thePULSE18 Wheels of Justice
By Jennifer Russo
A motorcycle is flying down through the streets of LA away from the cops in a high speed chase and blows through a red light just as an 18-wheeler happens by, blasting the bike into nothing. The “Real TV” announcer covering the clip says something like “…and that, my friends was 18 wheels of justice…” ~ and that’s how a brutal situation turned into the name of a brutal band. According to singer Adam Sloan, the name also represents what the band is setting out to do musically and lyrically. “The system is flawed ~ everybody knows it and everybody has to live with it. You just try to do your best in the life that you lead. The new album points out the flaws in the justice system. It’s not a politically motivated album, but it’s a socially motivated album.”
18 Wheels began as a hardcore band back in 2002 and withstood several member changes throughout the years before finding perfect chemistry and turning into the more metal concept band they are today. Says band founder and guitarist Todd Harris, “It’s been a long road with band members, but we’re finally in a position now where we feel really solid…all of us feel strongly that the best work we’ll do collectively is with the synthesis of everyone who’s involved in it, putting together what they can do best. Our sound is a melting pot of what everyone in the band is about ~ there is no singer/songwriter ~ we write together.”
As far as their sound, imagine elements of every type of metal (thrash, melodic, black, progressive) playing in exotic harmony with each other, where each genre stands on its own yet works together with the others seamlessly. Ultimately it creates an abstract and passionate piece of artwork. If it were a painting, it would be a Jackson Pollock ~ something that you could stare at for hours upon hours contemplating the mysteries of the universe. It will definitely make you question the world around you ~ which is exactly the effect the band wants. Sloan sums it up by saying, “…we feel it’s time to threaten the control system and time for the government to fear the people, not the other way around.”
18 Wheels of Justice are featured on the Revitalize the Scene CD that was distributed at MayhemFest this year. They also just released their new 11-track album Execution, which you can pick up on www.cdbaby.com/artist/18wheelsofjustice or iTunes.
Catch them live, fresh off their east coast tour, on September 16th at The Raven in Worcester. Also be sure to check out their new music video for Thrashole on YouTube and on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/18wheelsofjustice.
Eye Witness
By Alex Kantarelis
Indie Folk band Eye Witness has carved out a niche for themselves in the Worcester scene. The duo is musicians Rainy and Milo, who combine traditional folk with a slightly darker indie edge. 
The band recently hit the studio and recorded A Pleasant Tomorrow, an 11 song album that came out this past June to good reviews. “People have given us a lot of positive feedback, which has been really nice after all the work we put into it,” Rainy said. The songs illustrate their amazing chemistry as musicians, with Milo’s craft as a songwriter elevated by Rainy’s mastery of various instruments. While they fall into the folk genre, they have a certain flavor that makes their sound stand out. As Rainy described, “We have been calling it dark indie folk.”
Rainy, who was a percussionist by trade, has managed to play every instrument you can think of, starting with bass and eventually moving on to accordion, flute, clarinet, and “…whatever we have on stage at the moment,” as she put it. Most of the time at shows you’ll see her behind a stand-up drum set, holding the rhythm section down. Milo serves as the band’s main vocalist and songwriter, and is usually playing guitar, but sometimes adds in mandolin and banjo. “Usually we set up and people are trying to figure out if this is a 4 piece band,” Rainy said. But no, they are just 2 people spreading themselves out, making for totally unique live show.
The band is no stranger to the Worcester scene, frequenting the clubs, especially one of the city’s oldest bars, Hotel Vernon. As Rainy simply stated, “We prefer to play at the Vernon.” Their new album is available for purchase on their website. Support them! They deserve it. And check them out on Sept. 23rd at Hotel Vernon in Worcester’s Kelley Square
Widow Sunday
By Katey Khaos
Widow Sunday: the nickname of Madame Dimanche, a 19th century woman who mysteriously grew an eight-inch horn from her forehead, is also the name of a kickass dance metal band from Framingham, MA! Widow Sunday is Jacob Falconer (vocals), Sean Duffy (lead guitar/programming), Adam Cutler, (rhythm guitar), Patrick Flaherty (bass) and Darin Moyen (drums/programming).
So how did someone come across this name and choose it for a band? “There was an ad on Hotmail for medical oddity cases, and the nickname of the case was Widow Sunday. I thought it was cool, and so did the rest of the band,” says Cutler.
Widow Sunday’s influences range from Meshuggah and Bury Your Dead to Ke$ha and Lady Gaga. As Cutler points out, “There’s no reason to limit yourself in music.”
The band most accurately describes their debut album, In These Rusted Veins, as a mix-tape. There’s something on there for everyone ~ so don’t worry if you’re not a hardcore metalhead (To give you a sense of their music’s diversity, they used to open their set with a hardcore cover of Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance.) Says Falconcer, “I wasn’t a tortured soul, so the lyrics aren’t angry and hateful.”
Like I said, these guys are classified as dance metal, so it’s no surprise to hear that their slogan is “Breakin’ faces, shakin’ booties.” “The music is serious, but when we play live, we’re there to party ~ there’s too much frowning in metal,” the band agrees.
To experience the magnitude of this dance metal genre, I highly suggest seeing Widow Sunday live. The energy between the band and audience is incredible, and you’ll even see the band bustin’ out some awesome dance moves onstage.
To learn more about Widow Sunday and what they’re all about, visit:
