Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Below is a professionally shot video of Metal Allegiance performing a rendition of the Metallica classic “Whiplash” on January 22 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California, as per Blabbermouth. Troy Sanders (Mastodon), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), and Doc Coyle (God Forbid) joined Metal Allegiance members Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) on drums and Mark Menghi on bass for the “Whiplash” performance. Additionally, Mark performed on Cliff Burton’s bass, which was brought down by Cliff’s family.
Bassist and songwriter Mark Menghi founded the American thrash metal ensemble Metal Allegiance on Long Island, New York, in 2014. Soon after, he signed drummer Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater, guitarist Alex Skolnick from Testament, and bassist David Ellefson from Megadeth. Even though the group doesn’t have a designated lead singer, they frequently use guest musicians, such as Andreas Kisser of Sepultura and Mark Osegueda of Death Angel/Kerry King, to provide vocals and/or guitar parts for their live performances and studio recordings. Metal Allegiance has put out one EP and two studio albums so far. “Metal Allegiance” (2015) and “Volume II: Power Drunk Majesty” (2018).
Metal Allegiance, which also features the core members Alex Skolnick (Testament) on guitar and David Ellefson (Megadeth) on bass, released a new single called “Black Horizon” earlier this month through Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The song, which is the band’s first original release since 2018, depicts an apocalyptic setting with roaring opening riffs from guitarist Alex Skolnick and menacing yells from Alice In Chains singer William DuVall. The dread is kept low in the sky by Menghi’s bass and Portnoy’s drums, ready to erupt violently at any time. In this hopeless world, systems break down, darkness descends, and there is a doomed plea for deliverance. Thunderous choruses are bookended by gloomy, minimalistic verses that describe a terrible struggle for survival.
