Erin, who wants to be a crazy cat lady when she grows up, is a self professed geek, into gaming, comics and cheesy horror movies. Expanding her talents from painting and drawing, Erin got into tattooing in 2006. She travels most of the time doing expos and conventions, from Australia to Canada refining her skills. Her execution of eerie zombie realism, portraiture of all kinds, Asian influenced work, and her old and new school pieces are making her a major contender in the industry. When not traveling and doing her thing, she works full time out of Sacred Tattoo, Auckland, New Zealand. She will be working the Sydney Tattoo & Body Art Expo, March 6th-8th in Australia, so if you’re in the area stop by her booth, check out her work and tell her Steve said what’s up.

For years Finland has been pumping out bands that are truly talented and exceedingly heavy. These 5 guys in Sotajumala have managed to keep up the stereotype of metal bands originating from Finland are no joke whatsoever. I found out about these guys by accident and am glad I did, I don’t know how they slipped through my death metal radar!

Aggressive to the fullest extent, live and on their recordings, Sotajumala (meaning Wargod), have gained a huge following in their native country from extensive touring and playing numerous European festivals with Grave, Misery Index, Napalm Death and other huge bands.

Only 2 full length albums have been put out so far, “Death Metal Finland” in 04′, and “Teloitus” in 07′, with a couple singles and a split with Torture Killer, also released in 07′. Look out for their new one titled “Kuolemanpalvelus” that’s got the green light for a late spring 2010 release date. They only sing in Finnish, but with the sound these guys put together who cares.

Mynni Luukainen- vocals

Kosti Orbinski- guitar (founding member)

Pete Lapio- guitar

Tomi Otsala- bass, backing vocals (founding member)

Timo Hakkinen- drums

Vids, “Kuolinjulistus” & “Oikeutus”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Electric City Tattoo Convention, March 19th-21st, 2010, Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hilton Scranton & Conference Center, 100 Adams Ave, Scranton PA, 1-570-343-3000

Friday 19th – 3PM-11PM

Saturday 20th – noon-11PM

Sunday 21st – noon 8PM

Pricing:   single day, 15$  weekend, 40$  weekend & Electric City Tattoo Con shirt, 50$

Best known for one of the theme songs form MTV’s Jackass, the “If You’re Gonna Be Dumb (Ya Gotta Be Tough)” song made Roger Alan Wade a more well known name in the music scene today. Also known for being Johnny Knoxville’s cousin, who promoted the country singer/songwriter on the Howard Stern show, the Tennessee born acoustic story teller gained more of a following from being played numerous times on the show, and by further promotion by Knoxville’s own record label, Johnny Knoxville Records/Dickhouse Productions.

Roger, in his seasoned career, has written songs for country legends such as Johnny Cash, George Jones, Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. Although never recording full length albums himself until 2005, his expertise in his songwriting and acoustic guitar have been brought to light with his “old country” simplistic sound and sense of humor that should make today’s new country radio garbage be ashamed of itself.

All Likkered Up – 05

Stoned Traveler – 08

Vid for “First Time I Saw Waylon”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Motor City Tattoo Expo, February 26th-28th, 2010, Detroit, Michigan : Detroit Marriott/Renaissance Center 1-313-568-8000

Friday 26th – noon-11PM                                Prices – 20$ – day pass

Saturday 27th – 11AM-11PM                                          30$ – 2 day pass

Sunday 28th – 11AM-7PM                                              40$ – weekend pass

Brutal, devastating death metal monsters Illdisposed from Denmark are one of the premier acts to catch if you’re wandering around Europe lookin to see a great band. Actually, these guys have been tearing up European cities since their debut album in 93′, and have just announced that they will be touring the US for the first time ever sometime in 2010.
This band is notorious for rapid fire drumming and catchy, melodic, hard as nails guitar riffs with singer Bo Summers belting out his wicked anthems. Although going through many line-up changes, these guys have maintained a reputation for being the biggest Danish death metal act to date.
Nine full length LP’s, one EP, and a number of record companies have not changed the sound, or duplicated any of their previous songs to make these veterans still very listenable. Each one of their CD’s has its own characteristics, some have synths and samples, others just straight up, in your face, decimating death grooves. One thing is for sure, if you pick up any of their work, from “Four Depressive Seasons”. to their newest “To Those Who Walk Behind Us”, if you’re a fan of death metal you won’t be disappointed.

Four Depressive Seasons – 93′
Return From Tomorrow (EP) – 94′
Submit – 95′
There’s Something Rotten… – 97′
Retro – 00′
Kokaiinum – 01′
1-800 Vindication – 04′
Burn Me Wicked – 06′
The Prestige – 08′
To Those Who Walk Behind Us – 09′

I couldn’t decide on one video to post, so here is the live version of “Psychic Cyclus”, followed by their official vid for “Still Sane”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Dax Riggs has been one of the most influential artists to the metal community since his first official band “Acid Bath” hit the scene in 1991. His appreciation for doom and death metal, coupled with blues guitars, his one of a kind vocals, and his talent for writing lyrics that focused on drugs and his own mortality, would lay the foundation for the rest of his musical career.

Acid Bath, disbanding in 1997 when bassist Audie Pitre was killed by a drunk driver, put Dax into a different state of mind when he formed “Daisyhead & the Mooncrickets” (which would later become Agents of Oblivion), a slower, deeper more meaningful written project than the hard hitting Acid Bath. Agents would only release one album in 2000 and broke up soon after a short tour in support of that album.

Dax, now a matured musician, soon put together another group “Deadboy & the Elephantmen”, a much more stripped down blues rock dominated ensemble and released 2 LP’s and 1 Ep under that name. In 2007 it was announced that all further releases would be under Dax Riggs own name and that same year he put out his most emotional and powerful full length album to date, “We Sing of Only Blood or Love“.

Watch the acoustic version of “Night is the Notion”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Old friends meeting up, new friends being made, partying all night long, and one of the best BBQ joints in the country only minutes away made this event one not to be missed. See ya next year!

I had the pleasure of meeting tattooer Ryan Thomas at the 2010 Am-Jam Tattoo Expo and was blown away by his great personality and exceptional artistic talent, read up on this guy and expect more great stuff from him in the future.

Ryan Thomas was born and raised in southern New Hampshire. Born with an interest in art, Ryan has been pursuing a career as an artist as long as he can remember. Starting out in grade school by drawing his classmates sports cards all the way up to working in a local mall drawing portraits in a kiosk during High School, Ryan has been a professional artist practically forever.

In the days following September 11th 2001 Ryan joined the Army giving up college scholarship opportunities to many highly regarded fine art colleges. After graduating as an infantryman Ryan was injured and received an honorable discharge from the military. Following his return home he soon discovered the scholarships were no longer valid and soon became a structural truss engineer. Although making a comfortable living Ryan was not satisfied with the lack of creating art in his life, enough so that he quit his job and began pursuing a career as a tattoo artist.

With portfolio in hand Ryan began the task of finding a suitable shop where he could start apprenticing, and as luck would have it he found the opportunity at a tattoo shop in NH.

Ryan began an apprenticeship and after two years he made the move to Body Creations Tattoo in Rochester NH. At Body Creations Ryan learned and developed even more as an artist under the direction of another talented artist, Nick Filth.

While at Body Creations Ryan traveled doing Tattoo Conventions and Guest spots at other shops scattered throughout the country. Becoming friends with other artists in and out of the industry, Ryan’s artistic abilities began to evolve and mature and although thrilled and humbled to be treated as well as he was at Body Creations, he decided to make the move to New Hampshire’s largest City, Manchester, to explore new artistic endeavors and challenges.

Ryan now tattoos full time at Tattoo Angus in Manchester NH with an amazing group of artist who push him further along every day, and he also works on an appointment only schedule at Venom Ink, an award winning custom tattoo studio, in Sanford Maine.

Always accepting new clients with new challenges and ideas Ryan is available for your next piece of body art. Leave an email or stop in to the shop anytime. Tattoo Angus in Located at 1279 South Willow Street, Manchester NH.