Tickets £5.00 adv from 0844 477 2000 or ticketweb.co.uk from 03.10.11
Win VIP tickets from jagermeister.co.uk
Doors 7pm – OVER 18s ONLY

Following on from the success of the first Jägermeister ‘Ice Cold’ event at Battersea Power Station in May 2011, featuring rock legend Alice Cooper in the UK’s first ever 4D holographic gig, Jägermeister has teamed up with promoters Academy Events to present twelve bands at two more spectacular ‘Ice Cold’ events this autumn.

On Monday 31st October, Jägermeister will host ‘Ice Cold in Birmingham’ at O2 Academy Birmingham featuring reggae-rock headliners Skindred, alongside metal legends Therapy?, Glasgow five-piece Yashin, the notoriously hardcore Rolo Tomassi, plus The Treatment and Malefice.

“This show may be on Halloween but to us it's more like Christmas has come early .To get the opportunity to see one of the best live acts in Britain, Therapy?, plus Rolo Tomassi who are awesome, plus Yashin and The Treatment all for free and for us to headline; we cant wait!“ says Skindred drummer Arya Goggin.

Tickets for Jägermeister ‘Ice Cold in Birmingham’ are FREE! To apply for tickets from Metal Hammer, text ‘ICE COLD’ to 87474 (max 2 tickets per person – over 18s only – subject to availability) (standard network charges apply). Win VIP tickets from jagermeister.co.uk

On Tuesday 29th November, Jägermeister heads to Hertfordshire for ‘Ice Cold in Hatfield’ featuring six bands spread across two rooms at The Forum Hertfordshire.

Main room headliners The King Blues will bring their raucous blend of punk and reggae to the masses, with a blistering live performance of tracks from their latest album, ‘Punk & Poetry’. In support are reggae-punks The Skints and Crowns. Headlining the second room will be Sheffield’s ‘mathcore’ heroes, Rolo Tomassi, with support from Turbowolf and Hawk Eyes, who will make for a seriously noisy night of metal.

Tickets for ‘Ice Cold in Hatfield’ are just £5.00 (adv) per person thanks to Jägermeister subsidising admission so that fans can see six of their favourite bands for an incredible one-off ticket price, available from 9am on Monday 3rd October 2011 from ticketweb.co.uk or 0844 477 2000. Win VIP tickets from www.jagermeister.co.uk

All of the bands performing at the ‘Ice Cold’ events are part of the JägerMusic programme, which supports both new and established signed and unsigned bands from across the UK.

stream of passion join leaves' eyes in france and uk

Stream of Passion have announced that they willl be joining Leave's Eyes on their upcoming tour dates in France and the UK!

The band, who recently released their new album Darker Days on Napalm Records will replace Visions of Atlantis who have had to pull out.

17 Oct - Lyon, Le CCO / H'elles on Stage festival
18 Oct - Paris, tba
20 Oct - Manchester, Academy 3
21 Oct - London, Underworld

black widow to release new studio album

Black Widow - the ground breaking, occult, orgiastic progressive hard rock group who were banned by the BBC and besieged by religious nutters when they originally emerged in 1970, return to the Sabbat in 2011 with a brand new studio album, Sleeping With Demons released on 31 October, distributed by Cargo Records.

Sleeping With Demons, which marks a massive return to the black magic roots Black Widow know so well, is packed with anthemic rock songs, huge chants, soaring hooks, and a story line with a host of new black magic stories to tell. Written, performed, and produced by Clive Jones and Geoff Griffith, Sleeping With Demons also features special guests Tony Martin (lead singer with Black Sabbath from 1987 to 1997), Kay Garret and Paolo 'Apollo' Negri.

Black Widow took the world by storm in the 1970's. Hailed as the 'original' black magic band, they rivalled Black Sabbath, were billed with Deep Purple and Yes, and played at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1971, where their set featured Come to the Sabbat, the rock anthem from their debut album Sacrifice. The band's concerts, which featured the mock sacrifice of a nude woman every night on stage, were picketed by religious fanatics, who would preach at the waiting queues warning of the inherent dangers of witchcraft and Black Widow. But by 1973 the band had imploded and gone their own distinctly separate ways.

Recalling how Sleeping With Demons came about, Clive Jones notes; "I had the idea of writing and producing a new Black Widow album for many years, but that's all it remained until I traced Geoff Griffith through one of his later bands, Moving Fingers. I don't think I had seen Geoff for about 30+ years so when he came to visit we had a lot to chat about; Geoff had the same idea, and the really good part was that Geoff had his own studio in Thailand - "Clear Blue Sky Studios". I first recruited a fantastic keyboard player, Paolo "Apollo" Negri from the band Wicked Minds in Italy who were signed to the Black Widow Records label. (The label was nothing to do with us they just loved the band and had used our name.) I then asked Kay Garret from the original band if she would like to help out; Kay had not been in the studio for many years but she was keen to help with lead & backing vocals - I wrote a blues song for her that she loved and that showed off her unique style - Even the Devil Gets the Blues.

In the very early days we had been friendly rivals with Black Sabbath - we even shared the same manager for a few years - and the press were always talking about both bands being involved with black magic (something Black Sabbath had always denied). So I thought wouldn't it be a crazy idea to have a Black Sabbath member guest on a Black Widow album? I contacted Tony Martin, lead singer for ten years with Black Sabbath, from a website and to my surprise he came over to see me. We spent a most entertaining day together swopping 'Black' stories. I played Tony a demo of the album and he said he would love to guest if we found the right song. Tony chose to swap vocals with myself on the Come to the Sabbat styled Hail Satan. It's taken many years to complete and lots of 'tears and wine' but at last after forty + years Black Widow are back. Turn the lights out, the volume up, and enjoy!"

steel panther are back

The mighty Steel Panther are back on the prowl in the UK and will play an exclusive headline show in London at the Electric Ballroom on 8 November.

Alongside this the band will release their new album Balls Out on 31 October and the new single, If You Really Really Love Me on 7 November.

As if this wasn't enough the band will also head back to the UK in December to complete the touring trio of Def Leppard and Motley Crue for some arena dates just before Christmas... what more could you want?

Lock up your daughters all over again!   Los Angeles' very own heavy metal band, Steel Panther, will be returning to UK shores for an exclusive headline London show on Tuesday 8th November 2011 at the Electric Ballroom in Camden.  Tickets are priced at £17.50 plus booking fee and will go onsale on Friday 26th August at 9am.  They can be bought via www.livenation.co.uk.

The band have also confirmed the release date for their highly anticipated second album, Balls Out, which will be released on 31 October via Universal Records.  The first single taken from the album will be If You Really Really Love Me and is a loving ode with a Panther twist!

Their debut album, Feel The Steel, was released to critical acclaim in 2009 and has surely earned
Michael Starr, Satchel, Lexxi Foxx and Stix Zadinia a place in mythical musical masterpiece history! The album has sold over 45,000 copies in the UK alone to date!

The four member band, known for their outrageous stage presence and gargantuan guitar riffs have been entertaining fans and scores of rock and entertainment VIPs with their raucous antics via L.A.'s longest running heavy metal show on the Sunset Strip for nearly a decade (now running at the infamous House of Blues every Monday night).  The band also holds residencies at the Green Valley Resort and Casino and the House of Blues Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday. 

'the group's new album  promises to exude the same Steel Panther bravado and irreverent vitality that has compelled a stable of revered artists join them on stage through the years, including, Sebastian Bach, Gene Simmons of Kiss, Dave Navarro, Vince Neil  and Tommy Lee of Motley Crue, Perry Farrell Member of Sum 41, Pink,  and even, all the Members of Green Day!  Tom Morrello of Rage against the Machine, Corey Taylor of Slipnot and Stone Sour, Scott Ian of Anthrax and The Damned Things) Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme, Cee-Lo Green, Rupert Grint of Harry Potter fame!

UK Dates:

08 Nov: London - Electric Ballroom

06 Dec: Birmingham - LG Arena

08 Dec: Nottingham - Arena

09 Dec: Glasgow - SECC

11 Dec: Manchester - MEN Arena

13 Dec: Sheffield - Arena

14 Dec: Wembley - Arena

Tickets available from usual outlets.

power quest part ways with chity sompala

Power Quest have announced that vocalist Chity Somapala has left the band. The full press release reads as follows:

"We are sorry to have to announce that Chity Somapala has left Power Quest, making the appearance at BOA his last with the band. Chity decided that, at this stage of his career, he wanted to move away from metal to focus on his solo work which is more rock and blues based.

Power Quest mainman Steve Williams commented:

'Clearly the last thing I wanted after releasing the Blood Alliance album earlier this year was to have another line up change, having been through so many in recent times. Having said that, we all have to do what is right for us at specific points in time and we part ways with Chity on very 'good terms and wish him all the very best for the future.

Myself, Andy, Paul, Rich and Gav have been auditioning potential replacements for the past couple of months and we have now decided on who will be the man to take up the frontman role in the band. We would like to thank everyone who has submitted recordings and travelled to auditions as well.

We are already hard at work rehearsing for the UK dates in November and we can promise quite a different set list to what we have been performing so far this year. We will be revealing the identity of our new frontman very soon..... this guy blew us away at the auditions!

The first shows with the new vocalist will be in Bedford on 25 November and Wakefield on 27 November, and the Wakefield show will be streamed live on the web!"

05th october

updates

Feature

Bloodstock Open Air

Reviews

White Wizzard - Flying Tigers

Leprous - Bilateral

02nd october

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

HammerFall

Primordial

Morbid Angel

Hell

01st october

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

Motörhead

Napalm Death

Exodus

At the Gates

29th september

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

Wintersun

27th september

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

Rhapsody of Fire

Ihsahn

Gravedigger

26th september

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

Finntroll

24th september

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

Skeletonwitch

22nd september

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

W.A.S.P.

Review

Reckless Love - Animal Attraction

18th september

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

Triptykon

Kreator

Devin Townsend

17th september

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

Immortal

Coroner

01st september

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

Therion

31st august

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

Tarot

1349

29th august

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

Poisonblack

Forbidden (page I, page II)

28th august

updates

Photos

Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

Wolf

The Defiled

25th august

updates

Review

Evile - Five Serpent's Teeth

09th august

updates

Reviews

Suicide Silence - The Black Crown

Jasta - Jasta

29th july

updates

Feature

Bloodstock

getting to bloodstock

With just two weekends to go before BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR it’s time to start planning your travel to the mighty metal metropolis.


TRAVEL BY COACH

BIG GREEN COACH is the official travel partner for BOA and are running coach services from 26 locations around the UK direct to the Bloodstock festival site. All coaches arrive on Thursday 11th and depart on Monday 15th. Return fares start from just £15. You can also buy your full weekend entry and camping ticket together with your travel tickets.

What’s more, if you buy your coach travel from BIG GREEN COACH, you are automatically entered into a draw to win a VIP mini yurt experience for two, so you can enjoy your festival weekend in luxury style. If you’ve not yet booked your travel, head to:

http://www.biggreencoach.co.uk/index.php/product/affview/bloodstockcomp

BGC are also operating the shuttle bus service to Bloodstock from the Lichfield City and Burton On Trent train stations. Save money by pre-booking and get the shuttle bus £2 cheaper than purchasing on the day.

BY CAR

Of course there is plenty of parking available for those who wish to travel by car, but if you would like to reduce your carbon footprint, help other people travel to Bloodstock and save money, why not offer your empty car seats to others on goCarShare? goCarShare is built around Facebook; you can login quickly and look at people's profiles before deciding whether you would like to travel with them. goCarShare is a green, fun and good value way to get to Bloodstock. You can add a car share request right here: http://gocarshare.com/festival/bloodstock

TRAIN SERVICES

Make your way to Birmingham New Street railway station. From Birmingham New Street station take the train to Lichfield City. This journey should take approximately 35 Minutes. Lichfield station is 7 miles from Catton Hall and is about 15-20 minutes drive, or you can hop on a shuttle bus from Burton on Trent or Lichfield City train stations straight to the festival site.

For info on trains from your nearest station to Lichfield City, call National Rail on: 08457 484 950 or check out their website: www.nationalrail.co.uk

Approximate Mileage to B.O.A from the following locations:

London - 130, Manchester - 85, Bristol - 110, Birmingham - 20, Nottingham - 45

Birmingham Airport & British Rail - 20, East Midlands Airport - 20, Tamworth British Rail - 8

Don't forget you can still get your tickets for the weekend from the official website

behemoth preparing for tour

Behemoth have started rehearsing for upcoming tours. Polish dates are already scheduled while European and UK and US tours are being worked on. Video from the rehearsal is available via this link.

Vocalist/guitarist Nergal comments: "It's been two weeks since we began rehearsing for tour. Things are going very smoothly and the chemistry is definitely back! We feel very much refreshed.

But what excites me the most is the fact that we've already started jamming out NEW song. Crazy, ain't it? I'm super stoked. It sounds so fuckin' sinister, I can't even describe it…Fast, furious, but more evil in a way. Stay tuned, more info will follow!"

More info on Behemoth tour dates and releases will be available as it is confirmed on nuclearblast.de and behemoth.pl.

arthemis to tour uk / spain

Arthemis have announced their UK tour supporting Freedom Call in November:

18 Nov: London - Underworld

19 Nov: Nottingham - MG Ballroom

20 Nov: Wakefield - Snooty Fox

21 Nov: Newcastle - Trillians

22 Nov: Grimsby - Yardbirds

23 Nov: Birmingham - Roadhouse

The guitarist and leader of the band, Andy states:

"It's time to rock the UK with tons of Heavy Metal and here we are… Freedom Call, Arthemis and Neonfly are ready to give you a special crazy show!! It's an honour to share the stage with such great bands… the German power-metallers, Freedom Call, and our partners in crime, Neonfly! We can't wait to party with our UK fans and friends... it's gonna be a 6-days-Metal Mayhem and together with you all, we'll make it happen! See ya on tour Metalheads!!"

The band has also announced their headlining Spanish tour in October!!

20 Oct: Sala Metalarium, Badajoz

21 Oct: Sala El Tren, Granada

22 Oct: Rock City, Valencia

23 Oct: Fabrica De Tornillos, Burgos

As if that is not enough the band will also perform for one night only at the Dean Guitars DOA in London on 24 September. This follows their apperance at this year's Bloodstock Open Air on the Sophie Lancaster Stage on Friday 12 August.

Andy states:

"We're very excited to be back at the mighty Bloodstock Open Air! What we wanna do is give to the Bloodstock crowd a 100% True-Metal-Killer show! We are loud and heavy. So be there and enjoy the madness!! We can't wait to party with you! Stay metal!"

onslaught announce tour

Onslaught have announced dates for their Scream for Violence UK and Ireland Tour 2011. Catch them on the following dates:

21 Sep: Cardiff - The Globe

22 Sep: Maidstone - Babylon Live Lounge

23 Sep: London - Relentless Garage

24 Sep: Nottingham - MG Ballroom *

25 Sep: Plymouth - White Rabbit

26 Sep: Liverpool - The Masque

27 Sep: Newcastle - Legends

28 Sep: Edinburgh - Studio 24

29 Sep: Belfast - Spring and Airbreak

30 Sep: Cork - A Crucian Lan

01 Oct: Dublin - The Pint*

(*Onslaught / Fallen Fate only)

For more information visit the band's official myspace page.

20th july

updates

Reviews

Grinspoon - Six to Midnight

Voivod - Warriors of Ice

Anvil - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK

18th july

updates

Reviews

Strawbs - Hero & Heroine – In Ascencia   

Pathfinder - Beyond the Space, Beyond the Time

Die Vorboten - Aufschrei

Kevin Ridley - Flying in the Face of Logic

David Mark Pearce - Strange Ang3ls

Steve Hackett - Live Rails

06th july

updates

Reviews

Sepultura - Waterfront, Norwich, UK

HammerFall - Infected

Combichrist - Academy, Manchester, UK

05th july

updates

Reviews

Whistenake - Apollo, Manchester, UK

Devin Townsend Project - Ghost

Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction

In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading

29th june

updates

Review

Reece Kronlund - Solid

28th june

updates

Reviews

Anvil - Juggernaut of Justice

3 Doors Down - Time of My Life

Big Life - Big Life

27th june

updates

Photos

Anvil - Academy, Manchester, UK

15th june

updates

Photos: Archive

Robin Black - Little Civic, Wolverhampton, UK

black country communion launch new video / tour dates

Black Country Communion have launched the official promo video for Man in the Middle. The song is taken from their forthcoming album 2, released in the UK on Monday 13 June. The video can be viewed here.

Black Country Communion is the Anglo/American rock band featuring Glenn Hughes (vocals, bass), Joe Bonamassa (guitar, vocals), Jason Bonham (drums) and Derek Sherinian (keyboards).

The band will be touring the UK in July:

23 Jul: Llandudno - Cymru Arena

24 Jul: High Voltage Festival

26 Jul: Leeds - O2 Academy

27 Jul: Newcastle - O2 Academy

29 Jul: Glasgow - O2 Academy

30 Jul: Manchester - Academy

Tickets available from the usual outlets.

sabaton win 'breakthrough' at golden gods awards and return to the uk

The band have released this statement on their official website:

'We want to aim a big thanks to all the people who voted for Sabaton in the Golden Gods Awards.

We returned from London with the prize for “Breakthrough”.

People always said that our music is nothing for UK, but the sold out tour in last October was a proof of the opposite.

We wanted to give something back to the UK fans and so we decided to add a unique one-off show in London.

This will be a longer setlist then usual and will be the last show in UK on the “World War Tour”

The show will be in Koko in London on the 16 December.

Tickets will be available very soon…'

Keep checking the band's official website for more details.

eden's curse to play with dream theater

Taken from press release:

Yes folks, it's true, our very own Melodic Metal masters, Eden's Curse have just announced THE ticket of the Summer; the first live shows of 2011 with none other than, the mighty Dream Theater…..

Who better to comment on this wonderful news, than General Michael Eden of course...

"Yes, my friends!! Anything can and will happen! The 'Curse is over the moon. We have nailed the opening slot for the Dream Theater shows in July, and we're really looking forward to sharing the stage with these boys as they prepare their UK return, with a show that will blow minds and speakers!! An evening of Metal delights awaits Metal supporters everywhere!! Dream Theater is back and The Curse is ready to kick some ass with their hardcore fans in the UK!! See you all down the front!'

22 Jul: Leeds - Academy

23 Jul: Wolverhampton - Wolverhampton Civic

Tickets available from the usual outlets.

slash to play uk shows alongside high voltage appearance

Slash is widely considered one of the greatest rock guitar players of all time. An original member of iconic rock band Guns N' Roses, the band that band dominated the 1980's and 90's music scene selling more than 100 million albums worldwide and ushering in a decade of hard charging rock music. After the band's break-up, Slash went on to critical acclaim in his personal project Slash's Snakepit and global success with supergroup Velvet Revolver. 2010 saw Slash release his eponymous debut album to widespread critical and commercial acclaim – the album featuring guests such as Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, Lemmy, Dave Grohl and Fergie (Black Eyed Peas). A single, Starlight, featuring Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge – and Slash's touring vocalist) and taken from the album Slash is set for release on the 25 July 2011. The addition of this truly iconic musicians cements that High Voltage is one of the must-see festivals of this summer.

Alongside his perforamnce at High Voltage Slash will also be playing the following dates:

20 Jul: Birmingham - Academy

21 Jul: Manchester - Apollo

23 Jul: High Voltage Festival - London

24 Jul: Stoke-on-Trent - Victoria Hall

25 Jul: Leeds - Academy

12th june

updates

Reviews

Eisbrecher - Eiskalt

Sepultura - Kairos

Rush - Moving Pictures

the darkness: uk tour

Following their triumphant intimate warm-up shows (the roof of Shepherd's Bush Empire was reportedly eventually found floating in Chelsea Harbour in the early hours of the morning), and the band's full-blown main stage 'comeback' show at this year's Download Festival, The Darkness make their return to touring with an extensive UK run in November 2011.

This is the original line-up's first tour since 2005, and the largest selection of British towns the band has performed in on one tour since they were still riding around in a clapped-out transit van.

When the band released their debut album Permission to Land in 2003 they exploded into the UK's consciousness with a fresh and exciting sound, look and attitude. Playing every show as if they were headlining Wembley Stadium they embraced the classic rock sounds of the 70's and 80's and gave it a unique updated sound for the new millennium. Countless chart hits followed, three Brit Awards, millions of albums sales and sold out tours before they called it a day in 2006.

After Download this weekend the band will play several European festivals before returning to concentrate on finishing their third album … do hold your breath!

See The Darkness bring the light ….

08 Nov: Liverpool - O2 Academy

09 Nov: Edinburgh - HMV Picture House

10 Nov: Glasgow - O2 Academy

12 Nov: Newcastle - O2 Academy

13 Nov: Manchester - Academy

14 Nov: Bristol - O2 Academy

16 Nov: Brighton - Dome

17 Nov: Southampton - Guildhall

18 Nov: Birmingham - O2 Academy

20 Nov: Cambridge - Corn Exchange

21 Nov: Sheffield - O2 Academy

22 Nov: Nottingham - Rock City

24 Nov: Norwich - UEA

25 Nov: London - HMV Hammersmith Apollo

04 Dec: Dublin - Olympia

05 Dec: Belfast - Ulster Hall

You can purchase tickets from the usual outlets.

For the avoidance of doubt, The Darkness remains:
Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, Ed Graham.

michael monroe announces line up change

Michael Monroe Band’s guitarist Ginger will play his last gig with the band at Provinssirock on 17 June.

The new guitarist‘s identity will be revealed after Provinssirock and the band is certain that it will be a pleasant surprise to all fans of Michael Monroe.

The first gig with the new line-up will take place at Kalasatama, Helsinki on 26 June where the band will be supporting Foo Fighters.

The first UK date with the new guitarist will be at The High Voltage Festival at Victoria Park on Saturday 23 July.

sabaton comment on first ever live album

Swedish epic power metal superstars Sabaton will release their first ever live album World War Live: Battle of the Baltic Sea on 5 August 2011.

Commented bass player Pär Sundström: "Over the years so many people have told us we should make a live-album and finally we fell to the demands of all of you, our fans. The World War Tour was amazing and we wanted to record it and keep the shows alive forever. So, during the magic night aboard the Sabaton Cruise 2010 we recorded the whole show and now we stand ready to release it as the first ever official Sabaton live-CD. And as if it was not enough we also recorded many shows all around Europe and put together a whole CD with mixed songs from various cities.And finally we decided to release the recording we did at the first Rockstad:Falun festival 2008 from Falun as a bonus for you who buy the limited edition. In total it will be over twenty different songs and we have also collected a lot of pictures from the tour and put them in a massive booklet. We will reveal all details very soon."

pentagram announce first ever uk show

Pentagram have announced they will make their first ever UK appearance in December. The doom rock legends will appear at The Relentless Garage, Highbury, London on 9 December 2011. Support comes from Horisont.

Bobby Liebling has been dreaming of this moment for a long time:

"I've always dreamed of playing London some day. Thanks to the fans for having us over to play in this great country! It's a land who's music has had a huge impact on my life and work. We are absolutely honored".

Pentagram, featuring the talents of Bobby Liebling, Victor Griffin, Greg Turley, and new drummer Albert Born, recently released their highly anticipated full-length album Last Rites via Metal Blade Records. Last Rites contains eleven new tracks of behemoth tunes that fans have been clamoring for since the last Liebling/Griffin masterpiece was released in 1994 (Be Forewarned).

Last Rites track listing:

Treat Me Right
Call the Man
Into the Ground
8
Everything's Turning to Night
Windmills and Chimes
American Dream
Walk in Blue Light
Horseman
Death in 1st Person

Nothing Left

Tickets available from the usual outlets.

new anvil album prior to uk tour

SPV / Steamhammer are proud to announce the release of seminal Canadian Heavy Metal band Anvil's stunning new studio album, Juggernaut of Justice on 20 June. Juggernaut of Justice, the band's first studio album since 2007, was recorded at Foofighter, friend and fan Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Northridge, California, and produced by Bob Marlette, (Ozzy Osbourne, Marylin Manson, Alice Cooper).

Juggernaut of Justice will be released as a standard twelve track jewel case CD, a limited edition digipak CD containing two bonus tracks and a double gatefold LP in blue vinyl, plus download. Anvil hit the road to play the following UK headline shows as part of their European tour:-

21 Jun: Sheffield - Corporation

22 Jun: Manchester - Academy 3

23 Jun: Glasgow - Cathouse

24 Jun: Newcastle - Academy 2

25 Jun: Nottingham - Rock City

11 Jul: London - Islington Academy

12 Jul: Wolverhampton - Slade Rooms

For more information check out the band's official site.

11th june

updates

Reviews

Uriah Heep - Into the Wild

Elevener - Symmetry in Motion

08th june

updates

Reviews

Cynthesis - DeEvolution

The Defiled - Grave Times

29th may

updates

Review

Arch Enemy - Khaos Legions

28th may

updates

Review

Soilent Green - Moho, Manchester, UK

Amorphis - The Beginning of Times

27th may

updates

Review

Williams Friestedt - Williams Friestedt

26th may

updates

Reviews

Children of Bodom - Relentless Reckless Forever

Mexicolas - The Minerva Suite

25th may

updates

Reviews

Pain - You Only Live Twice

Drive-By Truckers - Met, Leeds, UK

15th may

updates

Interview

Ben and Brian - Soilent Green

Reviews

Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstacy

U.D.O. - Rev-Raptor

uk tour for motörhead in november

THard Rock legends Motörhead have today announced that they will be returning to the UK for their annual tour this November. This year the band will be supported on their 11 date run by British Punk bands Anti Nowhere League and UK Subs.

In keeping with what has now become tradition for any self respecting rock fan, Motörhead lead by rock icon Lemmy return for their annual, country-wide November tour. Starting on 2 November in Wolverhampton, the tour will stop at eleven cities across the UK, winding up on 18 November in Manchester. The huge success of their 35th Anniversary tour in 2010 and the release of critically acclaimed rockumentary Lemmy, proved that Motörhead are very much keeping everything louder than everything else. This year, as well as the Motörhead tour, Lemmy's side project HeadCat will be releasing brand new album Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk in July this and a Live DVD will be released later in the year as well.

Supports this year come from two of Britain's most respected and long standing Punk bands Anti Nowhere League and UK Subs. Speaking on touring with Motörhead, Animal from Anti Nowhere League had the following to say

'For years we have been asked by our fans 'When are you going to play with Motörhead?'. So this is it, it will be a great ending to a fantastic year. Motorhead have always been a big influence on the ANWL and for me it is a personal honour to take to the same stage as these men. We are committed to making this tour something everyone will be talking about forever, the coming together of different styles of hard, in-your-face rock..'

The UK Subs added:

"The UK Subs have been huge fans of Motörhead for years, so to be invited to be part of this exciting tour in November is a massive honour !"

Don't miss your chance to see this stellar line up when it comes your way in November.

02 Nov: Wolverhampton - Civic Hall

03 Nov: Newcastle - City Hall

05 Nov: Glasgow - O2 Academy

06 Nov: Liverpool - Mountford Hall (University)

08 Nov: Briston - Colston Hall

11 Nov: Norwich - UEA

12 Nov: London - Hammersmith Apollo

14 Nov: Plymouth - Pavillions

15 Nov: Southampton - Guildhall

17 Nov: Nottingham - Royal Centre

18 Nov: Manchester - Apollo

bloodstock announce more names

The latest additions for Bloodstock Open Air 2011 have been revealed, with six additions showcasing the wide variety of metal on offer at Catton Hall this summer.

London metallers The Defiled make their first main stage appearance at an outdoor festival to bring their chaotic live set to the Ronnie James Dio stage. No strangers to Bloodstock, The Defiled return after a triumphant appearance on the Scuzz Unsigned stage back in 2008. Since then, things have been going incredibly well for the five piece, having since racked up a huge number of gigs alongside the likes of Delain, Lacuna Coil, Deathstars, The 69 Eyes, Sonic Syndicate, and Murderdolls to name but a few, as well as releasing their debut album Grave Times earlier this year.

Joining them on the RJD stage are Ohio's Skeletonwitch , who make their Bloodstock debut this year. The blackened thrashers set the underground metal world alight with their Breathing the Fire album back in 2009, with huge critical praise heaped upon the Billboard charting third album, earning them a slot on the prestigious Ozzfest tour, as well as high profile video game appearances, with Soul Thrashing Black Sorcery used on the Brütal Legend video game, and "Crushed Beyond Dust" on the Rock Band network. With a highly anticipated new album planned for the summer, Skeletonwitch are poised to return stronger than ever, at this exclusive UK festival appearance which the band look forward to:

On the Sophie Lancaster stage, four very exciting additions can also be revealed. Self-styled "murder-pop" mob Romeo Must Die will bring their electrifying performance to the tented arena to set it off in the way they do best. Formed from the ashes of UKHC heroes Stampn' Ground, RMD deliver a punishing blend of thrash and hardcore with some surprisingly catchy moments, and will make sure every body in the vicinity is moving with their fierce and energetic performance.

Swedish/Danish melodic metallers Amaranthe return to the UK for this exclusive festival appearance at Bloodstock after visiting these shores with Kamelot last month. Formed by Jake E. Lundberg & Olof Morck, Amaranthe are one of the most exciting news bands on the power/melodic metal scene, and a look at the video for Hunger - which already has over 320,000 views on YouTube - leaves you in no doubt as to why, with the secret weapon of front combo Elize Ryd & Andy Solvestrom, perfectly complimenting both each other and the powerful music that back them. Guitarist Olof Mörck looks forward to his return to the UK:

Also joining the Sophie line up are Norway's Hellish Outcast . Featuring members of Keep Of Kalessin, Byfrost , Breed and 66 Crusher, this death/thrash ensemble are known for their sheer brutality, aggression and expansive approach to music. "It's an honour to bring this monster of a band to Bloodstock, and I know its gonna be a killer crowd as always in the UK." enthuses vocalist Thebon. "Hellish Outcast will for sure show a new and fresh side of the Norwegian music scene! Your ears will bleed".

Finally, Scottish Death metalheads Cerebral Bore bring their punishingly brutal extreme metal to Bloodstock. The Earache signings have toured and held their own against such names as Origin, Napalm Death, The Black Dahlia Murder, Brutal Truth and many more, and will go down a storm at Bloodstock.

anvil reveal uk tour dates

Anvil have recently announced a run of UK shows in June and July. Be sure to catch them on the following dates:

21 Jun: Sheffield - Corporation

22 Jun: Manchester - Academy 3

23 June: Glasgow - Cathouse

24 Jun: Newcastle - Academy 2

25 June: Nottingham - Rock City

11 Jul: London - Islington Academy

12 Jul : Wolverhampton - Slade Rooms

For more information visit the bands official website. Tickets are available from the usual outlets.

decapitated unveil album artwork

Technical death metal band Decapitated from Poland have released the album artwork to their fifth studio album and Nuclear Blast debut, Carnival is Forever. The album will be released in North America on 12 July.

Guitarist & founding member Wac?aw "Vogg" Kie?tyka shares a few words about the cover art's intent and photography by Lukasz Jaszak:

"Very intriguing and quite strange for a metal album but surely staying in memory. A vital thing is that it's a photo. We did not want any computer graphics this time or anything artificial or plastic. The same regards the production of the album. We had actually been thinking about getting a painting for the cover but unfortunately we couldn't do it. Maybe next time."

About the album title, Vogg has previously stated:

"Carnival: war, rape, lies, pathology, evil displayed through certain events and situations of the latest years in the world. Is Forever - I guess it doesn't need explaining. Both the text and the title are bitterly ironic."

Carnival is Forever is the follow-up to 2006's Organic Hallucinosis and was produced by Wacek Kie?tyka and sound engineered by Malta Arkadiusz Malczewski. Drums & mixing duties were handled by Daniel Bergstrand (Behemoth, Meshuggah, Dimmu Borgir , Keep of Kalessin, Defleshed). The author of the album's lyrics is Jarek Szubrycht, music journalist, author of No Mercy - the world's first biography of thrash metal legends Slayer.

The band will be self-releasing the new album in their native Poland.

14th may

updates

Reviews

Houston - Club WN1, Wigan, UK

Alpha Tiger - Man or Machine

After Hours - Against the Grain

11th may

updates

Photos

Soilent Green - Moho Live, Manchester, UK

Children of Bodom - 013, Tilburg, The Netherlands

08th may

updates

Interview

Ed Warby - Hail of Bullets

04th may

After taking a well deserved break over the Easter / Royal Wedding long weekends we're back now with loads of updates - reviews, interviews, photos etc! Keep checking back for more over the next few days...

updates

Reviews

Children of Bodom - Rock Citty, Nottingham, UK

Miss Behaviour - Club WN1, Wigan, UK

Amaranthe - Amaranthe

Magnum - Waterfront, Norwich, UK

Hell - Human Remains

19th april

updates

Reviews

Machinae Supremacy - The Beat of Our Decay

Amon Amarth - Sutur Rising

Burden - A Hole in the Shell

Sonata Arctica - Garage, Glasgow, Scotland

18th april

updates

Photos

Michael Monroe - Academy, Manchester, UK

Voodoo Six - Academy, Manchester, UK

New York Alcoholic Anxiety Attack - Academy, Manchester, UK

17th april

updates

Reviews

Michael Monroe - Waterfront, Norwich, UK

Van Der Graaf Generator - A Grounding in Numbers

Van Der Graaf Generator - Academy, Manchester, UK

13th april

updates

Interview

Kev Bower - HELL

11th april

updates

Reviews

Wolf - Legions of Bastards

Wolf - Corporation, Sheffield, UK

Crimfall - The Writ of Sword

Protest the Hero - C'est la Vie (from Scurrilous)

U.D.O. - Leatherhead

08th april

updates

Photos

Children of Bodom - Academy, Manchester, UK

Amon Amarth - Academy, Manchester, UK

02nd april

updates

Photos

Crash Diet - Academy, Manchester, UK

Hardcore Superstar - Academy, Manchester, UK

The 69 Eyes - Academy, Manchester, UK

01st april

updates

Reviews

Lord of the Lost - Antagony

The 69 Eyes - Waterfront, Norwich, UK (with Crash Diet & Hardcore Superstar)

tarot - new videoclip for wings of darkness

Some twenty five years after its original release – legendary finnish Heavy Metal act Tarot have finally re-recorded their classic debut album The Spell of Iron – being released under the banner Spell of Iron MMXI on 6 May 2011.

The band also recorded a video clip for their classic Wings of Darkness, which was actually also their first single in 1986, which was their first release ever.

Click here to watch the video.

fozzy confirmed for uk sonisphere + more dates

Fozzy will play at Sonisphere on 10 July 2011 at Knebworth as part of a historic lineup including The Big 4, Slipknot, Motorhead, Diamond Head, Sisters of Mercy, Volbeat and more.

Fozzy will perform alongside metal titans Slipknot and the recently reunited Limp Bizkit on the final day of the Sonisphere Festival, Sunday, 10 July.

After sold-out tours in March and October 2010, the band will return to the UK for the third time in the past year to support Chasing the Grail [Riot Entertainment], their latest release and fourth studio album. In addition to Sonisphere, the band will appear on four headlining dates with opening acts, Voodoo Vegas and Memories in Torment.

29 Jun: Nuneaton - Queens Hall

30 Jun: Manchester - Moho Live

01 Jul: Margate - West Coast

17 Jul: London - Dingwalls

bloodstock announce yet more names

One of the leading names in the folk/pagan metal scene, Fintroll returns to Bloodstock after a rapturous reception back in 2007. Originally conceived as the result of a night of alcholic carnage, when in a moment of inspiration, original guitarist Teemu "Somnium" Raimoranta (RIP) and former vocalist Jan "Katia" Jamsen conceived of a band that fused the darkness and grandeur of black metal with the traditional Finnish hoedown-music. The resultant sound was Fintroll .

Joining them will be Fellow Finnish folk-freaks Wintersun, who's set at Bloodstock this year will be highly anticipated after they were forced to pull out the 2009 event to complete their still to be released Time album, expected later this year. Featuring members from some of the top names in the Finnish metal scene including Ensiferum, Rotten Sound and Norther, Wintersun are something of a super-group, with the various members influences combining to create a unique blend of melodic death and power metal with a heavy folk flavour that is bound to go down a storm with the Bloodstock crowd.

Also added to the line-up are reformed US Thrash legends Forbidden. The recently reformed thrashers released their first album in over thirteen years last October, after too-long a hiatus. Omega Wave, released via Nuclear Blast records, received rave reviews in the British metal media and was rapturously received by fans, who lapped up the twelve tracks of no nonsense, back-to basics thrash on offer. Find out why Forbidden are one of the most highly regarded acts of the 80s/90s US thrash scene at this, their first ever UK festival appearance.

For more information please visit Bloodstock's official website.

30th march

updates

Photos

Sonata Arctica - Academy, Manchester, UK

Triosphere - Academy, Manchester, UK

29th march

updates

Photos

Epica - Mezz, Breda, The Netherlands

Reviews

Epica - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK (with ReVamp)

myGRAIN - myGRAIN

China - Light Up the Dark

Accept - Corporation, Sheffield, UK

28th march

updates

Photos

Labyrinth - Academy, Manchester, UK

Reviews

Debauchery - Germany's Next Death Metal

Firebird - Double Diamond

Lazarus A.D. - B2, Norwich, UK (with Bonded by Blood)

M.ill.ion - Sane & Insanity

Dreamshade - What Silence Hides

Blood Ceremony - Living With the Ancients

24th march

updates

Interview

Henrik & Elias - Sonata Arctica

21st march

updates

Interview

Yves Huts - Epica

20th march

updates

Photos

Triosphere - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, UK

Labyrinth - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, UK

Sonata Arctica - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, UK

ReVamp - Moho Live, Manchester, UK

Epica - Moho Live, Manchester, UK

19th march

updates

Interview

Ida, Marius, Ørjan & T.O. - Triosphere

17th march

updates

Feature

Ida Haukland from Triosphere - 'The Essential Female Touring Kit'

the darkness return... finally!

The Darkness have released this official statement via their website:

'As promised… following a 5 year hiatus, The Darkness will make their return to the world stage on Friday 10th June 2011 at Donington Park where the band will keep the main stage warm for Def Leppard at this year’s Download Festival.

Prior to this event, The Darkness will be locked in an East Anglian studio working on tracks that will in time become the band’s third album.

For the avoidance of doubt, The Darkness is :

Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, Ed Graham.

More news shall no doubt be forthcoming before too long. In the meantime, tickets for Download and further information can be found here.

iced earth announce new vocalist and euro tour schedule

In the wake of vocalist Matt Barlow's retirement, dozens of demos and resumes flooded Iced Earth's management team. But one name kept popping up – Into Eternity vocalist Stu Block, who has been named the new lead singer for Iced Earth.

According to Schaffer, Robert Kampf, CEO of Century Media, early on suggested Block, whose band Into Eternity was previously on the CM label. That reminded Schaffer of one night in September, 2008, when Into Eternity opened for Iced Earth.

"Iced Earth was backstage waiting to go on," said Schaffer. "We heard one of Stu's incredible wails. I remember turning to Matt and saying, 'Damn, that dude has serious range.'" So while Iced Earth's management team sifted through the growing number of prospective vocalists, Schaffer got in touch with Block.

After several phone conversations with the then-prospective Iced Earth vocalist, Schaffer asked his manager to e-mail Block several key Iced Earth songs, with the vocals stripped. Block went into his studio and recorded himself singing, then sent the files back to the team. The result landed Block an intense two days at Schaffer's studio where the two musicians hit it off.

"I felt a lot of chemistry between us, we knocked out a couple of great original pieces of music in no time" said Schaffer. "He's very good at coming up with catchy melodies, and will help with lyrical duties as well. There's no doubt Stu has an amazing vocal range and a lot of energy, but he also has the touring experience, which is a big plus for our plans of performing in all corners of the world."

In addition, Schaffer said Block has what Iced Earth needs in a front man: "stage presence that includes high energy, passion, and focused rage."

"Stu is charismatic and understands the depth and varying emotions in Iced Earth's music," said Schaffer. "So he will embody not only the emotion of our songs, but he will be able to perform them in a dynamic way. I believe fans are in for some incredible records and live shows in the coming years."

New Iced Earth vocalist Stu Block concurs: "Iced Earth fans are wonderful, wonderful people," he said. "The music is so passionate. So they're passionate, and very loyal to the band. I am, too. I'm a huge fan of Iced Earth myself. So I share that same passion, and I will show it on stage. I think the fans are really going to dig it." Block continues: "It's a huge honor to be doing this, to be part of this team," he said. "It's a dream come true, for sure."

Schaffer is totally stoked. "This is a new beginning," he said. "It's game-on time. Iced Earth is going to record and tour like it never has before. The band is really amped-up and ready to hit the ground running in November." And to prove it, Iced Earth has released the European leg of a world tour that will take the band to countries it has never previously played. All told, the 2011-2012 Iced Earth world tour will be the largest the band has undertaken since its inception.

Iced Earth UK tour dates:

04 Nov: London - Shepherds Bush Empire

05 Nov: Birmingham - O2 Academy

06 Nov: Bristol - O2 Academy

For further dates on the European tour please visit Iced Earth's official site.

NOTE: Retired Iced Earth vocalist Matt Barlow will perform with the band on all summer festival dates. New vocalist Stu Block will take over from there, starting with the European leg of Iced Earth's world tour.

The band's long-awaited 6-hour, three-concert live DVD Festivals of the Wicked is scheduled for release this spring.

lazarus a.d. victims of van robbery

Lazarus A.D. is the most recent casualty in a slew of unfortunate band robberies to claim theft of their personal items and money from their touring van. The incident took place in Southampton, UK. After breaking a window to enter the band's van, the burglars stole roughly $1,500 in cash, all of the bands personal items including Social Security cards, birth certificates, and clothing, and even their personal hygiene items. The band members luckily had their passports in their pockets and their gear inside the venue; otherwise they fear that those items would have been taken as well.

THe band have many dates remaining on their tour with Bonded by Blood, so having no money or personal items will be a great strain on the band financially and personally. A PayPal donation link has been set up in order for fans to donate to the band in this time of need. Please head to this link to donate what you can spare: http://lazarusad.com/?p=280.

See below for all upcoming European tour dates and please consider donating to the band so they can finish spreading their message and metal to their fans. Any help is sincerely appreciated.

16th march

updates

Reviews

Tesseract - One

New York Dolls - Dancing Backwards in High Heels

09th march

updates

Photos

Finnish Metal Tour - DNA Lounge, San Fransisco, USA

Finntroll

Barren Earth

Ensiferum

Rotten Sound

Reviews

Eden's Curse - Trinity

06th march

updates

Interview

Sylosis - Josh Middleton

Reviews

Jettblack - Academy, Manchester, UK

Dear Superstar - Academy, Manchester, UK

whitesnake to tour uk in june

Whitesnake recently announced that they will tour the UK in June. David Coverdale had this to say:

"We've had an incredibly creative & productive year off writing & recording & also mixing several projects we plan to release over the next few years...We're particularly excited about the new album & we look forward to presenting a mix of new & more familiar songs when we tour...We have all missed the excitement of performing live & are very excited to introduce the new chaps to the Whitesnake Choir..."

Check them out on the following dates:

13 Jun: Newcastle - City Hall

14 Jun: Glasgow - Clyde Auditorium

16 Jun: Wolverhampton - Civic Hall

17 Jun: Manchester - O2 Apollo

19 Jun: Bournemouth - BIC

20 Jun: Hammersmith - Apollo

The band will release their new album, Forevermore, on 18 April 2011 through Frontiers.

04th march

updates

Reviews

Europe - O2 Academy, Bournemouth, UK

SuidAkrA - Book of Dowth

Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa

dragonforce reveal new singer

DragonForce have announced that their long search for a new vocalist is finally over. After entries from thousands of hopefuls across the globe, the band welcomes 23 year old Marc Hudson to the band to fill the boots left by ZP Theart, who parted ways with the band in March of last year.

“I’m really excited about being a part of the DragonForce family” says Marc. “It’s always been my dream to dedicate my life to making music. I’m going to bring all the power and emotion I can to the songs, and help make the killer new record the fans have been waiting for!”

Born in Oxford England, Marc was picked from the thousands of applications via a number of impressive video auditions and live performances, which left the rest of the band in no doubt that they’d found their man. Since the age of 16, Marc has been building his vocal skills gigging with bands in the UK underground scene, developing a powerful style with influences which include Bruce Dickinson, Michael Kiske and Sebastian Bach.

Says founding member and guitarist Herman Li:

“After almost a year of searching around the globe, it’s great to be able to finally tell our fans the good news. Marc’s expressive and melodic vocals are sounding phenomenal on the new songs, adding another dimension to the DragonForce sound that I am sure all the fans will love.”

The band has been working on a new album since early 2010, recording in various studios in California, London and the south of France. The follow up to 2008’s hugely successful Ultra Beatdown album will be highly anticipated, with top 10 and top 20 chart positions all over the world and a Grammy Nomination in the United States setting the precedent. With Marc brought into the fold, the band is enjoying an injection of enthusiasm and hunger that sees DragonForce prepared to return more focused and determined than ever before.

“Everyone in the band is extremely excited about how the new material is shaping up.” continues Herman. “We haven’t felt this kind of energy in the band for a long time. We can’t wait to unleash the next DragonForce album later this year.”

The new album is expected to hit the shelves in September, with a full world tour to follow.

wolf reveal artwork and track-listing for new album

Swedish heavy metallers Wolf will release their sixth album, Legions of Bastards, via Century Media Records in the UK on 25 April 2011.

The follow up to their 2009 album Ravenous, Legions of Bastards was produved by Pelle Saether at Studio Underground in Vasterås, Sweden. The cover artwork was once again created by Thomas Holm and can be viewed below.

Commented the band: "Legions of Bastards is the fruit of lots of hard work, sweat and blood."

"Our music has always come from the heart, but this one seems to us even more honest and straight-forward than any other album we've made. "

"We're not afraid to say that this is a GREAT album. If you love it, like we do, raise the horns and bang your head! If you don't — we don't care. We'd still be banging our heads!"

See below for track-listing:

01. Vicious Companions

02. Skull Crusher

03. Full Moon Possession

04. Jekyll & Hyde

05. Absinthe

06. Tales From the Crypt

07. Nocturnal Rites

08. Road to Hell

09. False Preacher

10. Hope to Die

11. K-141 Kursk

The limited-edition digipak version of Legions of Bastards includes 6 Steps(Japanese bonus track from the Ravenous album) and Method to Your Madness(Metal Church cover).

six feet under welcome new members

Six Feet Under has develivered the following update regarding the band's line up:

"We would like to announce and welcome the addition of guitarist Rob Arnold (Chimaira) to the Six Feet Under family! Just wanted to give you a Six Feet Under band update and let you all know that we would like to announce our good friend Rob Arnold will be joining SFU as second rhythm guitarist for upcoming touring duties, as well as collaborating on the new CD."

Chris Barnes comments; "I couldn't be happier about the new songs and line up! Rob and myself have been collaborating on new songs along with the band's new drummer, Kevin Talley for the past few months. We are all feeling really excited about the bands future, and the raw intensity of the songs that we have created together so far. THIS IS THE HEAVIEST MOST EXCITING MATERIAL THAT IVE WORKED ON SINCE THE BLEEDING, AND IM STOKED THAT ROB WILL BE HELPING OUT CREATING THIS CD WITH US! We've all known each other for a while and we're really looking forward to continue writing the new CD and future tours. We are committed to taking SIX FEET UNDER to the next level of brutality!!!"

Rob Arnold comments; "It's been an amazing honor and opportunity to have been called upon by one of my biggest idols, Chris Barnes!! Six Feet Under and the Barnes era Cannibal stuff had enormous effects on me as a young musician, and still do to this day. In 1996, I was a kid in the front row screaming my head off to Lycanthropy and Torn to the Bone… and now here I am, being asked to play the songs on stage with the band! Dreams do come true!!! And the stuff we've been writing absolutely RIPS! Watch out!!"

amorphis announce album details

In honour of Kalevala Day, Amorphis have announced the name and track listing of the upcoming album, due for release on 25 May 2011. In April, the band will offer a first glimpse of the new material by releasing the single You I Need.

The central character of the new songs is the iconic hero of Finnish mythology, Väinämöinen, whose tale has been masterfully retold by lyricist Pekka Kainulainen. Titled The Beginning of Times, the new album is Amorphis' most challenging release so far in terms of both music and lyrics. It comprises twelve songs with a total length of 54 minutes. In addition, the first edition digipack will include the bonus track Heart's Song.

The Beginning of Times was produced by the band; vocals were recorded under the guidance of Marco Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot) in his home studio in Kuopio. Like its predecessors, the album was mixed by Mikko Karmila. Its cover artwork shows Travis Smith's magnificent interpretation of the mythological birth of the world from a goldeneye's egg.

In June, Amorphis will embark on the extensive The Beginning of Times tour, which is scheduled to continue through 2012.

Track-listing:

01. Battle for Light
02. Mermaid
03. My Enemy
04. You I Need
05. Song of the Sage
06. Three Words
07. Reformation
08. Soothsayer
09. On a Stranded Shore
10. Escape
11. Crack in a Stone
12. Beginning of Time
13. Heart's Song (digipack bonus)

fourth and final teaser clip from cannibal corpse's global evisceration dvd

In conjunction with the release of Cannibal Corpse's fourth DVD Global Evisceration on 15 March, Metal Blade Records has teamed up with AUX.TV to debut the final teaser clip featuring the band in Malta. Check it out here.

Global Evisceration was shot and edited by director Denise Korycki (Wild Wind Productions) who also shot and directed Centuries of Torment – The First 20 Years (entered the Billboard Music Video Charts at #8 in its 1st week of release!) in addition to DVD's for bands like As I Lay Dying, Mastodon, Killswitch Engage, and Super Joint Ritual.

Global Evisceration contains one disc and is approximately three hours long with artwork by the infamous Vince Locke. The main program includes full live-song performances from two live shows: the Gothic Theater in Englewood, CO shot on 5 March 2010 and Sunshine Theater in Albuquerque, NM shot on 5 August 2010. Global Evisceration also includes bonus performances and extra segments including behind the scenes footage covering Evisceration Plague era tours.

Head over to the Cannibal Corpse landing page here to check out the first video - an excerpt that didn't make the final cut featuring Jesse Jackson – the second video featuring part of a live performance of Stripped, Raped and Strangled – the third video that is part of a live performance of the track Scalding Hail.

01st march

updates

Reviews

Von Hertzen Brothers - Stars Aligned

Turisas - Stand Up and Fight

rip machine men

Machine Men have issued the following statement on their official website:

'Dear Fans of Machine Men,

Things have been quiet for the past 2 years. During this time we have gone through many changes and we have been thinking about the future of the band. Unfortunately we feel that the challenges as a band would be too hard to overcome. After long conversations we have decided that the story of Machine Men ends here. It’s better to end what we started together without bitterness than to make a new album we couldn’t put our hearts and souls into. We wouldn’t be the five guys that stuck together no matter what. We would be something else, not Machine Men.

This band has been the centre of our lives for over a decade. During these years we have experienced great and unforgettable moments on the road (and off). The thanks goes to all the people who have supported us and have come to see our gigs. It hasn’t been an easy ride but yet we have taken all the shit with our heads held high. After all we are from Suolahti for fuck’s sake! Even though it’s sad, we end this with smiles on our faces and with loads of good memories to share over a pint.

The story of the band ends here but we’ll continue to make music as individuals. We are grateful to so many people but most of all we would like to thank our fans - without you we would have been nothing!

With deepest respect,

Machine Men: Antony, J-V, Jarno, Eero & Jani'

bloodstock announce final headliners

Bloodstock have today announced that Motorhead and WASP will fill the final headline slots for this year's festival. They will appear alongside Immortal as headliners.

Closing the weekend’s proceedings, the legendary Motorhead step up to make sure that Bloodstock 2011 ends with a suitable bang. One of the most successful bands the British rock scene has ever produced, Motorhead have sold over 42 million albums worldwide, received the prestigious Grammy Award and sent several singles smashing in to the UK Top 40 Charts in their 36 years. But what they do best, as we all know, is play rock’n’roll, and what better place to deliver the goods than at the end of the most metal weekend in the British calender. There is much to celebrate, as iconic frontman Lemmy warns:

“Bloodstock is celebrating 11 years, Motorhead 36 years - Boys and girls, come and see, we will rock your fu**in’ ass’. See you at Bloodstock!”

Possibly the biggest band ever to grace the grounds of Catton Hall, Motorhead’s headline set at Bloodstock 2011 will mark a standout moment in the festivals history, and with the promise of heavy hits like Bomber, Overkill. Killed by Death and Ace of Spades, the loudest so far.

Multi million selling metal legends W.A.S.P have the honours of winding down the Friday’s festivities, at their only UK festival of 2011. Led by the infamous Blackie Lawless, W.A.S.P have been alarming the more conservative members of decent society for nearly three decades now. Like last year’s headliners Twisted Sister, W.A.S.P enjoyed the kind of notoriety that only a mob of politically active angry parents could provide, after being targeted by Tipper Gore’s PMRC who hurled ridiculous and misinformed accusations, apparently worried that heavy metal was going to ruin civilisation. 25 years later the band can expect a much warmer reception at Catton Hall. With a catalogue of Kick-ass classics such as ‘I Wanna Be Somebody’, ‘Wild Child’ and ‘L.O.V.E Machine’ to sing along to, W.A.S.P’s headline set at this years BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR is bound to be a summer festival highlight.

As well as the two fantastic headliners, Bloodstock can also reveal a further five acts to solidify a mightily impressive undercard. Returning to Bloostock , Swedish heavy metal masters HammerFall make an exclusive appearance on the Ronnie James Dio stage. These seasoned musicians have become one of the leading and most successful metal acts of our time, flying the flag for true metal at a time when nobody cared about classic metal and baggy jeans were all the rage. With the same like minded spirit as Bloodstock, HammerFall deserve the credit for keeping the heavy metal genre alive despite what fashions and trends dictate. Throw your horns and bang your head as the Steel-hearted Swedes deliver metallic anthems such as By Any Means Necessary, Templars of Steel, Hearts on Fire and Renegade at their only UK festival appearance this summer.

Joining them on the RJD stage will be Finnish gothic metallers Poisonblack. Fronted by Ville Laihiala, formerly of suicidal metalheads Sentenced, Poisonblack spread sonic poison and infect the masses with highly addictive dark rock hymns. Intense yet catchy, their ability to rock hard while still keeping a sombre mood showcases just how unique a band they are, and with gloomy tunes such as Rush, Bear the Cross and My Sun Shines Black under their sleeve, Poisonblack are bounded to go down a storm at their Bloodstock debut.

On the Sophie stage , additions come in the form of Blackened thrashers Byfrost, freaky prog metallers Deadly Circus Fire, and from the ashes of legendary black metallers Venom, new project Primevil

For more information on the line up please check the official site or the flyer below:

.

24th february

updates

Reviews

Oliver Weers - Evil's Back

Sideburn - Jail

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Night Castle

gama bomb confirm uk tour

Irish thrashers Gama Bomb have confirmed dates for a UK tour, which kicks off on 8 May in London. The band are due to do a last run of shows in support of their latest album, Tales from the Grave in Space, before taking a break to work on new material.

Gama Bomb frontman Philly Byrne comments:

"We'll be hitting the UK for a string of dates in May which will wrap up our touring for the Tales from the Grave in Space album. Once we've struck the last chord of this tour, we'll be retreating to Ireland to begin really digging into work on writing our new, as-yet untitled album. We've already written some bits and pieces and are looking forward to taking it to some demented new places, and are certain it's going to be a radical step in a new direction for us - while still being totally thrash, totally blistering and totally Gama Bomb.

"The last year has been amazing, making a bit of music history; touring the US for the first time; drinking many exotic drinks... This experience has given us a taste for adventure that's going to come across on our new material. Before then, however, we invite all UK Gama Bomb fans to join us in raising a glass to send off Tales in style."

Check out the following dates:

08 May: London - Underworld

09 May: Sheffield - Corporation

10 May: Bristol - The Croft

11 May: Reading - Face Bar

12 May: Middlesbrough - The Crown

13 May: Dundee - Beat Generator

14 May: Derby - The Old Bell

15 May: Manchester - Witchwood

Tickets available from usual outlets.

kampfar to tour europe in may

Kampfar will team up with Secrets of the Moon, Vreid and Krakow for The Black Path European tour in May 2011. This will include two shows in the UK:

30 May: Nottingham - The Basement

31 May: London - Underworld

The band have also announced that their long-awaited new album will be entitled Mare and it will be released by Napalm Records on 28 March 2011 in the UK.

Following 2008s Heimgang (said to be "the connection between the underworld and our own") it was recorded at Abyss studios in Pärlby, Sweden with Hypocrisy frontman and producer (Dark Funeral, Amon Amarth, Dimmu Borgir) Peter Tägtgren.

20th february

updates

Reviews

Onslaught - Sounds of Violence

Hail of Bullets - On Divine Winds

nightwish issue update from angel studios

Nightwish have issued the following update from their week at Angel Studios in London where they were recording parts of their upcoming album, Imaginarium. Read what Tuomas had to say below:

'We arrived at Angel Studios in Islington, London in the evening of Valentine´s Day and had a most friendly welcome from studio engineers Steve Price and Mat Bartram. They`d already set up everything for next day`s recordings, which would include 3 three-hour sessions with a 53-piece orchestra, most of the players being familiar faces from the "Once" and "Dark Passion Play" - sessions. Pip (Williams, the orchestral arranger) joined us at the hotel and we were all excited and ready for a week of long days and for witnessing some superb musicianship.

A heartwarming feeling of reunion and nostalgia filled the air when we met the session musicians on Tuesday morning. We started off with "Goat`s Liver" (working title...probably), followed by a couple of more epic pieces and all the rest that required a large orchestra. The musicianship of these people never ceases to amaze me. They`ve never heard the songs before, they haven`t had any rehearsals, and still they nail all the songs, even those in the hardest imaginable key, after just one or two run-throughs. Their prima vista - playing is something out of a science fiction story... Respect.

On Wednesday we continued with the orchestral recordings, last of the day`s sessions being with a 20-piece string / harp - section. Some new working titles were also born, such as "The Birdie Song", "Teriyaki" and "Haunted Mansion Ride".

Thursday was the day for percussion and ethnic drums. This time we decided to record all the rhythmic instruments separately from the orchestra to make it easier for the mixing process. Because some of the sounds the percussionists came up with would literally blow your eardrums off.

Friday was booked for choirs. Again that sensation of nostalgia when The Metro Voices entered the building. We had 13 titles to sing and they did it in less than seven hours, prima vista. Utterly gorgeous stuff!

During the evening we had two more guest musicians, Mr. Dermot Crehan (of The Lord Of The Rings - fame) with his hardanger fiddle and Mr. Dirk Campbell with his zurna. Both performances were stunning and added a nice little ancient touch to two of the songs.

Our most humble thanks to all the session musicians, the Angel Studios staff, Pip, James, Thomas, Lynda, Dick the music copyist and Jenny the choir mistress. It was a huge honor to work with you all and to have such talent and spirit captured on "Imaginarium"!

We miss you all dearly already and try to be faster with the next album.

Tuomas, Hilton Islington 20.2.2011'

enforcer announce tour and new music video

Enforcer have announced a co-headlining tour with fellow Swedes, Bullet. Following a recent European tour in December supporting Australian hard rockers Airbourne, Enforcer are set to head out again in April for a two week trek with Bullet.

Amongst other European cities the bands will be playing the following date in the UK:

11 Apr: London - Underworld

Tickets are available from usual outlets. For more information on the rest of the tour please visit the band's official website.

The band also recently recorded a new music video for Midnight Vice which is taken from their latest album Diamonds. You can watch the video here.

Diamonds is now available in Europe on limited edition digipak CD and is also available on limited edition coloured vinyl in the following colours and quantities:

100 - Nightmare (black and white marbled)
200 - Hellish Red (black on red)
300 - Midnight Sun (red on yellow)
400 - Traditional Black

bring me the horizon uk tour

Bring Me the Horizon will set out with Parkway Drive, Architects and The Devil Wears Prada for their run through the UK in April / May..

Tickets are selling fast for all shows, with Nottingham and Bristol already sold out and the rest of the tourdates nearing capacity. Tickets are available from usual outlets.

22 Apr: Manchester - Apollo

23 Apr: Newcastle - O2 Academy

24 Apr: Glasgow - O2 Academy

26 Apr: Nottingham - Rock City *** Sold out

27 Apr: Southampton - Guildhall

28 Apr: Birmingham - O2 Academy

29 Apr: Bristol - O2 Academy *** Sold out

30 Apr: London - O2 Brixton Academy

01 May: Cardiff - University Great Hall

02 May: Leicester - O2 Academy

04 May: Sheffield - O2 Academy *

*Support from Architects / The Devil Wears Prada / While She Sleeps only

anterior post new video for dead divine

Anterior have posted a new a video for Dead Divine from their last album, This Age of Silence. You can watch it here. The band recently started recording the follow up to This Age of Silence at Grindstone Studios with Scott Atkins (Stampin' Ground, Sylosis, Gamma Bomb, Man Must Die).

The band embarked on a tour with Sylosis, Bleed From Within and While She Sleeps on 15 February. Be sure to catch them on one of the remaining dates:

21 Feb: Manchester - Academy 3

22 Feb: York - The Duchess

23 Feb: Glasgow - Cathouse

24 Feb: Sheffield - Corporation

25 Feb: London - Underworld

Tickets are available from the usual outlets.

rival sons official app now available for iphone

A new, official app from Rival Sons is now available for FREE on iPhone from the iTunes App Store. Grab the app from here.

The app is the best way to stay up-to-date with everything Rival Sons and includes two tracks from the band's new self titled EP, available to listen to for free. THe app also features the band's latest news, photos, videos and more. You will also find an exclusive secret teaser trailer for the band's forthcoming new album, which is due to be released in May on Earache Records.

god dethroned call it quits

God Dethoned have announced that they will call it quits by the end of this year. Below is a statement from mainman Henri Sattler:

"For a Nihilist, nothing is at least something. 2011 is God Dethroned's final year in existence.

We could have spent another year in a tourbus because the amount of offers was endless, but I just don't feel like touring anymore. People told me to take a break for a year or maybe two, but as I'm an "all, or nothing at all" type of person, I decided to call it quits. Not immediately, but in December of this year we will definitely play our last show. That's gonna be at the Eindhoven Metal Meeting in Holland. I'm very proud of what we achieved with the band, but the time has come for new challenges. I would like to thank all of our fans for their support for all these years.

Cheers, Henri
On behalf of God Dethroned"

So far their confirmed shows are as follows:

02 Jul: Nijmegen (NL) - Fortarock

20 Aug: Dinkelsbühl (ED)– Summer Breeze Festival (final German show)
17 Dec: Eindhoven (NL)– Metal Meeting (farewell show)

exclusive special edition of slash and beautiful dangerous

The Beautiful Dangerous single featuring Fergie will be released on 28 February 2011. Ths will be followed by an exclusive special edition of Slash to be released on 7 March.

"The song that Fergie sings on the record (Beautiful Dangerous) is a very hard rock song and was written to a stripper kind of beat, tailor-made for a girl that has balls. Her singing blew my mind… she's got this killer rock 'n' roll voice" – Slash on Fergie

May 2010 saw rock icon Slash release his debut solo album Slash on Roadrunner Records. The album features an all-star roster of guest musicians including Ian Astbury, Chris Cornell, Rocco DeLuca, Fergie, Dave Grohl, Myles Kennedy, Kid Rock, Lemmy Kilmister, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Duff McKagan, M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, and Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother. Slash, enlisted the services of producing partner Eric Valentine (Queens of Stone Age, The All-American Rejects) and compiled a rhythm section of bassist Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction) and drummer Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails). Slash handled the majority of arranging and songwriting duties and hand-picked each guest artist. The album was released to widespread critical acclaim and saw Slash headlining a sold out UK tour as well as show stealing performances at Download, Glastonbury and Wireless festivals in the UK.

Roadrunner are set to release Beautiful Dangerous as a single on 28 February. The single features a stunning vocal performance from Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) and an equally compulsive video. The track is sure to become one of the singles of 2011. See the video here.

To tie in with the single release, Roadrunner are also set to release a special edition of the Slash album in a 1 cd / 1 dvd format. The CD will feature the full album plus exclusive acoustic versions of Back to Cali (Slash), Fall to Pieces (original by Velvet Revolver) and Sweet Child O' Mine (originally GnR) all featuring Myles Kennedy on vocals. The DVD will run as follows

DVD with
01. Making of the album documentary
02. Back From Cali (live from the Roxy)
03. By the Sword (promo video)
04. Making of By the Sword
05. Starlight (Live From MTV Classic Launch)
06. Mean Bone (Live From MTV Classic Launch)
07. Track by track interview with Slash
08. Back From Cali (promo video)
09. Beautiful Dangerous (promo video)

19th february

updates

Photos

Grinspoon - Academy, Manchester, UK [ Part I / Part II ]

Jettblack - Academy, Manchester, UK

Dear Superstar - Academy, Manchester, UK

Review

Evile - Rock City, Nottingham, UK

heaven's basement announce new line up and co-headline tour with jettblack

Heaven's Basement have recently recruited a new singer... Aaron Buchanan to be exact. However, in the meantime they've lost long time guitarist Jonny Rocker and will now continue as a four-piece.

'Heaven's Basement are about evolution, grown and reaching new heights. Defiance, risk taking, and self-challenge are the band's hallmark.

2011 will see us bust open the doors and unleash everything that Heaven's Basement holds to stages across the UK and beyond'.

Having toured across Europe playing hundres of shows alongside bands such as Papa Roach, Shinedown and Buckcherry to name but a few and appearing at festivals such as Sonisphere; Heaven's Basement are a band who've built their reputation on setting Britain's underground alight and then taking that energy to bigger stages across Europe.

'We've experienced so much in the relatively short and explosive time Heaven's Baseement has been around, we're all from different backgrounds but there's a potent chemistry that is created when we come together'.

Their desire to leave an everlasting impression on rock music is fueled by one sole ambition between them; to reach the summit of their potential and to be regarded alongside the bands that inspired them.

'We're proud to come from the country that has without doubt produced some of the greaterst ock n roll bands of all time. There's now a void that needs filling. Everything we do revolves around filling that void'.

2011 is set to be an explosive year for Heaven's Basement with a new line up, aswell as recording and touring plans.

Read more about the line up changes here in an official statement made by the band:

'Hey Everyone,

It's been a long time coming and now finally, we're ready to share a lot of important news with you, so take a deep breath and read on! Heaven's Basement now have a full time lead singer. His name is Aaron Buchanan and we couldn't be more fired up to welcome him to the family. We've also got a UK tour confirmed for this May! 2011 will see us bust open the doors and unleash everything that Heaven's Basement holds to stages across the UK.

We'll ultimately be working on material for our debut full-length album, whilst also releasing a brand new E.P to introduce Aaron to the world and hopefully give you enough to listen to until the album comes. Read on for more news about Aaron, the tour and the E.P but first we have some more to fill you in on.

As you all know, 2010 was an extremely eventful year for us. Just before the summer tour dates started, Jonny told us that he wanted to leave the band to direct his focus at other things in his life. The plan was to play out the remaining summer tour dates together, so we we're gutted that his final gigs with us were cut short by the injury he picked up on the Papa Roach dates. We really wanted to go out with a bang together at Sonisphere and announce his departure after that show but it wasn't to be. We've had an amazing time together with Jonny, he's one of our closest friends and we'll be there to support him on every step of his new path. We're aware that some of you might have heard about this through the grapevine and we'd like to apologize to you all for keeping this under wraps for so long, we hope that by the time you've read this statement it'll help you to understand our reasons.

Read the message that Jonny left fans, below:

Hi everyone!

Hope you're all well, it has been a while since I've seen most of you. I know quite a few of you were at Sonisphere and it was nice to see you all there and being as it was my last show with HB I made sure I enjoyed every second of it. Although having a broken finger and not being able to play guitar cut the seconds down. I still loved it.

The last year has been a time of change for HB and for me, this is not me saying I'm done with bands and music blah blah etc, It's just that what with all the changes, it made me think about what I actually wanted to do. As much as I love playing live and being in a full time touring band, for me there isn't anything better than the conception and creative side of writing and recording music. I've always played the role of engineer/producer to some extent in the bands I've been in, but having had the last year to work with other bands just producing it's made me realise that it's what I want to do all the time.

Although it was a hard decision to make, it feels like the right decision and anyone who's knows me, would know I wouldn't take something like this lightly. The guys in HB are like brothers to me so it's not like it will be the last time we see each other or the end of us working together, in fact we've already been in the studio twice together since I left, recording some of their new material (It sounds epic btw!).

I want to say thank you to everyone who came along to a HB show and gave us and me your unequivocal support. I won't ever forget it. You will 100% see me at HB shows in the future, just this time i'll be watching with you guys..

I'm excited about the future and what it holds, I have been working on a few different projects over the last 6 months which I'll let you know about soon and have some others lined up so far this year too.

Once again, thanks for the memories. Here's to making a shitload more!

See you soon

Jonny
x

In other news, the band will head out on a co-headlining tour with Jettblack. The tour will take in the following dates:

05 May: Leicester - Sub 91

06 May: York - The Duchess

07 May: Grimsby - The Yardbirds

08 May: Manchester - Moho Live

10 May: Nottingham - Rock City

11 May: Newcastle - Trillians Rock Bar

12 May: Wolverhampton - Slade Rooms

13 May: Sheffield - Corporation

15 May: Wrexham - Central Station

19 May: Southampton - Talking Heads

22 May: Exeter - Cavern Club

The official site says more dates TBA so keep checking back - Heaven's Basement official website.

Iron maiden announce special guests for upcoming tour

Live Nation have announced that the special guests for Iron Maiden's The Final Frontier World Tour UK dates have now been confirmed, and they are some stellar names from the world of rock and metal.

Aussie Rockers Airbourne will be joining Maiden for all regional shows except Belfast; Power Metal heroes Dragonforce will support at the Belfast show on Wednesday 3 August and also the London O2 show on Friday 5 August; Metalcore behemoths Trivium will support in London at the O2 on Saturday 6 August.


The UK shows will be the culmination of Iron Maiden's The Final Frontier World Tour. The first leg of the 2011 tour started last week in Moscow and sees the band travelling Around The World In 66 Days, a 50 thousand mile odyssey aboard Ed Force One, their specially customized Boeing 757, piloted by airline captain and lead singer Bruce Dickinson. The plane will carry band, crew and many tons of equipment across five continents to thirteen countries, visiting twenty six cities for twenty nine shows. After the Round The World dates, the tour continues into Europe before returning to the UK in July for an extensive 10 city arena tour covering the length and breadth of the UK. By the time The Final Frontier World Tour finishes in London at the O2 in early August, Maiden will have played one hundred and one shows, in forty countries, to over two million fans since the tour began in June 2010.

The Final Frontier World Tour is in conjunction with the band's fifteenth studio album released in August 2010 which went straight to #1 in the album charts in 28 countries worldwide. This week the band received a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for the song El Dorado, from The Final Frontier album.

Speaking on the addition of their support acts, Iron Maiden's manager Rod Smallwood had the following to say

"As our fans know, Maiden like to give them value for money, and we think the addition to different parts of our UK tour of these three tremendous up and coming bands - Airbourne, Dragonforce and Trivium – certainly does that. They will add to what we fully intend to make a series of memorable nights for the fans when we are "coming home" later in the year for the final climactic round of The Final Frontier World Tour."


On supporting Iron Maiden for the first time, Airbourne had the following to say

"Iron Maiden, Iron Maiden's hard working crew and Iron Maiden's hard rocking crowd are all people who stand up for Rock'n'Roll the world over and we love and respect them all. We can't wait to open fire upon that hallowed stage. Long live Metal, Long live Maiden and long live Eddie!"

Trivium are currently in the studio with producer Colin Richardson working on their fifth studio album (name TBC). On supporting Iron Maiden again, Matt Heafy comments

"We couldn't be more honoured and excited to share a stage with the legendary Iron Maiden. This will be Trivium's first UK show in a long time & we'll have a new record under our belts to debut. Lights Out London for an immense night of metal. Up The Irons."

Dragonforce's Herman Li adds

"We are so excited to be playing with the greatest heavy metal band of all time again! We had some of the best times of our careers touring with Maiden back in 2005. Iron Maiden have inspired us tremendously throughout the years and we can't wait to get back on stage to support them in Belfast on 3 August and for their hometown show on 5 August. Here we go, Up the Irons!"

20 Jul: Glasgow - SECC (with Airbourne)

21 Jul: Aberdeen - AECC P&J Arena (with Airbourne)

23 Jul: Newcastle - Metro Radio Arena (with Airbourne)

24 Jul: Sheffield - Motorpoint Arena (with Airbourne)

27 Jul: Nottingham - Trent FM Arena (with Airbourne)

28 Jul: Manchester - MEN Arena (with Airbourne)

31 Jul: Birmingham - NIA (with Airbourne)

01 Aug: Cardiff - CIA Arena (with Airbourne)

03 Aug: Belfast - Odyssey (with DragonForce)

05 Aug: London - O2 Arena (with DragonForce)

06 Aug: London - O2 Arena (with Trivium)

Tickets are available from usual outlets.

14th february

updates

Photos

Evile - Academy, Manchester

Reviews

Crowbar - Sever the Wicked Hand

Deicide - To Hell With God

Dakrya - Crime Scene

Creation's End - A New Beginning

Architects - The Here and Now

God Dethroned - Under the Sign of the Iron Cross

nightwish: imaginarium (concept for next album revealed)

Nightwish made an announcement late last week regarding the concept of their next album:

		In the midst of recording a new album, Nightwish has been preparing a movie. Imaginarium is a music fantasy - film based on the forthcoming Nightwish album of the same title and its thirteen songs. The protagonist of the film is a songwriter with an otherworldly imagination. He is an old man who still thinks he`s a young boy. While asleep he travels into his distant past where his dreams of old come back to him mixed to the young boy`s world of fantasy and music. In his dreams the old man fights to find the memories most important to him. This never-done-before project originates to more than two years in the past when Tuomas first introduced his ambitious idea of the Imaginarium - concept to the fellow band members and to Mr. Stobe Harju, the director behind The Islander - music video. He will be the director of this full-length feature. The film will be produced by Solar Films Inc. together with Nightwish.
The shootings for Imaginarium will begin this spring, it will have its premiere in 2012 and the album it is based on will be released at an undefined point in time.   Nightwish will hold a press conference related to this project at the end of February. For more information please check the band's official site.

promo video for sylosis' edge of the earth now available

A promotional video for Sylosis' new album Edge of the Earth, is now available here. The album is due to be released on 11 March via Nuclear Blast and was produced by Scott Atkins, who previously worked with the band on their 2008 release, Conclusion of an Age.

The tracklist for Edge of the Earth is as follows:

Don't forget to catch the band on their upcoming UK tour which starts tomorrow:

15 Feb: Southampton - Joiners

16 Feb: Bristol - Thekla

17 Feb: Cardiff - Clwb Ifor Bach

18 Feb: Exeter - Cavern Club

19 Feb: Birmingham - HMV Institute

21 Feb: Manchester - Academy 3

22 Feb: York - The Duchess

23 Feb: Glasgow - Cathouse

24 Feb: Sheffield - Corporation

25 Feb: London - Underworld

Sylosis wil be joined on tour by Bleed From Within, While She Sleeps and Anterior. Tickets available from usual oulets.

08th february

evergrey to release new album / two uk shows

Evergrey are set to release their eighth studio album, Glorious Collision, on 28 February via SPV / Steamhammer. The album is said to be nothing other than an outstanding progressive / melodic metal masterpiece, despite, and more likely because of their recent line-up upheaval.

In May 2010 vocalist and guitarist Tom Englund and keyboardist Rikard Zander parted ways with the rest of their band mates. “The most recent Evergrey line-up had reached a point where we no longer had fun as a group,” states, Englund, adding: “So we went our separate ways to save our friendship. There were no angry words, and we’re still friends privately.” The continuation of Evergrey was never called into question for Tom and Rikard, yet they both had to face a new challenge: “In the beginning, we weren’t sure whether we’d be able to write a new album without the wealth of experience that the previous line-up brought in. But after Rikard and I had composed a full three numbers during the first week, we felt that was a real coup.”

Totally fired up, the guys stormed on with writing. “This may sound like a contradiction in view of our personnel situation, but Rikard and I have allowed more influences on Glorious Collision than ever before. Some elements on Glorious Collision are classic rock, based on a metal format, sometimes the tracks are quiet and haunting, sometimes wild, demanding and gripping.”

With such great material on offer, it wasn’t hard to find talented and hungry musicians (Marcus Jidell, ex- Royal Hunt on guitars, Johan Niemann, ex-Therion on bass, and 20 year-old drummer Van Dahl, to complete the new band line up. “It’s great to hear what a breath of fresh air Marcus, Johan and Hannes have brought into the band,” Englund enthuses. “Although the entire material, except for two songs to which Marcus contributed on the compositional side, had already been decided when we started recording, they all left their own, very personal mark on this album.”

Commenting on the album’s title, Englund states that “It’s about that personal struggle in life, about traumas and the inner chaos which we all feel inside ourselves. We go through a life in which situations, points of view and perspectives change all the time, we permanently encounter major collisions which we have to face. We don’t pretend that we have something to teach other people. What we are saying is: sometimes the situation is totally different to what it appears at first sight. That’s why it may be better not to judge too quickly but to allow things to sink in and make up your mind after you’ve weighed them up carefully.”

Following the release of the album Evergrey will head out to the UK as special guests to Kamelot:

27 Apr: Sheffield - Corporation

28 Apr: London - Koko

Tickets available from usual outlets.

bloodstock announce more bands: kreator, wolf, 1349 + more

German Thrash legends Kreator return to Bloodtock this year for their only UK show of 2011 on the Ronnie James Dio stage. Alongside fellow countrymen Destruction and Sodom - both Bloodstock veterans - Kreator dominated the European thrash scene of the mid 1980s, working their way from the grimy streets of Essen to international acclaim. thirty years in the business has done nothing to soften the fearsome foursome, and we look forward to a furious set of thrash classics including Pleasure to Kill, Betrayer, Tormentor and Extreme Aggression.

Joining them will be black metal overlords 1349, who make their Bloodstock debut this summer. Something of a super-group, 1349 specialise in the super fast, raw metal blackness that their home country of Norway is notorious for. Formed from the ashes of Alvheim in 1997, 1349's speed and technique took their music to a new level of intensity and brutality. With live sets famed for their raw aggression and evil atmospherics, the shadow that 1349 will cast over Bloodstock this summer is one no fan of extreme music will object to standing in.

From neighbouring Sweden, true metal heroes Wolf return to Bloodstockfor some kick-ass honest, grab-you-in-the-nuts heavy metal. With five albums under their belts and a new one set for an April release, the Swedish powerhouse look forward to their third appearance at Bloodstock for this exclusive festival appearance.

"Bloodstock Open Air!!! Hell yeah we say. It's an honour to return for the third time and as always; we'll give you 666%. With the new album, 'Legions of Bastards' fresh outta hells mouth, we'll be blasting you off the goddamn planet. Us included. See ya front row. - WOLF"

Next up, Rock'n'Roll dirtbags Nemhainreturn to deliver a dose of whiskey fuelled blues stained punk rock mayhem and have already started their preparations for BOA 2011:

"Last time Nemhain played Bloodstock the sky turned black, Thor's hammer sounded, and the mother of all storms descended just as we went on stage. That however, was nothing compared to the soaked and rabid crowd who came to be deafened during our set and join the Nemhainous afterparty!

We love Bloodstock and are honoured to be on the bill again and especially to be playing the S.O.P.H.I.E stage. In fact, we're so excited , we're packing already: Drums, Check, Guitars: Check, Jagermeister: Check, Alka Seltzer: Check, Dodgy blow-up doll: Check..."

Joining them Newcastle metallers Def-Con-One will be joining the line up on the Sophie stage. Formed by ex-Venom drummer Antton, DC1 look forward to delivering a powerful set of groove crushing metal this August.

"All we can say is how excited we are to be playing Bloodstock and its gonna be an absolute honour to play the fest. Bloodstock always has killer bands on the bill and we can't wait to be part of it."

And finally we have Finnish death metallers Survivors Zero, who come to Bloodstock for the first time. Formed by noted Finnish Metal Producer and video director Sami Jamsen, the line up is completed buy other metal lifers who had paid their dues in Finnish heavy-weights as Finntroll, Deathchain, Impaled Nazarene and The Scourger. Describing their music "heavy death metal", the band has always aimed for great songs instead of image, crushing live shows and straight up honesty in their music. Says the band:

"Survivors Zero is proud to have the chance to perform at Bloodstock, the greatest festival on the misty isles."

Bloodstock have also announced the opportunity to win the ultimate VIP package with their official coach travel partner - Big Green Coach:

Here's your chance to experience the ultimate metal weekend in luxury. Bloodstock's official travel partner BIG GREEN COACH are offering the ultimate festival package with this exclusive competition. All those who purchase their weekend ticket including coach travel via BIG GREEN COACH will automatically be entered into a prize draw, and one lucky winner will receive a VIP Upgrade for the weekend for themselves and a friend, to stay in a luxury mini Yurt for two, plus Rock Society membership and a goody bag full to the brim with!

For more information on this amazing competition go here.

my dying bride to play 20th anniversary shows

It's not very often you see UK / Irish dates listed on the My Dying Bride touring schedule, but not so at the moment. To celebrate their 20th anniversay the band have announced that they will play five shows:

18 May: London - Electric Ballroom

19 May: Manchester - Academy 2

20 May: Wolverhampton - Wulfrun Hall

21 May: Dublin - The Village

22 May: Belfast - The Spring & Airbrake

Don't miss out on this opportunity to catch a rare UK performance by one of the UK's premier doom bands.

07th february

updates

Interview

Grinspoon - Joe Hansen

Review

Sylosis - Edge of the Earth

Crew

Talena

01st february

updates

Review

Netherbird - Monument Black Colossal

paradise lost release draconian times legacy edition

Taken from press release:

British Doom/Goth Metal pioneers, Paradise Lost, are pleased to announce the re-release of their seminal 1995 album Draconian Times; sixteen years since it first stormed the charts.

Sony Music are re-releasing the colossal Draconian Times through their Grammy-award winning Legacy series; which will feature the entire digitally re-mastered album including a 5.1 Dolby Surround mix in a brand-new collector's edition digi-pak box-set, so fans can hear the album like never before!

Along with this release the band will be performing their monumental album Draconian Times live at a series of seven exclusive gigs in the following select cities around Europe: Tilberg, Bochum, London, Paris, Athens, and Thessaloniki. The bands front man Nick Holmes had this to say: Knowing that DT is still considered by many as being among their favourite albums of all time fills me with great pride, and I'm very grateful to have been part of it all and now having the chance to be here again playing it in its entirety is phenomenal. We are all very excited and can't wait to do the shows live, I really hope we see you all there and you have as much fun as us!"

Due to the unique and exciting nature of these events we will be issuing a small, limited number of VIP packages at all seven concerts. These will include:

· VIP laminate and lanyard
· The opportunity to meet and greet the band
· Have your photo taken with Paradise Lost
· Access to a closed sound-check before the gig
· Early access to the concert
· VIP goody bag (PL draw-string bag containing an exclusive T-Shirt and other exciting memorabilia)

VIP tickets will be exclusively available from the band's website www.paradiselost.co.uk and are on Please remember there are a very limited number of these highly sought after tickets available so we urge you to buy early to avoid disappointment. Catch Paradise Lost perform 'Draconian Times' in its entirety at the following venue.

18 Mar: Athens - Fuzz Club

19 Mar: Athens - Fuzz Club

20 Mar: Thessaloniki - Principal Club Theatre

29 Mar: Utrecht - Tivoi

30 Mar: Paris - Elysee Montmartre

31 Mar: Bochum - Zeche

01 Apr: London - HMV Forum

London tickets cost £22.50 subject to booking fee and are available from the usual outlets.

Draconian Times Legacy Edition will be released through Sony on 4 April 2011

the haunted: new album 'unseen'

Taken from press release:

IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE HAUNTED … THINK AGAIN .. I PROMISE 'UNSEEN' WILL NOT BE WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTING TO HEAR!
It has been commented that it is 'genius' and that it could be 'their Sergeant Pepper' …. Both or neither could be true but you need to listen to it!

"No false pride, no fashion, no fake set of values" is a bold statement as well as the artistic slogan you stumble across each time you visit The Haunted's website, this band has always been an uncompromising, innovative and daring group of artists crafting their albums with a strong vision and maximum of conviction and creativity.

Now, this development has reached a new climax in Unseen, the band's seventh studio album, easily the most outstanding amalgamation of The Haunted's matchless musical diversity and vocalist Peter Dolving's outspoken, often highly cynical lyrical venom.

It is the band's catchiest, most musical and most remarkable album as well

Recorded with longterm producer and partner in artistic crime, Tue Madsen, at his Antfarm Studio in DenmarkUnseen contains a vast amount of musical depth and while possibly a challenge for the unaware,
the presented personality of this faultless material will ultimately lead to listening-submission.

The tracks become addictive pieces of an airtight musical puzzle, rich in contrast and highly entertaining in its level of originality. Supported by the most variable guitar playing The Haunted ever put on disc
from Thrash riffing over rocking chords to moody acoustic playing.

Tracklist:

The album will be released on 21 March via Century Media.

01st february

updates

Review

Michael Monroe - Sensory Overdrive

michael monroe announces new single, album and tour

Michael Monroe: iconic rock‘n’roll frontman and founding member of hugely influential Finnish outfit Hanoi Rocks, will release a brand new single/video on 21 February 2011 via Spinefarm Records UK.

Titled ’78 (a homage to a year of great music and significant cultural happenings), the single will be available on both digital download and coloured vinyl 7” complete with exclusive extra track Another Night in the Sun.

Three weeks later, on 14 March, Monroe will follow the single with a brand new studio album; titled Sensory Overdrive. The record has been produced in Los Angeles by the legendary Jack Douglas (whose credits include everyone from Aerosmith through to John Lennon) and features such special guests as country star Lucinda Williams and Motörhead frontman Lemmy, who duets with Monroe.

This 11-track album will be available on a number of different formats, including deluxe digi-pack with bonus DVD and limited edition coloured vinyl.

In support of the single & album, a 13-date tour of the UK has been lined up for April 2011; having recently guested with Motörhead on their 35th Anniversary UK tour, Monroe and his regular touring/recording line-up (Wildhearts mainman Ginger on guitar, ex-Hanoi member Sami Yaffa on bass, Steve Conte of New York Dolls / Company of Wolves fame on guitar, and Karl ‘Rockfist’ Rosqvist on drums – a Swedish/Finnish drummer who has played with both Chelsea Smiles & Danzig) are now ready to take on a run of shows that will see them headlining venues from Portsmouth up to Glasgow.
 
The full list of dates is as follows:

04 Apr: Brighton - Concorde 2

05 Apr: Bristol - Academy 2

06 Apr: Exeter - Phoenix

07 Apr: Portsmouth - Wedgewood Rooms

08 Apr: London - O2 Academy

09 Apr: Leeds - TJs

11 Apr: Norwich - Waterfront

12 Apr: Sheffield - Corporation**

13 Apr: Newcastle - Academy 2**

14 Apr: Manchester - Academy 3

15 Apr: Glasgow - Garage

16 Apr: Nottingham - Rock City

17 Apr: Birmingham - HMV insitute

**Please note that the dates in Sheffield and Newcastle have been swapped around. Tickets available from usual outlets.

album update from nightwish

Nightwish main-man Tuomas Holopainen has today updated their official site with the following information:

'In the excitement of Yuletide magic I wrote there would be secrets revealed at the end of January. There are big things happening within and around the Nightwish camp but the Big Boys and Bosses just sent me an ultimatum to keep my mouth shut for a couple more months, or I would wake up with a horse`s head in my bed.

I truly am very sorry about needing to keep future plans and sights still in secrecy. The purpose is not to annoy anybody or cause a carefully planned hype over the matter. Due to the changes in the schedule things will be revealed later during the spring.

The recordings continue, I'm off to E-Major Studios next weekend to put together all the files for the orchestral and choir sessions in London. I`m in daily contact with Mr. Pip Williams, going over the arrangements and new ideas for the songs. The demos he has sent me sound simply otherworldly! Beautiful, twisted, tribal and cinematic stuff. And with a theme album coming up, the mood changes seem to be more present than ever before.

Yup, it still is the Burton-Gaiman-Dali - amusement park we are about to enter.

More coming up once the mobsters grant me permission,

Tuomas'

sonisphere announce weezer, airbourne & architects exclusives

Having already announced the likes of The Big Four and Diamond Head yesterday saw the announcement of Weezer, Airbourne and Architects as exclusive festival performances at Sonisphere this year.

Read what Sonisphere had to say here:

Flying in from Los Angeles, California, Alt-Rock Superstars Weezer make their Knebworth debut at Sonisphere this summer. Weezer are one of the biggest, most popular bands to emerge from the alternative rock scene of the 90s, with more Gold, Platinum and Silver (records) under their belts than Fort Knox, a string of notable awards nominations – including the prestigious Grammy – and an impressive list of chart positions. All this will come as no surprise to anyone who has had the pleasure of hearing frighteningly infectious power-pop classics like Buddy Holly, Hash Pipe, Undone – The Sweater Song, Beverly Hills and Pork and Beans, and it is with great excitement that we look forward to hearing these at Weezer’s only English festival appearance of 2011.

Next up, coming in from Warrnambool, Australia, Airbourne return to Knebworth to deliver a raucous set of potent rock and roll fury. “We love playing the Sonisphere festivals!” States Frontman & cricket fan Joel O’Keeffe. “It’s always a great line up of bands and it’s always a great crowd!”

He should know; in 2009, Airbourne tore Sonisphere a proverbial “new one”, running wild and free across the Saturn  stage, even scaling it at one point so Joel could hammer out a lead on the scaffolding. One can only wonder what Airbourne’s only UK festival performance of 2011 holds in store as they belt out fist-pumping anthems such as Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast, Diamond in the Rough and No Way But the Hard Way.

Making the somewhat shorter journey from Brighton, homegrown heroes Architects make their first festival appearance in this country in support of new album The Here and Now, which was released one week ago today. Never has an album been more aptly titled, with the band currently on the cover of Metal Hammer magazine while their latest single enjoys daytime play on national radio, and the album receives rave reviews across the rock media, earning it a top 75 chart position (57) in its first week. Frontman Sam Carter enthuses:

“UK festivals are always a massive deal for us because it’s basically the biggest gathering of Architects fans we can play to, and this year you know it’s going to be special because the line up for Sonisphere is INSANE. It’s also a big deal because it’ll be our first UK festival since our new record The Here and Now came out and that record was built for festivals! We’ll see everyone at Sonisphere 2011!!!”

Check out the image below for more bands:

chthonic added to hammerfest line up

Fresh from a UK tour supporting Arch Enemy, Chthonic have been added to the line up of the third annual Hammerfest event, set to take place in Prestatyn, North Wales between 18 - 20 March. They will appear alongside the likes of Accept, Biohazard and Satyricon.

Following on from 2009s well-received Mirror of Retribution album, Chthonic are currently putting together the material for the follow-up, due to be released in spring of 2011. Before this, the band’s 2005 album, Seediq Bale, will be granted a full re-issue, also through Spinefarm, with a cover of the Judas Priest classic Painkiller due to be added as a bonus track.

Chthonic bassist and band-leader Doris Yeh has been rapidly gaining profile over the past few months, appearing in all manner of publications from the more extreme end of the metal press all the way through to glossy titles such as GQ & FHM; voted 2001s 'Goremate of the Year’ by Gorezone Magazine and standing as one of Revolver Magazine’s ‘Hottest Chicks of All Time’ (!), Doris commented on her group’s impending return to the UK:-

“After touring with Arch Enemy last November, we are thrilled to be coming back to the UK again, and we’re especially excited to be appearing at Hammerfest, where we’ll also be undertaking a signing session. We can’t wait to meet the fans – it’s such a cool thing for us!”

No strangers to the big stage, Chthonic have already appeared at Ozzfest in the US and Wacken Open Air in Germany, and further UK touring is due to take place at the end of 2011.

six feet under teaser for new dvd 'wake the night! live in germany' available

Taken from press release:

Six Feet Under are, without a doubt, one of the most active and best live acts in death metal. A constant institution since the mid-90s. Party.San Open Air in Bad Berka, Germany is known as a place where bands give 110% and more and so did Six Feet Under on 8 August 2009. Being headliners on this very night,Six Feet Under unleashed hell on stage and delivered one of the best shows of their career!

Seventeen hits of grooving death metal were carved on DVD to make all the Six Feet Under fans worldwide be part of this legendary evening at Party.San Open Air. The gig was filmed by Roax Films with nine cameras and recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound, picture size 16:9 — best entertainment guaranteed!

Comments Six Feet Under's vocalist Chris Barnes: "It was compiled from footage that we filmed at the Party.San festival in Germany from August 2009. All of the show was shot on high-definition camera, and it just really looks awesome. It's on the same wavelength as our With Full Force video, really excellent show, awesome crowd. This time we were playing at night, so they utilised some really giant pyrotechnics, so it was awesome and frightening at the same time."

The Victim of the Paranoid performance from the upcoming DVD can be viewed HERE!

To make the purchase even more attractive, the initial European pressing will include the digipak version of the latest Six Feet Under covers album, Graveyard Classics III. The DVD will be released on mid-price and the bonus CD will not cost a penny extra! This release and the attached price strategy is a big thank you from Chris Barnes and his gang to all their loyal fans.

amon amarth post first new song from surtur rising

Swedish death metal legends, Amon Amarth, have unveiled the official album landing page. The new website, deiecated exclusively to Sutur Rising, will include album pre-orders for North America, Europe and UK, as well as up ot the minute news updates, tour announcements, videos and singles leading up to the album's release.

The page currently features a stream of War of the Gods - the opening track from Sutur Rising. Check it out here!

There are a number of different options available for pre order at the site above.

Sutur Rising is the band's eighth studio offering in a winding discography that's helped shape the very face of epic, Viking-inspired death metal. Named in tribute to Sutur, the leader of the fire giants of Muspelheim (flame land) and the oldest being in the nine worlds of Norse mythology, the record was recorded, mixed and mastered at Fascination Street Studios Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren and bears the striking cover art by Tom Thiel. The album will be released on 28 March via Metal Blade Records in the UK.

Don't forget to catch Amon Amarth in the UK when they are out on tour with Children of Bodom and Ensierum.

01 Apr: Norwich - UEA

02 Apr: Manchester - Academy

03 Apr: Glasgow - O2 Academy

05 Apr: Dublin - Vicar Street

07 Apr: Nottingham - Rock City

08 Apr: Birmingham - O2 Academy

09 Apr: London - HMV Forum

Tickets available from usual outlets.

31st january

updates

Reviews

CloverSeeds - The Opening

Rival Sons - Rival Sons EP

Thin Lizzy - Guildhall, Southampton

23rd january

updates

Reviews

Houston - Houston

Mr Big - What If...

22nd january

power quest announce live shows and album track exclusive

Power Quest have now confirmed that they will be returning to Prestatyn, North Wales on Saturday 19 March 2011 for Hammerfest III. They are also pleased to announce this year's UK dates with a headliner tour in May to promote their eagerly anticipated new release Blood Alliance. The band will be showcasing a handful of new tracks in London, Derby, Manchester and Glasgow.

Steve Williams commented:

"We are really excited to hit the road again, it's been way too long for our UK fans and we finally return to Glasgow as well! The demand was so high, we couldn't miss that. And we are also working on a few European dates. So - 2011 will see a lot of us, that's for sure!! "

Blood Alliance will be released in Japan on 26 January but Steve and the rest of the band wanted EVERYONE to have the opportunity to hear a track from the new album, so there is an exclusive play of Survive on the 'Get Ready to Rock' ashow with David Randall on Sunday 23 January at 10pm - http://www.getreadytorockradio.com/david_randall.htm. Survive will also be available for fans to stream at www.myspace.com/powerquest from Monday 24 January 7pm (GMT).

Catch Power Quest at the following shows:

19 Mar: Hammerfest III

29 May - 08 June: Hard Rock Hell Roadtrip, Ibiza

13 August: Bloodstock Open Air, Derby

05 May: London - Purple Turtle

06 May: Derby - Redemption Club

07 May: Manchester - Satan's Hollow

08 May: Glasgow - Classic Grand

sonata arctica to tour uk in march

Finnish favourites, Sonata Arctica are set to head out to the UK in March as part of their European tour. Supporting the band throughout the first part of the tour (24 Feb - 08 Mar) will be Labyrinth and 4th Dimension, both from Italy. Supporting the second leg of the tour (10 Mar - 31 Mar) will be Labyrinth and Triosphere from Norway.

Be sure to check out the bands when they hit the UK on the following dates:

18 Mar: Wolverhampton - Wulfrun Hall

19 Mar: Sheffield - Corporation

20 Mar: Glasgow - Garage

22 Mar: Manchester - Academy 2

23 Mar: Cardiff - Millenium Music Hall

24 Mar: Reading - Sub 89

25 Mar: London - Koko

For more information about Sonata Arctica and their tour dates please check their official website. Tickets available from usual outlets.

win hammerfest III tickets

How would you like to win a pair of tickets to Hammerfest III. Well, the organisers are pleased to annouce that they are giving away 2 pairs of weekend passes (please note NO accommodation).

To be in with a chance of winning all you need to do is email info@hammerfest.co.uk with: MUSICXTRA HAMMERFEST COMP in the subject line and your contact details.

What are you waiting for? This year's line up boasts the following:

Accept

Biohazard

Breed77

Evile

Holy Grail

Ill Nino

My Ruin

Onslaught

Sabaton

Satyricon

Sylosis

Turisas

Wolf

Plus many, many more!

For more information visit the official Hammerfest website.

amon amarth - sutur rising update

Amon Amarth are currently gearing up to unleash Surtur Rising, their eighth studio album. Named in tribute to Surtur, leader of the fire giants of Muspelheim and the oldest being in the nine worlds of Norse mythology, the record, which was listed among Decibel Magazine's most anticipated albums of 2011 features ten tracks. The album was recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden with Jens Bogren and features striking cover are by Tom Thiel.

Trackilsting:

The band will be touring with Children of Bodom and Ensiferum through the UK in April. Be sure to catch them at one of the following dates:

01 Apr: Norwich - UEA

02 Apr: Manchester - Academy

03 Apr: Glasgow - O2 Academy

05 Apr: Dublin - Vicar Street

07 Apr: Nottingham - Rock City

08 Apr: Birmingham - O2 Academy

09 Apr: London - HMV Forum

bonded by blood to tour uk with lazarus a.d.

Bonded by Blood are teaming up with fellow US thrashers Lazarus A.D. for a co-headlining Euro tour, which kicks off on 9 March in London.

Bonded by Blood have been touring relentlessly in support of their new album, Exiled to Earth, having already played shows all across North America with the likes of Overkill, Forbidden, Evile and Gama Bomb.

"We're excited by the announcement of our much anticipated and requested co-headlining European tour with Lazarus A.D. in March. We love touring Europe and we hope to see many old and new faces this time around."

Cath the band in the UK on the following dates:

09 Mar: London - Academy 2

10 Mar : Bristol - The Croft

11 Mar: Milton Keynes - Crawford Arms

12 Mar: Leeds - The Well

13 Mar: Glasgow - Ivory Blacks

14 Mar: Nottingham - The Maze

15 Mar: Southampton - Joiners

16 Mar: Norwich - Metal Lust @ The Brickmakers

stratovarius top finnish charts

Stratovarius have topped the Finnish charts with their thirteenth full-length studio album, Elysium. The CD went in at No 1 after being released in Europe on 14 January via earMusic / Edel and North America on 18 January via Armoury Records.

Elysium was released as a regular CD; a deluxe digipak edition with bonus track; a "collector's edition" (featuring two exclusive bonus tracks on a seven-inch single); and on vinyl.

new generation superstars: news from dazzle

New Generation Superstars have announced that Dazzle, who joined the band over a year ago on bass, will play his last gig with the band on 11 March in Leicester.

Dazzle had this to say:

"It is with a heavy heart that I announce my departure from New Generation Superstars. Over the last couple of months I've felt my commitment to the band slip and would rather step down and let someone else to keep the torch burning than hold the guys back from the amazing plans they have coming up this year. There's never been an ounce of bad blood between us and the boys have been very supportive of my decision.

I've had a great time in NGS and wish the boys all the best for the future. We are going to stay good friends and I will remain a close supporter of the band, which means I may still be found occasionally knocking around the merch stand or propping up the bar. However this isn't the end for Dazzle Rebel in Rock'n'Roll, not by a long stretch, once it's in your blood you'd need a full claret transplant to get rid of it! I'll just be taking it all at a more leisurely pace.

I'd like to thank the New Gen fans for being amazing and supporting my transition into the band. It's been a thrill to know such a dedicated and crazy bunch of people.

Dazzle"

Dazzle will still contribute to the band in other ways, and will very much remain a part of the NGS family. The band would like to give him a send off deserved of a rock'n'roll hero and ask that fans come down and say goodbye to Dazzle at his remaining gigs. Bass duties after 11 March will be covered by Berty Burton. The band will continue on album number 3 in the near future.

Cath the band at the following shows:

22 Jan: Leciester - Lock 42

29 Jan: London - The Bridgehouse 2

05 Feb: Nottingham - The Central Bar

11 Mar: Leicester - The Musician

18 Mar: Sheffield - TBC

01 Apr: Helsinki - Gloria

30 Apr: Newcastle - The Hyem Bar

04 Jun: Chepstow - Racecourse

white wizzard start recording new album

White Wizzard have gone into the studio to start recording their new album. Drummer Giovanni Durst, along with bassist and founding member Jon Leon, are the first members to lay down their parts for the follow up to their 2010 debut album - Over the Top. The band is once again working with producer Ralp Patlan.

Jon posted this from the studio:

"Jon from the studio here... Gio kicked ass and laid down five drum tracks yesterday. The band expects to finish drums today and start bass tomorrow. In case you're interested in the album title, I wrote a song called Flying Tigers as a tribute to the P-40 fighters of World War II. Everyone has seen those planes with the tiger shark painted on the side... It is a bit of a metal tribute to some old heroes... More news soon!!"

The new album is set to be released mid-2011 on Earache Records. The band released a new single, Shooting Star, which also includes a cover of Dio's legendary anthem, We Rock. All profits from the single will go to the Children of the Night charity. Get the single now on iTunes here.

19th january

updates

Reviews

Buffalo Grillz - Grind Canyon

Hour of 13 - The Ritualist

party.san announce more bands

Triptykon, Gorguts, Enslaved and Exhumed have recently been announced for this year's edition of Partysan Open Air. The also includes:

At the Gates

Belphegor

Ensiferum

Hail of Bullets

Melechesh

Morbid Angel

Morgoth

Nachtmystium

Negura Bunget

Panzer Christ

Taake

Save now on your ticket to PARTY.SAN METAL OPEN AIR 2011 which includes various limited t-shirt or P.S:O:A DVD combos. For more info, visit: http://www.cudgel.de:

- Ticket PSOA 2011 w/ out Shirt: 49,90€ + delivery
- Ticket PSOA 2011 + limited to 666pieces shirt in S,M,L,Xl,XXL: 49,90€ + delivery
- Ticket PSOA 2011 + DVD 2009: 65,00€ + delivery
- Ticket PSOA 2011 + DVD 05, 07 or 08: 54,00€ + delivery
- DVD 2009: 19,99€ + delivery

Party.san 2011 will run from August 11 - 13, 2011 at Flugplatz Obermehler in Schlotheim, Germany.

09th january

updates

Reviews

Bad Habit - Atmosphere

Exodus - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK

08th january

updates

Reviews

TNT - A Farewell to Arms

Jettblack - Guildhall, Southampton, UK

Dead Shape Figure - The Disease of St Vitus

Kiuas - Lustdriven

Metsatöll - Äio

frederic leclercq from dragonforce to play with sabaton

Taken from the official Sabaton site:

'Our old friend and companion from the band DragonForce will take over the guitars from Rikard on the upcoming World War Tour in Europe.

This is since Rikard has decided to multiply himself and will have his first kid during this time.

Of course it's the highest wish of Sabaton to tour with all six members but this time Rikard wanted to pass and to ensure that the fans that comes to these shows will get a good show we wanted to bring in a person with both great musical talent aswell as a great stage acting and with a chemistry that we know fits in Sabaton.

And we are sure that Frederic is that person.

This is of course a temporary thing, Frederic has his own band DragonForce which will release a new album in 2011 and Rikard is still the guitarplayer of Sabaton and for the tour in America that starts in April Rikard will be on the stage again, ready to rock and a hopefully a bit richer in life. '

Sabaton will play at HammerFest in Prestatyn on 19 March 2011. Tickets available from usual outlets.

avantasia dvd artwork revealed

Taken from tobiassammet.com:   'While you are reading these lines the editors are putting the finishing touches on the forthcoming Avantasia double DVD (concert film and documentary) "The Flying Opera - Around the world in 20 days".   Both DVDs portray the allstar ensemble's journey on their first ever world tour in 2008. Within just a few weeks the studio project Avantasia became a traveling live event featuring many artists from various bands who got together and set off on the road under the flag of Avantasia for the first time. The Flying Circus - Around the World in 20 days will be available as a 2-DVD set featuring the documentary movie, a live concert film, and additional bonus material. It will be also available as a double live album on CD and as a limited edition 2-CD / 2-DVD boxset.  The release is set for early March. Stay tuned for more information here at tobiassammet.com.'