The Scorpions announced their retirement lately, but before focusing on gardening and tea parties, they will roam the World extensively. One of the first gigs of this special farewell tour will happen in Belgium on the 10th of April in Bergen (Mons). They do not come alone but are supported by hidden gems in progressive / power metal music. Look at the poster and realize this will be a unique event!
Geplaatst door Vera op zaterdag 13 februari 2010 - 14:57:19
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woensdag 10 maart 2010
METAL NEWS MARCH 2010
VREID ANNOUNCE SHOWS WITH SPECIAL GUEST
Hváll wrote us "This weekend we were gathered in the good old ”Fjøsen” (our rehearsal place from the Ulcus & Windir days). It was a great atmosphere to rehearse there again, and especially with all the stuff we are working with at the moment, everything from new line up, new album and the upcoming special shows."
About the shows with a special guest: "We have been rehearsing on a special live set. We will do 3 selected shows this spring where we will be joined by a special guest for a few extra songs. The special guest is Vegard Bakken, brother of Terje Valfar Bakken. This will be full Vreid concerts plus that we will play a couple of Windir songs with Vegard doing the vocals on these songs."
"This is something we have considered for quite some time. The loss of our brother & closest friend back in 2004 is something that has had a major impact on our lives, and is always affecting us both as persons and musicians. We have strong relationship with Vegard, and the music & spirit of Windir is something that unify us. We all grew up together and there is a bond between us, Vegard & Terje that never will be broken."
The shows will take place at:
29th of April: W2, De Bosch, Netherlands 30th of April: Ragnarök festival, Kreuth, Germany 01st of May: Fiesta Pagana,Schmerikon, Switzerland
"During the last 6 years we have done more than 200 shows around the world with Vreid, and met so many people with a passionate relationship to Vreid & Windir, this of course has inspired us a lot. So bringing Vegard in, and doing a few songs together is something we are sure will please a lot of people, but most importantly it is very satisfactory for ourselves. Rehearsing on these songs again this weekend just felt bloody great, and we do feel excited by incorporating a few Windir classics in our Vreid set for these shows."
USA based metal band KILLING MACHINE, have revealed that former STRATOVARIUS and current EVERGREY bass guitarist Jari Kainulainen will be joining the band. Jari will continue with his position in EVERGREY, but the chance to challenge himself in a different field with KILLING MACHINE was an opportunity he did not want to miss.
Commenting on joining the band Jari Kainulainen said "When Peter (Scheithauer) contacted me and asked me to join Killing Machine as replacement for David Ellefson, I had to check it out. And after listening to a few songs I knew straight away that this is something I definitely wanted to be a part of. I especially fell in love with the fast and blasting bass lines and kick ass guitar riffs., so it was an easy decision for me. I'm really looking forward to start playing with these guys."
On welcoming Jari to the band, guitarist Peter Scheithauer said: "First off, I am so thrilled that I can finally announce Jari Kainulainen as the new bass player!!! Once I was done with the demos it was time to think about getting the band together. I wanted people who were ready to tour - no egos. Plus returning to Europe I wanted someone we can hang with who was first and foremost a true metalhead. Csaba (Zvekan) and Jon (Dette) were already in and I knew David (Ellefson) was out of the question for the obvious reasons. I always loved Jari's playing, I saw him several time with Stratovarius and love Evergrey. If someone can play crazy bass lines and be creative it's him. And besides being an outstanding musician he is a very cool guy and at the end that's what really matters."
The completed KILLING MACHINE line up is Csaba Zvekan - Vocals, Peter Scheithauer (TEMPLE OF BRUTALITY / BELLADONNA) - Guitar, Jari Kainulainen (EVERGREY / STRATOVARIUS) - Bass Guitar, Jon Dette (TESTAMENT / SLAYER) - Drums.
KILLING MACHINE will re -locate to Europe for a series of summer shows and recording of the new album. The band have already confirmed an appearance at Germany's Headbangers Open Air Festival www.headbangers-open-air.de on 29th July 2010.
KILLING MACHINE have released two albums, the self titled 'Killing Machine' in 2000 via Candlelight Records and the critically acclaimed 'Metalmorphis' in 2006 via Mausoleum Records which has been hailed by many as one of the all time classic metal albums. The two albums featured a multitude of musicians including James Rivera (HELSTAR, VICIOUS RUMOURS), Jimmy DeGrasso (Y&T), Juan Garcia (AGENT STEEL), Dave Ellefson (MEGADETH), Stet Howland (WASP), Mike Duda (WASP), Mike Vescara (OBSESSION, LOUDNESS)
With two albums under their belts, the band are priming themselves to once again deliver metallic carnage across the globe.Unashamedly wearing their heavy metal roots on their leather studded sleeves, KILLING MACHINE combine the classic metal feel of the past with the fresh aggression of the present. Thunderous bass lines, pounding drums and explosive riffs blend with distinct heavy, melodic vocals to create driving and memorable songs. The music that KILLING MACHINE bring to the party simply stuns - no pretentions - just pure metal entertainment!
Life Of Agony and I Scream Records sign worldwide deal
I Scream Records is very excited and proud to welcome Life Of Agony to the family.
On Saturday April 3rd 2010 I Scream Records will be recording & filming Life Of Agony's performance at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium, the second show of their exclusive European "20 Years Strong" tour. In late 2009 the band performed their debut album "River Runs Red" in its entirety during a few exclusive, sold out, US shows and now, after popular demand, they're also heading over to Europe to perform a set built around this amazing, legendary album.
The release of this "20 Years Strong" live album, which will also include a free bonus DVD of the complete show at the Ancienne Belgique, exclusive footage and much more, is set for early this Summer.
Crossover-metal kings, Life of Agony, formed in the summer of '89 and quickly built a cult-following upon the release their now classic, debut album, "River Runs Red" released through Roadrunner Records. The band's unique sound and honest lyrics have captivated audiences for two decades now. In celebration of this huge milestone, the group has been performing the record that started it all!!
"We're really excited to capture this moment in time. Twenty years, man, that's no joke! If you would've asked us when we were kids growin' up in Brooklyn, if we thought that we'd ever make something this important to people around the world, we probably would've laughed in your face. But, here we are, still selling out shows after all this time and turning people's tragedy into hope. Somehow, through the music, we've helped a lot of folks out there. And that's what's always been most important to us." - LOA Bassist, Alan Robert
Laurens Kusters says: "We're very excited about this collaboration. This will be an amazing release, recorded at the Ancienne Belgique, one of the most exclusive European clubs, in Brussels Belgium, the city where I Scream Records was founded in 1994."
Life Of Agony "20 Years Strong" - European Tour 2010 April 2nd - Effenaar in Eindhoven, The Netherlands (sold out) April 3rd - Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium April 4th - Matrix in Bochum, Germany
Calling from the underground!!!!
DRAGONFORCE SPLIT WITH SINGER ZP THEART
It is with great regret that DragonForce announce a parting of the ways with singer ZP Theart. This is due to insurmountable differences of musical opinion but the rest of the band sincerely wishes ZP great success with his future projects. While the creative core members have begun writing the fifth album, they have also started a worldwide search for a new vocalist. “We are looking for a powerful, melodic singer to write a new chapter of DragonForce with us." said guitarist Herman Li.
Anyone wishing to audition for the vacant position should apply following the instructions at this web address www.dragonforce.com/audition
MENNEN PLAYS FINAL SHOW
Dutch hard-rock band MENNEN recently decided to split up . The band of vocalist Joss Mennen was founded 17 years ago , after Joss had left the melodic rock band Zinatra . Through the years Mennen has released 5 studio-albums and 2 live-albums. Their latest release “ Planet Black” , produced by Erwin Musper ( Van Halen , Scorpions) , was supported by an appearance at the legendary Wacken Festival in Germany . Other high-lights are their headliner tours in the south of Europe and Mennen crossed the Atlantic Ocean two times ,for shows in the USA. On april 17th , Mennen will play their final show at MC De Bosuil , Weert-NL. This will be a special evening with several guest-musicians contributing the show. Also , there will be a roll for a big choir , giving some of the songs a special dimension. Mennen will appear in the most successful line-up : Joss Mennen / vocals, Eric van de Kerkhof / guitar , Alex Jansen / bass and Fon Janssen / drums. For more info please check : www.mennen.net tickets Presale for this show through all Pre sale addresses of M.C. de Bosuil More info : www.debosuil.nl
LEGION OF THE DAMNED DVD RELEASE PARTY
On May 1st 2010 (Saturday) Legion of the damned is giving an exclusive show during their DVD RELEASE PARTY in Beringe, Holland. Together with their sponsors Jagermeister and Monster Energy Drink, Legion of the damned and its support bands Lucifer Principle, SOB'd and Sevenends celebrate the release of the double DVD and LIVE CD that contains more than 6 hours of pure Legion of the damned enjoyment.
The band will have special actions going on that night like the first 100 visitors will receive a free Jagermeister shirt with Legion of the damned logo on the back. Also Monster Energy Drink is giving away free cotton bags for anyone who buys at the Legion of the damned merchandise stand.
The band will of course sell some new shirts as well as their new release. The club can only hold 400 people, so full=full!
Advance tickets are 8 euro; tickets at the door are 10 euro
TIME TABLE
Legion of the damned 23.30h - 00.30h Lucifer principe 22.00h - 23.00h SOB'd 21.00h - 21.45h Sevenends 20.00h - 20.45h
Date May 1st 2010 Doors open 19.00h Start 20.00h
Club The Wieksjlaag, Kanaalstraat 94, 5986 AH Beringe (The Netherlands) Phone: 0031773060152
Trouble with ticketing? call or mail following persons: Tickets: Henny Roosen : -email- Other info/tickets: Henry (0031 6 41574961)
Geplaatst door Vera op woensdag 10 maart 2010 - 13:32:24
In my search for good music I stumbled upon the German band Crematory halfway the nineties. ‘Tears Of Time’ was the reason to keep on following these rough gothsters and check out all of their albums. They were hugely inspired by Paradise Lost when they started, but album by album they achieved to show more identity of their own. After a short sabbatical period, the comeback album ‘Revolution’ (2004) displayed a very modern approach with electro influences and stamping rhythms. Since then the five-piece has found a fine symbiosis between their original sound (death metal) and later experiments. Their previous album ‘Pray’ was even truly doom-like and that’s why I liked it so much. It was a real stunner for me. In their home country Germany, Crematory is a very popular band for years, but they never toured abroad so much. Therefore most of the metal fans in Belgium are quite unknown with this excellent band and veterans in gothic/doom/death metal. I still hope it will change with ‘Infinity’.
The general sound and mood pleases me from the very outset with opener ‘Infinity’. Chunky riffs and a catchy chorus. The contrasting vocals of growler Felix and guitarist Matthias (very good clean vocals) are used in every song. Keyboards add typical intros, but remain in the background most of the time. ‘Sense Of Time’ – with a dark spoken fragment – reminds me a bit of their early hit ‘Tears Of Time’. I always enjoy to listen to smooth gothic tracks such as ‘Out Of Mind’ and ‘A Story About’. Crematory also has a tradition of covering songs. This time they opted for the compelling slow sung ‘Black Celebration’ of Depeche Mode and they do it well (although I will never completely understand why metal bands like this band so much). Some Rammstein influences can be noticed too, more particularly in ‘Never Look Back’, while ‘Where Are You Now’ showcases exciting dynamics between thrash riffs and slower parts. The album has a perfect flow to remain engrossing. With the vigorous ‘No One Knows’ we are rudely roused and with the melancholic ‘Broken Halo’ we can dream away on a bed of plucking guitars and violins. And what about the final song ‘Auf Der Flucht’? This only song in German belongs at the radio! It needs to get airplay and consequently it will become a huge chart hit! The clean vocal lines are as catchy as hell. By the way, considered as a whole, ‘Infinity’ turns out more fleet-footed than ‘Pray’ and most likely also more commercial. It is an album I listen to with pleasure. Next year the band celebrates its twentieth anniversary with the release of a ‘Greatest Hits’ on CD and DVD.
Nederlands:
In mijn zoektocht naar goede muziek, stuitte ik halverwege de jaren negentig op de Duitse band Crematory. ‘Tears Of Time’ was de aanleiding om deze ruwe gothsters te blijven volgen en al hun albums uit te pluizen. Ontstaan uit bewondering voor Paradise Lost zocht Crematory op elk album meer naar een eigen identiteit. Na een korte sabbatperiode toonde het comebackalbum ‘Revolution’ in 2004 een erg moderne aanpak met electro invloeden en stampende ritmes. Sindsdien heeft het vijftal een goede symbiose gevonden tussen hun oorspronkelijk geluid (death metal) en de latere experimenten. Vorig album ‘Pray’ was zelfs uitgesproken doomy en dat vond ik dan ook een knaller van jewelste. In thuisland Duitsland is Crematory trouwens al jaren erg populair, in het buitenland (althans toch in België) werd nooit zoveel getoerd en blijft het gros van de metalfans helaas vrij onbekend met deze veteranen der gothic/doom/death metal. Ik hoop dat daar door ‘Infinity’ alsnog verandering in komt.
De algemene sfeer bevalt me meteen vanaf opener ‘Infinity’. Ferme riffs en een toegankelijk refrein. De contrasterende zang van brombeer Felix en gitarist Matthias (heldere, cleane zang) wordt in elk nummer uitgespeeld. Toetsen brengen typische intro’s aan, maar worden meestal als achtergrond gebruikt. ‘Sense Of Time’ – met een donker gesproken fragment – doet me wat aan hun eerste hit ‘Tears Of Time’ denken. Vlotte gothic songs als ‘Out Of Mind’ en ‘A Story About’ gaan er altijd wel in. Crematory heeft ook een traditie van covers. Ditmaal kozen ze ‘het slepende en traag gezongen ‘Black Celebration’ van Depeche Mode en dat doen ze goed (al zal ik de bewondering van metal bands voor deze groep nooit helemaal begrijpen). Er zijn ook wel enige Rammstein invloeden te bemerken, meer bepaald in ‘Never Look Back’, terwijl ‘Where Are You Now’ een boeiende dynamiek tussen thrash riffs en tragere gedeelten etaleert. Het album is perfect opgebouwd om boeiend te blijven. Met het energieke ‘No One Knows’ worden we ruw wakker geschud en met het melancholieke ‘Broken Halo’ kunnen we even wegdromen op een bedje van tokkelende gitaren en violen. En afsluiter ‘Auf Der Flucht’? Dit enige Duitstalige nummer moet gewoon op de radio, dan wordt het gegarandeerd een grote hit. De heldere zanglijnen zijn zo aanstekelijk als maar kan zijn. Trouwens, bekeken als geheel is ‘Infinity’ lichtvoetiger dan ‘Pray’ en waarschijnlijk ook commerciëler. Een album waar ik met plezier naar luister. Volgend jaar viert Crematory het twintigjarig bestaan met de uitgave van een ‘Greatest Hits’ op cd en dvd.
Tracklist:
Infinity (4:52) Sense Of Time (5:46) Out Of Mind (3:21) Black Celebration (4:56) Never Look Back (4:11) Broken Halo (4:19) Where Are You Now (5:02) A Story About… (4:52) No One Knows (4:28) Auf Der Flucht (4:35)
Niet alle jonge bands zijn erop uit om het zoveelste superdesubgenre van een subgenre uit te vinden; sommigen richten hun blik naar het rijke verleden en proberen die traditie in ere te houden. Wie geeft hen ongelijk? Ze hebben er verdorie veel meer succes mee dan de zogenaamde vernieuwers. Ik denk dan aan Black Stone Cherry (die goeie ouwe southern rock), Airbourne (AC/DC lovers) of Wolfmother (de wereld kende plots een aantal nieuwe superlatieven toen zij hun liefde voor o.a. Led Zeppelin betuigden).
Ook Year Long Disaster heeft stiekem in de platenkast van papa gekeken en wat de zanger/gitarist van dit Engelse trio betreft (Daniel Davies) behoorde die platenkast toe aan The Kinks’ gitarist Dave Davies. Niet min… en hij zingt nog goed ook en heeft het talent om zich te laten gaan in boeiend gitaarwerk. Maar ook de andere leden van dit vintage hardrock trio zijn allerminst een onbeschreven blad. Bassist Rich Mullins kennen we van Karma To Burn, de (later) instrumentale stoner rock groep en drummer Brad Hargreaves kent wereldwijd succes met Third Eye Blind.
Dit trio startte in 2004 als Year Long Disaster en het titelloze debuutalbum was goed genoeg om tournees met o.a. The Cult, Velvet Revolver en The Foo Fighters binnen te halen. Dit nieuwe album is dan ook grotendeels on the road geschreven. Er is lang aan gewerkt, zodat men voor de eigenlijke opnametijd slechts zestien dagen nodig had. Producer Nick Raskulinecz zat er blijkbaar met de zweep op, maar het resultaat is een spontane rockplaat die ademt en al vlug heel toegankelijk klinkt. Aandacht voor het liedje: ze hebben het! Want geen enkel nummer lijkt op het voorgaande en toch staan er geen missers op. Het is een feest van herkenning, want hier (‘Stranger In My Room’) denk je aan The Free, de openingsriffs van ‘Venus At The Crossroads’ lonken naar The Stones, de basloopjes in ‘Love Like Blood’ brengen de dagen van Ten Years After terug en hoor ik daar geen echo van The Who in het gitaarspel tijdens het bijzonder mooie en gevoelig gezongen ‘Foggy Bottom’? Het is allemaal slechts even, want ik betrap hen nergens op plagiaat. Al stijgen we tijdens het catchy en langere ‘Sparrow Hill’ en het daaropvolgende semi-akoestische ‘Seven Of Swords’ toch wel op in een loden zeppelin. Neemt niet weg dat de psychedelische passage met bas en de spetterende gitaarsolo in ‘Sparrow Hill’ prachtig zijn en ik het folkloristische ‘Seven Of Swords’ meermaals achter elkaar heb gedraaid. Ik voorspel deze enthousiaste band dan ook nog meer succes dan voorheen met ‘Black Magic; All Mysteries Revealed’ (dat trouwens gebaseerd is op het boek ‘The Master and Margarita’ van een verbannen Russisch schrijver Mikhail Bulgakov).
Tracklist:
Black Magic (1:16) Show Me Your Teeth (3:56) Love Like Blood (3:50) She Told Us All (4:23) Sparrow Hill (6:38) Seven Of Swords (3:32) Stranger In My Room (3:42) Cyclone (3:18) Venus At The Crossroads (3:54) Major Arcana (3:04) Foggy Bottom (4:52)
Musicians:
Daniel Davies: vocals, guitars Rich Mullins: bass Brad Hargreaves: drums
Geplaatst door Vera op woensdag 03 maart 2010 - 19:50:19
