP passes include access to all general admission areas in the festival grounds, as well as dedicated VIP entrance lanes into the venue, shaded VIP hang area with seating for dining, VIP-only viewing area of main stage, video screens featuring live feeds, upgraded food and drink selections (for additional purchase), dedicated VIP restrooms and festival merchandise stand, and commemorative Aftershock 2021 laminate and RFID wristband.

New in 2021 is the exclusive Aftershock’s 10 Days of Shocking Giveaways which launches Friday, October 23, 2020 and will include the opportunity to win amazing prize packs from festival sponsors, along with passes to Aftershock 2021.

Visit www.AftershockFestival.com and follow Aftershock on social media to learn more.

In 2019, Aftershock celebrated its biggest year in the history of the California rock festival with 97,500 in attendance during the sold-out three-day event. The sold-out 2020 festival was rescheduled to 2021 due to COVID-19 guidelines.

As Aftershock 2021 draws near, Danny Wimmer Presents will be working with local officials to make sure the festival conforms to the then-current social distancing protocols.

Aftershock partners include Jack Daniel’s, Coors Seltzer, KOLAS, Mortus Viventi, FYE, Warheads, The Music Experience, The Pretty Cult, Spencer’s Gifts, Ernie Ball, Diamond Resorts, Fearless Records, Helpful Hemp, FC Cancer, Visit Sacramento and Take Me Home.

Aftershock is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America. Additional DWP events include Bourbon & Beyond, Epicenter, Hometown Rising, Louder Than Life, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, and Welcome To Rockville.

For more information on Aftershock please visit:

Website: www.AftershockFestival.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AftershockFestival

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AftershockSac

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AftershockConcert/

Hashtag: #Aftershock

DWP Aftershock 2021 Lineup Announced: Metallica, My Chemical Romance, Rancid, Social Distortion, The Offspring, Limp Bizkit, Rise Against, Volbeat & More October 7-10, 2021 In Sacramento, CA first appeared on Game On Media.

Six months into the 2020 global pandemic, and I have literally started dreaming about attending festivals, photographing concerts, and interviewing artists. Music festivals and live concerts have been postponed, rescheduled and canceled, sometimes all three. As the fall events have finally been eliminated, and the winter rock cruises have been pushed into May, I have no idea when I will be lucky enough to cover an actual concert again. In the meantime, GameOn.media presents Fantasy Festival Friday – a fictitious concert performed by 5 bands we wish we could watch live in person, at full volume, with all of our rock family in attendance.

On Fantasy Festival Friday #4, we traveled across the pond to Gothenburg, Sweden, one of the country’s many rock and roll hot spots. There we got to experience the history of Swedish rock music, with amazing sets from Ghost, Avatar, In Flames, Europe and H.E.A.T.

H.E.A.T was the first band up. These guys are one of the newer bands who are continuing in the classic rock tradition. They were formed in 2007 by Jimmy Jay – bass, backing vocals, Jona Tee – keyboards, backing vocals, Don Crash – drums and Dave Dalone – guitars, backing vocals. They were joined in 2010 by charismatic front man Erik Grönwall, who had just won Swedish Idol on the strength of his performances of songs from Skid Row, Kiss, Iron Maiden and Queen. You may recognize him from his 2018 portrayal of Simon Zealotes in the NBC live television concert production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar. Their 2020 release H.E.A.T II is one of the greatest glam metal albums you will ever hear, and really had the crowd moving.

Fantasy Festival 2020 H.E.A.T

10 photos

Europe was next up, immediately firing up the crowd with the keyboard intro to mega-hit ‘The Final Countdown’. But they were not close to letting up after that, blasting other hits from the 80’s such as ‘Rock The Night’, ‘Superstitious’ and ‘Carrie’. They are a rare band that still has their original classic lineup, bassist John Levén, keyboardist Mic Michaeli, vocalist Joey Tempest, drummer Ian Haugland and guitarist John Norum. They never relied only on their past, and have continued to record outstanding albums throughout recent years, all worth checking out. Fun Fantasy Festival Fact: both Europe and H.E.A.T are from Upplands Väsby, Sweden.

Fantasy Festival 2020 Europe

16 photos

Hometown heroes In Flames took the stage to a tremendous roar. Originally formed in 1990, the band was (and still is) at the forefront of the Swedish metal community. They released their 13th album just last year, and show no signs of slowing down. Members may have come and gone, but the song remains the same, and the energy has not changed. Led by vocalist Anders Fridén and guitarist Björn Gelotte since 1995, they are now joined by guitarist Niclas Engelin, bassist Bryce Paul and drummer Tanner Wayne.

Fantasy Festival 2020 In Flames

10 photos

Fellow Gothenburgers Avatar stepped up the production as night fell and lasers lit up the sky, along with their hypnotic riffs. Guitarists Jonas “Kungen” Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, with bassist Henrik Sandelin, form a maelstrom of whipping hair, swirling rhythms and epic poses. Drummer John Alfredsson keeps a low drum profile, allowing him to interact with the crowd as he shifts between mellow and frantic beats. Vocalist Johannes Eckerström is a mesmerizing performer. The band has been kicking ass and pushing boundaries for 2 decades now, and their skills and songwriting continue to soar. They were excited to unleash new tunes from their very recent album Hunter Gatherer. Avatar is a live band that you will want to see over and over. Nobody gives you more quality entertainment.

Fantasy Festival 2020 Avatar

24 photos

Ghost is perhaps the only band who could follow what had already been experienced. This act has one of the most unique mythologies ever to be created. They are led by Tobias Forge, who portrays a new version of the demonic anti-Pope Papa Emeritus with each album and tour cycle. The other 7 members of Ghost are simply known as Nameless Ghouls, who all dress in black outfits with silver masks, completely obscuring their identity. Their stage shows are full of religious symbols and beautiful lighting. The band plays with a full sound and intensity, whether the songs are slow or fast. Their style shifts effortlessly between pop, goth, orchestral and metal. The performance is something to behold, and a fitting end to our fantastical journey to the Nordic Empire.

Fantasy Festival 2020 Ghost

24 photos

Quarantine Dreams – Fantasy Festival Friday – Ghost – Avatar – In Flames – Europe – H.E.A.T first appeared on Game On Media.

Images by Johnnie Crow

Words by Melissa Butterfly 

Swedish heavy metal band Avatar kicked off Rocktober at The Observatory North Park in San Diego, California on October 2, 2019. The Observatory is such a great venue, not only as a classic theatre with its ornate stage and decor, but also with it’s acoustic sound, which yielded a perfect mosh up with Avatar’s heavy metal head banging and their theatrical performances. 

Two Frenchmen, Inspector Cluzo, and ’68, two guys from Atlanta, GA, were openers for the night. They are two of several hand-picked bands to showcase what Avatar thinks deserves more “eyes and ears” according to Johannes Eckerström. Both bands in double force threw out heavy metal mixed with theatrical energetic performances alike, getting the audience Avatar ready. Inspector Cluzo combined performances using multiple instruments with stand-up comedy, giving something many had not witnessed before.  ‘68 had a simple stage with 2 signs set up on the stage that said “Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay” … message received loud and clear by the audience as they jammed while wearing business suits and then shook hands like professionals… both staying classy in San Diego! Both of these bands are simple duos with a guitarist and drummer sharing a similarity of rock and roll at their cores with complex yet soulful heavy metal mixed in. ‘68 ended their set saying… “Smells like a freak show, but everyone looks great!”

Avatar opened their set with their usual head banging theatrics with song, “Hail the Apocalypse.” For greater good and sisterhood, Johannes professed, “everyone of all ages are welcome in Avatar Country”… and all were represented in San Diego, from young to old. The stage presence was intriguing with Johannes acting as a devilish composer, leading and composing his band with their instruments and theatrics. Avatar’s performance was on fire, especially when they performed “Let It Burn”. 

According to Johannes, Avatar Country is all about them bringing loud and heavy metal times to people — filling the place between good and bad times with light and dark. Avatar Country was released in 2018 and they kicked off their Avatar 2019 World Tour starting at the Domination 2019 in Mexico City on May 3, 2019 and then a lengthy concert tour to follow through major and mid-sized cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Johannes told the audience that they are currently on tour with Babymetal, but while on a tour break, “shows like tonight” are Avatar’s “bread and butter.”

This show at the iconic Observatory in San Diego was the last headline show of this tour so it was a special night putting this baby to rest with a full out head banging performance! This was the last visit to Avatar Country on stage as the band will be heading back to the studio in 2020 with promises to do their very best as they appreciate their fan base… Johannes said “we will be going to new dark places” and the air was vibing with this excitement of closure and future plans. 

The night at the Observatory was like a night at the Opera and Avatar’s theatrics coupled with lights booming, heavy beats, heads banging, and bubbles, yes bubbles, was not only a show, but the dance arena Avatar wanted the Observatory to morph into. Fans and Avatar alike were engaged and in it to the very end. At the end of the night, Johannes told the audience in a heartfelt speech that the Avatar Country World Tour was ending in San Diego as the last headline show for Avatar Country, which represents our country and the world. He said that they are so thankful yet sad and “people like us on stage in Avatar Country… it was a weird album, with open borders and truth of the King. It was a love letter to heavy metal and a time when we stopped cutting our hair and all about having fun and doing something funny for us”… all 5 of them. Avatar Country was all about the King and the journey and thanks to fans it was fun. Fans and Avatar alike belong together and it doesn’t matter looking like a freakshow. They then ended the set with a special encore of “Smells Like a Freakshow”… so apropos to this very special night! 

These bands are a must see so be sure to catch them when they are in a town near you. Check out their websites for current tour information and additional details:  

https://avatarmetal.com/

http://theyare68.com/

http://theinspectorcluzo.com/

Avatar SD19

35 photos

Avatar Bids Farewell To The King In San Diego first appeared on Game On Media.

[Shinedown]

[Korn]

[Disturbed]

13th Annual Rocklahoma Wraps Record-Breaking Weekend first appeared on Game On Media.

“THE KING WELCOMES YOU TO AVATAR COUNTRY” WATCH

“A STATUE OF THE KING” WATCH

“THE KING WANTS YOU” WATCH

Tracks: 1. Glory To Our King 2. Legend of The King 3. The King Welcomes You To Avatar Country 4. King’s Harvest 5. The King Wants You 6. The King Speaks 7. A Statue of The King 8. King After King 9. Silent Songs of the King Pt 1 Winter Comes When The King Dreams of Snow 10. Silent Songs of the King Pt 2 The King’s Palace

Stream on Spotify

Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Bio Photo

Avatar Announce 2019 North American Avatar Country Tour Dates first appeared on Game On Media.

2018 was one of the best years in recent memory when it comes to quality album releases from some of the biggest names in hard rock. The most common theme was struggling with the past couple of years, both internally and externally, while searching for a path to better days and a hopeful future.

Most people don’t listen to music on hard media these days, but if any of you happen to have any of these on vinyl, give it a spin and let us know how much better it sounds.

Here are our 33-1/3 favorite hard rock albums of 2018.

	1. Shinedown – ATTENTION ATTENTION Not only a great collection of individual songs that grow on you as time passes, but a concept album exploring the human condition and fragile state of mind. Best song: GET UP
	2. Tremonti – A Dying Machine On Mark Tremonti’s 4th solo album, the band is at the top of their song writing game, and Mark’s vocals are his best yet. Best song: Bringer Of War
	3. Halestorm – Vicious Halestorm continues to elevate, expanding their style and always delivering substance. Lzzy Hale’s voice reaches insane heights on this album, full of swagger and a wink of the eye. Best song: Do Not Disturb
	4. Bullet For My Valentine – Gravity A biting tale of betrayal and redemption, with gnarly guitars and snarling sing along choruses. Best song: Over It
	5. Adelitas Way – Live Love Life An exploration into sound and instrumentation, with a lot of heart. A band that keeps getting better with time. Best song: Still Hungry
	6. Atreyu – In Our Wake This album just moves you physically and emotionally, a nonstop assault on your senses. Best song: Anger Left Behind
	7. Sevendust – All I See Is War Some bands improve with age, and Sevendust is one that keeps writing better and better songs. Best song: God Bites His Tongue
	8. Godsmack – When Legends Rise Godsmack returned with their best work since the first two albums. Killer lyrics and a few chances vocally and musically that really pay off. Best song: Under Your Scars
	9. Like A Storm – Catacombs If you don’t know this New Zealand band of brothers, you are missing out. Creative sounds and meaningful lyrics. Best song: Complicated (Stitches & Scars)
	10. Judas Priest – Firepower The Metal Gods put together their best album since Painkiller, almost 3 decades ago. Shreds upon shreds, and Rob Halford just killing it. Best song: Rising From Ruins
	11. Disturbed – Evolution Disturbed extended themselves on Evolution, exploring new sounds while addressing the lost of loved ones to addiction and depression. While not quite the grand slam that Immortalized, it is still another home run from a band who is now 7 for 7. Best song: A Reason To Fight
	12. Pop Evil – Pop Evil Pop Evil self titled this album, fittingly so as it sums up all of the best qualities of the band. Tight musicianship, inspiring vocals and meaningful lyrics. Best song: Be Legendary
	13. All That Remains – Victim Of The New Disease The mysterious death of founding guitarist Oli Herbert shortly before the album’s release lends an otherworldly quality to this powerful performance. The songs are full of guitars and intense vocals. Best song: Everything’s Wrong
	14. P.O.D. – Circles P.O.D. knocks it out of the park on this one, mixing old school hip hop into their Cali vibe rock and roll. Best song: Soundboy Killa
	15. Alice In Chains – Rainier Fog The last ones standing are still setting the bar for the Seattle sound. Best song: Never Fade
	16. Ghost – Prequelle Perhaps the first concept album based on the Plague and the Black Death which killed off half of Europe, Prequelle is spooky, spiritual and catchy. Best song: Dance Macabre
	17. Nonpoint – X Nonpoint continues their unique phrasing and riffing on their 10th album, another stellar effort. Best song: Fix This
	18. Red Sun Rising – Thread Red Sun Rising continues the hit-making momentum on their second effort, proving that they will be around for a long time. Best song: Veins
	19. Parkway Drive – Reverence This is the heaviest album on the list, and probably tops most metal lists for the year. Very aggressive, but also full of hooks. Best song: The Void
	20. Ice Nine Kills – The Silver Scream Each song is based off of a classic horror movie, a concept that could get corny but never does here, as the tunes stand on their own and the lyrical content touches on an aspect of the movie without becoming cliff notes. Best song: A Grave Mistake
	21. Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators – Living The Dream One of the most complete albums that Slash has delivered in some time. The Conspirators are a tight band and this sounds most like a band album, rather than a solo act. Best song: Mind Your Manners
	22. Five Finger Death Punch – And Justice For None 5FDP has a formula and they are sticking with it. Fast songs, ballads, and interesting cover songs. Best song: When The Seasons Change
	23. Breaking Benjamin – Ember The band who practically invented the rock radio sound does it again, showcasing their immense vocal talent and musicianship. Best song: Torn In Two
	24. Three Days Grace – Outsider Three Days Grace finally comes into its own with this version of the band, ditching the self-loathing for an optimistic view on life. Best song: The Mountain
	25. The Alarm – Equals Legendary rebels The Alarm returned with an outstanding record, still questioning the status quo and pushing for peace. Best song: Peace Now
	26. Dorothy – 28 Days In The Valley Dorothy Martin has one of the best bluesy rock voices that you will ever hear. This trippy album could be the soundtrack to a Quentin Tarantino movie. Best song: Ain’t Our Time To Die
	27. Jonathan Davis – Black Labyrinth The leader of Korn has been quietly working on his solo album for years, and we finally got to experience the fruits of his labor. Very personal and very deep. Best song: Basic Needs
	28. Myles Kennedy – Year Of The Tiger Somehow Myles Kennedy found time between Alter Bridge and Slash commitments to put out a solo album. This is all Myles, which means it is amazing. Best song: The Great Beyond
	29. Suicidal Tendencies – STill Cyco Punk After All These Years A sort of new album, which is actually a re-recording of an old Mike Muir solo album. Doesn’t matter, it’s new to me and it is infectious. Best song: Ain’t Gonna Get Me
	30. Avatar – Avatar Country Dilly Dilly! Avatar returned with an album exclusively about the King. Always heavy and always fun. Best song: The King Wants You
	31. Amaranthe – Helix Amaranthe fears nothing, blending all kinds of music, with three vocalists getting into the mix. Best song: Inferno
	32. Skillet Side Dishes: Ledger – LEDGER, Fight The Fury – Still Breathing The members of Skillet took a hiatus and produced 2 separate EP’s. Drummer/vocalist Jen Ledger put out a strong solo album, co-produced by guitarist Korey Kooper. Bassist/vocalist John Kooper got his metal on with guitarist Seth Morrison. Best song: Not Dead Yet, My Demons
	33. Greta Van Fleet – Anthem Of The Peaceful Army Hot newcomers Greta Van Fleet, the family band with the Zeppelin sound, put out their first full album. While not as strong as their EP From The Fires, it still boasts some great tracks. Best song: Lover, Leaver (Taker, Believer)
	33-1/3. Them Evils – Rollin’ Stoned and Livin’ Free (EP) Them Evils is a throwback rock band on the rise. This EP showcases the promise of what is to come, real rock and roll shaking our asses. Best song: Practice What You Preach

33-1/3 Best Hard Rock Albums Of 2018 first appeared on Game On Media.

First-Ever Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival

Welcomes Foo Fighters, System Of A Down, Disturbed,

Bring Me The Horizon, Ghost, The Prodigy & Many More

One-Of-A-Kind Destination Event To Feature Top Music Artists, Art Installations, Comedy Performances & More Incredible Onsite Experiences

May 17, 18 & 19, 2019 At MAPFRE Stadium In Columbus, Ohio

Tickets On Sale Friday, November 30 At Noon ET

Premier independent U.S. music festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents has announced the highly anticipated music and comedy lineup for their new destination event, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, which debuts at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, May 17, Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, 2019.

Multiplatinum artists Foo Fighters, System Of A Down and Disturbed lead the spectacular and diverse music lineup for Sonic Temple, which will also feature performances from Bring Me The Horizon, The Prodigy, Ghost, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Chevelle, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts, The Cult, and many other chart-topping and up-and-coming music artists. SiriusXM’s Comedy & Spoken Word Tent will include comedy from Andrew Dice Clay, Pauly Shore, and others, as well as a spoken word set from Henry Rollins. The festival will feature three music stages, premium food and beverage selections, art installations, and enhanced onsite experiences.

General Admission, VIP and Premium VIP tickets, and hotel and camping packages for Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival go on sale Friday, November 30 at Noon ET.

System Of A Down’s Shavo Odadjian says, “Although in its inaugural year, Sonic Temple’s pedigree is proven, and its roots are strong; it made total sense for us to be involved. One could argue that it was a long time coming. We’ll see you all in Columbus this May.”

David Draiman of Disturbed says, “We are honored to share the stage with all of our amazingly talented friends and colleagues at the upcoming Sonic Temple Festival in Columbus, Ohio. Are You Ready?!?!”

The current music lineup for Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival is as follows (subject to change): Foo Fighters, System Of A Down, Disturbed, Bring Me The Horizon, The Prodigy, Ghost, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Chevelle, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts, The Cult, In This Moment, The Hives, Gojira, The Distillers, Meshuggah, Action Bronson, The Struts, Refused, Killswitch Engage, Parkway Drive, Black Label Society, Beartooth, Scars On Broadway, Architects, Tom Morello, Avatar, Pussy Riot, Bad Wolves, Fever 333, Mark Lanegan Band, Badflower, The Glorious Sons, Issues, Yungblud, H09909, Black Pistol Fire, Scarlxrd, Zeal & Ardor, Basement, The Black Dahlia Murder, Don Broco, Wage War, Hands Like Houses, While She Sleeps, Palaye Royale, Movements, Amigo The Devil, The Plot In You, Boston Manor, COUNTERFEIT., Demob Happy, Teenage Wrist, The Pretty Vicious, Black Coffee, Shvpes, Dirty Honey, No1Cares and The Jacks.

The inaugural Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival replaces the long-standing Rock On The Range, America’s largest and most acclaimed rock festival, which routinely sold out over its 12-year span.

Danny Wimmer, founder of Danny Wimmer Presents said, “I am so proud of what we accomplished with Rock On The Range, and with the debut of Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, we’re excited to bring our devoted rock fans and the city of Columbus a one-of-a-kind, world-class event that expands on the festival experience. The idea behind Sonic Temple is walking into something bigger than yourself, where YOU belong, or where you were always meant to be. The crowd is unparalleled, and the energy is electrifying, like going to a place of worship. We want this festival to be a temple of rock n’ roll. We want this to be the ultimate rock experience for the true fans who love the genre as much as we do.”

In addition to performances from top music artists, and various onsite attractions, attendees will enjoy a variety of onsite food and beverage options celebrating local Columbus flavors. Food and beverage options offered on the exterior of the stadium will be provided by Southern Hospitality Concessions LLC, DWP’s affiliate concessionaire. Selections from the following local and regional restaurants will be available: Bonifacio, Buckeye Donuts, BruBrothers Coffee, Chicago’s Dog House, Cousins Maine Lobster, Ena’s Caribbean Kitchen, Hangry City, Mikey’s Late Night Slice, MoMo Ghar, Pie Baby Wood Fired Pizza, Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, Sophie’s Pierogi, Smoked on High BBQ, The Midway Café, and fan favorite Island Noodles.

Initial ticket prices for Sonic Temple will be as follows:

• Weekend VIP: $379.50 plus fees
• Pillar Premium VIP Package: $1,949.50 plus fees (accommodations for 2)
• Weekend Field General Admission: $199.50 plus fees
• Weekend Stadium General Admission: $99.50 plus fees
• RV Camping: $250.00

VIP package amenities include: early entry into the festival and access to the VIP lounge, which features LED screens with feeds of the main stage sets, seating areas, heating/air conditioning, premium cash bar, elevated food experiences for purchase, free WiFi, access to charging stations and lockers, and dedicated VIP bathrooms.

Pillar Premium VIP Package amenities include two weekend field VIP wristbands for the entire weekend, with access to the VIP lounge, plus access to the Upper 90 VIP Club, which includes catered lunch and dinner, access to side stage viewing platform, two Sonic Temple festival t-shirts, two exclusive Zippo lighters, and two commemorative laminates.

Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival sponsors include:

Monster Energy: Monster Energy will be keeping all fans fueled up and ready to rock by offering free sampling on their Monster Energy viewing deck. Enjoy Monster Energy drinks from one of the best seats in the house. Make sure to check back throughout the festival for a schedule of Monster Energy’s interactive artist experiences.

Fxck Cancer x Dyin 2 Live Dreams Program: Fxck Cancer’s mission is to fight cancer by raising awareness and education about early cancer detection and prevention, ultimately putting an end to late-stage cancer diagnosis. Through the Dyin 2 Live Dreams program, they look to enrich the lives of those fighting cancer by offering them a VIP experience that they hope will bring joy, inspiration, and courage. In doing this, they hope to help give the cancer fighter a chance to forget, even if it’s only for a day, what they are going through. For more information please visit, www.fxckcancer.org. Fxck Cancer and Dyin 2 Live Dreams are programs of the F C Cancer Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. #TogetherWeFight #FxckCancer

Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination rock music festivals in America. DWP events include Louder Than Life, Aftershock, Welcome To Rockville, Bourbon & Beyond, Chicago Open Air and more. They’re also the co-creators ofRock On The Range, America’s largest and most acclaimed rock festival, which celebrated its 12^th and final year in 2018 with 140,000 in attendance.

For more information on Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, visit:

Website: https://sonictemplefestival.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sonictemplefestival

Twitter: www.twitter.com/sonictemplefest

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sonictemplefestival

Hashtag: #SonicTempleFestival

About Danny Wimmer Presents: Since 1993, music industry veteran Danny Wimmer has been producing concerts and festivals, both large and small. In 2011, he formed Danny Wimmer Presents, which now produces several of the largest rock and alternative festivals in the U.S. By combining A-list talent with local cuisine and culture, DWP has become recognized within the industry for delivering the highest-quality entertainment experiences to fans, artists, sponsors, partners and host cities. DWP creates memorable and all-encompassing festival experiences, leaving both consumers and partners with lasting and meaningful impressions. DWP will continue to add new music festivals to its already stellar portfolio, which includes Rock On The Range, Aftershock Festival, Welcome To Rockville, Carolina Rebellion, Louder Than Life, Bourbon & Beyond, and Chicago Open Air, among others.

www.DannyWimmerPresents.com

First-Ever Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival Welcomes Foo Fighters, System Of A Down, Disturbed & More first appeared on Game On Media.