ROCK & METAL
ISSUE #12 WWW.RAMZINE.CO.UK
S W E I V E R FESTIVAL P
! E R O M & S Y A D L A T E M D, A O L N W O D , T S E F R E M HAM
Claaic
Contents Featured
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08 In Flames 12 Festival Previews 06 In Memorium
erosmith, Airborne, Amon Amarth - three very different style bands, yet we are very excited to see all of them headline festivals this summer! RAMzine’s traditional Festival Previews feature returns in this issue, as we come into the new year and start planning our summer. We had a chance to catch up with Anders of In Flames just before their show at London 02 for this edition, to talk good booze, L.A. sun, and not being old! We also introduce you to Skullfaced goth-metallers, Johnny Deathshadow.
classic
07 Dio - Holy Diver
INTroducing
04Johnny Deathshadow
17 Reviews
// 1968 // Plainride // The Parasite Syndicate // All Else Fails // Idles //Kreator // Primal Attack // Wars // Once Human // Deaf Havana // Homebound // Zeal & Ardor // Darko // Beyond Recall // Verena // Cedar Boulevard // Elase //Cosmosquad // A Breach of Silence // Def Leppard //
-Victoria Purcell
airborne
by Ashley Crowson
CONTRIBUTORS On the cover: MetalDays by Katja Borns and Marc Hanse. In Flames (Press Image). Dio illustration by gerkyart (Gerardo Israel Rodela Quiroz). Check him out at gerky-art.deviantart.com.
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Head to RAMzine.co.uk for lots more Rock & Metal content! S TEPHEN S TANFORD Writer *Interview with In Flames *Review of 1968
Release Reviews by: Ashley Crowson, Stuart Iversen, Pagan Hel, Rich Broome, Lauren Garlinge, Neil Mach & Jules Burnan. Festival Previews recormmended by: Victoria Purcell, Marcus Wheeler, Neale McGeever, Ashley Crowson, Milly Youngman, Mike James, and Stuart Iversen.
NEALE MCGEEVER Writer *Interview with Johnny Deathshadow * In Memorium *Bloodstock Preview
By Neale McGee ver
“Gothic music with indie-rock beats and metal breakdowns”
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kull-faced goth-metallers have been popping up all over the metal gig scene in Europe over the past twelve months, but since the release of their debut album Bleed With Me, it seems everyone knows the name Johnny Deathshadow. We spoke to vocalist Jonathan Schneider about the album, their upcoming festival appearances and ‘Gangnam Style’.
We will try to put on a unique show and to really use the possibilities we get when playing a big festival like that, right now our show (lights etc) is suited to small clubs, so we’re already working on moving it to a bigger stage and deliver an even bigger bang.
How do you feel about the reception of the album?
As a very visual band, do you feel your live shows are their own unique experience?
The reception has been great, lots of reviews and positive feedback, not one really negative review in 2016. Really we only had one really negative review in all just last week, but it seems the reviewer didn’t get some things about the record at all.
I wouldn’t say they’re unique shows. We give it all we can and try to put on the best show possible every night and work on improving it constantly, I do think the combination of our music, our show and the humour we show on stage is kind of unique in that people get to know us a bit and can see that we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
Has this given you anything to think about when writing the next album? The opinions differ but a lot of people seemed to like the songs that we have written last the best, so the direction we were going in with the writing seems to have been right and we will continue straight down that path. 4
You have been announced to play Wacken Open Air, what can they expect to see?
Are you planning on playing any other festivals, or a tour? We are working on playing more festivals and also do have a tour in the works for the first half of this year while already thinking about what to do in the fall, coming back to the UK is a valid option we’re working on, we have nothing we can announce right now though.
Because of your appearance, you often get compared to Slipknot and Misfits, do you welcome this comparison?
and I think nowadays you have to be. The internet gives musicians the ability to reach millions of people all over the world but nothing compares to getting to know a band live and really feel what’s happening there. Also as streaming is taking over the market, live is basically the only place to at least get some gas money by selling some shirts.
“We have always been a live band!”
As those two bands are great bands, we welcome the comparison. I do think we bring enough of our own to the table though. We’re doing exactly what we want and have loads of different influences coming from each of us so the mix is unique by definition as we all listen to different music and the result sounds like nothing that idols of ours already do.
As a modern band - do you feel playing live is more important now than ever? We have always been a live band
How would you describe your sound to someone new to Johnny Deathshadow? Johnny Deathshadow are an American gothic metal band channelled through four kids from Northern Germany who listened to too much British music and don’t believe in any rules on what they should write and play. Or maybe the short version: Gothic music
with indie-rock beats and metal breakdowns. What can we expect next from Johnny Deathshadow? Lots of playing live and then off course the next album which we are currently writing. That’s gonna take some time, though as we tend to be slow and perfectionist about this. Finally... there’s videos of you performing a metal version of ‘Gangnam Style’ do you still perform it live? Yeah, not anymore but we did perform it for about two years until we felt the joke got stale. Our live version was a bit heavier than the ‘badass gangnam style’ on YouTube even. We did play a cover of ‘Wrecking Ball’ live after that though.
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In Memorium Liam ‘Roge’ Rogerson Rock fan and great person
It’s always sad when we lose someone in the world of entertainment such as Bowie, Lemmy, or Prince. Yet, we don’t realise it can happen to someone so close to us. On Christmas Eve one of my oldest friends, Liam Rogerson, died as a result of a hit-and-run attack while visiting family in Kent. I have known him since I was 11 years old and shared many great experiences with him such as out first Download Festival, first nights out as young adults, among many other great memories. Liam was a gentle man who had a strong career in the engineering industry with a keen interest in rock and metal music. He attended many gigs, collected music, and read RAMzine articles.
As you may be able to tell he meant a lot to me as a friend. I feel the death of a fan in music speaks a lot more volumes than one of it’s cultural icons. It’s fans that make live music what it is. I’ll never forget discovering rock club nights in Newcastle, which finally played the music we liked. Plus braving the cold, wet mud at Download 2012. Sometimes our opinions differed on certain bands but hopefully I introduced you to some great bands the way you did for me. Hopefully you will be partying with your favourite rock stars like Lemmy, Kurt, and Bowie somewhere else. RIP.
DEAF HAVANA All These Countless Nights So Recordsings Review by Milly Youngman
Having fought through record label departures, lineup changes and personal struggles, even Deaf Havana themselves had doubts about their longevity. With a sound that’s chan-
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By Neale McGee ver
ged dramatically (and arguably for the better) since their early days playing small venues, 2011’s Fools and Worthless Liars was a career-defining record, followed up by 2013’s also-impressive Americana-tinged Old Souls. Teasers for their latest release, All These Countless Nights, had already made their way to those itching for new material with the rousing, venueready ‘Sing and Trigger’. With their big choruses and solid instrumental work, by all accounts it seemed that Deaf Havana were about to bring something pretty big. Unfortunately, the aforementioned releases are by far the strongest tracks on the album – part of a cluster of gems amongst some forgettable and sometimes-bland offerings. However, if you’re a fan of Deaf Havana’s folksy, storytelling lyricism, there’ll still be elements to enjoy. ‘L.O.V.E’ is
a particularly honest account of personal demons and their effect on relationships, and James Veck-Gilodi’s vocals lend themselves perfectly to the introspective ‘Seattle’. ‘Fever’ has some great guitar riffs and tracks such as ‘Happiness’ show off the band’s talent for creating songs that build from acoustic verses to crescendo choruses. By all accounts, All These Countless Nights is by no means a bad album, and it’s still an enjoyable listen. But for a band who have the talent and ability to create relatable, emotionally-pulling material, it just feels like a bit of a let down - with most tracks paling in comparison to the output of their two previous releases.
Classic
Holy Diver Vertigo Records Review by Pagan Hel Released 25th May 1983 For all of us old enough to remember the dulcet tones of Ronnie James Dio, there are none who would or could forget a voice like his, despite his small stature, he had lungs of steel and always put them to good use when behind a microphone. Having loved his vocals on Rainbow’s Rising, I was chuffed at the thought of Ronnie bringing his own album out and was probably one of the first to go out and buy it. Then came the constant listening, on vinyl. Staring at the cover and savouring every morsel. Ronnie produced this album, which is why it is so perfect, so memorable and well worthy of being written about. The cover features the band mascot, Murray spinning chains around waves where a man with a priest collar in chains is floating. Dio was quick to argue that appearances are misleading, that it could just as easily be a priest killing a devil, not wanting people to “judge a book by its cover” Dio knew what he wanted to do and that was to make people think, and what better way than to use religion and the devil to do it? The theme of mystical dragons featured strongly throughout Dio’s life and this is what made him so appealing. Track List: Stand Up and Shout Holy Diver Gypsy Caught in the Middle Don’t Talk to Strangers Side two Straight Through the Heart Invisible Rainbow in the Dark Shame on the Night
He was indeed a ‘man on a silver mountain’ when it came to anything musical. Being one of the privileged few to meet Ronnie in the 80’s – he came across as a perfectionist so it was with a heavy heart we lost him to Stomach Cancer on the 16th May 2010. Of everyone who has since passed from this ‘metal’ coil, Dio is the guy I miss most. Thank’s Ronnie, for a superb legacy, you are indeed a beacon of light and a Rainbow in the Dark!
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In t er view By St eph en Stanford
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wedish metal outfit In Flames have taken to the road touring the release of Battles which came outlast year. Currently in the UK with Avenged Sevenfold and Disturbed, lead singer Anders Friden took some time out with us to discuss good booze, L.A. sun, and not being old. First off, thanks for chatting with us today. I can imagine things are pretty hectic for you guys at the moment.
“Environment has an impact on you as a person. Being away from the cold and the rain, to a place that was a lot warmer definitely shows on this album.” 8
It’s okay, I’m in full interview mode today, haha. It’s been busy, but it has been really good fun too.
whole beer movement has been taking over the world, and now you have good selections pretty much anywhere now, and a lot of nice bars popping up everywhere. Good gin too, I shouldn’t say that, but there is a lot of good gin over here, so that’s fun. Today also I’ve been to a soccer game. I saw Queens Park Rangers and Fulham, spent some time there in the cold.
So if we can talk about the new album, Battles. We reviewed it in a previous issue and it’s really incredible. It is your twelfth album and the first one recorded in LA.
In Flames have been coming to the UK for a long time now, is there a city you enjoy visiting?
We spoke to about six or seven producers before we decided to go with Howard Benson. He said “come to the California sun” and we didn’t hesitate at all, as he asked us to record in February, March and April, and that’s when it gets pretty cold in Sweden, haha. We did a writing session there too, about 3 weeks prior to the recording, and that was really nice, so that’s pretty much why we decided to work there.
Erm, I don’t think there is one in particular. I just enjoy wherever I go, pick up opportunities to meet new people and go out and have a good time, so, but if I had to pick, I really like Glasgow because of my whiskey interest and so on, so that’s pretty cool, but yeah, it’s difficult, as I’m happy to be anywhere really.
How is it to be back in the UK? Great, it has been a good run. We get to play to a lot of people, and the other two bands Avenged Sevenfold and Disturbed are really cool. We’ve also seen a lot of really cool craft beer places popping up around the U.K too, which is pretty awesome, could do with more of those in Sweden, haha. So what else do you guys like to do? Besides getting drunk that is. Haha, no it’s not all about getting drunk, it’s more about drinking good stuff. It’s cool to see this
With the shows, how do the fans in the UK differ from those back in Sweden or the rest of Europe?
Oh, thank’s man! Yep, that’s 100% correct. What prompted the recording in LA then?
“It’s cool to see this whole beer movement has been taking over the world”
I don’t think you do differ with today where you have internet everywhere now, or rather over the last few years, you can watch videos on YouTube and everything has become pretty streamlined. Everybody moves in the same way, screams the same things and that sort of thing. There is a small difference though, between say American, European and Asian crowds, and South American crowds and so one, it is more, a different identity some would say.
We did a writing session there too, about there weeks prior to the recording, and that was really nice, so that’s pretty much why we decided to work there.
Did it have much of an impact on the album? Oh yeah! I think the environment in general, has an impact on you as a person. I mean, we’re not robots and having good working environment is going to show on any record. Being away from the cold and the rain, to a place that was a lot warmer definitely shows on this album.
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This is also the first record with your new drummer, Joe (Rickard). How did he fit into it all? It was great, that’s why he’s in the band, haha. We went to LA without a drummer in mind really, and we didn’t want to have any auditions prior to the album, so went with the idea that we’d just record it with a session drummer and we could do all that once the record was done. You don’t want to adapt to someone’s playing style while you write something new, it’s better they record something over what we say they should, but Joe was working in the studio with Howard and came highly recommend by him and he was helping us out with some programming anyway. When we write the demos we just used program drums just to
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get by, get forward, and so Joe was helping us out with that, and said ‘Okay, so this is the way I would do it, would play, if I was playing it’ and we said ‘Okay, you can try it, play it for real’ because we wanted to have real drums on the album, not program drums, so when all the demos were done and
“We went to LA without a drummer”
album, do you want to be part of it?’ and he said yes. That was it. It was super smooth. I didn’t expect a quick and positive transition with someone new, but it worked out for the best. Does he know any Swedish yet? Have you taught him anything? Haha! We try. Have to ease him in, but he needs to learn more, for sure, haha. Soon we’ll get him over there and he’ll have to talk it more. Throw him in at the deep end, as it were. Haha yes, very much so.
we were supposed to record for real he did that and sounded amazing. Then we went to a few bars with him and hung out. He’s a really cool guy and we just asked ‘You recorded the
The artwork of the album is really quite something. What’s the story behind that? His name is Blake Armstrong.
He worked on ‘Siren Charms’ as well, and he also did our comic book ‘Jesters Curse’, so we know the guy really well. He does movie posters for really big movies over in LA, so I just gave him the overall theme, all the lyrics and told him I wanted something really visual, something striking. He did a few things at first that we weren’t super happy with, but he pretty quickly got into the direction and came back with what we used. He used a lot of colours other heavy metal bands wouldn’t normally use, haha. So I’m really happy with how it turned out. You guys have also been a band for around 25 years now, not that I want to make you feel old... Haha! No, no, no, it’s totally fine. There are not many bands that have been around that long who release new albums quite regularly. Around every other year almost. Do you find the writing process comes easily or is it a bit more difficult than you might think?
No, I would say it comes fairly easy. We don’t write constantly because we are kept busy with album cycles and touring and everything. There can be years between the actual writing, it’s not a continuous thing, but I love creating. I love going into the studio with nothing and coming out with something that you, as a band, feel is complete, then you go out and tour the album and get your fire back again, and it’s time to meet all the fans, and so you can take all that energy and go back into the studio. It’s a circle. We really enjoy what we’re doing, why stop and not create music while you can. You also released a live album last year, ‘Sounds from the Heart of Gothenburg’. How was that to record and put out? Pretty important I would say, because that’s a venue that, when I was young, I went to see all the big heavy metal bands at the time as they came through Gothenburg, so I’ve had a lot of inspiration from there, where I first though that maybe I could be in a band
one day, so for us to play in that venue is very special. It was a really good night too, full house. The band were on fire, the audience were on fire too, and we were lucky to capture it. As well, in hindsight, knowing both Peter (Iwers, ex-bass) and Daniel (Svensson, ex-drums) are not with us anymore it’s a good document of the band who were together for many, many years, and so it’s a good gift for them as well. It’s also a good selection of who we are, and what we’re like as a band if you’re new to In Flames. Not a ‘Best Of’, more of an ‘A Of’, haha. It must be difficult to capture a live recording well. Well, yes and no. There should be some flaws, it shouldn’t sound exactly like a studio album, it should be a little bit different because that is what playing live is doing to you. You don’t sound the same as in the studio. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us and good luck with the rest of the tour. Thanks. All the best.
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by p
! iss m ’t n a c u o y ls a iv t s e The F Hammerfest 23rd - 26th March Camp HRH, Wales
Slam Dunk
25th - 29 th April Birmingham, Leeds, Haitfeild
Desertfest
The season always starts with Hammerfest, it’s tradition! “HRH United” they now call it as it caters for more than just a taste of metal - doom, stoner, and thrash too. On the line-up we have RSJ, Metal Church, Forever Never, Fury, Napalm Death and tonnes more. Located in the hills of Wales, at the legendary Camp HRH in HaFan y Mor, metalheads are treated to comfortable accommodation and sea views. Ploughed full of beer at the Mash and Barrel, where they also serve a mean fry up, HRH United gives us all we need to keep on rockin’. Bands such as Alestorm and Evil Scarecrow are festival favourites and will ensure that the beer is flowing whilst everyone has a very merry mosh. Recommended by Victoria Purcell.
Whether you’re headed North, South or West, Slam Dunk has become a major fixture on the annual festival calendar. The daddy of ‘all-dayers’, head along for punk rock, emo, ska, metalcore and much more across multiple stages in each location. Headliners Enter Shikari will be electrifying the main stage as they play debut album Take To The Skies in full; and elsewhere there’ll be laughs aplenty with the irrepressible Bowling For Soup on board. Other sets you won’t want to miss? How about Against Me! and Beartooth, or Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake. With plenty more bands still to be announced, we can’t wait to see what else is in store… Recommended by Milly Youngman.
Londons finest doom/stoner/ psych/sludge festival is soon upon us, taking over Camden for three fine days of pure bliss. Last years unforgettable weekend saw the increase in venues with the Koko taking part, this year will see the Roundhouse in its place. The line up is ever growing, but already it has shown some real gems with Bongzilla returning after 14 years away from London playing two sets, the first focussed on early releases Stash, Apogee and Methods For Attaining High Altitudes, the second set taking place at the Roundhouse, spanning their career. Not alone in two sets, the unmistakable voice of desertrock John Garcia will be performing with an acoustic set, and then returning with Slo Burn. Recent announcements include Inter Arma, Celeste,
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28 April - 30 April Camden, London
by Victoria purcell
pete key
Avon, Death Valley, Boss Keloid, Hark, Samavayo and Dead Lettuce amongst others. There truly is something for everyone already throughout the entire festival Other immense acts such as Sleep, Turbonegro, Candlemass and Saint Vitus are already on the bill, shaping Desertfest London 2017 up nicely. For those looking a little further afield, be sure to check out Desertfest Berlin taking part that same weekend, with a similar, awesome line up with some European flair. Recommended by Ash Crowson.
HRH Ibiza 10th - 17th May Ibiza
In the past Ibiza has been seen as a haven for clubbing culture, but now Hard Rock Hell has opened it opened it up for rock and metal fans. This is the eighth ‘cycle’ of HRH’s ‘On The Road’ seven-day event. In short - the ultimate early summer holiday for those who love to rock. This includes five nights of
fantastic live bands such as blues-rockers The Quireboys, glam-rockers Reckless Love, hard-rockers Gun, and turn-itup-louder rockers Phil Campbell and The Bastard Sons. Other acts over the week incude NWOBHM icons Grim Reaper, legendary guitarist Bernie Marsden, and nu-metal kids on the block A Joker’s Rage. This isn’t all - there is much, much more to enjoy in Ibiza like sunset unplugged sets, rock n roll boat party, rock god quizzes, shopping trips, beach sports and loads more to keep you entertained. All this before listing the full line-up (so far). How can one forget Swedish metal heroes Wolf, returning German metalheads Bonfire, UK’s number one Motorhead tribute - Motorheadache, rising Oxford rockers Hell’s Gazelles and more. That’s not even scratching the surface as there are many more bands, and events, to be announced in the coming months. Recommended by Neale McGeever.
Breaking Bands 26th - 28th May Stoke Prior Sports Club, Bromsgrove
Breaking Bands festival returns to Stoke Prior Sports Club in Bromsgrove for the third year. It has been exciting to see this festival grow over the past couple of years and see those efforts awarded, having been shortlist-
ed (for the second year running) as ‘Best Small Festival’ at the UK Festival Awards. The beauty of Breaking Bands is the small community that you get to be a part of whilst there. The bands that are showcased are often immensely talented, and the beer is cheap! In fact, you would be silly not to buy a ticket to this festival since they are a very modest £30 for the entire weekend! Festival organisers don’t hold back on treats either, headliners Massive Wagons, Acid Reign, and Forgotten Remains are guaranteed to play outstanding performances. Recommended by Victoria Purcell.
Camden Rocks 3rd June London
Fed up of trudging through mud to buy an overpriced pint and then watch your favourite band’s music being swept off into the ether by the howling gale that the British summer has inevitably thrown up? Well then, Camden Rocks might be the festival for you. With 25 venues in London’s iconic Camden showing well over 200 bands this is a day that any rock fan will relish. Whether you are there for Orange Goblin’s riffs or Hey! Hello!’s infectious melodies, the odds are that there will be something that caters to you. Best of all, at the end of the day, you can go home, have a shower and spend the night in a proper bed. Luxury. Recommended by Stuart Iversen.
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Download
Stone Free
System Of A Down. Biffy Clyro. Aerosmith. Prophets Of Rage. Five Finger Death Punch. AFI. Alter Bridge. Mastodon. Sum 41. Rob Zombie. Slayer. Opeth. Good Charlotte. The Dead Daisies. Ministry. Airbourne. The names speak for themselves, and perhaps one of the more exciting names this year is Prophets Of Rage: an amalgamation of Rage Against The Machine, Public Enemy and Cypress Hill. Aerosmith, with over 40 years in the game, are certain to put on a show worthy of the Sunday headline slot. There are over 100 performances, four stages; there is more to do and to see than any one person can achieve in the four days. There is always something happening, and if there is a quiet moment, then it’s usually time to eat. One of the best things about festivals is the opportunity to discover new music; if you want to get the most out of Download, you must research and plan your time there - it’ll be with the effort. One last thing, don’t forget to pack for bad weather. Sure, June might be in summer, and as much as you might think that it’s sunny in summer, this is England. Pack wellies, waterproofs and plenty of spare socks and keep your fingers crossed you won’t need them. Recommended by Marcus Wheeler.
Calling the O2 arena home on June 17th, Stone Free Festival will be taking us back and bringing the classic sounds of days gone by centre stage. Announced so far, we have Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, where we can expect the classics and more through the era of Rainbow and Deep Purple. The event is more than just about music. With activities going on all day including a vinyl fair, screening of rare and classic films and a Q&A event named Rock n’ Roll story sessions involved a whole host of artists being intimate with fans. Expect more bands to be announced soon, with new and classic alike, along with collaborations and some surprises. Recommended by Ash Crowson.
more names being added to the bill shortly the idyllic grounds will be thundering come July. UK Tech Fest is unlike other festivals as there are a huge amount of people from within the music and press industry giving seminars, talks and demonstrations on a wide range of topics to help any budding musician, programmer or band to proceed within the modern era. Be it recording to social media or how to build your brand and artwork. These sessions are open to all festival attendees and are always well supported. One of the highlights of the festival is the closing party’s Techiokie and Jam Sessions featuring members of bands on site at the time and the crew behind the event all getting involved until the small hours. Recommended by Mike James Rock Show.
Tech-Fest
SOS Festival
6th - 10th July Newark Showground
14 14th - 16th July Manchester
One of the UK’s rising festivals UK Tech Fest is a mecca for all fan of anything tech & metal, with a line-up spanning from technical black metal to the more party orientated crossover sounds from around the globe. The line-up already announced is stronger than previous years and will host a number of UK exclusive performances, with
SOS now in its tenth year takes places in Manchester. The three-day indoor rock & metal festival is headlined by Kill II This, and Power Quest, with another headliner still to be announced. Weekend tickets are just £15, so well worth it by the time you add up the cost per band! You do the math, and send yourself out to SOS. Recormmended by Victoria Purcell.
9 - 11 June Donington Park, Leicestershire
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17th June London O2
MetalDays Tolmin, Slovenia 23rd - 29th July
The best festival in the world! If you don’t decide to do MetalDays this year then you would be mad not to look at it in future years. Located in the mountains of Slovenia, MetalDays has one of the most beautiful festival sites. This is a longer festival too, it’s more of a holiday to be honest. You get to see five days of bands, that’s five headliners!! When you are not watching the bands, you can pop along to the beach and soak up that sun, have a cocktail, and go for a swim. The best part of MetalDays is being able to meet people from all around the world. With Marlyn Manson, Amon Amarth, and Opeth already announced we there is no stopping us getting a flight over Slovenia this summer. Recommended by Victoria Purcell.
Bloodstock
10th - 13th Aug Catton Park, Derbyshire How can organisers top what they called their “Best Bloodstock Ever”? Including the farewell performance of Twisted Sister? Have the following year headlined by Megadeth and Amon Amarth of course! The Megadeth frontman, Dave Mustaine, has stated this performance means a lot to him. “We kick off 2017 by announcing we’ll be headlining Sunday night
at Bloodstock, one of my favourite, purely metal, British festivals!” Stated the iconic guitarist and vocalist, “Megadeth had a blast last time and I can’t wait to bring the Dystopia World Tour to Bloodstock this Summer. See ya at Catton Park in August!” Although the full line-up hasn’t been revealed - Bloodstock 2017 boast a wide range of bands from the world of metal. Friday’s bill includes German powe r- m eta l l e r s Blind Guardian, Californian thrash legends Testament, Polish extreme metal heads Decapitated, and Knoxville deathcore mob Whitechapel. Saturday sees metalcore heroes Hatebreed, thrash crossover from Municipal Waste, Canadian thrash icons Annihilator, and California death metal in the shape of Possessed. So far Sunday has headliners Megadeth closing the weekend as well as Welsh genre-spanners Skindred, returning heavy metal legends Hell, and finally not forgetting Floridian death metallers Obituary. As you may ex p e ct there are many more names to be announced in the future, including the Saturday headliner. Past headline acts have included Alice Cooper, Slayer, and Lacuna Coil among many others. Recommended by Neale McGeever.
2000 Trees 6th - 8th July Upcote Farm
Showcasing the best in up and coming bands alongside cult favourite headliners from our shores and beyond, 2000Trees is the perfect festival for anyone who loves discovering new loves alongside old faves. A small and incredibly friendly festival, there’s plenty to see, with no stage and campsite divisions and some of the tastiest independent food and drink retailers too. Although this year’s line up is still TBA at our time or print, if previous years are anything to go by (we’re talkingFrank Turner, Refused, Twin Atlantic, Frightened Rabbit, Neck Deep, Alkaline Trio, While She Sleeps and loads more awesome names), you won’t want to miss out. Recommended by Milly Youngman.
Hard Rock Hell 9th - 12 th Nov Camp HRH, Wales
Last year we dubbed HRH as “A Hard Rocker’s Heaven” and we stick by that. Always rounding the year off nicely, HRH once again delivers with some awesome acts already announced. We will see the return of Airborne, who promise to smash beer cans on their heads. Also announced so far: Y & T, Gun, The New Roses, Syteria. Recommended by Victoria Purcell.
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REVIEWS
Plainride Return of the Jackalope Ripple Music Review by Ashley Crowson
These German stoner rockers have only been around since 2013, but already created a storm, Return of the Jackalope is nothing but pure, dirty, stoner rock filth. This stuff will have you chugging whisky like water, and making babies to it like it’s going out of fashion. This album is nasty, it is as important as the need for oxygen! It’s a must for fans of Clutch, Orange Goblin and the like. Get this in your life!
Primal Attack
The Parasite Syndicate Self-Release Review by Stuart Iversen
The Parasite Syndicate should be an evil band. On ‘Red Sky’ and ‘Origin’, they show a nastiness that is delightful in its dirty ways. However, too often they fall back on soaring choruses and trad metal. Songs like ‘Chakra’ don’t need those elements to make them stand out. If they can unleash the evil within, The Parasite Syndicate will be the band that we all want to keep an eye on.
All Else Fails
Kreator Gods of Violence Nuclear Blast Records Review by Pagan Hel
Kreator are a thrash metal band from Germany. Their style of music is heavy, loud and definitely complex. Mille is the only original member left in the band now but a lot of metal has passed under the bridge since Kreator first ‘Kreated’ themselves back in 1982. And now also ‘Kreated’ a new monster album which is just as compelling as their previous albums and more than likely to snap your neck!
IDLES
Heartless Oppressor
The Forever Lie
Brutalism
Rastilho Records Review by Ashley Crowson
Suicidal Bride Records
Review by Victoria Purcell
Balley Records Review Victoria Purcell
Canadian metallers All Else Fails are set to release The Forever Life on February 17th. The album wonders down straightup aggressive dark roads. The catchy title track is melodic, ending in a display of awesome guitar skills. They have the clean vs harsh vocals down. It’s no wonder that they have already shared a stage with Killswitch, Fear Factory, and many more!
It’s good to hear what comes across as natural noise, it’s ridiculously raw and I love it! Very British sounding post-punk due to the vocals and indeed the lyrical content. From songs about the NHS to ‘Exeter’, and being ‘White Privileged’, Idles certainly have a political agenda. They are loud, gritty, and charged with adrenalin. I can see why this album is titled Brutalism.
Heartless Oppressor is a contender already for album of the year, the aggression is incomprehensible and it just keeps giving. It sounds like the perfect birthchild of bands like Lamb of God and The Feared. Death metal releases are having a good start to the year, but this sits firmly at the top of the pile and will not leave your playlist for a very, very long time.
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The Parasite Syndicate
Once Human Evolution
surprised. Evolution is a strong album and I am expecting big things from the future of this band. Evolution, the band’s second album, is due out on February 10th and they already have two music videos out for the tracks ‘Eye of Chaos’ and ‘Gravity’. If you’re into your death metal and are interested in hearing a female fronted band with a difference, then I urge you to check out Once Human.
earMUSIC Review by Rich Broome
Confession time. I had not previously heard of Once Human but throughout my research, I have become more and more intrigued by them. Formed in 2014, by none other than former Soulfly and Machine Head guitarist Logan Matter, this six piece have already two albums released and five music videos. Already my interest has peaked. Logan Matter, it is said, did not want to create a super group and so comprised the band of fairly unknown musicians so they would all be dedicated to the band, rather than treating it as a side project. Smart move. This introduces us to Lauren Hart. An Australian who used to play guitar but upon joining Once Human became lead vocals and wow, has she got a diaphragm on her! Hart writes in a very aggressive, dark style. She produces a high level of lyrical creativity and her incredible, powerful screaming you really have to admire. She has submerged herself fully into the melodic death metal genre. I can imagine her stage performance would be formidable. Each of the nine songs are punchy, aggressive but have welcome breaks throughout each track where we find clean vocals and a more subdue instrumental play, switching up moods and keeping you interested, rather than the same sound from beginning to end. It’s creative and I am very pleasantly
1968 Fortuna Havana Black Bow Records Review by Stephen Stanford
1968 are a Cheshire based four piece, who offer up their latest EP Fortuna Havana. It’s hard not to enjoy this, at least on a basic level. It’ll never challenge you musically or lyrically, but if you take it at face value however, you will see that Fortuna Havana is four tracks of just good, ol’fashion Southern rock via the 1960’s, something that, in balance, would be very hard to get right, yet 1968 have found the right elements, and this is what they turn them into. Each of the four tracks on offer does exactly what they set out to do, and for that 1968 need applauding. That said, there are a number of areas that need addressing. There is little amongst the tracks that stand out as being memorable. Any one of the four has that same vibe and feel as the other three and because of that, it is hard for them to truly to make an impression. The length of the tracks may be a factor here, as the shortest is still
almost five minutes long. A minute or so shaved off each track and it changes the tone completely into something a lot puncher and impactful. Track three, Duchess is perhaps the most standout track on the EP. It combines a lot of the elements that are seen individually throughout and amps them up to such a degree that this, of the 4, is the one that leaves the greatest mark.
on the Lockjaw charity compilation, No Guts, No Glory] transcends the hardcore punk formula to fulfil the alternative rock desires of any early 90’s rock audience still left. Fat and ballsy prog metal. But the free-spirited art-punk formula doesn’t mean pretentiousness. No, it’s still intemperate fun ... metallic punk for guys who still wear board shorts and dream of hot-rods, but realise that the political reality is more Gallows these days than it is Agent Orange.
Reverie’ is a great song to bring this to a close. I like how the last 10/15 seconds of the song begin to fade out, unlike any other song on the EP which makes it stand out for being the last song. This is one of those where you could quite easily put it on in the background but on the other hand, you can blast it loud when you’re having a bad day or want to have a dance. All in all, this is really tightly recorded, everything goes together well and for a band of young ages, at an early point in their career, it’s a really mature release. You’d think they’d been doing this for a long time. This EP great and now I can’t wait for them to release their first full-length album. These boys are just at the beginning.
DARKO Bonsai Mammoth Lockjaw Records Review by Neil Mach
The exhilarating Guildford band DARKO have been punting their hi-octane punk shows around Surrey for years now. Their sound is a super-concoction of hardcore elements pureed with bolder, safer skate-punk audacity. Imagine Rise Against, with more playfulness. Or Defeater sitting on beach chairs and sipping cocktails. The disc starts with the contented and almost jazzy feel of ‘Life Forms’ — this is speckled with spurts of energy and liquid bumptiousness. The chorus is a joy. And Dan Smith [vocals] gives it all he has. ‘Hiraeth’ — the first single taken from the album — is a trigger-happy jaunt. Full of secretion and spirit.The song incorporates interesting time signatures and impressive drum and bass skills. But it’s the locomotion of the guitars that will make you express your undying thanks. ‘In The Company of Wolves’ [previously heard
HOMEBOUND The Mould You Build Yourself Around Rude Records Review by Lauren Garlinge
Farnham’s pop-punk quartet Homebound are just about ready to release their second EP. It’s a great follow up to Permanence (2015) and they’ve grown so much as a band since then. This EP is very easy to listen to, which is definitely a good thing. My only problem with it was it finished so quickly and by the end of it, I was left wanting to hear more. One thing to be said about this EP is it’s a pop-punk lover’s dream. It’s catchy and upbeat, true to pop punk form. Opening track ‘Headspace’ doesn’t mess about. As soon as the vocals kick in, everything comes together and it sets a great tone for the rest of the EP. Each song flows straight into the next easily but every song holds its own and that makes for enjoyable listening. ‘Broken
WARS
fering. The seamless flow within the tracks teamed with the faultless pacing across the whole album make it hard to find faults, and a deeper reflection shows a diverse the range of musical ability being displayed, the line between the melodic and the heavy is one that is perfectly balanced and the overall concept contained within the 10 tracks ensures that this perfectly encapsulates everything you look for in an album. A debut album as well I should mention. Tracks like ‘The Art of Not Knowing’, ‘Salt Flat Sailing’ and ‘Charcoal Days’ stand out, each for very different reasons, but as perfect examples of showcasing the range that wars are capable of. However, special mention needs to go to ‘That by Discord Things Increase’, the first single from the album. While it is hard to pick one track that deserves your undivided attention, the goose bump inducing vocal give-andtake between Vicars, Barnard and guest vocalist Colin Doran (of Hundred Reasons fame) mark this out as being a song that, long after listening, will still be echoing throughout your mind days later.
We Are Islands... Spinefarm Records
Review by Stephen Stanford
An assured excitement surrounds wars, one that has only grown with the release of their album We Are Islands, After All, and after just one listen it is easy to see why this Rugby five-piece are drawing attention. Theirs is an album capable of reinvigorating the way a genre is viewed and repeated listens serve only to strengthen that assertion. It is difficult to pinpoint what exactly it is about We Are Islands... that is so gripping. There are hints and nods to various influences that thread throughout, that add an extra layer to what is already a multi-layered of-
Zeal & Ardor Devil Is Fine MVKA Review by Rich Broome
Zeal & Ardor anyone? Zeal & Ardor? No, me either. This band seems to have literally popped up out of nowhere. They don’t even have a Wikipedia page. Their Facebook page had it’s first ever post on April 15th 2016 saying “New al-
bum out” and hit hundred and one likes. Perhaps I have missed something, but there is so little information to go on that I’m not entirely sure how I could miss anything. They have had critics from the Arabic world and throughout Europe and have an eleven-date tour coming up in April to May, stretching from Warsaw to The United States and many in between. You do not just pick up a tour and festivals if you only became aware to people in less than year and yet somehow Zeal & Ardor have done it. ‘Blood In The River’, or track 7 on this album probably is the very best example if you wanted to dive headfirst into getting a feel for what this band sounds like. It’s a widely strong mix of slave chants with black metal overlays and screams. Much would be fair to say about the title and opening track, ‘Devil Is Fine’. There’s a soul feel to it with the steady and slow beat of chained men marching. Through in some guitar shredding and you’re not far off what the resulting sound is. In addition to the above-mentioned mix of genres, there is also hip-hop, electro and blues thrown in for good measure. It completely defies all expectations and I would strongly suggest not going into ‘The Devil Is Fine’ as an album with any preconceived ideas of it being a metal album or like anything you’ve heard before. Having said that, I feel what Zeal & Ardor have created something akin to what The Gorillaz did back in the late nineties by taking this concept we know as ‘music’ and completely turning it on its head and, crucially, making it work. This is a really, really quirky and refreshing take on creating sound. If you’re a fan of diverse music then this band and this album are for you. I am enjoying it tremendously.
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REVIEWS Verena von Horsten
Elasea
Cedar Boulevard
Cosmosquad
Beyond Recall
Alien Angel Super Death
Lesson Learnt
Turn to Stone
The Morbid Tango
Selfish Scars
Self-Release Review By Neil Mach
Self-Release Review By Neil Mach
Self-Release Review by Pagan Hel
Marmalade Records Review by Pagan Hel
Self-Release Review By Victoria Purcell
The second solo album from Swiss synth-rock artist. ‘The Hymn’ is a thumping “Hey Song” — more like Gary Glitter than Marilyn Manson. In other words: the fake industriality has more in common with licorice-pipe smoking than one-hit billy bongs. Nevertheless, ‘Sweet Lullabye’ is ribbed & studded, like a tarred prophylactic. Dark too. Imagine Shakespears Sister wrote about taboos in a cave... Get the idea?
Rockers Elasea will be on tour with Sertraline this Spring. Just in time to hawk out their new EP. The disc includes the oriental wonkiness of their new single with pounding beats and cobwebby guitars. The vocal sounds clear but is framed by a stand-out riff that makes this a totally memorable experience. ‘Time Stops’ is ingenious and elongated. With dark vapours and palpitating rhythms. This EP’s a tactile exploration for the ears.
Breach of Silence Secrets Eclipse Records Review by Pagan Hel
This band have a point, that is definitely positive, probably because of metalcore – anything with ‘core’ in the genre I can revel fully in the glory and deep comforting aggressive flanks of metal with ease. The start of this album is compelling and I would even go as far to say riveting – metal rivets, of course. I am so happy that they didn’t stay silent! The guitar work is tremendously balanced and sharp and those vocals could be described as VOKILS as they belt out a heavy and passionate embrace.
“Each track connects with a devilish roar!”
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Nobody could deny the ferocity that they put into their tracks, with a good sprinkling of catchiness and the heaviest pulverisation possible. Each track simply connects with a devilish roar and leaves one feeling more than refreshed. The thunderous beats make for fantastic rhythms that really inject the band’s persona and charisma that oozes from each note. I cannot hear anything negative what so ever with this album, it certainly pumps the blood through the veins. The cover is quite unassuming for something so heavy and aggressive, but maybe the band wanted something inconspicuous so they could throttle your brains out? I could and probably will be listening to this for a long time to come, loving the subtle strings that suddenly melt into total annihilation in places – it is just so delicious!
I have to say I am not all that convinced by Cedar Boulevard. After listening to the album in full, tracks like ‘Wake’, ‘Turn into Stone’ and ‘Wolves of War’ (my favourite) do raise the temperature. They wreak havoc along with the catchiness and indeed offer fulfilment, but the slow time signatures leave me slightly cold, although you can’t have out and out aggressiveness all the time I suppose.
There seems a bit of ‘tongue in cheek’ here judging by the cover and by the first track ‘Morbid Tango’. It is a well-documented fact that a sense of humour is needed within the metal circle and Cosmosquad seems to have hit the nail squarely on the head with this album, although quite jazzy with its progressive roots and metal fusion – but there is something likeable about this. Go see for yourself!
Bristolian alternative rock crew Beyond Recall have just released their new EP Selfish Scars. If you grew up listening to Billy Talent, and Panic at The Disco! I can’t see how you could not like this band. I can image that Beyond Recall will feature on festival line-ups alongside many pop-punk greats of this era. They are very singy, very passionate, and a tad dramatic. I expect no less from this genre.
And There Will Be A Next Time Live From Detroit Eagle Rock Entertainment Review by Jules Burnan There are few bands that can do it like Def Leppard do. Not just in the studio but live too. Hot off the release of their eleventh album last year, the lads from Sheffield hit the road again, but this time they took their film crew with them. For the people that haven’t been able to see the band live before this is a treat. February sees the DVD release of Def Leppard: There Will Be a Next Time: Live In Detroit and It’s brilliant.
“Def Leppard - One of the best live bands ever!” Joe Elliot and Co get the blood pumping with the opener ‘Let’s Go’, taken from the latest album and its full steam ahead for the next two hours. They power through hit after hit ‘Dangerous’, ‘Love Bites’, ‘Bringing On The Heartbreak’, ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ and ‘Rock Of Ages’. It almost feels like a greatest hits tour, but it’s not. The back catalogue is that good. The band’s stage presence is brilliant despite it not really changing in the forty odd years they’ve been doing this. They still know how to make every fan feel unique and Joe Elliot, despite pushing sixty, has a voice as good as it ever has been. As for the stage production, wow! I love live DVDs for this very reason. Almost feeling like you are there within the moment with the band and thousands of other fans. Only you are sat at home. This release doesn’t only show that Def Leppard are one of the best bands ever, but one of the best live bands ever. To the up and coming bands: buy this DVD and take note. This is how it’s done.
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