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Ozzy’s days are numbered. For ten years, Ozzfest has been the premier showcase for the best that metal has to offer as well as the best place to see the new crop of metal bands waiting for their big break. Although other tours have tried, like Pledge of Allegiance and Tattoo the Earth, Ozzy has had a lockdown on the summer metal festival scene. This summer will be different because there’s a new tour that promises to deliver "the most aggressive, passionate Metal and Hardcore bands in the world." Indeed, the Sounds of the Underground Tour basically takes the best that the Ozzfest second stage has to offer and adds half of the headliners from both Hellfest and the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival all for the price of a single CD. The good news is that The Sounds of the Underground tour is making three stops in Texas. The bad news is that the closest town is gonna be Dallas. But before you lambaste us again for reporting about news about bands that have no ties to Austin, you should know that the headliners for the Sounds of the Underground Tour are playing an off-date here at Stubb's on Sunday, July 17th.
This off-date will be an all-ages show and is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. The line-up will include Opeth, Chimaira, Unearth, A Life Once Lost, and the headliner will be Lamb of God. For those unfamiliar with any of these bands, all we can say is that every band represents the absolute best of their specific genres and are indivually worth the price of admission.
Lamb of God is what Slayer was to metal in 1986. As the biggest New Wave of American Heavy Metal band, Lamb of God have accomplished many things in a short time. After co-headlining a very successful MTV Headbanger’s Ball Tour and signing to a major label, Lamb of God delivered one of the most brutal CDs ever when the released "Ashes of the Wake" last year. Next up for these West Virginians is the DVD release "Killadelphia" which will be available June 21 from Epic.
For those who like their music a little more subdued but no less evil, Opeth is the band you have to check out. By combining death metal with jazz flourishes and acoustic stylings, Opeth have risen to the top of the Gothenburg scene. These sad Swedes always deliver, whether it be live or on CD, you can always expect amazing things from Mikael Åkerfeldt and company. After releasing the double set "Damnation" and "Deliverance" Opeth have now signed with Roadrunner Records and will release "Ghost Reveries" later this year.
Billed as the Great Northern Trendkill, Chimaira have risen to the top of the metalcore scene only to abandon what made them famous and change their sound to reflect a maturation of their songwriting abilities. Their last release, "The Impossibility of Reason" featured a darker sound and enough guitar solos to make any "Ride the Lightning" fan stop and pay attention to what these guys have to offer. They continue their descent into darker, harder material with their upcoming self-titled release that is due August 2005 via Roadrunner Records.
By combining the dual-guitar attack of Iron Maiden with American metal-core, Unearth can make any crowd erupt into a ferocious pit. Although relatively new to the scene, Unearth have made many loyal fans by relentlessly touring and delivering great shows whenever they take the stage. Their Metal Blade debut, "The Oncoming Storm" recalls the days when guitarists could actually play their instruments instead of making some Korn-y ass noises and dressing the part.
Tickets for the Sounds of the Underground off-date are available from Front Gate tickets and are priced at $19.
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