WOMEN WHO MOSH WEDNESDAY - CRISTINA SCABBIA OF LACUNA COIL

This will be the last Women Who Mosh segment I post for a little while. I took over segment for one of our old writers and frankly don't have the inclination to keep it up right now. It has been fun though and may make a come back through either myself or a future writer who actually has a feminine side.

Onto business...

Active since '94, Lacuna Coil is a Symphonic Metal band hailing from the hollowed land of Italy. They also bring some Gothic and Hard Rock elements into the fold. Over time they've released a series of successful albums, building up one helluva fan base and traveling all over the world in the process. Records such as "Karmacode" and "Comalies" come to mind with a special brand of darkened heaviness with a lady's touch.

They were actually at one of the first metal shows I've ever attended alongside Killswitch Engage, Chimaira, Disturbed, and a long list of other bands. I just remember the colors of the Italian flag cascading through lights across the crowd and this beautiful woman leading the charge with a wonderful, full-bodied voice.

Cristina Scabbia is one of those performers who is as talented as she is beautiful. A deadly combination to be sure. A certain musical intelligence is also quite clear while listening as she implements a number of techniques to match the darkened melodies of Lacuna Coil.

If you have a flair for all things symphonic and haven't had a chance to enjoy this band before, I suggest you tune your ears down below.

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WOMEN WHO MOSH WEDNESDAY - HYSTERICA

Coming from one of the world's top metal hot spots, Sweden, Hysterica are an all-female metal brigade worth mention. Hard at work ever since 2005, they bring the sweet sounds of Heavy Metal straight to your ears.

They originally emerged in the public eye after releasing a critically acclaimed, self-titled demo in 2006. Afterwards they spent years on the stage spreading their brand of feminine metal through exceptional live performances. This all led up to the release of their award winning debut "Metalwar" in 2009 which pushed them to play bigger and better festivals across Europe. Their sophomore effort, "The Art of Metal", taught listeners a thing or two in 2012 as a worthy follow up.

Give a listen to the work of Hysterica down below and show some support if you enjoy \m/

Links: Facebook // Official Website // iTunes

WOMEN WHO MOSH - CANDACE KUCSULAIN FROM WALLS OF JERICHO

It's tough to have a segment about metal women without including the beastly Walls of Jericho. Albeit, maybe we should re-title this one "Women Who Are Currently Taking A Break From Moshing" as the band has been largely inactive since 2009. But it should be stated the metal lady Candace herself confirmed the band is working on new material as of late last year. Watch out!

Candace leads this band's assault with an outspoken metal spirit and a range of vicious vocals including harsh yells and cleans. She sounds like one pissed off lady and her hardcore attitude resonates both on record and on the stage. Definitely a stand out performer.

The band themselves are a Metalcore unit hailing from Detroit, Michigan. With releases like "The American Dream", "All Hail The Dead", and "With Devil's Amongst Us All", they've cemented themselves in the minds and hearts of metalheads worldwide. Despite a shaky road with a past breakup and the current hiatus, this band has successfully knocked down many walls with their sound. Listen to the trumpets blare below!

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WOMEN WHO MOSH WEDNESDAY - JILL JANUS OF HUNTRESS

Going strong since 2007, Huntress is a Heavy Metal band to keep your eyes and ears fixed on. The music is catchy and relentless in spirit. This is evinced by multiple releases, the latest being this year's "Starbound Beast". Having collaborated with legends like Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead) and appearing on this year's Mayhem Festival, things are only looking up for this band.

Jill Janus makes for one helluva front lady. Her voice is raw and filled with power, even scathing at times. She sings and screams like the pro she is. The Huntress is a dangerous woman, as beautiful as she is lethal. Watch the videos below, give a good listen to the music, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Her live presence is also strong, commanding the stage with a ringing voice and a flowing cape trailing her every move. The band itself also executes the music with skill. Catch them on their upcoming tour with Danzig this month or with Killswitch Engage in October / November.

 

Links: Facebook // Official Website // Twitter // iTunes

WOMEN WHO MOSH WEDNESDAY - BUTCHER BABIES

Woooah yeah. We had the pleasure of covering Mayhem Festival about a week ago. And on the ticket was a certain notorious band known as Butcher Babies. I honestly went in not knowing what to expect as we were just transitioning from stage to stage taking pictures and what not. Lo and behold, here come out two smoking hot chicks... and then they start screaming. I'm pretty sure we experienced every metalheads fantasy straight from the photo pit. And I'm pretty sure that's exactly what they were going for.

I may have mentioned the band is a bit notorious. Why you ask? Because Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey are known to perform in next to nothing with a modest two strips of tape covering their nipples. Not much is left to the imagination here. However they understandably didn't perform like that at Mayhem. The backing band members also fall in with the shock metal approach looking like a mix between Marilyn Manson's outfit and Motionless In White.

The music itself is like a cross between Thrash and Metalcore with a few more elements thrown in the loop. They dropped their debut album "Goliath" through Century Media Records not too long ago. Feel free to sample some tracks below and show the band support if you dig. These ladies are soooo damn metal \m/

Links: Facebook // Official Website // Twitter // iTunes

WOMEN WHO MOSH WEDNESDAY - JADA PINKETT SMITH

Mind = Blown. It turns out the famed actress Jada Pinkett Smith (aka Will Smith's wife) is in a metal band. Brought together in 2002 under the name of Wicked Wisdom, her band has been at it ever since. Now known as Wicked Evolution, they play a form of Nu Metal with other elements mixed in. All in all, it's a much better sound than one may expect under a Nu Metal label.

Jada herself (stage name Jada Koren, using her real middle name) covers vocal duties for the group like a pro. Her performances are filled with emotion and are realistic for lack of a better word. You can tell she has a real passion for what she's doing.

Listen down below and maybe your mind will be blown too.

Photo credit to Zimbio.

Links: Facebook // Twitter // iTunes

WOMEN WHO MOSH - THE IRON MAIDENS

Usually cover bands aren't my thing... But The Iron Maidens NEED to be recognized. As far as cover bands go, they are the cream of the crop. Period.

Honestly, what could be better than five insanely talented, good looking women playing dead on covers of your favorite songs from one of the best metal bands ever? I'll give you a clue... It doesn't get any better than that. Major respect to Kirsten Rosenberg (Bruce Chickinson), Linda McDonald (Nikki McBurrain), Wanda Ortiz (Steph Harris), Courtney Cox (Adriana Smith), and Nita Strauss (Mega Murray) for doing what they do and excelling at it.

Watch these ladies wreck stages down below. Sooo damn metal \m/

Links: Facebook // Twitter // Official Website

GYZE “FACINATING DEATH” ALBUM RELEASED

Gyze is a melodeath and modern metal trio from Japan! Previously known as Suicide Heaven, the Sapporo-based band was started in 2009. After gaining popularity in the local extreme metal scene they moved to Tokyo and changed their name in Gyze.

In 2012 they got to play at Wacken Open Air Festival and this got the attention of a label. Coroner Records signed them this year to release their long awaited debut album. There have been a lot of big expectations, especially in their home country.

The Album is called “Facinating Death” and was released on June 4th 2013. It was been mixed and mastered by Ettore Rigotti at The Metal House Studio (Disarmonia Mundi, Blood Stain Child, Slowmotion Apocalypse, Destrage). Claudio Ravinale, vocalist of Disarmonia Mundi, also appears as a guest vocalist on some tracks. Most of the songs are really fast and aggressive with an amazing take on melody too. The vocals are also really remarkable with some good high screams. The production quality is high quality too. This might be interesting for those of you that are into modern melodic death metal, especially those loving Swedish sounds! Check 'em out!

Links: Facebook // Twitter // Official Website // Myspace

WOMEN WHO MOSH WEDNESDAY - LESLIE MEDINA AND KIMBERLY ORELLANA OF INSENTIENT

I feel like the Women Who Mosh segment keeps on getting heavier. We have a special treat for you today...

Leslie Medina and Kimberly Orellana play straight up Blackened Death Metal in the Los Angeles-based Insentient. In fact, they lead the band. Founder Leslie covers both guitar work and the harsh vocals while Kimberly also handles guitar duties. One would imagine this means they also cover the lion's share of writing. And the music is rad, drawing comparisons to legends such as Death and Hypocrisy.

Going strong since 2009, the band has been making notable buzz up and down the west coast underground. They've shared the stage with many bands. This includes a showing alongside Decrepit Birth, Warbringer, and Fallujah this Saturday in Whittier, CA. Be there \m/

I guess with such an underground live presence it shouldn't be a surprise that a Youtube search for Insentient will draw nothing but live videos. But luckily I managed to locate their EP "Remnants" on Reverbnation and embedded below. Enjoy!

Banner photo credits go to the legendary Silvia Paveri.

Upload your music for free at ReverbNation.com

Links: Facebook // Merch // iTunes // Reverbnation

WOMEN WHO MOSH WEDNESDAY - MEL MONGEON OF FUCK THE FACTS

Honestly, how often do you see women in Grindcore? Words cannot express how awesome and relentess Mel Mongeon of Fuck The Facts is. She brings serious energy and ferocity both in the studio and on the stage. So damn metal \m/

This band has been cranking out insane, experimental grindy goodness since the 90's. Most recently they came out with a new EP titled “Amer”. The band’s eclectic mix of grind/punk/metal is pretty vicious. They pummel and groove, tearing your hearing apparatus in two (in a good way).

Experience the madness below and pick up the music at their Official Store or on Bandcamp!

Links: Facebook // Merch // Bandcamp

WOMEN WHO MOSH WEDNESDAY - VICTORIA VILLARREAL OF SYREBRIS

It's awesome seeing women involved with Metal. It's even better seeing women involved with Death Metal \m/

Hailing from California, Syrebris is led by one of these seemingly rare Death Metal maidens. Victoria Villarreal is an absolute beast at what she does, covering both the hyper riffy guitar work and vocals for the band simultaneously. Major respect. She also covers a large portion of the writing duties alongside her husband Manuel and they do a solid job of it.

The band just released their debut EP "Aetheric Dynamics" in January. It has earned a good reception and with good reason. This is a solid, independent Progressive Death Metal effort from beginning to end. The production is a bit rough, but the music hits hard in the right ways. Syrebris has an experimental approach to how they write, bringing in various approaches and influences to the onslaught. Good stuff. You can stream the EP down below and grab it either on Big Cartel or Bandcamp if you enjoy.

Links: Facebook // Merch // Bandcamp

WOMEN WHO MOSH WEDNESDAY - ALISSA WHITE-GLUZ OF THE AGONIST

Screaming and gut wrenching gutturals are difficult enough. Having the capability to alternate between that power and melodic, on key singing is god like. Vocalist Alissa White-Gluz of Canadian metal band The Agonist takes on both singing and screaming to expand her range, giving her band an arsenal of power.

The siren and unmistakably gorgeous frontwoman is backed by guitarists Danny Marino and Pascal "Paco" Jobin, bassist Chris Kells, and drummer Simon McKay. The band utilizes elements of prog rock alongside their metal assault. These are enhanced with White-Gluz's clean vocals. While angelic, they deliver a commanding presence that captivates the listener.

Founded in 2004, The Agonist has released three albums with their current album titled "Prisoners" being released last year. "Prisoners" is an album that takes the band's signature sound and makes it more grown up while still remaining heavy. "Panophobia" is a standout track with White-Gluz wasting no time. She starts the track with a scream tinged with a rap cadence. "Panophobia" knows when to push vocal boundaries and the instrumental talent aides in making this one of their best tracks in my opinion.

The Agonist is embarking on a few tour dates starting July 3rd in Mexico, continuing to some select dates in the US, and hitting Germany in October. Hopefully they will add some more dates so all of you can experience this underrated band.   

-Fe

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