Buckcherry formed in 1997 and released their self-titled debut album in 1999. The album hit #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, and #74 on the Billboard Top 200. It would eventually be certified Gold by the RIAA. The record’s lead single, “Lit Up”, was the band’s first #1 hit, and was later ranked at #98 on VH1‘s 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. Buckcherry supported the album by touring with Lenny Kravitz, and taking part in the epic anniversary festival Woodstock ’99. After surviving that show, the band went on to tour with their heroes, AC/DC. After two years of hard touring, Buckcherry entered the studio again and released their sophomore effort, Time Bomb, in 2001. It spawned the hit single, “Ridin’”, and several other fan favorites.

After a 3-year hiatus, the band reformed in 2005 and released 15 in 2006. It produced 5 hit singles, including “Crazy Bitch”, which was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.  The band toured that summer on Crüe Fest with Mötley Crüe, Papa Roach, SIXX:A.M., and Trapt. The next few years would see Buckcherry enjoy their biggest commercial success ever, with 2008′s Black Butterfly and 2010′s All Night Long debuting at #8 and #10 respectively on the Billboard Top 200. On these album cycles, the band toured with the likes of KISS, Limp Bizkit, Hellyeah, and All That Remains. The band had featured slots at Rocklahoma in 2010 and 2012. by Matt Bishop

Godsmack signed with Universal/Republic Records in 1998 and exploded onto the scene that same year with their self-titled debut LP. The album debuted at #22 on the Billboard Top 200, and went on to be certified 5x platinum. The band played Ozzfest ’99 and the epic Woodstock ’99, along with extensive touring and a European run supporting Black Sabbath. Godsmack returned to the studio in 2000 to begin work on their sophomore effort, Awake. The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard Top 200 in October 2000. It quickly went 2x platinum. In addition to their headlining shows, the band toured with Limp Bizkit and again on Ozzfest 2000. The album also garnered the band it’s first Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for “Vampires”.

In 2002, Godsmack released the hit single “I Stand Alone” on The Scorpion King soundtrack. The song remained #1 on Rock Radio and was the most played song on Active Rock Radio for 14 weeks straight. It would become the first single off the bands blistering third album, Faceless. In 2003, Faceless debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and sold over 269,000 copies in it’s first week of sales. It eventually went platinum. Linkin Park‘s second album, Meteora, debuted at #2. Godsmack earned two Grammy Award nomination for “Straight Out of Line” and “I Stand Alone”. In March 2004, the band released an acoustic EP, The Other Side, which debuted at #5 on the Billboard Top 200. That same year, Godsmack supported Metallica on their Madly In Anger With The World U.S. Tour in addition to their own relentless headlining shows.

Godsmack returned in 2006 with another chart-topper, their fourth album simply titled IV. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and showed a less intense, but riffier Sabbath-like sound. Eventually going gold, it brought the band to a perfect point to release a “best of” collection: Good Times, Bad Times…10 Years of Godsmack, which came out in 2007. The album debuted at #35 on the Billboard Top 200, and featured a cover of Led Zeppelin‘s “Good Times, Bad Times”. Over the next 3 years, the band would take some time off to relax in light of their 10th anniversary. In 2009, Godsmack returned to the road on Mötley Crüe‘s Crüe Fest 2 Tour. In 2010, they unleashed their fifth studio album, The Oracle. It became the band’s third straight LP to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and it sold over 117,000 copies in it’s first week of sales. Godsmack toured relentlessly again with support from bands like Five Finger Death Punch and Staind. They co-headlined Mayhem Festival 2011 with Disturbed, and Uproar Festival 2012 with Shinedown. In May 2012, the band released their first live album, Live & Inspired, which included a bonus EP of cover tunes. Godsmack are expected to head into the studio sometime later this year or in early 2014 to work on a new studio record, but for now, they are back on the road. Thank God. - by Matt Bishop (Top Left Photo and Cover Photo by Matt Bisho

2013 North American Tour

May 30 – TD Bank Garden – Boston, MA
June 29 – Boonstock – Gibbons, AB, Canada
July 18 – Myth – St. Paul, MN
July 19 – Rock USA Festival – Oshkosh, WI
July 20 – The Venue at Horeshoe Casino
August 3 – Sioux Empire Fair – Sioux Falls, SD
August 4 – Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
August 5 – Jackson Country Fair – Jackson, MI
August 7 – Sands Event Center – Bethlehem, PA
August 8 – House of Blues – Atlantic City, NJ
August 10 – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH
August 11 – Heavy Montreal – Montreal, QC, Canada

]]> http://therockrevival.com/rock-news/godsmack-announce-2013-north-american-tour/feed/ 0 http://therockrevival.com/heavy-metal/sevendust-black-out-the-rebellion-interview-with-drummer-morgan-rose-2/ http://therockrevival.com/heavy-metal/sevendust-black-out-the-rebellion-interview-with-drummer-morgan-rose-2/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 19:14:34 +0000 Matt http://therockrevival.com/?p=3983 “Our setlist is so heavy. I hope this rain holds out, ’cause we’re gonna torch this place.” As Sevendust drummer Morgan Rose and I shared a quick handshake before our interview backstage at Carolina Rebellion, that’s what he said to me about the band’s upcoming set that day. Sevendust were already here to save the day, filling in for 3 Doors Down after tragic circumstances forced the band to cancel their spring tour dates. Then, bad weather hit, threatening the entire show right out of the gate. “If we get a chance to do this, we’re gonna try and just tear it down. Just give us a window. We just want a 40-minute window. We’re ready” Well, they got their window. And delivered a thunderous performance through driving rain. It ended up being one of the highlight sets of the weekend. As far as actually choosing the songs for this blistering set at this point in the band’s career, Morgan said that it’s no easy task anymore. “It’s tough, man. The toughest part is that nobody agrees in the band,” he commented jokingly.

Sevendust recently released their ninth studio album, Black Out The Sun, on their label 7Bros. Records via Warner Music Group.  The video for the album’s first single, “Decay”, is out now as well. The highly-anticipated new record comes nearly three years after their previous effort, 2010′s Cold Day Memory. When I asked about the response to the album, Morgan stated, “Huge. Biggest one we’ve had in a long time.” The band also experimented with a different writing and recording process this time around, which Morgan and I discussed more in-depth in the interview. In between Sevendust albums, Rose and guitarist Clint Lowery set up shop at The Architekt Studios in New Jersey to record the debut album of their new project, Call Me No One. While this was going down, guitarist John Connolly and bassist Vince Hornsby teamed up with drummer Scott Phillips (Alter Bridge, Creed) and guitarist Eric Friedman (Tremonti, Creed)  formed the band, Projected.  Their debut album, Human, was released September 18 on Connolly’s own label, Yaya Papu LLC.

Sevendust formed in 1994 and exploded into mainstream metal with their 1997 self-titled debut album. The record went gold, and the band landed a coveted slot on Ozzfest ’98 alongside Ozzy Osbourne, Tool, Limp Bizkit, System of a Down, Incubus, Motörhead, Megadeth, Melvins, and Soulfly. In 1999, Sevendust released their sophomore mega-hit, Home. The album debuted at #19 on the Billboard Top 200. That same year, the band played the epic Woodstock ’99, which marked the 30th anniversary of the original festival. After two more studio albums, the band released the ultra-heavy Alpha, which debuted at #14 on the Billboard Top 200 in 2007. In 2008, the band saw the return of previously-departed guitarist Clint Lowery. The released a new LP, entitled Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow. The star-studded LP featured appearances by Chris Daughtry (Daughtry), Mark Tremonti (Creed, Alter Bridge), and Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge, Slash). The album debuted at #19 on the Billboard Top 200. In 2010, Sevendust released Cold Day Memory, which debuted at #12 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, the highest debut of their 15 year career. – by Matt Bishop (Photography by Matt Christine)

Sevendust Photo Gallery – Carolina Rebellion 2013

Facebook: Facebook.com/TheRockRevival
Twitter: @The_MattBishop

Avenged Sevenfold have been one of the premiere rock bands in the world for nearly a decade. In 2002, the band signed with Hopeless Records and released their debut LP, Sounding The Seventh Trumpet. The band toured in support of the album with Mushroomhead, Shadows Fall, and more. A year later, the band returned with a much sharper sound on their sophomore effort, Waking The Fallen. In 2003 and 2004, the A7X toured on the Vans Warped Tour, and the video for their single, “Unholy Confessions”, received massive airplay on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball. In 2004, Avenged signed with Warner Bros. Records, and released their third album and major label debut, City of Evil. The disc took the band to the next level, debuting at #30 on the Billboard Top 200 and selling over 30,000 copies in it’s first week of sales. The band played the mainstage at Ozzfest 2006 alongside Disturbed, System of a Down, Hatebreed, and more. They won the award for Best New Artist at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. They returned to Warped Tour for a third run, this time as the headliners, and emarked on their own Cities of Evil Tour in support of the album, which eventually went platinum.

In 2007, Avenged released a new self-titled studio album, the band’s fourth. It debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200, produced five hit singles, and sold over 90,000 copies in it’s first week of sales. The album quickly went gold, and won the award for Best Album at the 2008 Kerrang! Music Awards. That same year, the band headlined the Taste of Chaos Tour, with Bullet For My Valentine, Atreyu, and Blessthefall. After that tour, the band released a live CD/DVD from the last show of the tour in Long Beach, CA, Live in The LBC & Diamonds In The Rough. The CD also included rare B-sides and cover songs of Pantera, Iron Maiden, and Black Sabbath. In 2009, the band began work on their fifth studio album. On December 28, 2009, as they were nearing completion of the record, tragedy struck when drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan passed away in his home at the age of 28. The band carried on, and enlisted the services of The Rev’s icon - Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy. In 2010, Avenged Sevenfold released Nightmare. Arguably the best effort of their career, the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and sold over 163,000 copies in it’s first week of sales.

On January 20, 2011, Avenged Sevenfold announced that Arin IIejay would be the band’s touring drummer. That summer, the band headlined the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival, with supporting acts Three Days Grace, Seether, Bullet For My Valentine, Escape The Fate, and more. In October 2011, the band co-headlined the 48 Hours Festival in Las Vegas, NV along with Korn, Godsmack, and Five Finger Death Punch. In November, they embarked on a brief headlining tour, The Buried Alive Tour, with special guests Asking Alexandria, Hollywood Undead, and Black Veil Brides. The band took a break from touring in 2012 to relax and write. In April 2012, they took to the stage again, touring through Asia, and played Metallica’s Orion Music + More Festival in Atlantic City, NJ in June.

On September 24, they released a new single, “Carry On”, which was featured in the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops II, and is nominated for the award for Best Song at this year’s Revolver Golden God Awards on May 2. Since then, the band has been writing music for their new album, which frontman M. Shadowstold Revolver Magazine, has a “Zeppelin-meets-Sabbath” sound to it. The recording process began in January 2013, Avenged Sevenfold’s sixth studio LP is expected to drop sometime in the coming few months. In addition to headlining Musikfest 2013, A7X are also confirmed to play Rock in Rio in Brazil this year. The band will co-headline the final night of the epic 7-day festival along with Iron Maiden and Slayer. With 2 Top 10 Billboard 200 albums, 7 Revolver Golden God Awards, 1 Kerrang! Award, and over 8 million albums sold worldwide, Avenged Sevenfold are one of the definitive bands of their generation, and are going to bring one hell of a show to Bethlehem on August 11. Musikfest, Welcome To The Family. - by Matt Bishop

Danko Jones have remained a steady constant in hard rock for over a decade. In 2002, they released their debut album, Born A Lion. The band toured relentlessly in support of the album throughout Canada and Europe, eventually returning to their native Canada to open for The Rolling Stones at the kick-off stop of their 2002 40 Licks World Tour in Toronto. Danko Jones’ sophomore effort, 2003′s We Sweat Blood, was a much heavier outing for the band. The album garnered the band two Juno Award nominations for Best Rock Album and Best Video for the song “Lovercall”.  They toured on the record into 2005, which included a run opening for Sepultura, and appearances at Rock am Ring and Rock in Park im Germany, and Download, Leeds, and Reading Festivals in England. In the US, the band supported acts like Flogging Molly and Our Lady Peace.

In 2006, Danko Jones released their third album, Sleep Is The Enemy. That same year, the band toured their homeland with fellow Canadian rockers Nickelback. For the next two summers, the band would return to Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Germany, Hellfest, Wacken Open Air, and Pinkpop festivals. In 2008, the band released a new studio LP, Never Too Loud, and toured with the likes of Death Angel and Motörhead. Danko released their fifth studio album, Below The Belt, in 2010. It debuted at #36 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. Back in October 2012, the band released their sixth album, Rock and Roll is Black and Blue. The band is supporting the album touring with Volbeat. - by Matt Bishop

2013 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK UPROAR FESTIVAL

Just a few weeks ago, Volbeat released their fifth studio album, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies.The record has taken the band to whole new level, giving them their first Top 10 debut on the Billboard Top 200 at #9. On April 30, HIM released their long-awaited new album, Tears On Tape, via Razor & Tie. It’s the band’s first new studio LP in three years. All That Remains are still touring off their 2012 effort, A War You Cannot Win, which hit #13 on the Billboard Top 200. Airbourne are set to release their first new album in three years, Black Dog Barking, on May 21. The band’s first two albums both charted in the Billboard Top 200. - by Matt Bishop

“It is an honor and a privilege to be taking part in Musikfest this year. The Lehigh Valley is my home. I grew up here. I grew up going to Musikfest. And now, to have the opportunity to present one of my favorite bands, Avenged Sevenfold, and have them bring the curtain down on the ‘Fest’s 30th Anniversary is truly an amazing deal. I can’t wait to share this awesome concert with all my friends and family on my Home Team. So much thanks to Musikfest, ArtsQuest, 95.1 WZZO, 107.1 The Bone, and, of course, Avenged Sevenfold. ‘Welcome To The Family’” – Matt Bishop, founder – The Rock Revival

Avenged Sevenfold have been one of the premiere rock bands in the world for nearly a decade. In 2002, the band signed with Hopeless Records and released their debut LP, Sounding The Seventh Trumpet. The band toured in support of the album with Mushroomhead, Shadows Fall, and more. A year later, the band returned with a much sharper sound on their sophomore effort, Waking The Fallen. In 2003 and 2004, the A7X toured on the Vans Warped Tour, and the video for their single, “Unholy Confessions”, received massive airplay on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball. In 2004, Avenged signed with Warner Bros. Records, and released their third album and major label debut, City of Evil. The disc took the band to the next level, debuting at #30 on the Billboard Top 200 and selling over 30,000 copies in it’s first week of sales. The band played the mainstage at Ozzfest 2006 alongside Disturbed, System of a Down, Hatebreed, and more. They won the award for Best New Artist at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. They returned to Warped Tour for a third run, this time as the headliners, and emarked on their own Cities of Evil Tour in support of the album, which eventually went platinum.

In 2007, Avenged released a new self-titled studio album, the band’s fourth. It debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200, produced five hit singles, and sold over 90,000 copies in it’s first week of sales. The album quickly went gold, and won the award for Best Album at the 2008 Kerrang! Music Awards. That same year, the band headlined the Taste of Chaos Tour, with Bullet For My Valentine, Atreyu, and Blessthefall. After that tour, the band released a live CD/DVD from the last show of the tour in Long Beach, CA, Live in The LBC & Diamonds In The Rough. The CD also included rare B-sides and cover songs of Pantera, Iron Maiden, and Black Sabbath. In 2009, the band began work on their fifth studio album. On December 28, 2009, as they were nearing completion of the record, tragedy struck when drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan passed away in his home at the age of 28. The band carried on, and enlisted the services of The Rev’s icon - Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy. In 2010, Avenged Sevenfold released Nightmare. Arguably the best effort of their career, the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and sold over 163,000 copies in it’s first week of sales.

On January 20, 2011, Avenged Sevenfold announced that Arin IIejay would be the band’s touring drummer. That summer, the band headlined the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival, with supporting acts Three Days Grace, Seether, Bullet For My Valentine, Escape The Fate, and more. In October 2011, the band co-headlined the 48 Hours Festival in Las Vegas, NV along with Korn, Godsmack, and Five Finger Death Punch. In November, they embarked on a brief headlining tour, The Buried Alive Tour, with special guests Asking Alexandria, Hollywood Undead, and Black Veil Brides. The band took a break from touring in 2012 to relax and write. In April 2012, they took to the stage again, touring through Asia, and played Metallica’s Orion Music + More Festival in Atlantic City, NJ in June.

On September 24, they released a new single, “Carry On”, which was featured in the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops II, and is nominated for the award for Best Song at this year’s Revolver Golden God Awards on May 2. Since then, the band has been writing music for their new album, which frontman M. Shadows told Revolver Magazine, has a “Zeppelin-meets-Sabbath” sound to it. The recording process began in January 2013, Avenged Sevenfold’s sixth studio LP is expected to drop sometime in the coming few months. In addition to headlining Musikfest 2013, A7X are also confirmed to play Rock in Rio in Brazil this year. The band will co-headline the final night of the epic 7-day festival along with Iron Maiden and Slayer. With 2 Top 10 Billboard 200 albums, 7 Revolver Golden God Awards, 1 Kerrang! Award, and over 8 million albums sold worldwide, Avenged Sevenfold are one of the definitive bands of their generation, and are going to bring one hell of a show to Bethlehem on August 11. Musikfest, Welcome To The Family.

First and foremost, I had to ask where such a badass album title came from for the new record. “My twisted mind,” Poulsen stated jokingly, at first. “I’ve just been watching a lot of old western movies and gangster movies. When I start writing, I can definitely hear a lot of inspiration coming from those old western soundtracks, and when I start working on some lyrics, I wanted to bring some of those old legendary outlaws to life, and some of the shady ladies at that time.” Michael expanded on the album title, telling me how it truly defines what the record is about. “It’s just the whole universe behind those badass cowboys. They were always gentlemen. But we haven’t heard that much about the ladies from that time.”

This time around, Volbeat have really broadened their sound and mixed more melody with their riffs. “We definitely took out the punk elements this time, and made some more space for the riffs,” Poulsen said. This is also the first album to feature new lead guitarist Rob Caggiano (formerly of Anthrax). “He [Rob Caggiano] is such an amazing guitar player and style-wise he and I are going hand-in-hand really well together. I think you can really here on this album; you can hear that there are two guitar players.” Michael went on to elaborate more about the band’s new recording process and more about the album in the interview.

Volbeat have always received widespread acclaim in Europe. The band’s debut album, The Strength/The Sounds/The Songs, won the award for Best Debut Album at the 2005 Danish Metal Music Awards. Their second album, 2007′s Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil, was certified platinum and the band won the award for Best Live Band and Best Album at the 2007 Danish Metal Music Awards. Their third album, Beyond Heaven/Above Hell, went platinum in Finland and Germany, gold in Sweden and Austria, and double-platinum in their native Denmark. The record also broke the band into the mainstream in the U.S. with the hit single, A Warrior’s Call, which garnered massive play on rock radio nation-wide.

Over the past few years, Volbeat have been touring relentlessly, playing some of the world’s biggest festival stages including Rock On The Range, Carolina Rebellion, Download Festival, Hellfest, Wacken Open Air, and Metallica’s Orion Music + More Festival. In February 2013, it was announced that Rob Caggiano, who had been producing the band’s new album and playing guest solos, had officially joined the band. Just a few weeks ago, Volbeat released their fifth studio album, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies. The record has taken the band to whole new level, giving them their first Top 10 debut on the Billboard Top 200 at #9. The band is currently on their North American Tour in support of the new album, and will be hitting two of America’s biggest festivals – Carolina Rebellion and Rock On The Range –  in May. It was a privilege to sit down with Michael, who in my book is a certified badass American Cowboy. And much like my favorite Volbeat song, this interview only fuels me further to continue to interview and write, and let the stories forever roll off of my Sad Man’s Tongue. - by Matt Bishop (Photography by Matt Bishop)

Black Sabbath are one of the most legendary artists of all time. True pioneers in music, they are largely responsible for creating the ‘metal’ genre, and have influenced countless bands like Metallica, Slayer, Rob Zombie, Korn, Slipknot, Iron Maiden, Mastodon, and countless others. The band formed in 1968 in Birmingham, England. In 1970, they unleashed their new brand of rock with their self-titled debut album. They put the ‘heavy’ in heavy metal, combining slow, heavy riffs with apocalyptic themes of horror, doom, and the occult.

Sabbath’s sophomore effort, released not even a year after their debut, stands today as one of the greatest albums of all time. Released in September 1970, Paranoid became a blueprint for heavy music, spawning such hits as “Paranoid”, “Iron Man”, and “War Pigs”. A true masterpiece, every song on the album (except for the instrumental “Rat Salad”) is widely considered a signature song for the band. In 2003, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Paranoid #130 on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time and Guitar World Magazine ranked it at #6 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All-Time.

Black Sabbath released six more studio albums, before vocalist Ozzy Osbourne was dismissed from the band in 1978. After many more albums with numerous line-up changes, the original Sabbath reunited in 1997 and released a live album, Reunion, in 1997. The album also featured two new studio tracks. In 2012, they reunited once again, this time without drummer Bill Ward. Sabbath headlined Lollapalooza 2012, and Download Festival 2012 along with Metallica, Soundgarden, and The Prodigy. Over the last few months, Ozzy, Iommi, and Butler have been recording their first album together in 35 years. Black Sabbath are back, and the world is more than ready for the heavy. - by Matt Bishop

Black Sabbath – North American ’13′ Tour 2013

07/25 – Houston, Texas @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion+
07/27 – Austin, Texas @ Frank Erwin Center+
07/29 – Tampa, Fla. @ Live Nation Amphitheatre**
07/31 – West Palm Beach, Fla @ Cruzan Amphitheatre+
08/02 – Bristow, Va. @ Jiffy Lube Live~
08/04 – Holmdel, N.J. @ PNC Bank Arts Center*
08/06 – Detroit, Mich. @ DTE Energy Music Theatre+
08/08 – Uncasville, Conn. @ Mohegan Sun Arena+
08/10 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Wells Fargo Center+
08/12 – Boston, Mass. @ Comcast Center^
08/14 – Toronto, Ontario @ Air Canada Centre*
08/16 – Tinley Park, Ill. @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre+
08/18 – Indianapolis, Ind. @ Klipsch Music Center+
08/22 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Rogers Arena+
08/24 – Seattle, Wash. @ Gorge Amphitheatre*
08/26 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View+
08/28 – Irvine, Calif. @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre+
08/30 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ US Airways Center+
09/01 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ MGM Grand Garden Arena+
09/03 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Los Angeles Sports Arena*

*Previously announced date
^On sale Friday, May 3
+On sale Saturday, May 4
~On sale Friday May 10
**On sale Saturday May 11

Skillet formed in Memphis, TN in 1996. After releasing five studio LPs, the band hit the mainstream with their 2003 album Collide, which cracked the Billboard Top 200 at #179 and garnered the band their first Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album. In 2006, the band released Comatose. The album went gold, and earned Skillet their second Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock/Rap Gospel Album. The band followed up with an even bigger success in 2009 with Awake, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, and eventually went platinum. The album won the band the Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Album in 2011. Famous for their extensive touring, Skillet have shared stages with artists like Stone Sour, Creed, Shinedown, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Papa Roach, Seether, Theory of a Deadman, Halestorm, and many more. Throughout their career that spans over a decade, the band has been nominated for 2 Grammy Awards, 3 Billboard Music Awards, and 18 GMA Dove Awards (winning in 2008 for Rock Song of The Year – “Comatose”). Skillet will be releasing their ninth studio album, Rise, just in time for Musikfest on June 25.

Thousand Foot Krutch are still touring off their latest album, The End Is Where We Begin, which hit #14 on the Billboard Top 200. Last summer, the band toured with the likes of Shinedown, Godsmack, Staind, Papa Roach, Adelitas Way, P.O.D., and more on the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival. Decyfer Down’s 2009 album, Crash, hit #66 on the Billboard Top 200 and #3 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart. They have toured with bands like Breaking Benjamin, Theory of a Deadman, Puddle of Mudd, and RED. We As Human were discovered by Skillet, and recently inked a deal with Atlantic Records. The band released their debut studio album in 2012, produced by Howard Benson (Skillet, Three Days Grace, My Chemical Romance). - by Matt Bishop