Photos by: Jonathan Galeano/Jgaleanofilms Introduction by: Annie Schlottman Oklahoma’s MOTHICA was just on a run as support for I See Stars on the Spin The Wheel Tour from late February through early April, joined by Until I Wake and Diamante .  The Sound 228 contributing photographer Jonathan Galeano of Jgaleanofilms captured MOTHICA’s set at Delmar Hall in St. Louis, Missouri Thursday, April 2nd. MOTHICA’s musical style is described as “melancholy gloom pop” and “emo

Written by: Jennifer Touche Photo provided by band Set for the Fall is stepping into a new phase since we last covered them in the January 2026 issue of The Sound 228 . The band is now moving in a sharper direction and a more defined structure after their signing with Vere Records earlier this year. Their new single, "Never Again," dropped on March 27, with the official video set to release on April 3, a short run of dates alongside Ashes Remain and Steven Stanley already on

Written by: Kat Gullage Photos by Holly Borden / Holly Roy Photography Theatrical horror rockers GWAR (short for “Gwaaarrrgghhlllgh”) made a stop at the Webster in Hartford, Connecticut with King Parrot and Soulfly in tow Tuesday, March 24th, 2026. King Parrot brought their fusion of hardcore metal and punk all the way from Australia. This was my second time seeing them live. Caught em previously opening for the current Pantera line-up. Happy to report the crowd at this gig

Written by: Annie Schlottman So many bands run across my social media feeds lately, sometimes it’s hard to keep up. There is so much awesome music that resonates with me and gets added to my many playlists.  One of the artists that caught my eye in 2025 was the Virginia four-piece metalcore band Gone Cold. I love their musical style, and I started following them as soon as I heard some of their songs. After releasing a six track EP called A Sign of Life in September 2025,

Written by: Annie Schlottman What word would someone use to describe Jimmy Wooten?  The best one I can think of is “friend”.  Jimmy was loved and known by many people.  Not only was he the drummer of the band GEARS , but he was involved in many other aspects of the music industry and helped other artists achieve their dreams.  Jimmy was one of those people who made a lasting impression on everyone who was lucky enough to know him.  He touched many lives.  Even people like my

Written by: Gina Copello Photo Credits: icmvisuals, Toddi Babu The Art of Deception is a metal mixed with deathcore band based in Pennsylvania, and was formed in 2015 with the lineup of Nolan Mateer, Jared Moser, and Travis Stine. They have 3 EPs – ‘The Art of Deception’ debuted in 2015, ‘Searching for an Escape’ released in 2017, and ‘Imminence’ released in 2025. The band lives by one goal – to make music they love and share it with the world. Their lyrics come with power an

Written by: Annie Schlottman Iridium is a UK metalcore band that is quickly turning heads in the music world, recently releasing a new EP called “HELL IS A HALFWAY HOUSE” that fans of the genre are raving about.  The band has reached 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and there have been over 500,000 streams of the new EP, which has only been out since January 23rd.  With the numbers rising, this looks like a band that’s about to take off. Band members of Iridium include

Written by: Annie Schlottman Photo credits: Nathaniel Clayton, Kevin Harris I recently found Nashville metalcore band Hollow Wake through a recommendation from my friend Kevin. They had just dropped their new song "Skin & Bones" February 20th, and he said he thought I would like it. I checked out the song and accompanying music video, and Kevin was correct! I thought Hollow Wake and their awesome new song would be a great topic for my blog, so I reached out to the band, an

The red light turns on. A singer steps to the mic. But this time, there is no singer. No coffee-stained lyric sheet. No tour van humming outside the studio. Just code. Just commands. Just a neural network exhaling a melody into existence.

Rock is in his blood — but Wolfgang Van Halen isn’t riding anyone’s coattails. He’s building his own legacy. In this exclusive interview with Special K of The Sound 228 and 97.9 WCPR Rocks, Wolfgang dives into the evolution of Mammoth, what it means to carry one of rock’s most iconic last names, and how he’s carved out his own sound in today’s modern rock landscape. From writing and recording nearly every instrument on his records to commanding major festival stages across th

Written by: Annie Schlottman Brenden Starr is a very talented and driven alternative/pop rock singer/songwriter from Hanover, Pennsylvania.  He's slowly and steadily building his career and making a name for himself through hard work and determination, consistently releasing awesome songs and videos and hitting the road to perform his music in front of his growing fan base. This Friday, February 13th, Brenden will be releasing his single "My Intentions", along with a music v

Rock history might be gearing up for one more thunderous chapter. Sharon Osbourne has confirmed she is in active talks with Live Nation about reviving the legendary Ozzfest festival. In a recent interview with Billboard , the iconic manager and TV personality shared that the spirit of Ozzfest is calling her back into action. “I’ve been talking to Live Nation about bringing Ozzfest back,” Sharon said. “It was something Ozzy was very passionate about. Giving young talent a stag

A scaled-down version of the jaw-dropping Las Vegas Sphere is officially headed to National Harbor, Maryland, after state and county leaders greenlit plans alongside Sphere Entertainment over the weekend. The new dome won’t be as massive as its 18,600-seat Vegas counterpart, but don’t mistake “smaller” for tame — this version is set to pack in 6,000 seats, cutting-edge LED displays, and the same mind-bending special effects that have turned the original Sphere into one of the

Written by: Annie Schlottman I am a firm believer that bands are storytellers.  They all have a message they’re trying to share with their listeners.  Fans are drawn in by the songs that resonate with them.  In the case of Texas metalcore/post-hardcore band Vilamoura, their music is so relatable, I think many people would find something that helps them in their own lives as they go through challenges and face dark times. As much as I think a band’s message or story is import

Five Finger Death Punch has revealed they currently have around twenty-five songs in the works, signaling serious momentum toward their next studio album. According to the band, the material is still taking shape as they fine-tune ideas to preserve the raw aggression and emotional weight their fans expect. With a deep catalog of tracks in development, they have the freedom to carefully select only the strongest and most impactful songs for the final record. They’re taking the

The Funeral Portrait are officially batting 1.000 — and the rock world is taking notice. 🔥 Their latest single, “Dark Thoughts,” has just landed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart (Jan. 24) — making it their third straight chart-topper in a row. This heater of a run started with “Suffocate City” (featuring Spencer Charnas), rolled right through “Holy Water” (with Ivan Moody), and now rages on with “Dark Thoughts.” That puts The Funeral Portrait in elite co

Written by: Annie Schlottman Photo credit: Brendan McGlathery / Preta Path Productions It only takes one song.  One video.  One post or interaction on social media.  It can be any one or a combination of the above for a band to gain a new fan.  That’s what happened recently for me and the Pennsylvania metal band UltraViolent.  They’ve been on my radar for the past couple years, but admittedly, I didn’t know much about them.  That has changed, and I’m really happy to now be

Rock brothers Aranda  stop by The Sound 228  to talk all things new music, touring, and their journey as a band . The guys break down their powerful new single “You Don’t Wanna Know” , what inspired it, and how it fits into the next chapter of Aranda’s evolving sound. We dive into their band history , the grind of the road, and how years of experience have shaped who they are today—both on stage and off. Plus, we watch the official video  for “You Don’t Wanna Know”  and get t

In this interview on The Sound 228, we sit down with Eric from Shallow Side for a real, wide-ranging conversation that hits on where the band has been, where they’re headed, and the moments that shaped it all.

Review and photos by: Jennifer Touch é Dutch deathcore band Distant rolled through Baton Rouge near the end of their U.S. run - one of the last stops after weeks on the road, including a support run with Ingested and a short stretch of their own headline dates. By the time they hit Chelsea’s Live, the set felt lived-in. Whitemoth opened. The Baton Rouge-based deathcore band took the stage, delivering Louisiana heaviness. The drummer, Hickman Plaisance, attacked the kit like