This is the Future

Now

Hi. So, it’s the future. I have been sent back in time to write this article. This article is about all the artists that are still not real huge in the world right now but, in the future, they are! I know, you might be saying, “That Bard guy sure is funny and doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” But seriously, just wait. These guys are going to blow up.

ALLEGAEON (UNITED STATES)

So, I admit some bias. They’re from Fort Collins, Colorado, which is like…an hour’s drive if you take away all of the construction on the way. I also was included in the crowd for their upcoming music video “All Hail Science” which was shot at Black Sky Brewery (if you’re ever in town, contact me, this place is awesome). If you take away the fact that I have a personal connection to these guys, I can honestly say that they are playing a style of music that isn’t really being touched on. They’re a melodic death metal band but the melody is all in the guitars. Both guitarists are strongly proficient in their craft and bring a different element to the table. The song titles and lyrics are often scientific in nature and they have a sense of humor that is both witty and self-aware. They have an album releasing this year and it will be amazing. Trust me.

BLACK CROWN INITIATE (UNITED STATES)

For reasons I cannot yet disclose, I am even more excited for this band than I was a few months ago. This is a band that has just come out of the woodwork in Pennsylvania and is redefining the progressive death metal subgenre. The mix of clean and harsh vocals with a well-pronounced bass line and a larger than life feel is a sound that bands will be trying to compete with for years to come. Big things await Black Crown Initiate.

A-F-R-O (UNITED STATES)

So, here’s the scoop on A-F-R-O, whose full emcee name is All Flows Reach Out. Not much is known about him, but he can’t be much older than 18. He’s already done work with Jedi Mind Tricks and RA The Rugged Man and a whole score of mixtapes but no official albums have been released yet. After winning The Definition of a Rap Flow contest (featured above), DJ Premier has decided to take him under his wing for an album coming up this year. This is a big deal. In case you’re wondering why, I will tell you. DJ Premier not only was part of Gang Starr, but has also produced a ton of artists (Nas. Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, DMX, Christina Aguilera, Mac Miller, KRS-One, Mobb Deep). I’m telling you, this guy is about to blow the fuck up.

NE OBLIVISCARIS (AUSTRALIA)

These guys have been around for a long time. They are the perfect example of a band overcoming the struggle of aspiring musicians. It has come to the point where they have instigated a Patreon account with the intent of financing themselves as a legitimate business. They’ve caught a lot of flak for it in their home country as well as abroad. That isn’t stopping them from trying. They are finding innovative ways to get the free market to work in their favor instead of rolling over and dying like so many bands do. And their music is pretty damn cool, too.

FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE (ITALY)

I was not very familiar with these guys before I saw them on a cruise ship nearly two months ago, but Fleshgod Apocalypse is the real deal. They are playing a style of music with such intensity that bands ten years from now will still be trying to play catch up with. They have a live pianist and the fastest live drummer I have ever heard. Their recent album charted on the Billboard 200 and I only see them going up from here.

We’ve got some exciting things in store for you in the coming months. We’ll be looking at album gaps and what that means, a couple new album reviews are coming, I will probably hit the Soilwork concert and a few other surprises. Stay tuned!

-Ryan