Firebrand After Dark Issue 6 - December

Issue 6 - December 2013

Crystal Viper Eye Of Solitude Rhapsody Of Fire Leave’s Eyes Hecate Enthroned Bloodspot Baleful Creed Mordred

06 10 12 14 18 20 30

- Dismemberment - Crystal Viper - Artillery - Tad Morose - Mordred - Monkey3 - Savage

04 - News 22 - Dark Side Of The Emerald - Baleful Creed - Harvester

34 - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly - Demonstealer

37 - Top 5 Videos 38 - Games Dungeon - Frozen Endzone - Maia - Mush

51 - Artillery - Mist 52 - Ravenous - Rhapsody Of Fire 53 - Leaves’ Eyes - Eye Of Solitude 54 - Pro-Pain - Hecate Enthroned 55 - Derogatory - Black Messiah

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56 - Crystal Viper - C.O.A.G 57 - Bones - Conquest Of Steel 58 - Truth Corroded - Whitemare 59 - Bloodspot - Slaughterday

*All content and layout are copyright of Firebrand Magazine. Any attempt to distribute Firebrand Magazine to another site for purposes of download is strictly prohibited. All Firebrand Magazines are property of Firebrand. *

Firebrand After Dark

Meet The Team!

It’s that time of year again when you get to say Bah Humbug and over indulge yourself with festive spirits and the assorted tripe on the television.

A few years back Rage Against The Machine managed to put a spanner in the works of the age old abundance of songs aiming for the number one chart spot and this year AC/DC have had their hat thrown into the ring with the current campaign to get Highway To Hell to the Christmas number one slot. Will it get their? Truthfully I have no idea but I would like to think that it’s possible and it would certainly raise a few eyebrows and prove to the music execs out there that rock and metal is still going strong and that the RATM feat was not a ‘one of’.

In terms of the magazine this month we have your usual selection of interviews, reviews and more with the Firebrand After Dark top ten videos of the year guaranteed to raise a few eyebrows. Also joining us are several new team members adding to our growing numbers.

So with that I will leave you to enjoy your festive tidings and we hope that you have a Merry Christmas and a Rocking New Year

Editor In Chief Rick Palin Senior Media Consultant Rachel Whiston Editor Lee Walker Reviews Team Graham Pritchard Joey Lowebins Jon Seymour Sonya Valantasis Stephen Brophy Stoodge McNulty Download Content Team Rick Palin Judith Fisher Content Download sales@fbrr2010.com Advertising Enquiries sales@fbrr2010.com Review Requests afterdark@fbrr2010.com Contact Telephone +44(0)1244 940961

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Morgengrau - Antithetical Come walk the Extrinsic Pathway with Morgengrau. Hailing from Austin, Texas, Morgengrau is dedicated to the craft of classic death metal. Since their inception in 2010, they quickly established themselves as a formidable live act, garnering particular attention due to being fronted by former Ignitor frontwoman, Erika Tandy, and ex-Manifestation drummer, Reba Carls. Their debut album, "Extrinsic Pathway" is currently being recorded at Amplitude Media and will be mixed and mastered at Endarker Studios in Sweden by the mighty Devo from Marduk.

From Below - Blood Money An ironic revelation, coming from both a singer and band that have their roots in classical music‌In August of 2010, guitarist Tom Hoy posted a Craigslist ad looking for artistic collaborators for new rock ‘n roll band. Attached were two guitar sketches he had been working on. There was a plethora of responses, but only one of them actually followed through, Cero Cartera. They got together and started jamming, and soon realized their songwriting chemistry. What came out in the next year was a kaleidoscope of catchy riffs, distorted hooks, beautiful melodies, and trips to other realities.

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NEWS Joey Jordison parts ways with Slipknot It has been announced via the official Slipknot website that drummer Joey Jordison is leaving the band. Here is the bands statement;

long hard road against almost impossible odds and we hope that everyone out there are as pleased with the result as we are. If it were not for the devotion of all our fans old and new we probably wouldn't be here today. It is you guys To our Maggots and fans around the world, who resurrected this band! The songs are total It is with great pain but quiet respect, that for Battleaxe and the production is better than we personal reasons Joey Jordison and Slipknot are could have hoped for with a limited budget. parting ways. We all wish Joey the best in Thanks to Fred Purser and the guys in the whatever his future holds. We understand that band we have got this thing sounding massive! many of you will want to know how and why this Many thanks to Olly and SPV for making the has come to be, and we will do our best to release of this album possible and for making the respond to these questions in the near future. It 21st century version of BATTLEAXE become a is our love for all of you, as well as for the music reality!" we create, that spurs us to continue on and move forward with our plans for releasing new material in the next year. We hope that all of you will come to understand this, and we appreciate your continued support while we plan the next phase of the future of Slipknot.

Thank you, The ‘Knot Battleaxe Reveal Cover Art and Tracklisting for Heavy Metal Sanctuary Available March 4th on SPV/Steamhammer.

SPV/Steamhammer will release the new Battleaxe album Heavy Metal Sanctuary March 4th in North America, on February 21st in Germany and February 24th in Europe as a digipak version and download.

A new teaser for the album can be seen HERE. Heavy Metal Sanctuary was recorded at Trinity Heights/Pillarbox/Sound Inc Studios in Newcastle upon Tyne England and was mixed and mastered by Fred Purser (ex-Tygers Of Pan Tang).

The current line-up consists of the original members Dave King (vocals) and Brian Smith (bass) as well as Mick Percy (guitar) and Paul AT Kinson (drums).

The band adds: "We can hardly believe that the task is finally over, the album that we never thought that we would complete is finally finished! It has been a

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Deserted Fear Post Live Footage of "Nocturnal Frags" Germany's most vile and rancid death metallers, Deserted Fear, have released the official music video for "Nocturnal Frags," taken from their 2012 release, My Empire. The video was shot during the 2013 festival circuit and includes live footage from Party San, Summer Breeze, Extremefest and Nuckstock Open Air. "Nocturnal Frags" is now playing at this location.

Influenced by the Death Metal spirit of the early 90s, Deserted Fear takes murderous command on this brutal and catchy mix of classic American and Scandinavian Death Metal on My Empire.

Mixed and mastered by Dan Swano at Unisound Studio, this album is a mandatory purchase for fans of Immolatio, early Morbid Angel, and Dismember. Get some!

My Empire was released in September

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2012 by FDA Rekotz on CD and digital formats.

Vinyl treatment came in March of this year. The album is available at www.fda-rekotz.com Mystifyer: Wicca to be Reissued on Greyhaze Records After a long and meticulous restoration process, Greyhaze Records will release a deluxe CD/DVD digipak reissue of Wicca, the debut album from influential Brazilian Black Metal act Mystifyer.

The release dates are February 24 for Europe and March 18 for the U.S. Wicca was originally released in the early 90s and has seen a few reissues by labels worldwide. However, for many years, the album has been out of print. The audio portion of this release will feature, aside from the full album, bonus tracks not before available in any previous version. The DVD will contain two concerts by the band: One performed in Germany during the Nuclear War Now Festival and the other performed in their hometown of Salvador, Brazil.

Visually, the digipak will feature a new graphics layout as well as old photos from the band. A vinyl version of the album is also to follow.

Mystifyer is also planning an extended tour of Europe in support of Wicca. The tour will include stops at Norway's Inferno Festival as well Germany's Legacy Open Air. Mystifier has been active for over 20 years and, alongside bands such as Blasphemy and Beherit, were pioneers of Black Metal in the early 90's. Their style can be described as savage, unapologetic and utterly satanic Black Metal drawing influence from Masters of the genre such as Sarcofago, Bathory, Vulcano, and early Sepultura.

Eye Of Solitude Releases Canto III Lille, France - Canto III, the third and newest full-length album from doom/death Goliaths, Eye Of Solitude, is now available worldwide on Kaotoxin Records. The album is being sold as a digital download or limited-edition, handnumbered double digi-CD that features six bonus tracks taken from the band's 2012 & 2013 EPs Awoken by Crows and The Deceit.

Music and movies news/reviews hub LairOfFilth.com has declared Canto III their Album of the Year for 2013. Stating that "the depths of despair, that this album reaches, is only matched by the beauty of the music," the LairOfFilth.com placed the newest Eye Of Solitude masterpiece atop a list of 20 of this

year's most acclaimed releases.

Purchase Canto III at the following links: Digital - listen.kaotoxin.com Digi-CD & Merch - shop.kaotoxin.com In support of Canto III, Eye Of Solitude will embark upon their first-ever tour early next year.

A brief, yet devastating, trek across the UK that includes stops in London, Liverpool and Manchester, the "Chants of Grief" tour will finally give doom fans the opportunity to experience one of the genre's most massive-sounding acts in the flesh. The tour, featuring direct support from Belgian Doom/Death unit Marche Funèbre, is sponsored by Zero Tolerance Magazine.

Napalm Records are honored to announce the signing of Cavalera Conspiracy!

The Thrash Metal outfit, who released the critically acclaimed and universally praised albums "Inflikted" & "Blunt Force Trauma", signed a worldwide record deal with the Austrian label. The band revolving around the legendary brothers Max and Igor Cavalera is currently working on their still untitled third studio effort.

Metal fans can expect another ground breaking and innovative record that will shake the foundations of the music scene! "I am so excited that Cavalera Conspiracy has signed with Napalm Records. This is gonna be our third album and it's going to be a brutal grind core style. I am already working on the riffs, and it is going to come out next year. Get ready to be brutalized by Cavalera Conspiracy and Napalm Records!" - MAX "I am very excited to record the new CC record... Me and Max have been planning this for a while, and all i can say is that it will be a "Brutal" record. Also I'm super proud to join Napalm Records, home of lots of amazing artists." - IGOR Stay tuned for more updates with regard to the highly anticipated follow-up to "Blunt Force Trauma"!

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Stoodge Speaks to Luke Shively Of

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Hey guys, can you give us the lowdown on the band?

We are a four piece from the Laurelville/Circleville, Ohio area that formed around July of 2010. If you ask us what we play, the only response you'll hear from us is "Metal". But we've been called everything from Thrash, Death, Black, War, Doom, progressive, and basically any other word you can throw in front of Metal. When we write we choose what sounds cool to us and just roll with it. It's never, "let's make this one black metal!", or "We really need a death metal section in this one!". So we just sum it up short and sweet: Metal.

How's work coming along for your debut full length 'Embrace The Dark'?

It's going great now that the hard part is over! We had 4 days in October to get 9 songs tracked just how we wanted them. We tracked everything at Club Sandwich studios in Columbus, Ohio with our good friend Travis Lautenschlager behind the board.

Mixing was handled by Joel Grind (Toxic Holocaust) at Audiosiege and now it's currently in the hands of Dan Randall (Ghoul) at Mammoth Sound Mastering for the final touch. We worked with Andrei Bouzikov (Cannabis Corpse, Skeletonwitch, Municipal Waste) again for the album art. We're all pretty proud of how the songs turned out. Once we get the masters back we'll probably release a track or two for everyone.

You've already released two EP's 'The Condemned' in 2011 and 'Denied Salvation' in 2012. Will any of those tracks be resurrected by making it onto your upcoming record?

Unfortunately not. I always liked the idea of re-tracking "Cryptic Isolation" from 'The Condemned' or something off that EP and tossing it in as a bonus track or using it for a limited 7" record. We tossed around ideas of covers to put on as a free download too but time was not on our side this time around.

still want to keep that vicious, gritty attack. Like for instance, if we're in a real heavy, chaotic, blast beat filled section of a song, I want the vocals to have that raw, disgusting, Jeff Walker-y feel to accompany that. I'm a guitar player first, so I want the vocals to accent what the instruments are doing above all else. That's sort of an explanation to the people who have said our music is a bit bare, vocally. I prefer to let the music do the talking.

As you've already said, you hail from Ohio. How is the current Metal scene in the Buckeye State?

It's fantastic! There are so many great bands and musicians here, across all genres. We've been fortunate to meet a lot of great, supportive people.

We are generally in the Columbus area so I can't speak for a lot of other cities in the state but there are a lot of opportunities to get out and play here.

Looking back on the year that's just about passed us, what albums have been poisoning your minds the most in 2013?

We've all been jamming that new Carcass a lot lately. I really liked Darkthrone's new one. Of course Skeletonwitch put out another flawless record. HIGH ON FIRE! Prosanctus Inferi from Columbus just released a punishing new record. That new Toxic Holocaust is full of riffs galore. Immolation are still proving they are true tyrants of Death Metal with their new record. This was a great year for Metal all around!

Which member of the band has the worst CD collection?

I would probably have to say Taylor. I'm sure buried in his collection are one too many ICP albums.

Well guys, best of luck with the album. Besides it's release what major plans are on the table for Dismemberment in 2014?

Well we're starting the year off right with a 3 day run on January 9th to the 11th. We'll be supporting Skeletonwitch on two of the dates. One in Columbus Lyrically is there any specific statement you try and another in Indianapolis. The 10th we'll be doing to make in your songs or is it a case of sounding our own show in Covington. We'll be playing as nasty and as throat shredding as you can?

Locusta's album release show for their 2nd full I always try to covey a story through my lyrics. length at a place called Carabar in Columbus on the Whether I succeed or not is for the listener to 24th. After that we're going to focus on the release decide, haha. I try to be as clear as possible but I for 'Embrace' and play out as much as possible.

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Lee Speaks to Marta Gabriel of

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It doesn’t seem that long ago that you released ‘Crimen Excepta’, so what have you been up to since then?

“Well, it's been a year and a half so it's quite a lot of time actually. In the meantime, we managed to play a few live shows, do the new video clip, and do the new studio album, which is just about to come out this month. I was also involved in several other projects, but Crystal Viper has been the priority, so here we are!”

With ‘Possession’ I think that makes it six albums that you have put out. Is there any particular type of formulae that you use when preparing to release a new album?

"Possession" is actually our fifth studio album, if we don't count EP and single releases. Formula? No, I don't think so. I mean, I write all the time; I have tons of songs, it’s just that not all of them are suitable for Crystal Viper. For the previous album, I wrote something like 70 songs; for the new one around 50, I think. Then we choose which songs are suitable for the concept that I have in mind, the atmosphere, and so on. The new release (“Possession”) is a concept album again, so we had to make sure music and lyrical themes go hand in hand.”

The album itself is being described as being a concept album, that’s true; based upon the story of ‘Julia’. Could you explain the story further for the Firebrand After Dark readers?

"Possession" is a concept album for sure, and no, I can't explain the story, haha... I don't want to tell you too much as it would be like giving away the ending of the movie to someone who is going to watch it. But I can assure you it’s a little, nice horror story, where you will find a few historical facts thrown in as well. As the title suggests it has something to do with possession. It's not a typical "ghost and exorcism" story as it has an unexpected twist, and actually the whole story is happening during one night - Friday 13, which is also the album’s release date, but I think you will find subjects which most metal heads really like, haha....”

Besides being a story, ‘Possession’ is an album first and foremost. What is your favourite song on it?

“That’s hard and I don't think I'm able to answer this question as I like all of them. I wrote all these songs, and if they landed on the album, then it means I like them and we all like them. But wait, I think I like "Prophet Of The End" most, which has a video clip out for it right now. It's the most unusual song I’ve ever written, very epic and gloomy. If I have to

choose one, it would be probably "Prophet Of The End"….”

How do you think this release compares to your previous albums?

“Certainly it's the classic Crystal Viper album. Lots of fast songs with double bass drumming, lots of classic sounding riffs, melodic guitar solos, catchy vocal lines; but there are also several epic, slower songs. We’ve added a few new elements this time.

For the first time we’ve used acoustic guitars, double voice inventions and choirs. Fear not: it's still pure Heavy Metal though!”

Once the album is released what do you have planned to do next? Do you have any festival slots lined up for next year?

“Yeah, we want to play as many live shows as possible! We are a live band fundamentally, and the stage is like home for us! We already booked a few shows for 2014 but I hope there will be more, and I also hope we will finally land in the UK. It's weird but we’ve never played in your country, which is the true home of Heavy Metal! We are die-hard fans of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal – we’ve even recorded cover songs from British acts such as Angel Witch and Demon – and we're also friends with many British acts, so I really hope we can get over there!”

Are there any messages that you would like to pass on to your fans then?

“Yes; keep on supporting our beloved Metal scene! Buy albums, visit live shows, support your local acts. Fans are most important and have this power to keep Metal alive! We are METAL NATION!”

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So Michael you've been frontman of Artillery for over a year now. How has the year been for you and in terms of your day to day life prior to the band how has it affected you?

Well, it most definitely has made my life more exciting! I have always been playing music, so on a day to day term, it hasn’t changed that much, although I spend more time on music now, which is great! Being the new frontman in Artillery, is and has been an incredible year, with many dreams coming true. I have felt really welcome by all, although I know how precious that position is and how tough it sometimes can be, so up ‘till now, I am very relieved and happy about how I have been received.

but it felt right and we didn’t look back.

The album is very versatile in terms that there's so many different sounding tracks on it. Was this the plan before entering the studio, a way to showcase how diverse the band can be?

Well, we didn’t map out the album or anything. I had some titles and an overall idea for lyrics and some themes, but as a whole, no. We just went in and did it.

But in many ways I think we were just bouncing off ideas on each other, and Michael and Morten is always very sure of, what they want to do, so that was a nice thing to know. We would not get lost in the creative process.

Was there much pressure on how this record would Was there a friendship between you and the guys in sound? With Artillery now in their fourth decade of the band before joining last September? existence is it difficult to remain relevant after all Actually no. We met shortly once, but we never this time? developed a friendship before I joined the band, but I I try not to think about it. If I brought too much pressure knew at the time when I met them, that they were cool with me into the studio, it would turn out horrible, but of and friendly guys. course I knew that I had to prove and do my utmost.

Sound wise, Soren Anderson was very calm and was sure of what would work and we discussed it in the So how was the initiation process, was there an beginning, without overdoing it. About remaining audition?

Not in the common sense. They had heard me perform relevant, I guess there is two things that you have to be before and probably through my earlier records, but I sure of – 1) you are enjoying what you are doing and 2) was at first kindly asked, if I was available for two gigs, is it good enough to make into an album. If you like what that Søren Adamsen was unable to do, and I agreed. So you do, the relevance lies therein, but at the same time I had three rehearsals and two 100 minute concerts, and you also know, that the material must be good enough, that was my baptism of fire – they asked me afterwards and that’s simply something you most hope for and feel if I would join, and of course I said yes. I didn’t know that in your gut.

Søren at that time already had decided to leave Artillery, so the offer came as a surprise, but pleasant.

Obviously you'll be looking forward to the prospect of getting out on the road with this new album and You've just released your first album 'Legions' as a putting your own mark on the stage. You must be member of the band , how was the in studio excited about being able to put your own trademark experience for you? on the Artillery classics also?

Intense is the best word to sum it all up. We did the Yeah, sure! – Well, I keep in mind to do the classics as record really fast, but to me it was a good thing I think. It much justice as I possibly can and deliver the new left me without too much time on my hands and more material with as much intensity as you would get room for my gut feeling. And I had a real companion in listening to the record. It is a privilege to go out with a Soren Anderson who was really helpful during my vocal back catalogue like this, so you always think about recordings and made me feel comfortable and relaxed. songs to sing and how you would do it.

Did you have much impetus in the writing of the record?

Yes, I think that everyone was ready and eager to get going with the writing and recording of Legions. I had a lot of ideas early on, which I couldn’t wait to try out, so we all had a blast in the studio. It was somehow daunting at times to go into the studio and be curious about how we actually were going to do certain things,

You have a South American and Mexican tour coming up in January and February with Onslaught.

Is this the beginning of a year of extensive touring?

I surely hope so and everything seems to point in that direction. This is the hour for us to do it in, so I hope we will tour as much as possible!

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“

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Your new album is being released on 18th November, and it’s your first album in ten years. What’s been happening in that time?

We’ve had some line up changes, as people have left the band for personal reasons, or becoming impossible to work with, or whatever.

We’ve been through some really tough times in the band during this period. We started writing for this album not long after Modus Vivendi came out, but because of the things going on with the band, it’s just taken 10 years to finish. Some of the songs date back ten years and some of them are very new. It’s been really hard for us as a band.

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So is the new material different to your older songs, or can we expect the same classic sound and feel that you’ve always had?

I would say that the new songs are along the same lines as our older music. We changed our

sound a long while back when we switched from a single guitarist and a keyboard to having twin guitarists. That sent us in a different direction with our last three albums. I think the new album is a natural progression from Modus Vivendi. A little bit more of everything, but still a typical Tad Morose album.

How hard was it for the new members to come into the band? Did they find it easy to give you the classic sound that you were after?

They actually picked it up very well. For us though, it’s very important that you like to spend time together. I don’t care if someone is the world’s greatest musician, if that person is an asshole I’m not interested in being in the same band. So you have to decide first of all if someone is a nice person to work with before

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you ask them to join. Of course everyone is different, and we all have ups and downs and you have to respect that, but it has to work overall on a social level. You spend so much time with each other, so you have to have a good time together.

We’ve put it to the test too, like when we’ve been travelling for several hours in a nine seater minivan and you can’t get away from each other, and everything just works nice.

doing it. Of course though, if people like our album and it sells well, then we’re really very pleased. We don’t put ourselves under a lot of pressure. Some musicians have kids, and a house or whatever, and they have to make enough to make a living from the music. We don’t have that problem you know we all have jobs, so we don’t need to worry too much about making anything from the shows or the albums. We’re able to do it purely because we love to do it and Yes you can always tell at a show if a band is to us that’s the most important thing. I mean say not getting on well. If the band’s not having a you’re in a really famous band, and for whatever good time, that spills into the audience. reason your latest record doesn’t sell that well, Exactly, and if that’s the case, you shouldn’t even and you’re dropped by your label. That’s not an be up there with the other guys if you hate them ideal situation for anyone to be in to write the that much, you should go and do something else. next album. There’ll probably be arguing among These days you barely make any money being a the band saying “my song is better than the one musician, so you may as well have fun doing it, you wrote” or “I don’t like the guitar part, so otherwise it’s just not worth doing. You put so change it” and there’s just so much pressure on much time and money into being in a band, so it’s you to get things right so that your album sells important that you enjoy it. Like you said, I’m a really well, and that can kill a lot of bands to be metal fan as well as a musician, and if I go to a honest. concert and the band is not having a good time, the audience will be able to tell, and they won’t So are you planning on doing any live shows enjoy it either. I’ve been to concerts and thought around Europe any time soon? to myself “what the fuck are they doing on Yeah of course, playing live is the only reason we stage?” They were obviously not enjoying do this. Sitting in a studio and writing an album is themselves being up there, so it was just a waste fun, but we only do that so that we can go out of everyone’s time with them being there. We and play the new songs live. People buy the really enjoy being together as a band. When we album and they will know the songs when we play concerts and festivals, there are usually play them on stage. The live shows are where we other bands there too, and quite often it seems have the most fun, and that’s the whole reason that we are having a lot more fun than the other why we do it in the first place. I know we’re in bands. They seem to be arguing about this and talks with several booking agencies and that, or the bass player and the drummer will be promoters as we speak, but there’s nothing sitting separately from the rest of the band or confirmed just yet. Hopefully we’ll get something whatever, and we’re just sat there drinking beer settled soon, but sure there will be festivals and together and laughing and joking around. tours or whatever. We’ve played about fifteen or twenty shows with our current line up. We played So people going to your shows can a couple of major festivals last year. We’ve not experience a bit of a party atmosphere then? had an album out for ten years, but we’re still Yes and this may sound really stupid but it’s true. being invited to play festivals, and for us that is We’re in the position where we’re fortunate really just an honour. We did one festival where enough to not make our living from music, so we were on really early, and when we went out, when we go up on stage, we enjoy ourselves we had a fairly huge crowd, and that was really 100%. We don’t have to worry about how much nice to see. You know if we went out on stage money we’re making or not making. We do and there was nobody at the front, we’d have everything the way we like it so we go all in and thought “well this is going to be a bit we just have as much fun as possible. That also embarrassing, but what the Hell, we’re here so makes the music and song writing more we may as well enjoy ourselves.” spontaneous. We don’t go into the studio and sit down and think “we have to write very good songs so that the album sells really well, blah, blah, blah” we just do it the way we like to do it, and if the album doesn’t sell then tough shit, we’re still going to do this, because we just love

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Stoodge Interviews Danny White 18

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So guys how have you all been keeping recently?

Great! We're all pretty jacked to tour this summer, I've been staying busy with Scotty on the facebook page, doing interviews and talking to all our old friends and fans from way back. The response has been great, we started the facebook page back in October and we've been getting tons of posts of stories, old pics, flyers, album collections, very very cool.

You announced back in October that you're active as a band again. Was there much deliberation with the idea before making it official?

Well I went on vacation to San Francisco back in August, it had been a really long time since I'd been back. We talked about possibly jamming and an old friend, Bill Storkson of My Victim, graciously offered his practice space for us to jam in. It felt great and we all were happy to play again. Then I got a friend request on Facebook from someone I didn't know and normally I wouldn't accept but I was in a great mood being on vacation and all. That someone was Matt Denny from M&F Promotion Services who basically convinced me that there was still a following for Mordred after all this time in the UK, who knew!? I said I needed to talk it over with the guys of course and one by one they all agreed it'd be a good time, provided we do it to have fun you know?

Was it something that you all seen as an inevitable outcome or is this reformation a surprise to anyone in the Mordred camp?

Well I can only speak for myself but it definitely came as a surprise, I just thought we were going to jam on some old songs and call it a day.

How do you see Mordred now on the mighty Metal pedestal? I mean is this just like starting over from the start or is it basically going from where you left off?

I mean we were always kinda like the bastard son of heavy metal to begin with because we were different. not different just to be different we just played what we liked. Sometimes we got shit for it but we stuck to our guns. Funny how many

bands that stretched the genre came after us, it's been cool to watch over time. It felt to me like we started where we left off, as the original lineup during the making of Vision.

With a lot of younger people not being too aware of the crossover scene in the early 90's in which you guys were high advocates, do you see it being somewhat more difficult in breaking through this time around?

I don't know, I don't try and concern myself with that stuff, we'll play what we play and people will dig it or they won't.

How about the bands sound now compared that of 'In This Life' era Mordred?

I think we sound now like we always did, but now I've got a Fractal axe 2 amp! Holy cow that thing smokes!

What about the new material? It must be strange writing music together again after so long.

Actually to tell you the truth, since I live in NYC and the rest of them live in SF, we'll be sending things back and forth over the net. But I'll be going back a few times before summer to practice.

With your last full length 'The Next Room' being released in 1994 is it safe to think that you'll be unleashing some new music this coming year for the 20th anniversary?

We won't be doing any material from that record but I hope we can put out some new material soon. I've got 3 tunes so far, we'll see how it goes.

It wasn't long after your announcement that you'd be reforming that you stated that you'll be touring the UK & Ireland in 2014. Any reason to so suddenly proclaim your plans of coming over here, before even mentioning shows on your home soil.

Covered that earlier, it was really Matt Denny who talked me into it. It's all his fault!

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First off Boris I'd like to congratulate you on your new album 'The 5th Sun' I can assure you that my neighbours are completely familiar with the record with me having it blasting at full volume this past month. How have things been with the launch of the record and the start of the your current European tour?

We are happy to how the album has been received by fans and medias, and the tour is going well, people show up at shows and they're reacting in a positive way to the new material.

The tour has you all around Europe with the majority of the shows being in Germany. Any reason why Germany are hosts to most of the shows?

Germany is one of biggest European country and the all stoner/psych scene bands are doing well there, there's a strong audience for that genre. The tour leads us also to Benelux, France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. Next year we'll hit Spain, Portugal and Greece, and we'll do the Desertfest in London.

know some bands think it can discredit them before people even listen to them with people thinking "yeah, they're just another one of those dune buggy driving hippie bands from California".

What's now labelled as stoner-rock is a whole scene made of a lot of bands that play a wide-range rock music. We are part of that family and it's cool.

You had a DVD 'Live In Aventicum' out in 2009 and you've since released two full length albums. Is there any plans on maybe performing all four records from start to finish for a future package?

At the moment we don't plan to do something like that, and, to be honest, we didn't even think about doing something like that. But that's a good idea and we'll keep that in mind for a future project, might be a cool thing.

There's been an increasing number of tours happening in which bands from opposite genres have been hitting the road together. Has there In regards to the setlist on the tour, are the new been any cases where you've found yourself on tracks getting a good reaction or do you think it the road with a band and you were like "what the can take a while for new songs to settle in with hell are we doing with them?". I couldn't picture live audiences? you touring with someone like Watain.

We start the concerts with a new track and the So far we haven't had those kind of issues but it audience seems to enjoy it and we play pretty much might be interesting to share the stage with a band the whole new album mixed with old classics. completely different then us, I'm sure that the During this tour we've been receiving nothing but audience is open minded enough to be curious good feedback from the audience about the new about different bands from different genres. In the tracks.

9o's Anthrax and Public Enemy did a tour together and it seemed to work well.

On the subject of 'The 5th Sun' did you have a general atmosphere in mind for the record Is there ever any debate on the tour bus in before entering the studio or was it a case of regards to what music you listen to whilst going in and seeing what you could create? travelling or have you all been blessed with the We wrote pretty much the entire album before same tastes? hitting the recording studio. We already had the Usually we agree about what music we listen to and overall idea of what to play and how it would sound which movies we'll watch, we have pretty much the like. same tastes. Sometimes we disagree, but we all have our own interpretations.

Is it different for a band with no vocalist when composing material, is there a sense of extra Any guilty pleasures when away from the band freedom maybe with no restrictions on the you'd like to disclose? musical impetus?

Good Italian food and wine with friends.

The sense of freedom comes by doing music in general. I think that vocal oriented and instrumental With your sound being so epic and majestic music are the same, it's all about writing and playing what would you say is the best environment to music, only the instruments might change. Music is behold Monkey3? Apart from seeing you live of about expressing yourself and there are a lot of course. different ways to say something, sometimes with I guess that listening to Monkey3 being on the moon words, sometimes with sounds. and watching the wide open space might be interesting.

How are you guys with the 'Stoner Rock' tag? I

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By Stoodge Mc Nulty

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You upcoming debut release has been available on digital format now since September, how have reactions been to the album so far?

John: We are absolutely blown away by the reaction to the album! Anyone that has followed the band from our earlier days will be very familiar with the songs on the album as it has been the backbone of our live set and really stands as our ‘greatest hits’ so far, but then that would be a feature of every band’s debut album I’m sure. We deliberately limited the amount of reviewers it was issued too as we have been waiting on the album finally coming out on CD as well. The album was meant to be issued both digitally and on hard copy on the same day, but it wasn’t able to meet the deadline and we were too eager to get the album out to back up the reaction we were also getting from our debut promotional video for ‘Crazy Man’. Of the reviews that have been published so far, the thoughts and opinions have all been exceedingly positive, it’s really taken us aback. Being from Northern Ireland, we have had one local review, two to cover Ireland and we reached out for one from Spain and America.

The internet is now obviously how word of mouth travels these days and from that the album has been picked up by new rock radio stations, which is just incredible for us. We now have some US based DJ’s that feature us heavily on their shows and we just completed our first live interview with The Rock Asylum as well. Thankfully new stations here at home are also picking up the album and cranking out a few tunes as well. So we can’t wait to get out and tour the album here at last.

Stephen: We've had a few sites review our album and thankfully they all seem to really enjoy the music on there, nothing but positive reactions and even to get a mention on some of these websites is amazing. Also people who I've bumped into from the local music scene that have listened to the album, they all love it. I am glad and flattered that the response has been great and to get a physical album release is the icing on the cake for us.

package and CD in early September. We made the release announcement and then it became clear that the CD would be delayed a bit as we were being particular over our artwork. Still eager to release the album, I threw together a quick temporary album cover and we launched it on our Bandcamp site as planned, thinking that the CD was only going to be delayed by a week or two. The temporary artwork was an immediate hit – everyone was really taken with the image – which was the opening scene from the video. So that image immediately became our new t-shirt design and then W. Ralph Walters, who was designing the CD artwork and myself wanted to incorporate it into the CD artwork as well. So while it wasn’t quite back to square one with the artwork, it did undergo a huge overall. After that it was a longer process than I expected of passing artwork over to get pressed up, but we probably fall down the pecking order so all the new Cliff Richard and Michael Ball Christmas albums get released first!

Stephen: Well, we never really planned on the gap, originally the plan was to have both released together at the same time, or at least a week or two apart, but we needed to wait on our art work being completed first, then set in motion the design of the CD layout etc, and of course finding someone who could produce a good quality product for the CDs, booklet/sleeve and cases. We have a lot of people who wanted a copy of our stuff at the gigs, so we directed them to the Baleful Creed page online so they could listen to the studio material. Hopefully the wait will be worth it and people enjoy having the physical release to add to their CD collection.

How does anticipating the CD's release differ from the digital launch?

John: The full BC promo engine will just have to hit turbo when the CD is finally launched! There was a series of gigs lined up to back up the CD release but when it became clear that we wouldn’t have the actual discs in hand, we decided to reschedule them so we can finally gig with our album available on our merchandise stall. It was a bitter pill to swallow as we had been promising the album on CD for so long, but The physical CD comes out in early 2014, was we’ll learn from this for hopefully our second there a reason for the four month gap album. But it means the next gigs we’ll be between both releases? proudly touring our album and that is one huge John: That was totally unplanned and was just a milestone for us as a band. On the promo side, huge learning curve for us. We were getting we’ll reach out to more rock reviewers and radio such a great reaction to the video for ‘Crazy Man’ stations and try and reach as big an audience as and the album master had just arrived at BC HQ we can. I believe the internet is such a great tool that we thought we could release it as a digital for marketing your band if you put the work in

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and research the right sites and stations that support our style of music. Obviously be prepared to take some flak as that’s the nature of the game when you put product out there, it might get shot to bits!

I have been pretty stubborn since the band began that I have managed every move that we make, so it’s a real sense of achievement every new goal and milestone that we reach has been our own doing. Now is the time to finally get some assistance in so we are working with Two Side Moon Promotions to help us promote the album through some of the published magazines and Emerald Music Management, based in America to push through a whole series of new rock radio stations for us.

Stephen: I am really looking forward to hearing what people have got to say about the CD, obviously we'll have guys that have already heard the album digitally and I do appreciate the great feedback we've had online from many, but to speak to people and hear what they have to say in person is always exciting. I think having a CD will hopefully bring more fans in, if someone has a copy of the album they could always lend it to their friends - plus despite the digital age, there is alot of people out there who still want to have a product. The CD launch should be good fun, I'm sure we'll organise a few gigs, get out there, play live, have fun and a few beers.

The album itself consists of remastered and remixed tracks from your last two EP's, have you guys discarded your first EP or are there other plans for that?

John: Just to quickly explain the reasoning behind the remix and the remaster of those songs from 2 EP’s to make it into the debut album format instead. Financially we could only ever afford to record in 5 song chunks, as we always headed to the best studio we could afford at that time. The last two EP’s were then recorded in Manor Park Studio’s by the wizard Neal Calderwood. As we never got the EP’s properly released on professional factory pressed CD/artwork, at gigs we were always getting asked if we had a CD of our stuff. It would have probably cost the same just to release the latest EP on a proper disc, so as the last two EP’s were recorded in the same studio, we felt it would be better if we released an album instead, and hopefully gives us a better stance to market the band from too. So Neal set up tweaking the 10 songs to bring them together to form a more cohesive sounding album for us.

Our debut EP though was done in a totally different studio. Mark wasn’t in the band then, so it was the first time in any sort of recording studio for Fin, Stephen and myself. The studio time had been booked for a while and we were actually without a drummer going into that session. So the producer provided a session drummer to lay down the tracks for us. It was a good job, but somethings were lost that had been in place before. The

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recording sounded awesome in the studio, but when the final mix arrived, all the punch out of the guitars had totally disappeared. We had no money left to pay for a fix or remix and the tracks lay around unused while we worked on new material. Once we got out gigging again with Mark on board, we thought it would be better if we had something to market. So I went and added another layer of guitar to the EP tracks using pretty basic recording software in my house. It was a real sticking plaster job as I didn’t have the individual mixes, all I could do was try and blend in this additional layer on top of the finished songs. As we were working towards our next EP of new material, this debut was EP was simply titled ‘Killing Time’ as that summed up all we were doing at that point – just killing time until the next one. It is an EP that I unfortunately have no fond memories off and was really disappointed at the outcome of it, which is a shame as there are great songs on it. But who knows, they may appear re-recorded again in the future and they will certainly feature in our live set were we can do them justice on stage.

Stephen: I think we still have a few copies of the first EP kicking about somewhere, that was a good while ago when it was recorded. I dont think we're pushing that EP out there as much anymore, but I would like to re-record a few of the songs from Killing Time, maybe for album number two, such as Forgiven, Hitch a Ride & Fortune Seeker.

As this is the final edition of 'After Dark' this year I'm in a rather reflective mood. Obviously the release of your full length is up there in your highlights of the year.

What was the most horrifying experience of 2013 for you guys?

John: Well the delay in the artwork has been pretty horrific, no one is to blame for that – it just was one of those things. 2013 has just been a year of total high for me – the band profile has grown beyond anything I ever imagined when I first started out. The only thing I can think of as ‘horrific’ was during our interview in the BBC Radio Ulster studios. The broadcasting/recording studios have glass windows looking into each booth. As I was in full flow answering this particular question, local radio presenter Hugo Duncan who was broadcasting live in the next booth to us, suddenly wheeled his chair back and started dancing to whatever country music was floating his boat at the time. I was the only one who spotted him due to the angle I was looking into his studio. So as I was trying to respond in our interview, it totally threw me, turning me into Norman Collier as I rip-ding double dinged in our interview until Hugo returned to his seat and slid out of view again.

Stephen: I think my most horrifying experiences has to be the preparation for the Highway to Hell gig in

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Glasgow, we were playing with a lot of great bands on that gig and each band had a 20 minute slot, that is for plugging in, tuning up, doing a wee quick line check and nailing all your songs within that 20 minutes. I panicked just before we got on stage, I had literally restrung my bass strings about 5 days before we got there and couldn't help but think that I would be out of tune in no time, plus we usually have about a good ten minutes at gigs to tune up and doodle around to make sure our levels are good and stuff. That said, it was a fantastic gig, the crowd was brilliant, we got a great reception, everyone I met was sound and I enjoyed every single band that played that night - plus the piss up afterwards was great fun too.

has really brought a huge smile to my face – just love that guitar tone and Garcia voice – works so well together.

Stephen: Only albums that spring to mind are Black Sabbath's 13 and Evile's Skull, brilliant albums that I still listen too regularly, but apart from that it's still more of the same old school rock and heavy metal on my playlist.

With the album coming out so early in 2014 what else can we expect from Baleful Creed this coming year?

John: More gigs in more locations. It’s definitely time to get out further around our island and hopefully beyond it’s shores if possible. We want to promote the album as much as we can, drum up interest in the band and 2013 has been a year that's had a lot of great hopefully if people are kind enough to support us and releases from both established and new bands. What come to gigs and buy the album and any t-shirts, we will have you guys been blasting on rotation in the BC be able to afford to carry on and get to do this all over camp? again for album no. 2. Meanwhile back in the practice John: The last Cathedral album, marking the end of one room, we are piecing together ideas and riffs for what of my favourite bands has been destroying my player for will become the next album. Now that we have the a good while. I’m a huge fan of the John Garcia side of debut album out, we won’t return to the EP format, so I Kyuss, preferring all his output in SloBurn, Unida and really hope that a second album will be ready to record Hermano as opposed to the route that Josh Homme in late 2014 or early 2015. took with Queens Of The Stone Age – I like their first 3 Stephen: Promote the new release, hopefully bring in a albums then they lost me. So when Kyuss reformed, few more fans, get more gigs when possible and get albeit without Homme and following the lawsuit from around to writing some new Baleful Creed him, they returned renamed as Vista Chino, that album material.

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For a country that's far removed from anything related to the scorching deserts of Palm Springs (well, apart from the Vultures) why this there such a huge Stoner Rock presence in Ireland?

Kenn: Not sure why there is such a big stoner presence in Ireland, maybe it is because it can be a genre that spans and interests punks, metallers and heads who like a good heavy groove. There really are some great bands in Ireland doing really cool stuff. Bands worth checking out from these wet overcast shores that won't disappoint are Slomatics, Wild Rocket, Rites, Tusks, Brains and The Wizards of Firetop Mountain to name a few.

Gavin: I think a lot of it has to do with the generation we come from also. A lot of our parents would have seen Rory Gallagher or Thin Lizzy on their early tours so that influence works its way in somehow, like finding old vinyl when you're a kid. Lizzy and Rory are a gateway to Sabbath.

Higgins: If you look at where Black Sabbath and Judas Priest came from, Birmingham back in the late sixties, that's fairly far removed from the desert, sheet metal factories and shit like that. I'm a couple of years younger then the rest of the lads but there was always a lot of Sabbath worship going on, which led to Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, Mudhoney and other bands like that. All the shitty hash probably played a factor too.

Wild Rocket go? You certainly did a lot of travelling over those four day was there any casualties of war?

Steve: Unfortunately, Tusks had to drop out so we missed out on having them on the road with us. We will hopefully get to right that again soon though! We headed off a day early on our own to Ballina to play a gig there. Then we joined up with the Wild Rocket lads for the Galway gig, Rites headlined that show as it was, unfortunately, their last gig. Our guitarist Bryan played guitar for them too. They just released "II" as their farewell and we'd definitely recommend checking it out on their bandcamp! From there, it was onto Cork and we had an absolute blast there as always. Heavy underground music seems to be in a very healthy state down there.

We finished off in Dublin on the Sunday night and it was a great end to a great tour. The only casualties were several gallons of various stouts and some potato pies!

Higgins: A few of my cans got fucked alright! In Cork, Kenn managed to slice one of them open without any of the drink spilling out. No one else was there though, it must have been magical.

Gavin: It was great craic. Like getting in a noisy washing machine full of stout and farts. We had a Lot of help from our friends around Ireland which was great. The last Rites gig was loads of fun.

Their new EP is unreal.

How about the upcoming Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats gig that you're playing? Was there You dudes are currently in the process of much ball rubbing in the process of getting writing new material. How's that coming on the bill? along and when will we get to hear it?

Kenn: Interestingly no. As much of fans that we Steve: It's coming along, slowly. With one band are of a bit if ball rubbing it was a straight forward member living in another country it's a slow email from the promoter "would you like to play process. Lots of ideas recorded to phones or this gig" response "yes please". Should be a computer, and then e-mailing and dropboxing. In great night, we're really looking forward to seeing our preparation for the short Irish tour we've just Uncle Acid play. Also catching a glimpse of all done, we managed to get 2 new songs written the retro gear they use and having a skip of pints. and we played them each night. We're constantly trying to come up with new stuff and when we So you're all going to be on your best manage to get together, we canfigure out what behaviour that night right? works and what doesn't.

Kenn: Never, stout, riffs and good behaviour Gavin: The new stuff is sounding good so far. I don't mix, we all know that. Good behaviour think the song writing is better on these new doesn't result in good times. songs as there's more riff writing coming from Gavin: Really lookinG forward to it. Hopefully we everyone. As Steve was saying there's a lot of riff might get some Sabbath stories from them. We'll trading and back and forth that goes on before treat it as any other gig. There's no need in we all meet up as I'm over in Edinburgh. All stressing about support gigs as 95% of the things going well and you should hear new music people aren't there to see you. We'll do our best from us in the last quarter of next year. to give as good a gig as we can. It's the last gig of the year for us so we'll have a good session How did your recent Irish tour with Tusks and afterwards.

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Higgins: It'll be a laugh, I'd imagine drink will have man taken and Gav will miss his flight home.

It's been a busy year for you guys. Having supported Mastodon and your Irish and Scottish tours just to name a few. Are you planning on a similar 2014?

Gavin: Hopefully! We hope to tour in the UK a bit and possibly onto Europe. We are sorting out next year at the moment. Myself and Kenn have toured Europe a wee bit in other bands and we loved it. There's also a lot of riffs knocking around that will be mashed into songs for a future release. I don't expect we'll be playing big gigs like Mastodon next year but if something like that happens then it's a bonus.

What's been your personal highlights for the year gone by?

Kenn: For me the great response to the EP has to be the highlight. Totally unexpected. And having the session and jamming together with buds.

Higgins: The EP response was great. Getting to play with loads of savage bands and sound people is always good too, never got to really have proper van sessions till this band either, great craic all together. Kenn's van is a beast!

Gavin: It's all been a bit of a blur really. Playing with Mastodon was a life highlight for me, they're

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definitely in my top ten favourite bands. It makes me want to work harder on the new songs as I think we'll write better stuff in the future. The response to the EP was also surreal. I honestly thought we were recording for ourselves and our friends and it wouldn't go any further than that.

Confession time now! Which member of the band watches the most Porn?

Kenn: We'll have to give that much coveted award to the wizard Higgins, although I think pornogrind is more his thing. He's a filthy wizard.

Gavin: Higgins by a slimey country mile.

Higgins: They've singled me out, just because I'm younger than them, but I know I can't be the worst!

Guys thanks for doing this interview for 'After Dark' one more question more before we have to part ways. If I'm speaking to you guys this time next year where can we expect the Harvester machine to be at?

Kenn: Thank you for the questions and taking an interest in us losers. All going to plan we should have something else recorded and a few more tours under our belt. Hopefully the riffs and good times will keep flowing. If anyone would like us to play in their town please get in contact.

Higgins: Cheers loveen, hopefully we'll have a new EP out by then.

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Hey guys! What have you been up to lately?

Kristian - We started writing for the 7th album recently. It’s been good to get the creative juices flowing!

Chris - We have been out and about promoting the current album ‘Sons of Malice’ which was awesome. Currently we are writing for a new album for a planned release in 2014, along with organising a small theatre show in our home town in February 2014 to record a live version of ‘Loose ‘n’ Lethal’ that will be a bonus disc with the new album.

Andy - We are working on new stuff at the moment, which is fun. Plus we are planning a live album gig in February. We plan to put the 2 together in to one release, we are also planning a European tour!

stuff live and I think there’s been the feeling that the production on the first album didn’t really capture the essence of the music. Plus we’re pretty frickin awesome live!

Andy - It is a way of celebrating the past, especially the first album and giving that stuff a new coat of paint and the fact that we can play that material so much better than when we recorded it! And faster!

You only had a new album 'Sons of Malice' that came out last year. With another two releases coming out does this signify your intent of cementing the Savage name onto the World scale again?

Chris - Absolutely we are back and intend to be around for a long time! However sometimes life has a nasty habit of getting in the way!

You have a new studio album out in early Kristian - Hell yeah! The Savage Steam Train is 2014, any exclusive information can you give rolling into town baby and there’s no stopping it! us about it?

Andy - Yes, usually we would disappear in to the Andy - As always, trying out new ideas and riffs. hills for about ten years after an album. This time We have some stuff which is really old school we are slowly building the whole thing back up which I think some fans will dig but also we will which is the right thing to do. always push to boundaries on some stuff which keeps it exciting for us You had a close connection to Metallica in Chris - We have ten ideas in development at the their early days, they even recorded your moment, 2 pretty much complete, so it’s coming track 'Let It Loose' for themselves. Do you on really fast! think Savage were pivotal in the foundations Kristian - Yeah it’s gonna be f**king awesome! of the Metallica sound in those early years?

Andy - It would be nice to think that that track You'll also be releasing your first Live Album partly went a long way to making Metallica play to coincide with the studio album. Why do hard and fast. Ironically it was the only thrash you think now is a good time to unleash your paced track in our set when we wrote it. Maybe first live record? we made them play faster?

Chris - There are bootlegs of us out there but Chris - In all honesty Metallica is a band that the quality is never great, so it’s always been was influenced by many of the same bands that something we have wanted to do, as far as a had an influence on us and others at that point good time, with the onset of the internet and free time; however much is made of the NWOBHM downloads its seems your material is usually but we never really felt part of that movement, available before the official release is, which we just did our own thing, which we still do to this makes it difficult for bands to recoup the costs of day, to the annoyance of many fans! We don’t producing an album. tend to produce the same album time after time Kristian - We’ve been playing some of the older but that’s just the way we are, at the end of the

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day writing, recording and playing has to keep our interest first! We just hope others like what we do, though I do think we have a distinct sound in our material!

Kristian - “Get it Loose”? Sounds like a song about whipping your dick out on stage.

You initially folded in 1986, do you feel things may have been different for the band if people had the media and freedom of the internet available to them then?

Kristian - Maybe, maybe not. The “freedom” of the internet isn’t necessarily a good thing!

Chris - It was a bad time, poor management and record company backing led to internal conflict within the band so I’m not sure if we could have carried on with the line-up we had then anyway, the core of the band and its style is generated by Myself and Andy, perhaps with the right backing and a couple of other guys it may have been a different story. As for the internet it’s a double edged sword as it allows bands to gain exposure to a possible greater audience than working your way round the clubs, but at the same time it has pulled the rug from under record sales and the magazines that where an integral part of the scene!

Andy - I’m sure with good management we could have done much more, because we were really young and inexperienced. It’s difficult to know how it could have turned out but it was a pretty miserable time back then and we were hugely frustrated with the way things were going.

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misery, they wanted all bands to look like American hair metal by 1985; image was everything. If we had the support we could have ignored them and stuck to our guns. We’re much happier now!! Haha For anyone looking to check out Savage to which album release do you direct them?

Kristian - All of them dude!

Chris - Good Question but a difficult one to answer because of my comments earlier about each album being a different entity, ‘Loose ‘n’ Lethal’ obviously, though we hated the production sound! ‘Hyperactive’ because we were really starting to write songs with better melodies, ‘Holy Wars’ as this was mostly heavy metal at the height of the Grunge scene, ‘Babylon’ as we were starting to inject elements of groove into the songs, ‘Xtreme Machine’ as it was a a little experimental for us, and we loved the arrangements and of course ‘Sons of Malice’ as this was the first album that actually captured the band!

Andy - ‘Sons of Malice’, or the best of that came out 2001.

What's your opinion on modern day Metal and how removed is it from when Savage first blasted onto the scene?

Andy - just doing our own thing with a nod back to the 70’s period Chris - It’s some ways it’s very different and in others still the same, I have personally liked bands from lots of different genres over the years,

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and not a great one for putting bands in a pigeon hole, in fact I’m not even sure who fits in which genre, for me it’s either good or bad, if it’s got a great riff and groove with a good melody and lyrics count me in! There certainly is a much shit about today as there was back then for sure!

Kristian - It’s more compartmentalised these days. Everything has a label. It’s not just Rock and/or Metal anymore. It’s New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Thrash, Death, Power, Black, Swedish Thrash, Nu Metal, Metalcore, and Hardcore. A lot of the music is regurgitated riffs from the 80’s sped up or slowed down. But the big thing is not a lot of bands use melodies anymore; there’s not an awful lot of catchy metal tunes these days.

Do you think there's too many bands being classed as 'Metal' these days or is the diversity in genres a good thing for Metal?

Chris - All diversity seems to increase for me is the amount of crap out there!

Andy - Metal covers so much, as does rock or pop. It doesn’t matter to me. Diversity is always good in my view. Look at Jazz, you can’t pin that

down to a style.

Kristian - I think it’s a good thing if you are looking for a particular niche as it makes things easier to find I suppose. But it’s also a bad thing because you can get lumped in with bands, unintentionally, that sound fuck all like you.

If you had a time machine what one gig would you love to go back to now with the band current line up and re play?

Kristian - Wacken or Aardschok, the more people that are there to see us the better we seem to play!

Chris - Yeah I would go along with that!

Andy - Aardschok and our first ever gig can you imagine what that would be like to hit the stage as teenagers playing like we do now!!

Chris - First ever gig; High Oakham Youth Club!

I remember it well, we would nail ‘Doctor Doctor’ now Andy! lol

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Best gig I played at was Domination: The Deathfest 2013- This was Reptilian Death's come back gig so to speak. No one knew that we were playing the show as it was not announced.

Barely anyone even knew the band was active live or that we would be playing any time soon.

In fact no one even knew who was in the band.

So with our new masked look and Vinay with his face painted we walked out onto an unsuspecting crowd that just did not know what in the world was going on. I think after the first two songs they kind of woke up to what we were doing but it was the most memorable Reptilian Death gig ever. The impact it created was priceless.

didn't have too many bands touring this part of the world. There had been small bands show up but there was no major metal band to have played here. We had Bon Jovi, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull and the like but as a metal head we were a deprived lot. In 2007 when Iron Maiden came down that really changed the game. It was the first big international band to come to India. I remember the entire trip was a blast and nothing quite beats that moment you see Iron Maiden live for the first time with 30,000 metal heads in attendance. We waited from 2:00pm in the afternoon with an unruly crowd just wanting to see Maiden after having waited lord knows how many years for this one moment. Surreal.

The Worst gig I played was a Gig at Planet M in 2001 - Believe or not Reptilian Death played it's first show with no distortion and blast beats. We had travelled from Mumbai to Bangalore to take part in the battle of the bands held in the National Law School of Bangalore. We were 1 band away from our performance when the show was abruptly called off due to a death on campus. The entire mass of people (mostly bands from outside the city) moved to this record store called Planet M where this guy who managed another band convinced them to let us play there since we'd travelled all the way. About 2 minutes into the first song by this band Pin Drop Violence, the manager realized this ain't his cup of tea and called it off. Somehow I convinced them to let us play without any 'distortion' and we did our songs with no distortion and all the blast beats were turned into AC/DC style grooves and I actually sang instead of growling. We did two songs before they told us to hit the road. I'm extremely glad there were no camera phones in those days.

The Worst gig I witnessed is Battle of the bands I would say pretty much every battle of the bands has a set of bands that make it the worst event to watch as an audience member. However there was this one where I was asked to be a judge that was pretty bad and definitely took the cake. Though I'd have to mark this band for giving me this incredible story to tell. A strange group of fellows walk up on stage, two guitar players, a keyboardist and a drummer. One of the guitarists is the singer. They have two small 30 watt amps with no effect pedals or processors, the drummer looks completely zoned out.

So in this completely odd setup they break out into a Nirvana song 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'.

Clean guitars, out of tune vocals, keyboards and a drummer who is barely playing. The drummer is almost not playing and the keyboardist is giving him dirty looks and getting angrier by the minute. I don't know if the drummer was stoned or not but it was at a point where he might as well not have been playing. The furious keyboardist gives him a look, changes a few patches on his keyboard and starts playing drums on it. By far the funniest thing I have ever seen happen on a stage. This definitely was the worst gig I attended.

The Best gig attended I was the mighty Iron Maiden in 2007- As most people don't associate metal with India you can only imagine that we

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Of 2013 Metal vids to sink your teeth into There have been so many great videos popup during the last year but after much debate here are our top 5 music videos of 2013.

If you have any thoughts about these, feel free to get in touch at afterdark@fbrr2010.com

1 2 3 4 5

Erimha Verdict Of The Soul Nekrogoblikon No One Survives High On Fire Slave The Hive Amon Amarth Destroyer Of The Universe

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Art dealer Cook & Becker in conjunction with Capcom presents the official Street Fighter art print collection Museum-grade limited editions celebrate 25 years of one of videogaming’s most iconic series.

Art dealership Cook & Becker in conjunction with Capcom is pleased to present a collection of limited-edition, museum-grade Street Fighter art prints. The selection encompasses designs and promotional art from over 25 years of Street Fighter history with works from some of the most important artists that have contributed to the series such as Akiman, CRMK, Kinu Nishimura, Ikeno, Dai -Chan, Edayan and Shoei.

Renowned for its deep and balanced gameplay and bold art style, the Street Fighter series has been enjoyed by gamers across the globe, amassing sales of over 35 million units. For many they embody one of the purest forms of the games medium and for a generation of gamers the art and characters have become iconic.

Now, for the first time, thanks to Cook & Becker, fans of the series will be able to own museum-grade quality art prints and collections of original game and concept art. Presented as a two part collection, the first release, which is available worldwide via http://www.candb.com, will be available for reservations and preorders from December 13th and will start shipping in late January 2014. This first release focuses mostly on the core games between Street Fighter ™ II and Street Fighter ™ III:3rd Strike. A further second set of prints will be introduced later in 2014 with a focus on Street Fighter IV. In the collections are drawings and images from some of the most influential artists from Street Fighter’s history whose designs have helped shape the series. All the prints are hand-numbered museum-grade Certified Art Giclees™ and come with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Street Fighter’s Executive Producer Yoshinori Ono. “This has really been a passion project for us as many of us here are huge fans of the series”, says Maarten Brands of Cook & Becker. “It is not often that you get to work with material covering so many years and it was a real challenge to narrow down so much great artwork to a manageable collection, but we’re very proud and happy with the results and hope fans and collectors are as enthusiastic.”

Ubisoft announces Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag Freedom Cry downloadable content release date Ubisoft announced that Freedom Cry, the post launch downloadable content for Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, will be available on December 18th on PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system and the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. It will be available on December 17th for download on Xbox LIVE for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC. Freedom Cry is also part of the Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Season Pass.

Freedom Cry is a nine mission self-contained story featuring Edward Kenway’s first mate Adewale. Born a slave, Adewale found freedom as a pirate aboard the Jackdaw as captain Edward Kenway’s second-in-command. Fifteen years later, Adewale has become a trained assassin and finds himself shipwrecked in Saint-Domingue with no weapons or crew, starting a new adventure of his own.

For players interested in the Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Season Pass, it’s available now and includes Freedom Cry, as well as the exclusive Kraken Ship Pack, additional single-player missions, weapons, skins and collectibles, including the Blackbeard’s Wrath add-on content as well as upcoming new characters for an expansive multiplayer experience.

Bandfuse: Rock Legends’ DLC music store to feature tracks from Jimi Hendrix, songs from Incubus, Yes, Boston and more Realta Entertainment revealed today the first 10 tracks from BandFuse: Rock Legends’ upcoming DLC package, highlighted by two songs from Jimi Hendrix, along with additional high-octane songs from Pantera, The Offspring, Incubus, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Boston, Yes, Blues Traveler and Filter.

The BandFuse: Rock Legends Music Store goes live with downloadable content on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 for PlayStation 3 system and Xbox 360.

Headlining the downloadable tracks will be Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire” and “Love or Confusion” from

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the album Are You Experienced (1967), the first two of 15 signature songs from the legend’s catalogue planned to roll out asBandFuse: Rock Legend DLC next year. Later in 2014, Hendrix will be integrated into the game as a rock legend, which will include interviews with present day guitar greats talking about Jimi Hendrix’s technique and experimental style paired with archival video footage from his illustrious career.

The first set of BandFuse: Rock Legends DLC tracks will include: Jimi Hendrix - “Fire” Jimi Hendrix - “Love or Confusion” Blues Traveler - “Run-Around” Boston - “Foreplay/Long Time” Filter - “Hey Man, Nice Shot” Incubus - “Pardon Me” Lynyrd Skynyrd - “Simple Man” The Offspring - “All I Want” Pantera - “Cowboys From Hell” Yes - “Roundabout” Reigniting the music genre with the only four-player scored guitar, bass and vocal music experience on console, BandFuse: Rock Legends’ stellar lineup of acclaimed talent, authentic animated tablature and lag-free audio, unleashes a full band experience for players of all skill levels.

Named “The Best Music Video Game on the Market” by the iconic music publication Guitar World Magazine, BandFuse: Rock Legends empowers players to jam using authentic animated tablature and a fully unlocked library of 55 massive genre-jumping songs ranging from rock to metal and punk to funk.

Players will develop their guitar and bass skills with instruction by a platinum cast of musicians including master guitar instructor Slash, Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society), Mike Ness (Social Distortion), Bootsy Collins (Parliament-Funkadelic), George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob), Zoltán Báthory and Jason Hook (Five Finger Death Punch), and Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom).

New Speed Painting & Unit Abilities Revealed for Stronghold Crusader 2 Stronghold Crusader 2, long -awaited sequel to the original castle sim, has just revealed the return of the Arabic Horse Archer in the form of a new speed painting.

One of the most powerful units from the original

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Stronghold Crusader, the nimble Horse Archer makes his return in Crusader 2. With his special ability to fire arrows backwards, sideways or any other angle while moving, it's easy to understand why the Horse Archer became a fan favourite when the original game was released in 2002. Combine this with his high speed and it is easy for the Arabic Horse Archer to gain the advantage in battle.

The Horse Archer’s special ability will be one of many featured in Stronghold Crusader 2 at launch, with more the half of the game’s units having a unique attack, stance or ability. The mighty Sassanid Knight can for example counter the Horse Archer’s speed with his charge ability, closing the gap to take him down. The Sassanid Knight can in turn be taken out by the Pikeman, who is able to dig in and enter a defensive stance with bonus damage against charging units. This interplay between the different specialised troop types will form a key part of Crusader 2 gameplay, setting it apart from its predecessor without breaking the mould that fans know and love.

Scheduled for release in Spring 2014, Stronghold Crusader 2 will be digitally self-published

by Firefly Studios. A public beta is also planned to be held in the months leading up to release, with full details to be announced at the start of 2014.

Features Unveiled for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II Finally, the time has come when we're ready to share more details about the next episode in the Van Helsing trilogy. Ever wondered what we'll keep from the first game? What improvements will we make or what new features will be added to the sequel?

Well, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II is not just a collection of a dozen new maps and monsters, but a true sequel that keeps all the good bits from the first game, with a little improvement here and there and adds plenty of new features. Oh, and it's not really a feature on its own but if you enjoyed the snappy dialogues, the cheeky humor and the easter eggs of the first game, you'll be happy to hear that the sequel will bring even more of those.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II key features: Three playable classes – In the sequel to this gothic-noir adventure, players can choose from three very different classes: the classic Hunter with shooting and melee skills, the magic-wielding

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Thaumaturge or the Arcane Mechanic, the master of deadly devices, all included in the base game.

Hunter’s Lair – The Lair returns in the sequel as the perfect hideout for players to stash collected loot, trade with non-playable characters, teleport between locations, forge new items, utilize the alchemy lab and accept new quests from allies who join the resistance against the scientific scourge.

Extended tower defense mini-game – With enemies invading in waves, players have the opportunity to defend their Hunter’s Lair and other strategic locations with deployable traps and several upgradable functions to ward off evil, now with improved gameplay mechanics and up to 7 levels presented as optional side quests.

Resistance management – As the leaders of the Borgovian Resistance, players will participate in the micromanagement of the allied troops, improve the equipment of the Resistance fighters or find loot that makes them more powerful.

Rage system – Enabling players to charge up to three skill modifiers called Power Ups on 8 active skills by way of spending Rage points collected from impressive feats.

Unique companion system – Lady Katarina, a ghost with snappy wit, comes to the support of Van Helsing with her own set of abilities, behaviours, and two skill trees.

Fragmentation system – Besides forging, enchanting and infusing items with essences, players now have another option to alter items to their liking. Artifacts can be taken apart, shattered into magical fragments. The process generates a basic shard, and then the enchantments also dissolve into separate fragments. Fragments can be turned into purely magical runes that can be altered and put on new items, changing them into various new powerful artifacts.

The Beast in the Lair - The Chimera is a unique creature, an artificial monster straight from the Ink that players will find during their adventures, claim as theirs, enhance its abilities and summon it into combat or send away to the Ink to hunt for treasure.

Hall of Trophies - Players can decorate their Lair with trophies that give global modifiers to the game world, like empowering monsters, granting more spellpower to all allies or turning Katarina into a more lethal ghost.

Multiplayer – Allowing players to test their skills against each other via the PVP mode (8 players) or join their forces and complete the

story in the co-operative campaign (4 players).

The first game in the trilogy, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, currently available worldwide via Steam on Windows PC and Mac OS X, is a one-of-a-kind action-RPG that pits players in fierce battles against familiar supernatural foes and also enables players to partake in a tower-defense mini-game within Van Helsing’s upgradable Lair to ward off evil that attempt to overrun the base by way of force. Free Demo available on Steam.

The Elder Scrolls online coming to next generation consoles Latest Game in Award-Winning Franchise Arriving on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Mac in Spring 2014.

Bethesda Softworks today announced that The Elder Scrolls Online is in development for both the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft. The game will launch on these consoles, in addition to the previously announced PC and Mac versions, in Spring 2014.The Elder Scrolls Online is the latest chapter of the award-winning franchise – and will bring the legendary experience online for the first time. Players can choose their own style of play as they embark upon an epic adventure across all of Tamriel, playing alone on a heroic quest as in previous Elder Scrolls games, exploring the huge, rich world with a few select friends, or playing with hundreds of others in massive PvP battles to save the Empire.

“We are thrilled to bring this game to consoles, in addition to the PC and Mac,” said Matt Firor, game director of The Elder Scrolls Online. “It’s something our fans have been requesting since we first announced the title, and something our team is excited to offer. Everyone will be able to play The Elder Scrolls Online the way they want to play”.

After having experienced extended hands-on gameplay and testing the game’s innovations, quests, and unique features, The Elder Scrolls Online was described by MMORPG.com as “a perfect sauce of awesome.”

The game has emerged as one of the industry’s most anticipated titles – and praised by such diverse press outlets as IGN, GameSpot, Game Informer, MMORPG.com and TenTonHammer.com. Millions of Elder Scroll

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fans have already signed up for the beta on PC and Mac to gain early access to the game, and console fans can now sign up to be eligible for the console beta test which will begin later this year. For more information or to sign up for beta on your preferred platform, visit www.elderscrollsonline.com.

The Elder Scrolls Online will be the first Elder Scrolls title to be played online after nearly 20 years of offering these best-selling, award-winning fantasy role-playing games for single player only. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the most recent chapter of the Elder Scrolls story. Skyrim, developed by Bethesda Game Studios, was released in November 2011 and enjoyed worldwide critical and commercial success. As the follow-up to the 2002 Role-Playing Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and the 2006 Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Skyrim earned hundreds of ‘Game of the Year’ awards and has sold over 20 million copies.

The Elder Scrolls Online, is being developed for the PlayStation4 system, Xbox One, PC, and Mac by ZeniMax Online Studios.

The studio is headed by industry veteran Matt Firor who has more than 20 years of online game development experience. Working with Matt is a team of highly regarded developers who have created some of the best known online games ever released.

of the EVE Community, CCP began receiving donations of an in-game item called PLEX (Pilot’s License Extension), which represents one month of game time in EVE Online and can be bought and sold on the in-game markets for in-game currency. For each PLEX given in this way, CCP in turn donated US$15 to the Icelandic Red Cross for typhoon relief efforts.

During the PLEX for GOOD drive the EVE community banded together in dozens of unique player-run efforts to donate 12,726 PLEX (approximately 1060 years of playtime) to total US$190,890.

The drive culminated on December 7 in an 8+ hour “telethon” live-streamed on Twitch (www.twitch.tv/ccp) featuring EVE Online developers who pledged unique donations as fundraising milestones were hit, including developer boxing matches, male and female head-shaving, getting a full-arm tattoo, sparring versus a Tae Kwon Do champion and even getting shot with one paintball for every US$2,000 donated. Other programming included a guest appearance and “training session” by mixed martial arts phenom Gunnar “Gunni” Nelson, a developer cooking competition, Q&A sessions and a live sampling of the most exotic tastes of Icelandic cuisine.

While the interactive content of the telethon was on the lighter side, the heartfelt thanks from CCP’s development staff to its players is very sincere. Every milestone was reached and well surpassed.

“We often talk about how EVE is ‘real’, a simulation of humanity where there are few rules CCP and the EVE Online Community and all the economic, political and social forces Raise $190,890 for of human nature push the boundaries of morality in all directions,” said Hilmar Veigar Petursson, Typhoon Haiyan CEO of CCP, “We’ve seen the passionate side of Relief our players over the past decade, but truly “PLEX for GOOD” nothing could prepare us for this level of Campaign and Telethon generosity from them. It is humbling. It is Demonstrate Generosity of Gaming’s Largest beautiful. It is what EVE is really about.”

Universe.

Coupled with the other PLEX for GOOD CCP, the world’s leading independent efforts, EVE Fanfest silent auctions and other developer of massively multiplayer online (MMO) associated charity drives, the EVE community games, today announced that the players of its has raised a total of over US$340,000 for game EVE Online have donated US$190,890 to charitable causes since EVE was released on the Icelandic Red Cross to help the citizens of May 6, 2003. the Philippines recover from Typhoon Haiyan. The money was raised through the “PLEX for GOOD” program, which allows players of EVE Online to collectively donate in-game currency to worthy charities, as well as other associated donations.

Starting November 20, and with the support

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Naruto Saga – Chapter 2: Akatsuki’s Counterattack Available Now! IceGames adds a massive update and Christmas themed events to the popular Naruto team-combat MMO. IceGames Co. Ltd, an online games publisher and operator of the Games.la platform, is today delighted to announce that a brand new content-packed update, Chapter 2: Akatsuki’s Counterattack, is available now for Naruto-inspired team combat MMO, Naruto Saga.

Currently in Christmas version on the Games.la platform, Naruto Saga brings a fresh set of gameplay experiences into the world of the fabled Naruto anime series. Combining tactical one-on-one battle systems with quick time events (QTEs), dynamic quest systems based on Naruto plots, powerful Beast Summoning, exciting Arena PK and mysterious Ninja Transformation features, Naruto Saga gives players immense freedom while challenging them to use wisdom and courage to overcome obstacles as they strive to become the top ninja in the land.

Launched December 10th across all servers and platforms, Chapter 2: Akatsuki’s Counterattack heralds the beginning of the criminal Akatsuki organisation’s Eye of Moon Plan – a devious plan to bring together the nine-tailed beasts and create an idealistic world by force.

To protect the ninja world, Naruto Saga players must band together and stop the Akatsuki by any means necessary, even it means engaging in epic battles every day! A new daily event, Akatsuki's Counterattack, now runs at set intervals, where players must tackle teams of iconic characters from the Akatsuki organisation and hold them back.

During the battles, players who manage to kill the Akatsuki Bosses will bag the new Transform Mask, which can be redeemed for all kinds of rare Transform Cards. The top 10 players in the Damage Rankings will get random daily rewards too, such as gems, secret art values, and prestige.

New for Chapter 2, Transform Cards can now be used to unlock the Akatsuki members for transformation. Once transformation reaches level 90, players can enter the Six-Path Pain and eventually transform into Sage Naruto, Cursed Sasuke, Beast Gaara, and other iconic members

of the Akatsuki.

Players may also recruit Akatsuki members as partners and fight side-by-side with them, including the short tempered Kakuzu; fresh faced but deadly Deidara; and powerful Akatsuki leader, Pain.

Chapter 2: Akatsuki’s Counterattack also adds new rankings to Naruto Saga, with players now ranked in detail by Level, Combat Power, Faction, Arena performance and more.

There are new weekly title events to fight over too, where players will be rewarded with honors for everything from being the game's Wealth God (holding the top spot on the Silver rankings) to the game's official Madman (whoever levels the most over the week). Naruto Saga will run 3 random ranking events each week to decide the new title holders, so ninjas are advised to keep their wits sharp as well as their blades over the Christmas period.

Other significant Chapter 2 updates include the introduction of a third Forbidden Technique Slot, which players can unlock by spending one Kinjutsu Seal Scroll at the Mid-Autumn Mall.

Players will also notice new hints for regular daily activities, new rewards for events, more generous Newbie/VIP packs, and a much improved GUI. To celebrate Chapter 2: Akatsuki’s Counterattack, publisher IceGames is running a series of Christmas themed events. From now until December 16th, players can find and keep special Christmas Decoration Materials across the Six-Path Desert, redeemable for Shiny, Luxury, or Perfect Xmas Tree Packs bursting with gifts and desirable items.

There are plenty of Xmas hats strewn across the ninja world too, which can be found and redeemed for limited items in the new Xmas Shop. Furthermore, players will be showered with gifts for both topping up their accounts with Ingots and spending them, and players matching certain criteria will be imbued with extra special buffs throughout December.

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Game Label - Mode 7 Release Date - 5 December 2013 Website - www.frozenendzone.com Reviewer - Lee Walker Platform - PC

8/10

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Frozen Endzone is a simultaneous turn based strategy game based around a futuristic, violent version of American football with the aim of the game to get the ball into the scoring zone as many times as possible by passing and blocks by both your opponent and randomly generated obstacles which the computer throws up along the way.

as Frozen Endzone certainly has the potential to be the next John Madden NFL franchise but by its nature you will need to be a fan of this type of game to begin with but if you are a fan of sporting strategy games you will love this game.

As with most strategy games the game itself is a mix of both planning and luck as you learn to pre-empt both your opponents moves and the randomly generated obstacle’s with points awarded for getting into the different scoring zones on the field of play with more points awarded for getting into the Endzone (which is for obvious reasons the main scoring zone and the area that you need to aim for) with both options for playing against the computer or as a multiplayer with eventual aims for full season modes for both options.

With the game being in Beta mode you can pick up a wide selection of different rewards for pre-ordering into the game such as getting an extra code for a friend, a copy of the sound track, an exclusive e.p

by Nervous Test Pilot and much more and is a fair representation of what you will receive once the game is fully finished with the graphics themselves being quite eye catching and well thought out, with the main issue that we have encountered being the lack of a minimum required specification for running the game.

Will ‘Frozen Endzone’ take off? That’s a tricky call

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Game Label - Machine Studio Release Date - 3 December 2013 (Alpha/Early Access) Website - www.maiagame.com Reviewer - Lee Walker Platform - PC

9/10

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Inspired by 70’s Sci Fi, Maia is a colony management simulator where you must keep your colonists safe, fed and happy, while battling the ever changing environmental conditions, alongside psychological, physiological and technical issues that could and will plague humanity’s first interstellar colonisation.

As the game progresses, and as long as you have worked out the key to getting your colonist’s working and circumnavigated the chicken bug, you get to watch your colony expand and develop, which is easier said than done, but I am more than certain that once the bugs are ironed out in Maia you should finally have a futuristic replacement for Sim City and a game worthy of all the interest that is currently surrounding it.

Sounds intriguing? well it is. Game play wise Maia is as expected for an alpha release - highly addictive coupled with assorted annoying bugs.

In terms of the bugs I don’t know which one is the more annoying between the inability to save option or the infamous chicken bug, though at least we now know which came first between the chicken and the egg, that said as I previously mentioned the game is highly addictive with its quirky dry humour that is cleverly imbedded into the game though ‘transmissions’ and other quirky features.

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Game Label - Motion Twin Release Date - 15 November 2013 Website - http://mushtwinoid.com Reviewer - Lee Walker Platform - PC (Browser)

7/10

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Described as being ‘The Thing in space’ Mush starts off as you wake up aboard the Daedalus space craft alongside 15 other rebels with two of them are infected by the deadly Mush parasite which a story line that reminds me of Alien and seems pretty interesting.

Where I feel the game falters though is with the size of the game play window which is fixed and can not be enlarged and the obvious limitations caused by the need to recharge your energy periodically which can take some getting used to, but that aside the game itself is not bad but at the same point is not too great which makes it fall into that category as one you will either love or hate.

The game itself is browser based with an almost retro feel to it and is similar to MMOs with the game style and strategy elements as you and your crew members seek to contain the deadly parasite infected Mushions who are Hell bent on infecting as many crew members as possible and taking over the ship.

As with most MMOs you can play the game even if you contract the deadly Mush while trying to undertake specific tasks which are assigned to your character with the need to recharge your energy via various means an important feature of the game.

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For any review requests please contact the Firebrand After Dark team at afterdark@fbrr2010.com

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Artillery - Legions Label: Metal Blade Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Website: http://artillery.dk/

Not only is this the Danish Thrash titans first release of their fourth decade in existence but they bring with them both a new drummer and singer. Michael Bastholm Dahl is the voice of the band now and with such an illustrious back catalogue already at their disposal Artillery have found the right man to take them into a new generation. What new drummer Joshua Madsen brings to the fold is a natural ability to create penetrating and thunderous blasts as easy as I smoke cigarettes.

As opener 'Chill My Bones (Burn My Flesh)' fades out into the following 'God Feather' it's evident that this isn't just some smash & grab Thrash effort.

There's an abundance of diversity on this record, how many Thrash albums have you had the opportunity to say that about?

Released: 25 November 2013 Highlight: Wardrum Heartbeat

furthering themselves from a genre that's been over saturated for quite awhile. All this evidence can only suggest that they're hellbent in leaving their own scar on the European scene.

In terms of a general sound, if you can imagine Reverence wrapped up in barbed wire then you're pretty close. This album is all over the place, in a good way of course. It's actually kind of nomadic, in a musical way. Don't worry you're not the only person now thinking of a long haired denim wearing nomad.

The production (Soren Andersen) on here is exceptional. You can almost feel the blood and sweat that was poured into the album seep out of the speakers. This is a great Power Thrash album......Fact!

What this also showcases is the Danes intent of

Mist - Demo 2013 Label: Self Release Released: 14 November 2013 Reviewer: Lee Walker Highlight: Phobia Website: https://www.facebook.com/mist.doom

With a press release providing an email address to send requests for ‘evil spells and marriage proposals to’ among other more mundane things curiosity got the better of me and I clicked download for the e.p cunningly titled ‘Demo 2013’.

with the only fault that I can find with it being that it needs more songs but that aside I think its only a matter of time before you hear more of this mysterious band.

Described as being an all-female occult doom metal band from Slovenia, Mist are somewhat of an enigma that are shrouded in secrecy and seem to have magically appeared overnight. Possessing a sound similar to early Black Sabbath with its deep foreboding chunky riffs and otherworldly vocals this firey five peace seem intent on getting their name out there and surprising you both visually and musically while throwing away any preconceptions that you may have as to what you could imagine an all female doom band would turn out like.

‘Demo 2013’ is a good start for this fledgling band

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Ravenous - We Are Become Death Label: Self Release Released: 13 February 2013 Reviewer: Jon Seymour Highlight: Easter Island Website: http://www.facebook.com/ravenousband

So what do we have here then? Actually it’s something that sits squarely in my “fuck yeah” category. This is a slice of classic sounding thrash metal. I picked up hints of the Bay Area influence, but there’s a little bit more going on than that. It certainly packs a punch though, and from the moment the first song kicks in, you’re sent reeling. If you’re not ready for it, it will hit you hard.

and is pretty pissed off about it.

This album has a sense of purpose though. The band knows exactly what they want to do, and they do it. No messing around, they just get the job done. It’s focused, headstrong, and pretty much unstoppable. It’s pretty angry too, and you can feel the aggression coming through in everything you hear. Subtlety is definitely not something you’d associate with it.

Musically, it thunders along, and the riffs and solos are pretty much relentless. There are a few slower, more melodic moments to provide a break from the otherwise I was thinking not so long ago, that I haven’t heard a endless pummelling, but for the most part, it does its very decent, good old thrash album for quite some time. Well I best to separate your head from your shoulders. can honestly say that this has rectified that. In fact I’d go so far as to say it’s one of the best thrash albums I’ve Vocally, there’s enough attitude to carry it off. The vocals heard in a long while. It’s loud, it’s heavy, will melt your are gruff and gravelly, but don’t venture into shouty roar face and give you whiplash. It should come packaged territory at all. That’s a bonus for me, as I don’t like all with a public safety notice or something. You may gather that shouty stuff as a rule. Anyway, enough about my that I quite like this album.... It was originally released at personal tastes, as I’m going off topic, and we can’t have the beginning of 2013, but the band are in the process of that.... Suffice to say that the vocalist sounds as though re-launching it. he’s been gargling with caustic soda and broken glass,

Rhapsody Of Fire - Dark Wings Of Steel Label: AFM Records Reviewer: Graham Pritchard Website: http://www.rhapsodyoffire.com

Hailing from Italy, Symphonic metal band Rhapsody of fire have just released their tenth album. Yes you did read that right I did say tenth album, their first ‘Legendary Tales’ was way back in 1997.

Sounding like a hybrid version of Helloween and Nightwish the new album ‘Dark Wings of Steel’ is full of the songs you should expect of a band like this.

Powerful, emotional and hard hitting with eleven tracks of gothic operatic power metal with all of them working well as individual and as a whole entity. The unity of the band is obvious as they go from one song to the next with seeming ease never missing a beat. I can just picture them live with a Nightwish or Within Temptation style stage show.

Released: 22 November 2013 Highlight: Dark Wings Of Steel

Sacrifice Along with the title track you get something that you will want to come back to time and again. A full orchestra adds to the emotion of this CD and whilst not a great album it is never the less a good effort and left me wanting to hear more from these lads, Definitely a grower and highly recommended.

The first track is an instrumental introduction to the album that tells a story pretty much like all their albums, With tracks like Angel Of Light and My

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Leaves’ Eyes - Symphonies Of The Night Label: Napalm Records Reviewer: Stephen Brophy Website: http://www.leaveseyes.de/

Leaves' Eyes are a band that came to my attention after the Vinland Saga (2005) album, having already been a fan of Liv's vocals from Theatre of Tragedy and also knowing the much heavier band Atrocity (who make up the rest of Leaves' Eyes), I knew I would be interested in this band. Having said that Symphonic Metal isn't something that I listen to an awful lot, but I still appreciate it when it's done properly.

The new album "Symphonies of the Night" is excellent, while not introducing us to anything ground breaking, it is well crafted and there are enough changes in pace and places where Liv's abilities as a vocalist shine through. Let's not forget though Liv's husband Alexander Krull also provides vocals in this band and it's his hard edged growls that for me are a perfect foil on this album, the balance is excellent and tracks like "Eleonore de

Released: 15 November 2013 Highlight: Fading Earth

Provence" to me work really, really well.

Apart from the opening track, the first single off the album "Hell To The Heavens", the one that grabbed me straight away was "Fading Earth" and I've been coming back to it a lot over the last few days, it's great flow to it and still has a nice metal guitar sound running through it, the album itself is growing on me with each listen and I think it's going to be on rotation on my iPod on the run up to Christmas, if this is the type of music that you normally listen to I think you'll love this album, if not then why not give it a try and see how good something different can be.

Eye Of Solitude - Canto III Label: Kaotoxin Records Released: 25 November 2013 Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Highlight: The Pathway Had Been Lost Website: https://www.facebook.com/eyeofsolitudeband

Time for a concept album of the Black Metal kind right now. Dantes Inferno is the subject matter at hand in this reverend infernal offering. This is the bands third full length and with the damnation portrayed here, 2014 could be the year that the Metal World is shrouded in complete darkness as the watchful 'Eye Of Solitude' engulfs all under it's murky blackened umbra of diabolical consequences.

Don't let the fact that there's only six tracks on this album put you off, the shortest two conclude at around nine minutes. At a total running time of over an hour there is absolutely nothing about this inordinate creature that disappoints.

Opening Act 'Between Two Worlds' with it's dulcet opening tones is a mere precursor for the beast that's soon to be unleashed from it's unfathomable furrow. Act II 'Where The Descent Began' echoes

'Blackwater Park' era Opeth yet retaining it's divergent nature, something that's obtrusive all the way through this dystopian nightmare.

A sombre piano opening whistles in another tale of woe as Act III 'He Who Willingly Suffers' takes the album into new lands of dejection and despair. The sorrowful heart stretching delivery of Daniel Neagoe's vocals are weighty, powerful and telling.

None of this is more so than on the albums 4th Act 'The Pathway Had Been Lost' with the lamenting cries and melancholic emotions expressed on here I somehow don't think that this is only just an adaptation of Dante Alighieri's 14th century writings.

The final two Acts of this masterful composition 'Sat In Silence' and 'In The Desert Vast' bring this despondent work of art to a close.

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Pro-Pain - The Final Revolution Label: Steamhammer/SPV Reviewer: Lee Walker Website: http://www.pro-pain.com/

Released: 25 November 2013 Highlight: All Systems Fail

Finally finding time to listen to ‘The Revolution’ by twelve power packed anthems of destruction upon American Hard Core vets Pro-Pain and all I can say the world. Viva la revolution. is wow.

From the first thundering beats of opening track ‘Deathwish’ through to the pounding last guitar riffage of ‘Under The Gun’ Pro-Pain don’t drop a single beat with this, the bands 18th album which marks a return to form for this power packed band which has been pulverising the world since 2009 with their bruising mix of hard core vocals and punk attitude destroying everything in its path.

As albums go ‘The Final Revolution’ doesn’t stray to far from Pro-Pains brutal, take no prisoner’s formulae, with it possibly embracing more of the bands punk roots than some of their later releases, as Gary Meskill and co pound out brutal fist pumping track after track from start to finish unleashing

Hecate Enthroned - Virulent Rapture Label: Crank Records Released: 13 December 2013 Reviewer: Joey Lowebin Highlight: Virulent Rapture Website: https://www.facebook.com/HecateEnthroned

Hecate Enthroned, the Wrexham metal outfit are back with their first studio album in nine years.

Recently signed to Crank Music Group and recorded at Velocity Raptor Studios, the band are back with Virulent Rapture. With new vocalist Elliot Beaver and drummer Gareth Hardy on board, the six piece have released 11 spanking new tracks of their black/ death metal.

The two new members certainly make a fantastic contribution to the album. The vocals from Beaver are outstanding, reminiscent of a young Ishan in places. Hardy however makes this record; his drumming is fast, ferocious and incredibly tight. The album is a great listen. The second track, ‘Unchained’ has it all, blast beats, double bass and even a guitar solo thrown in for good measure.

‘Plagued by Black Death’ is, at 8 minutes, the longest track on the album, it is wonderfully written,

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with a slow start and big finish.

The title track is the stand out though. It starts at 100mph and gets to the point that you wonder how they will ever be able to stop. But they do, and do it well. The track slows to allow former COF operatic vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva to add haunting wails over the track and then takes off again to finish strong. It has an Emperor vibe to it and the track sounds fantastic.

With a mini tour to support the new album, make sure you check Hecate out.

They have created a beast of an album, let’s just hope it doesn’t take them nine years for their next release!

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Derogatory - Above All Else Label: FDA Rekotz Released: 6 December 2013 Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Highlight: Twisted Aeons of Burning Galaxy Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Derogatory-DeathMetal/206246546127752

Having previously only released a demo EP which gathered a lot of interest and made them a staple fixture In terms of what genre this falls into, it's got a huge in the LA scene, these dudes have now released their Thrash foundation. Sprinkle some Glen Benton (not debut full length. literally) onto the already fortified machine and what we get is Derogatory. There's nothing much in the way of This isn't a bad effort, not great, but it's decent enough. originality on offer here, although how many bands or The problem with the record though isn't the songs that releases of late have you genuinely thought of as being are included. You're probably now scratching your head unique? This also raises the question, does the World thinking to yourself “then how's it not a great album if really need another band like this. Well, just because it you enjoy the songs?”. I shall now go about backing up doesn't sound innovative or new doesn't mean the my last statement. For you see, for the most part of this music doesn't cut through your face like a cheese record it sounds just too rushed. Whether this fault lays grater. with the production or time restraints in the studio I've no idea. Some of it sounds pretty sloppy, some of it sounds There are a few promising signs on this release, most like demo quality and some of it sounds fallible. All of notably 'Twisted Aeons of Burning Galaxy'. It's pulsating which is a real pity as these guys can certainly play and progression and menacing song structure make this one you can feel a sense of intention and conviction from the my personal highlight from the album. record.

This may not be the most memorable release of the Maybe if this album came out in the early 90's I'd be year but it's definitely passable and above all else it's a writing an entirely different review but unfortunately due solid release. to myself and Derogatory not having access to a time machine this one will have to suffice.

Black Messiah - HeimweH Label: AFM Records Reviewer: Lee Walker Website: http://www.black-messiah.de

Having not really heard of German Pagan metalers Black Messiah I was somewhat intrigued by the Viking style logo standing out on the plain black background of their latest album cover.

Musically speaking the album starts off well with a huge, symphonic style opening introduction track leading into the superbly crafted ‘In The Name Of The Ancient Gods’, sounding like the bastard love child created by a chance unholy union between Turusas and Amon Amarth, using the cleaver, sweeping arrangements associated with Turisas and the horse vocal style associated with Amon Amarth setting the scene for the rest of the album.

Released: 2 December 2013 Highlight: In The Name Of The Ancient Gods

Where the album does come slightly unstuck for me though is the couple of songs which stray away from this path and delve deep into folk metal territory ala Korplikani etc as they don’t seem to ‘gel’ with the other tracks on the album leaving them feeling out of place and slightly disjointed which is a shame as the album contains some belting tunes and shows that Black Messiah have the potential to be as big as Turias or Amon Amarth.

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Crystal Viper - Posession Label: AFM Records Reviewer: Lee Walker Website: http://www.crystalviper.com

It doesn’t seem that long ago when ‘Crimen Excepta’ brought Crystal Viper to my attention and here we are just over a year and half later and they return again this time with a concept album.

Now concept albums on a whole are interesting beasts to review and this one is no different.

Released: 13 December 2013 Highlight: Voices In My Head

classic rock fan base that the band has built up over the years.

‘Possession‘ to me falls into the category of being a good, solid album which will continue to keep the CV motor turning over and I think its fair to say that you should expect to see quite a few of these songs make it into the Crystal Viper live set.

Titled ‘Possession’ the album centres around the story of Julia and with song titles such as ‘Julia Is Possessed’, ‘Fight Evil With Evil’ ‘Mark Of The Horned One’ it is of little surprise to find the story of the possession being unravelled both lyrically and musically thoughout the album, a theme which suits Marta’s vocal abilities to a t and will draw comparisons to Doro Pesch as her vocals seamlessly augment the traditional classic edged sound that Crystal Viper are known for while creating songs that will continue to build upon the

C.O.A.G - Sociopath Label: Kaotoxin Records Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Website: https://www.facebook.com/coagrind

Normally an album that lasts 13 minutes is a reviewers nightmare, but this one, well it's the ultimate Frankenstein's Monster. An amalgamation of all sorts, a rustic Metal hybrid is exactly what this is. There's more elements in the short playing time of this release from C.O.A.G (Coalition Of Abnormal Grinders) than there is on the periodic table. The sheer ability of creating something that can infiltrate your cranium and sever all ties your thoughts have to musical conformity is something that cannot be commended enough.

Released: 14 October 2013 Highlight: Defeatist

Each song on this short but sweet offering is titled in Roman numerals, well that's apart from the concluding track which is a pretty stellar rendition of Hatebreed's 'Defeatist'. The aforementioned terminus of the album is by far the longest track that the listener is subjected too, lasting almost 3 minutes, which is twice as long as anything else on this release.

Yes, the substance matter here is without question Grindcore, the Barney Greenway esque vocals, the blast beats, the mercurial incrementing guitar This is a solo offering from Deha, who can also be discharge and the aggressive...well, everything for found plying his trade with two man band We All Die that matter. Throw some Bay Area Thrash and New (Laughing) amongst other projects. It's also the York Hardcore into that Fly Machine along with second release of the SideBlasts series that's been Napalm Death and the consequence will be this created by French Label Kaotoxin Records. belligerent disgorge.

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Bones - Sons Of Sleaze Label: Planet Metal Released: 18 November 2013 Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Highlight: Sons Of Sleaze Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bones-Chicago/113666132032091

Hailing from Chicago this trio of ruttish merrymen sure know how to create a bulldozer of noise.

Crashing through everything in it's path for 37 minutes this is what you could call “getting the shit kicked out of you”.Think of High on Fire actually being high on fire, then further doused in a few bottles of highly potent alcohol and that's what this offering brings to the table. This is as combustible as music can get, my eyebrows near singed beholding this menacing release, and I'll not even mention how my beard is right now.

Tracks 'Frozen Vein' the title track and 'Mindfucked' push this record further into the realms of some shameless and carnal nightmare, or dream depending on your approach to life.

Coming with a nicely presented cover designed and described by Putrid himself as “a new low” this is indeed a rather unclean yet cool package.

From the offset this full throttle vehicle never once reduces in acceleration. It's an unceasing grinding machine that has the power of slapping the listener full on smack in the face with a sledgehammer.

'Poisoning Breed' the albums opener instantly cements the bands purpose and resoluteness of being as a good man once said “bad bastards”.

Conquest Of Steel - Of Fire And Steel Label: No Face Records Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Website: http://www.conquestofsteel.co.uk/

This is the fourth studio release from these British Warriors of True Metal. With song titles such as 'Metal All The Time' 'Vengeance and Steel' and 'Here Comes The Metal' don't be expecting any strong political messages or save the planet preaching. This release doesn't have much in the way of lyrical relevance to what's happening in the World today. What it does have is the power to superpose the listener into a world of fire and flames, minotaurs, horned vipers and fantasy. This is certainly more appealing than the mundane bullshit the mainstream media enthral us with.

Released: 2 December 2013 Highlight: The Warrior & The Witch

'Powerslave' era Iron Maiden into the mix and the final result is this resplendent release. Less 'Sun and Steel' and more 'Fun and Steel' is what exhales from this record with uproarious merriment.

Denim and spikes are something that wouldn't be frowned upon at a C.O.S show. Just don't light up a smoke or the place could go up like a wind bush.

What 'Of Fire and Steel' procures is fist clinching, arm raising traditional Metal. Pour some

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Truth Corroded - The Saviours Slain Label: AFM Records Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Website: http://www.truthcorroded.com/

Since they released their debut album 'Our Enemy Is The Weapon' back in 2005 these unsought gentlemen have been making waves across Australia and the Pacific. 'The Saviours Slain' is the bands 4th full length album and it's a further hindrance for the Australian music scene. With its strong political lyrical presence and Death/Thrash crossover blasts the soundtrack to insurrection this could very well be. With its government opposed and anti-war textures, this is far removed from the Sydney Harbours or Bondi Beaches we're shown that glamourise the nation. Something is fucked up and Truth Corroded are here to augment peoples resistance.

This is the musical adaptation of a City wide street collision. Not that I condone violence in anyway but creating an album about settling scores diplomatically just wouldn't make such a vicious

Released: 6 December 2013 Highlight: A Feeding Enemy

album.

We've got a couple of guest appearances on the record. 'Last Of My Flesh' features Bret Hoffman from Malevolent Creation on vocals and 'They Are Horror' features guest guitar from Forbidden's Craig Locicero.

What this record could also be utilised for is ultimate fighting music, which yet again is another thing I do not condone, that is unless I'm watching it from the comfort of my sofa.. If I was ever to enter a squared circle or a cage for battle my entrance theme could very well be a choice cut from the 12 tracks here.

Everything I lack in having a career as a pro fighter this album has it. Balls, energy, grit, conviction, nerve, muscle and brute force are what make this record resolute and incontestable.

Whitemare - Screamer Label: Riot House Records Released: 19 November 2013 Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Highlight: Run Away From The Cops Website: https://www.facebook.com/whitemareuk

Cruising in at only twelve minutes, this band featuring ex members of Architect, Johnny Truant and Centurion sure know how to create a party atmosphere. Not just any normal get together though, probably something more along the lines of the blood soaked carpet, whisky induced, furniture smashing kind of debauchery.

year. I'm sure if there was some drug and heavy liquor induced mass bar room brawl that Whitemare wouldn't be doing any running. They'd be standing tall with a stool in hand lusting the Polices arrival.

For a record that only contains seven tracks, there's certainly a lot of positives to mention. Songs like 'Snider' and 'Scene Agers' are sure to keep Punks and Metalheads alike bouncing around on the floor in your local boozer. 'Metallicaz Playing At My House' is another fun party hungry anthem that erupts like some cider drunk teenager after loosing their virginity.

Album closer 'Run Away From The Cops' must go down as one of the most ironic song titles of the

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Bloodspot - By The Horns Label: Bret Hard Records Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Website: http://www.bloodspot-music.de/

When you have Markus Teske (Mob Rules, Exodus, Vanden Plas) producing your album you know the job is going to be a skillful and professional operation. What he's helped create from behind the desk with his fellow countrymen is some kind of groove heavy monster. Think Randy Blythe doing vocals for Pantera, sounds interesting right?

Released: 29 November 2013 Highlight: Death Down There

This album introduces new vocalist Peter Kunz into the Bloodspot family, a great choice for frontman as his oral discord is absolutely lacerating all the way through the record. This volition is well and truly vindicated as Peter rips through each song with an impulsive exertion that is essential to the Bloodspot agendum.

To categorise this release into a specific genre it You can check out our interview and track by track would have to be Thrash/Death/Hardcore crossover. run down with the band in last months Firebrand AfSo, by now you can probably already gather that ter Dark. there's an immense amount of energy and anger procured in the record. If you like aggressive body slamming metal then check this out. If you don't then you maybe better prepare to get your body slammed.

Slaughterday - Nightmare Vortex Label: FDA Rekotz Released: 6th December 2013 Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Highlight: Addicted To The Grave Website: https://www.facebook.com/slaughterdayofficial

Following up from their immensely acclaimed 'Cosmic Horror' 4 track demo this German anomaly have returned. The arrival of this release will have fans of Entombed and Autopsy feeling as blissful as a caveman having found a hole in the ground.

It would be easy to say this is a flashback to the Old School sounds of those aforementioned bands, but it's actually more than that. This is more like the awakening a sleeping Beast, or Zombie if you will.

Song titles 'Obsessed With The Undead' and 'Cult Of The Dreaming Dead' sure back up my theory.

Tracks 'Addicted The The Grave' 'Morbid Shroud Of Sickness' and 'Cryptic Desolation' ensure that is just like the title suggests in one vast Nightmare Vortex.

This is the embodiment of Death Metal in it's most complexed, complete and unadorned form.

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Have a Rockin’ Xmas From everyone at Firebrand Firebrand!!

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