Nicole Brice
Feb 11, 2026
A special night of Louisiana metal on March 7, 2026.
Heavy metal along the Gulf Coast carries a cultural gravity all its own, fusing southern grit with the unfiltered force of loud guitars to produce a sound that feels both homegrown and far-reaching. Shaped by the state’s deep musical heritage, the local music scene has long served as a crucible of sorts for bands that turn real-life struggle, perseverance, and community into profound expression. Part of the mystique lies in how legacies are formed quietly with these bands – nurtured in garages, sweaty clubs, and through word-of-mouth – before their impact is fully realized years later. Hailing from Ascension Parish, Black Market Halos reflect that journey, standing on the brink of a milestone as they prepare for their first show in 13 years on March 7, 2026, at The Varsity Theatre in Baton Rouge with support from 9Slug and Voice of the Enemy. This is more than a return to the stage; it’s a testament to endurance and a reminder that a band’s legacy can take root long before the spotlight ever arrives.
The underground metal scene in Louisiana doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves—it’s a community overflowing with talent, from veterans to rising artists. Many of these musicians balance day jobs with their passion, yet they still bring relentless dedication and precision to their craft. Black Market Halos are a product of that scene: seasoned, skilled players, some of whom have spent their lives performing in various metal bands across Louisiana’s underground.
This reunion show at The Varsity matters for two reasons. First, it’s a chance to prove that Louisiana’s underground metal scene can draw a crowd at an iconic venue. Second, it’s a reminder that for many, metal isn’t just a genre—it’s the heart and soul of music itself.
With a fresh 2026 lineup, Black Market Halos now features Shannon Guillot on vocals, Aaron Levy on drums, Shawn Tucker on guitar, Cody DeRouen on guitar, and Scott “Bozo” Hood on bass. As Black Market Halos gears up for their much-anticipated return, Mixed Alt Mag recently joined forces with Ryan Bordelon, aka “J Heist” of Backstage 504, to catch up with the band and talk shop. Below is a snippet from our conversation—stay tuned for the full interview dropping soon on YouTube.
MaM: So, let’s talk about this Varsity show. We were actually discussing off camera how many of the musicians in this room today have never played the Varsity. For those who aren’t familiar with Black Market Halos, what is the best way to describe your music to someone who has never heard it, so we can get them to the show?
Shannon: We are just southern metal. Like we were talking about earlier, we just mixed different genres together and made a gumbo of sorts so that people who don’t normally like heavy metal will listen to us, and we’ve gained a lot of fans that way.
MaM: Let’s talk about the line-up for this show. We have 9Slug and Voice of the Enemy on the bill as well, so how did it come to you ending up with those two bands on the show?
Shannon: Well, 9Slug is our boys. They cut our teeth with us in Black Market many many years ago, and Jaide has always told me that if Black Market got back together, then he wants to play the first show, so we honored that.
MaM: Hell yeah
Black Market Halos: Nice guys, too.
Shannon: When we started thinking about it, there were a couple of people we had in mind, as far as another band to play, but when it came down to it, some of the other bands we talked to couldn’t do it. Voice of the Enemy are really good guys, and they pull people to shows.
MaM: Hard-working!
Shannon: They promote, too. This is our comeback, so we wanted to put together a good enough show to make people understand that this is not just a one-time thing; we’re back on it.
MaM: So, we have a nice night of southern metal planned with three different sounds because none of the bands sound alike. How long of a set are we thinking for this show?
Shannon: We have 15 songs. We decided to pull songs from all three records. The first two are online, Hymns of Rebellion and Cleansing, but then there’s a third record we wrote and started playing songs off of before we went on hiatus. There are songs on there that our fans haven’t even heard yet, but there is one song that we’re playing that night called ‘These Scars’ that has never been played live yet, so we’re not only coming back, but we’re debuting a new song as well.
MaM: (to Ryan from Backstage 504) What questions you got? You sitting over there all quiet and just letting me lead the conversation.
(laughter)
Ryan: You know you’re doing such a great job.
(laughter)
Shannon: Ask away, brother!
Ryan: I don’t really know any of you guys, and I’m new to the scene, so I haven’t really heard of Black Market Halos until she called me up and said, ‘These guys are playing at the Varsity.'
Shannon: What a shame.
Ryan: I know, man! I missed a lot doing the raising the kid thing and all, but now I’m in the scene, and I’m learning about everybody.
Shannon: What’s funny to me is that we were playing music while we were having kids, and now our kids are old enough to come to the bars to actually watch us play this music.
Ryan: Who are some of your influences?
MaM: Oh, they have them all over the place.
(discussion)
Ryan: Ok, let’s scratch that. Who is the guy or girl that got you wanting to play?
Shannon: There are three vocalists who got me wanting to be a vocalist. Axl Rose, Sebastian Bach, and Phil Anselmo.
Ryan: Okay!
Shannon: I mean (points) – she knows, I tell her all the time that my songs have “Phil isms” in them.
MaM: He’s got a very Phil-full voice. It’s incredible. I told him he could sing a freakin menu, and it would sound amazing.
(laughter)
MaM: I’m being honest!
Cody: That’s our next album!
(laughter)
Ryan: Doing all the restaurant menus.
Shannon: I mean, I grew up listening to classic rock and outlaw country with my father. I love Ronnie Van Zant, and the 70s style bands, but when Guns N' Roses came out, that was a big thing, you know, and then Skid Row, which is my favorite 80s band, but then when I heard Pantera … I was like, ‘Oh Lord!’.
(laughter)
Shannon: It was the future of metal, and when I heard ‘Mouth for War’ on MTV, I was like, ‘Dude, this is where it’s at!’
MaM; So, ‘Mouth for War’ was your first Pantera song you heard?
Shannon: Yep
MaM: For me, it was ‘Becoming’, and I remember my brother was listening to it in his room, and I walked into his room. We were getting ready to go see Pantera in concert, and I didn’t know much about them at that time, so he plays ‘Becoming’ for me, and I hear that guitar at the beginning, and I’m just like, ‘What is this??? It’s so freakin good!’
Ryan: Mine was ‘Drag the Waters’, so I was late to the party.
As Black Market Halos gear up for a special night of Louisiana metal, be sure to stay tuned for the full interview dropping on YouTube soon, where you’ll hear more from the members themselves about the show, their stories, and what’s next. See you on March 7, 2026, at The Varsity Theatre in Baton Rouge.
To purchase tix:
Black Market Halos Tickets, Sat, Mar 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite
To learn more about Black Market Halos:
Bandcamp:
Facebook:
*All photos by Gary Governale
Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com.