By Jake Ryan
Published: July 5, 2010

On April 30, Colorado’s own Arcanium played the first of many dates on tour along side Bullet For My Valentine, Chiodos and Airbourne. Midway through the tour, we caught up with the amazing Fort Collins metal quintet on their bus after performing in front of their home-state crowd to discuss their experiences on their second tour opening for a major national band within a year’s time, the first of which was with Megadeth in late 2009.

By Jake Ryan
Published: May 2, 2010

There are two generalized groups of local musicians: those who are content with making music a part-time hobby, and those with aspirations of making a career out of it. For the latter, it takes years of hard work and loads of talent to stand out from the pack and be able to have the true chance to follow your dreams to success. And for one Ft. Collins band, Colorado can no longer keep them a secret from the rest of the world.

By Jake Ryan
Published: February 12, 2010

One of Colorado’s premiere heavy metal acts has had fans salivating at the prospect of hearing a new album release from them for some time now. With the promise of a collection of songs that would far surpass anything they had previously done to date, Iconocaust is ready to unleash the beast of an album known as Judas Complex upon metal fans with a co-CD release party with Cryogen at the Gothic Theatre on Thursday, February 18.

By Jake Ryan
Published: September 19, 2009

There’s something about seeing a band work hard for the recognition they get, earning every step they take up the ladder in the music scene, that makes you proud when both fans and the music community appreciate the art they create. One such band that has done this is Denver’s Devil Got 5. Though still fairly new to the scene, people have begun to recognize their talent and originality, and they have been rewarded with shows at some of the state’s most influential venues.

By Mike "Hammer" Ryan
Published: September 8, 2009

As most of you may know, I am a musician and a writer, which is another way of saying, unemployed. I get paid as a musician, but free beer will only take you so far. I’m also tired of telling editors, after they tell me I’ll get great, "Exposure," in their magazine, that people die here in Colorado of, "Exposure." I am also an avid sports fan so why not incorporate that into a job search? I have recently been studiously examining the local sports/employment scene for opportunities and this is what I have found.

By Jerry Roys
Published: September 8, 2009

Our metal writer Jake Ryan recently worked on a project titled, "Bring The Gibson V Back To Life," which was Jake’s mission to repair a 1985 Gibson Flying V that someone had hacked to hell and then discarded like a slice of five-day-old pizza. Lucky for the V, it fell into the hands of a man who has a deep appreciation for music and musical instruments. Jake finished the project in April, to see the end result go to www.tdpri.com and look in the Finely Finished section of the website’s forum.

By Jake Ryan
Published: August 14, 2009

Unless you live under a rock, there was no way you couldn’t know the name Spools Of Dark Thread. At this time last year, they were flirting with the peak of their popularity in the Colorado local metal scene, with some even referring to them as the kings of local metal.

By Mike "Hammer" Ryan
Published: June 2, 2009

I now have a new travel planner. The next time the Center for Disease Control or the World Health Organization declares a, "Threat to all of humanity," I’m booking a trip. I recently returned from that hotbed of swine flu, Mexico and had probably my best vacation yet: no crowds, excellent service, my choice of rooms and, oh yeah, no swine flu either.

By Jake Ryan
Published: June 7, 2010

For years, Saved By Ruin has brought their eclectic sense of music to the scene, entertaining each and every crowd they play in front of every time. In 2008, this all-female metal ensemble delivered the four-song EP entitled Explore And Reminisce to their fans. Now, on Thursday, June 10, for the first time, Saved By Ruin will unveil their debut full-length album New Perspective at the Gothic Theatre during their CD release show.

By Jerry Roys
Published: April 25, 2010

Chris Daniels has survived 30-plus years in a business that has a life span, for many, of only a few years. Chris started to climb his way to the top of the Colorado music heap in the early 70s. He and his band, The Kings, have remained one of Colorado’s top bands for quite some time now. Chris has not only made it locally, but also on an international level. However, the climb hasn’t been without its share of free falls and slippery slopes.

By Jake Ryan
Published: January 14, 2010

Colorado’s local metal scene is commonly split up into three hubs: Denver, Northern Colorado and Colorado Springs. Rarely do bands have the ability to carry a fan following and gain notoriety in an area outside of their own. However, Colorado Springs’ Sanguine Addiction has been doing just that for many years. And, with a new album recorded and nearing release, they are poised to make yet another surge to expand on what they’ve already accomplished.

By Jake Ryan
Published: November 21, 2009

For nearly a decade, there has been a Colorado band braving the countless waves of ups and downs in the local music scene, gaining audiences’ appreciation and making people take note of their infectious style. They have seen bands, trends and popular styles come and go, yet have still remained true to themselves and their music throughout the process. This band is Ransom.

By Mike "Hammer" Ryan
Published: November 29, 2009

A lot of the folks are worried about the coyotes around here and the safety of their pets. They ought to be more concerned about the cougars and the safety of their young boys. I’m not talking about the feline type, though these can be pretty catty themselves. I’m talking about the new phenomenon of older women preying on younger men. The cougars I’m talking about also have fangs and claws, some even have cute little tails, but I tell you what: these are no dumb animals. These cats don’t eat their young; they will eat yours’ though.

By Jake Ryan
Published: June 2, 2009

For many years, the worlds of heavy metal and hip hop have collided with in several projects and musical acts. These seemingly polar opposites have somehow gravitated towards each other, and made for a recipe for success by bridging genres and creating a larger mass appeal. However, Denver’s No 1 Left Standing has managed to meld these two genres of music into a style that forces you look at it as a style in and of itself rather than a mixture of the two.