Retro-rock visionaries Monster Magnet spent much of the 1990s struggling against the prejudices imposed upon image and sound by alternative rock fashion nazis. In fact, it wasn't until that movement's late-'90s decline that the band's dogged persistence finally paid off, when their fourth album, Powertrip, catapulted to gold sales status on the strength of its massive hard rock hit, "Space Lord." In the meantime, Monster Magnet had managed to become one of the most successful and influential bands associated with the so-called underground "stoner rock" scene. And yet, their influences span much further than that scene's foundations in '70s hard rock and metal, delving into space rock, psychedelia, and beyond. New Jersey native Dave Wyndorf was already a rock & roll veteran by the time he formed Monster Magnet in 1989, having cut his teeth with little-known punk band Shrapnel (also featuring future punk producer Daniel Rey on guitars) in the late '70s before retiring from music altogether. But, after teaching himself guitar, Wyndorf began assembling Monster Magnet with a handful of fellow New Jersey natives, vocalist Tim Cronin, guitarist John McBain, bassist Joe Callandra, and drummer Jon Kleiman. Fusing their metal, punk, space rock, and psychedelic influences, the band developed a sludgy, feedback-heavy hard rock sound that helped them stand out from the era's burgeoning retro-rock movement -- also counting the Black Crowes, White Zombie, and many others. After releasing a self-titled six-song EP through Germany's Glitterhouse Records, Wyndorf assumed all vocal responsibilities, while Cronin retreated to a behind the scenes "conceptual consultant" position -- much like that of John Sinclair for the MC5. In the meantime, Monster Magnet had signed with independent label Caroline Records in 1992, and recorded their first full-length album: the very impressive, uniquely dark psychedelic masterpiece Spine of God. The productive sessions also yielded a number of extensive space rock jams that would later be issued as the Tab album in 1993. A video for first single "Medicine" and a support tour with the fast-rising Soundgarden also helped attract powerhouse A&M Records, but even as they prepared to sign with the label, Wyndorf had a serious falling-out with guitarist McBain, who was soon replaced by Ed Mundell. Despite the last-minute change, 1993's Superjudge proved to be a stellar major-label debut -- although it did see the band sacrificing some of their rampant feedback in exchange for more clearly defined, muscular metal riffs. Unfortunately, the group's retro-rock image had become highly unfashionable at the time, arriving at the height of the post-Nirvana alternative boom, and the album sold poorly. Under mounting pressure to deliver a more commercial follow-up, Monster Magnet delivered a decidedly sleeker -- though no less space rock-drenched -- effort in 1995's Dopes to Infinity. This yielded a Top Ten rock single in "Negasonic Teenage Warhead" and was supported by extensive touring with C.O.C., among others, but the album sold only slightly better than its predecessor. Finding himself mentally and physically exhausted in the aftermath, Wyndorf exiled himself to Las Vegas to begin composing the tracks that would shape 1998's breakthrough release, Powertrip. By far the group's most straightforward hard rock album, Powertrip channeled all of Sin City's vice, greed, and sex into its hedonistic but surprisingly accessible tracks, and first single "Space Lord" went on to dominate rock radio that summer, driving the album over the gold sales plateau. With new rhythm guitarist Phil Caivano in tow, Monster Magnet then embarked on a marathon two-year world tour, both as a headliner and as support to the likes of Aerosmith, Metallica, and Megadeth. By the year 2000, the band had contributed the track "Silver Future" to the Heavy Metal 2000 soundtrack and completed work on their fifth album, God Says No, released in Europe in October. But their new American record label, Interscope (which had swallowed A&M in a hostile takeover the year before) inexplicably fussed and messed with the album before finally releasing it domestically in April 2001. Precious momentum and sales were therefore lost to an influx of import copies of God Says No -- according to most seasoned fans, already a "difficult," overtly commercial album to begin with -- and Monster Magnet soon found themselves rudely dropped. Following this unforeseen setback, Wyndorf watched as various bandmembers pursued side projects. Ed Mundell recorded a number of well-received albums with his power trio the Atomic Bitchwax, while Tim Cronin and Jon Kleiman collaborated on the Ribeye Brothers and Gallery of Mites. But, Monster Magnet duly reunited for a short North American tour in early 2002 and, a year later, a new deal with the German SPV label was announced. Recorded in late 2003, the group's sixth full-length album, 2004's Monolithic Baby!, would be recorded with a new rhythm section, these being bassist Jim Baglino and drummer Bob Pantella. In 2005, Phil Caivano left the band amicably, and the rest of the group started recording in L.A. with producer Matt Hyde. Reissues of Tab and Spine of God were released in the meantime, along with a 20th Century Masters -- Millennium Collection disc of their greatest hits. In November 2007, after a European tour, 4-Way Diablo was released. Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide

Dark Sky Choir is an original hard rock/metal band from NJ. Formed in 2016, the band originally consisted of four veterans of the local music scene, playing the classic metal music they all grew up listening to. As their local popularity increased as a tribute band, it was inevitable that they soon began writing their own music.  Founding members Fred Gorhau and Mike Sakowski are the only two remaining original members in the current lineup. Gorhau has spent the last 7 years touring the USA and Canada as a lead guitarist for the holiday-themed progressive band The Wizards of Winter, playing alongside some of the original vocalists from Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Sakowski has been a drum teacher and career drummer for the past few decades, performing in the local scene with countless cover bands. Both have also toured the US and Europe with the metal band Exxplorer.  In late 2017, original vocalist, Hollywood How, and bassist Joe Stabile were replaced with Brian Allen and John Moyer, respectively. Allen has been the voice of various bands throughout the years, most notably as the front man for Vicious Rumors for almost a decade. Moyer is best known as the Grammy nominated bassist for the world-renowned metal group Disturbed, with whom he has recorded and toured since 2004. Inspired by a lifetime love of metal, Dark Sky Choir brings years of live and recording experience to the stage with their own brand of hard rock and metal. Their debut album was released in 2017 and was soon followed up in March of 2018 with a brand-new, self-titled EP featuring the new lineup, as they embark on their first national tour, opening for Fozzy.  BRIAN ALLEN Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Brian Allen is currently the front man for the Bay Area thrash-metal band Vicious Rumors. He has long been a staple of the metal scene, singing with such bands as Last Empire (who signed with the Underground Symphony Label in 1999), and Two-Headed Beast, since 2015. He joined Dark Sky Choir in the fall of 2017 to record their self-titled EP. FRED GORHAU Fred Gorhau is a veteran guitarist of the local NY/NJ music scene. Fred spent 20-plus years performing live throughout the US & Europe with the metal band Exxplorer. Since 2011, he has also toured the US & Canada as lead guitarist of the holiday-themed Wizards of Winter, and is a founding member of Dark Sky Choir. JOHN MOYER John Moyer is best known as the Grammy-nominated bassist and back-up vocalist for the heavy metal band Disturbed. Taking over in 2004 after Steve "Fuzz" Kmak was fired, Moyer has played bass-guitar with the group since their third studio album, Ten Thousand Fists. Moyer was also the bassist for the Texas-based Union Underground, before joining Adrenaline Mob from 2012 through 2014. After his departure from A-Mob, he was a founding member of the metal supergroup The Foundry, alongside former Iron Maiden vocalist Blaze Bayley, guitarist Rick Plester, and legendary Twisted Sister drummer, the late AJ Pero. In 2015 he joined Operation: Mindcrime, featuring former Queensryche frontman Geoff Tate. Following stints with Art of Anarchy (with Scott Stapp), and Stereo Satellite, Moyer joined Dark Sky Choir in the fall of 2017, and can be heard on their brand-new self-titled EP. MIKE SAKOWSKI Drummer Mike Sakowski has been a member of the local NY/NJ music scene for almost four decades as a performer and instructor. In 1983, Mike co-founded the metal band Exxplorer, with whom he played and toured for more than 30 years. Since the early 1990’s he has played with various groups including, Tin Pan Alley, Yesterday’s Child, and numerous cover bands. He is a founding member of Dark Sky Choir.

Based in Cincinnati and signed to California based heavyweight, RidingEasy Records, Electric Citizen has spent the last several years touring the world headlining and opening for acts like King Diamond, Pentagram, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Fu Manchu, Budos Band, Charles Bradley, Joan Jett, Wolfmother and playing renowned festivals like Psycho Las Vegas, Psycho California and Desert Fest Belgium. After bursting to the American heavy rock forefront with their 2014 debut album, Sateen, Electric Citizen released their second album, Higher Time in 2016; a breakout moment for the band as a whole and for vocalist Laura Dolan. Like its predecessor, Higher Time was recorded at The Diamonds studio in Cincinnati by Brian Olive (The Greenhornes, Dan Auerbach, Dr. John, etc.), and in search of an even more expansive feel, Laura, Ross and Brian traveled to mix alongside Black Keys engineer Collin Dupuis at Easy Eye in Nashville, TN. Electric Citizen branch out with stage-born assurance across a collection of definitive rock ‘n’ roll. It is a bold, complete sound that sacrifices nothing of the band’s on-stage energy and clearly demonstrates that while their progression has been quick, it’s been hard won the traditional way: They worked their collective ass off. Electric Citizen brazenly refuse to be pigeonholed and craft a style that, like every stage they step onto, is completely their own. Look for them on the road in North America and Europe throughout 2018 and beyond.

We are a heavy band from Nashville, TN. Specializing in doom, progressive and post.