I’m here today to shine the spotlight on a few bands with amazing singers performing at Rocklahoma. Although there are a whole slew of incredible bands, I will be taking a look a two in particular: Five Hundredth Year and Citizen Zero. 

A great combination between Five Finger Death Punch and Breaking Benjamin, Five Hundredth Year is one of the Friday Axis Stage bands that makes getting to the venue early well worth your time.   The band will be coming to Rocklahoma with an updated lineup, and I am looking forward to seeing what they have put together. 
 
Watch the video for “Blame” and listen not only for his strong, powerful vocals but also for the musical talent of the band. 

Another ear-catching song to listen to is “Stand Up,” which features a catchy guitar and drum opening. Pay attention to the skill of drummer Zach Hannus and the impeccable groove built by guitarists Ben Moss and Jonathan Immers and bassist Brenda Bennett. 

Josh LeMay is a fantastic singer. Mellifluous and gentle, his voice caresses your ears and soothes your mind.
 
Enjoy their newly released lyric video for “Go (Let Me Save You),” a beautiful rock song that mixes ballad style with driving rock, along with an awesome guitar solo. 

Citizen Zero will be opening the Hard Rock Stage on Sunday, following in the footsteps of some amazing acts who have played that time before, including Young Guns, Sons of Texas and The Sword.

Deep. Dark. Haunting. These are the first words that come to mind when you listen to Octave Jaw’s self-titled album. Octave Jaw is another great example of the fantastic music that Oklahoma has to offer.  Sure, there are top bands from around the world visiting Pryor, Oklahoma, next week, but there is some serious talent right there in state.  This is clearly evident in the following video for their single “Light.”

Hailing from Southern Oklahoma, Octave Jaw is made up of vocalist Larry Carter, guitarist Jeremy Carter, bassist Greg Morgan and drummer KC Carlile. They are what I would call a combination of grunge and progressive rock, with the added twist of Carter’s expansive vocal abilities, which allow him to manipulate the mood and style effortlessly. The band makes the best of these talented vocals, having everything humming together like a finely-tuned jet engine. This band cranks it out in the song “Precursor” and can turn it completely on its head with “Novacaine.”  This power ballad is stirring, powerful, and just plain beautiful. It is something you will not want to miss.  

Octave Jaw's website describes them as being “dark, melodic and heavy, while often leaning towards progressive and borderline psychedelic.” I can hear it all. There are influences all over in their music. I hear Johnny Cash, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and so much more. 
 
I listened to all nine songs on their album, and every one of them is excellent.  There is not a one I would skip.  And their small collection of videos is also entertaining.  The video for “Never Free” is a disturbing, but powerful look at the human experience.  

Octave Jaw is a band you need to see. The schedule is out, so circle their time and get out there. You will not be sorry.

Rocklahoma stands apart from the other festivals because of its organization, food set up, and stage layout. But in addition to all the logistics they have nailed to a tee, they also take the prize with the fantastic show they host before the festival even begins. The Axis Stage is the site of an incredible collection of bands on Thursday night, many hailing from nearby towns in Oklahoma. One of these bands had me addicted after the first song. Rocklahoma fans, may I introduce you to one hell-of-a-good reason to set out for Pryor a day early: Emperors and Elephants from Chicago, Illinois. Waste no time--bang your head!

Emperors and Elephants is the perfect example of why the promoters of Rocklahoma deserve the Nobel Prize for Finding Bands. I just don’t think that award exists (a shame, really). Although, you have to admit it would be a great scene up there in Norway: between the physicists and mathematicians stands a long-haired, tattooed rocker. Anyway, back to this fantastic band.
 
Emperors and Elephants released an AMAZING album back in 2014 called Devil in the Lake. Every song kicks ass. With a sound born in the grunge of the 1990’s and updated with some modern day metalcore, this band is one to be reckoned with. Add in vocalist Jesse Andrews' gripping voice and beautiful guitar licks, and I would say Devil in the Lake is a must-have album.

Although this first album should have made E & E a household name, they are hard at work on a second album that should be released by this summer. Guitarist Jeph Stiph says that from a song-writing perspective, they have "tried to mature and focus more on composition and melody." Of course, he explains, there are "still plenty of the elements of the first album." 
Despite a way variety of influences, Stiph pinpoints "industrial metal" as a serious contributor to their sound. From Rammstein to NIN, you can hear his love for melody a la Alice in Chains, as well as hard core shredding coming through on every tune.
 
While I usually like to suggest one or two songs to get you into a band, with Emperors and Elephants you can start with any song and you will be blown away.
You owe it to yourself to spend some time listening to what this band has to offer. Follow this to their ReverbNation page. 
Stiph can't wait to perform at Rocklahoma, especially so he can "see guys from the road like Screaming for Silence and Shaman's Harvest," as well as Sixx A.M.

For this segment of ROK16 band previews, I will be reviewing bands with GIRL POWER (aka bands with female musicians). 

Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Lovebettie's incredible musicians are the pioneers of "Swagger Rock," a soulful mixture of rock and pop topped off with (girl)powerful vocals from Alexandra Naples. 

Not only is Lovebettie's music unique and exciting, but their live shows are unbeatable, full of energy and mood swings--they don't shy away from tear-wrenching ballads and show no fear when a serious rocker comes along.

​Read TeenView Music's interview with Lovebettie here! 

Enjoy their music video for "Sleep," released only two months ago: 

According to their website, Southern California's all-girl, 80s-throwback-with-a-modern-twist quartet will "melt your face, but it will be a great and glorious death." Moxy and the Influence will be ready to gloriously melt your faces at Rocklahoma with their raw metal (girl)power, so you best be ready. 

Drummer Alexey Damian Poblete, at just thirteen years old, is the youngest member of MXI, followed by seventeen-year-old Shea Hamilton on the bass, eighteen-year-old Moxy Anne on vocals, and twenty-year-old Sydney Ellen on lead guitar. 

On May 15, the young and talented rockers will be releasing a four-song EP called The Best Revenge, which will be available on their website.

Also, you can check out Poblete's website here. 

Southern California's Mycah is fronted by metal diva Devon Mycah, who rules the stage with her voice, sass, and charisma. 

Mycah played Rocklahoma 2014 under their old name Siren; around 200 people were packed into the tiny area surrounding the side stage, vying for a glance at Devon Mycah and her talented bandmates. 

Read TeenView Music's interview with Mycah/Siren here!