At a huge festival like the New England Metal & Hardcore Fest, picking which bands to see is like a metalhead’s “Sophie’s Choice.” Lucky for you, A.) there are plenty of great bands to go around, and B.) we’ve put together this handy-dandy guide of the bands you’ll feel like a dick for not watching.
Old School Thrash
In the lineup of the 17th incarnation of NEMHF, the subgenre that most stands out is good ole thrash metal. Featuring four of its greatest innovators, Saturday night will be an epic lesson in violence.
Testament: If you ask any thrash metal fan about their personal “big four” of U.S. thrash, they will likely mention Bay Area icons Testament. Though the band may not be as popular as their peers, they are just as brutal and relevant as they were when they first started, if not more so. When they hold their trial by fire on Saturday night in Worcester, is it one that you simply cannot miss!
Exodus: Exodus are also OG Bay Area thrash icons who still prefer denim and leather to Gucci and Armani. The band’s last album, Blood In, Blood Out, was a classic return to form, reinstalling former vocalist Zetro Souza and creating shockwaves in the world of extreme metal. Though guitarist Gary Holt has been on tour with some band called Slayer, his chops are as sharp as ever, and he’s sure to bring more than a few heads slamming against the stage.
Nuclear Assault: Next to Overkill, Nuclear Assault could easily be the greatest thrash band on the East Coast. Their take on thrash is unique and progressive, utilizing weird time signatures and melodic vocals that will stand out like a sore, bloody thumb on Saturday. Another reason to catch them: this is being billed as their final performance in New England.
Death Angel: Also hailing from the Bay Area thrash scene, Death Angel are one of the most overlooked, but extremely lethal bands still going. Hailed as the band that opened for Metallica before graduating high school, they have maintained their legendary status by releasing a string of albums that get progressively heavier, and presenting a live assault that’s second to none.
Shattered Sun: Shattered Sun are poised to be one of metal’s best stories in 2015. Hailing from a small Texas town at the very bottom of the state, their melodic thrash is both ferocious and uplifting. Their debut Hope Within Hatred is sure to be one of the best debut records of the year.
Local Favorites
Of all the things NEMHF does right each year, the best may be their focus on local bands. This year, they shine their spotlight on three bands who have been on extended hiatus over the last few years, but are sure to steal the show.
Red Chord: Though it’s been six years since their last album, it appears The Red Chord are finally back in action. The band has been working on other projects during their time off, but hopefully their seventh appearance at NEMHF—their first in five years—will be the start of a busy year.
On Broken Wings: Like The Red Chord, these guys have been reunited for a couple of years, but haven’t done much more than the odd show here and there. Though their status is currently a bit of a mystery, one thing is for certain: moshcore is alive, well, and waiting for its return.
Overcast: Due to the busy touring schedules of Shadows Fall and Killswitch Engage, Overcast shows have been extremely rare in the last few years. However, they are reborn to kill again on Friday night at the Palladium! With the release of three-disc discography Only Death Is Smiling, 2015 has already been an exciting one for Overcast fans, and their third appearance at NEMHF will further stoke that fire.
Within The Ruins: For the third year in a row, titans of tech metal Within The Ruins will put their fellow musicians to shame at NEMHF. On the strength of 2014’s amazingly solid Phenomena, the band will be out with all guns blazing to put on a show that is second to none.
Vanna: Like Within The Ruins, Vanna are coming off of a banner year in 2014. Their new album Void hit number 157 on the Billboard chart and introduced a brand new audience to their incredible style. NEMHF will be an opportunity to bring more fans into the fold.
NEMHF Veterans
Like any smart music festival, when a band is well received at NEMHF, they invite them back. If they happen to be really good, they get invited back multiple times. This year, the Palladium will feature quite a few familiar faces.
Between The Buried And Me: Next to The Red Chord, BTBAM have played the fest more than any of this year’s other bands, likely because they are pretty much the Led Zeppelin of the modern progressive metal movement. Though they probably won’t be playing any songs from their currently-being-recorded album, there’s a 100 percent chance that they’re going to destroy as Friday night’s headliners.
Vital Remains: Though Rhode Island isn’t known as a hotbed of extreme metal, their main export Vital Remains has been spewing the filthiest, evilest old school death metal possible for over a quarter century. Though it’s been eight years since their last studio album, they are back with a new release in 2015 and primed to rip up NEMHF for a fourth time.
Thy Will Be Done: Remember that thing about Rhode Island not being a hotbed of metal? Well, Thy Will Be Done also disproves it. The band has received all kinds of accolades in their short career, including playing NEMHF for a fifth time in 2015, which is just the start of a huge year for the band.
Fit For An Autopsy: For the fourth year in a row, deathcore’s answer to Iron Maiden has returned to tear about NEMHF. Though new vocalist Joe Badolato has some big shoes to fill, anyone who has seen them recently knows he’s a more than capable recruit.
NEMHF Rookies
In addition to the huge group of returning bands the fest gets each year, they somehow manage to find incredible new bands. Though none of these groups are actually rookies, they are all playing the fest for the first time, and are going to make a massive impact.
Corrosion Of Conformity: As pioneers of both thrash and sludge metal, it’s a bit surprising that this is C.O.C.’s first time performing at NEMHF. The coolest thing about it is that they’ll be featuring former vocalist Karl Agell and doing songs from the album Blind. There’s no telling if it’ll be the full album, but hearing “Vote With A Bullet” live means you’re in for a great night!
The Atlas Moth: The beautiful thing about Chicago’s The Atlas Moth is that their style gets progressively more interesting with each record. Their unique marriage of progressive and sludge metal is unlike any other band playing the fest, so they are sure to stand out.
Incantation: Like Vital Remains, these NYDM legends have been churning out the brutal-est of death metal for over a quarter century. After all these years, they are still one of the most absurdly loud and violent death metal bands out there and they just keep getting heavier as the years go by. There’s no doubt they will cause the paint to chip off the walls of the Palladium when they take the stage.
Jasta: Okay, so technically Jamey Jasta isn’t a rookie at the fest. However, this is his first time performing with his solo project Jasta. When a guy has as many great musician friends as Jamey Jasta, there’s no telling what will happen when he is unleashed upon NEMHF and left to his devices, making his set another one you don’t want to miss.
International Flavor
Every year, in addition to featuring the sickest metal and hardcore bands you can find in the U.S., NEMHF makes it a point to feature bands from overseas that are just as sick as their U.S. counterparts.
(Brazil) Cavalera Conspiracy: Featuring original Sepultura members Max and Igor Cavalera, these Brazilian monsters are making their live debut at NEMHF hot on the heels of the heaviest record either have been involved with in a very long time. If you’re a fan of early Sepultura, this band is mandatory!
(Japan) Shark Ethic: Japan’s hardcore punk scene is one of legendary status for its passion and intensity, and these are the things that make hardcore upstarts Shark Ethic so fascinating. Their style of hardcore is 100 percent authentic and their live show is absolutely sick!
(Australia) Boris The Blade: Birthed from the same scene as Thy Art Is Murder, these deathcore-spewing monsters from the land down under are out for blood. With the release of their debut LP The Human Hive, they are set to hit American shores opening for Oceano and are sure to leave a large boot-sized bruise on NEMHF.
(Canada) The Agonist: With the departure of vocalist Alissa White-Gluz who joined Arch Enemy, the band has started a brand new chapter in its career. Armed with new vocalist Vicky Psarakis and their stunning new album Eye of Providence, these melo-death studs are just as strong as ever.
Closed Casket Activities
For the past six or seven years, New York label Closed Casket Activities has been bringing the hate in a major way. They’ve exposed bands like Harm’s Way, Xibalba, and Twitching Tongues to a brand new audience of hardcore and metal fans. At this year’s NEMHF, the label is featuring a new crop of bands that will not only fit in perfectly, but stand out as well.
Discourse: Though these South Carolina natives are relative newcomers to CCA, their debut album Sanity Decays fits perfectly with the label’s no bullshit ethos. Their honest, passionate style of hardcore is as much a bleak and hopeless crowbar to the groin as it is an uplifting and powerful statement of intent.
God’s Hate: If their name wasn’t enough of an indicator, these guys are about as hateful as they come. With their abhorrent mixture of Bay Area thrash and New York hardcore, with Phil Anselmo-esque vocals, they are definitely a band you don’t want to miss.
Incendiary: Hailing from Long Island, Incendiary is best described as straight up pissed off NYHC. Their lethal mix of old school hardcore attitude with 10 ton riffs is sure to lead to a few broken noses anytime they get the pit cranked up.
Suburban Scum: Another of the label’s Northeast cohorts is Suburban Scum. An integral part of the prolific New Jersey hardcore scene, they deliver their style of hardcore as raw and in-your-face as possible.
Disgrace: Though they are from sunny California, Disgrace’s style of hardcore is as cold and ruthless as a New York winter. Their sound combines rotten, disgusting death metal with a razor sharp hardcore rumble that sounds like a tank rolling over the bones of 1,000 zombified corpses.
For additional info on NEMHF, go to: metalandhardcorefestival.com
