ABORTED
Since their unholy inception in 1995, death metal miscreants ABORTED have been one of the pioneers of the genre and have annihilated friend and foe with relentless intensity and an uncompromising mix of flawless technicality and raw emotion. Having carved a niche for themselves in the extreme metal realm, the multi-national combo around Sven de Caluwé initially gained notoriety by offering up ruthlessly fast death-grind with groovy breakdowns on their early works (‘The Purity of Perversion’, ‘Goremageddon: The Saw And The Carnage Done’). By meticulously crafting and introducing more technical elements on more recent releases such as “TerrorVision”, “Retrogore” and “ManiaCult”, ABORTED has consistently sharpened their lethal blend of furious death metal. Thereby firmly cementing their status as one of the most menacing and envelope-pushing metal acts of the 21st century. For their 12th studio album, set to attack the living on March 15th, the band teamed up with Nuclear Blast. With each of the 10 new tracks, ABORTED dives deep into the vaults of VHS cassettes and stories that have been haunting us all for decades. Each song pays tribute to a horror cult classic and ranges from obligatory cuts such as ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ (to be found on “Death Cult”) or ‘Halloween’ (‘The Shape Of Hate’) to the more recent ‘The Mist’ to be discovered on ‘Malevolent Haze’. True to themselves, it wouldn’t be an Aborted reference without an odious homage to none other than shit daemon ‘The Golgothan’ (sadly defeated by Silent Bob through the use of deodorant, cheeky bastard!). There are plenty of familiar faces (and those who collect them), stories and easter eggs to be found on these 10 ferocious, gut-wrenching death metal slashers. If you’re going head to head with the most vile and infamous monsters in pop culture (all cleverly combined into one supervillain on the cover artwork created by Dan Goldsworthy), you might as well get some help from some of the best out there, right? Therefore, ABORTED invited the crème de la crème (sadly, they ran out of ice cream) of the music scene to the party, and on each track of the album you will find a different guest vocalist – ranging from Alex Erian (DESPISED ICON) to Johnny Ciardullo (CARCOSA / ANGELMAKER), Ben Duerr (Shadow of Intent), Francesco Paoli (FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE) and many more: “As usual, the guest vocalists were all chosen out of friends, people we’ve known for years or got to know in the last years, toured with, or have a connection with. The enthusiasm of everyone involved definitely shines through to the final product and adds yet another layer of depth to the listening experience of the album.” With this deadly alliance, “Vault of Horrors” is an epic journey where listeners are thrust into a world of intense brutality, characterized by lightning-fast guitar riffs, intricate, pummeling drum patterns and monstrous vocals that leave no room for respite. And oh boy-o, does it! So sit back, grab a snack, and crawl down into the “Vault of Horrors”, if you dare. As the final notes fade, one thing will be clear – with this new release, ABORTED have not only once again proven their dominance in the world of death metal but leaped to new heights.
honestav
Ben Chapman
Ben Chapman’s musical journey began at 16, inspired by fellow Georgian Channing Wilson’s advice to move to Nashville after turning 21. Chapman spent years refining his self-taught guitar skills, playing countless local gigs and learning to captivate audiences—an experience that later influenced his new album, Downbeat, and its title track “Downbeat,” which celebrates music’s soothing power. Released on December 13, Downbeat showcases Chapman’s confident “southern-funk jam-band country thing,” a sound he deepened by immersing himself in The Band’s storytelling. While he initially focused on songwriting for other artists, including Flatland Cavalry and Muscadine Bloodline, Chapman is now centered on his own artistry. He frequently collaborates with his wife, singer-songwriter Meg McRee, and recorded Downbeat with producer Anderson East, a partnership he describes as a “breath of fresh air.” Now a Nashville resident for almost six years, Chapman continues to connect with his roots through “Peach Jam,” a recurring event featuring artists like Brent Cobb and Lainey Wilson, all while preparing for his first headline tour and sharing his “true self” through his evolving music.
Stevie Stone
Local support from: B Positive, Jamie Triller, KNR, BRODIE1, CHUBS BUMPERSIN, CHRIS ROSE x PUUN
Gooseberry
Brooklyn-based trio Gooseberry, formed in 2019, melds alternative rock, indie, and blues to craft their distinctive sound. Comprising Asa Daniels (guitar, vocals), Evin Rossington (drums), and Will Hammond (bass), the band has racked up hundreds of thousands of streams and has garnered praise from editorial stalwarts Galore, Under the Radar, and more. They’ve become integral to NYC’s music scene, headlining venues like Bowery Ballroom, as well as supporting notable touring acts such as Ringo Starr, BabyJake, and Tanner Usrey. In September 2024, Gooseberry released their debut full-length album, All My Friends Are Cattle. They delivered the first taste of the LP in the form of gritty alt-rock single “Kikiyon”. The album was tracked over the course of three months, predominantly at Precision Sound Studios in New York City. Drums were recorded by Grammy-winner James ‘Jimmy T’ Meslin (Dream Theater, John Petrucci, Rush). Grammy-nominated engineer Colin Bryson (Zach Bryan, J Balvin, Willow Avalon) served as producer and recording engineer (reprising his role from the Validate Me EP). Grammy-winner Phil Joly (The Strokes, Lana Del Rey, Daft Punk) mixed the record, and Jennica Best (Colatura) mastered it. Honorary fourth member Dan Janis (Baked Goods) provided saxophone and flute for a handful of tunes. The record has already been streamed 600K+ times and counting. This debut full-length record represents Gooseberry’s most ambitious project yet, showcasing the expansive distance they cover, from punch-you-in-the-mouth punk rock to lyrically-driven singer-songwriter to atmospheric prog rock. Glide declared the “Gooseberry is positioned to have a significant role in the modern rock scene.” Though powered by heavy 90s alternative influences, this LP showcases what Gooseberry can be: an exciting amalgamation of many genres and sounds, taking the listener on a journey that never once leaves the ear tired and consistently keeps the mind guessing where they will head next.
EDGE OF LEGENDARY: The Showcase! Part 1!
Raising The Bar 3
AGES 18+ Hosted by Cameron Edwards
Fief
Fief is a medieval ambient/dungeon synth artist from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Cavedivers
Cavedivers is a band formed in friendship and a love of music. We slithered up from the cave to forge gritty synth riffs with driving rhythms, using our music to tell stories of fear, love, and fate. Tell your favorite cryptids to get to this show!” Cavedivers is a campy experimental rock/alternative trio consisting of three friends who love to play music and be creative together. Formed in 2023, Cavedivers has built a repertoire of original songs that span various genres and styles and test the limits of what the Divers can accomplish when combining their musical abilities. Amphibaphobia: 2 piece noise rock duo from Omaha, NE Mouse Heart: Your local Omaha bitches: Teagan, Katie, and Rose- bringing back classic Riot Grrrl sounds Titus Groaners: Freak rock and roll music from Omaha, NE. Riff scientists. Former members of Cat Piss and Garst.
Talib Kweli
The Brooklyn-based MC earned his stripes as one of the most lyrically-gifted, socially aware and politically insightful rappers to emerge in the last 20 years. “I’m a touring artist. I’m an artist that’s internationally known. I’m not just a local artist at this point in my career. I’m cognizant of the fact that what I do is beyond where it started. I’m trying to reach the apex of where I am now, but without turning my back on or dismissing what I’ve done before.” After nearly 20 years of releasing mesmerizing music, Talib Kweli stands as one of the world’s most talented and most accomplished Hip Hop artists. Whether working with Mos Def as one-half of Black Star, partnering with producer Hi-Tek for Reflection Eternal, releasing landmark solo material or collaborating with Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Just Blaze, J Dilla, or Madlib, Kweli commands attention by delivering top-tier lyricism, crafting captivating stories and showing the ability to rhyme over virtually any type of instrumental. In 2011, Kweli founded Javotti Media, which is self-defined as “a platform for independent thinkers and doers.” Kweli has set out to make Javotti Media (which released his 2011 album, Gutter Rainbows, and is named after his paternal grandmother) into a media powerhouse that releases music, films and books.