THE DEVILS BLOOD – THE TIME OF NO TIME EVERMORE
Van Records
11th September 2009
The Time Of Now Time Evermore, for me, is one of those rare records, that not only do you look forward to hearing and hope you love it and then do actually fall in love with the entire album beginning to end!
A long intro, The Time Of No Time, slowly builds up almost in preparation for the first track, Evermore. Instantly you are introduced to the entire band with striking vocals from The Voice Of Satan and the melodic tones from the rhythm section, and a drummer busier than a beaver! There are many things happening that should annoy you, the drummer can not play a straight beat; there’s a fill at the end of every odd bar, many layers of guitars you could almost say it’s over produced and the vocals have a low wobbly vibrato that instead of annoying like Whitney Houston, actually enticed and seduced me into the music even more. The Devils Blood are almost over the top, but so much so that each element complements itself in one great party of rock. Occult Rock to be precise. I’ll Be Your Ghost I love so much it was my single of the year for 2009, it is a real good feel good song. A change of pace with The Yonder Beckons, which usually causes me to skip this track into one of my favorites off the album, House Of 10,000 Voices. Again the vocals and vocal layers are displayed magnificently, perfectly accompanied with the layers of guitar tones and patterns.
The album continues back to the pace and tone of this rock, that the band say is “A theatrical presentation with roots in both 1950’s horreur gothique and 1970’s psychedelic rock n roll. Without saying too much, or saying nothing at all, you can expect a frenzy of rock n roll flavoured hard rock that speak of times decades past, no modernisms, no trends, no high end sounds. Just Vintage rock music in the vein of Roky Erickson, Black Widow, Coven, Black Sabbath and a rich plethora of sixties and seventies underground psychedelic rock bands too numerous to mention.
Christ Or Cocaine has a lovely solo towards the end, smooth and gliding in a way that causes me to drift along. Queen Of My burning Heart is another fantastic track to display the guitars, a great riffs and solos. The next few tracks are quite a mid-beat tracks but a head nodders none the less, leading us to the finale, the epic 11m11s track, The Anti-Kosmik Magick. Again quite mid-beat track but taking me on what feels like a journey through a story, told of course in rock form.
The Time Of No Time Evermore covers all aspects of listening, it’s great in the background, it’s fantastic to drive along to and it’s even great just to sit and rock out to. I can’t give this album anything but full marks.
★★★★★ Album of the Week, 11/01/10
The Devils Blood are still quite mystical in that there are not many images on their profiles, no names of band members and they promise blood on stage! Something I look forward to when the band headline their first UK performance at the Camden Underworld, February 19th.
Anthems – TotalRock. 09/01/10
Aerosmith – The Train Kept A Rollin
Twisted Sister – I Wanna Rock
Thin Lizzy – The Rocker
Girlschool – Ballroom Blitz
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – I Love Rock N Roll
Kiss – God Gave Rock And Roll
Ozzy Osboure – Mr Crowley
Jimi Hendrex – Hey Joe
Queen – Bicycle Race
Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me
Poison – Look What The Cat Dragged In
Europe – Rock The Night
Tigertailz – Love Bomb
Alice Cooper – Feed My Frankenstein
The Clash – Should I Stay Or Should I Go
Allister – Fraggle Rock
Anthrax – My Safe Home
Rob Zombie – Dragula
Avenged Sevenfold – Flash Of The Blade
Atreyu – You Give Love A Bad Name
Deep Purple – Hush
Golden Earing – Radar Love
Faith No More – Richochet
theory Of A Deadman – Bad Girlfriend
Metallica – Nothing Else Matters
Gottahrd – Shangri-la
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t Let Go
Buckcherry – Crazy Bitch
Fei Comodo – Behind Bars
Sonic Syndicate – Burn This City
System Of A Down – Cigaro
Threat Signal – Beyond Recognition
The Agonist – Thank You, Pain
Periphery – This Sentence Is False
Jurojin – The Dreaming
Mastodon – Joseph Merrick
SikTh – In This Light
Within Temptation – What You Have Done
Epica – Unleashed
Illuminatus – Captive State
The Devils Blood – The House Of 10,000 Voices
iRock (With Kitty) / The Launch Pad – TotalRock, 29/12/09
Avenged Sevenfold – Unholy Confessions
Blink 182 – What’s My Age Again
Fall Out Boy – I’m Like a Lawyer
Streetlight Manifesto – We Will Fall Together
Sum 41 – In Too Deep
Reel Big Fish – Monkey Man
Avenged Sevenfold – Flash Of The Blade
No Doubt – Just A Girl
Metro Station – Shake It
Four Year Strong – Ironic
New Found Glory – Never Ending Story
Trash Trash – Party In Your Bedroom
+44 – When Your Heart Stops Beating
Less Than Jake – All My Best Friends Are Metal Heads
Avenged Sevenfold – A Little Piece Of Heaven
The Red Jump Suit Apparatus – Face Down
The Aquabats – Pizza Day
OreSkaBand – Yeah Ska Dance
Imperial Leisure – Landlords Daughter
Taking Back Sunday – Sunk Into Me
Forever The Sickest Kids – She’s A Lady
Cobra Starship – Good Times Go Bad
Sublime – Date Rape
The Specials – Pressure Drop
The Grit – I Came Out The Womb An Angry Cunt
Might Mighty Bosstones – This Time Of Year
The Living End – Prisoner Of Society
We The Kings – Secret Valentine
Weezer – Punk Rock Christmas
Simple Plan – My Christmas List
Stranglers – Peaches
Hit The Lights – Speaking Blown
Greenday – Longview
Avenged Sevenfold – I Won’t See You Tonight Pt.I & II
The Cumshots – I Drink Alone
Faith No More – Epic
Queen – Breakthrough
Avenged Sevenfold – Seize The Day
Avenged Sevenfold – Dear God
Evile – Thrasher
Nightwish – I Wish I Had An Angel
Avenged Sevenfold – Warmness Of The Soul
Anthems – TotalRock, 26/12/09
Queen – Bohemien Rhapsody
Aerosmtih – Walk This Way
Led Zeppelin – Stairway To Heaven
Status Quo – Whatever You Want
AC/DC – Whole Lot Of Rosie
Kiss – God Gave Rock And Roll To You
Iron Maiden – Wasted Years
Girlschool – Race With The Devil
King Crimson – 21st Century Schizoid Man
Motorhead – Bomber
Ozzy Osbourne – Bark At The Moon
The Who – Pinball Wizard
Megadeth – Symphony Of Destruction
Pantera – Fucking Hostile
Sepultura – Roots Bloody Roots
Machine Head – Davidian
Andrew W.K. – Party Hard
Drowning Pool – Bodies
Children Of Bodom – Six Pounder
Reel Big Fish – Take On Me
Queens Of The Stone Age – No One Knows
Blink 182 – All The Small Things
Arch Enemy – We Will Rise
Metallica – Sad But True
Lamb Of God – Laid To Rest
Evanescence – Brin Me To Live
The Cumshots – I Drink Alone
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t Let Go
Fei Comodo – Behind Bars
Dead By April – Loosing You
Volbeat – Poll Of Booze Booze Booza
Sonic Syndicate – Burn This City
The Devils Blood – I’ll Be Your Ghost
Rammstein – Pussy
Swashbuckle – Cruise Ship Terror
The Agonist – And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep
Slipknot – Snuff
Alice In Chains – A Looking View
Pink Floyd – Have a Cigar
Xmas Day Show – TotalRock, 25/12/09
Simple Plan – It’s Christmas
Steel Panther – Sexy Santa
The Darkness – Don’t Let The Bells Ring
Tenacious D – The Metal
System Of a Down – Violent Pornography
Flyleaf – Fully Alive
Toll – The Plot
Sensor – Now Resistance
Queens Of The Stone Age – Feel Good Hit Of The Summer
Kiss – God Gave Rock And Roll To You
Breaking Benjamin – I Will Go On Until The End
Flickastick – Hey All When The Drugs Wear Off
Spinal Tap – Christmas With The Devil
Wings – Band On The Run
Guns N Roses – Live And Let Die
Deftones – The Chauffer
+44 – Make You Smile
The Dillinger Escape Plan – Come To Daddy
Faith No More – War Pigs
Do Me Bad Things – Time for Deliverance
Black Sabbath – Heaven And Hell
Rainbow – Stargazer
Pentagram – Sign Of The Wolf
Tank – TW Damo
King Diamond – No Presents For Xmas
Sack Trick – Blue Ice Cream
Gompa – Tranquil Mind
Iron Maiden – Flight Of Icarus
Mars Volta – Inertial Esp
At The Drive In – One Armed Scissor
Them Crooked Vultures – Elephants
Between The Buried And Me – Fossil Genera – A Feed From Cloud Mountain
No Made Sense – The Eppilanic Choragi
Pink Floyd – Shine On You Crazy Diamond
KoRn – Jingle Balls
Skindred – Jungle Bells
Avenged Sevenfold – I Won’t See You Tonight Pt.I & II
Evile – Cemetry Gates
Lemmy – Run Rudolph Run
Aerosmith – Baby Please Don’t Go
In Flames – Touch Of Red
Lamb Of God – Laid To Rest
Mastodon – Crystal Skull
Swashbuckle – We Sank Our Battle Ship
The Agonist – The Tempest
SikTh – Hold My Finger
Queen – Bohemien Rhapsody
Cathedral – Hopkins
Faith No More – Digging The Grave
Sonic Syndicate – Burn This City
Fei Comodo – Behind Bars
Senser – Resistance Now
Flickerstick – Hey or When The Drugs Wear Off
The Mars Volta – Inertiatic ESP
The Launch Pad / Midnight Dynamite – TotalRock, 22/12/09
Machine Head – Imperium
Aerosmith – Walk On Water
Queen – Innuendo
The Police – Can’t Stand Loosing
Judas Priest – Revolution
Metallica – Nothing Else Matters
Queensryche – Revolution Calling
Journey – Wheels In The Sky
The Beatles – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
The Doors – Hello I Love You
Fleetwood Mac – Rhianna
Van Halen – Hot for Teacher
Seether – Rise Above This
Mills – Hello Mellow
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t Let go
Dirty Harry – Eye
Volbeat – Poll Of Booze Booze Booza
The 69 Eyes – Perfect Skin
Gotthard – Lift You Up
Dead By April – Loosing You
Sonic Syndicate – Burn This City
The Agonist – The Sirens Song
The Devils Blood – I’ll Be Your Ghost
Rammstein – Rammlied
Swashbuckle – Rhyme Of The Haggerd Mariner
Swashbuckle – Cruise Ship Terror
Alternative Carpark – Deity In Exile
King Diamond – The Candle
Iron Maiden – Flight Of Icarus
SikTh – Wrathchild
Avenged Sevenfold – Flash Of The Blade
Pain – Shut Your Mouth
Finntroll – Trollhammer
Arthemis – Angelo In Black
AC/DC – Ride On
Savatage – Gutter Ballet
Deep Purple – Burn
Belladonna – Till Death Do Us Part
Fei Comodo – Behind Bars
Satyricon – Black Crow On A Tomb Stone
The Cumshots – I Drink Alone
The Danger Zone – TotalRock, 15/12/09
Sonisphere Big 4 Announcement
Starship – We Built This City
Aerosmith – Dream On
Queen – A Kind Of Magic
Iron Maiden – Flight Of Icarus
Led Zeppelin – The Immigrant Song
Judas Priest – Machine Man
The Rolling Stones – Jumping Jack Flash
Def Leppard – Photograph
AC/DC – Back In Black
Boston – More Than A Feeling
Bad Company – Feel Like Making Love
Joe Walsh – Lifes Been Good
UFO – Doctor Doctor
Kiss – Love Gun
Rage Against The Machine – Killing In The Name Of
Jake Veredika – All I Want For Xmas Is You (Fuck Yes)
Paris Is Burning – Eyes Of A Kile 55
The Armed – King Breaker
Burn The Priest – Bloodletting
The Agonist – The Sirens Song
No Made Sense – The Eppilanic Choragi
Between The Buried And Me – Diease, Injury, Madness
Metallica – Battery
Slayer – Jihad
Anthrax – Safe Home
Megadeth – A Tout Le Monde
Power Quest – Cemetery Gates
SikTh – Flogging The Horses
The Rotted – A Return To Insolence
Epica – Unleashed
Swashbuckle – We Sank Our Battleship
The Devils Blood – I’ll Be Your Ghost
Sonic Syndicate – Burn This City
Tenacious D – The Metal
Joe Perry – Run Rudolph Run
Anarchy On The Airwaves – TotalRock, 26/11/09
Cradle Of Filth – Honey & Sulpher
Aerosmith – Come Together
Rammstein – Pussy
The Cumshots – I Drink Alone
Nine Inch Nails – Closer
The Doors – Love Me Two Times
Voivod – Tribal Convictions
Soulfly – Babylon
Skindred – Babylon
Metallica – Frantic
AC/DC – Big Balls
Rage Against The Machine – Bulls On Parade
In Flames – Take This Life
Chimaira – Nothing Remains
Dillinger Escape Plan – Milk Lizard
Mastodon – March Of The Fire Ants
Arch Enemy – We Will Rise
The 69 Eyes – Dead Girls Are Easy
Deathstars – Cyanide
Children Of Bodom – Are You Dead Yet
Sonic Syndicate – Burn This City
Dead By April – Loosing You
Swashbuckle – Rime Of The Haggered Mariner
Swashbuckle – Cruise Ship Terror
The Agonist – The Sirens Song
Reel Big Fish – Monkey Man
The Specials – Pressure Drop
Badaxe – Ikea Song
Kid Klumsy – Dislexic Monkeys
The Clash – Guns Of Brixton
Sack Trick – Blue Ice Cream
Bowling For Soup – The Bitch Song
Blink 182 – What’s My age Again?
Fall Out Boy – I’m Like A Lawyer
The Offspring I Want You Bad
Killswitch Engage – Holy Diver
Girlschool – I Spy Ft. Dio
Frank Turner – Heartless Bastard Mother Fucker
Twisted Sister – I Wanna Rock
Slayer – Bloodline
The Devils Blood – I’ll Be Your Ghost
SikTh – Wrathchild
Avenged Sevenfold – Flash Of The Blade
Swashbuckle – Rounds Of Rum
The 69 Eyes – Perfect Skin
The Hell Drive – TotalRock, 26/11/09
Live interview with Belladonna
Aerosmith – Sweet Emotion
The Living End – Raise The alarm
Lita Ford – Wicked Wonderland
Slash – Paradise City
Rob Zombie – Foxy Foxy
Motley Crue – Animal In Me
Pantera – Domination
Belladonna – Till Death Do Us Part
Led Zeppelin – No Quarter
Belladonna – Phoenix Rising
Foo Fighters – Wheels
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t Let Go
Tigertailz – Love Bomb Baby
Girlschool – Race With The Devil
Sonata Arctica – Flag In The Ground
Epica – Unleashed
Imicus – Visceral
Satyricon – Now Diabolical
Uriah Heap – Only Human
Draven – Eden
System Of A Down – Psycho
Swashbuckle – We Sank Our Battleship
Sonic Syndicate – Burn This City
A Place To Buy Strangers – Keep Slipping Away
The Devils Blood – I’ll Be Your Ghost
The Agonist – And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep
The Hunted – My Endeavor
Volbeat – Pool Of Booze Booze Booza
Five Finger Death Punch – Dying Breed
SikTh – Another Sinking Ship
Mastodon – The Wolf Is Loose
Dillinger Escape Plan – Babys First Coffin
No Made Sense – The Eppilanic Choragi
Starship – We Built This City
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 16/11/09
Aerosmith – Shut Up And Dance
David Bowie – The Jean Genie
Thin Lizzy – The Rocker
Queen – Fat Bottomed Girls
10cc – Wall Street Shuffle
Foghat – Slow Ride
The Police – So Lonely
Nazareth – This Flight Tonight
The Blues Brothers – Sweet Home Chicago
Rush – The Spirit Of The Radio
Extreme – Mutha (Don’t Want To Go To School Today)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Rage Against The Machine – Wake Up
Pantera – I’m Broken
Sonic Syndicate – Burn This City
Scar Symmetry – Noumenon Phenmenon
Threat Signal – Through My Eyes
Gotthard – Shangri-La
Rammstein – Rammlied
Deathstars – Mark Of The Gun
Sonata Arctica – Flag In The Ground
Epica – Unleashed
The 69 Eyes – Dead Girls Are Easy
The Devils – Evermore
KoRn – Thoughtless
Paris Is Burning – When Dying Becomes A Habit
Solsikk Interview
The Cumshots – I Drink Alone
Swashbuckle – Rounds Of Rum
Vallenbrosa – The Hessian
Starseed – Shine
iMMa – Walking
SikTh – Another Sinking Ship
No Made Sense – Wake Of Syr
No Made Sense – The Epillanic Choragi
Framing Hanley – ‘Hear Me Now/Lollipop’
2009
“Here Me Now is a song desperation, perhaps some heartache, with smooth vocals matched with harmonies and a light dose of screams.”
Read the full review here at PureRawk.com!
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 09/11/09
Aerosmith – Rattlesnake Shake (Live)
Saxon – Man And Machine
Faith No More – Warpigs
Santana – Evil Ways
John Kongos – He’s Gonna Step On You Again
Alice Cooper – No More Mr Nice Guy
Diamond Head – Am I Evil
Iron Maiden – The Evil That Men Do
Pantera – Domination
Nirvana – Aneurysm
Rage Against The Machine – Guerilla Radio
The Wildhearts – Suckerpunch
Pearl Jam – Jeremy
Limp Bizkit – Counterfeit
The Living End – Prisoner Of Society
Queens Of The Stone Age – Feel good Hit Of The Summer
Amen – The Price Of Reality
Slayer – Bloodline
Soulfly – Seek n Strike
Between The Buried And Me – Mordecai
The Dillinger Escape Plan – Panasonic Youth
Chimaira – Pure Hatred
Divine Heresy – Failed Creation
Black Label Society – Berserkers
Mastodon – Crystal Skull
Lamb Of God – Laid To Rest
Paris Is Burning – Eyes Of A Kille 55
SikTh – Sanguine Seas Of Bigitory
Aghast – Bang To Rights
The Agonist – The Tempest (The Siren’s Song; The Banshees Cry)
No Made Sense – Milachis Depths
Epica – Unleashed
Swashbuckle – Back To The Noose
Sonata Arctica – Flag In The Ground
The Devils Blood – I’ll Be Your Ghost
The Cumshots – I Drink Alone
RAMMSTEIN – RAMMLIED / PUSSY
18th September 2009
Motor Music
Lebe Ist Für Alle Da, Rammstein’s sixth studio album, will feature 11 new compositions, all of them overseen by Sweedish producer Jacob Hellner and mixed by fellow Swede, Stefan Glumann, both regular contributors to the Rammstein cause.
I don’t normally do single reviews, but as I was the first to air Pussy on UK radio (unconfirmed: 24th September 2009) I thought it would be good to include.
Pussy is a cheeky track about, you guessed it, sex, done in a way that only Rammstein can do. After a few listens it does loose the novelty value but is still a half decent Pop Metal tune that will grace the clubs for years to come.
Rammlied is my preferred track, five minutes of typical Rammstein catchy heavy riffage, showing once again why I believe this to be one of the heaviest sounding bands in the world. ★★★★✩
SONATA ARCTICA – ‘FLAG IN THE GROUND’
November 2009
Nuclear Blast
“Power Metal fused with the energy of an army”
Read the full review here at PureRawk.com!
BEHOLDER
THE PAINTED SMILES
THE ROTTED
Hellfire Festival 2009
N.E.C., Birmingham
SATURDAY
It took me about twenty minutes to actually find the first stage, and even then the band still hadn’t started, so I had a feeling this was going to set the tone for the weekend, unfortunately it did. It took me half the day to find the 2nd stage, and no idea what was happening for the main stage till later on, and there was no designated press area. Turns out 2 pieces of A4 paper with printed text were the stage signs! Another thing missing, an audience!
SCAR MY EYES finally kicked things off. They have good ideas but I believe they could do with some guidance in putting them together. But they do have skill, a good direction and potential to carry on of years to come.
G.M.T. were a surprise as I hadn’t looked at the Music Live schedule before hand. First time for me in seeing the legendary Hard Rock n Roll Blues band and they didn’t disappoint, Robin Guy was awesome, such a joy to watch and the band to listen to. I watched with TotalRock DJ, Joel, and we both had a god laugh with the band.
TED MAUL – Death Metal with a great bassist, i liked it! Although the band had a solid wall of drums and guitar pounding out to you, the sound at this stage was quite dire and I didn’t really hear the vocals. Oh, and at this point the stage time is now running a band behind schedule.
THE ROTTED proved to this small crowd why they are at the top of British metal with their brutal punchy riffs and shredding. Again, vocals unclear.
IMICUS open the same stage under a new name with Heavy Rock melodies. The vocal melodies were a bit repetitive but has potential with such a strong powerful voice and a great scream.
THE ARUSHA ACCORD are another band I haven’t ever managed to see. I love the music and they sounded awesome, the sound was much better in this smaller conference room. The bassist slapped the entire time, like a metal Mark King, though this giant really needs to grow his hair! I didn’t quite see the point of having two vocalists though as they both sang the same way and style.
ESOTERICA were I think the first band on the third stage to have good levels, though maybe a little quiet, but good levels are important for this atmospheric band the vocals were sung with a lot of passion and the band were all having a good time on stage.
I caught a bit of BENEDICTION whilst in the only bar for the whole festival, so it’s at least worth mentioning they were very heavy and loud!
FEI COMODO had a shorter set than I expected but it was sweet as hell. It didn’t take Marc long to climb the rigging whilst running out front to the crowd.
Only caught the end of SAVAGE MESSIAH, the sounded tight and powerful.
ANVIL really surprised me. I had been thinking there must have been a reason they didn’t get any where for 35 years, but they were good rocking fun and Lips is a fantastic guitarist!
THE PLIGHT were really good Metal Rock n Roll. Groovey riffs and energy.
SENSER were a complete surprise, Rap Metal with addictive riffs. Not my usual kind of interest but the band had a great energy about them and hooked me in for the whole set. You couldn’t help but groove a long. It made me giggle that singer, Heitham, looked like a shorter hairier Robert Downey Jr. but kind of warming, he smiled a lot. Singer Kerstin has vocals reminiscent of Bjork, but without sounding annoying, the dual vocals have wicked dynamic and work so well.
Quickly ran over to catch the end of EXIT 10 playing to a somewhat intimate crowd, but this did not deter them as they were rocking as hard as ever to please the few. The sound was pretty spot on though and the guys seemed to be enjoying themselves.
To finish the night I caught the last half hour of SAXON. As ever, pure good rocking fun, playing the classics and a couple not so regular tracks to the set for a bit of a twist.
SUNDAY
Unfortunately just caught the end of HURON so can’t really add much apart from Metal with a good dose southern groove.
ARTHEMIS were totally rocking. Great energy and performance and really happy to be there.
Birmingham locals, BLACKFISH, simply blew my mind, theres many bands I’d like to call Jazz Metal but they’re not quite there, these crazy punks are!! I guess I could say they are more coherent than The Dillinger Escape Plan, and less so than Biffy Clyro. Amusingly, they call themselves Death Pop. One of the vocalists, though a bit of attitude to the audience, had a really strong voice. I can’t quite place it, at the moment he makes me think of a Joe Strummer / Ian Dury cross. There was innovative use of singing, as well as harmonies, by singing away from the mic. Fun finale too, switching instruments, singing and clapping off mic. Highly recommend watching this band if you’re into any kind of tech, prog and experimental metal!
THE PAINTED SMILES were another wow straight afterwards. A super band of British greats, featuring Mikee from SikTh, Rich from 80’s Matchbox B-line Disaster and James from Johnny Truant. Online the 2 tracks sounded pretty groovy and live they sounded even better! The onstage energy just felt magical especially with the eccentricity of Mikee and Rich fused together, I bloody loved it!
XERATH I think of as Groove Doom, massive wall of riffs!
For NO MADE SENSE the bass was far too loud, talk about brown note, it really made me find it hard to enjoy them. They only managed to get two tracks in their set but this did include the full 9 minutes of Entazes Of Azure and the 11 minute album title track of The Epillanic Choragi. On stage, massive energy and brutally awesome.
TESSERACT – WOW! New vocalist, Dan, is magnificent! Credit to the previous vocalists, but Dan took the band to a whole new level! His vocal range and control (thanks Maz Star for that description) just blew me away, and this was their first gig together!
SPIT LIKE THIS battled through a tough sound mix, I could hardly hear any vocals at all. Vikki was showing off her new freedom with a new wireless pack, what had she been waiting for?!! Cyndi really can wale on that guitar!
THE CUMSHOTS, yes! I had the chance to see their showcase several months ago, unfortunately I was unable so I have had to wait till now, and it was so worth the wait. They were everything I hoped for and expected. Sure the lead vocals were messy, but I was expecting that anyway. Death n roll for sure, climbing, swigging, cutting, drinking, and I even got used as a leaning post for last track, I Drink Alone. Cannot wait to catch them again some time soon.
ABGOTT brought us those darkest dose of Black Metal for the weekend, loud and powerful, though the first time I’d been into this room that day, and as singer Agamoth rightfully pointed out, “why is there a massive trench between us, are we at war?” Who knows why there was a 2 meter barrier. Great front man qualities revving up the crowd and enthusing them with ease.
VIKING SKULL were on top form with their Southern Groove, the best I’ve seen them in fact, undeterred by the low attendance and having a good party onstage.
Just managed to catch the end of TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED, shockingly playing to a room of about 20 people, but boy that drummer is rapid, like a machine gun!!
FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIN didn’t really do much for me, unfortunately the Gothic Doom bored me, but they had good support and those there were there to enjoy them were doing so, including the human pyramid at the front of the crowd!
So lets talk about the festival. The bands all kicked ass and all put on the best show they could. There was not one single band that disappointed or put on a half arced show. That said, with a bill of such bands, where were all the people?! In the city of the birthplace of a founding band of heavy metal, central to the whole country, where were you all?!!
The main stage was fine sound and lighting wise, 2nd stage was alright apart from that ridiculous barrier on Sunday, what were they expecting, a riot?! The 3rd stage was quite poor, the sound was rarely mixed well and the lighting was painful, a full bank of lights pointing into the audiences eyes from the rear of the stage. But, thankfully the bands managed to over throw this disappointment.
I hope the next festival will draw the crowd, because the bands really did kick ass!
Photos
The Cumshots ©2009 Sabrina Dersel
TesseracT ©2009 Kristell Gathoye
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 02/11/09
Aerosmith – Toys In The Attic
Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild
Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love
Focus – Sylvia
Electric Light Orchestra – Mr Blue Sky
Queen – One Vision
Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
Deep Purple – Smoke On The Water
Iron Maiden – Wasted Years
Whitesnake – Here I Go Again
Faith No More – Surprise! You’re Dead!
Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun
Stuka Squadron – Tales Of The Ost
Starseed – Shine
Nixa – This Is a Test
Vallenbrosa – The Hessian
No Made Sense – The Epillanic Choragi
Juliette Lewis Interview
Julliete Lewis – Fantasy Bar
iMMa – Walking
The Devils Blood – I’ll Be Your Ghost
Epica – Unleashed
Sonata Arctica – Flag In The Ground
Rammstien – Rammlied
Framing Hanley – Lollipop
Sonic Syndicate – Burn this City
Atreyu – Right Side Of The Bed
cKy – Hellions On Parade
Fei Comodo – Behind Bars
The Cumshots – I Drink Alone
Ray Parker Jr./NIN – The Ghost The Busts
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 29/10/09
Aerosmith – come Together
Metallica – Seek And Strike
Guns N Roses – It’s So Easy
Led Zaeppelin – Good Times Bad Time
Black Sabbath – War Pigs
Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
Thin Lizzy – Jail Break
Judas Priest – Revolution
Queen – Break Thru
AC/DC – Big Balls
Motorhead – Orgazmatron
Girlschool – Ballroom Blitz
Boston – More Than Afeeling
Slayer – Seasons Of The Abyss
Gundogs – Ode To Cunt
The Grit – I Came Out The Womb An Angry Cunt
The Clash – Pressure Drop
The Specials – Ghost Town
Five Finger Death Punch – Bad Company
Sonata Arctica – Flag In The Ground
Dead By April – Angels Of Clarity
Swashbuckle – Rhyme Of The Haggared Marinner
SwashbucKle – Cruise Ship Terror
Mnemic – Door 2.12
The Agonist – And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep
Evile – Infected Nation
Your City Is Forgotten – It Has Begun
No Made Sense – The Ephillanic Choragi
Sacred Mother Tongue – Two Thousand Eioght Hundred
The Rotted – It’s Like A Party In My Mouth
Stuka Squadron – We Drink Blood
Starseed- See Through Your Lies
Vallenbrosa – Small Town Blues
Nixa – This Is A Test
Starship – We Built This City
Frank Turner- 18/10/09
Rock City, Nottingham
Next up were Fake Problems, a country sounding indie band from the states, add a little hint of Gorgol Bordello and you might be able to comprehend what kind of sound they have. I thought the drumming was dynamic with twangy melodic guitaring, strong vocals and a hyper bassist. Very danceable music. ★★★★★
BIGELF
Pt.1 – The Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, 15/10/09
Unfortunately, I thought the show started at 9pm, I was wrong! So I missed the support band, which turned out to be a band I have been supporting for over a year now, Haken, gutted! The room was a far cry from two weeks ago when i saw Skindred, I felt embarrassed for the band, thankfully though, a crowd of middle aged men gradually filtered in.
Although the band are no stranger to touring Europe, this is actually their first tour in the UK, though lack of advertising at the venue, in fact of any band, doesn’t exactly help.
So, Bigelf, for those who don’t know, are a progressive band. But not your typical progressive rock or metal band. The instant the band strike their first chord, a wall of sound hits you, a demonic chord, haunting and thrilling, sure makes you pay attention and this is the case for many of their tracks on the set tonight. I think I can sum them up well by saying ‘a demonic circus of psychedelic progressive rock’. Hints of Pink Floyd, The Beatles and Black Sabbath can be heard throughout the set showing the bands roots lay in Britain in terms of musical inspiration.
The show tonight was full of plenty of sound problems, typical for the venue, but all brushed off and joked about with this intimate crowd. This audience may have been small, but that didn’t keep them from making noise, even the old couple were having a dance! Bigelf’s performance was something magical and captivating, give them the chance and they will perform The Greatest Show On Earth.
Pt.II – Camden Barfly, London, 16/10/09
So my journey down didn’t start so well, I accidentally topped up with £20 of petrol instead of diesel, so the next 3 hours were spent finding someone to help me, waiting for back up, pushing my car from the fuel station across the main road to the opposite pub car park, and draining the fuel tank and lines, which was down by squeezing it out. But this was a far better option than paying a cowboy £150 to do it!
But all was fixed and I got to London in plenty of time for the gig. Missed the name of the first act, but they reminded me of your typical gloomy stoner band. Musically very well written and performed but vocally quite poor. Finally I get to hear a band I have supported for a year now, Haken. Recently I’ve not listened to them so it was great to hear their sound again, and live, simply to be described as a metal Zapper, i.e, those great Zappa scales, played alongside some loud chuggy riffs. The sound wasn’t quite mixed right meaning I couldn’t hear one of the guitars and the vocals so well, however, the vocals were iffy with the higher notes and probably worked in Ross’ favour.
So, Bigelf, last night was great, tonight, even greater! A change in one of the organs and a change in audience, there was one! Full of cheers and sing alongs, and drummer Froth even got his own chant!
I’ve noticed that in both sets that they tend to start off lots of demonic cirque sounding songs, using the diminished 7th chord, and songs in the latter half of the set are more hard rock sounding, I’ve also noticed more influence from The Doors. There was less talking tonight, concentrating more on playing through the songs, and before we knew it, it was the end of the set. This, however, led to the greatest cover I’ve heard live, Pink Floyd’s Have A Cigar. Instantly they gave me goosebumps, I don’t think that’s ever happened to me in a live situation. If a band can give some one goosebumps – they must be worth checking out!
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 12/10/09
Aerosmith – Come Together
The Beach Boys – Sloop John B
The Doors – Hello, I Love You
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son
Ian Hunter – Once Bitten Twice Shy
Steppenwolf – Born to Be Wild
Free – All Right Now
Uriah Heap – Easy Livin’
David Bowie – The Jean Genie
Todd Rundgren – Bang The Drum All Day
The Police – De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Bachman-Turner Overdrive – You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet
Queen – Hammer To Fall
Spinal Tap – Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight
Falco – Rock Me Amadeus
Fleetwood Mac – Seven Wonders
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Behind The Sun
Dead By April – Angels Of Clarity
Scar Symmetry – Noumenon And Phenomenon
Amorphis – From The Heaven Of My Heart
Sonata Artica – Flag In The Ground
Framing Hanley – Hear Me Now
Five Finger Death Punch – Bad Company
Green River Project – Dig Your Grave
Dear Superstar – Brothers In Blood
Suicide Tuesday – Wet N Wild
Heaven’s Basement – Misunderstood
iMMa – Walking
Belladonna – Till Death Do Us Part
Stuka Squadron – Stuka Squdron
Starseed – See Through Your Lies
Vallenbrosa – The Hessian
Nixa – This Is a Test
slayer – Angel Of Death
Aghast – A Wolf In The Kingdom Of Heaven
Evile – Thrasher
Rammstein – Rammlied
The Cumshots – I Drink Alone
The 69 Eyes – Dead Girls Are Easy
Cyclamen – (Sarah Final)
Threat Signal – Beyond Recognition
Papa Roach with Madina Lake and Heaven’s Basement – 07/10/09
Rock City, Nottingham
I arrived at Rock City about 4.15 for my interview with Heaven’s Basement. Jonny Rocker took me into the main hall, which was interesting to see empty, clean and full of flight cases and equipment. I ended up waiting for 2.5 hours whilst they did the longest ever sound check with still no interview. This was now loosely organized for after the show; the army of bar staff swamped in, stack the fridges and within ten minutes the main floor was packed with young kids. I noticed that all the younger members of the audience went straight to the barrier whilst the older members went straight to the bar!
HEAVEN’S BASEMENT came out to a cheering crowd who clapped, cheered and jumped from beginning to end. This little band made the Rock City stage look small and appropriately warmed up this excitable crowd. ★★★★✩
I’m not particularly a fan of MADINA LAKE, but was surprised how many songs I knew of theirs, and they have a great front man! I was impressed how well Nathan maintained his vocals whilst jumping about the stage with bare feet. The lyrics were full of passion and they certainly have a passion for their home town, Chicago. Backing vocals perhaps questionable and guitarist, Mateo, only had little sprouts of energy but played seamlessly. Great effort all around. ★★★✩✩
PAPA ROACH were on absolute top form tonight. It goes to show that Nottingham really has a great live crowd and that playing at Rock City can bring the best out of any band, even one that has sold over 10 million albums world wide. I honestly don’t think I have seen a band have some much fun performing and enjoy it so much as if the crowd was of their closest friends. Jacoby was beaming throughout the set which was reminiscent of their Download performance earlier this year, featuring most of their singles and songs off the fifth realise, Metamorphosis. Not too much time was wasted before returning for the encore and we were even treated to a little bogey on stage once the lights were up, concluding one of the best gigs I’ve seen at Rock City! ★★★★★
Skindred – 01/10/09The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 28/09/09
Aerosmith – Sweet Emotion
Deep Purple – Black Night
Pink Floyd – Money
Golden Earring – Radar Love
Led Zeppelin – Kashmir
Rage Against The Machine – Wake Up
Sack Trick – Love Gun
Queen – Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Avenged Sevenfold – Flash Of The Blade
Sikth – Wrathchild
Killswitch Engage – Holy Diver
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Higher Ground
Dead By April – Losing You
Skindred – Set It Off
MiLLS – Hello Mello
Vallenbrosa – Brain Washed Patriot
Nixa – 33
Blaze Bayley – The Man Who Would Not Die
Primordial – The Golden Spiral
Primal Fear – Evil Spell
Threat Signal – Through My Eyes
Every Time I Die – I Used To Love Her
Chimaira – Secrets Of The Dead
God Forbid – The End Of The World
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t Let Go
Queens Of The Stone Age – Burn The Witch
Breaking Benjamin – Diary Of Jane
cKy – Hellions On Parade
Five Finger Death Punch – Bad Company
Alice In Chains – Them Bones
Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun
Foo Fighters – Everlong
Mastodon – Oblivion
Korn – Thoughtless
The Mars Volta – L’Via L’Viaquez
METALFEST
September 2009
JB’s, Dudley
BLAZE BAYLEY seemed to take a few tracks to warm up, but to their credit, the guitars were tight through out. Blaze was up to his usual persistent encouragement for crowd participation of chanting and fisting the air, and not forgetting his usual banter between songs. Great selection of track though keeping the audience entertained throughout.
XANDRIA use a range of riffs for their gothic metal. These German rocks more than filled the stage with ease with their running melodies and stunning vocals curtsy of Kerstin.
POWER QUEST played their last show with the current line up, in fact, the entire line up will change with the exception of the bands mastermind, Steve Williams. So basically this show was a celebration and performance of the bands greatest hits. You have a pretty much know what you’re going to get with a power metal band, but when they have ‘power’ in their name, they must be that extra bit special, and they truly are! Solid songs performed at the highest standard, this blended with the party atmosphere of their last performance together, happily playing requests, made a performance to remember!
CIRCUS MAXIMUS brought some prog fussed with power metal to the festival. Inspiring drumming, heavy melodic riffs and slick beat changes. A great wall of vocals, though I’m not entirely won over by the lead vocalist who seemed to lack the qualities of a good front man.
MARSHALL LAW gave me a sense of excitement, I felt as though I had gone back in time to the creation of heavy metal to thrash metal with their dark riffs and strong vocals. There’s always this great atmosphere with a band that has been around for so long, and that is because they know what they’re doing!
CIRCUS INSANE almost got it right, but forgot one vital component, crowd control. If you’re going to do shock stunts, you need to talk to the crowd, warm them up, excite them, and get them to think “oh no, he’s not is he” and then you go in for the kill and do it. This didn’t happen, the stunts just got performed with no introduction or commentary which kinda left me in a place of limbo.
BRAINSTORM have an awesome chuggy heavy metal groove to their sound. Certainly had the best crowd I’d seen this weekend. Vocalist, Andy, may have played with the crowd but they sang straight back, and going on for some time after they finished the song leaving the band speechless. This even continued after their set almost up until the next band!
PRIMORDIAL I find hard to describe. They play a slow despairing metal with a bit of melodic, mixed with pagan tones. Vocals and lyrics so full of conviction you almost feel it yourself. Some interesting drum beats and changes, unfortunately the sound guys forgot to turn the bass up. It did get a bit repetitive towards the end however, and maybe could have done with the set a song less to prevent any boredom.
PRIMAL FEAR played a fantastic set; solid, tight, powerful, strong – pure heavy metal! A few technical problems with the fold-back, but soldiered on regardless, a great end to Saturday night.
METALFEST sure went for quality over quantity providing a spectrum of European Power Metal acts on one stage at a comfy venue. Having just the one stage meant you could see everyone and not have to rush about to other stages to catch the next band, instead you got to have a break and chill for a bit, though some better outside facilities would be welcomed and I’m sure will come for next years festival. The sound wasn’t up to scratch and I felt they were simply just school boy errors, such as forgetting to turn the bass on for the outward speakers. There was a calm atmosphere for the festival, which felt good, though a little subdued for the bands, but however, they received kind reception!
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 21/09/09
Aerosmith – Same Old Song And Dance
Rolling Stones – Paint It Black
Iron Maiden – The Trooper
Queen – Now I’m Here
The Police – Can’t Stand Loosing
Duran Duran – Hungry Like The Wolf
Adam & The Ants – Stand And Deliver
Rush – Spirit Of The Radio
Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
Spinal Tap – Big Bottom
Swashbuckle – We Sunk Our Battleship
Breaking Benjamin – Breath
SikTh – Sanguine Seas Of Bigotry
Vallenbrosa – Small Town Blues
Sanguine – Tonight
Zombina & The Skeletones –
Deathstars – Cyanide
cKy – Hellions On Parade
Fei commode – Behind Bars
Dead By April – Loosing You
In Flames – Touch Of Red
Sonata Artica – Flag In The Ground
Threat Signal – Beyond Recognition
The Agonist – And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep
Internal Conflict Interview
Internal Conflict – The Sociopath Next Door
Devil Driver – Clouds Over California
Mnemic – Door 2.12
Suicide Tuesday – Fucked Up Love Song
Heaven’s Basement – Misunderstood
Def Leppard – Lets Get Rocked
Sweethead – The Great Disruptors
Swashbuckle – Cruise Ship Terror
Chimaira – Implements Of Destruction
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 17/09/09
AC/DC – Big Balls
Kiss – Crazy Nights
Guns N Roses – Paradice City
Led Zeppelin – Good Times Bad Times
Van Halen – Hot For Teacher
ZZ Top – My Head’s In Mississippi
Poison – Look what The Cat Dragged In
Mr. Big – To Be With You
Skid Row – youth Gone Wild
W.A.S.P. – Chainsaw Charlie
Aerosmith – Sweet Emotion
Girlschool – Ride With The Devil
Iron Maiden – Wasted Years
Sikth – Another Sinking Ship
Slayer – Bloodline
Testamet – Formation Of Damnation
Anna Phoebe – Battle Of The Gods
No Made Sense – Epillanic Choragi
Rodriguez y Gabriela – Atman
Apocalyptica – I Don’t Care
Metallica – For Whom The Bell Tolls
Black Label Society – Battering Ram
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Dio – Holy Diver
Sack Trick – Blue Ice Cream http://www.myspace.com/sacktrick
Suicide Tuesday – Want Some http://www.myspace.com/suicidetuesdayonline
MiLLS – Hello Mello http://www.myspace.com/millsrocks
Swashbuckle – Cruise Ship Terror
Alternative Carpark – Deity In Exile http://www.myspace.com/alternativecarpark
Steel Panther – Community Property
Swashbuckle – Rounds Of Rum
Swashbuckle – We Sank Our Battleship
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 14/09/09
Aerosmith – Walk This Way
Journey – Be Good To Yourself
The Doors – Break On Through
Fleetwood Mac – Oh Well, Pt. 1
Creedence Clearwater REvival – Fortunate Son
Bedlam – Magic Carpet Ride
Deep Purple – Black Night
Led Zeppelin – Good Times Bad Time
The Kinks – Lola
Focus – Sylvia
T.Rex – 20th Century Boy
The Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t Have Fallen in Love With)
Scorpions – Rock You Like A Hurricane
Korpiklaani – Vodka
Dead By April – Losing You
Darling Waste – I Will Be Fine
Of The I – Between Being & Ego
Frank Turner – Try This At Home
To-Mera – The Lie
Deathstars – Blood Stains Blondes
The 69 Eyes – Dead Girls Are Easy
Brand New – Welcome To Bangkok
MiLLS – Hello Mellow
Nixa – Exit Strategy
Vallenbrosa – Small Town Blues
Stuka Squadron – We Drink Blood
The Agonist – And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep
Threat Signal – Through My Eyes
Alternative Carpark – Deity In Exile
Swashbuckle – We Sank Our Battle Ship
Black Page Turns – Bang! Bang! Assasin!
Inner Eden Interview
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t Let Go
Swashbuckle – Round Of Rum
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 07/09/09
THE CLASSIC HOUR – 2001
Aerosmtih – Drop Dead Gorgeous
Alien Ant Farm – Movies
Amen – The Price Of Reality
American Head Charge – Just So You Know
Blink 182 – Stay Together For The Kids
Creed – Bullets
Downer – Last Time
Fear Factory – Linchpin
Ill Nino – God Save Us
Kittie – What I Always Wanted
Limp Bizkit – Take A Look Around
Mushroomhead – Solitaire/Unraveling
Rammstein – Sonne
Sepultura – Sepulnation
Slayer – Bloodline
System Of A Down – Chop Suey!
Tool – Schism
Shadows Fall – A Public Execution
Vallenbrosa – http://www.myspace.com/vallenbrosaofficial
Alternatve Carpark – Deity In Exile http://www.myspace.com/alternativecarpark
Threat Signal – Beyond Recognition
Deathstars – Blood Stains Blondes
To-Mera – The Lie http://www.myspace.com/tomeraband
Of The I – Between Being & Ego http://www.myspace.com/ofthei
Rodrigo Y Gabriela – Atman
Belladonna – Till Death Do Us Part http://www.myspace.com/wwwbelladonnatv
Sweethead – The Great Disruptors
Spit Like This – Sex, Drugs & Heavy Metal
Swashbuckle – We Sunk Our Battleship
Swashbuckle – Rounds Of Rum
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t Let Go http://www.myspace.com/heavensbasementofficial
Dead By April – Losing You
The Cumshots – I Drink Alone http://www.myspace.com/cumshots
The 69 Eyes – Dead Girls Are Easy
Snakebite – 60 Units http://www.myspace.com/snakebiteuk
Inner Eden – Murder Death Kill http://www.myspace.com/innereden
Mastodon – Sleeping Giant
The Grit – 03/09/09The Geordie charm was working well tonight for the bands first performance in Derby and they transformed the crowd from quiet and hanging about into a chanting dancing machine!
The band have many great qualities such as a fantastic vocal dynamics from alternate singers and backing vocals, harmonies and chants, Lil Man Kurts unique upright bass playing, and the most solid hard banging drumming I’ve seen for punk style drummer. An instant call for encore proved their instant likability followed by a tight cover of ‘Pressure Drop’ that confirmed their abilities. This band, you must see!!
The Diamond, Sutton In Ashfield – 03/09/09
Tonight I’ll finally catch Heavens Basement after missing them several times, and also I’ll get to check out the new drummer for Suicide Tuesday.
The atmosphere in the venue before the doors open is quite relaxed and calm. The Suicide Tuesday guys have a bit of banter, still breaking in the new drummer, Mick, whilst HB get their levels. The demeanor of all here is pretty chilled and happy. ST have adjusted well with the newcomer and he seems to have settled in well, proven in sound check with his instant tightness with the group.
Suicide Tuesday – There was no a huge kick of ‘here we are’, more of a friendly ‘Hi there, welcome to our show’, but these friendly guys certainly warmed you to their performance. Whilst the music is tight and flowing more smooth than I have see before, I felt more energy was needed to fill the stage and increase their presence. However, this I am sure will come from the more solid line up in time as they obviously have the skill and ability, proven by a welcome encore. ★★★★✩
Abandoned – Having sound checked with a cover I was unsure what to expect, sound and style wise. I have to say it was a pleasant surprise. The music was effectively straight forward, well written and well rehearsed to point of a tightness meaning they can relax on stage. The band have a great local following and certainly brought the girls out front! ★★★✩✩
Heaven’s Basement – I can’t say a single bad thing and don’t know if I can even give them justice! A high octane passion fueled orgasmic hard rocking performance, honestly one of the best I’ve witnessed. There’s no messing about, the band hit hard with song after song. Great crowd involvement and what a crowd they have, packed from front to back and singing almost every word to every song.
Lead guitarist, Sid, I believe will be bigger than Slash, vocals to die for from Richie, a rhythm section more rocking than a boat and talk about drumming, solid as a rock! ★★★★★
BELLADONNA – ‘TILL DEATH DO US PART’
5th October 2009
“Pyromantic, mysterotique, visionoir” are the words that Luana, the sultry, sensual, sonic-seducin’ Belladonna singer coins to describe Rock Noir, the Italian Quintet’s unique brand of emotionally-charged rock ‘n’ roll melodrama.”
Read the full review here at PureRawk.com!
Swashbuckle – Back To The Noose
24th July 2009
Nuclear Blast
They are from New Jersey. They are a trio (well, a quartet if you count parrot “Shithead“). They were one of the lucky winners of 2008 issue of the international Nuclear Blast MySpace Contest and they will teach you how to thrash the right way! ARRRRRR!
We pirates three be proud and honoured to announce that SWASHBUCKLE has inked an accord with Nuclear Blast Records! They have heeded the call of piracy and have prepared for conquests of pillage, plunder, and piratical metal along side our malicious high-seas hi-jinks. Here us now, world! The pirates three sail under the Nuclear Blast flag! Grab yar swords, tighten yar peglegs, ‘n hide yar booty… WE BE COMIN’ FOR YE!!! YARRRRRRRR!!!!!!!“
SWASHBUCKLE are not the average pirate metal band as one might think when it comes to this term. SWASHBUCKLE are just much more than that as they do have really strong feeling for what fits into the right place. Mixing punk influenced thrash with a hardcore edge and Carribean / piratical themes makes SWASHBUCKLE so special, so extraordinary – so in yar face!
With a stunning production from GUNS N’ ROSES’ very own Ron “Bumblefoot“ Thal (who also played on “Back To The Noose“), that keeps up the dirty spirit of a plundering horde of rum drinking and cheering pirates, “Back To The Noose“ marks a highlight for this summer! All those sing-alongs, tropical/carribean parts and interludes as well as the brutal thrashing (think of S.O.D, ANTHRAX, EXODUS and SLAYER) will definitely rock every barbecue in 2009 and beyond!
“A few years ago I was at a bar and came across this band of over-the-top dudes dressed as pirates that just tore my face off – they immediately became one of my favorite metal bands. Since then we’ve done shows together, I played on their album, had them on my album and as my live band. These guys are local heroes, it’s great to see them getting out there. They’ve earned it and deserve the best.”
Xander says…
The entrance track to Back To The Noose instantly gives you the feeling of an adventure you’re about to endure with the band. A definite highlight of this album is the instrumental acoustic shanty interludes. These interludes start softly, as if you’ve woken on the deck after a nights heavy drinking, just what you need to get you up, or they can act as little breathers in between attacks, only to then be slapped in the face instantly with a whack of brutal thrash metal. This fast paced metal is not for the faint hearted and you better be prepared to chant along with these tales from the sea. Swashbuckle are the band to have a little jig with ye hearties and raise your ale with a ‘yo ho ho’ either out in the clubs or at home on the deck.
With an album of 21 songs and shanties, mostly ranging 1-3 minutes, for me it is taking a while for tracks to separate, but after the first few listens, We Sunk Our Battleship, Rounds Of Rum and Cruise Ship Terror (along with the video which can be found on here) beam out. The album demonstrates classic thrash riffing to thunderous blast beats, fused with a tone of urgency and an attitude of brutal melodies. Hoist the Jolly Roger, for true Pirate Metal is here!
★★★★✩ Album of the Week 23/02/10
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 24/08/09
The Classic Hour:
Shadows Fall – My Demise
Aerosmith – Walk This Way
Fleetwood Mac – Oh Well pt.1
David Bowie – Rebel Rebel
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)
The Kinks – Lola
Foghat – Slow Ride
Mountain – Mississippi Queen
Joe Walsh – Rocky Mountain Way
Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song
Queen – Now I’m Here
The Police – Walking On The Moon
Cheap Trick – I Want You To Want Me
Judas Priest – Living After Midnight
Adam & The Ants – Stand And Deliver
Rush – Spirit Of The Radio
Iron Maiden – Flight Of Icarus
Kyuss – El Rodeo
Metallica – Wherever I May Roam
Refused – New Noise
Five Finger Death Punch – Hard To See
Dear Superstar – Brothers In Blood http://www.myspace.com/dearsuperstar
Threat Signal – Through My Eyes
Slaves To Gravity – Doll Size
Aghast – Bang To Rights http://www.myspace.com/aghastuk
The 69 Eyes – Dead Girls Are Easy
Bloodstock review:
Million Dollar Reload – Living In The City http://www.myspace.com/milliondollarreload
Snakebite – Throwdown http://www.myspace.com/snakebiteuk
Alternative Carpark – Deity In Exile http://www.myspace.com/alternativecarpark
Blindfolds Aside – Meat http://www.myspace.com/blindfoldsasidemusic
Arch enemy – Nemesis
Internal Conflict – And The Penny Drops http://www.myspace.com/internalconflictband
Switchblade Scream – Antimatter http://www.myspace.com/switchbladescream
Inner Eden – Murder Death Kill http://www.myspace.com/innereden
Beholder – Never Take Us Down http://www.myspace.com/beholderuk
Moonspell – Luna
Satyricon – KING
Girlschool – I Spy
Alexisonfire – .44 Caliber Love Letter
Thin Lizzy – The Rocker
The Cumshots – I drink Alone http://www.myspace.com/cumshots
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t Let Go http://www.myspace.com/heavensbasementofficial
Dead By April – Loosing You
Aghast – Afterlife Crisis [EP]
2009
I’ll stick my hand up and admit I’m not a death metal fan, but recently there has been a few bands that have slipped into my radar. I had no choice with Aghast! I was playing a short gig with Badaxe at a comedy night in the basement at The Shed. Whilst I’m setting up my kit in the stairwell out storms this wall of a blast beat riffing jugganaught of a machine, shaking the entire venue, and it sounded pretty sweet! I was captivated by the power and drawn to what felt like a wall of sound beckoning me in. The guitars, whilst not over the top, are deliciously intricate and I think what draws me to this band is the chugginess and textures of the rhythms.
The new EP, Afterlife Crisis, displays the bands sound as some thing extra then just a death metal band, and there is more to it! I’ll be narrow minded enough to go ahead and say that a fair bit of death metal is just pure mindless noise, regardless of the quality of the musicians, Aghast have put in some tweaks and perks and have really though about what they’re doing, not to say other death metal bands don’t, but listening to these tracks it really shows and I believe their hard work has paid off!
EP:★★★✩✩ | LIVE:★★★★★
I felt Shadows Fall kind of lost what they were doing a couple of albums ago, the songs felt like mindless music just for the sake of it, though to their credit live shows always remained strong. To my surprise, the band have rose above and created something I can only think of as… spot on!
The album incorporates a recipe of thrash metal beats, hardcore riffs and metalcore breakdowns. Vocals for me are much stronger in terms of passion and structure. Literally all the tracks on Retribution have a solid structure and a standard of what you would expect from a band on their 6th album. A similar tone is set throughout showing the band has direction and is able to communicate this. My first listen caused me to instantly listen again, tracks that stand out so far include Embrace Annihilation and A Public Execution. I fully recommend Retribution to every SF fan, new and old, and it will certainly have a comfy place in every metal heads collection!
Bloodstock-Open-Air 2009
Xander
THE FUEL GIRLS were everything you can want and then some! High octane champagne fuelled sexy and rockin show. In person they were kind and sweet and very laid back; conversation was easy (or I was more drunk than I realised).
MILLION DOLLAR RELOAD being a rock n roll band on a metal bill sure had big boots to fill and succeeded with a worthy effort. M$R worked hard to ensure the crowd were warmed up for the rest of the fest with their hard riffs and striking vocals.
BLOODSHOT DAWN sprung out from now where, chuggy riffs, shredding solos, intricate blast beats, deep throaty vocals; playing hard and partying hard with a mighty sound.
SNAKEBITE followed with their ballsy badass groove metal setting a great standard with 100% effort.
ALTERNATIVE CARPARK looked a little sheepish waiting to start, only to take the lambs to the slaughter upon kick off, bouncing around to their jumpy groove rhythms to a crowd singing back to them.
BLINDFOLDS ASIDE I felt maybe were a little disappointed with the initial turnout, though this only lasted a track or two, the audience continually filled, and this ended up be the trend for the weekend. A heavy set compared to what I am used to from the band, good direction but just need a slight fine-tuning.
ACP then did an acoustic set at the Jagermeister stage, wow! This could not have sounded any better and worked so well.
VALLENBROSA have a sound so well structured. Tight and solid heavy groove rock to finish off the night at the unsigned stage.
ARCH ENEMY brought everything you’d expect, note perfect melodic death. The atmosphere was like being at a party in a field, the band were having fun as were the crowd.
UNCLE ROTTER were even better than I expected, live their songs were a whole lot tighter and polished. Fantastic stage presence too!
NIYAH SKY was probably the youngest on the bill and certainly the funkiest. Deep grooves and pleasing vocals.
SWITCHBLADE SCREAM stormed the stage with their strong vocals and shredding solos. Power metal with a front man worthy of Dio status.
INTERNAL CONFLICT ripped up the stage with their brutal riffs, wailing solos and gnarly vocals.
SANCTORUM cleared up the mess to make their own carnage of brutal metal and a massive axe of a 7 string bass!
INNER EDEN opened with a few problems, but they sure made up for the hitches with their heavy melodic sound. Vocals were way more stringer than I anticipated, and a nice addition from a keytar!
O.M.T. had a good feeling of bounce to their groove and fantastic strong vocals, pure metal!
SOLSIKK were actually more laid back than I was expecting so their placement wasn’t exactly great, especially clashing with Kreator, none the less they persevered with a tight heavy rock sound and astonishing vocal range.
SEVERED HEAVEN are the best female metal band, ever – FACT! I am critical of female drummers but this lass slapped me in the face with her sticks. Vocals were the best I’ve heard live from any black metal band.
BEHOLDER started the Sunday morning service with a fist to the air and a full field joining them. This is the best I have seen them so far, tight solid and so well structured, lapping up the love from the crowd.
SABATON, wow. I knew nothing of them until there and then, high energy anthemic battle metal, and the drummer had a head mic! hehe.
GIRLSCHOOL were just great, lots of fun on stage on a sunny Sunday afternoon, they’re not the longest running female band for no reason!
ANATHAMA were less rocking than I hoped for, but interesting none the less.
TURISAS were as could be expected, good fun! They belong at this festival and have a great show and sound.
MOONSPELL worked very hard in proving why they’re are Portugal’s greatest product with the sun still shinning strong through a great set and arms constantly in the air.
SATYRICON were my band of the festival, I was beaming throughout. Great tracks, sound, lighting and energy. Wasn’t so keen on the last track, music was lost in the blast beats. Regardless I enjoyed the whole set immensely!
EUROPE performed well, the new tracks sounded great. No messing about just got straight on with the show, pretty cool to see them after all these years. The Final Countdown was note perfect.
The festival atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. The crowds were there for the right reasons and it was the right crowd. The capacity was not overcrowded which meant you could breathe and get about. The market was on the smaller side, but there are only so many shops you can have without it all being repeated really. Nothing comes to mind that could do with improving and I am seriously thinking it was the best festival I have ever been to!
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 10/08/09
(The Classic Hour:)
Aerosmith – Lord Of The Thighs
Status Quo – Mean Girl
John Kongos – He’s Gonna Step On You Again
Focus – Sylvia
T.Rex – 20th Century Boy
Bad Company – Can’t Get Enough
Sweet – Ballroom Blitz
10cc – Wall Street Shuffle
The Doobie Brothers – It Keeps You Runnin’
Queen – Love Of My Life
Judas Priest – Living After Midnight
Mastodon – Blood And Thunder
In Flames – Take This Life
The Dillinger Escape Plan – Panasonic Youth
Arch Enemy – Anthem/Saints And Sinners
Fear My Thoughts – Ghosts Of Time
Mnemic – Door 2.12
Scar Symmetry – The Illusionist
Sikth – Wrath Child
Bal-Sagoth – The Hammer Of The Emperor
Cradle Of Filth – Nymphetamine
The 69 Eyes – Dead Girls Are Easy
System Of A Down – B.Y.O.B.
A Dozen Furies – The Everlasting Grudge
Eighteen Visions – Tower Of Snakes
Threat Signal – Through My Eyes
A Life Once Lost – Vulture
Sanguine – Territory
The Agonist – The Tempest (The Siren’s Song; The Baanshee’s Cry)
Lacuna Coil – Swamped
cKy – Hellions On Parade
Sweethead – The Great Disruptors
Swashbuckle – Cruise Ship Terror
Slayer – Bloodline
Dead By April – Losing You
Avenged Sevenfold – Unholy Confessions
*Shels – Water
TRASHSTOCK 2009
Seven, Nottingham
SOCIETY CRISIS – had the task to open up the fest today. SC are a solid hard rocking band. Though a tad loose on the drummers, the rhythms and beats were melodic with some spicy fills.
KITTY HUDSON – thundered on stage like a hard punch to the face. Bouncy riffs and anthemic lyrics. Though ambitious stick twirling caused a few drops, the set was still high energy and fun, steaming through to play as many songs as possible in the 30 minutes slot.
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE – are probably the misfits on the bill being more grunge than glam, regardless they play true to themselves belting out passion and groove with powerful vocals.
SHUSH – pump out their pop rock melodies with no disappointments.
(Unfortunately I had to miss all the other bands due to a gig of my own and being told the wrong times.)
GINGER was quite laid back tonight. There was a great party atmosphere on stage and in the crowd. Although there were constant sound problems the show merrily continued with arms waving in the air and plenty of banter from ginger to the crowd, toasting pints and talking about life.
All in all the fest had a great atmosphere and there was great support for all the bands. The weather was great, thankfully for the BBQ, which I have to say, was a great hit and tasted fab!
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 03/08/09
Bloodstock & Summer Sundae Special
The Cure – Love Cats
Reef – Summer’s In Bloom
Supergrass – Sun Hits The Sky
MiLLS – Hello Mello
Moonspell – Luna (Bloodstock)
The Airborne Toxic Event – Gasoline (Summer Sundae)
Elastica – Vaseline
Ocean Colour Scene – Riverboat Song
Arch Enemy – We Will Rise (Bloodstock)
The Police – DoDODODo DaDaDaDa
Frank Turner – Photosynthesis (Summer Sundae)
*Bobby Burns (Soulfly) Interview
Soulfly – Blood Fire War
Bon Iver – Skinny Love (Summer Sundae)
Competition Winner – Mike
Turisas – Cursed Be Iron (Bloodstock)
Citizen Smith – Irradication Of A Nation
Candlemass – Black Dwarf (Bloodstock)
Great Imitation – Bitter Sweet Heart Attacks (Summer Sundae)
Municipal Waste – Sadistic Magician (Bloodstock)
Amon Amarth – Cry Of The Blackbirds (Bloodstock)
Carcass – Heartwork (Bloodstock)
The Streets – The Escapist (Summer Sundae)
The Breakfast Show – TotalRock, 22/07/09
Steel Panther – Death To All But Metal
Aerosmith – Livin On The Edge
Queens Of The Stone Age – Feel Good Hit Of The Summer
Rage Against The Machine – Bulls On Parade
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t Let Go
Europe – Last Look At Eden
Amon Amarth – Valhalla Awaits Me
Hillsong – C.I.T.Y.
The Rushing – Help!
Foo fighters – Everlong
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Breaking The Girl
Weezer – Hashpipe
Reel Big Fish – Monkey Man
Less Than Jake – All My Best Friends Are Metal Heads
Imperial Leisure – Landlords Daughter
Avenged Sevenfold – Trashed And Scattered
Metallica – Frantic
Queen – Breakthrough
Megadeth – Headcrusher
Sikth – Another Sinking Ship
Opeth – The Grand Conjuration
Mastodon – March Of The Fire Ants
Dillinger Escape Plan – Setting Fire To Sleeping Giants
Cilice – God Of Lies
Lamb Of God – Now You’ve Got Something To Die For
Between The Buried And Me – Foam Part A
Between The Buried And Me – Foam Part B
Billy Talent – Rusted By The Rain
Breaking Benjamin – Breakdown
Pantera – I’m Broken
Sepultura – Cut Throat
Dead By April – Loosing You
Skindred – Nobody
Jurojin – The Dreaming
Heights – Time & Ture
Sacred Mother Tongue – Anger On Reflection
Fei Comodo – Behind Bars
Volbeat – Pool Of Booze, Booze, Booza
Girlschool Ft. Dio – I Spy
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 13/07/09
Aerosmith – Amazing
Suicide Tuesday – Fast Lane http://www.myspace.com/suicidetuesdayonline
Redsharkinvegas – Tales Of The Misled http://www.myspace.com/redsharkinvegas
Our Innocence Lost – Riot On The Rooftops http://www.myspace.com/ourinnocencelost
Citizen Smith – Dirty David http://www.myspace.com/citizensmithuk
K.M.A. – Get That Party
Kid Klumsy – Sugar Junkies http://www.myspace.com/kidklumsy
1000 Scars – My Prayer http://www.myspace.com/hateheadwound
Nixa – Everyone’s An Expert http://www.myspce.com/nixaspace
Electrical Language – On The Line http://www.myspace.com/theelectricallanguage
Alexisonfire – Young Cardinals
Interview with Dallas
Turisas – Cursed By Iron
Municiple Waste – Sadistic Magician
MiLLS – Hello Mello http://www.myspace.com/millsrocks
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 06/07/09
THE CLASSIC HOUR…
Aerosmith – Come Together
David Bowie – Changes
Alice Cooper – No More Mr. Nice Guy
Queen – Seven Seas Of Rhye
Rolling Stones – It’s Only Rock n Roll
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)
Frank Zappa – Wind Up Workin’ In A Gas Station
Joe Walsh – Rocky Mountain Way
Electric Light Orchestra – Mr Blue Sky
Fleetwood Mac – Don’t Stop
Ram Jam – Black Betty
The Police – So Lonely
THE REST OF THE SHOW…
Chimaira – Secrets Of The Dead
In Flames – Delight And Angers
Cumshots – I Drink Alone http://www.myspace.com/cumshots
Citizen Smith – Uncle Jack http://www.myspace.com/citizensmithuk
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t Let Go http://www.myspace.com/heavensbasementofficial
Auto-tune The News – No.2 http://www.youtube.com/user/schmoyoho
Darling Waste – Sorry Even Matters http://www.myspace.com/iheartdarlingwaste
Dead By April – Losing You
Sanguine – Tonight http://www.myspace.com/sanguineband
Of The I – Mercenary http://www.myspace.com/ofthei
Tetrafusion – Gravity http://www.myspace.com/tetrafusion
The Mars Volta – The Widow
Deftones – The Chauffeur
MiLLS – Hello Mellow http://www.myspace.com/millsrocks
Age – Battery http://www.myspace.com/agemusicuk
Zealot – A Quiet Groan http//www.myspace.com/zealotrocks
Always April – Variations http://www.myspace.com/alwaysaprilmusic
The Penny Black Remedy – I Used To Have Such Nice Dreams http://www.myspace.com/pennyblackremedy
Korpiklaani – Vodka
Imperial Vipers – Another Suicide http://www.myspace.com/imperialvipers
Moonspell – Luna
Beholder – Never Take Us Down http://www.myspace.com/beholderuk
Satyricon – K.I.N.G
Eluveitie – Omnos
Mastodon – Sleeping Giant
Yellowxander 