As part of the Progressive Nation Tour, Bigelf is currently touring with Dream Theater, Zappa Plays Zappa and Scale the Summit. Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy says:

Los Angeles’ Bigelf are my personal favorite new band to come along in many years…their latest CD “Cheat The Gallows” is my favorite album of the year and I already had positioned them onto the European run of Progressive Nation in the Fall….with them now joining us on PN09 in North America as well, it looks like world domination is now not that far out of reach for them!

Bigelf has a very refreshing sound, a pleasing mix of the Beatles, Pink Floyd with a hefty dash of Black Sabbath thrown in for awesomeness. Cheat the Gallows is “30 years behind and 5 years ahead of what’s happening in music today.”

Read my review and contest details after the jump!

The album starts with “The Gravest Show on Earth”, and is an absolutely brilliant way to kick off this CD. With a beautifully dark “here comes the carnival” feel to it, I was reminded of classic Sabbath, and for some reason The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” popped into my head at one point. Brilliant.

Bigelf captures a 70’s style that I haven’t heard in a long time, and didn’t know that I was missing until now. Paying homage to some of the best artists in music history, but with a style all their own, Bigelf is set to take the stage and show us what they bring to the rock table on the following dates:

• Fri July 31st – Tower Theater – Philadelphia, PA
• Sat Aug 1st – Merriweather Post – Washington DC *
• Sun Aug 2nd – Bank Of America Pavillion – Boston, MA
• Tues Aug 4th – The Palace Theater – Albany, NY
• Wed Aug 5th – Chevrolet Theater – Wallingford, CT
• Fri Aug 7th – Convention Hall – Asbury Park, NJ
• Sat Aug 8 – Brookhaven Amphitheater – Brookhaven, NY
• Tues Aug 11th – The Agora – Quebec City, QUE
• Wed Aug 12th – Bell Center – Montreal, QUE
• Fri Aug 14th – Molson Amphitheater – Toronto, ONT
• Sun Aug 16th – The Burton Cummings Theater – Winnipeg, MAN
• Tues Aug 18th – MacEwan Hall – Calgary, AB
• Wed Aug 19th – Shaw Conference Center – Edmonton, AB
• Fri Aug 21st – The Orpheum Theater – Minneapolis, MN
• Sat Aug 22nd – Riverside Theater – Milwaukee, WI
• Sun Aug 23rd – Chicago Theater – Chicago, IL
• Tues Aug 25th – Temple Hoyne Buell Theater – Denver, CO
• Thur Aug 27th – San Jose Civic Auditorium – San Jose, CA
• Fri Aug 28th – The Joint – Las Vegas, NV
• Sat Aug 29th – The Greek Theater – Los Angeles, CA

* – Additional Special Guests on the 8/1 Washington DC show will be Queensryche (a special one-off 5 band Progressive Nation bill for 1 night only!)

Contest Entry and Rules:

You only need to leave a comment to enter the contest. One comment per reader, per day. However, to make it a bit more fun, you could watch the video below and leave your own “mini review” of Bigelf’s song “Money, It’s Pure Evil” in the comment section!

The contest will run from today (July 30) until August 6 at 5pm CST. One winner will be chosen at random from the comments section, and will be sent a copy of Bigelf’s Cheat the Gallows CD and a t-shirt (men’s sizes medium and large only). Winner must live in the U.S. or Canada to receive prizes.

(Watch the video here)

Hear the full song here! (To download the MP3, right click and choose “save as”)

[image: Amazon]

Post from: Metal Martyr

• 2/27 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live (Cd Release Party)
• 4/17 – Denver, CO – The Marquis Theater
• 4/18 – Salt Lake City, UT – Avalon
• 4/20 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
• 4/21 – Portland, OR – Satyricon
• 4/23 – San Francisco, CA – Lims
• 4/24 – Los Angeles, CA – The Knitting Factory
• 4/25 – San Diego, CA – Soma (side stage)
• 4/26 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction
• 4/27 – Phoenix, AZ – The Clubhouse
• 4/28 – Albuquerque, NM – The Launchpad
• 4/30 – Dallas, TX – The Door
• 5/1 – San – Houston, TX – Java Jazz

Image: Amazon.com

Post from: Metal Martyr

10 years ago every “Real” metal-head was criticizing 7 string guitar players because of the nu-metal movement. Hell, even these days people look down at them for it. In the past year or so musicians have stepped it up, saying; “If you don’t like 7 strings…here’s one more.”.  Let’s look at a few things in the current metal scene with more than 6 strings.

• Catalepsy is a dethcore band that has 3 seven string guitar players. It’s not like they are Iron Maiden with 3 astounding 6-stringers. You really can’t decipher between the three players. Seems like a waste to me, but they put on a good live show. I’m not sure exactly what they sound like on CD as I’ve had little interest in them.
• Dino Cazares plays an 8 string Ibanez in Divine Heresy (and other bands) and has played 7 strings in the past.
• High On Fire’s Matt Pike uses a custom 9 string guitar from first act…which is pretty much just a 12 string without the E, A and D string being strung normally. It’s actually quite interesting. He does this for a chorus type effect being that he is the sole guitar player in the band.
• Scale The Summit’s Chris Letchford uses a custom made 8 string guitar and band mate Travis Levrier uses a 7 string. Also Prosthetic Records newly signed progressive/instrumental band Animals As Leaders uses both 8 and 7 string guitars.

So is it only acceptable for a band to use more than 6 strings as long as they are using them in a non nu-metal way. Progressive metal bands are allowed to use them because they are actually doing more than chugging with them? I honestly don’t care either way as along as it sounds good, but I’m just kind of wondering what everyone’s opinion is on this.

Image: Guitarcenter.com

Post from: Metal Martyr

• Kylesa – Said And Done from their upcoming Static Tensions. Preorder it. 
• Scale The Summit – Sargasso Sea from Carving Desert Canyons Buy It.
• Hollow Corp – Sabbat from Cloister Of Radiance Buy It.

Go to Prosthetic Records Multimedia Page to download more Free MP3’s from their roster. If you like what you hear, support the bands by buying a cd, going to a show, etc.

Image: Amazon.com

Post from: Metal Martyr

First up is Pegataur. I’ve been sitting on this cd for far too long. Pegatuar’s Eternal Flight on For Once Records was released back in November of last year. The duo doesn’t rely on the use of many extras and hold a gritty sound that will remind you of old school metal/doom. Eric Murray (Guitar) and Aaron Levin (Drums). It’s not a polished metal sound but more of a jam session, bang on the set and crank the amps type of metal instrumental. You could easily put Sabbath like lyrics to their music. While keeping it raw and gritty, the riffs have cool hooks that don’t get too repetitive. You can check out more of Pegataur at their Myspace.

American Draft comes out of Chicago with a melodic metal sound with a slightly old school throwback. With some crunchy riffs and plenty of catchy leads and solos, American Draft’s Hawk makes for a great listening experience. American Draft is Mike Baldwin on guitar, Matt Precin on drums, Sean Shipley on guitar and Jeff Wojtysiak on bass. With a certain sense of traditional metal influence and energy, Hawk delivers the goods without going overboard as so many instrumental bands do to try to keep interest. There is one track with vocals by Tim Murphy who kind of sings with a punk influence American Draft released Hawk on December 16th on Coach House Collective. Check out American Draft on Myspace.

Lastly is Scale The Summit. Scale The Summit’s first release on Prosthetic records is simply amazing. Entitled Carving Desert Canyons, it also makes for a great listening experience, especially on a long drive where you just want to concentrate on the road and kind of get lost in the music. Both guitar players, Chris Letchford and Travis LeVier attended the Music Institute of Los Angeles and even took Luthier courses to learn how to build their own instruments. Chris plays his own custom built 8 string guitar. Let’s not forget Pat Skeffington on drums and Joe Eberhardt who does a great job on the bass guitar.

Scale The Summit remember the essentials of the rhythm guitar and keep the complexity of the leads and solos to a tolerable degree without going in to Steve Vai mode. Great fluidity in the notes and melody and not so much “Look what I can do“. I seriously wish I knew way more about music to truly explain how amazing this cd is. There’s a huge difference between knowing about music and really knowing about music so as to put it in a better perspective. While one guitar is playing a great rhythm, the leads just take you and carry you in to an entirely different direction with such finesse. Progressive, mature and melodic as all hell. Carving Desert Canyons is probably going to go under the radar because it’s an instrumental cd, but if you dig instrumentals then you really need to pick it up on Tuesday (February 17th). You can hear The Great Plains on Scale The Summit’s Myspace. If you like it, there are 7 other songs on the cd that you’ll probably love.

Scale The Summit also have a self released album called Monument that I’ll definitely be looking for.

All Images: Amazon.com

Post from: Metal Martyr

THE ACACIA STRAIN
No current shows.

ALL THAT REMAINS
(with Chimaira, Divine Heresy)
2/15 Denver, CO – Gothic
2/16 Salt Lake City, UT – The Avalon
2/17 Boise, ID – Big Easy Concert House
2/18 Spokane, WA – Big Easy Concert House
2/19 Vancouver, BC – Croatian Cultural Centre

(with Chimaira, Light This City)
2/21 San Francisco, CA – Slims
2/22 San Diego, CA – SOMA
2/23 Las Vegas, NV – Jillian’s
2/25 Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues
2/26 Phoenix, AZ – Marquee
2/28 Dallas, TX – The Door
2/29 San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
3/01 Houston, TX – Meridian
3/03 Orlando, FL – House of Blues
3/04 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
3/05 Charlotte, NC – Amos Southend
3/06 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
3/07 Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom

ANTAGONIST
2/29 Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction (with Death Before Dishonor)

BENEATH THE MASSACRE
(with Misery Index, Despised Icon)
15/02 Tillburg, Holland – 0.13
16/02 Trier, Germany – Exhaus

(with See You Next Tuesday, Born Of Osiris, The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza)
2/29 Rochester, NY – The Penny Arcade
3/01 Wilmington, DE – Harmony Garage Hall
3/02 Holyoke, MA – Waterfont Tavern
3/03 Pompton Lakes, NJ – Mainstage
3/04 Doylestown, PA – Siren Records
3/05 New York, NY – The Knitting Factory
3/06 Virginia Beach, VA – Steppin Out
3/07 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
3/08 Jacksonville, FL – The Pit
3/09 Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
3/10 West Palm Beach, FL – Murphy’s Downtown
3/11 Pensacola, FL – The Legion
3/12 New Orleans, LA – The High Ground
3/13 Lewisville, TX – Fat Daddy’s Sound Shack
3/14 San Antonio, TX – The White Rabbit
3/15 Houston, TX – Java Jazz
3/16 Mission, TX – Smoking Aces
3/18 El Paso, TX – Chic’s
3/19 Albuquerque, NM – The Compound
3/20 Phoenix, AZ – Cell Block
3/21 San Marcos, CA – The Jumping Turtle
3/22 San Bernardino, CA – The Hudson Theater
3/24 Bakersfield, CA – The Dome
3/25 Los Angeles, CA – The Whisky
3/26 Fresno, CA – The Exit
3/27 San Jose, CA – San Jose Skate
3/28 Boise, ID – The Venue
3/29 Logan, UT – Club NVO
3/30 Denver, CO – Marquis Theatre
3/31 Wichita, KS – Eagles Lodge
4/01 Des Moines, IA – Vaudeville Mews
4/02 Milwaukee, WI – Miramar Theatre
4/03 Louisville, KY – Uncle Pleasants
4/04 Detroit, MI – The Hayloft
4/05 Cleveland, OH – Peabody’s

BURN IN SILENCE
No current dates.

BYZANTINE
No current dates.

CANNAE
No current dates.

CREMATORIUM
No current dates.

THE ESOTERIC
No current dates.

THE FUNERAL PYRE
3/07 Yuma, AZ – TBA
3/08 El Jardin Del Silence – Mexicali, MEX (with Exhausted Prayer, Dreaming Dead)
3/20 Hollywood, CA – The Relax Bar (with Withered)

GOJIRA
No current North American dates.

GRIEF OF WAR
No current dates.

INFERNAEON
No current dates.

KYLESA
(with Baroness)
15/02 Groningen, Holland – Vera
16/02 Koln, Germany – Palladium (Visions Festival)

LIGHT THIS CITY
(with All That Remains, Chimaira, Five Finger Death Punch)
2/21 San Francisco, CA – Slims
2/22 San Diego, CA – SOMA
2/23 Las Vegas, NV – Jillian’s
2/25 Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues
2/26 Phoenix, AZ – Marquee
2/28 Dallas, TX – The Door
2/29 San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
3/01 Houston, TX – Meridian
3/03 Orlando, FL – House of Blues
3/04 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
3/05 Charlotte, NC – Amos Southend
3/06 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
3/07 Sayreville, NJ – The Starland Ballroom

THE MINOR TIMES
No current dates.

NEURAXIS
3/07 Repentigny, QC – Centre La Croisee (Repentigny Metalfest)
4/11 Trois-Rivieres, QC – Le Stage
4/12 St-Hyacinthe, QBC – Bar Le Trash
4/26 Sudbury, ONT – The Serbian Centre (Sundbury Metalfest)

REFLUX
No current dates.

SCALE THE SUMMIT
2/16 Odessa, TX – Dos Amigos (with Pack of Wolves, Epitome, Standstill, Opal)
2/28 Austin, TX – Emo’s (with Pack of Wolves)
3/01 Little Rock, AR – Downtown Music
3/02 Memphis, TN – Ralley Point
3/03 Nashville, TN – The End
3/04 Cleveland, OH – Jigsaw Saloon
3/05 Akron, OH – Barfly
3/06 Lansing, MI – Mac’s Bar
3/07 Riverview, MI – Rack N Roll Bar
3/08 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick (with God Is An Astronaut, Chronicles)
3/09 Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen (with God Is An Astronaut, 1908)
3/10 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
3/11 Lawrence, KS – Replay Lounge (with Bible of the Devil)
3/12 Houston, TX – TBA
3/13 San Antonio, TX – Rock Bottom Bar (with God Is An Astronaut)
3/14 Austin, TX – Blind Pig Pub (SXSW Tone Deaf Touring Showcase)
3/15 Monroe, LA – Olive Street Bar
3/16 Atlanta, GA – TBA
3/17 TBA – TBA
3/18 Baltimore, MA – the Ottobar
3/19 Cambridge, MA – Middle East Upstairs (with God Is An Astronaut)
3/20 Hoboken, NJ – Maxwell’s (with God Is An Astronaut)
3/21 New York, NY – Knitting Factory (with God Is An Astronaut)
3/22 TBA – TBA
3/23 Washington, DC – Velvet Lounge
3/24 Johnson City, TN – Hideaway
3/25 TBA – TBA
3/26 Birmingham, AL – The Nick

SKELETONWITCH
2/17 South Bend, IN – Elva’s
2/18 Des Moines, IA – Vaudeville Mews
2/21 Salt Lake City, UT – Club Vegas (with Saviours, Intronaut)

(with A Life Once Lost, Arsis, Veil of Maya)
2/24 West Hollywood, CA – The Whisky (no Arsis)
2/25 Victorville, CA – KARMA
2/26 Bakersfield, CA – Jerry’s
2/27 Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction

(with Arsis, Veil of Maya)
2/28 San Marcos, CA – Jumping Turtle
2/29 Tucson, AZ – The Rock
3/01 El Paso, TX – Chic’s Bar & Billiards
3/02 Lewisville, TX – Fat Daddy’s Sound Shack
3/03 Tulsa, OK – Crush Lounge
3/04 Salina, KS – The Blue Goat (with Suicide Silence, The Faceless, Warbringer)
3/05 Cedar Falls, IA – The Reverb
3/06 Rogers, MN – Showcase Skatepark
3/07 La Crosse, WI – Warehouse Nightclub
3/08 Milwaukee, WI – Shorewood Legion Hall
3/09 Tinley Park, IL – Mojoe’s
3/10 Covington, KY – The Madhatter
3/11 Huntington, WV – Paradox
3/12 Johnson City, TN – The Hideaway
3/13 Virginia Beach, VA – Steppin’ out
3/15 West Springfield, VA – Jaxx

(with Hate Eternal, Soilent Green, Braindrill)
4/10 San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
4/11 Dallas, TX – The Door
4/13 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jack
4/16 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
4/26 Worcester, MA – The Palladium
4/28 New York, NY – B.B. Kings
4/29 West Springfield, VA – Jaxx
4/30 Charlotte, NC – Tremont Music Hall
*more dates TBA*

(Fury and Flames Tour with Hate Eternal, Cephalic Carnage, Deadborn)
09/05 Würzburg, Germany – AKW
10/05 Leipzig, Germany – Conne Island
11/05 Hamburg, Germany – Markthalle, MarX
13/05 Prague, Czech Republic – Exit Chmelnice
14/05 Wien, Austria – Arena
15/05 Ljubljana, Slovenia – Gala Hala
16/05 München, Germany – Feierwerk
17/05 Verona, Italy – Lucille Club
18/05 Rome, Italy – Alpheus Club
20/05 Martigny, Switzerland – Les Caves du Manoir

(Fury and Flames Tour with Hate Eternal, Cephalic Carnage)
21/05 Nantes, France – Le Ferrailleur
22/05 Irun, Spain – Tunk
23/05 Braga Junta, Portugal – Freguesia de Panoias
24/05 Madrid, Spain – Ritmo & Compas
25/05 Barcelona, Spain – Apolo 2
26/05 Luynes/Marseille, France – Le Korigan
28/05 Karlsruhe, Germany – Substage (with Deadborn)
29/05 Bochum, Germany – Matrix (with Deadborn)
30/05 Trier, Germany – Exhaus (with Deadborn)
31/05 Tilburg, Holland 013 (Neurotic Death Fest)
01/06 Cardiff, UK – Barfly (with Man Must Die)
02/06 Glasgow, UK – Barfly (with Man Must Die)
04/06 Dublin, Ireland – Whelans
05/06 Sheffield, UK – Corporation (with Man Must Die)
06/06 London, UK – Underworld (with Man Must Die)
07/06 Aarschot, Belgium – JC de Klinker

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD
2/22 St. Louis, MO – 2 Cents Plain (with War of Ages)
2/23 Joplin, MO – The Foundry (with War of Ages)
2/24 Wichita, KS – Eagles Lodge (with War of Ages)
2/26 Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad

(Scum Of The Earth Tour with Throwdown, Soilwork, War of Ages)
2/29 Pomona, CA – Glasshouse
3/01 Phoenix, AZ – Marquee
3/03 Dallas, TX – The Door
3/04 San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
3/05 Houston, TX – Meridian
3/06 Mobile, AL – Tillman’s Corner Community (TTEOTD, War of Ages only)
3/07 Tampa, FL – State Theatre
3/08 Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
3/09 Orlando, FL – Firestone
3/10 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
3/11 Charlotte, NC – Tremont Music Hall
3/12 Norfolk, VA – Norva
3/13 Springfield, VA – Jaxx
3/14 Allentown, PA – Crocodile Rock
3/15 Worcester, MA – The Palladium
3/16 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
3/18 New York City, NY – Blender Theatre at Gramercy
3/19 Montreal, QUE – Club Soda
3/20 Toronto, ONT – Opera House
3/21 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
3/22 Chicago, IL – Logan Square Auditorium
3/23 St. Paul, MN – Station 4
3/25 Denver, CO – Cervantes
3/26 Salt Lake City, UT – Avalon
3/27 Boise, ID – The Big Easy
3/28 Seattle, WA – El Corazon
3/29 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
3/31 Orangevale, CA – The Boardwalk
4/01 Fresno, CA – The Belmont
4/02 West Hollywood, CA – House of Blues
4/03 Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues

WITHERED
3/14 Nashville, TN – The End
3/15 Fayetteville, AR – The Dart Room
3/17 Denver, CO – The Kingdom of Doom
3/18 Salt Lake City, UT – Kamikaze’s (Metal Night)
3/19 San Fracisco, CA – Annie’s Social Club
3/20 Los Angeles, CA – The Relax Bar (with The Funeral Pyre)
3/21 San Marcos, CA – The Jumping Turtle
3/22 Tempe, AZ – The Stray Cat
3/23 Juarez, Mexico – The Cave Club
3/24 Lubbock, TX – Whiskey Dix
3/25 Austin, TX – Red 7
3/26 Houston, TX – Java Jazz
3/28 Baton Rouge, LA – The Darkroom

WOLF
No current North American dates.

YAKUZA
2/23 Blue Island, IL – Kelley’s Irish Pub
2/29 Chicago, IL – Metro
3/09 St. Louis, MO – APOP Records (in store performance)
3/09 St. Louis, MO – Creepy Crawl
3/10 Memphis, TN – Black Lodge Video
3/11 Fayetteville, AR – Old Post Office (with Deadbird)
3/13 Austin, TX – sxsw
3/14 Austin, TX – sxsw
3/15 Austin, TX – sxsw
3/16 San Antonio, TX – The Crossing (post-SXSW BBQ and bands)
3/17 El Paso, TX – Mulligans Shot Bar (with The Sixth)
3/19 Glendale, CA – The Scene Bar
3/20 Los Angeles, CA – The Key Club
3/21 San Diego, CA – Chasers
3/22 Long Beach, CA – Skate Bar
3/24 San Francisco, CA – Elbo Room
3/26 Portland, OR – Rotture
3/27 Vancouver, BC – The Cobalt
3/29 Calgary, Alberta – The Underground
3/30 Edmonton, AB – TBA
3/31 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – TBA
4/01 Regina, SK – TBA
4/02 Winnipeg, Manitoba – The Royal Albert

YEAR OF DESOLATION
3/01 Covington, KY – Mad Hatter

Thanks for the on-going support and we’ll see you out on the road!
PROSTHETIC RECORDS
http://www.prostheticrecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/prostheticrecords
http://stores.ebay.com/Prosthetic-Records

Post from: Metal Martyr