#Headbangers Ball UK

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔟𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯𝔰 𝔅𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔘𝔎 - 𝔙𝔞𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰𝔞 𝔚𝔞𝔯𝔴𝔦𝔠𝔨 ℑ𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴 𝔚𝔦𝔱𝔥 𝔖𝔞𝔯𝔠𝔬𝔣𝔞𝔤𝔬 (յգգշ)

[thisnoisemademe]

[in-death-we-fall]

Brothers Beyond

Slipknot may never fully recover from the passing of Paul Gray, but their imminent return to the stage at UK’s Sonisphere is going to be an act of catharsis for fans and band alike. Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan and Joey Jordison open up to Hammer exclusively.

Words: Dom Lawson Pics: Steve Brown

Metal Hammer 218 - June 2011 (drive link)

Editor’s note: The dark lord speaks…

16 Gigantic Balls.

That’s what Slipknot had to have to get back in the saddle after the inestimable loss of Paul Gray last year, and judging by our breathtakingly candid interview this month, their appearance at Sonisphere this summer is going to be one for the history books. Slipknot’s return is nothing short of heroic, and we hope you’ll love reading Dom Lawson’s piece as much as we did putting it together.

But then Hammer’s always been about getting under the skin of things to bring you a depth and breadth of metal coverage that you won’t find anywhere else, and this issue’s packed with the kind of chest-swelling bravado that makes real metal bands tick. From Biff Byford’s frankly inspiring quest to defy trends and stick to his guns, to Mastodon’s rise from the depths of obscurity to become one of the world’s foremost lords of the riff, to our first glimpse of Iron Maiden simply fucking killing it on a world-tour that’s more like a global victory lap, Hammer is all about the sorts of tales that make the musicians we love as inspiring as the music that they create. Oh, and metal in… Botswana? The metal empire is truly growing at a staggering pace – be the first to read and read about it.

And as we barrel ever-closer to this year’s positively thrilling Golden God awards, we hope you’ll take the time to add your votes to the hundreds of thousands we’ve already received. It’s also your chance to win tickets to what’s sure to be the most ridiculously metallic award show in history. I mean really, Devin and Twisted Sister on the same night? Whollee. Fucking. Shiiiit! Just head to www.metalhammer.co.uk/goldengods to cast your vote and take a part in heavy metal history.

Before we kick off these headbanging proceedings, let’s take a moment to spare a thought for the late, truly great Scott Columbus, erstwhile Manowar drummer and an inspiration to any metalhead who’s ever felt their pulse quicken to the sound of a mighty drum. Our thoughts are with his friends and family in this difficult time. Horns at half mast.

STAY METAL..

Brothers Beyond

Slipknot may never fully recover from the passing of Paul Gray, but their imminent return to the stage at UK’s Sonisphere is going to be an act of catharsis for fans and band alike. Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan and Joey Jordison open up to Hammer exclusively.

Words: Dom Lawson Pics: Steve Brown

When the news broke last December, you could hear the cheers of elation and sighs of relief from the hot streets of Rio de Janeiro to the sun-blistered stone of the Parthenon. Despite having endured an horrific year that had seen them reduced from a seemingly invincible nine-man wrecking crew to a wounded but dignified band of brothers, following the tragic death of founder member and bassist Paul Gray back in May, Slipknot announced that (sic) were going to return, headlining the Sonisphere festival at Knebworth this July and playing a handful of other prestigious dates. The events of 2010 unquestionably pulled the rug from underneath this seemingly unyielding band’s feet and plunged them into a period of mourning and destabilising uncertainty; the endless and often witless speculation of pundits and fans on the internet only adding to the sense that the Iowans’ rudder had fallen off, leaving them lost and directionless. In the end, those who were predicting the end of the Slipknot story looked very foolish. The end of Slipknot? Don’t be fucking ridiculous.

Four months on from that announcement, drummer Joey Jordison and percussionist and visual king Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan, the other two parts of the unholy trinity of Des Moines miscreants who put the band together in the first place, are in a far more buoyant and defiant mood than many may have predicted after watching the heartbreaking press conference that followed Paul’s death. Speaking to Hammer as the wheels of progress start to grind into action, both men have plenty to say about the past, present and future of their band and, despite having barely spoken to the press since the passing of their friend, both are happy to answer the questions that fans have been dying to ask during those months of sorrow. First and foremost, we have to ask what prompted them to stage their comeback in Europe rather than at home in the US.

“If we were gonna return, why would we not go to Europe first?” states Joey. “It was the right decision at the right time. Europe’s always been amazing to us, especially the UK. I still remember our first show there, on December 13, 1999; I still have dreams about it! It was one of the biggest landmarks of our career so why not go back now? Slipknot is not going to die. It’s a lifeforce, man. With all the feelings and emotions and the passion of one of the people who really helped to start our band pushing us forward, this is how we start again.”

You always seem to have had a strong relationship with the UK; ever since the self-titled album came out in 1999 and UK metal fans immediately embraced what you were doing, arguably more so than in any other territory. Is the show at Knebworth going to be the most important of all?

“The show at Knebworth is going to be heavy, man,” says Shawn. “We thought Download was fuckin’ heavy in 2009, but this’ll be something else. I don’t even know how to describe it, because the UK kids know us, man. I remember the first show at the Astoria in ‘99. I walked into the Astoria and there was a kid in an orange jumpsuit and a clown mask, and he’d paid £85 to have the mask made so he could be me. I couldn’t believe it. I thought I’d achieved everything when I got to the UK; the UK totally gets us. That show will be the heaviest show on the tour by far. There’ll be a lot of tears that day.”

“The feeling right now between all the bandmembers is the same feeling we had when we first came to the UK,” adds Joey. “This is a special event. It’s not like being on tour. We’re doing this out of our hearts and out of respect for our band and mostly out of respect for our fans. This isn’t contrived, some list of tour dates. This is speaking directly to the UK and to Europe. This is not bullshit. People will be pleasantly surprised by what we’re bringing.”

One of Slipknot’s strengths has always been that they’ve been adept at presenting a united front to the world. Even though it’s always been apparent that this is a band full of wildly differing personalities, the whole point of Slipknot has often seemed to be the expression of a single, focused purpose, uniting band and audience in a grand outpouring of righteous anger and joyous energy. As a result, the last year has been a little unsettling for those observing the band, not least because for the first time it has been made plain that not everyone in Slipknot has been reading from the same tight-lipped, thoughtful page. In particular, frontman Corey Taylor has been making frequent public pronouncements that have carried a faint air of pessimism and negativity.

“Part of me is ready [to carry on with the band] and there’s a part of me that’s not,” he stated back in March. “I have a lot of trepidation about it. I don’t know how to feel. I know a lot of the guys in the band are trying not to show that side, and I can’t.”

In light of the fact that Slipknot had already announced their intention to return, thus strongly implying that the band could well continue beyond these few shows and make another record too, Corey’s comments, seem, at best, a little unhelpful. Do his publicly expressed doubts about the future of the band run deeper or is this simply a case of one man’s emotions leading him away from the general consensus?

“Well, I would get into a lot of trouble if I try to speak for people, so it’s important that you print it like I say it, and I’m saying that I’m not speaking for anybody except myself,” states Shawn, firmly but diplomatically. “But in my opinion the majority of people in the band need Slipknot, want Slipknot, have no doubt that Slipknot will continue. There may be people in the band who may have a harder time feeling what they’re experiencing and only they can get over that and only they can make themselves feel that way. Hopefully their feelings will work out, and that’s exactly what we’re doing, getting together to celebrate Paul’s life, his love for music, his love for Slipknot, his love for his fans.”

The last few years have been upsetting for rock fans, with numerous major figures passing away, leaving huge gaps that can never be filled. The loss of Paul resonated as loudly and powerfully as any, partly because he was such a talented and revered figure within the metal world, but also because Slipknot have always seemed to be impervious to the hazards that cause most bands to noisily disintegrate or feebly fizzle out, whether they be as trivial as ‘musical differences’ or as monumental as mortality itself. And yet, despite having been temporarily stopped in their tracks, few would bet against Slipknot roaring back into action at full strength and with renewed vigour when they hit the road again this summer. As another band appearing at Sonisphere this July once sang, “You cannot kill what doesn’t die…”

“It’s always been that way,” agrees Joey. “Our first tour was Ozzfest in ‘99 and we fuckin’ blew every other band off the fuckin’ stage, every night. It was not even a competition. It’s not like we were trying to beat anyone; we were just being ourselves. We toured with Coal Chamber and some other bands that year too, and I recall my friend Dez Fafara telling me that one guy from one of the other bands had looked at him when we were playing and said, ‘Can you see what we got ourselves into here?’ They tried to kick us off the tour, every band did. One show in Oklahoma City we couldn’t fit anything on the stage and they kicked us off the show and we still outsold every other band’s merch! That’s the strength of what we are when we’re together as a band. That’s not ego talking, it’s the truth. It is what it is, and I’m so happy and so fulfilled with everything we’ve done and everything that we’re gonna do.”

“A lot of people won’t know that we were done with All Hope Is Gone, and we were going to take a break like we do after every record,” says Shawn. “That’s why people love our band; we’re not trying to get off our label and make a bunch of shitty records and try to shove ‘em down fans’ throats. We take time off to get physically and spiritually sound, then we get bored and take what we’ve learned from where we’ve been and we apply it to right now and we get busy with art and music, then we come and kick the living shit out of you. That’s what we do.”

Just as the trials of life can never kill a band with Slipknot’s fighting spirit, neither can you replace the irreplaceable; a fact that made the band’s decision to fight another day such a painful one. There from the beginning, Paul made such an invaluable contribution to every aspect of Slipknot’s music, methodology and rise to glory that the idea of someone else stepping into his jumpsuit and mask was simply unthinkable. But there are always ways a means to circumnavigate even the toughest problems, and so the news that Slipknot have recruited Donnie Steele, a member of a very early lineup of the band and a close friend and musical collaborator of Paul’s, to perform bass duties on these upcoming dates has removed a great deal of disquiet from conversations about the future.

“I’m glad you’re speaking with me today,” notes Joey. “You have called me on the first day that I play with my new bass player. I’m starting with Donnie tonight. I start working with him first and we have over 35 songs that we have to rehearse tonight! Ha ha ha! When we headline in the UK it’s gonna be a longer set, so we have to go over a bunch of stuff.”

What made you go with Donnie?

“It was an easy decision,” he says. “I don’t want to talk about my brother’s death, but once it happened, our phones all lit up with all these guys from other bands. I took it at a disrespect level. I was like, ‘No, no, no!’ and it just came to me one night. I woke up from a dream about the early Slipknot days, before it was even known as Slipknot. Donnie was our first guitar player. We only had one guitar player but we had three drummers. You couldn’t even hear the guitar before we hired Josh [Brainard, Slipknot guitarist from 1995-1999]. So I called Shawn and I said, ‘This is the only thing that makes sense…’ Slipknot is a family. It’s a brotherhood. When we started together, Donnie was there. The last time I saw Paul was when I was with Rob Zombie in Iowa; Donnie was there and he and Paul were writing a new record for [pre-Slipknot metal project] Body Pit. I said to Shawn, ‘He’s part of our family!’”

“The gentleman who’s filling in for Paul was very, very good friends with Paul,” Shawn adds. “They come from a school of death metal and black metal, both very technical players. Recently Paul had hooked up with him and they were finally going to do their side-project. Paul was a guitar player and he attacked the bass like he did the guitar, and that’s exactly what Donnie’s gonna do. So he’s bringing more integrity than any freakin’ person who ever thought they had a chance of playing bass in something as serious as Slipknot. I laughed in the face of anybody who thought they had a chance!”

There’s been a lot of speculation about whether Donnie will be performing alongside the rest of the band onstage or whether he will be behind the drum riser out of sight. Can you confirm or deny any of this?

“We still have to figure out what we wanna do,” says Joey. “Will he be behind me? Right now, yes. In the future, I don’t know. Right now, he’s behind me or right next to me and he’ll be watching my every move and I’ll be watching him but it’s not going to take away from my performance, because by the time we hit the stage it’s going to be easy.”

“I can’t predict the future, but I know right now there’s no new mask, no new coveralls, no new number,” says Shawn. “There’s eight guys on stage and the first guitar player we ever had filling in for Paul, because there’s always gonna be nine.”

Clearly there can be no upside to the loss of such a loved and respected figure, but the last year has at least enabled the music world to finally acknowledge Paul as the influential and inspirational creative dynamo buzzing tirelessly away at the heart of Slipknot. It has always been left primarily to Joey, Shawn and Corey to communicate with the press and although Paul was not averse to doing interviews, his relative anonymity within such a populous band meant that he was able to exert his vast influence on Slipknot’s music and ethos away from the media spotlight. Now, of course, it’s apparent that his death has left a chasm inside this band’s furious heart and that these forthcoming live performances present a huge emotional challenge to those who mourn him, both on the stage and in front of it. Joey and Shawn are clearly still coming to terms with the loss of their friend, both close to tears when his name inevitably comes up in our conversations. For Shawn in particular, Slipknot’s return to the stage is all about paying respects and doing what needs to be done.

“Slipknot is more dangerous now than ever and I have the fuel known as Paul Dedrick Gray in my blood,” he says. “I’ve been here from the beginning, when Paul recognized my ability as an artist and said, ‘Just do it, man! Let your thoughts out and don’t let anyone stop you from what you feel and what you think!’ So now I’ve got his blood boiling in my veins. I’m not just playing for Clown; I’m playing for him, for his wife and daughter, his legacy, his love for the band, his love for music. I’m not discrediting anybody. We wouldn’t be where we’re at without everybody. We wouldn’t be here without Corey, Sid, Jim, Craig, Mick, Chris, all of us. But in the beginning, there was this idea that was created by Paul and I. He wrote the kind of music with Joey that just made me want to put my face through glass. I helped start one of the biggest metal bands in the world and I’m not necessarily a metalhead. I’m an alternative dude or an indie dude, whatever the fuck that means. I was on my way to being like Andy Warhol or something! I gave it all up to be in this band called Slipknot and I love it and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Another major issue is whether or not Slipknot will ever make another studio album. Paul wrote a lot of the band’s music and was an integral part of the creative process on all four of their albums to date, but Slipknot have no shortage of creative brains to tap for fresh ideas. Corey added a dash of fuel to the fires of confusion when he stated recently that “there’s such a huge piece missing now, a piece that the fans can’t even understand. I mean, Paul always was that unconscious, almost lynchpin that held everything together. And he had such a great mind for the music that we created that without him, I don’t see it happening very soon, let’s put it that way.”

Given that it’s clear that at least one member of the band has doubts about the future, can fans truly be secure in the knowledge that their heroes will continue beyond these festival appearances and as far as a new album in the future?

“That’s the most important question you’ve asked so far,” says Joey. “We made this decision [to play shows this summer] out of respect for the music that we made and out of respect for our friend but mainly for our fans. Why would we not continue? It’s stupid to even think it. There are a lot of naysayers and all that shit. In the Slipknot world it’s blasphemy to say we might not continue.”

“Yes, I always knew we’d be back together,” insists Shawn. “Yes, I always thought we’d make another record. When? I don’t know. Is it being talked about? No, it is now. When would it ever be? I have no idea because I’m not a fortune teller, but in my heart of heart of hearts, and with Paul on my shoulder, kicking me in my face day after day, I absolutely believe there’ll be another record. How could there not be?”

Their unerring ability to sing from a single song sheet has been one of the biggest factors in Slipknot’s enduring appeal. From humble beginnings in Des Moines to their status as one of the biggest metal bands on the planet, these men prize collective focus above virtually anything else, and so it has been strange to see signs of hesitancy emerge in recent times. It’d be more than a little tacky to speculate whether Corey’s seemingly disruptive remarks about the future, and his bandmates’ self-evident but skilfully stifled testiness, are merely evidence that the grieving process affects different people in different ways, but it is also undeniably true that the internet age has made it more or less impossible for any high-profile rock band to conduct their affairs in private. The much-debated possibility that Corey is to be announced as Velvet Revolver’s new singer is a great example of this: what would normally be dismissed as idle gossip takes on a level of credibility far beyond what the known facts would seem to deserve. Social networking is the new grapevine, it seems, and Joey is not impressed.

“The internet can fuck off!” he barks. “I have an official MySpace and Facebook, but all that bullshit? I don’t use it. If you want to talk to me as a person, the internet is the worst thing possible. I do get it. Maybe it makes sense if you don’t have a life of your own. But that’s why i don’t use it. I have lovely people around me all the time and I’m blessed with everything I’ve been able to accomplish. I only have MySpace and Facebook to block people from imitating me. I don’t even have a Twitter account. But you know what? If I need to find where a good Mexican restaurant is, I can log on and find it. So the internet does have its uses, I guess! Ha ha!”

Bullshit and hyperbole will continue to make the world go round, but for now at least, all that remains is to get very, very excited indeed about seeing Slipknot again at Knebworth this summer. Anyone who witnessed the band tearing Download a collection of new arseholes in 2009 will be able to confirm that there are few bands more capable of commanding a festival headlining slot, and it goes without saying that the UK will welcome them back with open arms and pounding hearts, but our mounting excitement at the thought of Slipknot headlining a major UK festival again is undeniably tempered by a faint air of nervousness about the backdrop of grief and uncertainty that has coloured the band’s canvas over the last 12 months. One way or another, this is going to be extremely emotional, isn’t it?

“I don’t think any fan ever thought they were never gonna see Paul again,” says Shawn. “So it’s our duty to being it all together; when I walk on stage in tears, there’ll be 10,000 other people in tears with me and we’re going to celebrate in the salvation of music and what brings us together.”

“These gigs are not a job,” avows Joey. “This is more of a cleansing. All of us are going to have the most incredible shows of our career. That’s it. I’m not saying this to promote this. But this is going to be worth the wait. Of course there are gonna be teary eyes and maybe for some of us, behind the masks, but are they gonna be sad tears? No, they’ll be happy. We’re going to be there and we’re going to watch the audience explode and what better celebration could you ask for? That’s all it needs to be. Let’s just fucking rock!”

Slipknot play Sonisphere, July 8-10, 2011

“We’re gonna die for rock ‘n roll!”

Slipknot’s drummer was in Tokyo with his other band, Murderdolls, when the recent earthquake hit Japan, wreaking devastation and leading to many thousands of deaths. Here he recounts his experience for the first time…

“I was doing an interview and a photoshoot in this really rickety building when the quake started,” he recalls. “We’d already felt a smaller quake the day before, but when this one really hit it was throwing me against the walls. My tour manager Roger grabbed me saying, ‘Fuck this! We don’t need this…’ and he threw me over his shoulder and got me out of there! Everyone was trying to get out and we were the last band to leave Japan. We were like, ‘Fuck it!’ We were gonna stay and if we die, we’re gonna die for rock ‘n’ roll! That’s the Murderdolls’ mentality. We couldn’t get back to our hotel rooms because the elevators were completely fucked, so we went and stayed in the bar and got shitfaced. In the end we got evacuated. It was like, ‘If you want to make it back to the US, you need to go now otherwise you’re gonna be stuck here!’ So we finished our pints and got to the airport and, luckily, got on the airplane. Right after that is when the nuclear reactor was heating up. It was a big, intense experience. It was one for the books, I tell you…”

Shawn Crahan tells Hammer about his new band…

Black Dots Of Death

Describe your new band… “It’s a rebirth of Clown, a second coming, and it’s dangerous. It’s the next level. It’s a mix of many genres. I’m done making soft music and now I’m angry again and everything’s surrounded by death and the idea of ‘What the fuck are you doing?’ There’s a moral behind everything; it’s deep.”

What appeals to you about playing the drums? “I’ve played drums since I was eight years old, man. When you see me play drums, that’s the most personal me you’ll ever see. I don’t wear a mask. No one plays as hard as me, man.”

Do you have plans to take Black Dots Of Death out on the road? “The record is out now. Everything you need to know, you can find at www.theblackdotsofdeath.com. This is art, man, and it’s fuckin’ dangerous. But my biggest priority in 2011 is to get together with Slipknot. There will be Black Dots shows, but my biggest priority is to celebrate Paul’s life.”

Will he or won’t he?

The rumour mill has been working overtime as speculation mounts about Corey Taylor apparently becoming the new singer in Velvet Revolver. Or not. Here’s what’s been said so far…

“We recorded a bunch of songs with Corey. I think he’s fucking great – he’s the best voice of a new generation and I’d be proud to do anything with him.” [Duff McKagan, March 2011]

“He’s a guy we’ve had our eye on, but the timing wasn’t right. Weiland was available. He was out of Stone Temple Pilots. It wasn’t like we went and said, ‘Hey, dude…’ He came to us, like, ‘Hey, I’m out of my band. I’ve got time. Let’s do this.’ And it’s a similar situation with this individual.” [Sorum to billboard.com, December 2010]

“[The new singer is] a little younger, a little stronger, a little heavier rock’n’roll than we are.” [Sorum to Noisecreep, December 2010]

“A couple of people have said one thing or another, but it’s been blown out of proportion. I’ve made no comment on that one.” [Slash, February 2011]

“It’s gonna be interesting going into the third record because we’re gonna have a whole different personality as a vocalist. Chances are it’s gonna be a lot heavier than anything Velvet Revolver has done so far.” [Sorum to artistdirect.com, January 2011]

“As soon as we got off the road from the last tour and parted ways with [singer] Scott [Weiland], we got together and wrote half a dozen really great, sort of heavy metal pieces of music. It’s a lot heavier than what Velvet Revolver has put out [in the past], so I’m dying to put out the quintessential Velvet Revolver record.” [Slash to MTV News, June 2010]

“To be continued! Ha ha ha!” [Corey Taylor to billboard.com after being asked directly about whether or not he is joining Velvet Revolver, January 2011]

[jaybe11]

Headbangers Ball UK - Vanessa Warwick Interview With Sarcofago (1992)

[metaljen]

Bullet For My Valentine & Trivium Announce Their North American Tour For "The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour"

I had such a hard time focusing at work when I received the notifications that Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium announced their 20th anniversary tour in North America. This tour is going to be hard to top in 2025. Both bands are celebrating their ground-breaking 2005 albums, "The Poison" by Bullet For My Valentine, and, "Ascendancy" by Trivium.

These albums are truly something special. From soaring melodies to fast riffs, they keep you captivated throughout the whole album.

There's no denying the hit songs that sent them into the stratosphere.

"Tears Don't Fall" is still Bullet For My Valentine's biggest hit. Whenever they play that song at a show, everyone cheers right when they hear that guitar intro. It was deemed certified gold in the UK in February of 2024, and has 254M views on YouTube.

Just like Bullet, Trivium also had their big hit. "Like Light to the Flies" certainly grabbed people's attention.

The music video for "Like Light to the Flies" debuted on MTV2's Headbangers Ball in September 2004. The video featured the original demo of the song, which was also included on the Headbangers Ball Volume 2 compilation album.

Both albums became certified gold in the UK.

I'm super excited to see this tour! They may have not landed a show in Florida as of yet, but that wasn't going to stop me from seeing them. I will travel far to see the bands that I love. Do you have your tickets to see them?

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[gargarismo-blog1]

TORANAGA - God's Gift (Deluxe Edition)

OVERVIEW: Forging together in the UK metal scene of the late ‘80s, TORANAGA was a band that seemed destined for big things. Not only was their bridging of thrash with traditionally-flavored heavy metal songwriting instantly irresistible, they also had the major label muscle of Chrysalis Records behind them. But fate had other plans.

God’s Gift, TORANAGA’s 1990 sophomore album, should have propelled the group to headliner status. The record features barnburners such as the speedy assault of “Psychotic” alongside BLACK SABBATH-like stompers like “Black Is the Mask.” MTV’s Headbangers Ball even gave album single “The Shrine” some airplay, but a series of bad record label decisions ultimately killed off any chance of God’s Gift truly finding a wider audience. After recording an EP as a last ditch effort to keep the band signed to Chrysalis, TORANAGA pulled the plug on the entire thing.

Always on a mission to right the wrongs of metal history, Divebomb Records now presents this deluxe edition of God’s Gift in newly remastered form. The album also features a brand new interview with the band by Noisecreep.com’s Carlos Ramirez, plus archival photos. If that weren’t already enough, Divebomb is including the aforementioned EP, which has never been released before. It’s the kind of deluxe packaging TORANAGA truly deserves.

FOR FANS OF: OVERKILL, SAVATAGE, METALLICA, SABBAT and SATAN

TRACK LIST: 1. The Shrine 2. Psychotic 3. Sword Of Damocles 4. Hammer To The Skull 5. Food Of The Gods 6. Disciples 7. Last Breath Of Life 8. Black Is The Mask 9. Execution

BONUS TRACKS 10. Beauty & The Beast 11. Eternity’s End 12. Oh Well

[circusrockmag]

Jan. 24, 1995: Van Halen released their Balance record.

best links for media

EPK

https://youtu.be/XNnQbmGnm0g?t=30

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Can’t Stop Lovin’ You

https://youtu.be/K_LbrEJUYRw

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Don’t Tell Me

https://youtu.be/SXbL-qQKv9c

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Amsterdam

https://youtu.be/VpP6cdC0K28

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Not Enough

https://youtu.be/VoC-RbkhIIk

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Headbangers Ball UK 1/26&27/95

https://youtu.be/KaF3rhHmuJo

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Sammy Hagar on the 21st anniversary

https://youtu.be/D8L6tEtGfHo

[randomvarious]

Babylon Whores - “Radio Werewolf” Metal Meltdown Song released in 1999. Compilation released in 2000. Heavy Metal / Hard Rock / Goth Rock

Out of a Finnish hellscape where speed-demonic black metal bands reigned supreme emerged a much-needed hard rockin’ counter: Helsinki’s Babylon Whores. As a quartet who originally derived much of their influence from punk rock, the Whores would eventually develop their sound into something far more unique by playing a sweet blend of loud, balls-to-the-wall music that was equal parts metal and hard rock, mixed with dry and biting gothic and occult lyrical themes. As the liner notes on their second album, King Fear, puts it:

We’re talking god damned, apocalyptic rock n’ roll here, all the way from Tupelo to Megiddo.

Babylon Whores started in 1994, and up until 1997, only had a single and two EPs released through their own small imprint to show for their effort. But a much more popular British label called Misanthropy liked what they heard and signed them on for one album and one EP. The Whores’ debut LP, Cold Heaven, and the follow-up EP, Deggael, enabled them to reach ears outside of Finland, and by 1999, their music was finally stateside, with King Fear released on California’s Necropolis Records.

On King Fear is a song called “Radio Werewolf” that pretty much exemplifies what the band’s about: A hard sound with dark and witty lyrics. In 2000, the song was included on an extensive metal compilation released by the online mp3 retailer eMusic called Metal Meltdown.

In his review of King Fear, music critic Alex Henderson can’t help but compare Babylon Whores to pioneering UK goth rockers, Bauhaus. He’s not wrong. The rhythm of the opening cymbal tap jingles of “Radio Werewolf” definitely smack of  the opening rim-shots from the first ever goth rock song, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead.” And Babylon Whores’ lead singer Ike Vil starts out his verses with the deep and rich, kinda monotone vocal tone that Bauhaus’ Peter Murphy has, too. But Babylon Whores aren’t here to be just a goth band. They take those allusions to that classic goth sound and quickly combine them with hellishly choppy metal chords, which ramp up to equally hellish, driving choruses that split hard rock noise with more loud, headbanging metal. Listen for those subtle, long, bleepy accoutrements in the background that materialize in the middle of each verse, too. They play a key role in those pre-chorus build-up moments.

Hard, FInnish, late 90s metallic goth rock. Stay the fuck inside you freaks.

[nuclearblastuk]

Fleshgod Apocalypse Announce 'Veleno Across Europe Tour 2020' w/ EX DEO

Last year, Italian orchestral-death metal giants FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE unleashed their highly-praised 5th album, »Veleno«, unto the world through Nuclear Blast. After storming European stages as part of the »MTV Headbanger's Ball Tour« alongside label mates KATAKLYSM as well as WHITECHAPEL and DYSCARNATE in November/December 2019, the time has come for the band to once again return to our clubs as headliners in autumn 2020. This time, the sextet will be supported by metal legionnaires EX DEO. Further details can be found below!

Frontman Francesco Paoli says, "Dear European friends, this is going to be massive. We will finally bring our new music and live production to Europe, coming back as headliners to many familiar places that we deeply love, and hitting some others for the first time. We'll be covering the whole Old Continent, rocking every city with a new, ambitious live show, featuring an extended setlist and some cool surprises that will turn every night into a night to remember! Moreover, we're stoked to announce symphonic death metal band EX DEO, featuring members of legendary Canadian band KATAKLYSM, as our guest for the entire »Veleno Across Europe Tour 2020«! You don't want to miss this…"

»Veleno Across Europe Tour 2020« w/ EX DEO 01.10. D Übach-Palenberg - Rockfabrik 02.10. NL Nijmegen - Doornroosje 03.10. F Paris - Petit Bain 04.10. UK London - The Underworld Camden 06.10. F Nantes - Le Ferrailleur 07.10. E Bilbao - Stage Live 08.10. P Porto - Hard Club 09.10. P Lisbon - RCA Club 10.10. E Madrid - Sala Caracol 11.10. E Barcelona - Sala Bóveda 12.10. F Toulouse - Le Metronum 15.10. I Retorbido (PV) - Dagda Live Club 16.10. CH Sion - Le Port Franc 17.10. CH Schaffhausen - Kammgarn 18.10. D Leipzig - Hellraiser 20.10. D Munich - Backstage 21.10. SK Košice - Collosseum Club 22.10. H Budapest - A38 23.10. BG Sofia - Mixtape 5 24.10. RO Bucharest - Quantic Club 25.10. RO Cluj-Napoca - Flying Circus 27.10. CZ Prague - Futurum Music Bar 28.10. PL Poznan - u Bazyla 29.10. PL Warsaw - Klub Proxima 30.10. LT Vilnius - Vakaris 31.10. LV Riga - Melnā Piektdiena 01.11. FIN Helsinki - Ääniwalli 04.11. N Oslo - Røverstaden 08.11. B Roeselare - Trax 11.11. D Weinheim - Café Central 12.11. D Berlin - Musik & Frieden 13.11. D Essen - Turock 14.11. F Pagney-derrière-Barine - Chez Paulette 15.11. NL Leiden - Gebr. de Nobel

More FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE dates:

»Veleno« - UK/IRL Tour w/ BLOODSHOT DAWN 12.02. UK Bristol - The Fleece 13.02. UK Leeds - The Key Club 14.02. IRL Dublin - Voodoo Lounge 15.02. UK Glasgow - Slay 16.02. UK Manchester - Rebellion 17.02. UK Milton Keynes - The Craufurd Arms

14./15.03. MEX Mexico City - Hell And Heaven Fest

»An Exclusive Evening Feat. The »Veleno« Classical Quartet« w/ THE AGONIST 16.03. USA Dallas, TX - House of Blues 17.03. USA Austin, TX - Emo's 19.03. USA Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre 20.03. USA Baltimore, MD - Soundstage 21.03. USA Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts 22.03. USA Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw 23.03. CDN Québec City, QC - Le D'Auteuil 24.03. CDN Montréal, QC - Théâtre Corona 25.03. CDN Toronto, ON - The Phoenix Concert Theatre 26.03. USA Cleveland, OH - House of Blues 27.03. USA Chicago, IL - House of Blues 28.03. USA Lincoln, NE - The Royal Grove 29.03. USA Denver, CO - Summit 31.03. CDN Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre 01.04. USA Seattle, WA - El Corazón 02.04. USA Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom 04.04. USA San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park 05.04. USA Mesa, AZ - Club Red 06.04. USA Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theater

10.07. S Gävle - Gefle Metal Festival 14./15.08. A Graz - Metal on the Hill

-----

Order »Veleno« now: www.nuclearblast.com/fleshgodapocalypse-veleno

More on »Veleno«: 'Sugar' OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmq3iyW02b8 'Carnivorous Lamb' OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RMEoOl80SM 'Worship And Forget' OFFICIAL TRACK VISUALIZER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx67BcnDk9c 'Healing Through War' OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mviUmbrvAP0 'The Fool' OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYJ4UmxGrIk

Italian for 'venom', »Veleno« marks FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE’s first record in 3 years, since the release of their critically acclaimed record »King« (2016). The 'metal part' of »Veleno« was recorded in Rome, Italy at Bloom Recording Studio and Kick Studio with long-standing collaborator Marco Mastrobuono, while the 'orchestral part' - the ensembles - were tracked at Musica Teclas Studio in Perugia. Fleshgod Apocalypse then took the effort over to Grammy-nominated Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, EPICA) at Hansen Studios in Denmark for mixing and mastering. The entire production of »Veleno« took, according to Paoli, about three months. Artwork for the album was created by Travis Smith (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, OPETH, KATATONIA).

»Veleno« - Track Listing:

CD 01. Fury 02. Carnivorous Lamb 03. Sugar 04. The Praying Mantis' Strategy 05. Monnalisa 06. Worship And Forget 07. Absinthe 08. Pissing On The Score 09. The Day We'll Be Gone 10. Embrace The Oblivion 11. Veleno Bonus Tracks (DIGI, DIGITAL & DIGITAL DELUXE) 12. Reise, Reise (RAMMSTEIN Cover) 13. The Forsaking (Nocturnal Version)

»An Evening in Perugia« (Bonus Blu-ray) - Track Listing:

01. Marche Royale 02. In Aeternum 03. Healing Through War 04. Cold As Perfection 05. Minotaur (The Wrath Of Poseidon) 06. Gravity 07. The Violation 08. Prologue 09. Epilogue 10. The Fool 11. The Egoism 12. Syphilis 13. The Forsaking

--- More info: www.fleshgodapocalypse.com www.facebook.com/fleshgodapocalypse www.twitter.com/fapocalypse www.instagram.com/fleshgodofficial www.youtube.com/fleshgodapocalypse www.nuclearblast.de/fleshgodapocalypse

[fment]

Here's an overview of @_olibeaudoin_ ‘s live Hybrid Drums setup made by our friends at ROLAND! . Catch us live in Europe in a couple weeks . Tickets are available at: https://headbanger.deinetickets.de/ . 'MTV Headbangers Ball Tour 2019' w/ WHITECHAPEL, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, DYSCARNATE 28.11. D Leipzig - Felsenkeller 29.11. SLO Bohinjska Bistrica - Winter Days Of Metal 30.11. CZ Zlín - Masters of Rock Café *NEW VENUE* 01.12. D Munich - Backstage 02.12. D Stuttgart - LKA Longhorn 03.12. CH Solothurn - Kulturfabrik Kofmehl 04.12. D Saarbrücken - Garage 05.12. UK London - Electric Ballroom 06.12. D Oberhausen - Ruhrpott Metal Meeting 07.12. D Geiselwind - Christmas Bash 08.12. NL Haarlem - Patronaat 09.12. D Hamburg - Große Freiheit 36 10.12. DK Aarhus - VoxHall 11.12. D Berlin - Huxleys Neue Welt 12.12. A Vienna - Arena 13.12. D Ravensburg - OberschwabenKlub 14.12. D Wiesbaden - Schlachthof . . . @paistecymbals @pearl_drums @roland_us @evansdrumheads @vicfirth @slapklatz @czarciekopyto . . . . #Drums #Metal #Drummer #Drummerlife #Metalhead #Extremedrumming #Metaldrummer #kataklysm #drumstagram #drumset #drumsdaily #drummersofinstagram #drummerlife #drummerboy #drummerslife #deathmetal #melodicdeathmetal #deathcore #metalcore Reposted from @kataklysmband #fmmusicmanagement https://www.instagram.com/p/B4pd-WDn5ki/?igshid=igxryxixypjq

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Cannibal Corpse - On The Road 1993.09.25 MTV UK Special (Headbangers Ball)

[generationclash]

Under The Radar: Love/Hate

Love/Hate was formed in 1985, after Jizzy Pearl joined Jon E. Love, Skid Rose, and Joey Gold, in a 1980s electronica influenced band called Dataclan.

They all lived together in a L.A. warehouse called SoulHouse, and they released a 4 song EP, and they did a small tour of Mexico, but it wasn't well received.

By 1986, they decided to change their name to Love/Hate, after a song they played called Love and Hate. They transitioned out of the glam look into a gothic rock style.

They tried all different styles of music and they pitched to numerous record companies, in an attempt to get signed.

By 1987, they settled on rock as their genre. An early version of of their song, "She's An Angel", was featured in "A Nightmare On Elm Street: The Dream Master".

They began performing regularly at the "No Bozo Jam" at the Whisky, and they improved their repertoire. They were still conflicted, because at that time, a lot of bands who were performing at the Whisky were getting signed, and Love/Hate was being overlooked.

They eventually put together a 4 track demo in December 1988 and they finally got a record deal with Columbia.

On February 22, 1990, their debut album "Blackout In The Red Room" was released and it reached No. 154 on the Billboard 200.

They did a small club tour, and they opened for Dio on an arena tour.

There was a music video for "Why Do You Think They Call It Dope?" and it was played often, specifically on Headbanger's Ball, and they were able to go on tour with AC/DC, which had a much better reaction.

This became the first tour they would do in the UK.

In 1991, they wrapped up their tour, and they started to write material for their second album.

The initial songs they submitted were all rejected, and they relocated to New York City, where they lived together as they did in their formative years.

At this point, they started having creative differences with the label. They were progressing towards a crossover sound, which had more radio appeal, but the label thought that they were losing their edge.

The band wanted to release "Miss America" as a single, but the label vetoed this, and decided to put out "Happy Hour".

Despite all this tension, Love/Hate scored a slot opening for Skid Row, 6 months before the album was released. The label made a decision to release an EP to support the upcoming tour and went against the band's wishes to release "Evil Twin", which was a song that was rejected for the second album.

While they were touring, Skid made numerous comments against the label, while the rest of the band attempted to divert attention those comments from being published.

There was an incident where Jizzy got into a drunken fight with Sebastian Bach, and this led to the band briefly being thrown off the tour. They settled their differences before the next show.

In 1992, Wasted In America was released, and they embarked on another European tour, where they opened for Ozzy Osbourne.

Upon returning to America, they were told that Columbia was going to drop them from the label, due to "Happy Hour" not selling well, and the follow-up single, "Wasted In America" wasn't getting much airplay on the radio.

After Columbia dropped them, Skid sold his car to finance their third album. "Let's Rumble" was released in 1993, and the band went embarked on a 9-week US club tour.

BMG ended up picking up the album and they released it in the UK, and it was followed by a 3-week UK tour. However, the label didn't want to release the album in the US. The band sent the album to a number of labels, but with the rise of grunge, their style of rock was considered to be out of fashion and there was no interest.

Eventually, they signed with a minor label to release "Let's Rumble", but it the release was delayed to January 1994.

Their manager gave a copy to the album to the KNAC radio station, where the lead single, "Spinning Wheel" started to get heavy airplay.

Sadly, the band was unable to release it either as a single or an album, and despite playing to packed audiences, they were unable to capitalize on this popularity. Since the album was delayed, this derailed any chance of having the chance to take advantage of the airplay, and by the time the album was released, it was too late.

In 1995, the band started writing and recording their fourth album, "I'm Not Happy". It was released on Mayhem Records. In December 1995, they played a two-week tour in Germany.

During this time, the members of Love/Hate had side projects, but they collapsed, and they took excerpts of old b-sides and other unreleased songs to put out another Love/Hate album.

Eventually, since they were upset and frustrated, they decided to sell all their equipment and Love/Hate split up.

In 1999, Jizzy put together an album of old Sineaters tracks that he had written, and it was released on the Perris label under Love/Hate.

                                                             ---

Love/Hate is one of those bands. They are one of the greatest bands ever, and they had to struggle. I'll never understand how this is always the case, while every other band who doesn't come close can keep going.

You name one band that sounds anything like Love/Hate, from today or yesterday.

It's an impossible thing, because they were one of a kind, and they blew away countless bands from that era. To a record label, being different is a bad thing.

Love/Hate is Love/Hate, and that is why they're great.

They never stopped being who they truly were.

Despite all the troubles and struggles they had, they've put out some of the best albums of the past 30 years.

Now, I know that I just look like a crazily enthusiastic Love/Hate fan, and I am.

I'm a crazy enthusiastic fan because they are a band worth hearing every song because they were always original and they never tried to be like anybody but Love/Hate.  

                                                             ---

Listen here: Under The Radar: Love/Hate

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Audio: Kent's Pryma Shares a "Headbanger's Ball"-like Ripper

New Audio: Kent's Pryma Shares a "Headbanger's Ball"-like Ripper @PRYMAUK @HeyGroover @romainpalmieri @DorianPerron

https://on.soundcloud.com/TzRpr \ Rising Kent, UK-based quartet Pryma blends heavy rock with heavy metal influences paired with meaningful lyricism and melodic vocals with a darker, menacing edge. The band prides themselves on a honest approach to their music, and an energetic live show, which has helped them gain a loyal fanbase — while earning them regular gigs across their native UK. The…

[sexydeathparty]

Dancing On Ice Star Stef Reid Misses Out On Spot In Semi-Final Following Tense Skate-off

Paralympian Stef Reid has become the latest celebrity eliminated from Dancing On Ice in a week that saw three contestants earn perfect scores from the judges.

The judging panel voted unanimously to save BMX Olympic medal winner Kye Whyte following a tense skate-off between the pair.

After the result was announced, track and field star Stef said: “I have absolutely loved every moment. It is just not something that I ever thought I would be able to do.”

Turning to her professional partner Andy Buchanan, she added: “Just learning to skate and getting to learn about performance and dance. I can’t thank you enough.”

The skate-off saw Kye perform a high energy routine to Sanctify by Years & Years, while Stef took to the rink for an emotional performance to Michael Bolton’s romantic ballad How Am I Supposed To Live Without You.

Sunday night’s episode saw former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole, Pussycat Dolls star Kimberly Wyatt and singer and dancer Regan Gascoigne all score the maximum 40 points.

... and to think this was only the very start of the show. And not the last 40 of the evening! What a night. Well done to all our skating stars, truly one of our best shows ever. ❤️

— Dancing on Ice (@dancingonice) March 6, 2022

Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Brendan was first on the rink and secured his perfect score by ending his routine with a headbanger move.

Regan, son of former England footballer Paul Gascoigne, delivered a skate inspired by the circus and Torvill and Dean’s Barnum performance from the World Championships in 1983.

Jayne Torvill burst into tears as she told him: “We know that technically your skating has always been good, but tonight everything came together.”

Visibly emotional, Regan replied: “It was such an honour to recreate part of your life.”

Kimberly also scored 40 for a routine inspired by tap dance and set to Puttin’ On The Ritz.

The Vamps singer Connor Ball, who fell during last week’s show and needed stitches, delivered a tentative skate to Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel and scored 35 out of 40.

Afterwards, he told the judges, “it’s been a tough week”, and judge Oti Mabuse quipped: “You did a full performance without hurting yourself.”

Next week’s semi-finals will see the celebrity contestants skate twice and also include a double elimination.

DANCING ON ICE:

Phillip Schofield Catches Holly Willoughby Off Guard During Dancing On Ice Live Show

Dancing On Ice's Connor Ball Opens Up About Blade Accident That Left Him In Need Of Stitches

Dancing On Ice's Connor Ball Shows Off Scar In Another Graphic Snap After Blade Accident

from HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public) https://ift.tt/qpTLBEa via IFTTT

[planetmosh]

Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons - Announce Vocalist For Upcoming UK Tour

Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons – Announce Vocalist For Upcoming UK Tour

After listening to hundreds of audition tapes, Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons are proud to welcome Bootyard Bandits vocalist Joel Peters to the fold for their upcoming UK tour.The band comments “Joel stood out from the very start. Rehearsals have gone well and we were extremely happy with Joel’s performance at Headbanger’s Balls Fest in Belgium last weekend, so we’ve decided to give him the…

[m3t4ln3rd]

Exodus, Sodom, Death Angel, and Suicidal Angels announced for European/UK MTV Headbanger's Ball Tour Exodus, Sodom, Death Angel, and Suicidal Angels will be touring Europe and the U.K.