Metal Injection

Sure, we all dump on the Garden State just because it’s responsible for Bon Jovi. But to be entirely fair (for once,) that’d be like dismissing the entire U.K. for dropping Whitesnake on us. New York’s black sheep cousin has actually given us plenty to be thankful for, so enjoy a few alternatives to "Bad Medicine."

The Dillinger Escape Plan

From tearing down noise metal boundaries on their early EPs and Calculating Infinity to incorporating melodies into extreme music on Ire Works, DEP might be the band that actually rules at everything. Few bands are as innovative or as widely respected, much less both, and Dillinger's violent, spontaneous live shows can smoke just about anybody.

God Forbid

Too modern to be labeled thrash and too heavy for metalcore, God Forbid stand peerless. They took a leap into the big leagues with their fourth album, Constitution of Treason, which depicted an Orwellian future over some of the best metal grooves in recent memory. The years-in-the-making follow-up Earthsblood has almost unrealistic expectations to live up to, but early samples sound awesome. (more…)

If you believed everything you read, you could be forgiven for thinking that metal exists entirely in England, parts of California and all the Nordic countries. Anyone who subconsciously raises index and pinky upon hearing blast beats knows this isn't true, but there are still plenty of states, countries, commonwealths and shitholes that never get enough respect for brewing their share of headbangers. This is something we hope to amend, hence the series State of Metal, commencing with Virginia.

From its badass state motto (Sic semper tyrannis, meaning "thus death to tyrants") to a state flag that looks like a scene from the movie Heavy Metal, it'd be impossible for VA to breed metal bands that were anything less than awesome. For example:

Lamb of God
Maybe the best mainstream metal band around? Still shunned by radio and never compromising their sound, Lamb of God won their huge fanbase the old-fashioned way–constant touring, word of mouth and making really great records. Previews from their upcoming album Wrath indicate that LoG are getting even heavier.

Municipal Waste
With a genuinely retro sound and a knife-edged sense of humor, there aren't many metal bands like Municipal Waste these days. Sounding like a more concise '80s Anthrax, or Suicidal Tendencies doing a record of Slayer covers, Municipal Waste give their heroes the sincerest form of flattery, plus some of the best thrash metal being made today and a great live show.
(more…)