YOU Choose the Best Unsigned Band in the U.S: The Elite Eight – Pt. 1
Three rounds of relentless battle have brought us to the Elite Eight. Which of these warriors will prevail?! TODAY: California vs. Wisconsin! Maine vs. Missouri!
HOW IT WORKS:
Some people say that art isn’t a competition. Those people are losers. EVERYTHING is a competition. Here at the Toilet ov Hell, we’ve gone and declared the best unsigned band in each state of the union. Now we’re pitting these warriors against each other for the right to claim the ultimate prize: The title of Best of the Best. Which band will champion their state to glory? That’s up for you to decide.
Each state was seeded by population size. The 14 most-populous states received a first round bye. Today, 4 bands are battling it out for supremacy. Destroy Judas (CA), Arctic Sleep (WI), Sylvia (ME), and Existem (MO). Voting for this round closes Sunday, September 20th at 7:00 PM CST.
Destroy Judas (California) VS. Arctic Sleep (Wisconsin)
Destroy Judas – “Using a triple guitar attack, understated drumming that still pummels with the best of them, and vocals that roar with the fury of a angered lion, these fellows carve out epic mournful soundscapes that recall the best of Mouth of the Architect, Minsk, and even Mare (remember them?).”
(Read the full writeup) (Facebook)
Arctic Sleep – “When you need PROG and also want some dang FEELINGS to go with it, Arctic Sleep is your band. Like if Poison The Well ghostwrote a Baroness album.”
(Read the full writeup) (Facebook)
Sylvia (Maine) VS. Existem (Missouri)
Sylvia – “Sylvia offer varying speeds and tempos, accelerating to enable thunderous drum beats replete with furious guitar riffs that crush souls… before abruptly taking a foot off the gas to pummel you into submission with lurching, sinister breakdowns.”
(Read the full writeup) (Facebook)
Existem – “In my opinion the best so-called prog bands are ones that don’t go fully prog. Think Opeth in their heyday, Burst, Cult of Luna, Extol, and so forth. Existem are very much in the vein of these bands. They create prog metal that isn’t afraid to veer off the beaten path but exists within the confine of a song. The material here is not an overblown jam session like so many bands are guilty of recording.”
(Read the full writeup) (Facebook)
