live reviews

Is live music back? For now, and hopefully for much longer than that. Check out photos and a review of Portland experimental metal duo Wizard Rifle’s stop in Chicago on their tour (they’ve got two upcoming dates supporting The Sword in New York).

Two titans bring their own brands of psychedelic and progressive rock to Chicago’s Riviera.

We caught Lamb of God’s super-special Valentine’s Day show at Chicago’s House of Vans, a small skatepark warehouse dwarfed by the stadiums the band has been accustomed to. We also had the pleasure of speaking with frontman Randy Blythe before the set.

The dungeon synth overlord, a ritualized industrial black metal troupe, and power ambient duo cast spells on Reggie’s Rock Club this past January 25th.

The band’s tour seems to be going extremely well; last night’s show in Chicago sold out, and the performance was top-notch, but over-cramped venue conditions led to some grumpy fans.

New Year’s Eve in Chicago couldn’t have been better (or hazier): legendary stoner doomers Sleep danked up Chicago’s Thalia Hall on New Year’s Eve, complete with a hotboxing astronaut at midnight.

We caught one of the year’s strongest lineups in Chicago where each band delivered full-force badassery in their own respective styles — photos and set reviews inside.

The stoner doom masters lay thick fog over Philly as Midnight joins them in giving praise to metal’s undying spirit; photos and live review inside.

We caught the Mono tour on its stop in Chicago featuring none other than doom duo Bell Witch; photos and live report inside.

The fiery traditional metal of Iron Kingdom set our hair alight; the groove and bombast of Built from Chaos had heated things up plenty beforehand.