Eddie Van Halen & Randy Rhoads: Duelling Guitarists
It's 1977 and the hard rock scene in Los Angeles is thriving in booze-soaked, Hollywood bars like the Starwood and Whisky thanks to two local bands: Van Halen and Quiet Riot.
Grails - Photoshoot Featuring @ymanibarbee and @adore.eu in Streetwear Grails by Supreme and Diamond Supply Co. X Collabo NY
Ymani and Natalie looking fine in streetwear grails by Supreme and Diamond Supply Co. x Collabo NY. Ymani is wearing a Supreme grail from 2008 (tags still on) featuring JFK and Jackie in 1963, just minutes before JFK was assassinated. Natalie is wearing another grail: Diamond Supply Co. x Collabo NY's 2006 flipped Misfits skull logo with grills.
Kamikaze Fallout: Who Took the Biggest L from Eminem
The hip-hop community has been torn to shreds by its great white shark, Eminem, these past few weeks with the release of his newest album titled Kamikaze.
SHINE: ATA’s INTERVIEW WITH SKATEBOARDING ICON ALPHONSO “ALF” RAWLS ON SKATING, HIS STREETWEAR COMPANY #EVERYBODY SKATES, AND HIS ART
Our latest Shine subject is Alfonso "ALF" Rawls. ALF is a skateboarding legend and really good soul who can still rip everything with freaky styley style.
The New Apple x Suicidal Tendencies Circle Pit Watch Will Revolutionize Your Circle Pit Safety and Experience
According to Muir, “All I wanted was a basic, durable, no bullshit watch, like my old Casio, but with an Institutionalized ring tone and THEY WOULDN’T GIVE IT TO ME.”
Cop Our Merch: ATA DTK Freaks & Weirdos Boutique Lookbook Volume 1
Awesome Totally Awesome - Freaks & Weirdos Boutique Lookbook Volume 1 Winter 2018
Big Coats, Ain’t Nobody Got Space for That
So apparently oversized coats that make you look like you have a shrunken head, or Baymax from Big Hero 6, are in right now.
Fear And Loathing In The Penthouse Poker Game
I finally got the call. A friend of mine, who runs several legitimate businesses, but tends to spend his off time in the shadows had told me about a private, big baller home game held weekly in the penthouse suite of a Los Angeles area, deluxe, high-rise apartment.
MATT FADER: JOURNEY FROM SURFER TO SYRIAN REFUGEE RESCUE LEADER
We are proud and privileged to have Matt Fader as the subject of our first Shine article. I’ve known Matt for over twenty years. He was one of the few people I remember who would give you a wave that he was in position for. “It’s yours,” he would say, and be truly stoked he gave it to you.
UnSpotified: We Revisit De La Soul's Unstreamed Masterpiece, Buhloone Mindstate
This group doesn’t talk about how financially solvent they are. They talk about being late on their rent. They talk about letting their parents down and missing them. They talk about letting their friends down. They talk about not judging others who have made different choices. And when Dave says, “I’m the greatest MC in the world,” it’s ironic, it’s self-deprecating.
Immerse Yourself in BROCKHAMPTON
If you have not given BROCKHAMPTON a chance because of lack of awareness or understanding of who they are, you are missing out on some unique and innovative music.
Why Check Your Head By the Beasties Will Always Be My Favorite Album
Check Your Head was named after a random occurrence wherein Ad Rock had purchased a pack of Desert Storm trading cards and brought them to the studio.
Shut The Fuck Up Apple Cheddar Pie
This Awesome Totally Awesome recipe comes from Chef Vanessa Rosenspies formerly the head Pastry Chef at Model Milk one of Canada’s most celebrated restaurants in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
ThE WooD BoX At 11 BRooKlYn RoAd
The house was of an unremarkable style, square and plain. It sat on a lot surrounded by tall woods...As Alison waited for someone to answer, she glanced at the wood box.
SOMETHING PROFOUND
It's the reason why people sit through funerals, attend weddings, wait expectantly outside delivery rooms—that unnamable presence that accompanies death and birth and the consummation of love. They're all hoping for a glimpse at the infinite. They're all looking for something profound.
Making "Reign in Blood" — Slayer's Timeless Classic
1986 saw Slayer's masterpiece "Reign in Blood" become the standard-bearer as one of the greatest thrash albums of all time.
The Mark
Mark’s eyes widen, and he gets out of bed, opens the closet, then pulls down on the coat hanger in the back. The clothing rack drops into the floor and the back wall of the closet opens.
ATA Revisits The Classic, Temple of the Dog
There are few hard rock albums with packed with as much raw emotion as the stellar Temple of the Dog record.
Potheads Rally to Make 4/20 a National Holiday But Keep Losing Motivation
For the past decade, I think, or at least a long time (like five years), marijuana advocates around the country have attempted to rally together to petition the man to make 4/20 a national holiday.
Why Phil Kessel Is Awesome (And Why You Should Think So Too)
Phil Kessel beat cancer during his rookie season and went on to become a five time thirty goal scorer and two time Stanley Cup Champion on his own terms. In spite of being one of the most prolific goal scorers of his generation, Phil has been oft maligned, bullied, and minimized by the press, the fans, the NHL, and even his peers.
How I Became a Pee Smelling Murderer With a Job Offer From an Aspiring Pimp
I had just graduated from college and was waiting for a life-changing job offer. In fact, any job offer would have been nice.
Hanging With The Brainwashers: ATA Goes Undercover With The Church of Scientology
It was a rainy day in Sydney, Australia when I was walking down a sidewalk with my Finnish friend Isabella, when I saw a nice enough looking woman handing out some kind of paper to passersby.
Cliff Burton's Influence on Ride The Lightning
There's no question Metallica's sophomore album, Ride the Lightning saw the band finding their thrash metal stride with better songs and production than on their stunning debut Kill 'Em All.
Netflix Castlevania Season 2 Review: Pulls You in By The Neck and Doesn't Let Go
As soon as I heard Adi Shankar was creating an animated series based on the beloved Castlevania franchise, I was tuned in and ready to go.
Maple Leafs Move With the Times in Hiring Wickenheiser The GOAT of Women's Hockey
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they hired Canadian Olympian and gold medalist Hayley Wickenheiser as Assistant Director of Player Development on Thursday August 23, 2018.
My Love/Hate Relationship With #Supreme - Photoshoot with @ymanibarbee @adore.eu and Essay
Like it or not, Supreme will always be the litmus for streetwear. For old streetwear heads like me, there continues to be a love / hate relationship with Supreme. About a year ago, I was driving home from work and one of the neighbor kids (usually dressed head to toe in Pac Sun or even worse, Dallas Cowboys gear), cruised by me, riding a Razor scooter, with a mohawk helmet, wearing a Supreme box logo hoodie. I lost concentration and almost drove my car into the kids playing basketball in the driveway a few houses up.
ATA Review of AGENDA, Long Beach
Inclusiveness: It’s what AGENDA is all about, and what makes it a special kind of tradeshow. No matter who you are, you can stand side by side with companies like the Hundreds, 10 Deep, or Chinatown Market and compete with the same. That’s the draw.
Venom, Suicide Squad, and the Rated R Risk: PG 13 Isn't Cutting It
Venom has problems. A startling criticism of a superhero movie rooted in the MCU but nonetheless an accurate one.
Jarome Iginla: The Pursuit of Greatness Sans a Championship
Despite playing in over 1,500 regular season games, 81 playoff games with three different teams and the fact that he is one of the most prolific scorers in the NHL, Iginla never achieved the Stanley Cup.
ATA's Review of Adidas' 747 Warehouse St. Experience
Adidas 747 was an epic event. Spanning several blocks surrounding and within the old American Apparel manufacturing building in downtown LA, Adidas went all out to represent during this year’s NBA all-star game.
Fucking Eh
I had just arrived in Paris after spending the past five weeks in Angola managing some offshore drilling rigs. Shitty job. After laying down the rules, I got some pushback from the locals. Not a surprise. Typical work politics down there.
Why Exile On Main St. is the Rolling Stones' Best Album
Many fans argue over which is the best Rolling Stones record. Well, it's Exile on Main St.
ATA Reviews and Revisits Gorillaz' Self Titled Debut
I felt there was so much to this band I could follow. They were dark, edgy, but fun to watch. And, as a fan of them since their inception, I have never been disappointed in them.
Plagiarizing Led Zeppelin: Greta Van Fleet (Is the Criticism Against Them Warranted)
Imitation is the highest form of flattery. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that phrase growing up. I also remember learning about plagiarism.
Brands We Like. Bifocal Media: The Kings of Punk Rock T-Shirts
Our objective from the start was to create t-shirts for people who might not typically wear band shirts. I’d like to think we produce high quality, unique, collaborative shirts with a cool backstory. Limiting production to small numbers assures that you’re not going to see 10 other people wearing the same shirt.
How to Pretend to Be Doing Something With Your Life
Life is hard. There are a million choices we could make in our lives that will impact us in ways we can never even imagine.
ATA's Timeline Review of The Distillers at the Hollywood Palladium
I tell my daughter that this album was written after the singer of the Distillers left the singer of Rancid. She doesn’t give a sh*t.
How To Be Zen Without Being a Douchebag
We live in a loud, obnoxious, ugly, and yes sometimes orange “Trumped-up” world. We all want a little more peace… a little calmer.
ACCEPTANCE: FREAKS AND WEIRDO'S BOUTIQUE
Come to the Freaks & Weirdos Boutique at the corner of Route 2 and Willowbrook. Acceptance is just one strange trip away
Awesome Totally Awesome's Review of Balenciaga's Spring 2018 Lookbook
I should open with the following statement: I know nothing about high fashion. But I do know the difference between something aesthetically pleasing tickling my photoreceptors from an outfit that makes me think “What’s going on here?!”
Concert Review Legend of The Seagullmen: The Roxy, Hollywood
The Legend of the Seagullmen (Seagullmen) is a furious and heavy supergroup. Their self-titled debut album consists of dark and heavy, psychedelic, and evil pirate metal anthems all revolving around the deep dark sea.
Digging For Dirt: How Alice In Chains Made Their Ultimate Album
Among the truly great heavy metal albums, Alice in Chains' masterpiece Dirt is easily a cut above the rest.
Joyner Lucas is Demanding Your Attention
From his raspy voice and lighting fast raps laden with controversial remarks, Joyner Lucas demands your attention on even the most mellow of his records.
Wu-Tang Clan and Activision to Collaborate for Call of Duty, 36 Chambers Edition
Videogame giant Activision announced that it will be collaborating with the legendary hip hop conglomerate, the Wu Tang Clan (“Wu”) for several upcoming projects, including Call of Duty, 36 Chambers Edition.
Calling Out The Flex: How Much Do Rappers Really Make
Chance the Rapper called out that if we could see the bank accounts of a lot of rappers these days, the numbers would be way lower than we’d expect.
Why Are We Ignoring a Blatant Cry For Help?
We want to believe that we are morally “good”, but when the shit actually hits the metaphorical—or literal—fan, sometimes we fail.
Break on Through to the Other Side: Trying to Make it as a Comedian in Los Angeles
Comedy becomes an unreliable drug, one that sends you shooting to the moon or crashing into the fiery depths of hell.
Stacy Kohut Interview: Four Wheels + For Life = FOURLIFE
I try to get 5 or 6 runs in the morning, then 5 or 6 runs after lunch. Its important to me to feel like I've put in the work, 'punched in' for the shift, when I ride. Makes the day have some more importance and meaning. A purpose if you will.
Pho King Slayer
Slayer is starting their final tour ever, which means their final tour until they decide they need another couple of million in the bank, at which point they’ll have a reunion tour. Nevertheless, assuming this is the end, it’s also the end of one of the greatest cathartic battle cries ever: F***ING SLAYERRRRR!!!
Why Lupe Fiasco is Still My Favorite Rapper?
We get into Lupe Fiasco more closely especially after his most recent release, Drogas Wave.
Piece of Mind: Iron Maiden's Metal Masterpiece
With the success of 1982's Number of the Beast, one would think Iron Maiden would be hard pressed to follow it with an equal or better record, but they did just that with Piece of Mind.
Biker Shorts: The Athleisure Trend That Needs to Stop
It’s not news that biker shorts have been a thing this year. While it was nothing short of an atrocity from the get-go, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.
The Story of Black Sabbath's "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"
In 1973, Black Sabbath were riding high on the success of their Vol. IV album and mammoth tour of the U.S., Australia and Europe.
Legit Check 101 Supreme: Box Logo Hoodies
The Supreme Box Logo (“BOGO”) Hoodie is one of the most iconic and sought Supreme pieces year in and year out. We’re here to provide you with a basic checklist that should apply to any BOGO Hoodie within the past 10 years.
Awesome Dropping
SPOTLIGHT ON: WATCH FOR HORSES
Wiretap Records performing and recording artist, Watch For Horses, played their final show of 2017 at The Satellite in Los Angeles, CA.
Why Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" is one of the Greatest Records of All Time
What makes Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album transcend into that musical stratosphere is the real emotion inherent behind the amazing harmonies and sound within the songs.
Angry Socialist Kindergarten Teacher Ruins Thanksgiving for Fifteen Local Families
A grassroots organization of concerned parents of students at the Zinn Uplift Progressive Elementary School warns of dangerous trends from a socialist classroom teacher.
Awesome Features
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Gojira: Converting Rock Dads and New Fans
No doubt many metal fans — especially those over 40 years of age —had heard or listened to Gojira until they opened up for Metallica in the summer of 2017. For a hardcore, French, speed-metal band like Gojira to slot onto Metallica’s WorldWired Tour was a huge coup
Making "Killers": How Iron Maiden Got the "Maiden Sound"
Most Iron Maiden fans rave about the Killers album, while others think it's overrated. But everyone agrees it's the record that gave birth to Iron Maiden's unique sound.
Supreme to Offer Budget Line of Products
For those of you who cannot afford Supreme gear at retail, let alone aftermarket pricing, Supreme will soon be offering a budget line called Supreme Market, featuring items conveniently priced below $40.00.