July 2013 – http://hardrockhaven.net/online

Kyle Gass of Tenacious D and Kyle Gass Band

July 31, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Steve Patrick – Columnist — It’s not every day that half of The Greatest Band in the World pays a visit to your hometown. That rare occurrence happened to this intrepid journalist recently when […]

Deathrow | Deception Ignored

July 31, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Justin Gaines – Senior Columnist/News Editor — Originally released in 1988, Deception Ignored was the third album from German thrash metal band Deathrow. The band had released a pair of solid albums at that […]

LIVE! | Slash with Venrez

July 31, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Deb Rao – Senior Columnist — July 25, 2013 at House of Blues in Las Vegas, NV. The final date of the Apocalyptic Tour featuring Slash and Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators at the […]

Ragdoll | Here Today

July 30, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Matt Karpe – Columnist — Australian trio Ragdoll’s second EP Here Today picks up where their promising debut release left off- with explosive and fascinating melodic hard rock. Starting off, title track “Here Today” […]

Andrzej Citowicz | Ace of Hearts

July 30, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Alexandra Mrozowska – Columnist — Not to rest on one’s laurels is definitely a motto of Andrzej Citowicz, the Polish guitarist who has released his first EP Shot Down? Get Up just a few […]

Dio | Finding the Sacred Heart Live in Philly 1986

July 30, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by John Kindred – Publisher — The first go around of watching Finding the Sacred Heart Live in Philly 1986 was on a laptop. Writing a review based on that small screen and tiny speakers […]

The Quireboys | Beautiful Curse

July 30, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Matt Karpe – Columnist — Beautiful Curse is The Quireboys first album of original material since Homewreckers & Heartbreakers which was released in 2008. On show here are twelve tracks of blues influenced rock […]

Judas Priest | Epitaph

July 29, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by John Kindred – Publisher — Metal icons Judas Priest bring forth, from what has been stated to be their last large scale world tour, the audio and visual experience aptly titled Epitaph. Wrapping up […]

AudioLegend | We Are Infinity

July 29, 2013 Publisher 1

by Joe Mis – Senior Columnist — We Are Infinity is the second full length release from the Swiss sextet AudioLegend. Naming your band AudioLegend is a bit presumptuous and egotistical, but at least they […]

Fredrik Andersson of Amon Amarth

July 28, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Cameron Edney – Guest Columnist — Metal Warriors Amon Amarth Talk Mayhem, Deceiver of the Gods & More In June Swedish Melodic Death metallers Amon Amarth delivered their ninth studio album Deceiver of the […]

LIVE! | Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival 2013: Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Mastodon, Amon Amarth

July 28, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Jonna Ambur – Senior Photojournalist — JULY 21, 2013, COMCAST THEATER, HARTFORD, CT. — The sixth annual Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival landed in Hartford, Conn., on July 21, 2013. A sunny 90-degree day […]

Dust | Dust & Hard Attack

July 28, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Justin Gaines – Senior Columnist/News Editor — The early 1970s was an interesting time for rock music. Black Sabbath was essentially writing the rules for heavy metal, and Led Zeppelin was redefining what hard […]

Mike Portnoy of The Winery Dogs

July 28, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Deb Rao – Senior Columnist — New band The Winery Dogs comprised of veteran musicians Billy Sheehan, Richie Kotzen and Mike Portnoy have just released their self-titled debut album. The band is currently selling […]

LIVE! | Nancy G

July 28, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Alissa Ordabai – Senior Columnist — July 19, 2013 The Front Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, UK — It’s uncanny how such compelling moods can be set with such minimal devices. Tonight Nancy […]

Lady Beast | Lady Beast

July 28, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Matt Karpe – Columnist — Pittsburgh heavy metal quintet Lady Beast releases their self-titled debut full of NWOBHM influences and in particular, odes to Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. In female vocalist Deb Levine, […]

LIVE! | Keel and Stephen Pearcy

July 25, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Deb Rao – Senior Columnist — July 18, 2013 at Southpoint Casino in Las Vegas, NV. — The Southpoint Casino turned into a ’80s extravaganza on Thursday July 18 as special guests Keel and […]

LIVE! | Cheap Thrill

July 25, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Deb Rao – Senior Columnist — July 12, 2013 at Vamp’d in Las Vegas, NV. — New Super group Cheap Thrill featuring Cinderella members Jeff LaBar and Eric Brittingham also featuring Troy Patrick Farrell […]

Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society

July 25, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Steve Patrick – Columnist — So, Zakk Wylde and Jason Bonham walk into a gay bar. No, this isn’t a set-up for a joke, but rather one of Wylde’s entertaining stories that all of […]

Fighting for Your Ryche: Queensryche – Featuring Geoff Tate

July 25, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Erik Tweedy – Guest Columnist — June 29, 2013 at Moore Theatre in Seattle, WA. — Did we just witness the last performance of Queensryche’s legendary Operation Mindcrime played out in its entirety? Perhaps. […]

Laura Wilde

July 25, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Deb Rao – Senior Columnist — Singer guitarist Laura Wilde is currently taking the music world by storm. The Australian singer is currently on the road with Ted Nugent and has been nominated by […]

Markus Allen Christopher | Hard Rock 101

July 25, 2013 Publisher 3

by Derric Miller – Managing Editor — The man behind Miss Crazy (and a few other bands, like Freakshow with Jeff LeBar, Tony Franklin and Frankie Banali), Markus Allen Christopher, is back at it with […]

Jon Stephenson of Digital Summer

July 24, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Matt Karpe – Columnist — Digital Summer is an extraordinary band. Not only do they make highly energetic and infectious hard rock, but away from the stage and recording studio, all the members work […]

The Aristocrats | Culture Clash

July 23, 2013 Publisher 3

by Alissa Ordabai – Senior Columnist — Jazz fusion is a difficult genre to engage in – many have tried and few have succeeded. How much of rock’s swagger do you surrender to the knowingness […]

LIVE! | Suicidal Tendencies

July 23, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Alissa Ordabai – Senior Columnist — July 7, 2013 at Electric Ballroom, London, United Kingdom — Once innovative and edgy, these days Suicidal Tendencies fit like an old shoe. Not quite a nostalgia act, […]

These Hearts | Yours To Take

July 22, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Mark Allen – Senior Columnist — It’s called pop-core. Take the sugary hooks and squeaky-clean vocals of bands like Blink 182, merge them with the growls, screams, and breakdowns of hardcore, and presto, you’ve […]

Adrenaline 101 | Demons In The Closet

July 22, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Matt Karpe – Columnist — Swiss four-piece Adrenaline 101 release their sophomore album Demons In The Closet, with ten tracks of hard rock containing sleaze elements and occasional rap-core. It is an album with […]

Wood Shampoo | Crack Crack Heart Attack

July 22, 2013 Publisher 1

by Joe Mis – Senior Columnist — According to legend, “wood shampoo” refers to being struck repeatedly on the head with a wooden object such as a club, nightstick, or baseball bat. Fortunately there is […]

Black Sabbath | 13

July 22, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Justin Gaines – Senior Columnist/News Editor — The return of the (mostly) original lineup of the mighty Black Sabbath has been one of the bigger stories in metal recently, so the band’s new studio […]

We As Human | We As Human

July 15, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Mark Allen – Senior Columnist — According to some critics, commercial modern hard rock is a dying genre, gasping its last, suffering the same fate as hair-metal did circa. 1991. In other words, too […]

King Kobra | II

July 15, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Ron Higgins – Columnist — King Kobra are back again. This time, it’s their release II, which is actually their 6th studio album, not their 2nd. That would be Thrill of a Lifetime, which […]

The Quill | Tiger Blood

July 15, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Matt Karpe – Columnist — Swedish four-piece The Quill return with their stoner/southern influenced hard rock for latest release Tiger Blood. Back in the fold is original member Roger Nilsson, who returns to bass […]

Toby Knapp | Static Warfare

July 15, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by John Kindred – Publisher — Toby Knapp’s follow up to 2010’s The Campaign has been three years in the making. That doesn’t mean Knapp was holed up in a studio for three years, but […]

LIVE! | The Flaming Lips and The Black Keys

July 14, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Lexi Baird – Guest Columnist — July 11, 2013 at Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion in Raleigh N.C. — Garage Rock, a very simple, raw subgenre of rock and roll music that was originally […]

Forte | Invictus

July 14, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Justin Gaines – Senior Columnist/News Editor — Having already delivered a deluxe reissue of Forte’s debut album Stranger Than Fiction, not to mention presenting the band’s scorching comeback album Unholy War, reissue specialists Divebomb […]

LIVE! | Three Days Grace

July 11, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Deb Rao – Senior Columnist — July 4th At Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas, NV. — What better way to spend July 4th than in Las Vegas at the Fremont Street Experience with […]

Pat Travers Band | Can Do

July 11, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Joe Mis – Senior Columnist — Veteran rocker Pat Travers has had a storied career over the last 3 decades, and his latest release entitled Can Do shows that he hasn’t lost a step. […]

LIVE! | Gigantour 2013: Megadeth, Black Label Society, HellYeah, Newsted

July 11, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Jonna Ambur – Senior Photojournalist — JULY 5, 2013 at MOHEGAN SUN ARENA in UNCASVILLE, CT — Originating in 2005 as the brainchild of Megadeth’s frontman Dave Mustaine, Gigantour is an annual event that […]

Troy Patrick Farrell of Cheap Thrill

July 10, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Deb Rao – Senior Columnist — New Supergroup Cheap Thrill featuring Cinderella duo Eric Brittingham and Jeff Labar, drummer Troy Patrick Farrell and singer Brandon Gibbs is gearing up for their Las Vegas Debut […]

Skillet | Rise

July 10, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Matt Karpe – Columnist — Christian hard rockers Skillet are back with a concept album for their ninth release Rise, packed full of high energy and catchy anthems. Singer John Cooper revealed the theme […]

Steven Berez of Venrez

July 9, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Deb Rao – Senior Columnist — LA rock band Venrez are gearing up for their release of American Illusion on July 30. The band has released a video directed by Natalie Bible called “Unforeseen.” […]

Havok | Unnatural Selection

July 9, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Matt Karpe – Columnist — Colorado thrash metallers Havok release their third album Unnatural Selection, paying homage to Slayer and at times Pantera on ten tracks of fury. David Sanchez spits venom like there’s […]

LIVE! | Summerland Tour: Everclear, Filter, Live & Sponge

July 9, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Deb Rao – Senior Columnist — June 29, 2013 at Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas, NV. — As the temperature soared to 117 degrees, the Summerland Tour kicked into high gear as part […]

Instrumental Guitarist Tom Kopyto

July 8, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by John Kindred – Publisher — Instrumental shredder Tom Kopyto recently released his 2nd studio album Resurrection on Shredguy Records. The album comes 13 years after his first, YTK, which featured Michael Angelo Batio as […]

LIVE! | Van der Graaf Generator

July 8, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Alissa Ordabai – Senior Columnist — June 30, 2013 at Barbican Hall in London, United Kingdom — A sold-out 2000-seater posho venue, a standing ovation, and the crowd yelling “Bravo” for what seemed like […]

Prey On The Fallen | Prey on the Fallen

July 7, 2013 Publisher 1

by Mark Allen – Senior Columnist — Been praying for relief from all the Cookie Monster growls, larynx-bleeding screams, and brutal breakdowns that dominate the modern metal scene? Not that there’s anything wrong with that […]

Meroe | Suite 524

July 7, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Matt Karpe – Columnist — German hard rockers Meroe deliver their second album within a year with Suite 524. Opener “I Am” is a decent start, with some good hard rock riffs and a […]

Jill Janus of Huntress

July 4, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Steve Patrick – Columnist — Napalm Records recording artists Huntress have just embarked on this summer’s Rock Star Energy Drink Mayhem Festival and they are sure to cultivate a whole new crop of fans […]

Children of Bodom | Halo of Blood

July 4, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Jenn Carbaugh – Columnist — The Finnish five-piece, Children of Bodom, continues to surpass other Scandinavia metal bands. The evolution of these brutal musicians can be traced back to their debut release of Something […]

Blackmore’s Night | Dancer and The Moon

July 4, 2013 Publisher 1

by Joe Mis – Senior Columnist — More of the same from Blackmore’s Night – but this is a good thing. More of Ritchie’s fabulous guitars, more medieval tunes ready to sing in Sherwood Forest, […]

Deep Purple | Now What?!

July 3, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Steve Patrick – Columnist — Earlier this year, legendary rock band Deep Purple treated their countless fans to a new studio effort, their first in eight years, and therefore added another worthy chapter to […]

Robin Beck | Underneath

July 3, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Jenn Carbaugh – Columnist — Robin Beck is full of surprises with her new album Underneath. She allowed for some new writers to submit material to her this time. It was a great decision […]

LIVE! | Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival

July 2, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Anabel Dflux – Photojournalist — June 29, 2013 at San Manuel Amphitheate in Devore, CA. — One of the most highly anticipated metal festivals in the United States, Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, finally […]

LIVE! | ZZ Top with Ben Miller Band

July 2, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Alissa Ordabai – Senior Columnist — June 24, 2013 at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, United Kingdom — There is a craftier reason — beyond the obvious — why RIAA certification categories are named […]

Maegi | Skies Fall

July 1, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Matt Karpe – Columnist — Turkish musician Oganalp Canatan’s power and prog metal CV includes his bands Dreamtone & Iris Mavraki’s Neverland, but this time he goes it alone, with a little help from […]

Deadlands | Evilution

July 1, 2013 Publisher Comments Off

by Mark Allen – Senior Columnist — Fronted by ex-Vicious Rumors vocalist Brian O’Connor, this red-blooded American heavy metal band will make fans that crave power and thrash in equal measures happier than an ailurophobic […]