Category Archives: Photography

Photo content from live shows, photo sets, fan pics and artist provided material.

LIVE REVIEW: Cavalera Conspiracy Morbid Devastation Tour 2023

At Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ on September 26th, 2023

Return where you started. All of us at least once in life go through that or anything resembling this thought. It is no different for musicians who like to revisit the good old days that started it all for them. Original founding members of Sepultura Max and Igorr Cavalera are in the midst of North American tour billed Morbid Devastation. It is a mix up from two debut releases Morbid Visions and Bestial Devastation. Both were re-recorded by Max and Igorr and have been released July 14th this year. On the tour celebrating their recordings together with Cavalera Conspiracy are Exhumed and Incite.

Written by Andris Jansons

Tour started almost a month ago and yesterday came to New Jersey. While the locals have been enduring the rain for the last six or seven days, that did not dampen their enthusiasm for the show. Metal fans flocked to the Sayreville to hear the best and heaviest in a genre.

While is missed Incite (fronted by Max Cavalera son Richie) performance and just saw half of Exhumed, I can attest that everyone that the fan mood was ecstatic about both performances.

After some ten minutes of some cryptic background music, the stage that was set up with some afterworldy notes (looked hellishly good) the Cavalera brothers came on stage. They were joined by Max’s son Igor Amadeus Cavalera and Travis Stone.

In almost chronological way, or maybe in exactly the chronological way the band started off with the songs from 1985 EP Bestial Devastation – title song, Antichrist, Necromancer and Warriors Of Death. Songs from 1986 album Morbid Visions followed – title song, Mayhem, War, Crucifixion, Show Me Wrath, Funeral Rites and Empire Of The Damned, whilst last remaining song Troops Of Doom was left for a encore to close out the show.

See full gallery of Cavalera performance below.

Performance was an exquisite sample of death / heavy metal. Talent on the band goes beyond the Max and Igorr and the quality of the music and performance was irrefutable. This show would be recommended for anyone with the taste for heavier music, as myself who is more leaning towards hard rock and “stadium” heavy metal, I can say that these performances are worth every minute of your time.

Cavalera Conspiracy social links:

The Morbid Devastation continues to tear through North America with the show in NYC tonight and goes on with the steady march back to the west coast. Find you tickets here: Cavalera Conspiracy | The Official Cavalera Conspiracy Website

9/27 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

9/28 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club

9/29 Reading, PA @ Reverb

9/30 Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre

10/1 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom

10/2 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line

10/5 Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s

10/6 Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room

10/7 Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater

10/8 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex

10/10 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile

10/11 Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall

10/12 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom

10/14 Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades

10/15 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

10/17 Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues

10/18 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern

PHOTO GALLERY: IMAGINE MUSIC FESTIVAL in Kingston Downs in Rome, GA on September 14th – 17th, 2023

Imagine Music Festival, the Southeast’s most immersive electronic festival 2023 edition returned to Kingston Downs, GA from September 14-17. With its combination of undisturbed woodlands, sprawling grass fields, nature trails, and riverfront access, venue location of Kingston Downs proven to be the ideal match for Imagine’s creative utopia. The family-owned and operated 5,000+ acre property is situated on the Etowah River, conveniently located a few miles outside of Rome, GA, and just 45 minutes north of metro Atlanta. It’s the perfect setting for festival goers to chart their own adventure, where opportunities to explore are boundless.

Imagine Festival: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

“Courtesy of Imagine Music Festival // Photographer: Don Idio / @divisuals”

“Courtesy of Imagine Music Festival // Photographer: DVPhotoVideo”

In Madeleine Goodhand, Co-Founder of Imagine Festival’s own words, “Imagine Festival was founded with a simple but powerful belief – that through the transformative power of music, art, and community, we can ignite the imagination and inspire positive change in the world where our dreams become a reality. It’s a celebration of creativity, diversity, and possibility, and I am constantly in awe of the incredible energy and passion that our attendees bring to the event. Together, we are building a vibrant community, one beat, one brushstroke, and one moment at a time.”

Imagine Music Festival 2023 Lineup
Big Gigantic
Chris Lake
Dab The Sky
Dillon Francis b2b Knock2
Dom Dolla (Sunset Set)
Jade Cicada
John Summit
NGHTMRE b2b Diesel
Rezz
Slander
Sofi Tukker (Hybrid Set)
Subtronics b2b Ganja White Night
Svdden Death: Into The Inferno
Vintage Culture
Elderbrook
Boombox Cartel
Cloonee
Detox Unit
Dombresky
Dr. Fresch
The Floozies
Infected Mushroom (DJ Set)
Marauda
Matroda
Mersiv
Zomboy
Bonnie x Clyde
Cassian
Crankdat
Eazybaked
HE$H b2b Level Up
JVNA
Kasablanca
Nurko
Spencer Brown
Trivecta
Slander Presents: Before Dawn
A Hundred Drums
Bad Snacks
Barnacle Boi
Brothel
Celo
Deadcrow
Deeper Purpose
DRINKURWATER
Emorfik
Heyz
Hi I’m Ghost
Layz
Leah Culver
Matt Sassari
Modapit
Nala
Nostalgix
Paraleven
ShockOne
Skeler
Telykast
Tripp St.
VNSSA
Whipped Cream
Azella
Bryan Softwell
Cut N Sew b2b Tiddy
Dangeruss
Djedi
Focuss
Frisbae
Galo
Ghost Lotus
Kavent G
Machaki
MC Word
Meduso
Midnite Panda
Otica
Pryzms
Sam Wolfe b2b JD Farrel
Seeing Double
Subrinse
Taylorlace
Zubah

Stage Takeovers By
Brownies & Lemonade
kidsgonemad!
Monstercat
Off The Grid

Thursday 9/14 Pre Party Hosted By Brownies & Lemonade
ISOxo presents kidsgonemad!
Ninajirachi
Squired
Stooki Sound
Villa
Wavedash

Saturday 9/16 Pool Party
Dombresky Presents: Disco Dom
Never Dull

Sunday 9/17 Pool Party
Kai Wachi
Ruvlo

LIVE REVIEW AND PHOTO GALLERY: Psycho Thunder North America 2023 tour

At Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ on September 17, 2023

Psycho Thunder tour is tearing and rumbling through North American cities as we speak, wreaking havoc in every city as they go. Or we can say that British rock luminaries Asking Alexandria and Mongolian rock sensation THE HU joined forces on a run across the U.S. The co-headlining jaunt — billed as the “Psycho Thunder” tour with special guests ZERO 9:36. Whatever way you are comfortable to put it. This last Sunday Psycho Thunder rolled into New Jersey.

Written by Andris Jansons

American heavy metal band Bad Wolves were also previously scheduled to join the tour, but the band withdrew because of circumstances beyond their control. Zero 9:36 stayed as the lone support for both heavyweights.

The Mongolian band The Hu came roaring into the metal scene a few years ago. Bands folk metal style incorporating Mongolian traditional instruments along with singing their songs in their native language gained attention to many music lovers as a breath of the fresh air. Their megahit Wolf Totem back in 2018 has gathered above 90 million views on YouTube in its original version and another 38 million views with their collaboration with Papa Roach’s Jacoby Shaddix.

Personally, I admire all folk metal, let it be Mongolian, Indian, Nordic, Oceania or Asia. Incorporation of traditional music and native instruments is what makes metal music rich not only in tradition but also invention and truly international.

The band calls their style of music “hunnu rock”. The Hu consists of Galbadrakh “Gala” Tsendbaatar, Nyamjantsan “Jaya” Galsanjamts, Enkhsaikhan “Enkush” Batjargal, and Temuulen “Temka” Naranbaatar. To date The Hu have released the studio albums The Gereg and Rumble of Thunder. There are at least three to four traditional instruments band consistently uses – including the morin khuur, the tovshuur, tumur hhuur and tsuur.

Setlist included all the bands singles known to most fans “Wolf Totem”, “This Is Mongol”, Yuve Yuve”, “Black Thunder” and more. Band also performed cover of Metallica’s “Through The Never”.

Throughout the band’s set fans joined together for the “Hu, hu, hu, hu …” chant.

See The HU performance photo gallery below.

Asking Alexandria is on tour without their founder and lead guitarist Ben Bruce, for the reasons he previously communicated to the fans. While his charisma is sorely missed, Paul Bartolome nicely fills in his spot.

While the band is on the heels of their new album “Where Do We Go From Here?” which was released on August 25th, this tours set list is not heavily tilting towards it. There are only three songs “Dark Void”, “Bad Blood” and “Let Go” form their latest release. Rest of the set is pretty much evenly spread out throughout the bands discography. As Danny Worsnop said addressing the crowd that we are here celebrating their new and old music.

Some of the biggest hits performed were “Into The Fire”, “Alone In A Room”, “The Final Episode”, “Moving On” and “A Prophecy”. All together this set had bit heavier feel then other recent ones I attended, and was a bit more closer to the roots of the band, which for me personally was a welcome development.

To summarize everything that was heard and witnessed this night, I can give this experience a solid 10/10. Some inspirational folk metal coupled with modern rock and metalcore was an amazing experience. Psycho Thunder is a perfect way to summarize.

See Asking Alexandria performance photo gallery below.

See below list for future dates and get your tickets here: https://www.askingalexandria.com/tour

Sep. 20 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit

Sep. 22 – Ft Wayne, IN – Piere’s Entertainment Center

Sep. 23 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life ^

Sep. 25 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory

Sep. 26 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre

Sep. 27 – Green Bay, WI – EPIC Event Center

Sep. 29 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/ Eagles Club

Oct. 1 – Council Bluffs, IA – Harrah’s Stir Cove

Oct. 3 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium

Oct. 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union

Oct. 6 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock &

Oct. 7 – Las Vegas, NV – The Industrial Sound

Oct. 8 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern

LIVE REVIEW AND PHOTO GALLERY: PASSCODE at The Echo in Los Angeles, CA on September 7, 2023

Introducing, PASSCODE, a 4 piece Female Fronted Japanese music group with a band behind them. They came to America for their first U.S. Tour stopping in 3 different cities: New York, Dallas, and Los Angeles. I had the greatest opportunity to have covered, photographed, and captured some great moments of their first Live Performance in Los Angeles thanks to the wonderful staff of The Echo and Echoplex.

Written by Don Marcelo

Passcode’s music and style comes to us with a blend of heavy metal/hard-rock (Kawaii metal) and electronic-pop-EDM sounds all meshed as one, incorporating those sounds with choreographed dance moves as one would often see on KPOP and JPOP groups.

The show was non-stop action full of intensifying energy and emotions from the group and from the fans. There was even a small mosh pit inside this 400 plus capacity venue.

PASSCODE won many hearts of Americans (including me) with their unique style of music. One word to describe their style of music and stage presence: AWESOME!

Thank you (arigato gozaimasu) PASSCODE. Honored and grateful to have captured some amazing moments of your first performance in Los Angeles. We will see you back again in the U.S.

Follow and support PASSCODE and each member for more great music and content.

ON INSTAGRAM: Follow Passcode as follows:
PASSCODE band page @passcodeo

Kaede Takashima @kpy_passcode

Nao Minami @passcode_nao

Hinako Ōgami @passcode_hina

Emily Arima @passcode_emily

The band behind the group:
@yohei_takahashi_drs
@ata0222kom
@takumagenda
@kai_ldd

Photography by Don Marcelo Photography