Hailed by many as one of the most skilled and innovative lyricist since hip hop’s conception, Qwel is not your average ambiguous applause monger. Seasoned within Chicago’s unrelenting battle circuit, Qwel found his niche among his soon to be crew at University of Chicago’s WHPK Wednesday night rap show. The show, a staple in Chicago underground history, was then hosted by DJ Natural and Kid Knish. There he would meet both Denizen Kane and Qwazaar and soon after they would form Typical Cats. The project that they shortly after released, would instantly gain both national and international acclaim. When Qwel and Maker first discussed the possibility of collaborating on the first of the four horsemen/seasons albums neither one of them could have fully known exactly what they were unleashing on the underground hip hop world. With Makers rare and completely unprecedented production style, Qwel saw an opportunity to return to true school ripping it with the proper canvas to topple topics that the cornier, true school emcees wouldn’t dare. With a much more up beat and banging approach to the songs Qwel and Maker dropped one of the greatest underground hip hop albums of all time, “The Harvest”.
Ramming Speed have been pounding the highway hard since 2007. Borrowing heavily from d-beat punk’s charging rhythm, NWOBHM’s twin guitar harmonies, thrash metal’s aggression and grind’s blinding speed, we have have released one cd, four records, and two tapes on six different labels. Touring has covered the entire US many times over, along with 14 other countries, including the UK, Iceland, Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Poland, Austria and beyond. The band has toured/done one off’s with Trap Them, Torche, Municipal Waste, Phobia, Holy Grail, Toxic Holocaust, Black Tusk, Doomriders, Saviours, Revocation and many more.
In the beginning it was “Write metal punk song, release 7″, go on tour, repeat” but over the last two years we took time to pause and refine our craft – the results of which are upcoming full length “Doomed to Destroy, Destined to Die” (recorded by Kurt Ballou).
The Blog Noisecreep.com called us “One of the hardest-working bands in heavy metal” and after our set at Czech Republic festival Obscene Extreme Terrorizer Magazine printed that we were the “band of the decade” and stated “Why their set wasn’t extended for, well, the rest of the weekend will remain a mystery. Looks like we’ll have to make do watching their videos. On repeat. Forever.”.
We have a regular guest column on DecibelMagazine.com and MetalInsider.com and are committed completely to all of the sweaty, sleepless nights it takes to keep the band on the road. See you at the show.
Ramova plays raunchy-but-tight punk – and while countless other bands make a career of sounding like they’re going to lapse into complete chaos at any moment, the Chicago trio makes it clear that it’s always in control.” -the ONION
With a vicious blend of groove, thrash, and new-wave metal, PRODUCT OF HATE was formed in the fall of 2007. Having performed in support of bands such as TESTAMENT, LAMB OF GOD, GWAR, CHIMAIRA, UNEARTH, MESHUGGAH, LAZARUS A.D., DIRGE WITHIN, and JOB FOR A COWBOY, PRODUCT OF HATE entered Belle City Sound in Racine, Wisconsin to record their debut EP entitled THE UNHOLY MANIPULATOR in 2010
Isolation can often result in unique outcomes. Hailing from the tiny, frosty, untamed and detached Australian state that is Tasmania, Psycroptic have become an unparalleled act in an enigmatic world wide movement commonly known as death metal. Fifteen years have passed since their formation in 1999, the band having released five critically acclaimed studio albums, all which show an organic progression along a clandestine path from which they will never stray.
On the eve of their sixth full-length, though more technical and brutally intuitive than ever, the four-piece has not been afraid to get in touch with their softer side. Long known as the ‘Tasmanian devils’, they recently became the first band in the world to adopt their own Tasmanian Devil, whom they dubbed Psycro, in an attempt to help preserve the critically endangered carnivorous marsupial. Newer elements too can be expected when the new album is finally unleashed – more vocal variation, a heightened handle on instrumental melody, and an overwhelming sense that this act has truly mastered their craft.
Psycroptic have toured all corners of the globe with names that need no introduction to those in the know – Cannibal Corpse, Suicide Silence, Decapitated, The Faceless, Obituary, Carcass, Nile, The Black Dahlia Murder, Origin, Kataklysm, Aborted, Despised Icon, Suffocation, Veil of Maya, Cryptopsy, Misery Index, Vader, Born of Osiris, Hate Eternal… you get the picture right? They also recently guest hosted the ABC music video program Rage, an honour reserved for only the most class Australian acts. Metal legend Max Cavalera has also been sporting the band’s merch in recent promotional photos, bringing things full circle from the days when they were influenced by Sepultura in their youth. It’s safe to say that Psycroptic’s place in the history of heavy metal is solidified, and that everything that happens from here on in is simply a bonus…
They say… “Where there was once no place there is now a home”…for Pure Remedy has been brought to us by various parts of the city of Chicago, Blue-Island IL, Alsip IL, Belmont Ave, Logan Square, Pilsen, Ukrainian Village. Four musicians with none other than divine nonjudgmental passion, heart filled collages, and soulful colors of chimes by surroundings. Along with the unification and brotherhood, the past roots and journeys of every member intersect; make this band test new heights and transformations. Self taught, and with help of musically inclined family relatives teachers and peers, they began in the summer of 2008 to finally proclaim their creativeness indulgence in music. Inspired by all of life and hardships including loved one’s health, and continuity of growth in learning from every sound… Differentiating from common inspirations from the late 60’s and 70’s, early 80’s and 90’s, Pure Remedy increasingly finds the source of the rhythm of the words in a melody. Influenced by their first bands such as Mito Nocturno, Aire Mistico, Nora Wears Angora & Whispering Lake Drive…heavily inspired by strangers, lovers, close friends and family. Pure Remedy lives and plays for those who have struggled, those who have been victimized, and those who would rather be unified in the cause for peace and the sanctuary for the discovery and freedom of creativity! Pure Remedy will always look forward across all lands and skies adapting to the differences in chaotic, optimistic, eccentrically familiar and unfamiliar tones of music. Acquiring strengths of the transformation of sound, to blend in their faith and fight, in all of their positive energy like magicians.
Chicago-based indie pop quartet Purple Apple is made up of three 15 year old girls and their twentysomething babysitter, Devin, on drums. The three schoolmates at the core of the band – Olivia, Madi and Nonie – are wise beyond their years, and nowhere does this show more than in their songwriting. While their peers were playing tag and trying out for the junior high cheerleading team, Purple Apple focused their free time writing songs about the things that matter to them, songs that capture the complex world of being a teenager. Armed with a handful of original material, the band released their debut EP, Sweet Wolverine, in 2010. For the past couple of years, the girls have worked hard to perfect their live sound, initially at venerable venues like Schubas and the Hideout, and eventually graduating to become the youngest band to ever headline Chicago’s legendary rock venue, The Metro.
Pipe hails from the south side of Chicago and you can hear it in their tough no nonsense hard rock sound. Stephen Favarato (vocals/guitar) responded to a Craigslist ad from Frank Damiano (lead guitar) as he was in search of a muse to ink some songs. Two days and a few emails later they had Two songs finished….ahh the wonders of the internet. They met the next day and found themselves onstage doing an open mic night and laying down some Zep, Alice in Chains thus welding the bond. Their first album entitled “Shovel mouth” was finished in 2008 and brought a modern hard rock/metal sound that is a grinding churn of several influences. Several personnel changes later, Pipe found there cut to the bone core when they added former Well of Souls drummer Paul Brodlo and local Chicago bassist John Sterba . The new sound went back to their true love and style combining all the influences they grew up with. Hard rock, a slather or blues and at times hint of country and western rounds out the knock out punch of Pipe’s sophomore offering “Hit This”. Released in 2014 Hit This was recorded in Chicago but then brought to New York and the doorstep of Sonic Stomp Studio and into the hands of Mike Orlando guitarist/recording engineer for Adrenaline Mob. His take on the music sent it to the next sonic level and brought out the real barn burning sound of Pipe. Their style and sound is most notable in their debut video “Play that Johnny Cash song”, a true life tale of a wild party and heavy dose of the man in black
Bringing it on . Influencing hometown music scene growth and unity.Giving away something real. Political without leaving out the reasons why we care , for instance, having fun and individuality and acceptance of others.Pistofficer repels record labels cuz PISTOFFICER IS THE BUG they are frightened of. Pistofficer would like a label to help do all this crap. Merchandise goes much to quikly damn it all !
Planes Mistaken For Stars formed in Peoria, Illinois in 1997, and relocated to Denver Colorado in 1999. From the outset, they were an artistic anomaly; carrying both a worn rust belt heart a warm midwestern soul. Collectively they combined different kinds of musical rebellion; hardcore aggression, punk energy, and gritty rock n’ roll spirit into their own special noise. Ultimately laying the blueprint for today’s emotional punk rock resurgence. “Prey” is the long awaited new album from Planes Mistaken For Stars.
The figurative slumber is over for this off kilter and brilliant cult status band.
When Baltimore based alt-metal act Dog Fashion Disco came to an end, it wasn’t the end of frontman Todd Smith, guitarist Jasan Stepp and drummer John Ensminger’s musical output.
During the near decade the group spent in Dog Fashion Disco, Smith and his merry band of misfits would amass a loyal underground following of fans (dubbed the “mushroom cult”) through countless tours with the likes of Slayer, Mindless Self Indulgence, Nothingface and Lacuna Coil. Although Dog Fashion Disco never achieved commercial success, their musical legacy gained the respect of musical contemporaries like Serj Tankian of System of a Down (who made a guest appearance on Anarchists of Good Taste),Mushroomhead and American Head Charge, while the group’s music lives on through the internet and continues to create new members of the “mushroom cult” long after the band’s demise.
While Smith and company may have become sick of living the vagabond lifestyle that a touring metal band requires, the thought of giving up music entirely never even crossed their minds. Within mere months of their former outfits demise the group had created a new group, Polkadot Cadaver to unleash their schizophrenic musical madness.
“Jasan and I decided to start a studio band and Polkadot Cadaver started as shells of songs on Jasan’s computer.
