Author Archives: Schuler Benson

Exclusive: In the studio with Byzantine; band’s choice of cover songs revealed

Posted by on December 21, 2016

In early November of 2016, Metal Insider contributor Schuler Benson paid a visit to 7over8 Studios in Myrtle Beach to join Byzantine’s Chris Ojeda and Brian Henderson as they laid down guitar tracks for the band’s forthcoming album and Metal Blade Records debut, The Cicada Tree. This is the second time I’ve shown up at […]

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Criminally Slept-On: Cradle of Filth

Posted by on March 10, 2016

In Criminally Slept-On, Schuler Benson takes a look at some of the most underrated tracks from his favorite prolific bands’ back catalogs. Cradle of Filth occupies an odd place in the heavy music pantheon. While the band can’t really have been called “black metal” any time after their debut full-length, The Principle of Evil Made […]

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Review/Photos: Slayer, Testament and Carcass at the House of Blues, Myrtle Beach, SC

Posted by on February 29, 2016

Friday, February 26th, metal titans Slayer descended upon North Myrtle Beach’s House of Blues with death metal forefathers Carcass and long-standing thrash stalwarts Testament in tow. Tickets ranged from $49.95 to some fans reporting paying upwards of $200 for VIP passes, but in spite of the February chill and what a number of parking lot […]

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Criminally Slept-On: Black Sabbath (The Other Guys)

Posted by on February 25, 2016

In Criminally Slept-On, Schuler Benson takes a look at some of the most underrated tracks from his favorite prolific bands’ back catalogs. Black Sabbath became particularly relevant to me in the late 90’s. My dad had already introduced me to their Ozzy-era music when I was younger, so by the time the Reunion double live […]

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Criminally Slept-On: Black Sabbath (The Dio era)

Posted by on February 11, 2016

In Criminally Slept-On, Schuler Benson takes a look at some of the most underrated tracks from his favorite prolific bands’ back catalogs. While all the groups I feature in Criminally Slept-On are established acts with significant fan bases, Black Sabbath is another animal entirely. It’s tough to try touting rare and overlooked material by a […]

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Criminally Slept-On: Black Sabbath (The Ozzy Era)

Posted by on January 28, 2016

In Criminally Slept-On, Schuler Benson takes a look at some of the most underrated tracks from his favorite prolific bands’ back catalogs. I believe Black Sabbath are the quintessential heavy metal band. They ushered in a sound that went on to inform not only their contemporaries, but no less than every single band that’s ever […]

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Criminally Slept-On: Amon Amarth

Posted by on January 14, 2016

In Criminally Slept-On, Schuler Benson takes a look at some of the most underrated tracks from his favorite prolific bands’ back catalogs. Even though multiple interviews have contained singer Johan Hegg stating that Amon Amarth don’t consider themselves a “viking metal” band, there’s simply no denying that’s exactly what they are. In the band’s early […]

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Criminally Slept-On: In Flames

Posted by on January 4, 2016

In Flames have taken a lot of shit over the years, and from time to time, I’ve been one of the dudes hurling it. But, to be fair, I waited until the very last minute. I got onboard with In Flames during the Clayman cycle, which pretty much involved me buying anything by bands I […]

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Metal Insider contributor Schuler Benson’s top 10 of 2015

Posted by on December 21, 2015

As 2015 continues to draw to a close, Metal Insider is continuing to look at the year in music. Nearly all of our contributors have submitted their favorites, along with everyone from Anthrax to Richard Christy, and you can read their picks here. Here we have Criminally Slept-On contributor Schuler Benson’s favorite music of the […]

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Criminally Slept-On: Sepultura (1989-1997)

Posted by on December 17, 2015

In Criminally Slept-On, Schuler Benson takes a look at some of the most underrated tracks from his favorite prolific bands’ back catalogs. Sepultura was one of the first mainstream metal bands that grabbed my attention as a kid. They were introduced to me in the same breath as Pantera, and something about the two, specifically […]

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