Archive | 2013
ASG’s fourth album, Blood Drive, isn’t necessarily a bold departure for the band, but that’s a good thing. The band’s first album for Relapse, due out on May 28 is a perfect blend of Torche-like major key stoner sludge and straight-forward rock that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Queens of the Stone Age album, even though a review mentioned in the press release says that mentioning them alongside those bands is an understatement. But don’t take our word for it, the albums is streaming online at Pitchfork. We caught them live about a month ago, and they were great. If you’re going to the Scion Rock Fest in Memphis on June 1, you’ll get a chance to see them there.
A headlining show at New York City’s Highline Ballroom by ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted’s new solo project (Newsted) turned tense for a moment Tuesday evening. Newsted’s band was halfway through a rendition of Metallica’s “Whiplash” when a fan leapt onstage, appeared to attempt a stage dive into the middle of the audience and instead ran into Newsted from behind, knocking them both off the stage and into the audience. With the crowd stopping the fan in the mosh pit while others yelled at him, a security guard immediately escorted the fan from the venue with one forearm wrapped around his neck, pursued by other members of the venue’s security detail.
Visibly disoriented from a roughly five-foot fall that could have caused serious damage with a slightly different angle, Newsted returned to the stage with the help of security, replacing an in-ear monitor knocked out by the fall and addressing the crowd:
“You know, no matter how many shows I’ve done, that just happened for the first time. …I trust my brothers here to take care of it. Anyone get a good look at that motherfucker? Don’t kill him, just bruise him up a bit.”
Newsted said this last part with just the right amount of good humor, but the fall itself was a bone-chilling moment that luckily didn’t end in serious injury. It immediately brought Randy Blythe’s “be carefully” statement against stage diving to mind, putting the crowd on edge at a time where metal crowd behavior is freshly in the public eye. The knock out is also a tad concerning considering Newsted’s 2006 shoulder injury (which left him inactive in the music scene for over a year). While details are still developing, Newsted appears to be doing ok following last night’s incident.
UPDATE: Video of Newsted getting knocked offstage in NYC has made its way online. Watch the incident below. Read more »
Metal Insider’s Top 5 is a column where we count down the top five of…well basically anything.
With yesterday’s passing of The Doors’ keyboardist Ray Manzarek, it got us thinking about the most maligned instrument in metal: the keyboard. While synths and keyboards aren’t the core part of a stereotypical “metal” band, there are definitely a decent amount of heavier bands that are what they are because of their use of keyboards. With that in mind, here’s our completely not all-encompassing slightly more than top five list of bands featuring keyboards.
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Did you love hearing Anvil’s new song “Mankind Machine”? Then stream the Canadian thrashers’ new album Hope In Hell in its entirety before it’s released on May 28 over at Loudwire.
Did you enjoy hearing a new song from Philip (H.) Anselmo’s solo album Walk Through Exits Only last week? Then get excited, because you’ll soon get the chance to hear it live, as Anselmo has announced dates for his first ever solo North American tour.
The tour, being dubbed Technicians Of Distortion, will find the Down/ex-Pantera singer playing across the continent with his backup band The Illegals (guitarist Marzi Montazeri, bassist Steve Taylor, and Jose Manual Gonzalez on drums) over a three-week period in July/August. Providing support on the trek will be Warbeast (a band the singer has had a long time relationship with) and Auther And Punisher. “It is an incredible pleasure to do my first solo tour with my brothers in Warbeast and to introduce the mighty Author And Punisher to the Exrteme Music audience properly,” Anselmo said in a statement. “This is a killer program of insane variety, so come out and support the gigs!!!!”
Check out a rundown of dates for Anselmo’s first ever solo tour below. Walk Through Exits Only will be released on July 16 on Housecore Records (via MRI/Megaforce). Read more »
About a month ago, we showed you a song from The Winery Dogs, a power trio consisting of drummer Mike Portnoy (Adrenaline Mob, ex-Dream Theater), bassist Billy Sheehan (ex Mr. Big) and guitarist/vocalist Richie Kotzen (Mr. Big, ex-Poison). Now the band has landed a US deal with Loud & Proud Records. While the band’s self-titled debut came out in Japan on May 15 via Victor Entertainment, it will be released in America on July 23. The band have also unveiled another track from the album, “Desire.”
The new track, much like the first one we heard, is more straight ahead rock than the shreddiness that might be expected from three virtuoso instrumentalists. In fact, if you’re a fan of Sheehand’s band Mr. Big, which Kotzen has also played with, you won’t be disappointed by the new project. Portnoy commented in a press release:
“I am so excited about The Winery Dogs and am proud and honored to be working with two of the greatest musicians on the planet! Richie Kotzen is such an unbelievable talent, as a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter. I think The Winery Dogs will finally get him the attention and recognition that he so richly deserves. And what can be said of Billy Sheehan that hasn’t been said already? He is one the true pioneers of the instrument and a legend. I am looking forward to working with the great staff of Loud & Proud Records, some of whom I worked very closely with during their time at Roadrunner and my time with Dream Theater. I look forward to continuing that relationship with The Winery Dogs!”
Check out the videos for “Desire” and “Elevate,” and download the song “We Are One” for free via the widget after the jump. Read more »
It’s hard to find words to describe how intense and awesome Lamb of God, Decapitated, and Anciients were as they made their way into the Bible Belt to crush Nashville, playing at Marathon Music Works. I’m not certain if the show fully sold out but the venue was definitely packed to the gills with metalheads anxious to have Lamb Of God hit the stage, with the crowd already chanting the band’s name before the first support band could even take the stage.
This leg of the tour was to feature hardcore band, Terror, but the group dropped off the tour just days before it was to kick off. Luckily, Vancouver’s Anciients, whom you should remember from Metal Insider’s Unsigned & Streamed a while back (they’re now signed to Season of Mist), were able to make themselves available to join the tour in their place–obviously a HUGE opportunity for the band! I’d heard some of their discography in the past, but I didn’t fully realize their awesomeness until I had seen them live this night. In terms of their sound (though you should try listening to them yourself), some elements of their music remind me of Mastodon, with screaming vocals that I’d compare to those of Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth. Their heavy grooves got the crowd moving and pumped for Decapitated, who were up next.
Polish tech-death outfit, Decapitated, picked up where Anciients left off and put on a hell of a show with a set that featured mostly newer material off of their 2012 release Carnival is Forever including the tracks “Homo Sum” and “View from a Hole”. I wasn’t sure how the audience would take them, as they aren’t as well known as the headlining act of the night, but based on the intensity of the mosh pit (one fan broke his ankle only 2 minutes into their set!), the band seemed to go over well. The crowd really went nuts towards the end of their set as they launched into the fan-favorite (and my favorite) song, “Spheres of Madness”.
By this time, things had started to get so hot and humid inside the venue, that the high, vaulted ceilings were dripping onto the crowd, but that didn’t stop people from going wild once the mighty Lamb of God took the stage. They did not disappoint with their set, playing some of their newer material off of Resolution, while also covering classic Lamb of God songs, like “Walk With Me in Hell” “Now You’ve Got Something to Die For,” “Ruin,” “Laid To Rest” and many more. Randy and his bandmates were in top form, with the frontman leaping and bounding around the stage. At one point, Randy took a moment to address the unfortunate situation in the Czech Republic and the tragic loss of Lamb Of God fan Daniel Nosek, telling the audience to have fun but to also be safe. Lamb of God ended with the song, “Black Label,” leaving a very sweaty, yet satisfied audience.
Check out photos from each band’s set in the gallery below. Read more »
Looks like Sebastian Bach is about to get plenty of face time on network TV, as the former Skid Row singer will be one of the contestants in ABC’s new competition series, Sing Your Face Off. Hosted by actor John Barrowman of Torchwood fame, the show will find Bach competing against comedian Jon Lovitz, Toronto Raptors player Landry Fields, teenage Disney Channel actress-singer China Anne McClain and former soap star Lisa Rinna in a six-episode series. In case that grouping of celebrities wasn’t random enough for you, the show’s celebrity judges will be 80s pop star Debbie Gibson and former Saturday Night Live Star Darrell Hammond.
Granted, this actually isn’t Bach’s first go as a contestant on a singing competition show (not to mention all of the other reality TV appearances he’s made over the years). Back competed in MTV’s 2007 Celebrity Rap Superstar and actually won the second season of CMT’s Gone Country show. But what’s the catch with ABC’s Sing Your Face Off? Well according to EW, the five celebrities will “take on the identity of an iconic music performer each week.” So… it’s basically just American Idol but with known names competing? Or are they literally going to have Bach dress up as someone famous and sing onstage? What are we missing?
An air date for the show, produced by Endemol USA with Georgie Hurford-Jones (America’s Got Talent), has yet to be confirmed but could premiere as soon as this summer.
On a week like this, metal has to fight for its new releases to get recognized. We have a short list today. Let’s just get right to it so you can get to buying some of these new albums!
Airbourne, Black Dog Barking (Roadrunner)
This album was first announced back in November 2011, so it’s been in the works for some time. After the success of No Guts. No Glory., Airbourne has a lot to live up to on this new album. Although the album only peaked at #90 on the US charts, No Guts. No Glory. broke into the top 20 in nine other countries, and even reached the top 10 in three of the nine. Improving on those performances could mean even greater recognition and appreciation worldwide, and for a band as young as Airbourne, that would be a very impressive feat. With eleven different songs featured in video games, two different songs used as WWE event themes, several song credits in movies and TV, and massive worldwide touring credentials, Airbourne are still rising and ready to take over the rock scene with their fresh take on classic sounds.
Also being released this week:
U.D.O., Steelhammer (AFM)
Timo Tolkki’s Avalon The Land Of New Hope (Frontiers)
A Pale Horse Named Death, Lay My Soul to Waste (Steamhammer/SPV)
Helix, R-O-C-K! Best of 1983-2012 (Cleopatra)
Saffire, From Ashes to Fire (Inner Wound)
Zed Desperation Blues (I And I)
Next Week: After a stellar comeback four years ago, one of the greatest grunge bands in history releases the long-awaited sequel to the comeback. Let’s see how it goes for them in seven days!
The A.V. Club, an offshoot of The Onion, is one of our favorite pop culture blogs. Along with no-bullshit reviews of TV, movies and video games, they also have original features like “Undercover,” where artists come in and cover one of 25 songs from a list. Last year, GWAR covered Kansas and Reggie Watts covered Van Halen, judging from this year, they’re getting even quirkier. Take this week’s installment of the series, which finds Louisville hardcore band Coliseum covering Eddie Money’s “Shakin’” with special guest Bruce Lamont on the saxophone. Of all the things we thought we’d be writing about today, the saxophonist of Yakuza playing an ’80s song with a hardcore band wasn’t one of them. Check it out after the jump. Read more »
ASG’s fourth album, Blood Drive, isn’t necessarily a bold departure for the band, but that’s a good thing. The band’s first album for Relapse, due out on May 28 is a perfect blend of Torche-like major key stoner sludge and straight-forward rock that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Queens of the Stone Age album, even though a review mentioned in the press release says that mentioning them alongside those bands is an understatement. But don’t take our word for it, the albums is streaming online at Pitchfork. We caught them live about a month ago, and they were great. If you’re going to the Scion Rock Fest in Memphis on June 1, you’ll get a chance to see them there.
Posted by Bram Teitelman on Wed, May 22, 2013 at 11:06 am
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