Awesome Underground &#9733; Music Review

JOURNEYS LEFT FOOT

6.16-7.2, 7.6-8.6

PARTY METAL / ROCK & ROLL

ATLANTA, GA

SHARPTONE RECORDS

BAND BIO:

You know you want this.

It’s been far too long since a heavy metal band could get the party started the way Attila can. Drinks will be pounded down, blunts will be blown, panties will be thrown, and everyone will have the time of their lives once the Atlanta quintet’s sixth full-length album, Guilty Pleasure [Artery Recordings/Razor & Tie], pipes through the speakers. Hell, you don’t even have to admit you love it—hence the title—but we know you will (or at least your girlfriend will)…

2013 became a landmark year for the group—Chris “Fronz” Fronzak [lead vocals], Chris Linck [guitar], Nate Salameh [guitar], Kalan Blehm [bass guitar, backing vocals], and Sean Heenan [drums]. Their fifth offering, About That Life, snatched #22 on the Billboard Top 200, #5 on the Independent Chart, #4 on the Hard Music Chart, and #5 on the Rock Chart, moving over 14,200 copies first week. In the midst of sold out headline shows around the States, the band began working on what would become Guilty Pleasure at the end of the year. This time around, Fronz possessed a clear vision that included embracing seven-string guitars, adopting lower tunings, and nodding to turn-of-the-century classics from Slipknot, Korn, and Limp Bizkit.

“We’re never going to write the same album twice,” he declares. “We’re always going to maintain our sound and style, but we bring something new to the table for our fans to keep it fresh and interesting. Lyrically, I expanded. It’s not all about partying and being crazy. I touched on some real shit. I dropped some knowledge. I wanted to be more real because I owe it to our audience. The songs are more meaningful.”

Once again, the boys retreated to the studio with Joey Sturgis [Asking Alexandria, Of Mice & Men] in Michigan. Together, they amped up everything across the board.

“It’s a heavier and more fun Attila,” smiles Fronz. “It’s rap metal at its finest. There are elements from our older albums as well as new flavors.”

That’s apparent on the first single “Proving Grounds”. The guys ignite an atomic hook bolstered by succinct riffing and a percussive slam. “’Proving Grounds’ are areas that the government would test nuclear and atomic bombs,” he goes on. “Anyone can relate to this because we all have doubters. You have to take that doubt and leverage it do better. Proving people wrong is the ultimate satisfaction.”

On “Rebel”, Fronz spits incendiary bars over a barrage of chugging jackhammer guitars. Everything culminates on an anthemic refrain that’s equally ballsy and blistering.

“It’s about being yourself, doing what you love, and not giving a fuck about what authorities, parents, or people tell you that you’re supposed to do,” he proclaims. “That’s an important message. You can’t always live by the rules. If you really want to do something, you just have to do it. I want to encourage kids to use their ambition and do what they love.”

Then, there’s “Horsepig”. Boasting brash delivery and another sizable groove, it’s a special one for Fronz as it proved to be a family affair. “My three-year-old son actually named that song,” he admits. “One day, I showed him a flashcard of a warthog. He knew what it was, but he wanted to change the name to ‘Horsepig’ since a warthog looks like a horse and a pig. Later that day, we wrote the song, and I had to use the word he invented for its title.”

Along the way, Attila have turned “party metal” into a bona fide art form. Formed in 2005, they’ve continually clawed their way towards heavy music domination. In addition to being a headliner on Warped Tour 2014 and touring alongside everybody from Suicide Silence to Asking Alexandria and Memphis May Fire, these mayhem mavens have sold over 100,000 records to date. They’re preaching a new kind of gospel too…

“Our generation is killing rock ‘n’ roll by writing all of this pussy-ass music,” he leaves off. “This kind of music is about breaking the rules and pushing the limits. That’s what Attila has done and we will continue to do. We’re breaking rules. We don’t give a fuck if people like us or not. We’re doing what we love and having the time of our loves. The world needs that. We’re happy to be your outlet. Have a fucking blast. We’re your Guilty Pleasure.”

ANTI-FLAG: WARPED TOUR 2017 BAND

ANTI-FLAG LINKS:

HARD ROCK

6.16-8.6

PUNK

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

JUSTIN SANE - GUITAR, VOCALS

PAT THETIC - DRUMS

CHRIS HEAD - GUITAR

CHRIS #2 - BASS, VOCALS

"Anti-Flag are an American punk band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The band is well known for political activism, focusing on anti-war activism, anti-imperialism, class struggle, human rights, and various sociopolitical sentiments. The line-up includes singer/guitarist Justin Sane and drummer Pat Thetic, who founded the band; later members are guitarist Chris Head, and singer/bassist Chris Barker (#2) who replaced Jamie "Cock" Towns, who had replaced original bassist Andy Flag in 1997 following his departure one year prior. Anti-Flag is known also for their advocacy of progressive political action groups such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International. Most recently, the band has declared solidarity with the global Occupy Together movement."

AMERICAN AUTHORS: WARPED TOUR 2017 BAND

AMERICAN AUTHORS LINKS:

JOURNEYS RIGHT FOOT STAGE

6.16-7.19, 7.21-8.6

ALTERNATIVE

BROOKLYN, NY

ISLAND RECORDS

ZACHARY BARNETT

JAMES ADAM SHELLEY

MATT SANCHEZ

DAVE RUBLIN

BAND BIO:

"We express our experiences as a shared unit , through music and an agreement of sound. No one always gets along, but with lows come highs and fighting always has an end. we accept struggle and are passionate about the lives we lead. We create the music that comes naturally to us and we're not afraid of change. We have all made changes for better and for worse but whats done is done and we are thrilled with the present. We all have a story to tell and whether it's audible, visual, silence or motion, we cant hide the fact that we are constantly creating new moments to share. We are American Authors from Brooklyn, New york."

ALESTORM: WARPED TOUR 2017 BAND

ALESTORM LINKS:

SKULLCANDY STAGE

6.21-8.6

THE BANANA ISLANDS, SIERRA LEONE

NAPALM RECORDS

CHRISTOPHER BOWES - VOCALS

MATE BODOR - GUITAR

GARETH MURDOCK - BASS

ELLIOT VERNON - KEYBOARDS

PETER ALCORN - DRUMS

BAND BIOGRAPHY:

"Avast, ye landlubbers! From the deepest darkest depths of the Caribbean comes ALESTORM, a drunken band of pirates on an epic quest to drink your beer, steal your rum, and be the greatest damn band that ever did sail the seven seas!

From humble beginnings playing shows to farm animals in a field somewhere in Eastern Scotland, Alestorm have evolved into an international party machine hellbent on conquering album charts and festival stages throughout the world, with their infectious brand of 'Pirate Metal' and their dashing good looks. Somehow they've managed to convince hundreds of thousands of people from New Zealand to Argentina to Lithuania and everywhere inbetween (except Paraguay), that it's cool to wear a pirate hat and sing stupid songs about getting drunk and stealing ships. So prepare your spleens, because Alestorm are coming to kick ass and chew gum. And they're all out of ass.

Also, they have a giant inflatable duck. Does your band have a giant inflatable duck? No. I didn't think so."

AFTER THE BURIAL: WARPED 2017 BAND

AFTER THE BURIAL LINKS: