ANGELICAL TEARS
SHIELD OF WINGS
A REBIRTH’S BEGINNING… Shield of Wings is Chicagoland’s premier Epic Symphonic Metal band. Infused with melodic, folk, and death metal, it is a fresh twist on the genre, sure to perk your ears. In 2022 the band released their debut full-length album, Unfinished, which has brought into view 10 new bombastic compositions of poetic exploration. Each song from Unfinished explores themes of growth through self-examination, regret, sacrificial death and rebirth.
Shield of Wings is:
Lara Mordian – Vocals
Aliyah Daye – Support & Harsh Vocals, Keys
James Gregor – Guitar & Orchestrations
Patrick Eulitz – Drums
Alex Luke – Bass Guitar
A SOUND OF THUNDER
SOLARSPHERE
LINDZ RIOT [MARY AND THE BLACK LAMB]
DIECAST
ARMORED ASSAULT
Armored Assault have been delivering riffs upon riffs to the unsuspecting masses since 2003. Not content with sticking to a label, Armored Assault is Metal. Now, armed with a new guitarist, the band’s ready to unleash its first new EP in 5 years.
MILES FROM EXILE
Miles From Exile (Progressive Thrash Metal) is the embodiment of dedication and precision. Monstrous dueling riffs, bone crushing low-end, brilliant percussion, and versatile vocals will keep you and yours headbanging ’til it hurts.
EN MASSE
Hailing from the Chicagoland area with an “in your face band that will melt your face in the pit.” mentality. En Masse formed in 2010 to create an amalgamation of traditional thrash/death metal with old school hardcore and birthed a new beast. If you are a fan of Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, DRI, SOD, Decapitated, Slayer, Deicide, Pantera, Pestilence, Lamb of God, Possessed and Death. Then you with like the fast, hard hitting beats, riffs, and vocals that are produce. A hard working, regional touring band, in 2014 released Ultimum Tyrannum, which is the re-mastered debut album. Currently working on the sophomore album which is highly anticipated after the self -titled debut album from 2012 and Ultimum Tyrannum (re-master of debut album released 2012). With being comprised of former members Miscreants and Life In Shadow they have formed an old school sound with a new school mix. Hope to see you at a future show. Until then Stay brutal.
FENCES
HOODIE ALLEN
Putting a bit more pop into the pop-rap of folks like Asher Roth and Sam Adams, rapper Hoodie Allen went from Internet favorite to charting artist with the release of his 2012 EP All American. Born Steven Markowitz and raised on Long Island, Hoodie was frat-rap from the beginning, having met producer RJF during an Alpha Epsilon Pi-hosted party at the University of Pennsylvania. The two would release the street albums Bagels & Beats and Making Waves and win MTV’s Best Music on Campus Award in 2009, but his big hit came with the 2010 track “You Are Not a Robot,” which sampled Marina and the Diamonds’ hit “I Am Not a Robot” and landed on his popular mixtape Pep Rally. A headlining tour across the States followed before Hoodie made his official debut with the All American EP in 2012. Released on his own label, the EP debuted at number ten on Billboard’s Top Albums.
P HOLLA
H8 INC
THE GESTALTS
The Gestalts are a 5 piece band from Lafayette Indiana. Their influences span 3+ decades, many locales and ‘subgenres’ and often lead to can’t-quite-put-your-finger-on-it-comparisons ranging from black flag to stiff little fingers and all manner of unexpected points in between. In their first year of existence they’ve shared the stage with many street punk, Oi!, garage, ska/reggae, lo-fi and everything-else-bands from Chicago to the east coast- notably opening for 1 of only 2 midwest Old Firm Casuals dates as well as landing a spot on the east coast 2000 Tons of TNT with innumerable legendary and upstart street punk and Oi! bands from around the globe
GRIDLINK
SLUTEVER
FROM PA
CONTROL
One part folklore, one part horror, 3 piece band=7 years bad luck.
PENTAGRAM
Bobby Liebling & PENTAGRAM have been churning out widely admired hard rock / doom metal for over four decades. Within its first, this D.C. band is largely regarded as pioneering not one but two subgenres of hard rock. At the onset of the 1970’s, they helped procreate a behemoth called, “Heavy Metal.” Nine years on, they’d be planting the dark seed of what would grow to be known as “Doom.”
SACRED REICH
Sacred Reich is a Phoenix, Arizona based thrash metal band that formed in 1985. Part of the second wave of thrash along with Testament, Death Angel, Destruction and Dark Angel, Sacred Reich has produced a catalog of politically charged aggressive music that has stood the test of time. The band plays a limited amount of shows each year and can be seen performing at several European festivals each summer.
Discography:
* Draining You of Life 1985- self-released demo * Ignorance 1987 LP – Metal Blade Records
* Surf Nicaragua 1988 EP – Metal Blade Records – CD version has two live bonus tracks
* Alive at the Dynamo 1989 Live EP – Roadracer Records
* The American Way 1990 LP – Enigma Records
* A Question 1991 EP – Hollywood Records
* Independent 1993 LP – Hollywood Records (Japanese Version includes Fear cover “Let’s Start a War” as a bonus track)
* Heal 1996 LP – Metal Blade Records – (Japanese Version includes Fear cover “Beef Bologna” as a bonus track)
* Still Ignorant: 1987-1997 Live – 1997 Live LP – Metal Blade Records
QWAZAAR
At this point in his career, Qwa’s pedigree is unquestionable. South Side representative extraordinaire; Low End theorist; endlessly inventive with flows and increasingly daring in subject and range. Long hailed for his vocal ability, the decades have seen Qwa transform into the rare artist whose symphonic flow is effortlessly matched to pitch-perfect confessional content. The moments that meld both into a unique storytelling voice are rare—Rakim’s “The Ghetto” comes to mind, as do Black Thought’s post-bop excursions. Qwa’s true corollary, however, aren’t his fellow MCs—it’s Charlie Parker, whose wrenching solos feature a technical genius that are only matched by their sorrow—the sound of Icarus’ wings melting. He’s found his proper spar this go-round—Batsauce is a Berlin-based turntable Gillespie (URB recently dubbed him “the next ‘it’ thing in underground hip hop”), and their first full-length is a true titanic, trans-Atlantic meeting of the minds.
ROBUST with MAX AND PORE
RIFT NAPALM
Rift Napalm is the future.
MARVO
TRE GATOR & ANIMAL
D. MEEKS & MIKEY STREETZ
CARESS SAHURA
ROTIMI
MATTESON ALLSTARS
VERTIGO
JAMS
THE SATELLITE EYE
TREEHOUSE
A LIGHT SLEEPER
FLOOD DAMAGE
The moosemen of Prudhoe land were nervous. “You want to go to Amerika? Why?” asked the chief. “Because it is there,” said Naked Seconds, the small wheel-chair bound boy, barely containing his rage, “Someone must get into the giant metal bird and fly to Amerika to set them straight about a few things.” Thus the rebirth of Flood Damage began, helmed by insanity, new and improved, spreadable on toast. Beware.
SCOTT LUCAS AND THE MARRIED MEN
Scott Lucas is best known as the singer/guitarist for the two-man, Chicago rock band Local H. But to go it alone, he has broadened his musical scope and greatly expanded his line-up, pulling together a collective of musicians that currently numbers seven and includes violin, accordion and organ. The result is quite different than Local H and a perfect fit for Lucas’ heartfelt songs of longing for a love lost. Reviewers have compared the band to American Music Club, Tindersticks and Lambchop. .. “The irony of putting together a band this big to go ‘solo’ certainly isn’t lost on me,” Lucas says. “But I think the idea should be to try different things, to push myself.” .. Lucas wrote half of the songs for his solo debut, George Lassos the Moon (G&P – Feb 2010), during a single week of a year-long separation from his girlfriend, emailing one song a night to her in hopes of getting back together. “The songs just kept pouring out of me — all the clichés are true,” says Lucas. “It was totally spontaneous and unforced. And, it didn’t really occur to me that it would be anything anyone would ever want to hear. I had absolutely no long term plans for any of these songs. For that first week, they were private love letters and nothing else.” .. The rest of the songs came shortly after and Lucas soon realized he had an album’s worth of material, but he didn’t feel like this particular set of songs would work as a Local H record. “When people make solo records, they’re usually borne out of ego and don’t sound much different than their ‘real’ band,” Lucas says. “I’ve always written the songs and had all the artistic freedom I could ever ask for in Local H. So, what would be the point of going solo? But it was very clear that these songs were different. They were just too fucking personal to be on anything other than a solo record.” .. So, he put together a backing band — the Married Men — borrowing members from local indie acts the Tossers, Caviar and the Joypoppers and recorded his solo debut with producer Andy Gerber over a single weekend. By the time George Lassos the Moon was released months later, the band’s live sound had noticeably tightened and the understated, quiet sadness of the album was not what fans were experiencing during their powerful live shows. .. To showcase the band’s evolution after more time spent together playing live, Lucas returned to the studio with the Married Men after their first tour earlier this year to record The Absolute Beginners EP (G&P – Oct 2010), “When we recorded the first record, we hadn’t been together for more than a month. Some of us barely knew the songs,” Lucas explains. “I wanted to capture the band after it had been on the road. To see how the dynamic had changed. There’s more energy.” .. Named for the David Bowie track that they cover, the four-song recording, which clocks in around 30 minutes, also features re-workings of two songs that appeared on George Lassos the Moon, as well as a cover of Local H’s “Hey, Rita,” from their 2004 album Whatever Happened to PJ Soles?. Andy Gerber produced the EP, which is available on CD, digitally and on limited-edition vinyl. (Fans who purchase the vinyl version get a code to download a bonus digital album, Who Listens to Radio Anymore?: Live Sessions, an hour-long compilation of in-studio performances and interviews that Lucas & the Married Men did this past year.) .. Scott Lucas & the Married Men have toured the Northeast, Midwest and South this past year and turned in a blistering performance at the CMJ Music Marathon in the fall. They’ve also performed live on Chicago’s JBTV, WGN and CBS Chicago, as well as on dozens of radio stations. .. Though he has no intention of abandoning Local H, Lucas has also never considered the Married Men a one-off project. He plans to keep them both going simultaneously and even released EPs by both bands on the same day this fall. “It’s been great to watch this band grow,” Lucas says. “It makes me really excited for the next album.” .. .. .. .. .. .. What some people are saying about Scott Lucas & the Married Men: .. .. .. “In addition to his ability to craft indelible melodies, even when they’re delivered amid a wall of fuzz and thundering drums, one of Lucas’ strengths as a songwriter always has been a razor-sharp wit as a lyricist, coupled with a novelist’s eye for telling details. The Married Men showcase the latter in a different setting, amid sawing violins, sweeping piano lines, wheezing accordion and organ, and seductive acoustic guitar that welcome comparisons to the likes of American Music Club and Tindersticks.” – Jim DeRogatis, Pop N Stuff .. .. “The Absolute Beginners EP is a nice snapshot of a band hitting its stride. The band’s debut album housed a collection of songs brimming with quiet strength, but the new EP showcases what a powerhouse the band has become as they’ve gradually built even more muscle onto the tunes.” – Jim Kopeny, Chicagoist .. .. “…a massive wall of sound that is relentless live.” – Exploding in Sound .. .. “… Lucas’ most personal and introspective songs yet…” — Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune .. .. “[The Absolute Beginners EP] spins tales of love and loss, and it is a fabulous example of the band’s astounding progress…. The tracks are longer and more tightly put together, their power contained purely in the intimate sound-scapes they produce. Specifically in “Last One,” the stunning solo violin seems to pull so gently on the listener’s heartstrings, forcing memories of lost love to resurface.” – Kathryn Nasto, CMJ .. .. “The majority of the band’s set consisted of subtle gems, like ‘What Fools Allow,’ a tender and honest reflection of love-lost, complimented by a woeful violin part………. But Lucas showed he hasn’t quite lost his hard-rock edge, as proven in the full-band breakdown of ‘Extra Special Bitter’ … It was refreshing to witness a Chicago rock staple take the bold step out of the alt-rock confines and into an artistically progressive musical genre, free of the distortion pedal.” — Neph Basedow – thedelimagazine.com .. .. “…a band finding its footing somewhere pleasant… [The Absolute Beginners EP] glitters in subtlety through the shadow of sharper sounds — the nuance of Rebecca Manthe’s violin, Tom Szidon’s multitasking piano hands, and of course, Lucas’ spot-on lyrical depth. “ — David Buchanan, Consequence of Sound .. .. .. Discography:…. George Lassos the Moon (G&P) – February 2010.. The Absolute Beginners EP (G&P) – October 2010.. Who Listens to Radio Anymore?: Live Sessions (G&P) – October 2010..
JUST SAY YES
OFF!
RATASUCIA
ALL EYES WEST
The Chicago scene has always been known for its gritty and honest punk rock defined by bands like Naked Raygun, Screeching Weasel, and 88 Fingers Louie. Newcomers ALL EYES WEST, no strangers themselves to the Chicago scene, are continuing in its great tradition with the release of their self-titled debut LP on Jump Start Records. All Eyes West came together in the summer of 2010 and is lead by vocalist/bassist Justin Miller’s emotionally charged lyrics which have been a signature to bands like Signsedso and indie rockers Hinter. Guitarist Jeff Dean is known for the sound that has defined bands like The Bomb(with Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun) , Noise By Numbers, and Explode And Make Up. In a relatively short amount of time the band has managed to build an impressive resume, touring both the US & UK, playing with bands like OFF!, Alkaline Trio, Seaweed, Bob Mould, Samiam, Rival Schools, Braid, and Amusement Parks on Fire. The band’s self-titled effort was recorded at Million Yen Studios by guitarist Jeff Dean and mastered by Jon Drew (Tokyo Police Club, Fucked Up). On it, the band pays homage to 90’s rock giants like Swervedriver, Drive Like Jehu, Jawbreaker, and Fugazi while garnering comparisons to bands like Seaweed, Husker Du and early Foo Fighters.
NICHOLAUS KANE
PROJECT MAYHEM
D-WIN
STEP DADS
STEP DADS (IN)
FLESHBROKER
2194
2194 (MI)
BEAST WARRIOR
At the outermost fringe of the universe, far beyond the range of sentient thought, they were born. Four beings, spawned forth from the unholy union of dark matter and the semen of God. For eons they have grown powerful beyond comprehension, enveloping stars, entire solar systems, with their presence. They have eaten suns. They have shat galaxies. They have tasted the sweat of the purest virgins.
The collective consciousness of the demigods has encompassed all of time and space. Knowledge of the dawning of life and of six different apocalypses fills their minds. Their gargantuan and pulsating influence yet expands, even to the mortal realm, silently but swiftly penetrating the spongy and waiting minds of the human race. Women lie with their clothes rended from their bodies, their naked flesh exposed and their minds rotted, maniacal babble exploding from their lips. They speak of lands undreamed, creatures blacker than the deepest abyss, and a name: Baldor…
MOUNT CARMEL
THE REAGANOMICS
4 sweaty dads playing punk rock with constant pummeling banter mostly pertaining to collective soul and hatebreed.
SPLIT HEAVEN
Split Heaven is one of the most important upcoming promises Heavy Metal has to show to the world. They combine thundering speed, ’80s metal riffs (we all miss), battles of solos and high pitched vocals to create a vicious monster ready to bite, infect and spread the word of Heavy Metal. These five amigos from Mexico are ready to make you scream.
Pedro Zelbohr and Tomas Roitman formed the band in 2005. After one year, now with two new members: Eli Valenzuela & Carlo “Taii” Hernández, Split Heaven recorded a demo called R.I.P, which gave life to this Mexican heavy metal act.
In 2007, the band recorded a second demo, which was released in a limited edition by Asenath Records of Monterrey, México. With this recording, the band started to make noise in the Mexican scene, being the supporting band for Hammerfall (Sweden), Rata Blanca (Argentina) & L.A Guns (U.S.A).
Being not 100% satisfied with their sound, Split Heaven decides to add a new member, Armand “Hank” Ramos, and in 2008 Blower Records offers a contract for the first full-length album which is “Psycho Samurai” and was released in July of the same year in a show with U.S Metal bands: At War & Agent Steel.
In 2009, Split Heaven won the Mexican Metal Battle contest of Wacken Festival, which took place in Mexico City at Circo Volador venue. With this, they received the opportunity to represent México in the 2009 Metal Battle at Wacken Open Air, on its 20th Anniversary, being the first Mexican band ever to perform in this festival. In the same year, High Roller Records (Germany) acquires the license of “Psycho Samurai” and releases the LP in a limited edition on February of 2010.
In July of 2010, the band got invited to play in Brazil, sharing stage with Brazilian and American bands of the German label Pure Steel Records and after this, the label signed the Mexican maniacs releasing their new album “Street Law” in April of 2011. In the same month, Skol Records releases a tribute album of Metalucifer, which Split Heaven took part of.
The band have played in Mexico with some of the most important bands in the worldwide metal scene, such as: Hammerfall, Paul Di’ Anno, L.A Guns, Rata Blanca, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, Brainstorm, among others, and is one of the strongest heavy metal bands in their country.
In 2012 Split Heaven is attending to their first European Tour, playing at Swordbrothers Festival in Germany together with other shows in the german territory and visiting countries like Holland and Belgium, metalizing the heavy metal maniacs around the old continent!
SMASH POTATER
We are Smash Potater from the desolate wastelands of Aurora, Illinois. We attempt to write memorable music tailored for moshing and prefer to mock typical thrash cliches rather than embrace them. We have conquered the small rural area known as Chicago and are now setting our sites on the rest of the world. Fire up the grills and bust out the Arizona because shit’s about to get real. Aww here it goes…..