Best of the Year: Top 10 Albums of 2021 by Chris

Posted on 12/31/2021 by Chris R. Smyth in Around Town and tagged hard rock, heavy metal, The Pretty Reckless, Tom Morello, Myles Kennedy, Tremonti, best of the year, Volbeat, Dirty Honey, David Shaw, Mammoth WVH, Best of 2021, Ayron Jones, Crobot.

Myles Kennedy performs at Baltimore Soundstage in 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

Where 2020 was mostly a lost year for music, 2021 became a banner year for the industry. While much of the industry is still working to recover from the massive toll that was forced upon them by the pandemic, we fans have been gifted a plethora of music this year. Vaccines got in arms, bands went back on tour, and new albums were released in droves. So many new records came out in 2021 that at times it was hard to keep track of it all. There were multiple times that I was surprised by a new release, or I realized that I had completely missed a new album by and artist I loved. It’s very possible that there are still a few records that I haven’t listened to that I am certain to love.

Around Town: Rick Allen of Def Leppard @ Wentworth Gallery (Bethesda, Md.) — 10/24/21

Posted on 10/26/2021 by Chris R. Smyth in Around Town and tagged Def Leppard, hard rock, heavy metal, Rick Allen, Wentworth Gallery.

Rick Allen of Def Leppard poses with his art at Westfield Montgomery Mall on Oct. 24, 2021. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

Legendary drummer for Def Leppard, Rick Allen, made two special appearances in the DMV on Oct. 23 and 24. Showcasing his artwork at the Wentworth Galleries in Tysons, Virginia and Bethesda, Maryland, Rick took time to sign autographs and meet with his fans in attendance. The woman who was first in line at the Wentworth Gallery in the Montgomery Mall, was so excited to meet Rick that she showed up two hours before the exhibition was set to open.

Snapshots: The Hu @ Baltimore Soundstage — 9/15/21

Posted on 09/21/2021 by ambienteye in Live Review and tagged Baltimore Soundstage, China, heavy metal, Mongolia, The Hu.

The Hu perform at Baltimore Soundstage on Sept. 15, 2021. (Photos by Katherine Gaines)

Copy adapted from press materials by Kelly Walsh, Schneider Rondan Organization (SRO PR)

Mongolian rock sensation The Hu returned with a headlining tour, “The Hun Tour,” and a show in Baltimore on Sept. 15. Katherine Gaines photographed the show!

Song of the Day: “I’m in Heaven” by Andrew WK

Posted on 05/06/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Andrew WK, hard rock, heavy metal, Michigan, Song of the Day.

Andrew WK (Photo courtesy Napalm Records)

Hark, disciples of partying — the long wait is finally over! Napalm Records and Andrew WK are thrilled to announce the impending release of the iconic Party God’s fifth full-length studio rock album, God Is Partying. The long-awaited nine track opus of maximalist rock grandeur is set for release on Sept. 10.

Today, audiences can experience another early serving from the album, in the form of Andrew WK’s latest single, the structurally unconventional and atmospherically unnerving, “I’m in Heaven”, alongside an equally idiosyncratic new music video.

Song of the Day: “Babalon” by Andrew WK

Posted on 02/17/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Andrew WK, hard rock, heavy metal, Michigan, Song of the Day.

Andrew WK (Photo by Michael RC)

At the beginning of February 2021, Napalm Records and the inimitable God of Partying, Andrew WK, announced the impending release of a massive new single, “Babalon” — and today, that new single is officially released and available worldwide with an accompanying music video.

Song of the Day: “Demon(s)” by Darkest Hour

Posted on 02/02/2021 by Parklifer in Local Spotlight, Preview and tagged Black Cat, Darkest Hour, DC, death metal, hardcore punk, heavy metal, metalcore, Song of the Day.

Darkest Hour (Photo by Vince Edwards)

In the first phase of rollout for their new audio/video release titled Live In Lockdown – The Complete Collection, Darkest Hour have delivered the audio version of the album to their Patreon subscribers today.

Additionally, the band has revealed a full performance video for the standout single “Demon(s).” For this track on Live in Lockdown, Darkest Hour was joined by Fella Di Cicco (Dreamshade) for an epic performance at DC’s own Black Cat!

Song of the Day: “Through the Night” by CueStack featuring David Hasselhoff

Posted on 12/10/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Austria, CueStack, David Hasselhoff, heavy metal, Song of the Day.

David Hasselhoff with CueStack (Photo by Maximilian Lottmann)

The metal debut of TV icon David Hasselhoff with two-man metal project CueStack, “Through the Night,” is available today.

Check out the Baywatch and Knight Rider star’s very first metal performance here in the official music video for “Through the Night” now!

Song of the Day: “Cheapside Sloggers – Live in Stuttgart” by Volbeat

Posted on 10/19/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Denmark, groove metal, hard rock, heavy metal, Song of the Day, Volbeat.

Volbeat (Photo courtesy Q Prime)

Today, Volbeat confirm the release of Rewind, Replay, Rebound: Live in Deutschland, available digitally worldwide on Nov. 27 via Republic Records. The new 27-song set features songs recorded during the sold-out German leg of last year’s Rewind, Replay, Rebound World Tour, along with two additional tracks recorded earlier on the tour.

Song of the Day: “Native Son” by Alter Bridge

Posted on 09/15/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Alter Bridge, Florida, hard rock, heavy metal, post-grunge, Song of the Day.

Alter Bridge (Photo by Dan Sturgess)

Alter Bridge releases a new single from their latest album, Walk the Sky, entitled “Native Son,” which has racked up over five million worldwide streams to date, and is currently impacting at radio.

The band also reveals an upcoming new EP, Walk the Sky 2.0, which features live versions of songs including “Native Son,” in addition to an entirely new recorded track written during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Livestream Preview: GWAR’s Undead from Antarctica Monthly Variety Show @ YouTube, 8/16/20

Posted on 08/14/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged crossover thrash, GWAR, heavy metal, livestream, Lzzy Hale, Richmond, thrash metal, Undead from Antartica, variety show, Virginia.

GWAR (Photo courtesy Freeman Promotions)

Been stuck at home in your mom’s basement since March? Tired of watching the same old shit on Netflix and Hulu? Have you had enough of Ancient Aliens, and the Tiger King? Ready to throttle that no-neck Danzig twin Big Ed from 90 Day Fiancé?

GWAR has the solution! Your Lords and Masters are launching a brand new monthly variety show from their frozen fortress to warm the cockles of your cold dead hearts!

“Undead From Antarctica” premieres Sunday, Aug. 19, at 9pm ET, on GWAR’s YouTube Channel with special guest Lzzy Hale!