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This passed Saturday, April 27th,music history was written by ESCAPE at"Metal Revolution" (presented by Horns Up Rocks and Unblock The Rock) at Tobacco Road in New York City, as they become the first Cuban based band to ever perform in New York City!In celebration of this awesome achievement the band were joined on stage by legendary guitar player Alex Skolnick of TESTAMENT. Joining ESCAPE were their Cuban brothers from FIREHAZE as well as SHITKILL, DEATH IMMORTAL, SIXTH RENAISSANCE and DARK MATTER.
The entire night was a great musical experience for all involved, and we have to hand it to the crowd who packed Tobacco Road from beginning to end. Thanks to everyone who was part of METAL REVOLUTION! Here are some videos filmed by our good friend Carlos "Panchito" Sanchez of ESCAPE's performance!
Horns Up Rocks decided to join forces with UBTR to host Escape at Tobacco Road. "For Horns Up Rocks it is vital to keep underground music alive and breathing. This can only be done thanks to bands like ESCAPE, a band willing to cross all borders for the love of their music, and most importantly their culture,” explained our founder Jö Schüftan.
Tonight, ESCAPE will write history at"Metal Revolution" (presented by Horns Up Rocks and Unblock The Rock) at Tobacco Road in New York City, as they become the first Cuban based band to ever perform in New York City!In celebration of this awesome achievement the band will be joined by legendary guitar player Alex Skolnick of TESTAMENT. Joining ESCAPE will be their Cuban brothers from FIREHAZE as well as SHITKILL, DEATH IMMORTAL, SIXTH RENAISSANCE and DARK MATTER.
Skolnick will join ESCAPE to perform their Metal anthem “Cuba Rebelión" (rebellious Cuba). "It's been an honor and a thrill to help raise awareness of the thriving Cuban Metal scene, of which ESCAPE is a shining example. I’m looking forward to jamming with this ultraheavy, musically sophisticated band in person and hope for an eventual dismantling of the long outdated economic and artistic blockade between our countries,” said Skolnick.
“None of us can believe ESCAPE is in New York City,” said Alejandro Padron, drummer and musical director for Escape.
Horns Up Rocks decided to join forces with UBTR to host Escape at Tobacco Road. "For Horns Up Rocks it is vital to keep underground music alive and breathing. This can only be done thanks to bands like ESCAPE, a band willing to cross all borders for the love of their music, and most importantly their culture,” explained our founder Jö Schüftan.
This historic show will take place tonight at Tobacco Road and is only $12 (21+ with ID), RSVP HERE!
After successfully bringing Cuban Heavy Metal band ESCAPE from Havana to perform in the United States at the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas, for the first performance by a Cuban based Metal band in American history, UnBlock the Rock (UBTR), a grassroots movement is continuing their campaign and bringing Escape to perform in New York City.
ESCAPE will headline “Metal Revolution with ESCAPE” (presented in association with Horns Up Rocks) at Tobacco Road 354 West 41st Street on Saturday, April 27th and will be joined by legendary guitar player Alex Skolnick of TESTAMENT. Joining ESCAPE will be their Cuban brothers from FIREHAZE as well as SHITKILL, DEATH IMMORTAL, SIXTH RENAISSANCE and DARK MATTER.
Skolnick will join ESCAPE to perform their Metal anthem “Cuba Rebelión" (rebellious Cuba). "It's been an honor and a thrill to help raise awareness of the thriving Cuban Metal scene, of which ESCAPE is a shining example. I’m looking forward to jamming with this ultraheavy, musically sophisticated band in person and hope for an eventual dismantling of the long outdated economic and artistic blockade between our countries,” said Skolnick.
“None of us can believe ESCAPE is in New York City,” said Alejandro Padron, drummer and musical director for Escape. “It’s taken us a long time to get here, but we will play the concert of our lives.” “This is only possible with support of UnBlock the Rock and all our friends from all over the world. Infinite thanks for helping us realize a dream."Escape, founded over 12 years ago, is the focus of the documentary “They Will Be Heard”, directed by Tracey Noelle Luz, cofounder of UBTR. The film depicts Escape’s struggle to become a band and the obstacles they have faced while pioneering a Metal movement in Cuba despite resistance by the Cuban government. Luz documented the band for nine months, including the departure of Jennifer Hernandez, Escape’s original keyboardist and co-founder of UBTR, who immigrated to the U.S. in February of 2010.
“After being here for a year, Tracey and I agreed that a movie wasn't enough to change the isolation of the metalheads left behind in Cuba, still fighting to be listened to, still oppressed with so much to give to the world,” explained Hernandez about forming UBTR. “We thought we could open doors that have been shut for so long through music. And we did. I’ll be playing with my band again in New York City just like I always dreamed.”
Horns Up Rocks decided to join forces with UBTR to host Escape at Tobacco Road. "For Horns Up Rocks it is vital to keep underground music alive and breathing. This can only be done thanks to bands like ESCAPE, a band willing to cross all borders for the love of their music, and most importantly their culture,” explained our founder Jö Schüftan.
Escape’s latest release, “La Hora de la Verdad” (The Hour of Truth) is available on the UBTR website, www.unblocktherock.com as a free download. UBTR continues to promote THE RED ALBUM, also available off the website at www.unblocktherock.com/donate to raise funds to help the band with their costs coming into New York City.
This historic show will take place at Tobacco Road and is only $12 (21+ with ID), RSVP HERE!
Next Saturday, April 27, Heavy Metal history will be written in New York
City as ESCAPE will become the first Metal band from Cuba to perform in New York City! Talk about music revolution!!!
Joining ESCAPE on stage at Tobacco i as a very special guest will be Alex Skolnick from TESTAMENT! Also performing will be:
Nowadays Heavy Music needs a band that offers a lethal mix of hard hitting rhythmical grooves, crushing riffs, and a whole lotta soul within the lyrics. In our humble opinion, Cuba's FIREHAZE is one of the only upcoming bands in the world that is offering a very fresh mix of all the elements mentioned above. In times when music is becoming less and less memorable, and fans are switching between bands as often as they change their TV channels because of poor programming, the global Heavy Music scene needs a band that takes our music back to what it used to be like.
In mid 2009 they met Hector, another young Cuban who had recently moved from La Havana. He would become the newest member in charge of the drums. Because of the influences that Hector brought to the band, they immediately started discussing the path they thought the band should take.
The chemistry that was evident between the three the very first time that they jammed together, and due to the fact that they started working around a NEW idea they decided to change the name of the project... This is when FIREHAZE was born. Through a D.I.Y. campaign, the band has managed to keep on board the Heavy Metal train and have managed to create some high quality songs. You can expect their NEW demo later this year, but for now here is the bands second music video. This video clip is for their song "Enemy":
The band has a few performances coming soon, here is where you can catch them live:
- FIREHAZE will be opening this Wednesday, January 30th for the European band Avatar. The event will take place at The Studio at Webster Hall in New York City.
- FIREHAZE will be performing at Jose Mangin's "Hard Attack Thursday's" this Thursday, January 31st. The event will take place at Dingbarz in Clifton, New Jersey. - Last, but certainly not least, FIREHAZE will be part of Horns Up Rocks's THREEEEE year anniversary concert and fashion show on Wednesday, February 13th. This massive event will take place at The Trash Bar in Brooklyn, New York. Here is the official event flyer:
Today more than ever before, it is essential for promoters, artists and fans to keep the pulse of Heavy Music (the underground scene) alive and kicking! Ever since the inception of Horns Up Rocks, we have been actively involved in strengthening the underground Heavy Music scene. While many understand the importance of supporting the local artists and venues, there are still too many who are forgetting how essential it is to keep underground music breathing!
The "Underground MeTal Friday's" (Presented by Horns Up Rocks), returns tomorrow Friday (September 21st) to Fontanas Bar in New York City! This time around we don't only have 5 excellent bands, but we will also be celebrating the debut show of DRIVEN MAD (a band formed by previous members of KING HELL)! There is no reason why you should miss this EPIC event, so we hope to see you there.
Meet the bands that will be performing:
- DRIVEN MAD:
"Driven mad" sums up this NEW band's ethos well: the songs are surely driven; they're mad; and the intent is to push listeners past the brink of sanity--after a stopover in the emergency room. Founded by 3 former members of NYC's prominent Metal act King Hell --Samael (vocals), Motherfucker (guitar), and Dundon (drums)-- DRIVEN MAD’s sound ranges from Hard Core Thrash to crushing slabs of Sabbath. While the funk leanings and circus style stage show of King Hell are gone, a focus on evolved rhythms and a murderous live show remain. Says Samael: "Towards the end of King Hell, we were writing heavier and heavier songs. It was nothing cynical. Even though King Hell was theatrical, we always followed our hearts writing music--and, as it happened, our hearts were turning black."
- FIREHAZE:
FIREHAZE is a band integrated by four young Cubans that migrated to the city of West New York, New Jersey in the USA. They all shared a common dream, to become members of a Metal band, something that united their different tendencies of the genre. The sound of the band seems to be Melodic Death/Trash Metal with some Core influences, topped with the sound and, at times, ironic power of the keyboard.
- GIVETHEMROPE:
GIVETHEMROPE released their debut CD on June 16, 2012. The band chose Method of Groove Studio in Brooklyn NY (owned and engineered by Sony/Roadrunner recording artist Joey Z from Life of Agony) and the results are imminent. If you like down tuned Groove Metal blended with Hardcore and Blues, this band is for you!
- SHITKILL:
SHITKILL is a young NYC Metal band (ages 16,17) who have already done some good damage on the local Metal scene. After releasing their 'Asylum EP' in Fall 2010 (produced by Tomato of Sound Of Urchin, etc), they went on to play shows at such venues as The Highline Ballroom, Knitting Factory, and opened for Iron Maiden legend Paul Dianno at BB King's. SHITKILL's fresh take, reminiscent of classic bands like Sepultura, Slayer, and Pantera.
Scathing, pulsing, louder than hell, M-16's music is at times bombastic yet poetic in nature. Unapologetic lyrics sung in Spanish, scream tales of mortal disillusion, political terror, and the chaos of modern times. A band that believes in substance over style, M-16 is all the angst and frustration of real people channeled through guitars, drums and bass.
Spread the word and we hope to see YOU this Friday at Fontanas Bar in New York City! \m/
On June 1st, UnBlock The Rock (UBTR) is taking over City Hall. We'll be exhibiting the photography from the film, and there will be a live performance by FireHaze and special guests Alex Skolnick of TESTAMENT and Faisal Talal of ACRASSICAUDA.
UBTR is a young organization run on volunteer efforts. This is a really huge event for us, and we would like to capitalize on the momentum to fund raise for the scratch we so desperately need for legal fees to bring Cuban Metallers ESCAPE here. We are offering the photography as an incentive to donate to UBTR, but also encouraging folks to donate $10, $20 or $30.
A detailed description of the event, as well as information about UBTR and how to donate is available at the link below.
This Friday March 2nd, we are bringing YOU another version of the "Underground Metal Friday's" (Presented by Horns Up Rocks)!
This time we are bringing you New Jersey/Latino Metallers FIREHAZE, who will be celebrating their 2 Year Anniversary! Also performing on this very special night will be Nostrom, Iratetion, Deathalizer and A Welcome Burden!
+ Hosted & DJed by Jo Schüftan from Horns Up Rocks
