When I heard Zakk Wylde was coming to town, I immediately assumed it was by way of Black Label Society. I couldn't wait to see his guitar prowess once again -- including his wonderful dedication to the pinch harmonic -- and his hits from more than two-dozen albums spanning almost 30 years.

But this go-around on stage is a little different. Wylde's current tour is meant to be an intimate gathering of what he calls "the dysfunctional Black Label Society family." The guitar legend released his book, Bringing Metal to the Children: The Complete Berzerker's Guide to World Tour Domination, on April 9 and has embarked on a tour to promote the book, host question-and-answer sessions, and jam out on an acoustic set.

Zakk Wylde is scheduled to perform Sunday, April 28, at Pub Rock in Scottsdale.

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Earlier this month, Gwar and Warbeast kicked off a tour and brought down the house at Tucson's Rialto Theatre. But the thrash metal gods, lo and behold, have forsaken us here in Phoenix, and the tour didn't come our way.

Hell, the duo is even going through spots like Des Moines, Little Rock, Greenville -- what a downer.

Touring with Gwar is an ideal fit for Warbeast, which started in 2006 as Texas Metal Alliance. Known for their pulverizing riffs, pounding double-bass, powerful leads, and lyrics that range from horror movies to national disasters, their retro-thrash only gets heavier with each album.

In 2012, Warbeast hunkered down in the legendary Phil Anselmo's studio to record their new album Destroy, released on April 2.

Even though we weren't graced with their extreme-metal presence, I got to chat with Warbeast lead vocalist Bruce Corbitt about playing their new album with Gwar, riffs written on 9/11, and future music.

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Pamela Lopez Grant/Otep Facebook

Get ready for Hydra

Imagine taking a demonic ride through a girl's mind, filled with fantastic illusions, haunting, heavy melodies, and vengeance against a world that has forgotten her.

To get there, you could spend an evening with Otep, one of the most prolific female-fronted bands of the past decade -- or have a listen to their newest album, Hydra, which was released in late January.

Based on a short story by frontwoman Otep Shamaya, the album evolved into a graphic novel based around a character named Hydra. Eventually, Otep realized that Hydra had become a creature all her own, and her story a vast musical excursion. But Hydra isn't just Otep Shamaya's latest work -- it's also her farewell to the music world.

Otep is playing with One-Eyed Doll at Joe's Grotto tonight.

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Lauren Wise

You know what I like . . .

It looks like all these Record Store Days are paying off. In 2012, global sales for vinyl records hit $171 million, their highest point since 1997 -- the same year that Hanson's "MMMBop" topped the charts.

This Saturday, April 20, marks the sixth annual Record Store Day, when artists and labels dish out rare and exclusive releases to fans that results in a sort-of major shopping day on the musical calendar.

There are lots of reasons to love vinyl, especially heavy metal vinyl -- besides the fact that you can play them backwards and get the messages Satan wants you to hear.

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Black Sabbath

By Nicholas Prell

Okay, we get it. You like Sabbath. Everyone does. But out there is a whole big world of '70s metal bands beyond Sabbath -- even beyond Sir Lord Baltimore, if you can believe that. The '70s offered so much in the way of doom-and-gloom heaviness that it's criminal so many stop with Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and that other guy. If you're out of high school and still think Vol. 4 is the pinnacle of human heavy metal achievement, it's time to get with the program.

See also: The 20 Greatest Metal Albums in History

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facebook.com/pages/Soulfly

Max Cavalera of Soulfly

Max Cavalera of Soulfly is a very mellow speaker. His Brazilian accent is thick, and there's a lilting quality to the way he punctuates his sentences with phrases like "You know?" or "It's killer, man." He's buzzing about a lake house in unincorporated Phoenix, a second home in addition to his other Phoenix abode: "It's great, man -- on the lake with the mountains and the trees. It's killer, man."

See also:

-Soulfly's Max Cavalera Discusses Upcoming D-Low Memorial Show and the Possibility of a Sepultura Reunion

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Nineties nostalgia -- with its grungy flannel shirts, giant Gameboys, and crunchy guitars -- is upon us. The next "remember the days" wave will undoubtedly be for the late '90s/early 2000s, when nu-metal first took hold of the radio dial (it's held on ever since). So expect Coal Chamber, Sevendust, and Lacuna Coil's upcoming gig at Marquee Theatre to provide not only a "party like it's 1999" fix but also something fresh for both old and new metal fans.

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Maria Vassett

Anthrax performing at the Marquee Theatre in 2012.

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Anthrax @ Marquee Theatre|3/24/13

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There are few things more exciting than being present for the start of a legendary thrash band's tour, when they are fresh, energetic, and have a brand-new set list. Metalheads in Tempe had that glorious opportunity Sunday night, when the Metal Alliance Tour came through town on its third night, playing host to metal youngsters Holy Grail, jubilant thrashers Municipal Waste, sludge masters High on Fire, heavy legends Exodus, and headliners Anthrax.

See also:

-Anthrax Gets Classic Rock with Anthems

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HERFitz Media Assets

Anthrax are ready to poison your mind...with metal.

You can't go wrong with a healthy dose of Anthrax in the morning.

At least, that's what I thought as I listened to their new EP Anthems, released on Tuesday, March 19. Add that to the fact that these thrash metal legends are coming through town this Sunday on the Metal Alliance tour --alongside Exodus, High on Fire, Municipal Waste and Shadows Fall--and you've got yourself one hell of a biological weapon.

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Tru-B-Dor Records recording artists Storm of Perception performing at Joe's Grotto.

Usually, people move from places like the middle of nowhere to big industry cities like New York and Los Angeles to find musical success, and stay there. Not the other way around.

But for former Guns N' Roses manager Alan Niven and his wife Heather Vincent-Niven, finding solace in Arizona's godforsaken desert -- away from the music industry -- allowed them to discover the unique talent that this state has to offer, and establish a new label, Tru-B-Dor Records, to get the music in the ears of listeners all over the world.

See also:

-Buckethead on His Time in Guns 'N' Roses: "No Answer."

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