36 Crazyfists Brock Lindow P12
Hammerfest 2014
Hammerfest 2014
Contents UK Festivals 2015
WELCOME
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elcome to the first ever issue of RAMzine! The step of moving from a website, to include a digital magazine, is a milestone that I am very excited about! This time of year I suffer from ‘the festival blues’ it’s common amongst a lot of us music fans who crave not just the need to see bands live, but to be in that environment, that exciting atmosphere. For many a festival provides a community of likeminded people, coming together to celebrate something that they are passionate about, and for us that’s Rock and Metal music. A festival provides a sense of belonging, it can take you out of your normal life for a few days. At Rock and Metal festivals individualism is celebrated, anything goes really. If you wake up and feel like wearing fancy dress that day, you can, and you will most likely be praised for it. Festivals are places where you can have beer for breakfast, and giant Yorkshire puddings for lunch. People are constantly yelling for someone called Dave and he never seems to be found. We embrace the sunshine, and oh do we embrace the mud. For me, festivals are something that I can’t live without. I’m addicted to the exciting atmosphere, the array of new and old bands on display, and the lifestyle. I sometimes dream of owning a camper van, and traveling to as many as possible. In this issue we hope to give you a snapshot of some of the different UK Rock and Metal Festivals this summer. The cover is just one combination of headliners that your year in festivals could look like. Naturally more festivals will pop up throughout the year, email me at vicky@ramzine.co.uk, and we shall add it to our website.
Victoria Purcell, Editor In Chief
04 Festival Listings
There is a lot happening this year, our listings give you a chance to have a chronological view, and make your festival plan.
05 Festival Previews
-Takedown Festival -HRH United: Hammerfest + HRH AOR -HRH Prog -Download Festival -Bloodstock -Ramblin’ Man Fair
08 Festival Tips
We give you our tips and tricks to help you feel like a pro at festivals this year. We also talk to The Qemists, and All Hail The Yeti who give you some great tips.
10 People on Vacation
Incase you weren’t sure what you shouldn’t be doing at festivals this year. Jaret Reddick
Interview 12 36 Crazyfists
We catch up with Brock Lindow, about the bands forthcoming album ‘Time and Trauma’. We also discuss the bands stance on paid meet and greets, and kickstarter projects. See our review of ‘Time and Trauma on page 13.
Reviews 14 Album Reviews
On the cover: Left Rob Zombie (Bloodstock Festival 2015). Centre Corey Taylor (Download Festival 2015) photo by Matt Bishop of www.TheRockRevival.com. Right Thomas Youngblood of Kamelot (Hammerefest 2015).
-Venom - From The Very Depths -All That Reamins - The Order Of Things -Blackberry Smoke - Holding All The Roses -Billy Talent - Hits -People on Vacation - The Chronicles Of Tim Powers -Santa Cruz - Santa Cruz -Hayseed Dixie - Hair Down To My Grass -Bowling For Soup - Songs That People Actually Liked -Black Star Riders - The Killer Instinct
Contributors CHRIS JAMES RYAN (FAN PHOTOS) STEPHEN STANFORD ANDREW DOWLING STEVE JACKSON SEAN RAFFERTY NEIL MACH STUART IVERSEN Cover by Ryan Stanikk www.ryanstanikk.co.uk
Paul H Birch Black Star Riders Review
Milly Youngman RAMzine’s Festival Tips & Tricks, What to Pack.
Neale McGeever Sub-Editor
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Festivals 2015 Takedown Festival Saturday, March 7 2015
HRH United: Hammerfest VII HRH AOR 3 12-15 March 2015
HRH Prog 3
19th – 22nd March 2015
Hit The Deck
Bristol, Saturday 25th April Nottingham, Sunday 26th April
The Dames of Darkness Festival 9th-10th May 2015
Temples Festival 29 – 31 May 2015
IMPERICON FEST 4th May 2015
Nice n Sleazy 22-24th May 2015
Slam Dunk
North Saturday 23rd May | Slam Dunk: South, Sunday 24th May | Slam Dunk: Midlands, Monday 25th May
Download Festival 12-14 June 2015
Ramblin’ Man Fair 25th – 26th July 2015
Tech-Metal Fest 9-13th July 2015
Bloodstock
6th-9th August 2015
Hevy Fest
13th – 16th August 2015
Reading /Leeds Festival 28-30 Aug 2015
Rebellion Festival 6th – 9th August 2015
Butserfest
12th September
Summer’s End October 2nd - 4th
Hard Rock Hell: House of Horrors 12th-15th Nov 2015
More festivals Dates TBC: Ghostfest Damnation Festival Know more UK Rock / Metal Festivals? Tweet us @RAM_zine and let us know!
Festival preview Takedown Festival
www.takedownfestival.co.uk 7th March, Southampton
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he story of Takedown Festival is a truly inspiring one. Once a small annual gig in Salisbury, it has now become a staplepoint in the calendar of alternative music in the South. Adding what is sure to be another glorious chapter to this story, the festival returns to its newer home in the halls of Southampton University for the 4th year. With the full line-up now announced its clear this will be one of the more unique events in the festivals history. Firstly, headliners Mallory Knox making a return to the festival after a one year absence as the main attraction, fully graduating from openers as they were when they first played the stage. Following suite of a popular trend at festivals in recent years, Takedown 2015 will also see InMe playing their debut album Overgrown Eden in full, a show which has proven so popular they’ve reissued the album with tracks from the performance. However, in an announcement that probably stuck out more than others, it
Sean Rafferty was revealed that this year Fearless Vampire Killers have been given control of an entire stage to name and fill up with whatever acts they pick. The newly dubbed Obsidian Stage will have FVK headlining and preceded by old and new additions to the festival; DEAD, Ashestoangels, Ugly Love, Colt 45, City of Ashes and Miss Vincent. And to think all this is just a minor fraction of
HRH United
Victoria Purcell
www.hammerfest.co.uk 12th - 15th March, North Wales
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RH United, the first overnight festival to commence in 2015. The festival brings together Hammerfest, and HRH AOR. This means double the headliners, for the same price! It also means that you may end up seeing some great bands, that you may not have thought about seeing before. In the Hammerfest corner we have power metallers Kamelot, never disappointing in telling a good story, deeply connecting fans all over the world. They are sure to be sublime headliners. Swedish dark overlords Candlemass bring the doom to HRH United, plaguing the venue with darkness, and sorrow in the most epic sense. The new band from Dani Filth, Devilment, will make their first ever festival appearance at the event - no doubt they will be taking us on a deep dark path, of lavish abominable tales. Contenders on the HRH AOR stage include, classics Night Ranger. These dudes have been playing since the 80’s, and it shows in their musicianship. Joining them and from the same era is FM, bringing us some great British melodic Rock! There really is so much
the entire spectacle awaiting lucky attendees in March where the festival will cater a day of over 35 acts of fine alternative and metal music, while popular party troupe UPRAWR will once again be hosting the after party at the students’ union club. Check out the website for all the bands playing. Tickets are on sale now for just £44!
on offer, see the website for the full line-up. With such a fantastic mix of talent, we believe that this is one of the greatest festivals of the year. Who doesn’t like beefy riffs and darkness? Or just a couple of minutes across to the other stage to some of the softer melodic elements of Hard Rock on the AOR stage? This also makes it easier for big groups with split tastes wanting to attend a festival to
suite all. We have seen stag do’s, hen parties, birthday parties, the lot! If rock/ metal is your thing, this is a great environment for all types of celebrations, or just a getaway. A great selling point of all HRH events is the fact that rather than camping out, the festival takes place at a Haven holiday site. This is a huge perk as festival goers get to enjoy comfortable beds to sleep in, warm showers, and a kitchen. See the website for the full range of chalet and caravan options. Still not enough on offer? Never fear! There are also Sleaze, Doom, and Stoner stages! Getting sleazy are Swedish four-piece Hardcore Superstar, they will get the crowd up and partying. Sister, also from Sweden will be joining them. Bringing another energetic act, with more of an emphasis on punk metal. Hang The Bastard are set to play the stoner stage. They are another band on the bill sure to bring the best kind of darkness and calamity in performance. Tickets for this event do sell out very fast, however there are still some tickets available for day passes, and plots to bring your own caravan. Ticket prices start from jusy £59!
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Festival preview HRH Prog 3 www.hrhprog.com 19th - 22nd March, North Wales
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his year the event (to be held from 19 to 22 March at Camp HRH in Pwllheli, North Wales) will run alongside the Scifi Weekender - so visitors should be prepared for strange visions, costumed monsters of many other mysterious off-world shenanigans. Headlining the weekend will be the seasoned entertainer Rick Wakeman. He’s been our favourite composer, ivory tinkler and all-round prog champion for over 40 years. Moreover, his skilfully adept cape-wearing should endear him to the Sci-fi crowd. Rick’s big solo success came with “The Six Wives of Henry VIII” back in 1973. But we will always have a special place in our hearts for him - due to his amazing keyboard contributions to Bowie’s most famous songs. Would “Life on Mars?” be even half as good without the Wakeman piano? Rick worked on six studio albums with YES
man and Papist” taken from The Strawbs ‘Witchwood’ album [1971] to get an idea of how Papa Wakeman enriched their sound back then. Other highly anticipated heroes of the prog rock universe will include Magenta with their amazing vocalist Christina Booth, The Enid (currently on their Bridge tour) and those wise folksters Steeleye Span - who released a stunning conceptual album titled ‘Winter-
and he is included (by fans and historians) as an integral player in their ‘classic line up’. Of course, before his YES years, the Grumpy Old Man of Prog played with the Strawbs (curiously, their current line-up boasts Rick’s own younger son, Adam.) We thoroughly recommend you try out the song “The Hang-
smith’ in 2013. We are also excited about some new names. These include the mysterious Osiris Club, new-wavers Kitten Pyramid and the psychedelic heavy-hitters Landskap.
metal, as MUSE put on an incredible headline show. They proved this at Reading and Leeds 2011. Even if you have not listened to much of their stuff, they are one of those bands that play songs you didn’t even realise you knew. Download has always been good at putting on a range of modern and classic acts, this year’s Sunday night headliner is KISS. Let’s see if Gene Simmons still thinks that rock music is dead, standing in front of the mighty Download crowd. Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley will also be playing with his solo band, returning to the site after 7 years. Party rocker Andrew WK returns to the UK this summer for a full band set. He will be playing tracks from all albums. Party Hard might just end up being the theme tune of this summer. Turning to a the metal side of the fest, All That Remains will be a band not to miss! They are soon to release a killer new album. If you like them, you will love Five Finger Death Punch, who have always put on a an exceptional display of no-nonsense metal. If your looking
for something even heavier, turn to Chelsea Grin, they bring utter brutality with a modern twist. We Are Harlot feature Danny Worsnop, former Asking Alexandra front-man. The band bring something completely different to Danny’s previous band. More of a pure rock sound, perfect for bobbing along with a beer in hand in the sunshine. Another band that you without a doubt cannot miss is Motley Crue. This will be their final year playing together. Although there are rumours of some more UK dates, nothing else has yet been announced. Don’t miss their debauchery. Download Festival as always will be an event that goes down in music history. See the website for the full announced line-up including Black Veil Brides, Marilyn Manson, Testament, and more. Download is worth the ticket price for the camping alone, there is a whole village full of activities that take place.
Neil Mach
Download Festival
www.downloadfestival.co.uk 12th-14th June 2015, Donnington
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cream for me Donnington! Those famous words that we look forward to each year! Download usually arrives around about the same time as the sun - but do be sure to bring your wellies, as we have certainly had our fair share of mud over the years. Download always feels like the start of summer, as it’s the first festival of the year that requires camping. Although if camping really if not your thing check out their RIP tickets. These sacred grounds will once again showcase some of the finest rock and metal acts currently in the industry. Friday night headliners Slipknot are guaranteed to put on an sublime display. Thousands of us have just watched them on their UK tour, which have left us all jumping at the chance to see them again! Tour buddies King 810 will also be making their Download debut this year after being taken into custody at the airport last year. One headliner that we did not expect is Saturday nights MUSE. Don’t fear for the lack of
Victoria Purcell
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Festival preview Bloodstock Festival www.bloodstock.uk.com 6th-9th August 2015, Derbyshire
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f you have ever looked at the Download line up and thought ‘yea, but where’s the really heavy stuff at? Where are Fleshgod Apocalypse?’ Then Bloodstock Open Air is probably the festival for you. It is a festival not afraid to get extreme and every year it just seems to grow that little big bigger. This year is no exception. You want a show? Here is Rob Zombie and Within Temptation, both of whom are headlining and damn will they give you a show. If that is not your bag and you are more into your thinking man’s metal, then you needn’t worry! Opeth are on hand to satisfy all your needs. While if what you really want is to sit in a field, punch the air and drink a beer, than Sabaton are there to complete the trifecta. It’s a line-up that literally covers all bases and if you can’t find something to enjoy, you are just not looking hard enough. One of the bigger stories from this year line-
Ramblin’ Man Fair www.ramblinmanfair.com 25th - 26th July 2015, Maidstone
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eam Rock and The Rock Collective have put their heads together to create the Ramblin’ Man Fair – A festival which celebrates everything in the world of rock ‘n’ roll, from classic rock and prog to country and blues. Organisers searched the perfect place to hold such an event and finally decided on Mote Park, Kent. Located in the Garden of England, just down the road from London. The 450 acres of land is the perfect settings for rock antics and festival fun. What would a rock festival be without amazing bands? Of course Ramblin’ Man is named after the classic Allman Brothers track of the same name. And who better to headline the festival than Greg Allman himself in a UK exclusive performance? Joining Allman are German rock legends Scorpions, who are also headlining the main stage. Across the site are power-ballad pioneers Marillion and iconic space- rockers Camel topping the bill of the Prog stage. And would you bloomin’ believe it that these are UK exclusives as well?
up, sees Trivium stepping up into a headliner slot. The band who famously marked their entry into the heavy metal mainstream by absolutely destroying the main stage at Download in 2005, have had an up and down career since. The ho-hum reaction to Ascendancy, was followed by two solid efforts in Shogun and In Waves. However, 2013’s David Draiman produced Vengeance Falls, split opinion. All of this leads to an intriguing question, can Trivium step up to the plate? It’s hard to say, but we think it is pretty much a guarantee that you won’t want to miss it. All of this barely even touches on the supporting cast. Legends like Sepultura and Cannibal Corpse are sure to cause chaos. While British main stays Orange Goblin, never fail to knock the ball out of the park. It all comes together into one wonderful festival, which if you like things heavy, is one you can’t afford to miss this year.
If that wasn’t enough main stage acts include NWOBHM icons Saxon, hard rock heroes Blue Oyster Cult, neo-prog metallers Dream Theater, and AOR VIPs- FM among many others. While the Prog stage also boasts multi-instrumentalist frontman Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Scouse prog from Anthema, and hidden gems Pendragon. Meanwhile, the Outlaw Country Stage has rock-grass originators Hayseed Dixie, singer-songwriter Shooter Jennings, and homegrown country crew Jess and The Bandits. Plus many many more! There is also a Blues stage - with acts like Randy Bachman (Bachman Turner Overdrive), Mick Ralphes (formerly of Mott The Hoople and Bad Company) ,and Joanne Shaw Taylor with more acts yet to be announced. Other than fantastic live music Ramblin’ Man has old school fairground attractions, as well as the unique ‘Glamping’ at the ranch. A great time to be had for any classic rock fan. Ramblin’ Man Fair will take place
Stuart Iversen
on 25 & 26 July 2015 at Mote Park, Mote Avenue, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 7SU. Tickets range from £55.00 for a Sunday ticket to £600.00 for a Founders Club ticket.
Neale McGeever
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Festival Tips and Tricks
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eading to your first festival this summer? Check out our handy festival tips and tricks to feel like a total pro in no time!
Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing If you want to be saved from spending £5+ (about the price of a festival pint) on a stage times lanyard, why not print your own? Clashfinder.com is a handy little site where you can highlight the bands you want to see (or them all!) and creates a printable timetable.
Time To Waste Quite obviously, you’ll want to be seeing your favourite bands do their wonderful music thing that they do. But there might be points where there’s a gap in bands you want to see. I really, really recommend checking out someone you’ve never heard of. If it’s not your thing, you can move on and have a wander round the various festival stalls, but you might discover your new favourite band on a tiny stage.
By Milly Youngman
All My Best Friends Are Metal Heads Festivals are full of great people and everyone is generally really friendly. Making friends with your neighbours is also a great idea as you can keep an eye on each other’s tents, and if there’s someone untoward nosing around your tent they can deter tent thieves.
Fuel
Hard Rock Hell 2014
As festival food and drink can be very overpriced, a lot of people choose to take their own food into the campsite - although there can be restrictions on what you can take into the arena itself so check the website for info. Most festivals ban gas cookers, but on the more festival-friendly solid fuel cookers, you can heat up canned food or boil some water for a Pot Noodle - just remember to take a pan/kettle and a tin opener. Snack-y food like Pringles, nuts and biscuits keep well, and tinned fruit is brilliant for filling up healthily.
*Bring a Mankini! Come rain or shine they are handy for something!
Move Along Another thing to keep in mind how you’ll transport your stuff to your temporary home in the campsite – trust us, wheelie suitcases are absolute hell to drag through mud or across gravel. A large camping backpack is a great festival investment, and a trolley with sturdy wheels is perfect for the all-important beer transportation.
The Qem Festival Tipissts ! *Drink hot brandy in it spicy cider with for breakfas t! *Don’t stan guy with the d in front of the bottle of pis s!
Editors Tip: Bring a Flag Flags are great for marking your territory and finding your tent amongst the masses. You can quite easily make your own at home, by ordering a blank flag from Amazon, and some acryllic paint. I find acrilic paint the best, as it doesn’t wash off in the rain, just make sure it doesn’t get on your clothes. Most festivals sell flag poles, country flags, and band flags if you want to keep it simple.
Sonisphere
2014
All Hail The Yeti
We did the Sunset Strip Music Festival a couple of years in a row and ones with Motely Crue which were pretty cool! We also played some day festivals when we were out with In This Moment, but we haven’t really tapped into that area yet, obviously we want to and it’s definitely on our radar! For me as a fan, I grew up going to Ozzfest, back in the late 90s. That was pretty cool to see that before it stopped. The Mayhem Festival which is a travelling one in the states is another great one, it’s one of them festivals were you go and you end up knowing so many people, you never end up watching any bands anyway. It’s great hanging out, having a party, sitting on the lawn and watching bands. Download, Wackken, Rock Am Ring, all of those we would love to see, do and play.
36 Crazyfists
-Connor Garritty
36 Crazyfists
All Hail The Yeti ! *Try and get an access all areas pass! *Rock and Metal has alw ays been about community, if you see som eone fall you pick them up. *Avoid getting in the mud, as once your in it your screwed, unless it rain s.
36 Crazyfi Festival Tipssts ! *Bring and wear sunsc reen! *Keep hydra of water! ted and drink lots
Download is hallowed grounds, it’s the number one festival that comes to my mind, because it’s got some special memories, probably the most special times of our lives, we played the main stage twice, with our heroes. There are so many great bands that play those things. We played there 4 times... A close runner up is Soundwave Festival in Australia. That thing is ridiculous, it’s in the summertime, but summer time over there is like 85/89 degrees. All the bands stay at the same hotels, you’re in the pool, it’s very rock and roll,. (Like summer break for bands?) Yeah it’s fantastic, and everyone flys over together, the flight from LA to Sydney, is usually a jet full of bands raging!
The Qemists As a punter, I think Glastonbury is our biggest stand out festival experience, we all went as teenagers consecutively for years, I think the fact you could go and watch such a variety of music in one place was mind blowing at the time. As for being a performer it has to be Woodstock in Poland. It’s the biggest free music festival in the world. We headlined on the opening night in 2012 to over quarter of a million people!! That was an insane experience. Read the full interview on www.RAMzine.co.uk now!
-Brock Lindow
What To Pack?
*Tickets (obviously quite essential!), tent , sleeping bag, airbed/roll mat, camping cha ir.
*ID, cash, bank card, ph one, camera (unless it’s an expensive one - if so, pick up a disposable or two for old-school photography!). It’s worth investing in a locker to store any valuables and spare cash too. *Clothing, including water proof jacket/poncho and at least one hoody or cardiga n (even if the weather forecast is sunny). Toiletries, co smetics, hairbrush, hair ties/ hat to keep your hair in ch eck. And of course, TOILE T ROLL.
The Qemists
*Cooking utensils (if needed - don’t forget that tin opener!), food, drink, bin bags (they can be used for dirty clothes and makeshift ponc hos!).
Jaret Reddick & Ryan Hamilton
’t Do At Festivals. n d l u o h S u .. o Y s g n 10 Thi
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 10
Don't have sex in a portaloo Don't yell "Free Bird" . . ever. Don't spil your beer on anyone bigger than you. Don't wash your hands in the urinal troth. If you're staying in a tent, don't puke inside of it. Don't accept random drinks from “new friends”. Don't sit on someone's shoulders unless you are just trying to fart on their neck. Don't start unnecessary mosh pits. Don't have noisy sex in your tent.. be respectful when doing it to each other after not bathing for a few days. Don't forget baby wipes, or something similar, to clean the necessary “parts.”
interview
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36 Crazyfists Brock Lindow
ince bursting onto the scene with ‘Bit- there were other life issues that seemed to terness the Star‘ shortly followed up take forefront. by ‘A Snow Capped Romance‘, 36 Cra- For all these years the band has been evezyfists were a breath of fresh air for metal rything, the only thing. For the first time in fans. Somehow the success which they de- our career, it wasn’t for a while. That kind of served eluded them, ‘Rest Inside the Flames’ bought up some questions on if it was time treaded water and they were quickly dropped to hang it up, or if we still wanted to continue by Roadrunner Records. A few on, and how did we line-up changes occurred and a feel and continue to change of record label during a stay relevant in our “I DIDN’T REALLY period which they released ‘The minds. Tide and its Takers’ then ‘Col- KNOW HOW INTO THE lisions and Castaways’, which BAND WE STILL WERE“ Once we got to the both albums subsequently writing, and we really sounded like a band trying to started feeling the find their footing again. creative process, and how much we loved It’s been a good 5 year wait for ‘Time and Trau- making music together. I realised how much I ma‘, the anticipation amongst 36 Crazyfists needed music. It really re-focused us on what fans must be feverish. With bated breath we want to do, and how lucky we are to be waiting to see it, their return is a glorious one. able to do it. We sat down with vocalist Brock Lindow at The Marble Factory in Bristol... We are certainly glad and are sure lots of fans out there are glad, that you kept on going, After a bit of a break, how are you fitting back and didn’t call it a day. into the tour lifestyle? That’s the other part of me, without them we Alright, to be honest since we hadn’t been on wouldn’t be doing it. Those couple of years the road for a while, it’s been a decent transi- not being able to answer fan’s questions like tion... we are still hungover everyday, we try «What’s going on?». We totally didn’t even to enjoy it as much as possible, with the same answer them, which is kind of rare for us, old tour routines. because we try to really pride ourselves on being easily accessible. Every night we are in ‘Time and Trauma’ is sounding really re-ener- the bar with the people, and we have always gised and rediscovered, would you say you loved that. The fans are such a massive part were on a path to rediscovery? of it, I don’t even call them fans, I just call them family or friends. Fans is something Definitely, because before we started wri- that sounds below us, and they are so much ting the record I didn’t really know how into a part of it. It sound kind of cliché, but there the band we still were. Everybody had been is a huge connection between us and them. heavily invested in the band, but at this time Without them, it wouldn’t be worth it really.
Victoira Purcell We think that’s really important, there are a lot of bands out there who charge for backstage meet and greets, there’s always a bit of a question about whether or not bands should be charging for that sort of thing, and if that should happen. I have a very mixed viewings about that, but I’m being swayed a little bit and I will tell you why. In this day and age if your fans do not support your record, lets’ say they download it for free, they might catch you at a show, they might not, so they are supporting you in that sense. But if they are not going to be a part of it as far as continuing to support the physical or digital copies of the record, and things of that nature, bands aren’t going to be able to come back. So, they are having to make new ideas on revenue stream. The charging someone extra to come and meet them when you are going to be in the bar later, I have a major problem with that. That’s why I argued with the label and management about these ideas. But then some bands are doing some really cool stuff, where you get to come in early, you get a hoody or a t-shirt that nobody else can buy, you get a little bit more of a personal intimate time with somebody that you might really dig. That I get. I think there is a cool way to do it, i’m just not sure if I have found the way that will be right for our band. I’m also against kickstarters, and crowd funding projects, for us personally. I want you to come and see me live, but I don’t want you to help me live my life through studio time. Anybody can get a side job and work it. Studios don’t cost that much money anymore. I have a problem with bands saying they need £60k for a record, we did our record from about
“IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL RECORD FOR ME“
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£5k. I might ruffle feathers with that, but I just think it’s a little strange when bands ask their fans for that much money. You certainly have some interesting points there! No doubt fans will go out and buy ‘Time and Trauma’. This album in particular we felt a real connection with, we really felt an emotional intensity, where did that come from? It was an emotional record for me because I wrote it about the passing of my mum, that was a huge blow to my life. She was a huge supporter of our band and all the boys were real close with my mum, it was difficult. My mum passed away when she was 58, so she was way too young. So, I wrote a full, 2-3 years of stuff trying to heal and process that entire growing period of dealing with a lost parent, and realising that we are not here forever. It’s a difficult thing to not be able to give my mum a call, and things of that nature so, it’s the most important lyrical content that I’ve ever had for myself. I thought that I was doing things to help myself before, and get things off my chest, but it didn’t have the gravity that this album does. I know it doesn’t. Overall we did think that the album was quite uplifting especially toward the end, where do you feel that rise of it came from? I kind of feel the opposite about it a little bit, only in the sense that I always try and do those things. I’ve always tried to work on these negative things in my life, and find a positive, and find some sort of empowering way out of it. This album is more just coming to terms, and accepting and that can be positive as well. Sometimes you just dwell on something that is so negative, you can never find peace with it, that’s not good. I’m glad you think it has that feel because I want that, but the subject matter is so definitive, so final that there is no way out of it. There is a way to heal from it, and as time goes on I think we do, we accept and we learn and we grow. That’s the process of life. This album really means something, which is great. A lot of people listen to music to help them through stuff, and it helped you too. So, overall it’s a great healing album. I appreciate that, everyone has been so positive so far, it’s really great. ‘Time and Trauma’ is released February 16th
36 Crazyfists Time & Trauma
Steve Jackson
Spinefarm Records
As a fan of the band I am pleased to confirm that 36 Crazyfists have returned and they are on fire. My first impression upon listening to ‘Time and Trauma’ is that of a band which sound fully re-energised, their identity has been rediscovered and they are firmly doing what they do best. For a band that has always been slowly progressing their sound ‘Time and Trauma’ may seem like a step back in their evolution. This is not an album that will be breaking down any new musical boundaries; it is not a very adventurous album. However it is an album that is incredibly well written and will be lapped up by their fans (hopefully gaining some more along the way). This is easily their finest album since ‘A Snow Capped Romance’, one that every fan the moment it starts will be punching the air in delight. The music is far more groove orientated than the previous 2 albums. It’s a combination of the angry stomp of ‘Bitterness the Star’ and the emotional impact of ‘A Snow Capped Romance’. While the songs are not epic in length they are epic in their scope. Diving from bludgeoning heavy riffs that will send mosh pits into a frenzy, to grand soaring choruses with effortless ease. It is clear that 36 Crazyfists are playing fully to their
strengths, highly emotive yet heavy songs. The rhythm section has retained that hardcore groove, while the guitar furiously buzzes around, all wrapped up by the instantly identifiable vocals of Brock Lindow. While it is all well and good returning to what you do best, it is ultimately the songs that stand the test of time. This is where ‘Time and Trauma’ truly shines, the songs are just simply incredibly well written and as a collective group of songs they flow effortlessly from one to the other. There is an emotional intensity to the music that leaves you exhausted but very much uplifted at the end of the album. No song on the album sums this up better than ‘Also Am I’, it is truly a stunning song and could quite possibly be the best song they have ever written (yes that’s right, its that damn good). Will ‘Time and Trauma‘ bring the success which 36 Crazyfists deserve is hard to tell, it certainly deserves too. In a sea of carbon copy acts and mechanical metal by numbers, 36 Crazyfists have delivered an album that is very real, organic and emotionally engaging.
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Reviews
Venom
All That Remains
Blackberry Smoke
Billy Talent
People On Vacation
From The very Depths
The Order Of Things
Holding All The Roses
Hits
The Chronicles Of Tim Powers
Stuart Iversen Spinefarm Records To call Venom legends is almost not enough. These Geordie lads rewrote the rule book when it comes to extreme metal and are up there with Black Sabbath as one of the UK’s most important contributions to heavy metal. Venom just don’t seem to age whether that is because of the guy down below or their own grit and hatred, we should all gives thanks, because they still rock. Venom were, and still are, the masters of extreme metal, bow down before them..
Stephen Stanford Razor & Tie For over a decade they have honed and perfected their sound and skill into an intelligent and uniquely seamless blend of melodic brutal tones with a gentler side, and this is no different. ‘The Greatest Generation’ and ‘Victory Lap’ are perfect examples of the heavier end of the ATR spectrum. For You then changes the tone to the softer end, yet without breaking the pace. Well worth a listen, in a sometimes over saturated genre ATR continue to change the rules.
Victoria Purcell Earache Records Southern Rock kings, Blackberry Smoke, all the way from Atlanta. They have just released their 4th studio album. The band continue to bring smooth rock tracks, it does feel like a bit of a blast from the past, but we love that element to it. There are some great guitar licks. This album is fun, upbeat, and gives off some really positive vibes. I recommend that everyone give this one a listen even if Southern Rock isn’t usually your thing. You may just find your new favourite album.
Milly Youngman Atlantic Records Billy Talent’s Hits is a stormer from the moment those recognisable opening notes of ‘Try Honestly’ ring out. Ben’s abrasive (in the best possible way) vocals lead the way through hits including ‘Devil in a Midnight Mass’, ‘Red Flag’ and ‘Fallen Leaves’, as well as two brand new tracks, ‘Kingdom of Zod’ and ‘Chasing The Sun’. Showcasing the very best of a band who have mastered a really unique sound, this album is a reminder of just how fantastic and exciting Billy Talent are.
Neale McGeever Brando / Que-So Records This album promotes the humour and pop-punk edge of Bowling For Soup’s Jaret Reddick and the sombre , chilled-out pop sensibility of Smile Smile’s Ryan Hamilton. This album has somewhat of a 80s soft-rock feel about it in terms of song structure and overall production. It’s definitely worth the wait, for fans of POV, BFS and Smile Smile alike. A great gateway in to this genre for the duo and only great things can happen from here on out, this Tim Powers fella ain’t bad at all.
Santa Cruz Santa Cruz
Victoria Purcell
Spinefarm Records Most commonly described as “Pure F*cking Adrenaline” Santa Cruz are back with their second studio album via Spinefarm Records. They certainly haven’t slowed down on this one. The album begins much more metal then I expected it would. The guys told us last November at Hard Rock Hell, that we should expect some different styles on this new album. They had just got back from their first listen to the final product and they told us “this album is Amazing”. The start of this album is like a violent gale of wind, that leave your hair stuck in the same direction. ‘Bonafide Heroes’ is beefy, sleazy, and kick-ass! It ‘s Santa Cruz’s very own theme tune. These Finnish lads can sure play one hell of a guitar solo, and the melodies are great. In fact each of them are great musicians, embodying some greats such as Motley Crue, Steel Panther, Skid Row. It’s like we have gone back in a time warp. Although they do embody elements from the past, they mix it well with modern trends. This is clear on ‘6(66) Feet Under’ which embraces a tab of electronica. Overall the album has a bit of a pop feel to it, but aren’t all hair metal bands a tad boy band-esq? It will probably be one of those albums that you either love or hate. Although if you do like glam-metal you will like this. Santa Cruz have a bold attitude, there is a sense of debauchery about them. Single ‘Wasted and Wounded’ sums up Santa Cruz very well. They tell us the track was inspired from the last time they played a London show, and we really wouldn’t be surprised if that were true after watching the video.
Hayseed Dixie Hair Down To My Grass
Neale McGeever
Hayseed Dixie Records Claiming to hail from Deer Lick Holler, the four-piece are back with album number 13 ‘Hair Down To My Grass’, taking on classic rock and power ballads such as the opening track: ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ (originally by Journey). Although this 80s classic has been covered to death in recent years by the likes of Glee and Jo McElderry, Hayseed Dixie reclaim the song’s credibility with the power of acoustic string instruments. This also applies to now clichéd tracks like Bryan Adams ‘Summer of 69’ which is probably the album’s most mainstream cover, which is also the least impressive transformation. ‘The Final Countdown’ and ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ are songs you will have heard a million times before now feel totally fresh thanks to John Wheeler aka Barley Scotch’s signature country vocal. More bizarre tributes to Twisted Sister ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ and Def Leppard ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ also work as new interpretations, as well as being suitable for the next barn dance. In all this collection of covers is great fun and definitely interesting to hear alternative versions of rock classics, after a couple of listens this album will lose it’s novelty value and would have benefited from some original tracks. Hayseed Dixie remain a great live act and know their way around a fiddle but this album may be lost in a sea of other ‘novelty cover’ artists such as Richard Cheese or The Baseballs. For some ‘Hair Down To My Grass’ may be a one-listen-wonder. Having said that I would love to see what these guys do next. Maybe turn it up a notch and try all metal tracks?
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Reviews Bowling For Soup
Songs That People Actually Liked
Brando / Que-So Records Bowling for Soup have had a great career bringing us some of pop punks most memorable songs. It only seems fitting to review this first instalment of Bowling for Soup’s career as part of RAMzine’s first digital issue. I surprised myself with how many songs that I know. ‘Last Rock Show’ kicks off this look back at the first ten years of Bowling For Soup. As soon as the guitars start you know that you’re going to enjoy this a lot. ‘Suckerpunch’ dealing with being friend zoned by that person that you have been pursing for years. ‘Emily’ and one of the bands biggest hits the ‘Girl All The bad Guys Want’ will have you singing loudly in a empty room. ‘You And Me’ follows on with perfect teen movie sound track material. ‘The Bitch Song’ - I know a couple of my friends have had girlfriends like this. Both these songs give you a big hit of Bowling For Soup’s ablity to write tracks that follow on from each other telling a story. ‘Scope’ gives you a quick pause in the bands more high tempo style and ‘2113’ lets you taste Bowling For Soup’s ska influence something that they are not so well known for exhibiting. ‘Punk Rock 101’ picks up the tempo and I was quickly up off my seat pogoing. ‘Life After Lisa’ and ‘Cody’ deal with the further ups and downs of relationships, the walking bass break down shows the skill of the band before breaking back into full pop-punk mode and sprinting to the finish.
Andrew Dowling ‘Thirteen’ takes the tempo up further along more memorable lyrics from Bowling For Soup. ‘Dance With You’ kicks in with the band in full swing. ‘Before 20 Years’ is a musical ode to the bands years on the road, whilst looking to the future and sending up a few of their peers such as Green Day. If you’re ever going through a break up or rough patch in a relationship Bowling For Soups music is always a play button away like calling one of your friends who will always be there for you. As a line in ‘20 Years (That’s A Lot Of Beers)’ goes we do break up songs with power chords. Please go out and buy this album from the band as they need your support more than ever. If you are looking for a fix of completely new material from Bowling for Soup their newest album Lunch Drunk Love is also available for download from all the usual places.
Paul H Birch
Black Star Riders The Killer Instinct
Nuclear Blast Harmony lead guitars signal their defiant historic rock lineage with the opening notes of The Killer Instinct but they’re taut and defying middle-aged spread, not content to cruise on past glories. Throughout this album the twin six strings bite and attack, and where once you heard fat chorded riffs you’re now as likely to hear a mighty modern thwack. It’s not looking to be relevant. Hell, Black Star Riders pretty much know that game’s over and played out. It’s probably not about anything, except doing what feels right and maybe pushing that a little. Fact is, we all know this is going to remind us of Thin Lizzy in places; when it doesn’t and it sounds so good makes it all the more impressive. So you do get some duelling twin leads on the title track, whereas the sultry beautiful bruised rock of ‘Bullet Blues’ has those guitars unexpectedly changing course and heading out into a far wider sonic scenario; less of a shoot-out more armed warfare. The new rhythm section has a different pulse beating through it too. A Yank down to the last man, save Ricky Warwick keeping an Irish flag waving; now that veers towards too twee a Black Rose-drum & fiddle stylisation and ambiguous political commentary for me on ‘Soldiers Town’ but ‘Turn In Your Arms’ offers street poet pragmatism. Warwick wraps his voice in Van Morrison romanticism and Elvis hullaballoo the same way the iconic legend that was Phil Lynnott did, but keeps his head. His lyrics work best acting as narrative character observations and he’s handy with the kind of lyrical hooks that would have you cherry picking singles back in an earlier chart-shaping world. The understated ‘Finest Hour’ being a perfect example: think of it as a grouphugging sing-a-long with a teary eye from the biggest tattoo-touting one among you. ‘Blindsided’ is a tale of weariness and resignation bashed out largely on acoustics while ‘Through The Motions’ questions that state of affairs with knowing hard rock strutting. Me, I like the wary suspicion and low-riding Johnny The Fox styled cocaine metal-funk of ‘Charlie I Gotta Go’. From ‘The Killer Instinct’ through to the splendiferous raunchy rock of ‘Sex, Guns & Gasoline’ there’s a pretty blatant theme running through this album; one that puts their quite decent debut All Hell Breaks Loose in the shade. Why they chose to have Carol Vorderman in burlesque straddling a Pixar-animated WWII missile on the album’s cover is a mystery best left to the imagination!
‘You Little Liar’ ends The Killer Instinct in ragging ragged glory; moving through a series of musical themes and hooks. At one point the guitars ignite with a scorched earth policy, then near the end an organ sets in, the chorus becoming a hymn until the voices fade and a guitar begins to shred elegantly; the overall effect like some cross between The Rolling Stones and
Pink Floyd. Not the kind of combination one usually expects to work, but picture the light show and you know it has to be good. That then concludes with an acoustic coda adds icing to the cake. I tip my hat respectfully to this most tasty dish the Scott Gorham Gang has set before us.
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