New Jersey
Photos/Review: Stabbing rip through New Jersey – 5/22/2024
As one of the few bands to meaningfully push the envelope of just how “brutal” death metal can be, Stabbing make up for a complete absence of any melodic elements in their music with utterly extreme blasts, filthy vocals, and chromatic slam riffs. 2023’s debut full-length Extirpated Mortal Process saw the band fully realize their brand of pure brutal death metal depravity and solidified their reputation in the underground metal scene as a band to watch.
It’s no surprise that only 24 hours before this show, the band announced that they’ve been signed to Century Media, joining the ranks of the scene’s biggest contemporary death metal acts including Sanguisugabogg, Frozen Soul, and Vomit Forth. Rolling through New Jersey in a string of dates between Milwaukee Metalfest and Maryland Deathfest, Stabbing stops at Clifton, NJ for a night of chaos, playing to a crowd with absolutely zero regard for their own self-preservation in the pit. This short run feels special (and somewhat dangerous as the venue lacks any sort of security to keep the pit contained), watching a band on the precipice of blowing up. With support from local favorites Final Girls and fellow Jersey bands Ways to the Grave and World Eater, this was one of the best shows I’ve seen in 2024.
World Eater, a metal band seemingly born from the ashes of a Magic: The Gathering deck, kicks off the night strong. Frontman Ed Pacella is an absolute force – his death growl and endless parade around the stage draw you in, but the riffs keep you hooked. I struggle to grasp that they’re still relative newcomers to the scene – though some members have played in other groups in the past, this combination of members seems like the winning formula. World Eater blurs the line between familiar and modern with a sound that’s equal parts Bolt Thrower and a thousand screams into an endless void of cosmic horror. Ripping solos and more melodic riffing separate them sonically from the rest of the bands tonight, yet they fit right in with this lineup.
World Eater
Moving into more progressive territory is Ways to the Grave, the second band of the night. If you close your eyes, it’s easy to forget that some of these kids aren’t quite old enough to order a drink at the venue, playing at a level way beyond their years. Despite the longer songs, there’s meaningful commercial appeal in the way they infuse elements of popular death metal with prog-leaning tendencies. Watching this band refine bits of their performance and presentation over the past few months, their relentless gigging will smooth out any inconsistencies in time, and make them a band to watch.
Ways to the Grave
If you need to fill a room in New Jersey, you book Final Girls – it’s a Wednesday night but the Final Girls fans still come out in full force and dress to the nines, Their brand of horror-infused death metal puts them on top of the local scene, and probably the next band in the area to start making serious moves. Unveiling a new setlist tonight and largely moving beyond the songs first introduced on their EP, Final Girls were in top form. Watching Sofia DeMasi behind the kit is always a highlight, and Casey Cruz continues to escalate their stage show to new extremes. Despite some gear hiccups, Ashleigh Hernandez and Sofia Albanese kept the show moving with grace.
Final Girls
And finally, Stabbing took the stage. It’s a lot like watching a bomb go off in front of you. Their 40-minute set was completely unrelenting – no reprieve from the brutal riffs and endless gutturals; there are no slow (or even mid-paced) songs in their catalog to give your body a break from the pit that never closes. At the center of everything is vocalist Bridget Lynch and guitarist Marvin Ruiz. Lynch is simply one of the most consistent brutal death metal vocalists I’ve ever witnessed, never missing a beat, never faltering or wavering in her delivery. Despite being a one-guitar band, Ruiz absolutely flooded the roof with his precise riffing and grooves. The rhythm section was no less impressive, perfectly in time and locked in like a well-oiled machine. Stabbing is easily one of the best live bands on the circuit right now and for a good reason. The venue flooded their set with red light – very appropriate – but every member of the band was mesmerizing to watch. We might not be ready for whatever Stabbing decides to do next – and there’s nowhere for them to go but up.
Stabbing
Every year comes with its own personality, but New Jersey doesn’t wait around to see what the rest of the country decides is “in.” We move fast here. We adapt. We complain loudly — and then we make it part of our routine. Somewhere between a jughandle turn and a diner refill, 2026 developed a very Jersey personality. You may not have noticed it happening, but you’re already living it.
Here are 10 things that feel unmistakably so 2026, Garden State edition.
The way New Jersey talks now (and what it really means)
Calling every inconvenience “a situation.”
Traffic? Situation. School drop-off? Situation. The coffee machine acting up? Full-blown situation.
Quietly flexing about not pumping gas.
We don’t brag. We just casually mention it… often.
Errands, routines and the New Jersey sense of time
Planning an entire weekend around one errand.
Costco, Home Depot, or MVC — choose wisely and clear your schedule.
Checking Dan Zarrow’s forecast on the NJ101.5 app religiously.
Because if you’re going to trust the weather, it might as well be someone who knows New Jersey.
Having a “favorite small town” you don’t live in.
You’ve “been a few times.” You “get the vibe.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Roads, tolls and the daily traffic psychology of NJ
Treating tolls like a personal betrayal.
Every increase feels targeted, and we all do the same mental math at the booth anyway.
Explaining traffic circles and roundabouts like a survival skill.
Somehow we all know exactly what to do — except when we don’t.
Money stress, comfort food and Garden State coping mechanisms
Treating diners as emotional support buildings.
Coffee refills fix things. It’s science.
Complaining about taxes while never actually leaving.
Because deep down, we know better.
Comparing energy bills like it’s a competitive sport.
Nobody likes the numbers, but everyone wants to know if theirs is worse.
The truth is, 2026 in New Jersey isn’t about trends you see online. It’s about habits, shortcuts, shared frustrations, and small victories we all pretend are normal. And if you read this nodding along, congratulations — you’re not behind the times. You’re just right on schedule… in New Jersey.
Best New Jersey Diners For Breakfast and Lunch
Thank you to our New Jersey listeners for these recommendations.
Gallery Credit: Bill Spadea
New Jersey
Though down from previous month, New Jersey online casinos post November revenue record in 2025
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While online casinos in New Jersey fell short of another revenue record, November was still the state’s second-best month ever with over $253 million.
They’ve been around for over 12 years, yet online casinos in New Jersey continue to find ways to set revenue records. After posting the industry’s largest single-month total in October, NJ online casinos last month combined for $253 million to set a November record and ranks as the second-biggest single-month total in Garden State history.
NJ online casinos set single-year record with one month left
Since launching in 2013, NJ online casinos have continually set high-water marks – even now, a dozen years later.
With $253 million in November revenue, as reported by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, casino apps in the Garden State now sit at just over $2.64 billion for the year, leading to $455 million in state tax revenue. With one month left in 2025, the industry has already set a single-year record, which previously stood at around $2.4 billion.
To further put into perspective the growth of online gambling in New Jersey, the industry is over 22% ahead of the 11-month pace it set in 2024. Consider the first 14 months of online casinos in NJ, during which time operators combined for a mere $131.2 million in revenue.
While it’s unlikely that NJ online casinos will reach the $3 billion mark by the end of the year, iGaming has proven it can continue to grow after more than 10 years of existence.
FanDuel Casino, DraftKings Casino continue to set pace
While the monthly total is one for the books, the standard brands set themselves apart from the rest of the market.
For example, FanDuel Casino – which new users can sign up with and claim the FanDuel casino bonus – reported $60.2 million. That was well ahead of the second-place DraftKings Casino bonus, which helped drive $49.6 million in November.
Along with the BetMGM Casino app ($30.6 million), Borgata Casino ($20.6 million) and Caesars Palace Online Casino ($19.3 million), the top five revenue-earners in November accounted for more than 71% of the total online casino total in November.
New Jersey
Ice, freezing rain alerts expand to 10 N.J. counties. Wind advisory issued for 50 mph gusts Monday.
Winter weather advisories have been expanded to 10 New Jersey counties with freezing rain that could cause a dangerous layer of ice tonight.
The National Weather Service has also issued a wind advisory for 16 counties Monday with up to 50 mph gusts possible.
The more immediate concern is freezing rain already hitting the state Sunday evening.
Winter weather advisories for Bergen, Essex, Hudson Passaic and Union counties expire between 10 p.m. and midnight.
Winter weather advisories for Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties take effect at 6 p.m. and run through 2 a.m.
As temperatures remain near or below freezing across northern New Jersey this evening, precipitation will fall as freezing rain, particularly in Warren and Morris counties where a glaze to one-tenth of an inch of ice accumulation is possible.
The National Weather Service warns that even areas outside the advisory that remain near freezing at the onset of precipitation could experience localized icing, especially on shaded surfaces that have remained below freezing for more than 36 hours.
Temperatures will rise above freezing areawide during the pre-dawn hours Monday as a warm front lifts through the region, changing any remaining freezing rain to plain rain.
A brief break in the rain is likely prior to daybreak Monday.
The warm front will be quickly followed by a strong cold front Monday afternoon, bringing another period of rain that may be moderate in intensity at times.
High temperatures Monday will reach the upper 40s along the coast before the cold front passes, bringing high winds to the area.
The wind advisory for 16 counties runs from 10 a.m. Monday to 1 p.m. Tuesday. Just Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties are not under wind advisories.
“Strong westerly winds develop Monday with wind gusts up to 50 mph and a wind advisory has been issued,” the weather service said Sunday evening. “Some tree damage and power outages possible.”
Tuesday will be markedly colder with high temperatures struggling to rise above freezing even at the Jersey Shore.
Wind chills in the teens and low 20s are expected during the day.
Skies will be partly cloudy with continued gusty winds of 20 to 30 mph.
Wednesday brings slightly milder conditions with highs in the mid 30s to near 40 degrees, though it remains well below normal for late December.
The extended forecast shows below-normal temperatures continuing through the end of the week and into the New Year.
Thursday may bring a chance of snow showers as a weak cold front passes through, though accumulations are expected to be light.
Friday looks dry with highs in the low to mid 30s.
Another weather system may impact the area late next weekend, potentially bringing a mix of rain and snow, though forecast confidence remains low for that timeframe.
Current weather radar
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