Written by: Annie Schlottman Photo credits: Dom Delfino/Delfino Visuals; Daniel Diaz/Danielz Visual Sometimes, when I write about a band, I already know a lot about them and don’t have to do a lot of research – just fact-checking. Other times I know the songs, but not a lot about the background of the band. That is often a fun experience, because I really get to do a deep dive and learn what makes a band tick. I often find out things that make me a bigger fan of the band th

Written by: Annie Schlottman Photo credits: Sean Raynor/Internal Vision @internal.vision; Dynamic Shot Lab LLC/@dslconcertphotos; Luke McAfee/@inmoshwetrust; Daniel Bove/@maximusb2012; HanT Photo/@han.t_photo Sometimes there is a band who comes along who tugs at your heartstrings. Just listening to their music and learning about the band, you feel a sense of community and belonging. Dead Within Days is one of those bands for me. I'm pretty sure I first fully started followin

Written by: Annie Schlottman Photo credit: Brendan McGlathery/Preta Path Productions Pennsylvania metalcore band If Not For Me has released a new single called “Broken Throne”, via Thriller Records, along with a visualizer video. This song is sure to be another hit with the loyal INFM fan base, as like all of this band’s music, it’s centered around a relatable topic and includes the heavy instrumentals, thunderous breakdown, and vocal melodies this quartet has become known

Every now and then, the concert gods throw fans a bone—and this is one of those moments. Live Nation has officially launched its annual ticket promotion, and for 2026, it’s back under the banner of “Summer of Live.” The deal? Thousands of shows. Massive artists. And tickets starting at just $30. Yeah… you read that right. This year’s promotion covers more than 4,000 concerts across multiple genres, giving fans a chance to catch some of the biggest names in rock, metal, and be

Marilyn Manson is back—and not quietly. After a stretch away from U.S. stages, the shock rock icon resurfaced this week with a fresh lineup behind him, kicking off his 2026 live run with two intimate warm-up shows at the Yaamava' Theater in Highland, California. The performances mark his first domestic appearances since the fall, when he last played at Aftershock Festival. These shows aren’t just a return—they’re a recalibration. And all eyes are now locked on his next move:

Review written by: Joe Perusse Photos by: Holly Roy Photography The line wrapped around the block before doors even opened — a sold-out crowd already buzzing for what was shaping up to be a serious night. And when you spot multiple banana suits, a shark costume, and Santa Claus all waiting in the same queue, you already know the vibe is going to be something else. This was the scene at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts Wednesday, April 15th for headliner Slaughter

Photo Credit: Blaine Bruskotter Written by: Jennifer Touche Photos by: Blaine Bruskottter, Jennifer Touche New Orleans metal band Daemon Grimm has released their new album Laced Divination , a record that has been a couple of years in the making and is shaped by by everything the band has endured along the way. Built from previous single releases alongside new material, the album stays true to the sound they've established while showing a more refined direction. Now that the

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