#Metal Hammer Awards 2018

[x--daughters-of-darkness--x]

Amy Lee on the moment Evanescence shockingly beat 50 Cent to the Best New Artist Grammy in 2004: "I had my shoes off when they called our name"

Amy Lee has discussed the famous moment Evanescence shocked the world by beating 50 Cent to 2004's Best New Artist Grammy

Evanescence singer Amy Lee has discussed the legendary moment the band beat hot favourite 50 Cent to the Best New Artist award at the 2004 Grammys, in one of the category's biggest ever upsets. Rapper 50, who had released his chart-smashing debut album Get Rich Or Die Tryin' the year prior, was widely favoured to win the award.

On the night of the ceremony, however, which took place on February 8 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Evanescence beat out 50 (real name Curtis Jackson), as well as fellow nominees Fountains Of Wayne, Heather Headley and Sean Paul.

“I was pretty sure that we weren’t going to win, at least not Best New Artist," Lee explains in an exclusive interview in the new issue of Metal Hammer, out this Thursday. "I thought for sure that would be 50 Cent. We were 100% the dark horse. I felt like, 'People don’t know who I am'...I’m a 21-, 22-year-old kid, trying to dress up like a grown-up and I had my shoes off when they called our name. I don’t normally wear heels. They’re very uncomfortable.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Lee talks about the challenges Evanescence faced in their early days.

“The fight for credibility was the most frustrating in the beginning," she notes. "It was the mentality of labels to tell, especially newer artists, that they need to have writers. I fought for way too long after the success of [2003 debut album] Fallen to say I can write my own music. I constantly had to fight off men that were like, ‘No, you want me to do it? You want this guy to do it? You want my friend to do it?’ And the reason that they wanted them to do it was because that’s where the money was. That’s where the power was. Everybody else wanted to be able to say they did that when I did that. It took a long time to get respect for being a creator and not just the frontwoman, the pretty face standing in front of the guys doing the real work.”

“Some of it was surreal. Concerts went from clubs to arenas in a couple of months," she says of the band's unbelievable rise to fame "There was a lot to be excited about, but there was a lot of hard stuff going on in the background. Not just drama about what we were doing, but also my brother [Robby, who died in 2018 following complications with epilepsy] was sick, and it was a scary time to be out on my own. And I did, in a lot of ways at that time, feel alone.”

Evanescence walked away with two Grammys at the 2004 awards, also bagging the win in the Best Rock Performance category. You can read the full version of Amy Lee's interview only in the next issue of Metal Hammer. Keep an eye on Magazines Direct(opens in new tab) for access to a limited amount of online copies when it goes on sale on Thursday (April 27).

[metaleterno]

La banda sueca Avatar, conocida por su música y su impactante propuesta estética, se presentará por primera vez en Argentina en el marco de su tour “The Great Metal Circus”.

La cita es el lunes 29 de abril en “El Teatrito”, Sarmiento 1752, C.A.B.A.En este su primer show en nuestro país la banda repasará lo mejor de su repertorio y presentará su último álbum “Dance Devil Dance” y promete sorprendernos con una puesta en escena nunca antes vista para situarnos en un auténtico circo del metal.

Entradas anticipadas disponibles a través de:– Sistema Passlinehttps://www.passline.com/eventos/avatar-29-de-abril-2024

Avatar es una banda de metal y death metal melódico formada en 2001 en la ciudad sueca de Gotemburgo. El nombre no fue elegido por casualidad ya que un “avatar” se define como una manifestación de una deidad en forma corporal o un ícono que representa un ser separado en otro reino. Ambos significados describen perfectamente los sentimientos de la banda sueca, ya que construyeron algo más grande que la vida.

La irrupción cultural de Avatar abarca tanto la radio de rock comercial como los servicios de streaming, donde canciones como “The Eagle Has Landed”, “Hail the Apocalypse” y “Let it Burn” han acumulado más de 100 millones de reproducciones, mientras nuevos “ciudadanos” ingresan a su “Reino”.

En 2010 firmaron un contrato con Sony y en 2012 se lanzaron el álbum “Black Waltz” en Europa y posteriormente en Estados Unidos, y la banda emprendió su primera gira por Norteamérica en 2013. “Hail the Apocalypse”, el álbum siguiente, se lanzó en 2014, vio a la banda en varias giras y apariciones en festivales alrededor del mundo. 2017 marcó un año excelente en la historia de la banda, actuaron en Hellfest, su canción “New Land” alcanzó el puesto 20 en la lista Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs en mayo y en junio recibieron el premio Breakthrough Band Award en el Metal Hammer Golden Gods.

En el año 2018 “Avatar Country”, lanzado a través de Entertainment One, fue el segundo álbum independiente más grande de Norteamérica desde su debut, ganador de los premios Breakthrough Band (Metal Hammer) y Top 40 Act en el extranjero, el séptimo álbum de la banda debutó en el No. 4 (Álbumes de música dura), No. 8 (Álbumes de rock) y No. 25 (Billboard 200 Current Albums). La crítica especializada declaró a “Avatar Country” como el Sgt. Pepper’s (The Beatles) del heavy metal.

En 2020 con un audaz manifiesto llamado “Hunter Gatherer”, el octavo álbum de la banda es un estudio despiadado e implacable de una humanidad despistada, a una velocidad cada vez mayor en un futuro incierto, ampliando el alcance de las raíces oscuras en constante expansión de la banda. Canciones como “A Secret Door”, “Colossus” y “Age of Apes” son himnos listos para la era moderna, cada uno de los cuales lucha por un significado colectivo en medio del salvajismo de la tecnología. Su último álbum de estudio es “Dance Devil Dance” es el noveno álbum de estudio de la banda sueca de heavy metal Avatar. El álbum fue lanzado el 17 de febrero de 2023 hasta Thirty Tigers. Fue producido por la banda y Jay Ruston.

La inmensa reputación de la banda los ha llevado a presentarse en los más grandes escenarios del planeta, como lo son: Wacken Open Air, Download, Rock on the Range y Hellfest.

Enlaces Importantes

Sitio Oficial:  https://avatarmetal.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avatarmetal/

[trastornadosrevista]

Avatar se presentará por primera vez en la Argentina!

La banda sueca Avatar, conocida por su música y su impactante propuesta estética, se presentará por primera vez en Argentina en el marco de su tour “The Great Metal Circus”. La cita es el lunes 29 de abril en “El Teatrito”. En este su primer show en  nuestro país la banda repasara lo mejor de su repertorio y presentara su último álbum “Dance Devil Dance” y promete sorprendernos con una puesta en escena nunca antes vista para situarnos en un auténtico circo del metal.

Avatar es una banda de metal y death metal melódico formada en 2001 en la ciudad sueca de Gotemburgo. El nombre no fue elegido por casualidad ya que un “avatar” se define como una manifestación de una deidad en forma corporal o un ícono que representa un ser separado en otro reino. Ambos significados describen perfectamente los sentimientos de la banda sueca, ya que construyeron algo más grande que la vida.

La irrupción cultural de Avatar abarca tanto la radio de rock comercial como los servicios de streaming, donde canciones como “The Eagle Has Landed”, “Hail the Apocalypse” y “Let it Burn” han acumulado más de 100 millones de reproducciones, mientras nuevos “ciudadanos” ingresan a su "Reino".

En 2010 firmaron un contrato con Sony y en 2012 se lanzaron el álbum “Black Waltz” en Europa y posteriormente en Estados Unidos, y la banda emprendió su primera gira por Norteamérica en 2013. “Hail the Apocalypse”, el álbum siguiente, se lanzó en 2014, vio a la banda en varias giras y apariciones en festivales alrededor del mundo. 2017 marcó un año excelente en la historia de la banda, actuaron en Hellfest, su canción “New Land” alcanzó el puesto 20 en la lista Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs en mayo y en junio recibieron el premio Breakthrough Band Award en el Metal Hammer Golden Gods.

En el año 2018 “Avatar Country”, lanzado a través de Entertainment One, fue el segundo álbum independiente más grande de Norteamérica desde su debut, ganador de los premios Breakthrough Band (Metal Hammer) y Top 40 Act en el extranjero, el séptimo álbum de la banda debutó en el No. 4 (Álbumes de música dura), No. 8 (Álbumes de rock) y No. 25 (Billboard 200 Current Albums). La crítica especializada declaro a “Avatar Country” como el Sgt. Pepper's (The Beatles) del heavy metal.

En 2020 con un audaz manifiesto llamado “Hunter Gatherer”, el octavo álbum de la banda es un estudio despiadado e implacable de una humanidad despistada, a una velocidad cada vez mayor en un futuro incierto, ampliando el alcance de las raíces oscuras en constante expansión de la banda. Canciones como “A Secret Door”, “Colossus” y “Age of Apes” son himnos listos para la era moderna, cada uno de los cuales lucha por un significado colectivo en medio del salvajismo de la tecnología. Su último álbum de estudio es “Dance Devil Dance” es el noveno álbum de estudio de la banda sueca de heavy metal Avatar. El álbum fue lanzado el 17 de febrero de 2023 hasta Thirty Tigers. Fue producido por la banda y Jay Ruston.

La inmensa reputación de la banda los ha llevado a presentarse en los más grandes escenarios del planeta, como lo son: Wacken Open Air, Download, Rock on the Range y Hellfest.

[sounmashnews]

[ad_1] GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat's ace shooter Elavenil Valarivan gave the hosts their fourth gold whereas Olympic silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, path-breaking fencer Bhavani Devi and wrestler Divya Kakaran, lived as much as their high billing with yellow metals of their respective occasions within the thirty sixth National Games right here on Friday. The athletics area at IIT, Gandhinagar, nevertheless, was on fireplace, with as many as 9 Games' data falling throughout the course of the action-packed day. Munita Prajapati (Uttar Pradesh), daughter of a development labourer, and 17-year-old Parvej Khan (Services) have been the celebrities of the day, with Munita setting the primary report of this version within the Women's 20km stroll. She clocked a commendable 1 hour 38 minutes 20 seconds. Parvej Khan, then, did one higher, breaking the highly-rated Bahadur Prasad's 28-year-old Games report within the males's 1500m to the delight of the fraternity. He slashed practically two seconds off his private greatest time to win the metric mile gold in 3:40.89. 2018 Asian Games decathlon champion Swapna Barman, competing in Madhya Pradesh colors right here, claimed the ladies's High Jump report with a clearance of 1.83m whereas Praveen Chithravel (Tamil Nadu) made mild of a depleted Triple Jump area to win gold with a Games report effort of 16.68m. Damneet Singh (Punjab) within the males's Hammer Throw and Kiran Baliyan (Uttar Pradesh) in ladies's Shot Put additionally entered the report books. In the boys's 100m semifinals, Amlan Borgohain (Assam) additionally broke the National Games report, set at 10.45 seconds by Haryana's Dharambir Singh in Thiruvananthapuram in 2015. Amlan Borgohain, who has been in good type this season, stopped the clock at 10.28 seconds, two-hundredths of a second outdoors the National Record held by Amiya Kumar Mallick since 2016. Gujarat had lots to cheer although, with their Netball Men's group including a fifth medal after the Technical Committee awarded the bronze to them in addition to their opponents, Delhi, following a tie of their bronze medal play-off. Powered by Ankita Raina, Gujarat ladies's group continued their march into the tennis last with a simple win over Karnataka. They will begin favourites within the gold medal match towards Maharashtra on the Riverside Sports Complex on Saturday. The ladies's tennis group additionally stayed on track to defend its gold medal, defeating Karnataka 2-0 within the semifinals on the Sabarmati Riverfront sports activities advanced. Among the favourites, Bhavani Devi (Tamil Nadu) accomplished a hat-trick of ladies's Sabre particular person gold medals. Having barely slept after flying in from her coaching base in France and having carried the Tamil Nadu flag within the athletes' parade yesterday, she spent a productive day on the Mahatma Mandir, asserting her primacy as India's greatest Sabre fencer. Divya Kakaran (Uttar Pradesh) stopped a Haryana sweep of all six gold medals at stake on the opening day of wrestling competitors. She gained the ladies's 76kg class title, beating Haryana's Reetika within the quarterfinals and Rohini Satya Shivani (Telangana) and Rani (Himachal Pradesh) with a measure of consolation. Haryana males and Odisha ladies claimed the Rugby 7s gold medals respectively with victories over Maharashtra groups. Haryana scored a golden double in Netball, their males's group defeating Telangana 75-73 in a thriller that went to the wire and their ladies quelling Punjab's problem 53-49. The ladies's Kabaddi occasion will see an in-form Maharashtra square-up towards Himachal Pradesh within the last on Saturday. Both sides had a different journey within the semi-final spherical with Maharashtra successful at a canter towards Tamil Nadu whereas Himachal Pradesh had various tense moments towards Haryana. !(function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) window.TimesApps = window.TimesApps )( window, document,

'script', 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js', );if(typeof window !== 'undefined') window.TimesApps = window.TimesApps [ad_2] Source link

[voice-of-anarchy]

The #MetalHammerAwards in Berlin, Germany last night... ARCH ENEMY won the ”Best International Act” award!!! @Michael_Amott & Sharlee D’Angelo were there to accept the beautiful trophy! What a great honour. Thank you #METALHAMMER GERMANY, the readers...& all the fans!

[cruelcruel-world]

hello, friends. today i want to do something different, i want to talk about music. rock and metal bands of around the world following the hype on the eurovision song contest. i intend to do this same kind of post about pop artists in the future but today let's talk about my favorite musical genres ok?

this post will be long so prepare yourself ❤

so let's start this with the band that is the new obsession of many people. thank you, eurovision for måneskin. the italian rock band from rome, consisting of lead vocalist damiano david, bassist victoria de angelis, guitarist thomas raggi and drummer ethan torchio. they rose to fame after finishing in second place in the x factor italian version in 2017. this year, the band won the sanremo music festival and the eurovision song contest with the song "zitti e buoni".

måneskin already released two studio albums "il ballo della vita" (2018) and "teatro d'ira: vol 1" (2021), one extended-play and eight singles. they have songs sung in english but i particularly recommed the italian ones.

go listen to: la paura del buio ٭ zitti e buoni ٭ immortale ٭ for your love

from italy too, lacuna coil is a gothic metal band from milan consisting of vocalists cristina scabbia and andrea ferro, bassist marco coti zelati, guitarist diego cavalotti and drummer richard meiz. since their formation in 1994, the group has had two name changes, being previously known as sleep of right and ethereal. they have recorded nine studio albums, two extended plays, two live albums, two compilation albums, one video album, and sixteen singles.

the band won the 2012 metal female voices fest award for the best album, the 2016 metal hammer award for the best international band and the 2018 metal hammer golden gods award for best live act.

go listen to: die & rise ٭ trip the darkness ٭ anima nera ٭ comalies ٭ the house of shame

from ukraine, jinjer (it's pronounced ginger) is a metalcore band from donetsk consisting of lead vocalist tatiana shmayluk, guitarist roman ibramkhalilov, bassist eugene abdukhanov and drummer vladislav ulasevich, formed in 2010. since then, they has released three full-length albums "cloud factory" (2014 - re-released in 2018), "king of everything" (2016) and "macro" (2019), three eps and one live album.

go listen to: teacher, teacher! ٭ just another ٭ bad water ٭ pit of consciousness

spiritbox is a canadian metal band from vancouver island, british columbia. before starting the band in 2016, husband and wife duo of singer courtney laplante and guitarist mike stringer were both in iwrestledabearonce. as a duo, they released a self-titled ep in 2017, bassist bill crook joined spiritbox in 2018, and the current line-up was completed when drummer zev rose joined (if i'm not wrong he's not exactly an official member of the band since he's not in the promotional photos and stuff but he's in the music videos so i don't know).

the band found critical and commercial success with the release of the single "holy roller" in july 2020. they released two ep and eleven singles. and their debut album, "eternal blue", will be released on September 17, 2021.

go listen to: the mara effect pt. 1, 2 and 3 ٭ circle with me ٭ holy roller ٭ perennial

rammstein is a german neue deutsche härte band formed in berlin in 1994. the band's lineup consisting of lead vocalist till lindemann, lead guitarist richard kruspe, rhythm guitarist paul landers, bassist oliver riedel, drummer christoph schneider, and keyboardist christian "flake" lorenz. they already released seven studio albums, three live albums, two compilation albums, six video albums and 28 singles.

they're very known for their frequent use of pyrotechnics during live performances and the constroversies emplying "s*xual stage act", accusations of fascist sympathies because of the dark and sometimes militaristic imagery of their videos and concerts, violent events where the aggressor was seen wearing the band's t-shirt and the polemic music videos os "p*ssy" (porn*graphic scenes) and "deutschland" (putting a black woman appearing as germania, which has been described as a "a calculated affront to german nationalists" and putting the band members portraying both as n*zi concentration camp executioners and as jewish prisoners).

go listen to: puppe ٭ mein hertz brennt ٭ ich tu dir weh ٭ reise, reise ٭ spiel mit mier

in australia, northlane is a metalcore band from sydney, formed in 2009 consisting in lead vocalist marcus bridge, guitarists jon deiley and josh smith and drummer nic pettersen. the band have released five studio albums "discoveries" (2011), "singularity" (2013), "node" (2015), a number one album, "mesmer" (2017) and "alien" (2019).

at the aria music awards of 2015 the group won the best hard rock or heavy metal album category for their album "node" and in 2017 the band won again with "mesmer". they won the best hard rock or heavy metal album category for the third time in 2019 for their latest album "alien".

go listen to: solar ٭ heartmachine ٭ bloodline ٭ talking heads ٭ jinn

blind channel is a post-hardcore band from oulu, finland. the group consisting vocalists joel eerik salomon hokka and niko vilhelm moilanen, guitarist joonas henrik porko, bassist olli elias matela, drummer tommi tapio lalli and dj aleksi matias kaunisvesi represented finland in the eurovision song contest 2021 with the song "dark side" and finished in sixth place.

they already released three studio albums and 20 singles.

(they remind me of linkin park and limp bizkit)

go listen to: dark side ٭ gun ٭ over my dead body ٭ fever ٭ died enough for you

blackbriar is an alternative metal-gothic rock band from assen, the netherlands formed in 2012 consisting lead vocalist zora cock, guitarists bart winters and robin koezen, bassist frank akkerman, drummer rené boxem and keybordist ruben wijga.

they have released three eps "fractured fairytales" (2017), "we'd rather burn" (2018) and "our mortal remains" (2019), one studio album and ten singles.

go listen to: preserved roses ٭ until eternity ٭ arms of ocean ٭ let me in

i hope you guys liked this post. i love to discover new artists so i'll try to bring artists and bands that not everyone knows 😘

[randgugotur-6]

July 20th 2018 Powerwolf released the album “The Sacrament of Sin”

Did you know…

On 14 September 2018, the album won a German Metal Hammer Award for Best Album.

[gagosiangallery]

Rachel Whiteread at Gagosian Grosvenor Hill, London

March 8, 2021

RACHEL WHITEREAD Internal Objects

April 12–June 5, 2021 20 Grosvenor Hill, London __________ As an artist you create a language, you create depth to a language, you change the language. —Rachel Whiteread Gagosian is pleased to present Internal Objects, an exhibition of new work by Rachel Whiteread. Whiteread employs the formal language of Minimalism, taking cues from its emphasis on geometric seriality, yet adds a quietly emotive aspect, maintaining an acute sensitivity to objects’ minor details and subtle markers of use and human irregularity. Over the past four decades, she has used the method of casting on both “low” materials such as concrete, resin, rubber, and plaster, as well as more traditional sculptural materials, such as bronze. Whether they take the form of monumental public installations or small, intimate objects, Whiteread’s forms imply hidden narratives and secret histories. She employs existing artifacts and spaces—including domestic objects like chairs and mattresses, interiors of rooms, and even, famously, an entire terraced house—to evoke and explore corporeal presence. Notably, her deft use of negative space can imply a thing that’s gone and been reincarnated. In this exhibition, this suggestion of haunting, or ghostliness, is manifested in a different way. In Detached 1, Detached 2, and Detached 3 (all 2012), which she installed at Gagosian London in 2013, Whiteread rendered the empty interiors of three garden sheds in concrete and steel. Now, in Internal Objects, she has again created cabin-like structures but has, for the first time, eschewed casting existing objects in favor of building original ones. Poltergeist (2020) and Döppelganger (2020–21), which will occupy the two main rooms of the Grosvenor Hill gallery, are made of found wood and metal that has been meticulously overpainted in white household paint.

While Whiteread’s sheds of a decade ago were closed, the new sculptures are open, inverting the formal system of their predecessors. They suggest that something catastrophic has occurred, allowing nature to take over. Whiteread was inspired by her reading of John Steinbeck, and by her experience of driving through the Mojave Desert and Death Valley in California after installing two sculptures in Joshua Tree National Park in 2017. Although the new works represent a departure from her established sculptural process, they continue her overall project in considering the intimate haptic qualities of the spaces that surround us. The exhibition will also feature a new body of sculptures in resin and new works on paper, as well as recent cast sculptures in bronze, similar to works in bronze Whiteread made in 2000–10, and exhibited at a major retrospective at Tate Britain in 2017. A fully illustrated catalogue, including a short story by John Steinbeck and an essay by Richard Calvocoressi, will be published to accompany the exhibition. Rachel Whiteread was born in 1963 in London, where she lives and works. Collections include Tate, London; National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; and Museum of Modern Art, New York. Exhibitions include Serpentine Gallery, London (2001); Transient Spaces, Deutsche Guggenheim, Berlin (2001); Walls, Doors, Floors and Stairs, Kunsthaus Bregenz, Austria (2005); Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina, Naples (2007); Drawings, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (2010); and Tate Britain, London (2017–18, traveled to Belvedere 21, Vienna; National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; and Saint Louis Art Museum, through 2019). Public commissions include House (London, 1993), Water Tower (New York, 1998), Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial (Vienna, 2000), Monument (Trafalgar Square, London, 2001), US Embassy (Flat pack house) (2013–15, installed at the US Embassy, London, in 2018), and Cabin (Discovery Hill, Governors Island, New York, 2016). She is the recipient of the 1993 Turner Prize, among other awards. _____ Rachel Whiteread, Poltergeist, 2020 (detail), corrugated iron, beech, pine, oak, household paint, and mixed media, 120 1/8 × 110 1/4 × 149 5/8 inches (305 × 280 × 380 cm) © Rachel Whiteread. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates

[kissindynamxte]

Metal Hammer Awards, Germany, 2018 - Best New Band • Kissin’ Dynamite

[x--daughters-of-darkness--x]

HALESTORM's LZZY HALE: 'Going To Therapy Has Been One Of The Most Amazing Acts Of Self-Love That I've Done For Myself'

During a recent appearance on the "Hardcore Humanism With Dr. Mike" podcast, HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale spoke about how rock music has long been an outlet for youthful rebellion and how it has served as the musical voice of its time, but not the mainstream voice — the underdog voice.

"The beauty of music, and specifically rock music, is that it has always stood up for the downtrodden, always stood up for the freaks, the people that don't necessarily have a place at the cool kids' table," she said (hear audio below). "And what we've ultimately cultivated in our band community and all of that, and our career, but also, we didn't invent this — this is just something that exists and we are very proud of — being proud of your flaws, or your so-called flaws, being proud that you don't necessarily fit in… And that's easier said than done, but the beauty of music is that I'm able to turn these real-life experiences, or these stories that I hear from our fans, into something that they can take as theirs."

Hale also touched upon her own struggles with mental health and how she has benefited from treatment.

"I've been going to therapy for about a year and a half, for the first time in my life," she revealed. "It started before the pandemic. And it's been one of the most amazing acts of self-love that I think I've done for myself. Now I have so many more tools in my tool box to, like, just be, 'Okay. Something's going on. All right. I need the hammer. There it is. All right. We've got it.' I digress.

"But it's really great to be a part of that thing that is something bigger than yourself," she continued. "I feel like through music, that has been a vehicle. At the same time, what I'm discovering just about who I am and the kind of things I wanna get out to the world, even beyond music, I think I'm learning even more about what my own mission statements are and what I want to put out there in the world."

Hale added: "As far as I know, I've got one ride on this thing, so I'm gonna do what I can. [Laughs]"

Last month, Lzzy said that HALESTORM has demoed "about 60 ideas" for the follow-up to 2018's "Vicious" album.

In September, Lzzy confirmed to U.K.'s Rock Sound that she has been using her coronavirus downtime to compose material for the new HALESTORM LP. "I've been writing, honestly, some of the best songs I've ever written, because I've just had the time, and there isn't any deadline and nobody's breathing down my neck, saying, 'Hey, where are those demos?'," she said.

"I haven't been home without a gig for this long in probably over 15 years, so that's a strange thing. I think in one way, I have the time, but in another way, I'm seeking that high out, I'm seeking that joy that I find from playing out live every night. I'm not writing for any other reason — I'm not writing for a deadline, I'm not writing for a record, even though technically I am; we are technically working on a new HALESTORM record. But I'm writing from such a position of joy right now, literally just getting excited about some small piece of music. And I'm taking more risks now, because I have the space and the time and I've settled into something. And I'm not even quite sure what that is, and I feel like it's gonna reveal itself maybe later, but right now, I'm in it, and it's exciting."

"Halestorm Reimagined", a collection of reworked HALESTORM original songs as well as a cover of "I Will Always Love You", the love ballad made famous by Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton, was made available in August.

Lzzy and her brother Arejay (drums) formed the band in 1998 while in middle school. Guitarist Joe Hottinger joined the group in 2003, followed by bassist Josh Smith in 2004.

In December 2018, HALESTORM was nominated for a "Best Rock Performance" Grammy Award for its song "Uncomfortable".

In 2012, the band won its first Grammy in the category of "Best Hard Rock/ Metal Performance" for "Love Bites (So Do I)". According to the Grammy web site, Lzzy became the first woman to earn a Grammy in the category.

[idonthaveanaccent]

Just a little rambling and then a few bands I really like and you should totally check out, so expand it if you wanna see them :)

I know this isn’t a normal update, I just have to talk about this with someone.

Music is a vital part of everyday life for me. Everything I do has a backtrack. If I’m not watching a show in my room, I have to have music playing. When I write I have headphones in, blasting music, like right now. To go to sleep and sleep easily I have to play music, ever since I was young I’ve done it. I can’t remember not falling asleep without music playing. Music even helps inspire what I write. 

Point is, I love music. 

However, I am extremely uncomfortable with sharing my music. My freshman year I was made fun of the type of music I listen to, which has evolved a bit in the 3-4 years since that time, however it hasn’t ventured too far. 

When I was eleven my parents gave me a windows phone with no sim card, but it had a music app. They downloaded a bunch of child friendly songs and it was the first time I could control what I listened to. Before I had an old MP3 which was filled with Disney songs, Anamaniacs tunes, and ABBA’s Golden Hits. I can sing all them by heart, dances are a fun time for me. Now, I could look up songs. 

My best friend was into the alternative scene as her sister is six years older than us and as such had a more ‘adult’ music sense. She introduced me to the classic bands, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Panic! At the Disco, etc. I loved their music, we’d listen to it on the bus to middle school. However, as time went on, I began expanding my music taste. I got into My Three Days Grace, Shinedown, and other similar bands. Then, Freshman year came.

I remember the moment clear as day. I was working on my photography notebook the week before finals like the dumbass I was am, with Pandora open and listening to one of the many radios. Then, a song came on. It was by a band I hadn’t heard of before. It was called Bad Company, and the band was called Five Finger Death Punch. Now, little fourteen year old me was a little shocked by the name but the song wasn’t unlike anything I’d heard before. I decided I liked that song and favorited it.

A little while later more of their songs began popping up, but they were a little different. Heavier. Angrier. And I loved it. I don’t know what it was about the gruff vocals or pounding drum beats or glorious guitar solos, but I was hooked. I then moved onto Spotify and listened to their albums, headbanging all the way. This was my first experience with Metal, and you better believe I was a fan.

As time went on I explored more bands. Alesana, Asking Alexandria, Crown the Empire, A Day to Remember, Halestorm, Ghost, etc. I tried showing people my favorite bands but they made fun of my music taste, mimicking their screams whenever I looked up. It was disheartening, and I never wanted to share it again. Not until I knew they were okay with it. I had people tell me they were scared of that music, and asked me to never play it in front of them. You can see how that would make me never want to tell anyone about it, right? Well, I kept it to myself, electing to share music with only a few people, one being my friend. She always jokes about how she showed me Fall Out Boy and all them and then lost me along the way. 

During Junior year I discovered even more bands, including one of my favorites, Ice Nine Kills. Amazing band, you should definitely check them out, but the advertising comes later. My music taste also diversified a little and I began listening to softer bands, like grandson and The Ghost Club. 

Now, to the main show. My recent music taste.

It all began with one Instagram video. A meme video that really isn’t all that funny. I was actually just looking through what I saved and it happened to be in a  really small folder, so I clicked it. Here is the exact video

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by positive memes (@positive_and_negative_memes) on Feb 23, 2019 at 6:14pm PST

So I was interested the song and band and decided to look them up. What I found was simply...amazing.

Okay, here comes the advertising of my favorite bands :)

I. Gloryhammer

The first Power Metal band I discovered and still my favorite. Here’s how Gloryhammer describes themselves:

“And lo, Planet Earth had been destroyed by the Hootsman, with an explosion so powerful it ripped a hole in the very fabric of spacetime. And yet, Zargothrax was still not defeated, for he managed to use his last shreds of power to escape through the dimensional rift. Vowing to defeat the evil sorcerer, Angus McFife XIII followed him into the portal, with no idea where it might lead…“

That may seem confusing, and it is, but trust me, when I tell you a bit more, it will all make sense. 

So Gloryhammer is one of the best bands I have ever heard before. Their concept is absolute gold and is the only of its kind I’ve seen before. Basically, every single one of their songs tells a story of the Land of Fife. The Lead singer (Thomas Winkler) is Prince Angus McFife (the 1st and 13th), keyboard/backing vocals (Christopher Bowes) is the Evil Sorcerer Zargothrax, guitar/backing vocals (Paul Templing) is Sir Proletiues, leader of the warriors of Crail, drums (Ben Turk) is the Ancient Hermit Ralathor, and last but never least is bass/backing vocals (James Cartwright), the Mighty Hootsman! 

Each album follows a part in the epic saga, with three in total. The first album tells the story of the original Angus McFife the I whereas the next two follow his ancestor, Anguc McFife XIII. I don't want to give too much spoilers but let's just say that all three are filled with so much creativity and twists that it’s like listening to a movie! I cant even express how if you are looking for something to listen to that has dragons, goblin kings, evil sorcerers, hammers, and space, then this is the band for you! 

I am going to put one song by them down because you can only have five and I’m big mad about it.

Gloryhammer - Legends from Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex

So yeah, that’s band numero uno!

II. Sabaton

What is there to say about Sabaton that hasn’t already been said... 

Unlike Gloryhammer, Sabaton is older, formed in the nineties. Here’s what they say about themselves on their website:

“In the nearly two decades since their launch, Swedish metallers Sabaton have carved out a reputation as one of the hardest working bands in the business – gaining a legion of loyal fans across the globe, delivering eight highly-rated studio albums (including two certified platinum-sellers), and scoring multiple industry award wins and nominations… not to mention launching their own annual festival and cruise.

Combining soaring power riffs with vocalist Joakim Brodén’s instantly-recognisable gruff baritone, the band refuses to be simply slotted into a genre. Fans need only know them as Sabaton: the heavy metal band that sings of real life wars and the people who played a part in them – of gruelling campaigns and dazzling acts of bravery, of magnificent victories and touching personal struggles – true stories more fantastic than any fiction,”

Sabaton is, as they stated, a band dedicated to sharing stories of true battles throughout history. On their website they even have a whole calendar dedicated to historic events, so you can see what happened in history on whatever day you’d like! 

As a huge history geek, this band is amazing. I would watch the World War documentary series before I went to bed in middle school because I thought all of that stuff was so interesting. If I didn’t love writing and English as much as I do then I’d go into a career where history was involved. They were actually a part of my Spotify Wrapped this year where I explored 27 of their songs, listened to six of their albums, and spent over 39 hours listening to just them this year. 

Unlike what I did before, I am just going to showcase three of my favorite songs by them because they have way too many albums and I’m sad to say I didn’t listen to all of them. 

The Lost Battalion - The Last Stand

Now, onto the third band and a good one too!

III. Powerwolf

I’m not a religious person, I grew up being taught all that stuff but I consider myself to be more agnostic rather than Christian or any of that stuff. But, if there’s one religious thing I don’t mind bumping its the Priests of Metal, Powerwolf! Here's what they have to say about themselves:

“After spilling gallons of blood and fighting tirelessly, after only two albums with Napalm Powerwolf shot straight to the pole position of the official German album charts (and another album made it into the top three!). After selling out venue after venue and thrilling bigger and bigger hordes of fans, the time is right for a new chapter: The Sacrament Of Sin which offers eleven metal psalms forged for all eternity!

Powerwolf entered Fascination Street Studios in Örebrö, Sweden starting in January 2018 to work on their seventh manifesto together with renowned producer Jens Bogren (Opeth, Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth). The result is brimming with the Germans` trademark sound, and yet the band have recorded their boldest and most adventurous album to date! ‘Where the wild wolves have gone‘ even marks the first ballad in Powerwolf history – whereas ‘Nightside of Siberia‘ does the exact opposite and turns out to be one of the heaviest tunes the fivepiece have ever written. ‘Incense And Iron‘ simply MUST be part of every future setlist with its folky nature and anthemic catchiness; and epic single ‘Fire & Forgive‘ brilliantly melts infectious melodies into timeless, heavy shredding. The Sacrament Of Sin overwhelms both with sophisticated songwriting and sheer aggression – and proves once more why Powerwolf are the one and only true high priests of heavy metal!,”

The band is made up of vocalist  Karsten Brill as "Attila Dorn", lead guitarist Benjamin Buss as "Matthew Greywolf", bassist/rhythm guitarist David Vogt as "Charles Greywolf", keyboardist Christian Jost as "Falk Maria Schlegel" and drummer Roel van Helden. 

They’re really awesome and here’s my favorite song by them.

Army of the Night - Blessed and Possessed 

Now onto the fourth band ;)...

IV. Brothers of Metal

Oh boy, if you thought the bands might’ve mellowed out a little then you are sorely unprepared for this glorious group...

When I was younger I was one of those Percy Jackson kids, but my love for mythology started long before I read one of those books. As I grew older I expanded my knowledge, moving away from Greek and Roman and into Norse and other mythologies. You can imagine my joy when I found Brothers of Metal. They have no Wikipedia or website so here’s what Spotify says about them:

“BROTHERS OF METAL consist of eight powerful Viking warriors that originates from the glorious kingdom of Falun, far up in the north. Falun is a mighty town that lies within the dark iron woods where only true metal warriors reside. BROTHERS OF METAL are known to most as the strongest metal band in the nine realms. 

Before time, our eight warriors would travel through the realms and protect the good folk against evil. It was one of those nights that the legacy of metal was born. They came home from some pretty intense giant slaying and felt the common urge for mead and entertainment. The mead was generously flowing from the teats of Heidrun, but the music was really bad. The warriors took what instruments they could find and started playing, thus they wrote their first song Son of Odin, creating a tribute hymn to the strongest god they knew. 

The mortals of the kingdom was so impressed with the music that they couldn't get enough, our warriors looked at each other and so a band was formed. Together they swor an oath to keep the flames of true metal burning and to continue to play until the earthlings had worthy entertainment of their own, it's yet to come,” 

They haven’t released a ton of music when compared to the bands I listed before them, but they are absolutely amazing! All their music videos make me chuckle and when I watch Q&A’s they’ve posted they feel so down to earth that a person whos probably a decade younger than them if not less/more can relate to them. All their music has to do with Norse Mythology, but here’s my favorite music video yet:

The Mead Song - Prophecy of Ragnarök

And yeah, that’s it!

I hope you all weren't too bored and I hope you at least somewhat enjoyed this. It feels good to talk about my favorite bands. I’d love to put more videos in but Tumblr won’t let you so I guess we’re stuck with only one per band. I planned on doing three each but I guess that’s dead in the water. 

Oh well.

If you like any of this music/band honestly just reach out and talk to me, I love chatting about music. I don’t know a ton about the logistics or anything like that but we can share bands or songs or whatever. I sound really lonely which is true but please don’t feel shy.

See you all later! 

-Paige

[erwincahyon]

#MusikBarat-1

Queen

Tahun 2018 menjadi masa keemasan yang dituai kembali oleh Queen. Film biopic berjudul “Bohemian Rhapsody” sempat menjadi trending di jagat perfilman internasional. Judul film tersebut diambil dari salah satu lagu Queen yang populer nan legend. Film ini menceritakan tentang kisah awal Freddie Mercury (diperankan oleh Rami Malek) membentuk Queen sampai puncaknya pada scene konser Live Aid tahun 1985 di Wembley Stadium. Penonton disuguhkan dengan lagu-lagu Queen sembari menikmati dan bernostalgia alur cerita, sekaligus mengerti latar belakang terciptanya karya mereka. Tidak jarang sayup-sayup terdengar penonton ikut mendendangkan lagu-lagu Queen yang hits pada jamannya.

Freddie Mercury memiliki nama asli Farrokh Bulsara lahir di Zanzibar. Kemudian dia pindah ke Inggris pada akhir remajanya. Pada tahun 1970, bersama gitaris Bryan May dan drummer Roger Taylor membentuk Queen. Disusul dengan hadirnya bassis John Deacon yang membuat formasi grup band menjadi lengkap. Queen menjadi salah satu band rock terbaik di era ini, karena dapat mengemas musik yang lebih fresh dan tidak strict pada satu genre.

Pada awal karir, Queen dipengaruhi oleh genre rock progresif, hard rock, dan heavy metal. Namun, perlahan-lahan berkembang menuju musik yang bersahabat dengan pendengar. Karya-karya mereka mampu mencakup berbagai gaya atau genre musik, seperti ballad, rock opera, country, blues, dan jazz. Perkembangan pesat ini dipengaruhi oleh personilnya yang memiliki skill bermusik diatas rata-rata. Freddie Mercury memiliki suara rocker merdu serta mahir menggunakan piano, Bryan May piawai bergitar, Roger Taylor sangat energetic sebagai penabuh drum, dan John Deacon yang terlihat kalem tetapi skillful bermain bass. Faktor yang tidak kalah penting adalah kemampuan dan pengetahuan musik mereka sehingga tiap personil band ini mampu menciptakan banyak lagu.

Lagu-lagu ciptaan Queen banyak yang populer, hits, dan menjadi legend hingga saat ini. Berikut 11 lagu populer yang identik atau awal mendengar langsung terbesit bahwa ini dari Queen:

1. Bohemian Rhapsody, lagu rock opera yang memiliki komposisi unik dan durasi diatas rata-rata. Lagu paling hits yang pernah merajai tangga lagu Inggris selama 9 minggu.

2. Somebody to Love, lagu favorit Freddie Mercury yang bergenre rock opera menyuguhkan paduan suara mendayu dari personil Queen.

3. Don’t Stop Me Now, lagu genre rock andalan band ini yang menggugah gairah.

4. Crazy Little Thing Called Love, lagu bergenre country jazz yang easy listening.

5. Another One Bites The Dust, lagu ini memiliki beat mirip dengan Billy Jean (Michael Jackson). Permainan bass John Deacon yang statis dipadu vokal Freddie Mercury seperti sedikit mabuk menjadi kombinasi unik.

6. Under Pressure, lagu featuring dengan David Bowie yang didominasi permainan bass oleh John Deacon menjadi lagu favorit bagi fans kedua musisi ini.

7. Killer Queen, lagu rock opera pertama yang membuat Queen populer di awal karir mereka.

8. I Want to Break Free, lagu sederhana dengan video klip yang kocak tentang asisten rumah tangga dimana personil Queen didandani seperti banci.

9. We Will Rock You, lagu dengan format instrumen sederhana yang identik dengan irama tepuk tangan dan hentakan kaki.

10. We Are The Champions, lagu spesialis untuk kejuaraan terutama saat penyerahan medali atau tropi.

11. Love of My Life, lagu ambyar yang didominasi dengan permainan piano Freddie sebagai ungkapan patah hatinya saat memutus hubungan asmara dengan Mary Austin.

Seperti band terkenal lainnya, Queen mampu membawakan penampilan live concert-nya lebih menarik daripada versi rekaman. Konser hasil perpaduan costume khas, tata panggung, sound, lighting sekaligus kemampuan personil yang mumpuni menjadikan fans mereka makin banyak dan everlasting. Selain lagu-lagu populer tadi, ada set list lain yang ditampilkan saat konser, seperti Radio Gaga, Hammer to Fall, Seven Seas of Rhye, Is This The World We Created?, dan masih banyak lagi. Puncak konser Queen pada tahun 1985 saat Live Aid di Wembley Stadium bersama banyak musisi dari Inggris. Setelah itu dua konser terakhir Queen bersama Freddie Mercury diadakan pada tahun 1986 di Wembley Stadium dan Budapest saat concert tour promosi album terbaru mereka.

Mungkin ada beberapa hidden gems dari lagu Queen yang menurutku tidak banyak orang tahu. “Mustapha” lagu yang menceritakan tentang Nabi Ibrahim dan penyembahan kepada Tuhan. “Melancholy Blues” merupakan lagu bergenre blues yang mampu diciptakan Queen. “Stone Cold Crazy” lagu bergenre trash metal yang dikemas secara ciamik pada awal karir mereka. “Doing Allright” lagu dari Smile band bentukan Bryan May yang kemudian digubah ulang oleh Queen.

Pada tahun diatas 1986, Queen masih aktif mencipta album dan lagu-lagu yang juga populer. Lagu-lagu seperti I Want It All, I was Born to Love You, Innuendo, These Our Days of Our Lives, dan Too Much Love Will Kill You. Di saat sakit melawan HIV/AIDS, Freddie Mercury masih ikut membuat lagu dan juga video clip. Penampilannya terakhir di televisi pada tahun 1990 saat acara Brit Awards. Beberapa lagu Queen pun ada yang released setelah Freddie wafat pada tahun 1991.

Untuk mengenang Freddie Mercury, pada tahun 1992 Queen bersama musisi-musisi Inggris mengadakan tribute concert. Selanjutnya, dibuat patung Freddie dan juga The Mercury Phoenix Trust sebagai badan amal melawan HIV/AIDS. Freddie Mercury memang pantas mendapat julukan “Legend”, karena sangat berjasa dalam membangun dan mengembangkan Queen menjadi salah satu band rock terbaik yang berpengaruh di era ini.

Aku mengoleksi 49 lagu Queen dalam playlist smartphone-ku, tetapi hanya beberapa yang diulas dan tidak mungkin disebutkan semuanya dalam tulisan ini. Kegilaan dan kesukaanku pada band Queen tidak lepas dari pengaruh orang tua. Sedari kecil, selain musik klasik sejenis Beethoven atau Mozart, musik soundtrack Disney, dan musik tradisional jawa, aku sudah terbiasa disuguhi lagu-lagu rock barat terutama Queen. Memang tidak dipungkiri orang tua kita yang besar di era 70-80an dan menyukai musik rock pasti tahu band ini. Apalagi setelah sekarang banyak platform seperti YouTube dan Spotify, kita menjadi mudah mengakses dan mendengarkan lagu-lagu Queen sembari bernostalgia kedikdayaan mereka.

Aku berharap karya-karya lagu Queen akan terus didengarkan oleh anak cucu generasi selanjutnya. Jangan sampai penikmat berbagai jenis musik rock atau pun yang anti mainstream menjadi terdegradasi. Terkadang miris jika melihat generasi sekarang hanya terpengaruh lagu genre EDM, dangdut, dan lagu-lagu mainstream yang terpampang trending di medsos ataupun televisi. Aku termasuk penikmat lagu dan musik lawas yang berjaya di eranya, karena bagiku karya mereka adalah masterpiece bukti kualitas musik jaman dulu tidak kalah menarik daripada sekarang.-

[nuclearblastuk]

LOATHE | announce UK headline tour dates for February

LOATHE, who last week announced their long-awaited sophomore album I Let It In And It Took Everything (7th February via SharpTone Records), are    pleased to reveal a nine date UK headline tour for February 2020, to      celebrate the record's release. Accompanying LOATHE on the road will be God Complex, Phoxjaw (ex. Glasgow + Newcastle) and The Well Runs Red  (Glasgow + Newcastle only).

        LOATHE's Erik Bickerstaffe commented "We are ecstatic to announce the ‘I Let It In And It Took Everything’ release tour. Taking place around the UK in February of 2020 and featuring our extraordinary friends in God Complex, Phoxjaw and The Well Runs Red. The countdown has begun and we hope to see you all there. "         Tickets will go on sale this Friday 6th December @ 9am GMT from https://loatheasone.co.uk/live/                I LET IT IN AND IT TOOK EVERYTHING        RELEASE TOUR 2020        06 Feb  Huddersfield - The Parish **        07 Feb  Liverpool - Jimmy's *        08 Feb  Glasgow - Classic Grand *         09 Feb  Newcastle - Cluny 2 *        11 Feb  Birmingham - The Asylum **        12 Feb  Cardiff - Clwb Ifor Bach *        13 Feb  Southampton - The Joiners **        14 Feb  Brighton - Green Door Store *        15 Feb  London - Omeara **        *God Complex main support        ** Phoxjaw main support The Well Runs Red will be playing instead of Phoxjaw in Glasgow and Newcastle         You can now pre-order I Let It In And It Took Everything, alongside new        singles 'Aggressive Evolution', 'Gored' and 'New Faces In The Dark' here: https://loatheasone.co.uk/         To give a glimmer of insight into their upcoming record, LOATHE released        new single 'Aggressive Evolution' last week, alongside a hypnotic visualiser/lyric  video. Watch the visualiser here: https://youtu.be/mGcb28aqJjo

LOATHE's new material sees some of their most esoteric and experimental moments yet; winding from  brutally unrelenting heaviness, to weighty post-metal and ethereal post-rock. Fans who have caught LOATHE performing recently have been treated to live previews of the tracks, as well as their punishing and ever-evolving live show.

        Recently released singles ‘Gored’ and ‘New Faces In The Dark’ were the first new music LOATHE had released in over 18 months. Caustic ‘Gored’ came paired with an unsettling video, with a haunting video accompanying 'New Faces In The Dark'.        

‘Aggressive Evolution’ https://youtu.be/Aw1AmN-EloA

‘Gored’ https://youtu.be/Aw1AmN-EloA

'New Faces In The Dark' https://youtu.be/n_KZtfsJYFE 

 LOATHE are on the road right now with Stray From The Path, The Devil Wears Prada, and Gideon. The run's UK leg is currently underway, set to be followed by fifteen dates across mainland Europe. All UK dates now sold out!                 STRAY FROM THE PATH        THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA        LOATHE        GIDEON        04.12. UK Glasgow - G2 *sold out        05.12. UK Manchester - Rebellion *sold out        06.12. UK London - Islington Academy *sold out        07.12. UK Southampton - The Loft *sold out        08.12. FR Paris - La Marquinerie         09.12. FR Lyon - Ninkasi Kao        10.12. CH Zurich - Dynamo        11.12. NL Eindhoven - Dynamo        12.12. BE Antwerp - Zappa        13.12. DE Cologne - Club Volta        14.12. DE Herford - Krampus Festival        15.12. DE Karlsruhe - Knockdown Festival        16.12. DE Munich - Backstage        17.12. HU Budapest - Dürer Kert        18.12. AT Vienna - Flex        19.12. DE Nuremberg - Z-Bau        20.12. DE Leipzig - Conne Island        21.12. CZ Prague - Meet Factory        22.12. DE Hamburg – Logo         Loathe will also be playing at Sunstroke Festival Ireland in summer 2020, alongside the likes of Deftones, Faith No More, Gojira, Refused, While She Sleeps etc.                  13/14th June 2020  IE  Punchestown        Racecourse - Sunstoke Festival

 2018/19 has seen LOATHE perform at Slam Dunk and Download Festival in the UK – as well as being nominated as ‘Best New Band’ at both the Metal        Hammer Golden Gods and the Heavy Music Awards. The latter part of the 2018 saw the band perform as special guests to Beartooth in the EU and Sikth in the UK. The band has also recently toured the USA with Wage War and Oceans Ate Alaska, following on from their debut US performance at the highly respected Knot Fest. This year has seen the band perform across the UK and EU with acts such as Architects, While She Sleeps, Rolo Tommasi and Hollywood Undead.      This October marked the band’s first foray into Asia, where they joined Crystal Lake for shows in Japan and China.

 More info: 

www.facebook.com/loatheasone www.twitter.com/loatheasone www.instagram.com/loatheasone www.loatheasone.co.uk  

[voice-of-anarchy]

Yes! We won the ‘Best International Band’ award at the @MetalHammer (UK) Golden Gods event last night! Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us... AWESOME!!! #archenemy #metalhammer #metalhammerUK #willtopower #goldengods

[tisthenightofthewitch]

THE 10 MOMENTS THAT MADE GHOST SUPERSTARS

From humble beginnings to metal scene heavyweights, here’s how Ghost have triumphed to become global super-ghouls…

Words: Amit Sharma

Photo: Paul Harries

Not many bands can honestly say they’ve enjoyed the kind of meteoric rise to stardom that Swedish doom rockers Ghost have. It’s a success that’s been well-earned – some might say due to hard graft and relentless touring, others pointing to the esoteric appeal and masked mystique that helped pave their path to global dominance. Ultimately, however, there’s only one reason why Ghost stand where they do today – Tobias Forge’s knack for writing some of the most devilishly brilliant rock anthems around.

From the humble beginnings in Linköping to selling out London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall last year, here’s a look at the 10 moments that made them the world’s fastest growing cult…

1. WRITING THE SONG THAT STARTED IT ALL

Though Tobias Forge had been active in the nearby Stockholm scene during his stints in Repugnant, Crashdïet and Magna Carta Cartel, it was the song Stand By Him that gave birth to a new musical ideology in 2006 – one which embraced nightmarish theatrics into its sweetly seductive melodies. Originally sung in their native tongue, its opening line ‘The Devil’s power is the greatest one’ would prove to be incredibly prophetic of the years to come and the first of many odes to Lucifer himself.

2. THE FIRST COMING OF PAPA EMERITUS

It was during these rudimentary stages that Tobias hatched the concept of demonic frontman Papa Emeritus and the Nameless Ghoul musicians backing him. As their popularity later surged, it would be one of the Ghouls conducting the vast majority of their interviews, keen-eared fans on YouTube noting the consistencies in the voice speaking out for the group. Tobias Forge would eventually reveal the group’s aesthetics were inspired by the shock-rock exploits of the bands that dominated his teenage years, citing KISS, Mötley Crüe and King Diamond as the main culprits.

3. SIGNING WITH RISE ABOVE RECORDS

After posting three songs on MySpace, Ghost inked a record deal with UKindependent Rise Above Records (owned by Cathedral/Napalm Death legend Lee Dorrian) for their 2010 debut Opus Eponymous. “Working on the first album was a great experience that ultimately put me on the map,” remembers Jaime Gomez Arellano, who mixed and mastered the recordings in his North London studio. “I realised early on that Ghost were going to be massive, not only because of the exceptionally well-crafted songs, but because of Tobias’ hard work ethics and determination.”

4. PLAYING LIVE EVIL

On October 23 2010, Ghost made their official live debut at the Hammer Of Doom Festival in Würzburg, Germany, though it was their second appearance the following day at London’s Underworld for Live Evil, booked by black metal legend Fenriz, that sent ripples through rock’s underground. Video footage quickly surfaced on YouTube depicting what looked like a zombie priest in the midst of a live ritual like no other, burning frankincense and blessing the front row with his unholy water.

5. WINNING CELEBRITY FANS

It didn’t take long for the Black Sabbath meets Blue Öyster Cult allure of Ghost’s debut to win them friends in high places. Early supporters included Duff McKagan, James Hetfield and Philip Anselmo – who invited some of the Nameless Ghouls to join Down near the end of their main stage set at Download Festival 2011. Dave Grohl was so impressed, he later produced and even performed on first EP If You Have Ghost, which was recorded at his Californian studio. The Nirvana/Foo Fighters man has also masked up to perform with them live, though lips have remained sealed on when exactly that might have been.

6. CONQUERING AMERICA

After making their U.S. debut at Maryland Death fest in 2011, it was the following year’s Heritage Hunter tour with progressive metal masters Opethand Mastodon that gave Ghost a chance to win over American fans in bigger rooms. Which is precisely what they did, impressing audiences enough to land tour offers from the likes of Iron Maiden, Alice In Chains and Avenged Sevenfold.

7. HEADLINING BRIXTON ACADEMY

It took three years for Ghost to go from London’s Underworld club to Brixton Academy, billed above Gojira, The Defiled and Feed The Rhino on 2013’s sell-out Jägermeister Music Tour – the £5 tickets offering fans eye-watering levels of value for money. Papa Emeritus II and his sinister ministers closed the night with Monstrance Clock, as they have been doing ever since, the encore serving as one of many highlights from their more expansive second full-length Infestissumam. It would mark the first release of many under a new deal with Universal imprint Loma Vista.

8. WINNING A GRAMMY

Having won the Swedish equivalent of a GRAMMY on their sophomore album, it was 2015’s Meliora that saw them gain mainstream recognition in America as well as home soil – lead single Cirice scooping the award for Best Metal Performance at the 2016 Grammys. “Thank you so much, this is is a big thing for us, obviously… a nightmare just turned into a dream,” remarked Papa Emeritus III, when picking up the gong on the night.

9. THE ARRIVAL OF CARDINAL COPIA

The years in between Ghost’s third and fourth albums were perhaps their most challenging. After a decade of operating relatively anonymously, four ex-members would publically name themselves and sue Tobias for lost earnings, claiming the main songwriter and leader had turned their band into his solo project. The Linköping District Court would eventually dismiss the lawsuit and appeal. It was these tumultuous times that would spawn the music and lyrics for 2018’s Prequelle – arguably the most mind-blowing Ghost album of them all. Though Tobias had now officially revealed himself as the group’s leader and put an end to the Papa Emeritus bloodline, Cardinal Copia’s tenure was about to begin.

10. SELLING OUT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

As anyone that attended last year’s Royal Albert Hall show will be able to attest, that night could very well have been the greatest show of their career. With two keyboardists, three guitar players and a rhythm section behind him, as well as a brief stint from Papa Nihil on sax, Cardinal Copia took his final bow safe in the knowledge that this band have never sounded bigger or better. Looking ahead, 2019 will be a busy year for Ghost – though after joining forces with Metallica for their continuing WorldWired Tour what happens next for the young cardinal will remain to be seen. Are his days numbered? Who will replace him? No-one really knows but Tobias Forge himself…

All owned by KERRANG!

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The Greatest Rock/Metal Albums of the 21st Century.

21st century marks the most diverse decade for rock and metal continuation. Absorbing, if not radiated by the long progenitors from Led Zeppelin who cranked up their amps and Black Sabbath that turn it out murky and sinister grim, to the dazzling theatrical persona of KISS and Motley Crue, to the new level heavy metal confronter of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, to the head crusher of Motorhead and Metallica, to the destructo maniac of Slayer and Kreator, to the prog menu offerer of King Crimson and Tool, and finally aligned to have some peculiar layers and brooding tendency of Korn. We have come a long way. Yet our engine keeps raging.

I have cumulated the finest, the most influential, and the most prominent albums released in the new millenium by the descendents that took their predecessors to a whole different level, sustain the genre, and move myriads of people to mosh.

In a particular order:

10. Avenged Sevenfold - City of Evil (Warner Bros, 2005).

Rolling Stones magazine has named the sonically-punk with the flames of Iron Maiden, City of Evil on the last number of their 100 Greatest Album of All Time list. That should be a fair consideration since the extravagants like Beast and the Harlot, Bat Country, and Seize the Day altogether with the rest of the setlist ultimately transced the whole level and the destiny of the band as a leading force of eliticians in not so distant future. The 11 tracks have also successfully resurrected the triumph of classic guitar virtuosso portrait demonstrated on 80's as the talisman, Synyster Gates embarked over tons of appealing riffages and dueling solos which was buried after Nirvana and grunge breaktrough on the early 90's. Veteran and Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society guitarist, Zakk Wylde acknowledged him as a "Torchbearer" for arguably giving a birth and cultivating the guitar culture to the next generation.

9. Behemoth - The Satanist (Nuclear Blast, 2014).

The tenth album of Polish most profound extreme metal giant after Adam "Nergal"s battle with leukemia. Unlike the speed and precision exhibited over prior releases, the coagulated dense and horified cultish doom are found intensely throughout the setlist as to explicit the heretic messages. The result is astonishing and stronger than ever. More to add, The Satanist is pure, cathartic, flawlessly emotional, carefully-savage, and conquering by its complexity of repertoire within vivid and cinematical gradation as multi-dimensional tracks Messe Noire, In the Absence ov Light, Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer, and the leadoff Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel ravage in none but diabolical fervor. This album expansive flair has comprehensively unfolded the darkest caverns and creates the new standard of underground craftmanship.

8. Bring Me the Horizon - Sempiternal (RCA/Epitaph, 2013).

I wouldn't believe that i need to make Sempiternal in the cut. Who would have guessed? But i will beat every negation towards it. It is the album that eventually transforms Bring Me the Horizon from bunch of hipsters to one of the most important unit in the 21st century modern rock landscape. A year and a half after the release, Oliver Sykes and co. took over the world attention of rocking Wembley Arena, the same monumental venue where Queen — one of the biggest rock band in the history — was there doing the same story. It was approximately 12.000 attendees which made Sykes stated: "So this is our biggest show ever". The soaring Can You Feel My Heart, the furious The House of Wolves, the euphoric Shadow Moses, and the melodic of Sleepwalking are undeniably the new testament of rock music.

7. Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake (Epic, 2004).

Count how many metal bands on the planet started after invented Laid to Rest or Now You've Got Something to Die For! It was countless. Lamb of God has became the crowned icon of "New Wave American Heavy Metal" and one of the most distinctive band in the scene. Their ferocious riffs, blistering drum works, lyrical contents, sound, even how to sing like Randy Blythe are largely imitated and seem to be the ideal menifesto of modern metal anatomy with obviously Ashes of the Wake as the highest pedestal. It contains tremendous chaos of 11 front-to-back blazing tracks immensely portrayed after Mark Morton - Willie Adler's virtuosity and of course, Chris Adler's voraciousity. Implying both abundance and how well they grasp the roots that will less likely be outnumbered.

6. Mastodon - Leviathan (Relapse, 2004).

We are now talking (and unravelling) the true genius minds of Atlanta-based extraordinary quartet. The newborn Metallica, Mastodon — the group that always exceed anyone's expectation — has seamlessly ranged their pinaccle from sludge to prog to avant-garde to even folk with staggering exponents of highly sophisticated masterpiece. With any fruition that comes in, the sheer Leviathan is believed as the opener tap. Written after Herman Merville's 1851 novel entitled "Moby Dick", the 46-minutes concept album is nothing but endless breathtaking experience of capturing bizarre Ode to the sea soundtrack. Blood and Thunder, I Am Ahab, and Aqua Dementia are torrent of forceful yet fascinating guttural power chords with Brann Dailor's tracherous drum tempo reflecting the theme while Iron Tusk sets sail upon muscular stoner riff and Naked Burn for menacing-tactical intro and flaunted visceral jarring chorus are hulking the imagery of the beast. Until the epic Hearts Alive with a glimpse of Metallica's The Call of Ktulu patiently reigns and all the greatness rendered.

5. Evanescence - Fallen (Wind-up, 2003).

The album that made Evanescence — a small town band from Arkansas — a megastar in the blink of an eye. It was the second semester of 2003 where the breakthrough hit single, Bring Me to Life played million times on the radio around the globe (and MTV as well) picturing the female face lead singer and her gleaming voice, Amy Lee who started the band with the co-founder guitarist, Ben Moody (though the relationship didn't survive and separation happened in the midst of suporting Fallen tour). The fame that nowhere expected begun when the terrific duo met on a camp and cliche of having the same musical taste brought them to finally sign the major label Wind-up and dominated the world stages in a brief. Fallen with the added values of enchanting piano, symphonical strings livery, and haunting soundscape that most nu-metal groups didn't have at that time effortlessly stood-out and arised in comparison to even Linkin Park. Other songs served like the down-tuned goth Going Under and the everlasting ballad My Immortal are only legitimating their popularity.

4. Ghost - Prequelle (Loma Vista, 2018).

In our nearly five decades of heavy music, such names as Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Van Halen with their fantastic works and spirits have became a catalyst that will be remembered greatly in the faraway future for causing an enourmous impact to our community. Those that have bloomed and paved the way many artists to follow. And if there is a chance for this millenium bands to extend the list, Ghost will be the first to step up the grace.

This year, their most recent release Prequelle has been nominated for The Best Rock Album and its single Rats for Best Rock Song of 61st Grammy. An award that should be familiar since they have been winning it two times with Infestissumam (2013) — their second major label album — as The Best Hard Rock/Metal Album and Cirice — the single taken from previous album Meliora (2015) — as Best Metal Performance. A peak of a decade existence for one superior man behind the wheel, Tobias Forge. Appear himself as a satanic pope, Papa Emeritus I, II, III, Zero, and now with the newest fully renowned ascencion clergy Cardinal Copia has completely shaped the band's identity. But the latest Prequelle has more than to be attained to an award. Forge's admiration to film makes no surprise if any substance on the record is prone to get visualized and draw medieval realms so alive and real. He could blend joyous disco with scattered shock rock backbone for Dance Macabre, provide brilliant exotic pop-esque instrumental opus for Miasma, and close all the novelty and intellegiousness by a soothing grand finale of Life Eternal. That is the last strike.

3. Greenday - American Idiot (Reprise, 2004).

With the overwhelmed mainstream-breaking punk rock hit single American Idiot, it was an album (a concept album, for specific) everyone knew which handfully restored a big disappointment both sales and critical of their previous release. Taking the power back after four years gap with anti-Bush vitriol narration over long and merged tracks was everything we could expect from an ambition. Performing sarkastic American-post 9/11 political singable outcry and dragging down to emotionally-related suburban decline on Holiday/Boulevard of Broken Dreams, followed by californian sunset accoustic staccato and straighforward revv Give Me Novacaine/She's A Rebel, a love story of Whatsername where a street punk main actor St. Jimmy fell and how it all ended on Homecoming.

The grandiose worths 16 millions selling CD is the anthem of this generation where a generation ago pridefully have The Clash with the classic London Calling.

2. Slipknot - Iowa (Roadrunner, 2001).

The most brutal and confrontational album of 21st century nothing to this day can bear. That is the deal. A remorseless turmoil just from the first second of welcoming to the house of pain intro, (515) to the last 15 minutes epilogue of magnificent unrelenting drama title track, Iowa. Please recognize the insolent hate mantra "Here we go again motherfuckers" as Corey Taylor opens up and rips off anything with hammer to the face misanthropic followed track, People = Shit that seems a vulgar warning to extend the torture of their 1999 debut phenomenal self titled album. But things got tenfold. They were all damaged animals, making it excuriatingly worst instead, and wanted any living to hear them. That they fuck what trend you live up on bludgeoning bestial Heretic Anthem, that they are adamant bastards you can't bleach their darkness out on atmospherical assault New Abortion, that killing is their primal instinct on grinding jaw-breaker scorn Disasterpieces, that they are fucking obsolete machines on the scorching psychosis Everything Ends. There lies Neurosis-ian dressed Gently and never eschew Grammy nominated singles, Left Behind and My Plague.

All the violent rampage should be addressed to Ross Robinson (producer) for being able to wrap up the devastating times the band encountered in the studio and that was how its ruthless resonated the world where many people are pissed-off to everything. An absolute impossible album to be re-recorded due to its hell of organic material. Yet apart of any malevolence, Iowa is sadly, a gift to liberate your heart and soul.

Honourable mentions:

System of a Down - Toxicity (American/Columbia, 2001).

Converge - Jane Doe (Equal Vision, 2001).

My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade (Reprise, 2006).

1. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory (Warner Bros, 2000).

The world seriously gives us no chance to break. After Lemmy, Bowie, now we have lost the most beautiful voice that represents our generation.

May rest in peace and honour, Chester Bennington.

We miss you everyday, and we do care if someone whose time runs out is you.

The album that took nu-metal to a whole different level forever and highly contributed to shape the sound that outbursted the 21st century. For two decades, Linkin Park has became the most iconic group on the planet. Breeding the bands like Bring Me the Horizon, Asking Alexandria, and Bullet For My Valentine (with their recent 2018 album, Gravity).

Hybrid Theory (which was the actual name of the band before settling to Linkin Park) is the sublime fusion of heavy metal, alternative rock, hip-hop, pop, and electronica desired only to make a lifetime change. It is truly no derivative. Yet recalling back, it was multiple rejections of label after label before it took off with Don Gillmore (previously worked with Eve 6, Lit, Pearl Jam) to produce the album and pushed the band excessively. It was the part that would not have regretted where all they saw afterwards and going on was all miracle. 28 millions copy sold should be a very serious sensastion everyone must have a seat to talk about. A rock n roll revival after Guns N' Roses's Appetite For Destruction (1987) so to speak. With angst to fuel, Hybrid Theory yielded the catchy single opener One Step Closer, the drug abuse easer Crawling, the unhinged paranoia Papercut, and the most well-known last single sung by anyone In the End. Not to mention its cohesive supplementaries A Place For My Head, Runaway, and My December that blur the foursome due to their equivalent prowess. Admit it, Linkin Park and Hybrid Theory are the gateway to rock and heavy metal empire.