Angel Du$t
Justice Tripp lives in the future. For nearly two decades, the musician has consistently been ahead of the curve: first with Trapped Under Ice, where he led the way for a new wave of heavy hardcore, and then as the mastermind behind Angel Du$t, where he blazed the trail for the current generation of aggressive musicians to branch out into unabashedly melodic territory. Tripp’s work is marked by an ever-evolving creativity that’s made him highly influential, but which has often put him a number of steps ahead of the very trends that he’s helped to inspire. Now Angel Du$t are back with their new album, Brand New Soul: a fearless and open-hearted tribute to all things rock, offering listeners a chance to be right there with them on the cutting edge. Tripp might forever be keeping an eye on the future, but Angel Du$t’s time is now. Tripp’s rock and roll circus is brought to life by an impressive cast of characters. Angel Du$t’s membership has always been made up of incredibly talented musicians, and Brand New Soul solidifies the key players with the live lineup of Daniel Star (guitar), Steve Marino (guitar), Zechariah Ghostribe (bass), and Thomas Cantwell (drums/percussion), as well as contributions from longtime collaborators like Daniel Fang (drums/percussion) and Pat McCrory (guitar), and vocal appearances from Mary Jane Dunphe and Citizen’s Mat Kerekes. “The band has always centered around me, but I’ve never written the music just for me,” explains Tripp. “It always felt like it was meant to be played by a band, I love the team effort. Angel Du$t isn’t about me–it’s about the spirit of rock music and the energy that that gives off. It’s like we’re committed to a cause.” The record feels like the sum of its eclectic parts, all united by Tripp’s daring and unshakeable creativity in the producer’s chair. “I wanted to just be able to try anything with no fear,” he says. “I can’t operate with fear. This record is about zero compromise, it’s about giving yourself over completely to what you’re doing. It’s not about ego, it’s about submitting yourself to this feeling–it’s rock and roll music, period. That’s it.” It’s this combination of heart and inventiveness that makes Brand New Soul such an endearing listen, and the record almost feels like a proof-of-concept for the daring spirit that’s led Tripp his entire life. His story is far from fully written, but ten years into Angel Du$t, it’s finally starting to seem clear that the songwriter’s many creative risks have paid off. The band’s influence is palpable, and Brand New Soul is poised with open arms to bring even more people into the unique world Tripp has created–one where stage dives and sweetness fit perfectly together, and everyone is welcome to get in on the fun. “The music bringing people together is the most important thing,” he says. “I would hope that the biggest impact we’ve had is just encouraging people to express themselves.”
Ungoliant
Ungoliant – Black Metal from Omaha, NE – releasing their first full length album Sept 12, 2025! https://www.instagram.com/ungoliantamerica/ Tehom – sludge / death metal / black metal from Omaha, NE https://tehomne.bandcamp.com/album/ep-2023 YŪREI – DEATH//BLACK//SLUDGE from Omaha, NE https://www.instagram.com/yureideath/ Cheap Porno Flick – Cheesy, Sleazy, Omaha Grindcore https://cheappornoflick.bandcamp.com/
Master
Master – Founded in 1983 and originally based in Chicago, Illinois, Master is one of the earliest bands in the world labeled as Death Metal! Now based in the Czech Republic, Master is still touring and writing music 40+ years later with brutal metal riffs and crushing blast beats!https://master.bandcamp.com/
Of The Skies
Of The Skies is an Omaha, NE based Alternative metal band, with elements of electronics combining heavy and spacey guitars. The sound is Melodic and Aggressive taking listeners on a ride.
Dayglo Abortions
Dayglo Abortions – The Dayglo Abortions, a Victoria BC punk/metal band that has been abusing ear holes since 1979. The Dayglo Abortions have put out over a dozen records, including the popular Feed Us a Fetus (1986) and Here Today, Guano Tomorrow (1987). Their last record at the time of writing was 2016’s Armageddon Survival Guide. The longest-running leader, producer and writer of the band is Murray “The Cretin” Acton. Currently the lead guitarist and vocalist, Acton created The Dayglo Abortions and has been active for every year except three in the mid-90s when he created the band LUMMOX, and released the masterpiece (Natural Born Swillers). The Dayglo Abortions are now and will forever be the most important punk band in Canada, also being one of the first bands in North American history to be slapped with obscenity charges. Murray considers his writing to be light hearted and satirical while the rest of us get to enjoy some of the finest punk rock ever written. The Brothels – ska/street punk from San Antonio, TX https://thebrothels.bandcamp.com/ Cordial Spew – hardcore / punk rock from Omaha, NE established in the early 1980’s Hand Painted Police Car – punk rock from Omaha https://handpaintedpolicecar.bandcamp.com/
Lead Spirit
Mike V & The Rats
The Rats are making their triumphant return! Skateboarding icon Mike Vallely has revived his original punk band, Mike V And The Rats, and they’re set to hit the stage this summer alongside The Aquabats! and Koffin Kats for the exciting Bats! Kats & Rats Tour. Formed in 2002, The Rats took the punk scene by storm, capturing the hearts of a new generation of fans with their DIY skate spirit. Their unforgettable tracks like “The Days,” “Never Give Up,” and “Vendetta” have secured their place in skate-punk history, featuring in classic games like Tony Hawk Underground and American Wasteland. Vallely shares, “Nothing has changed, the mission remains the same: share and promote the music and skateboarding with the same passion, positivity, and optimism as ever. These are still The Days!” Get ready for an unforgettable summer filled with incredible music and uplifting energy! Cordial Spew – hardcore / punk rock from Omaha, NE established in the early 1980’s Million Dollar Veins – Supercharged Rock ‘n’ Roll from Lincoln/Omaha Nebraska. Criminal Neglect – Lincoln, NE punk rock
Conan
Conan’s doom is singular. Carved of granite. Yes, of course there’ve been changes since guitarist/vocalist Jon Davis founded the group in 2006, but the intention at the time toward superlative heavy – tonal extremity wrought with impressionist lyrics stripping ideas to the core where sometimes the whole line is just one word; they’ve always called it “Caveman Battle Doom” – remains at the root of everything they’ve done since. And across five studio records in the decade from 2012-2022, Conan have set the standard by which much of “heavy” anything is judged. And in comparison, most is found wanting. But for every time you’ve heard about Conan’s music being like galloping steeds or frost-covered sharp-peaked mountains, etc., imagery of largesse and violence, the truth is Conan are an exercise in frequency. It’s the low resonance that shakes your chest, the depth of the bass – now handled by David Ryley (ex-Fudge Tunnel) – the push of air from Johnny King’s kick drum, or the way the dark-fuzz distortion of Davis’ guitar is offset by shouting vocals cutting through that sometimes punishing onslaught, rarely to offer comfort so much as add viciousness to the crash, plod and pillage. In 2024, Conan sign to Heavy Psych Sounds as a recognized name and one of the foremost acts of their generation, wildly influential in their home country of the UK and well beyond; headliners in practice and theory alike. Their fifth LP, 2022’s ‘Evidence of Immortality,’ brought a dark ambience to coincide with its outright attack. With experiments in darkwave and synth adding breadth to the stated root purpose of aural force, it’s never been harder to guess where the next few years might take their sound, but whatever’s coming, Conan will make it kill. The better part of two decades later, their reliability remains unshakable. Which you want when your band is so heavy that the floor and your ribcage both start to vibrate. __ Canadian mixed-race mixed-gender duo Mares of Thrace deal in a brand of heaviness that draws as much from noise rock and hardcore as it does from the doom metal they’re commonly grouped with. The band came roaring back to life in 2022 after a considerable hiatus; while 2012’s The Pilgrimage (released on Canada’s Sonic UnyonRecords) catapulted them onto the world stage, garnering a premier on Pitchfork and praise in Decibel, Terrorizer, Metal Hammer, and countless other outlets, their currentera is fast eclipsing it. Their relentless schedule in support of 2022’s The Exile saw them tour the USA, Canada, and Europe (including a full tour with UK doom legends Conan,and stints with Bell Witch, Dopethrone, and KEN mode) and headline a showcase at new “North American Roadburn” festival Prepare the Ground.The band’s new incarnation sees vocalist and guitarist Trez (hailed as “absolutelyriveting, an unrivalled monster of a frontperson” by Exclaim! Magazine; a professional illustrator, she also creates the album, merch, and poster art) joined by Casey ondrums,a multi-instrumentalist and audio engineer whose bona fides include being tapped to replace Gene Hoglan in Zimmer’s Hole.2025 looks to be their most ambitious year yet, as they prepare to release their fourth full-length album–The Loss– on illustrious joint Toronto-Reykjavik label ArtoffactRecords (home of Kaelan Mikla and Gggolddd).
ZAO
The Browning
