TapRoot @ Irving Plaza, NY, NY – 7-24-03

Many nu metal bands have come and gone over the last few years due to the over saturation by the major labels. Darwinism left a strong minority of groups that proved their staying power through success beyond one single or album. One of those bands is Michigan’s TapRoot. TapRoot, whose following grew after an infamous …

Mushroomhead – XIII – CD Review

The masked mayhem from Cleveland is back. The eight-man outfit known as Mushroomhead has released their sixth full-length album (five were independent, including 1997’s Remix release), titled XIII. For longtime fans of Mushroomhead, or even those that were introduced to the group by their last release XX, the new record will hold few surprises. Formed …

Endo – Songs For The Restless – CD Review

Hardcore fans of any band are quick to point the finger and yell “Sell out!” when the band they love deviates from the path it first set out on. In Endo's case, they laid a nu metal blueprint with their 2001 release Evolve. On their new release, Songs For The Restless, the quartet crumpled up …

Scarlet – Something To Lust About (MCD) – CD Review

Intended as a teaser for their upcoming album Cult Classic, Scarlet's six track MCD Something To Lust About does just that. Clocking in at just over 12 minutes, the Ferret Music release is a quick aural attack that does just enough to get the adrenalin flowing before ending. Richmond, Virginia's Scarlet play a halting, brutal …

Type O Negative – CBGBs NY, NY – 06/13/03

Come on get miserable, Type O Negative is back. After taking an extended leave, Brooklyn's worst has returned with a new album, Life Is Killing Me. To celebrate the release and thank fans for their patience, Type O played a special invite-only show at New York's famous CBGBs on Friday the 13th. With tickets available …

Finger 11 – s/t – CD Review

Like their fellow countrymen in Nickleback, the Canadian group Finger 11 are a smooth post-grunge hard rock act that is accessible to the mainstream rock audience. However, unlike Chad Koeger's band, Finger 11 has yet to find large scale success. With the release of their third full-length album, a self-titled affair on Wind Up Records, …