Hey internet,

I will be joining hundreds of other sites tomorrow, January 18, 2012 in the blackout in protest of SOPA and PIPA.

I will resume what is The Mosh Pit normal posting after the protest is over. As much as I love posting here for everyone to read this is just to important to me.

Other WordPress users can protest by going to Settings>Protest SOPA/PIPA and selecting the extent to which you would like to protest.

I urge you to take the time I am away to review just what SOPA and PIPA are calling for and consider the changes they will make to the internet. If you are against SOPA and PIPA and located in the United States I also urge you to contact your senator and express your feelings on this and urge them to vote no.

Thank you for all of your support thus far. Here is to a still free internet.

- gioia

Killswitch Engage and s vocalist Howard Jones will be parting ways after nine years of sharing a stage together. The band failed to divulge just what called for the split stating, “Out of respect for everyone involved we will not be discussing the specific reason behind this decision.”

While wishing Jones the best of luck in his future endeavors, Killswitch noted the “big shoes” Jones left for the next vocalist to fill and stated that they have their “work cut out” for them as they search for the next member of their band. While thanking fans for all of the support they have provided the band over the years, Killswitch continued to build confidence in fans by reinstating that finding Jones’ replacement is “priority #1.”

Killswitch closed the message by saying they “very much look forward to having a new record for all of you in the not too distant future.”

Fans may recall in 2010 when Killswitch and Jones found themselves in public light for what seemed like “scandals.”

In February 2010 Jones had to leave a major tour Killswitch was on with Dark Tranquility and The Devil Wears Prada for “personal reason.” Phil LeBonte of All The Remains kindly filled in until Jones was felling back up to par.

Then the following month, in March 2010, rumors began to fly stating that Jones had possibly “knocked up a porn star.” That incident (real or not) seems to be a top result when you search Jones on Google.

Currently Rammstein has 18 shows booked in the US and three shows booked in Canada.

Presale for Rammstein shows in; Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Tampa, FL, Baltimore, MD, Philadelphia, PA, Uniondale NY and Dallas, TX all begin tomorrow – Friday, November 18.

Rammstein announced the North America tour dates earlier this week on Monday, November 14. With that announcement they stated that the links to the official offices will be posted soon.

Fans may have last seen Rammstein on US soil was in 2009 when they took the stage at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was rumored the tickets for that show sold out in as few as 15 minutes. After this Rammstein’s great success at Madison Square Garden in 2009, the band announced on December 11, 2011 that they would be touring in America after 10 years.

On December 02 fans in Germany, Austria and Switzerland will be able to find Rammstein’s newest album, Made In Germany 1995-2011. International release is expected to be on December 05; however US fans will have to wait until December 13.

Made in Germany 1995-2011 will be available in three different editions; Standard, Special and Super Deluxe Edition. The album can be preordered on iTunes and links to CD preorder based on country can be found HERE.

Find out when Rammstein is heading your way HERE.

But Alas, you can rock out to High Fives Died in the 80’s without some crazed fan dry humping the speaker next to you.

High Fives will be releasing their EP, Beauty Through Destruction, on April 2 at Qballs in Fredericksburg, Va.

So how did they do?

We know that High Fives can rock the stage; we know that their music is unexpected and outrageous—can they convey that same knock you off your feet sound on this small compact disk as they pack when playing live?

Beauty Through Destruction starts with a one minute introduction, complete with your typical build up, snare tapping and even a movie clip. Just when you think the intro is over (about 40 seconds in) you are wrong that is simply the bands way of saying “hello.” What is most impressive about the intro however is the seamless transition from track one to two, “Capt. Sav-A-Ho.”

“Capt. Sav-A-Ho” begins with a metal march as the troops come in. Lead by guitarist Brian Smith and Curtis Hazen alongside of bassist Luke Jones and drummer Bobby Baumgartel, Matt Thompson is able to storm your speakers with his low ranged growls.

But wait? Is that really the song? High Fives, keeps listeners on their feet, per-usual. Not only does it seem the demon has been exorcised from within Thompson, but that there was also a complete change in the rhythm of the guitars. The drums hold the same brutal beat throughout as it seems the demon finds his way in and out of Thompson while his voice varies from harsh and dark to comforting and warm.

The track that steals the show on Beauty Through Destruction would have to be “Pride Goes Before the Fall” (track 3) which finally highlights the essence of High Fives. Finally we can hear Haley Moss, who adds that special touch to the band on the keys. “Pride Goes Before the Fall” seems to tell the story of that one night you regret, complete with mixed signals, liquor, bad memories and sexual regrets.

“She has given me all the signs; she thinks this can’t be wrong. Back stage, dark room…Back stage she screams.”

A little over two minutes into “Pride Goes Before the Fall” stuff starts to get crazy and if you did not know what High Fives was all about, you do now. When you see them (or even simply hear about them), you cannot help but wonder how a keyboard works with metal; but then the drums start, the guitars wail the bass begins to bounce, screams come in and the sound is rounded off with their extra touch—the keys. Individually, not one of the parts anyone in High Fives plays sounds like it would create more than noise when matched with someone else. Somehow High Fives takes their differences, different genres and highlights them while blending them into that High Fives sound. Their differences work together—just like ebony and ivory—and they make you want to get up to thrash and grove.

The show is not over just yet though. High Fives closes off the set with “Derelicts Dead” (track four) which brings it back to their metal roots.

The quality of Beauty Through Destruction is overwhelmingly impressive, the sound it crisp, clean and on par—differing from the stage High Fives, but what album isn’t?

From the looks of it, High Fives will be making noise, calling attention and simply rocking long into the future; however one can only hope that as they grow and improve as a band that we get to hear more from Moss, on stage and compact disk.

Beauty Through Destruction will simply mark High Fives debuted onto MP3 players, car stereos and laptops all around Northern Virginia.

“Hold your breath and close your eyes,” High Fives have given you fair warning, “there closing in.”

It was a warm spring like day in February as you sat outside a local Starbucks with Matt Thompson, vocalist from High Fives Died in the 80′s. Time was tight, you only had 30 minutes before you had to head off, but easily that should have been more than enough time to buy one ticket to the Straight Line Stich show, and go.

Taking charge of the conversation like he takes charge of the stage, Thompson began to tell you about his excitement for the upcoming show; his boy-fan crush on the (female) lead singer of Straight Line Stich and how excited he was that Straight Line Stich would get to hear his band play. Occasionally he would deteriorate, talking about other tours that fell through; but filling the air for the time being was his excitement, as those sitting around him fed off of it.

Suddenly, you realize that you got wrapped up in Thompson’s excitement and lost track of time. Shuffling through your things, you finally find ten dollars, and in the matter of one simple cash transaction — you have your ticket and are pumped.

Around 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday March 1, the day of the big show, the High Fives Died in the 80’s announced on their Facebook that due to an illness in Straight Line Stich, the show had been cancelled. You, the band and numerous other fans feel let down — like someone pulled your excitement out, threw it on the curb and beat it with a baseball bat.

Band illnesses, sudden snow storms and last minute back-outs.

Time and time again local bands are faced with last minute cancelled shows for numerous reasons that are out of local band’s control. So how do bands like High Fives Died in the 80′s deal with and overcome a cancelled show?

“We were disappointed, bummed out and angry,” said drummer Bobby Baumgartel about the cancelled Straight Line Stich show on March 1. “We became full of resentment when they [Straight Line Stich] played the next night in N.C.”

Minutes after the announcement of the cancelled show on March 1, the band got word from booking agency, Outerloop Productions, that they would be an opening act on March 30 at Jaxx Night Club in Springfield, Va., for headlining band The Human Abstract.

“It is probably the only good thing that came from the [Straight Line Stich] show,” said bassist Luke Jones. “We are super excited about playing with The Human Abstract [on March 30], everyone in the band respects and admires them.”

Brian Smith, guitarist, explained how the opportunity to play with The Human Abstract is the “gold lining” to the cancelled show, not just for the band, but for their fans as well.

“Our fans love and support us through it all,” explained Smith. “They were sad after we announced the cancelled show, but soon they were pumped for the opportunity to see us take the stage with The Human Abstract.”

While preparing for major life events, like births, High Fives Died in the 80′s has booked every show that they can.

They plan on taking the stage March 26 and 30, leading them into April when they are currently scheduled for three more shows including their EP release show on April 2 at Qballs in Fredericksburg, Va.

But as a local act opening for bands just stopping by on tour, the Straight Line Stich show was not the first show that High Fives Died in the 80′s had to tell fans was cancelled the day of.

“About three or four months ago we seemed to be having bad show luck,” said Thompson. “In a short period of time, the two shows we were booked with Victory Records bands were cancelled for different reasons.”

One show with A Hero A Fake cancelled due to the snow the Northern Virginia area suddenly had dumped upon it.

Another show with An Early Ending was cancelled when the band was involved in a car accident that permitted them from making the drive in time.

If High Fives Died in the 80’s could have it their way, the show would go on with the headlining band or not.

“Let’s just fucking do it – damn it,” expressed guitarist Curtis Hazen. “Every show must go on.”

It is a statement that I am sure you can agree with. You spent ten dollars on this ticket and were sure to request the night off work – you alone have gone through some trouble to attend this show. Imagine what the bands expecting to take the stage, like High Fives Died in the 80’s, had to go through to prepare for this cancelled show.

“Everyone invests so much into shows; time, money and creativity,” said Baumgartel. “It is worth the show going on and people coming out to – no matter who is playing.”

When the show goes on, the local acts that were planning on taking the stage are then presented with a new challenge – how to make a ticket to a show without the headlining band the fans were planning on seeing worth it.

“You step up your game,” explained Thompson. “Bring everything a big headliner would – stage show, crowd hyping, musical content – you play a show.”

High Fives Died in the 80′s is an unexpected and outrageous sound that will knock you right off your feet – they are by far not your average local metal band.

As a unique sounding band, you cannot help but wonder, “Do they have trouble keeping and getting shows because of their sound?“

“Luckily, our sound spans a few genres,” explains Haley Moss who dominates the keys in the band. “So we can easily blend into almost every show we sign up for.”

Hazen added, “We look for look for places [to play] that the fans enjoy the most. We love Qballs in Fredericksburg and Jaxx in Springfield, plus they treat us like rock stars.”

With a decent number of shows under their belts and a handful of cancelled shows marking the notches, High Fives Died in the 80’s has a decent the handle on shows.

Currently High Fives Died in the 80’s frequents the stages at KC’s Music Alley in Fredericksburg, Va. or at Qballs also located in Fredericksburg, Va., but currently they are pumped for the show with The Human Abstract.

The Human Abstract released their latest album, Digital Veil, on March 8 after band member rearrangements and staff members fell ill. The Human Abstract packed up into their tour bus and drove to Washington D.C. to kick start their tour promoting Digital Veil in February.

Ready to take the stage once again, The Human Abstract will make their way back to Northern Virginia on March 30 ready to rock; if High Fives Died in the 80’s has any luck – The Human Abstract wont bail.

Lucky for you, that ten dollar ticket you bought in February – it will gain you access to High Fives Died in the 80’s show on March 30 with The Human Abstract. That is of course, assuming the show does go on.

The long wait is over

Early Tuesday, January 18, 2011 Protest the Hero announced, along with Vagrant Records and Universal Music Canada, the release date of their next album and the World Tour that will follow.

Scurrilous, Protest the Hero’s third album to be released, the follow up to their number one debuting sophomore release 2008 album Fortress.

On March 22 Scurrilous will be released on Universal Music Canada and Vagrant Records, but will be available for pre-order at ProtesttheHero.com during the first week of February.

Now that they are out of the studio, Protest the Hero is heading out on the road on their World Tour which will begin on Jan. 26 in Germany. They will tour Europe and the United Kingdom through Feb. 12 with Darkest Hour. Before Protest the Hero heads out on their United States and Canadian portion of the World Tour they will be making an appearance at Australia’s 2011 Soundwave Festival. Protest the Hero will take stage in Kingston, ON on March 23 to kick off the Canadian and U.S. leg of their tour with Maylene and the Sons of Disaster and Tessarac T.

Pre-sale tickets for Protest the Hero’s Canadian and U.S. Tour will be available Wednesday Jan. 19. Canadian show tickets can be pre- ordered at GetMusic.ca. U.S. show tickets can be pre-ordered at tixx1.artistarena.com.

All sources have announced that multiple premium packages of Scurrilous pre-order will be available, follow Protest the Hero on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace for all the latest updates.

For Protest the Hero’s European and UK tour dates check out their MySpace.

Canadian and U.S. tour dates are as follows:

Mar 23 – Kingston, ON – Stages

Mar 24 – Ottawa, ON – Capital Music Hall

Mar 25 – Montreal, PQ – Le National

Mar 26 – Oshawa, ON – The Green Bottle

Mar 27 – Barrie, ON – The Mansion

Mar 29 – Thunder Bay, ON – Crocks

Mar 30 – Winnipeg, MB – WECC

Mar 31 – Yorkton, SK – Agri Pavillion

Apr 01 – Edmonton, AB – Avenue

Apr 02 – Calgary, AB – The Gate / SAIT

Apr 04 – Abbotsford, BC – Abby Arts Centre

Apr 05 – Seattle, WA – Corazon

Apr 06 – Portland, OR – Branx

Apr 08 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s

Apr 09 – San Diego, CA – Soma Side Stage

Apr 10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Troubadour

Apr 11 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction

Apr 12 – Phoenix, AZ – Nile Theatre

Apr 14 – Las Vegas, NV – Area 702

Apr 15 – Salt Lake City, UT – Avalon

Apr 16 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theatre

Apr 18 – Austin, TX – Emo’s Outside

Apr 19 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live

Apr 20 – Dallas, TX – The Door

Apr 22 – Orlando, FL – The Social

Apr 23 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Downstairs

Apr 24 – Greensboro, NC – Greene Street Club

Apr 26 – Detroit, MI – Magic Stick

Apr 27 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge

Apr 29 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop

Apr 30 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar

May 01 – Worcester, MA – Palladium Upstairs

May 03 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theater

May 04 – Philadelphia, PA – The Trocadero

May 06 – Toronto, ON – Sound Academy

May 07 – London, ON – London Music Hall

May 08 – Chatham, ON – Encore Bar

May 09 – Kitchener. ON – Wax Nightclub

May 11 – Hamilton, ON – Studio Theatre

May 12 – St. Catharines, ON – L3 Nightclub

Metalfest V will be taking over The Grove in Anaheim, California. Tickets will be on pre-sale via Ticketmaster for $32.50, day of the show ticket prices will go up to $35. Gates to the mayhem will open at noon on March 19, 2011; and in all seriousness, what better way to spend your Sunday afternoon?

Currently at Metalfest V you can anticipate seeing:
As I Lay Dying
Suicide Silence
Winds of Plague
Born of Osiris
Darkest Hour
After the Burial
As Blood Runs Black
Sleeping Giant
The Human Abstract
The Great Commission

However, the Metalfest V’s bill is not full yet, expect more bands to be joining the line up between now and the big day.

White Chapel at Metalfest IV

All That Remains

For those of you that were disappointed with All That Remains step away from their trash metal sound with the release of Overcome in 2008, this sneak peak of For We Are Many will leave you exceptionally pleased and impatiently awaiting the release in October.

AllThatRemainsOnline.com sent out a message to all of their followers Aug. 20 including a link to a free download of All That Remains newest album title track; but the only way to get the message and the free download is to be on the All That Remains email list.

Phil describes For We Are Many as a “straight up thrash metal song;” making sure that their original fans know that All That Remains is still playing “balls out metal” and a “metal band with roots in thrash and death metal and there is always going to be those elements.”

Can’t wait till October to have For We Are Many on your computer, laptop, MP3 player or even CD (if your still using those things)? Getting the download is simple — just sign up for the All That Remains email list and look for the link to the download in your inbox.

Early in August Phil interviewed with LiquidMetal about the creation and debut of For We Are Many where he described For We Are Many as a song “for the dudes that want to punch each other.” Phil described the nonstop running of the band between Warped Tour the debut of Overcome in October a short break and then heading into the studio with Adam “Adam D” Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage. In June recording was finished and then the fun of mixing began; and now we wait…

When For We Are Many debuts in stores it will feature album art from Travis Smith who also did the album art work for The Fall of Ideals, and is available for pre-order HERE.

All That Remains also announced on Aug. 20 their upcoming tour dates; the band will be hitting the stage at Rex Theatre in Pittsburg, PA with Unearth on Sep. 10. All That Remains will traveling the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia threw March taking the stage with Unearth, Carnifax, As I Lay Dying, Soilwork, Caliban and more; All That Remains will also be making stops with Soundwave Festival 2011.

Want to know when is All That Remains playing near you? Find out:

Sep.10 – Pittsburgh , PA – Rex Theatre
Sep. 11- Nashville, TN – Rocketown
Sep. 12 - Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
Sep. 14 – El Paso, TX – Club 101
Sep. 15 – Odessa, TX – Dos Amigos
Sep. 16 – Abilene, TX – Midnight Rodeo 3
Sep. 18 – Memphis, TN – New Daisy Theatre
Sep. 19 – Knoxville, TN – Valarium
Sep. 20 – Covington, KY – Madison Theater
Sep. 21 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Orbit Room
Sep. 23 – Buffalo, NY – The Town Ballroom
Sep. 24 – Clifton Park, NY – Northern Lights
Sep. 26 – Quebec City, Quebec, Canada – Theatre Imperial
Sep. 27 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Metropolis
Sep. 28 – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada – Capital Music Hall
Sep. 29 – London, Ontario, Canada – Cowboy’s
Oct. 01 – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada – The Garrick Centre
Oct. 03 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada – Odeon Events Centre
Oct. 04 – Calgary, Alberta, Canada – MacEwan Hall Ballroom
Oct. 05 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – Edmonton Events Centre
Oct. 07 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – Vogue Theatre
Oct. 08 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Oct. 10 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theatre
Nov. 28 – Glasgow, UK – Garage
Nov. 29 – Manchester, UK – Academy 2
Nov. 30 – Camden Town, London, UK – Electric Ballroom$
Dec. 01 – Sheffield, UK – Corporation
Dec. 03 – Hamburg, Germany – Markthalle
Dec. 04 – Goteborg, Sweden - Brewhouse
Dec. 05 – Stockholm, Sweden – Klubben
Dec. 07 – Helsinki, Finland – Nosturi
Dec. 09 – Malmo, Sweden – KB
Dec. 10 – Berlin, Germany – SO 36
Dec. 11 – Leipzig, Germany – Conne Island
Dec. 12 – Wien, Austria – Arena
Dec. 14 – Milan, Italy – Maggazzini Genarali
Dec. 15 – Zurich, Switzerland – Dynamo
Dec. 16 – Munich, Germany – Backstage Werk
Dec. 17 – Karlsruhe, Germany – Substage
Dec. 18 - Munster, Germany – Skater’s Palace
Dec. 20 – Cologne, Germany – Essigfabrik
Dec. 21 – Eindhoven, Netherlands – Effenaar
Dec. 22 – Hasselt, Belgium – Musik-O-drom
Feb. 26 – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia – Soundwave Festival 2011 @ RNA Showgrounds
Feb. 27 – Eastern Creek, New South Wales, Australia - Soundwave Festival 2011 @ Eastern Creek Raceway
March 04 – Melbourne, Australia – Soundwave Festival 2011 @ Melbourne Showgrounds
March 05 – Adelaide, South Australia – Soundwave Festival 2011 @ Bonython Park
March 07 – Bassendean, Perth, Australia – Soundwave Festival 2011 @ Steel Blue Oval

Michigan Deathfest

Michigan Deathfest began taking hard hits when the fest date conflicted with an Iron Maiden show close by; after the festival took many hard hits when bands dropped out as the venue and date continued to change, according to Michigan Deathfest promoter ‘Metal Mom.’ With band break-ups, band drop-outs and poor pre-show promotions caused low ticket sales.

‘Metal Mom’ says that St. Andrew’s Hall is working with Michigan Deathfest to set up a free admissions show to make up for the Michigan Deathfest cancellation. The free admissions show would feature many of the bands that the festival would have show cased.

Michigan Deathfest was originally planned for August 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit, MI and has been a major festival in the Detroit, MI area for the past 20