Firebrand Magazine Issue 20

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The Treatment Announce Headline Shows and Tickets for Download 2014 are available here: Reveal New Single/Video ‘Running With The Dogs’ www.downloadfestival.co.uk/tickets Announce Headline Shows In Belfast + Dublin, Plus Major Uk & European Festival Appearances This Summer.

The Treatment have revealed an official video for ‘Running With The Dogs’ – the band’s forthcoming digital single; set for release on June 9th, the single also includes three bonus acoustic tracks, previously unreleased. Check out the video below:

The clip in question was filmed by SikTh frontman Mikee Goodman during the band’s last bout of on-the -road activity, which saw them guesting with Airbourne as well as playing headline shows.

In addition to this, a major run of dates for June has been confirmed, including headline shows in the UK, Ireland & France, plus festival appearances across the European mainland.

The headline dates see the Cambridge band returning to Belfast & Dublin on June 17/18th respectively, followed by an outing in France (Paris, June 28th), whilst the festivals include Rock Am Ring / Rock Im Park (Germany), Download (UK, for the second time), Rock The Ring (Switzerland) and Graspop (Belgium).

‘Running With The Dogs’, the album, is available now through Spinefarm Records at the following links:Amazon (deluxe): http://po.st/JbfuBZ Amazon (standard): http://po.st/kEc2Yu iTunes: http://po.st/sifyei Rival Sons To Release New Album Set for release June 2014 via Earache Records, Great Western Valkyrie puts Rival Sons freewheeling fuzz and improvisational stage ethos to wax and cements their position as America’s next great rock’n’roll band. With a ‘conscious decision for this band to be just what it is’ (Jay Buchanan) this album is more cohesive than any Rival Sons album before and firmly plants their west coast sun-kissed rock as a record that feels at home with the loose revivalism of Jack White, the garage rock of The Monks and the soul of Alabama Shakes.

Theres a skuzzy raw feel to Great Western Valkyrie that bathes the album with an instrumental ecstasy, the same live virtuosity that lives in their wild stage performance breathes on this album. With elements of psychedelia and a definite feel of garage rock, there is also a nod to soul icons of the past with soaring vocals and crazy 50’s gear cobbled together borrowed from Sun studios. This album is a revelation. In Jays own words “We have one of the greatest rock’n’roll drummers and guitarists on the planet, so lets be a straight up rock’n’roll band”

Scott Holiday: “We have a reputation for recording our albums very quickly and keeping things very live off the floor. This record is even more of a testament to that process. Once again, we wrote and recorded almost everything on the spot…but this time even more of what you hear on the album are our live “It’s definitely going to be a busy and exciting June for takes…all playing together. In addition, there was very little overdubbing…Opting to keep the sound intact The Treatment,” says frontman Matt Jones. “It’s and very accurate as to deliver to the listener exactly great that we’re returning to Download – our first time there was in 2012, and of course we’re all very what was happening in the room when we put it aware of the incredible history of the event. The Irish down.” headline dates are going to be a lot of fun too, and of Jay Buchanan “Five records in, it just happens. The course the German festivals are massive affairs!

We’ve already shared stages with true rock legends gestation period passes and you realize that you've chain-smoked and binge-drank your way through like Kiss & Motley Crue, and now we can add other names to that list – the likes of Aerosmith & ZZ Top. another pregnancy. How healthy will it be? Count: ten toes, ten fingers, vitals are stable and through grace Yep, good times ahead!” it looks like you've skated by again. What makes this

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one different? Nothing or maybe everything. As it turns out, there was a false wall in the Rival Sons basement that concealed a vast collection of mystic literature. We burned it all.”

Terraplane Release Rare Double Single Terraplane Debut Album Reissue Celebrated With Rare Double Single Release

Hear No Evil Recordings/Cherry Red are celebrating Great Western Valkyrie will be released June 6th in their upcoming expanded edition reissue Europe, and June 9th in the UK on Earache Records. of TERRAPLANE's debut 1985 album Black And White with the release of a rare double digital single: I Survive / Gimme The Money (City Records Kill Ritual Launches Drummer Search Version) on June 9.

SF Bay Area Metallers Kill Ritual featuring former members of Imagika and Dark Angel have issued the More widely known as inimitable British hard rock following update, guitarist Steve Rice comments: heroes Thunder, Danny Bowes (vocals), Luke “KILL RITUAL drummer auditions are officially Open. Morley (guitar) and Harry James (drums) formed the Our drummer and good friend Gee Anzalone has left more pop-orientated Terraplane in the early 80s, the band to join DragonForce! We are proud of him releasing their debut single ‘I Survive’ in 1983. Building up a loyal following in London, and and wish him all the best in his new endeavor(s)! with support from Kerrang! magazine, they Thanks for the good times Gee! eventually found major label recognition when they signed to Epic Records, releasing "Black And White”, “That being said Kill Ritual is in need of a killer their debut, in 1985. drummer to fill his shoes! If you’re familiar with our music and know what it takes please contact us below. If not please visit www.killritual.com to find out. ‘I'm The One’ features none other than Jools Holland on organ, and ‘Couldn't Handle The Tears’ has guest vocals from Ruby Turner.

“We are accepting submissions worldwide via video or audio and need you to perform at least 2 Kill Ritual tracks of your choice for our review. After 1987’s "Moving Target” LP, Terraplane split A brief bio and recent photo are also required. up, with its principle members forming the harder Please be aware that we will consider performance, rocking Thunder, and the rest, as they say, is history. style, image, etc. in our review of submitted material.

Age and gender are a non issue. We will upload all Thunder split in 2009, playing live only occasionally video’s to our management’s YouTube channel. since then, but has recently decided to start work on a new album. The band will be on the bill with “Please submit material to our management at the Aerosmith at the Calling Festival at Clapham following address promo (at) rockngrowl.com Common on June 28.

“Cheers and best of luck!”

Black And White: Expanded Edition is due for release June 16, remastered with eight bonus tracks and 16-page colour booklet including rare memorabilia and extensive liner notes by Malcolm Dome, and featuring interviews with Luke Morley and Danny Bowes.

Kill Ritual ‘s second album ‘The Eyes Of Medusa‘ CD came out on April 4 via GoldenCore Records/ZYX Music. The cover artwork was created by Jobert Mello ofSledgehammer Graphix, who has previously worked with Sabaton, Primal Fear, Grave Digger and many more.

Pre-order Terraplane - Black And White: Expanded Recordings were done at Fossil Sound; San Jose CA Edition here: and Fang Studio; San Mateo CA. Production/ http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4672 engineering was again handled by Kill Ritual guitarist Steven Rice. Mix and master completed

by Steven Rice & Andy LaRocque (King Diamond).

Formed in late 2010 by former IMAGIKA lead guitarist Steven Rice. Kill Ritual was completed by former Dark Angel bassist Danyael Williams and Bay Area vocalistJosh Gibson. www.killritual.com www.facebook.com/KillRitual

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Johnny’s Blues Club, Liverpool Marina 15 May 2014 Review and Photos by Rob Birtley Brothers Groove turn the Mersey Blue as they Rock the Dock.

A sizable crowd gathered in the function room at the Liverpool Marina to see Birmingham-based Brothers Groove comprise Shaun Hill and Nigel Mellor (guitars and vocals), Deano 'Bass' (bass) and Jim Simpson (percussion). The band has been earning rave reviews the length and breadth of the land for their energetic live performances and their highly-acclaimed album ‘Play The Game’.

The first set exploded into life with a bouncing cover of The Meters' instrumental ‘Cissy Strut’. Next the funky rocker ‘What's The Deal’ the first of many fine, original compositions, with Shaun Hill on lead vocals.

The shuffle, ‘Duty Calls’, made way for the slow and bluesy ‘Treat Em Mean’, with Nigel Mellor playing virtuoso slide guitar. ‘My Guitar’ delivered a helping of

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upbeat funk, complete with a terrific guitar solo from Shaun Hill before the jazzy, medium-paced ‘Another Fine Day’ allowed both guitarists to strut their stuff backed by a superb, driving foundation from the rhythm section. The set was rounded off with the mellow, slow blues, ‘Another Girl’, which featured a tremendous, rippling solo from Hill.

Nigel Mellor took over lead vocals to open the second set with a rousing version of ‘Black Cat Bone.’ The funkfest continued with the title song of the band's album ‘Play the Game’. This showcased the rhythm section in overdrive once again. The band lowered the temperature slightly with ‘Easy Flow Love’. The fast paced instrumental ‘The Chicken’ once again raised the heat as the two guitarists battled for supremacy and Deano and Jim Simpson demonstrated their own considerable talents with impressive cameos.

A stunning rendition of another classic from The Meters' songbook, ‘People Say’, saw Mellor back on lead vocals and another brace of guitar-based solos.

The set drew to a close with a brilliant version of ‘Superstition’ the marvellous bass of Deano right to the fore. The eager crowd insisted on an encore which was duly provided in the form of ‘Understand Me’ and neatly rounded out a most memorable, funk-drenched evening. At every turn of the set the Brothers proved themselves as true masters of the genre live with the added bonus of a unique Groove that raced along inspired by the Soulful Funkadelic fireworks generated from the bass of Deano Bass.

Just to add in closing my thanks to John Welsh and company who put the show on and do so much good work raising money for charity at these Blues gigs and at the same time help keep the music flowing on the banks of the Mersey.

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Review and photos by Paul Nicholls and Dan Mann Of the four smaller bands, State of Salazar, Dalton, Adrenalin Rush and Moonland, State Of Salazar and Frontiers Records first shot at staging a rock festival Adrenalin Rush stole the spotlight but for very took place at the “Live� Club in Trezzo just outside different reasons.

Milan.

State Of Salazar performed a tight set of classy The venue, holds around 1500/2000 and is set in melodic rock that opened the whole event in fine an industrial area, avoiding noise issues and style. The songs were well written and performed, resulting curfews. the band themselves eager to impress from the stage. Having heard some studio recordings, the Looking at the line up on paper, there was a varied forthcoming album should be worth hearing when mix of established bands and smaller signings to the released.

Frontiers label who have albums in the pipeline using this event as a taster of what is to come from them. Adrenalin Rush are in reality two bands, the

Day One

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musicians and Tave Wanning on vocals, Tave on stage is someone it’s difficult not to watch as she cavorts across the stage, this is not to say she isn’t a powerhouse vocalist, but I feel the band backing her and make no mistake the band can really play, were somewhat overshadowed. Despite this the songs are upbeat party tunes, Especially “Change” which has all the hallmarks of “HIT” stamped firmly upon it.

their parts.

Hardline by now should have got away from the “Neal Schon” factor, yet when you hear those classic riffs,

Of the remaining two opening bands “Dalton” and “Moonland” both played splendid sets but in my opinion didn’t have the punch of State Of Salazar and Adrenalin Rush. Failing to grab me quite as well but in fairness the standard of the bands was so high at the event it’s not easy to properly judge so I really need to hear more from both bands.

Day One saw Three Lions complete a well thought out confident set that truly set the festival on its way. Nigel Bailey sings so well that you are instantly drawn to the band, Vinnie Burns has lost none of his talents as a guitar player and comes to the stage set to stun. Greg’s drums power the whole thing along perfectly. To avoid the use of backing tapes the band chose to have “The Cubs” on stage with them providing second guitar and backing vocal duties. Keep an eye on Three Lions, there is a very bright future awaiting them.

Snakecharmer I have to say do nothing for me, in a market presently oversubscribed with Whitesnake clones, the truly sad fact is that despite having a complement of Ex Whitesnake musicians, for me, they don’t stand out from the crowd. Chris Ousey on vocals is a force to be reckoned with as are all the members, but for me, here, it just didn’t gel.

Photo Credit Dan Mann now played admirably by Josh Ramos, the spectre is hard to forget. However, Josh puts in enough of his own flourishes to make the music his own. Johnny, well, Johnny is just Johnny, a powerhouse vocalist who has the audience in his hand. Another great set!

Tesla have always had a place in my collection from the debut album and having not seen them for many years, for one reason or another, I was looking forward to seeing them live. I was not disappointed.

Razor sharp playing from all the members and Jeff W.E.T. are perhaps one of the most reliable acts out Keith’s unmistakeable vocals instantly dotted the I’s there at the present time, they never fail to deliver. and crossed the T’s on every song they performed.

This set was up there with some of the best Dave Rude fits the band perfectly and his guitar performances I’ve seen them perform. Confident and duelling with Frank Hannon is a pleasure to listen to. experienced as a unit and more than the sum of A fitting headline to a great first day.

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Day Two

players. He does seem a little disconnected from the audience when on stage, but the playing capability is still very much there.

Eclipse for me, despite the presence of some of the band in W.E.T. are the real deal, energetic and entertaining their musician ship never wavers. Some What is there to say about The Pretty Maids that sound issues with the mic early on in the set left the hasn’t already been said 1000 times before? vocals a bit lost in the mix from some areas of the hall but overall another great set!

Not much! Except to say that they hit the stage like a charging buffalo tonight, tearing through a set LRS at first glance is a Pardon? Band especially with encompassing the best of an extensive back such a great vocalist as Michael Shotton playing his catalogue. As a live band they have few peers and second string so to speak on drums, Josh Ramos underlined that here. (who for my money is better here than Hardline as he can step away from Neal Schon) and Tommy Stryper...Stryper are a marmite band, people tend to LaVerdi picking up the mic. With just ONE rehearsal love them or hate them. On the strength of this before hitting the stage, this was going to be either a performance I have to say I loved them. Once you get car crash or superb. Well, for me, I loved them, just used to Robert Sweet setting his drums side on (I the right amount of on stage fun and laughter and still don’t really get this one). Visually the band have some quite wonderful songs. A real treat, don’t let changed a great deal from the explosion of black and this be a once only show please guys. yellow of the past. Now a more streamlined appearance, the band look like the serious rock band Red Dragon Cartel - Bearing in mind some of the they truly are. You can enjoy Stryper on two levels, “so-so” live reviews this band have taken on the chin purely for the music or you can hear the message just recently, I was half expecting the worse here...I too, it’s your call. Do I think handing out Bibles is a was happily reminded that all reviews are only in the good thing? I’ll leave that to those down the front ear of the reviewer, because RDC played an excellent that were clamouring to get them as they were set, Darren’s vocals were fine to me, I really enjoyed thrown. In short an excellent set which I would pay to his performance. Jake E Lee is still when it comes see again. right down to it one of the worlds legendary guitar

Photo Credit Paul Nicholls

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Day three Crazy Lixx delivered an energetic set and were a fine opening set for day three very much in the vein of Danger Danger in the party atmosphere they get across from the stage. The sound took a little while to settle during the bands set which did detract a little I felt.

Issa I’ve waited a long time to see live, I remember hearing her debut album and really enjoying it. Her live band which included Alessandro Del Vecchio and Marco Percudani played the songs to perfection. Issa live hits all the right notes, although augmented with extensive backing tracks. Ultimately this didn’t detract from a splendid set.

Jeff Scott Soto, solo as it were, was excellent. This man knows 100% how to please an audience. A master of the stage, he and his band owned the hall for their set and made good use of it. Similarly to Josh Ramos, I prefer JSS on his own rather than W.E.T. but that is simply a personal preference. If you haven’t seen JSS live don’t miss him, well worth seeing!

John Waite I have to say didn’t really impress, if that causes howls of derision, then please remember this is only one reviewers opinion. To me the set was disjointed, the sound was quite rough, and I stood in several places within the hall during the set. The setlist choice encompassed songs from Bad English and The Babys, but for me failed to take off.

Danger Danger delivered their usual set frenetic & bombastic without too much attention to detail and for me far too much talking and not enough music.

Not helped by a patchy sound, the band bulldozed through their set as usual, what can you say?

Danger Danger are what they are and tend not to deviate from that formula.

Photo Credit Paul Nicholls take your eyes from the stage and you wouldn’t have known) the band were tight and here to rock. A 16 song set covering their career. All the classics were given an airing, Reb Beach really letting rip. Kip looked relaxed onstage and sang very well indeed. A real treat of a set.

Closing the event. Night Ranger were without doubt the class of the field, head and shoulders above every other act over the festival (and with a line up like this, that’s no mean feat). 100% commitment, 100% energy Night Ranger showed their true colours as a rock band at the height of their powers.

A rare European appearance had the hall packed with fans, a truly fitting end to an exceptional festival.

Overall, Frontiers got it right here, a good venue, great line up and good value for money. When there was a problem, such as the food sales area being a little slow on day 1, day 2 saw it expanded to avoid too many delays, the outside seating area got larger and better equipped as the festival went on with more and more seats being found . I think the only major complaint I heard was the state of the toilets (as with just about every other festival) but considering this was Frontiers first go…the festival was excellent. Would we come again...too true we would!

Winger was another band I was looking forward to seeing, it having been 20 odd years since I last did.

Despite a line-up change (no John Roth tonight but

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First of all, congratulations on winning April’s Band Germany or do you tend to play all over? of the Month competition Well, the first gigs we had were in our local region in Viersen, Schwanthal near the border of the Yeah, thankyou very much Netherlands. We did two gigs in Cologne, which may Can you give me a little bit of a background first of be a bit more well known in the UK and next on the all, on the band and its origins and where it came program is a gig in Reuver, that’s in Netherlands in June with a very well known band called Mayan, from? We discussed shortly before hand Aeverium, very interesting title…where did it come which is formed from a lot of members from Epica and Scream of Passion. In the near future, we want from? to do support for better known bands but it’s too Well, it’s a mixture, Aeverium is a little bit of a early to mention some band names for this. We fantasy name. It’s based from the latin word ‘Aeverium’, which means ‘the beast’ I guess and our would first need to travel through Germany and a bit through Belgium and the Netherlands and hopefully female singer Aeva Maurelle so we had a similarity with Aeverium and Aeva, so we combined both to the in one or two years to the UK of course. title Aeverium and that’s how we named it. It’s a mixture between ‘the beast’ Aeverium and the beauty Aeva Maurelle, our female singer.

So we have beauty and the beast?

Yeah, but only in the band name Right ok, so which of the band members are the beasts then?

Well I wouldn’t say that Chubby our male vocalist is a beast...ha-ha And where did the band originate from? How long have you been going?

We’ve been playing from January of this year but before we came out to the public we had, of course, a lot of work to do behind the scenes and we wanted to just come out when we had our EP finished and our video and website…everything Preparation then?

Yeah, one year ago we started doing all the stuff like writing songs, collecting the rest of the members Forming the band? Getting the band members together?

Yeah, correct and producing the EP and finding a style to the band. Actually, we’ve been doing this for one and a half years I would say OK…live wise, we’ve been talking a little bit about obviously you play quite a lot of gigs in your own native Germany but also in Europe because you’re also on the border with the Netherlands? Would you say you play your gigs locally in certain pubs and clubs around

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track ‘Rest in Peace’.

So when we’re talking about obviously Aeverium, being this month’s Band of the Month on Firebrand and you mentioned you play regularly in your home towns and cities, do you have a festival scene that you play on possibly?

There are some festivals, some that we already play.

There was the Eier & Speck festival, Bacon & Eggs festival(??)

Bacon & Eggs festival?

Sorry, the Suchteln brennt festival. It’s every year in January. It was our first gig, our live premiere and yesterday we played in Kaldenkirchen. Each year there is a bigger music festival called Spring Jam and we played in front of about one thousand people.

It’s every year and a lot people go there because it’s public, it’s free, it’s always good and at the end of this month there’s the next festival here in our local region called Komm Na Huus in Straelen. It’s a German ‘coming home’ festival. In June, I think, there is a very big festival called ‘Bacon & Eggs’ festival but we don’t know if we will play that because it’s a really big thing and we’re still hoping we can play there.

Is it hard to get onto some of those festivals? Do you obviously have to have the connections in place I suppose?

Yeah, the most important thing… you need one Yes, that would be really good for you to get over. chance to play somewhere and if you are good then Musically, when you listen to the Harvest Time EP you get the next gig but to get this first chance, well and you listen to the songs there, I personally and it’s not that easy but we have members in our band who know a lot of people that are in the local region probably listeners, pick up a lot of musical influences. What kinds of musical influences would who have played in several bands before Aevarium.

This is always good to have a network of people who you say you bring to the band? What kinds of are doing concerts here. songs or groups do the band members tend to listen to? Who are your favourites?

Well, Andy (Andreas Delvos) the keyboard player and I think networking is always an important thing myself the guitar player, we are actually the two guys really, with a band to help get you out there. And who are writing the songs. We’ve been doing music as you said, when you listen to the songs, Evanescence is something that a lot of people will together for 10 or 20 years and we have very draw because obviously having male/female similar taste with music. He’s more the electro/ vocals, sometimes people will give you a target but metal guy…like Rammstein and Neue Deutsche that’s not a bad thing if you’re comparing yourself Harte. On the other side with myself, I really like to a band of such stature as Evanescence then female fronted gothic, metal stuff like Evanescence or Lacuna Coil. We all in the band Chubby, for example, he’s a big fan of Lacuna Coil. They’re also doing the male/female mixture stuff like we’re doing.

Also power metal stuff like Amaranthe or In Flames I like very much. I don’t like the vocals of In Flames but I like the guitar work. They’re just very cool and Aeva, well she has a completely different background.

She’s a classical soprano singer. She loves classical music and sings a lot of classical music, operas and so we have a lot of influences. All these influences combined creates, I hope, a new style we are doing.

So bands like Type O Negative, I don’t want to forget them also. There’s this band we already wrote a song for, a tribute song to Peter Steele There’s this

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or what sorts of links do you have to check out the band?

Ok, first we have our own website called Aeverium.com for the English international version.

We also have the German version which is Aeverium.de but Aeverium.com is the main one. Also the aeverium official site on facebook https://www.facebook.com/aeverium I must admit that I very simply because people do look on the internet. The good thing about the internet these days, I find, is when I looked up ‘Aeverium – band’ the translation’s there straight away and people who struggle with some of the stuff, obviously not in their native tongue, that can only be good to get the band out there.

People will then say ‘have you heard Aeverium and wherever they are throughout Europe or obviously in other countries, just press on the translation what are they like? If someone then says ‘they and up it comes , which is what I did. It’s quite easy sound very similar to Evanescence’, that is quite unique. But if you said ‘what does the band sound these days to follow on site obviously on the band themselves. like’ and you sounded like a million and one other Yeah, but for posting on Twitter and Facebook we bands then it’s not setting you apart and it can only be good for the future of your band.

Yeah absolutely, I don’t think it’s a bad thing if people say you sound like Lacuna Coil or Evanescence, I would say ‘thank you’ and Lacuna Coil, these are cool bands. We don’t want to copy these bands of course.

You want to set your own style as well don’t you, become unique but obviously there’s a lot of people these days with so many ‘genres’ in metal music and rock music isn’t just rock any more and we have all sorts and people don’t want to brand them. It’s good to sort of say that hopefully, eventually you could say that ‘we just sound like Aeverium’, then people would say ‘oh yes, I know exactly what that sounds like’ which would be fantastic wouldn’t it? are not that active because you always try to post Yes. everything in German and even in English because Ok, so I was going to ask, the listeners who would we don’t to just want to be heard in Germany, of obviously be interested in listening to more of the course and we get a lot of response and support from outside of Germany, from the UK and the music that I will be playing on the show tonight would also be interested in the Harvest Time EP or Firebrand contest. If you have a look at the Itune finding out a little bit more of the background and sales you can see where the people are living that bio of the band but where would be the best places are buying our songs and there are a lot of people coming from South America, USA, UK, France and so it’s really important not to establish everything for Germany only. Just has to be translated to English and we are working on that.

And in the pipeline, now that you obviously have the Harvest Time EP out, do you have plans?

Probably gigging and live is obviously the most important thing for you to do. Do you have any plans for, or are you looking for self-funding or releasing your own album or are you just going to carry on gigging until then?

Well yes, when we started the band we had a plan and a vision for the EP and now that the EP is released, we are doing a lot of gigs. We are looking

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for a lot of concerts and doing these concerts. We are looking at working with the people we worked with when we recorded the Harvest EP, like Sander Gommans from After Forever. The vocal recordings from Amanda Somerville of Avantasia and Trillium and we are working with the people from the rock station in Reuver, it’s a little company and they are looking at working together to settle a little supporting tour with better, well known bands.

Maybe a German band or a Dutch band, we have not confirmed it yet but we are really looking forward to in in the next one or two months so there will be a supporting tour at the end of the year. Mainly in Germany but also some gigs in Belgium, Netherlands and maybe the UK. The beginning of next year we want to record a full length album. We have already collected a lot of song material, that’s not the point, it’s more of the financial aspect. If you are able to invest enough money for a full length album. But I think at the beginning of next year we’ll go into the studio to record the next songs to put together a complete album and then following that, a bigger support tour with someone and then maybe we’ll get asked more for the bigger festivals like Wacken but things like the female fronted, metal festival in Belgium. This is our plan for next one or two years

Yes, if we were totally free with our choice, my personal choice would be Evanescence but this is out of reach at the moment. Like a band, Lacuna Coil from Italy. This is another band we really love very much and think musical wise, we could fit together really well You would fit really quite well as a support really, with Lacuna Coil wouldn’t you? You draw on very similar influences.

Yes, and if we played as a support band to play in front of an audience that could be very open minded to our music and that’s why Lacuna Coil would be a very good choice or even Amaranthe that’s another band that we really like a lot. Those three bands, I would say.

It’s been nice to talk to you. Congratulations, obviously, from all the listeners from Firebrand.

Was it much of a surprise when you found out you were the winners? How did you feel as a band?

Well, we had a look regularly at how the voting was going so it wasn’t that surprising at the end but the second band was a hard sparring partner. We posted a lot on Facebook to vote for us. Thanks to all the people that voted for us, which means a lot to us and that’s how you have to do it. It involves participating in a lot of contests which involves voting and you have to have a good fan base, which helps a lot too

If you could play, either as a support or you could play with any of your idols or heroes, is there any one particular person or band? It’s your fantasy now you could play with anybody, it could be a guitarist or another musician. Would there be one That’s fantastic, thanks very much for that person, alive or dead even, that you would like to Michael love to play with?

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Day 1 Looking around the immediate vicinity one could be forgiven if thinking this was actually not a heavy metal T shirt convention with some of the rarest & fading grey tour souvenirs of gigs from back in the day.

No beige sailing slacks here though, for this was the embarkation lounge at Miami Port for this years Monster of Rock Cruise. Producer Larry Morand had yet another sold out event for over four thousand rock thirsty pirates, taking in thirty eight bands on the high Caribbean seas aboard the resplendent 140 ton cruise liner The MSC Divina.

Suddenly a polite tap on the shoulder by Autographs axe slinger Steve Lynch, patiently queuing in line behind me. He asks if this is the VIP artist line & I nervously laugh & direct him to the nearby escalator where such rock musicians from Tesla, Y&T & Cinderella are steadily climbing the escalator to the gantry that takes the artists across a glass paneled walkway in full view of the aforementioned thousands of rock hungry disciples & the gravity of what awaits hits me like a hammer.

After dispensing with the cabin check in & mandatory lifejacket drill it was off to the central atrium area of this fourteen story goliath to check out Gabbie Rae, a fifteen year old wunderkind who was giving her own unique acoustic interpretation of classics such as Priests Desert Plains, Maidens Wasted Years & even Queen of the Reich.

This event was seamless in presentation with a full daily itinery posted under cabin doors accompanied by online updates & a TV channel with strategically positioned webcams from bow to stern.

Navigation of the liner to attempt to it all in was going to be like a military operation ,as even though band times would overlap, most artists would play more than once on the six main venues.

At 7pm the whole of the ships audience headed to the main pool stage, positioned at the bow of the ship for the sail away band gathering. Tesla had secured this slot for the second year running & as Comin Atcha Live bellowed from the PA, this majestic vessel slowly pulled away from the Miami dock to a crescendo of whoops & hollers, devil horns and spectacular quayside photoflash frenzy. Raised No Fool, Edison’s Medicine, new songs Ricochet & Taste My Pain from their superb new album tore up the night skies against an ever diminishing south Miami Beach skyline.

It was then off down to floor six to the grandiose Pantheon Theatre. Hard hitting skins man Mike Portnoy resplendent in his orange life jacket seemed to be in his element. as Billy Sheehan performed his solo bass histrionics and Richie Kotzen picked and plucked through Elevate, She’s No

Photo By Jovan Nenadic

Angel, and indeed the entire debut power trio collaboration. Ending with a pile driving, Shy Boy, the Winery Dogs rocked the boat hard.

Whilst my mind & sea legs steadied themselves it was of down to the central atrium for a question & answer session with eighties lost boys Autograph. Having already witnessed the bands reformation performance in one of the free pre cruise Casino shows, Steve Lynch and the guys fielded questions about the forthcoming tour, the friendship with Steve Plunkett & even their upcoming Firefest finale appearance.

By now I’d got my ship orientation down to a ‘t’ so it was back to the Pantheon to join a very expectant audience for Jake E lees Red Dragon Cartel. Much had been made of Englishman Darren Smiths stuttering start as front man at the bands early gigs but we now witnessed a well-oiled and confident singing machine opening with The Ultimate Sin, the excellent Deceived and Shout It Out as well as Badlands Devils Stomp. One time Vegas recluse Jake now strutted cocksure with his signature white strat arching and weaving from side to side. “Your all prisoners on here” shouted D.J. midset…….”but its o.k. so are we!”

Outside tropical rainstorm had put pay to Vixens opening poolside performance. The ships clock chimed 12 & Winger heralded in the midnight mass (es). The impromptu downpour meant that the dogged and much under appreciated stage crew worked like trojans to ensure an otherwise smooth end to the first day’s agenda.

On a huge liner in the mid Caribbean though, beers in hand it wasn’t too long until Kip and the boys emerged to catapult us back to the mid-eighties with...Madeline, Easy come easy go, Seventeen and a whole host of hits from their back catalogue .Whilst the ship sailed on, a rock karaoke or naughty nighty party was in the offing, but it had been a long hard day & perusing the next days itinery I headed for the comfort of the cabin.

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Day 2 The ship had now docked in Nassau for very humid day two & after quick trip ashore it was back onboard to catch the hilarious cooking with rock stars demonstration. This pitted various members of Y&T, Danger Danger & other luminaries against each other with blenders replacing fenders. Next up in the theatre came the rearranged set of Vixen. After the much lamented loss of Jan last October the JSRG moniker was now laid to rest and the ladies looked far more relaxed & ran through The Rev it Up hit machine with ease.

I quickly shot through to the intimate golden lounge nearby to catch a the back end of the “so you think you can shred” competition with entrants displaying some fine fretwork under the watchful eye of the panel with Jeff Lebar, Mark Kendall & Donnie Zee. All over the ship the afternoon gave you choices of a Carl Palmer master class, meet & greets with Tesla, La Guns& Slaughter or Q&A sessions with Jake E lee & the Quireboys.

I opted to hit the top deck and impending 90 degree heat wave for the Nassau sail away band Japanese juggernauts Loudness. Resplendent in a rather fetching rasta dreads wig Akira Takasaki laid waste to the masses with sonic renditions of Crazy Nights, Let it Go & Heavy Chains. Indeed the audience in the press pit was a who’s who of guitarists who still hold this mans fret board mastery in high esteem.

Drawing breath it was back to a very packed Pantheon Theatre to catch Cinderella with night songs a plenty. Tom Keifer seemed a little distant and out of sorts but as the set progressed it was a

Photo By Jovan Nenadic

highly infectious audience that raised his game.

Nobody’s Fool, Shake Me, Gypsy Road & a splendid Once Around the Ride re affirmed why they had been secured for this years event.

Whilst Doro Pesch tempted with her teutonic tonsils to the sample the night air, I opted for a very impromptu set of John Corabi & Frank Hannon and like a non-stop rock bus top tour it was off to the golden lounge to see Ron Keel s acoustic performance. Since reforming the group, the metal cowboy has become something of a cruise stalwart entertaining with his between song anecdotes, passages from his book & strummed down versions of Tears of Fire, Rock n Roll Animal & the brilliant What Would Skynyrd Do being the highlights.

As with most of the itinerys it was choices of what not to miss so back on the pool stage I caught the end of the Dio Disciples set , featuring Craig Goldie,(other members) and Wendy Dio who came to give her plaudits to the memory of her late great husband. The mans generosity was not to be forgotten , in the corner, a specially airbrushed Harley was to be raffled with all proceeds to his Stand Up and Shout charity and with songs like Holy Diver, Long Live Rock n roll & Heaven & Hell, the whole crowd, sang in unison as an epitaph to the mans legacy.

Finally from midnight till all hell was breaking loose, over in the La Luna area a Monster Kiss Jam ensued, giving devotees a chance not only to dress from a pre-arranged wardrobe of spandex & stack heels but plug in all manner of instruments to a prearranged set list of the bands greatest hits. Could this cruise give me any further surprises?

Photo By Jovan Nenadic

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Day three Day three saw the boat anchored just off an idyllic mile stretch of a mini island Half Moon Cay or as MORC had renamed it “Monster Island”. What seemed like the entire ship decided to relocate via a flotilla of ferries to this Sunkist haven for our very own rock n roll beach party. Strolling along the shoreline you constantly bumped into rock own cognoscenti, Ritchie Kotzen, Mike Portnoy, Roxy Petrucci Mike Tramp Akira Takasaki, fans & stars mingled as one to a small galleon wreck midway down the island. After two circular sorties special guest Joel Hoekstra then made a bond style helicopter sea drop to join the party. Here a from hull of this mock Manowar, bellowed The Quireboys & Great White treating the Sun kissed assembly to acoustic classics such as 7 o’clock, Once Bitten & many more. With the gleaming white liner breaking the horizon and such a motley crew of denim and leather this looked like a heavy metal mash up episode of Baywatch & The Loveboat. One of the most surreal events I’d ever witnessed and totally worth every penny.

Back on board the ship it was now the turn of Marylands very own Kix to host another sail away show. These guys delivered big style and crazy ringmaster Steve Whiteman’s witty banter drove the pool stage audience into frenzy as we set sail to the aptly titled new song Here Comes The Show.

Staples like Cold Shower, the haunting Don t Close your eyes, Lie Like A Rug, No Ring Around Rosie all flowed seamlessly, this band live are a lesson for other would be pretenders in no nonsense rock and roll hedonism.

More meet & greets, signing sessions and impromptu jams in the atrium area took us to the first evening performance at sunset for Firehouse with CJ Snares soaring falsetto vocals underpinning All she wrote, Reach for the sky and a very polished

Love of a Lifetime.

As Don’t Treat Me Bad bellowed from Bill

Photo By Philip Schofield

Levertys low strung six string we headed amidships for the one man party machine Ted Poley & a semi acoustic set with smatterings of Monkey Business, some Bone Machine epics and a humorous rendition of the Love Boat theme tune sing-along.

To the stern of this ship was the Black & White Lounge, more used to early evening tea dances and a tad low ceilinged for my liking but out of the galleys came lost diamonds Autograph. Now a stripped down sans keyboard affair, ably captained by front man Simon Daniels, the sing along to Dance All Night, Blondes In Black Cars and the aptly titled Off at the deep end . A rousing Turn Up the Radio ensured a triumphant return to action for Steve Lynch and the boys.

With that, the evening became morning & as the “Pretty In Pink” themed prom night took those hungry for more to the Galaxy Disco, me & my pretty pink shorts and dark crimson sunburnt feet headed to my hammock to reflect on probably the best day of the cruise.

Photo By Jovan Nenadic

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away anthems. Danny, Ged & Chris worked a very close crowd to fever pitch. This was truly another nailed on performance.

For the second time after a much needed escape from the heat below decks I caught The Winery Dogs poolside. These guys were again no April fools with funk &fusion par excellence on display.

Now nearing 12.30 pm a darkened stage heralded Y&T and the ageless voice of Dave Menketti. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the band a blistering crescendo of Meansteak, the high octane Open fire, Midnight In Tokyo, hilarious Barroom Boogie and eternal sing along Rescue me rounded off another fine day on the high seas.

It had been thirty three years since I first saw the bay areas finest at the Wigan Pier Nightspot & alongside many long time reunions & some first time debuts this had been an event of the highest order.

The itinery was so well crafted that it made it impossible to see & hear all the sets on offer making for some very tough decisions on a daily basis.

The ships attentive & rock friendly staff created a sense of homecoming camaraderie with a no barriers approach to allow fans & stars to mingle freely as one. I inevitably needed a further couple of day holiday to come down from what I’d witnessed & would say this had been one of the best ever lifetime experiences.

Day Four

To see videos from the Monsters of Rock Cruise please visit: www.youtube.com/user/phildarryl/ videos The final day started early with Joel Hoektras Bloody Jovan Nenadic: www.liveconcertphotography.ca/ Mary hangover show. The title alone drew me bleary eyed to catch the Nightranger banjo king with a chilled out set of musical interludes & histrionics to show this mans dexterity and enviable mastery of the guitar. Joined then by Y&T ‘s Mike Vanderhule and Brad Lang plus Poisons ivory tinkler Will Doughty we were treated to an instrumental of Every Rose, Creams Sunshine of your love & a rousing finale of Sister Christian with the diminutive Gabbie Rae stealing the show.

Later in blazing sunshine, the Jaws soundtrack heralded Great White. Thirty years had passed since I’d last seen the guys in concert .Ample replacement Canadian Terry Ilous commanded the crowd with ease combining with Mark Kendalls’ bluesy riffs on Face the Day, Gonna Getcha, Rock me & House of Broken Love. Gabbie Rae made yet another surprise appearance to help add a new twist to Save Your Love before Once Bitten closed the set.

Lunchtime took me from aft to stern and a return to the black & white lounge for Tyketto. This was a hot thrashing mass of raw power and muscle.

In truth, I think a step up to the pool stage maybe on the cards as the band tore through a very apt and epic rendition of Sail Away, the ever green Forever Young, Burning Down Inside and many more chant Photo By Jovan Nenadic

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25 May 2014, Camden Underworld Supports: Dendera and Tainted Nation Review and Photos by Stephen Brophy Travelling to a gig can be an expensive business, but sometimes you just don't have an option, that's how I felt about seeing this lineup in the Underworld in Camden, too good to pass up and sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and do it. Having seen both Tainted Nation and Eden's Curse towards the end of 2013 I knew what to expect, but this time I got a lot more.

Having had their debut album The Killing Floor for quite some time I was really looking forward to actually catching Dendera Live, and they certainly didn't disappoint. This was a no fuss, lets get on with it set, squeezing in as many tracks as they could in to the allotted time. The band were certainly doing their best to whip the crowd up and I'm sure any early comers will have thoroughly enjoyed what was on offer here.

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Song of the set for me was the title track from "The Killing Floor" which is a cracking song, I somehow get the impression that Dendera aren't the most well known band around the scene, but they deserve to be, this is a Metal band of the kind we should be encouraging as they continue to develop and grow, better than most support bands I've seen in recent years and hopefully their 2nd album will bring them more success and get them out on the road with more bands that will help to spread their word.

issues is always a better approach and I don't think anyone ever minds a small stutter in a set when a band has the ability to throw out a joke or two. Live Tainted Nation are a beast of a band, searing guitar attack from Neil and Joel, Mark Cross as always superb on drums and Mart on bass is a treat to watch, he really does give it everything out there and powers his way through the set. This was my second time catching Tainted Nation and also the second time seeing them in the Underworld, after their support slot for Pretty Maids last September, this time they really killed it, with tracks like "Dare You" and "Loser" getting sung back to them from a good portion of the crowd, add in a new song from the upcoming follow up to F.E.A.R. and you have a really good idea of where these guys are coming from and what's still to come. For me these guys need a bigger stage to show off what they can do and let their energy run free, don't get me wrong it's great to see a band like this up close and personal but I think the talent on show could give the audience even more in a bigger venue. The set tonight is finished off very strongly indeed with "What You're Waiting For", "You're In Love" and the previously mentioned "Loser". They will be back out on the road in September, make sure you get out there and support them, if you don't know of them now you will be pleasantly surprised, they put on a great show.

Without Pontus Egberg (Bass - off playing with The Poodles) and Ian Nash (Guitar - unfortunate accident with his finger) many might have thought that the band were starting off with a big disadvantage, but drafting in musicians of the calibre of Mart Trail (Bass) and Neil Hibbs (Guitar) is not going to drop the level of any band. A couple of technical issues aside, with Pete Newdeck's microphone - and to be fair Pete did admit he's a little heavy handed, the guys packed a lot into their set and it was much appreciated by a crowd getting more and more vocal as the set developed. For the uninitiated Tainted Nations debut album F.E.A.R. (2013) was outstanding and most of the set is made up with content from that album, the band are on fire and very visual, with Pete interacting with the crowd right from the start, making light of the technical

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get most of the latest album, but it's all quality, one of my personal favourites from Symphony comes pretty much mid-set with "Turn The Page", all the way through Thorsten Koehne is playing a blinder, dancing up and down the fretboard at a ferocious pace. and it's not just the guitar that's sounding great, with Mr. Logue and his new partner in crime John Clelland just pounding out the rhythm when necessary and adding subtlety when necessary, joined by Steve Williams tying it all together this is one cohesive unit at work, and they are enjoying it, the interplay between the band mates and also the audience is terrific. Add in Nikola's excellent vocals and we really have got a powerful band here, the next album is something I'm already thinking about.

So we get to the headliners, and I have been eagerly awaiting seeing these guys again since their Firefest set last October in Nottingham. Although at times it may seem like it at times I do not travel to the UK to see every band that plays, but I really couldn't miss this lineup. The current incarnation of Eden's Curse are really looking like a monster of a band, excellent musicians all bringing something of their own to the table and also a band that appears to be really happy working together - which for me always comes across to the crowd in the live arena. Personally I think that Nikola is growing into his frontman role with each show, his vocals are excellent and I think his stage presence has increased even over the this short run of dates.

But back to the show, after an excellent version of "Time To Breathe" we are introduced to the first guest of the night, none other than Pete Newdeck from Tainted Nation, having recently been the drummer for Eden's Curse before branching out on his own journey it didn't surprise me too much to see him on stage with the guys and he joined Nikola on vocals for "Rock Bottom" from Symphony and which he co-wrote with Paul Logue. A couple of tracks later and we get the second guest of the night and one that was a nice surprise, Doggie White joined the band for an excellent rendition of "No Holy Man" from the Trinity album, Doogie was in fine form too

With a large enough back catalogue to fill a set on it's own, we are treated to quite a lot of tracks from the latest release Symphony Of Sin, which was released last year, again it really is an excellent album which translates well live, right from the intro the band are ready to go and you can just see that they are itching to get going while they are biding their time in the wings. They bound onto the stage with Paul Logue donning some natty sun glasses and it's straight into the title track of the latest release "Symphony Of Sin", great start followed up by another track from the same album "Break The Silence", right from the off you can feel that this is going to be a great set. We are then taken back into the history of Eden's Curse with "Trinity" and "Fly Away", and the set is really well put together, ok we

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and for me anyway definitely added to the track, which is something that should be mentioned in relation to Eden's Curse, a lot of the backing vocals throughout the night enhanced the songs, not just there for the sake of it. Next up and bringing us into the Encore "Unbreakable", "Judgement Day" and "Evil And Devine" from the new album, brilliant live and with the added bonus of a little theater on the stage with Pati from Eden's Crew and the same person that was in the songs video, joining the guys to recreate that scene. The set is rounded off with the classic "Angels & Demons" from the Second Coming album. Tonight it was an honour to see these guys at work.

This was one of those nights that you come away thinking "I'm so glad I was there, all 3 bands gave it their all and entertained the crowd, great to have no shoe gazers out there, plenty of movement, plenty of posturing, solo'ing, thunderous drums and 3 vocalists that can all bring it. Was a pleasure to watch and at least from the people I was with and talked to afterwards everyone had a great night. As always the Eden't Curse guys had plenty of time for the fans after the show at the Merch desk, signing whatever was passed to them and chatting and taking photos with people, a great bunch of guys, a great band and deserve to have huge success if there were any justice in this world.

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NCSOFT and Carbine Studios Highly Anticipated MMO WildStar Launches Today NCSOFT and Carbine Studios are reigniting the MMO gaming category today with the release of WildStar, the action-adventure sci-fi MMO that’s seriously going to shake things up. While officially launching today, Carbine Studios celebrated WildStar’s debut into the published world with a three-day Head Start early access programme.

During that time, Carbine received enough acclaim to firmly cement their place as one of the top MMO developers of all time. Unlike anything currently available,WildStar delivers a beautifully animated and distinctive artistic style, robust housing customisation, unmatched Player versus Player gameplay and high-action combat that truly tests players’ skill with its fast-paced, reactive ‘telegraph’ system.

“We couldn’t be more pumped for launch day to finally be here – this has been a true labour of love. But that labour continues”, said Jeremy Gaffney, executive producer of Carbine Studios. “Yes, we just launched what is quite arguably the largest MMO to date – launching chock full of levelling and elder game content – but now the focus will be doing epic regular additions and moving the world story forward. We’re looking forward to the challenge”.

New Trailer: Nothing Here is What it Seems In celebration of the official launch, Carbine Studios added another standout video to its repertoire:

Additionally, the game showcases a distinctive personality that is humorous but laced with a foreboding undercurrent that implies there is more to the world than meets the eye. WildStar gives players the freedom to experience the game how they want, while providing an unprecedented level of exploration and discovery set on the planet Nexus.

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As shown in the trailer, nothing on planet Nexus is what it seems – the planet has a mysterious secret.

Only after choosing a side and fighting for control of Nexus will players begin to uncover the secrets of the hyper-advanced Eldan that disappeared from the planet long ago.

Feature Rich: Putting the Fun Back in MMOs WildStar is packed with features for catering to the likes and play styles of both first-time MMO players and veterans: Dynamic Combat: Experience edge-of-your seat battles where Telegraphskeep you engaged with each fight.

Battle Fleet 2 is coming to all devices in June of 2014. The game expands the original concept of turn based naval combat where the player controls the angle and power of their guns and the movement Customisation: Make your mark on Nexus by putting of the ship to include a campaign conquest mode in your personality on everything, from your character’s addition to stand alone scenarios. The combat appearance to how you receive game content system has been improved for faster and even more Housing: Digs like you’ve never seen in a game exciting battles and it all looks better than the original before, ever with the new graphical engine. Find out more atthe World Story: a deep and engrossing world where Steam Greenlight page a thttp:// things aren’t quite as warm and fuzzy as they steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/? appear… id=262465622.

Adventures: Intense, replayable, and a different experience every time Additional improvements include better options for Arenas and Battlegrounds: Fast and furious PvP outfitting your ships, including the ability to place content where only the strongest and smartest individual commanders with special abilities, expandteams make it out alive ed power-up cards to play, better multiplayer options, Raids and Dungeons: So hardcore they floss with and an entirely new graphics engine. Battle Fleet barbed wire, you’ll be uber-elite if you can survive 2 looks better, plays better, but is otherwise a true WARPLOTS: 40 vs 40 battles that combine housing successor to the original best seller. and intense PvP for anexperience you’ll only find in WildStar Battle Fleet 2 is a true naval combat sim set in the WW2 era. Players manually control the weapon WildStar is available now, starting with the Standard loadout of their ships, selecting which guns to bring, Edition at £34.99 including the game, 30 days of play setting what the angle and power of their shots are, time, and three seven-day friend passes as well as an and determining how the ships move and turn.

Eldan-themed Housing Décor item. For an additional Additionally carriers bring planes, bombing runs, and £15 (£49.99), the Digital Deluxe version interception into battles taking place around island of WildStar includes all elements of the Standard chains, which can help provide cover, blocking line of Edition and more exclusive content: an Eldan sight, or forcing enemies to run aground. All of this Hoverboard, a unique costume, a unique Eldan player comes together in a fast paced battle in scenarios, title and a limited-edition Eldan dye set.WildStar is a campaign mode, or online against other players. Get subscription based game with ways to pay in cash or all the information at http:// free with in-game currency – learn more at http:// www.battlefleetgame.com/bf2.html or find it on www.wildstar-online.com/en/game/features/ Steam at http://steamcommunity.com/ business-model/. sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=262465622.

WildStar is rated PEGI 12.

How Do You Say “Your Mind Just Exploded Like A Blood Sausage” In German?

Battle Fleet 2 New Trailer Alpha footage of the new WW2 Naval Combat Game Capital j Media (http://www.capitaljmedia.com/) is proud to bring the first trailer footage of their upcoming World War 2 Naval Strategy game, Battle Fleet 2 to audiences worldwide.

inXile Entertainment harnesses the power of the crowd to localize Wasteland 2 for international audiences, rewarding the best contributors along the way inXile Entertainment has launched a localization

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crowdsourcing effort to help translate the French, Italian, German and Spanish versions of Wasteland 2, due to ship the end of August 2014. Anyone can join the effort on the Get Localization project (http:// www.getlocalization.com/Wasteland2/), where fans will work together with professional editors to fix any errors and inconsistencies within the translated text.

Additionally, inXile will have hardcore RPG fans in each language jumping in to play the game in their own tongue, providing an extra level of feedback. This process will ensure the final product is up to the high quality standard of Wasteland 2.

to join the war.

Main features: - an open-world environment where exploration supplements strategic planning and tactical decisions - easy management of resources - hand drawn graphics in the style of classic, golden age, illustration - designed to cater for custom scenarios/modding Website: http://legionsofashworld.com

The project has already commenced, with the translation output from fans demonstrating a high level of quality and consistency. That's the value of getting real RPG gamers involved! inXile is going to reward the best contributors: anyone who has submitted approved translations for over 250 strings will receive a copy of Wasteland 2, including access to the currently ongoing beta.

"This is another development concept that fits what we've been trying to do all along with Wasteland 2. This project could never have happened without the crowd, and that's true for this particular effort as well. As the game's script is approaching 500,000 words, localizing becomes an unfathomably large task, and I couldn't imagine tackling it without our fans' help in conjunction with the editors," said Brian Fargo, CEO of inXile Entertainment.

Marvel Heroes 2015 Announced

Legions of Ashworld - an adventure wargame in the Lands of the Burning Sun Jugilus is pleased to announce the release of Legions of Ashworld for Windows PC. Legions of Ashworld is a turn-based war-game, which brings a sense of adventure to strategic war-gaming with its first-person view of an open world environment. The game is set in a ancient fantasy world of kings, wizards and fearsome creatures. When a powerful empire invades the lands governed by humans all the realms are plunged into a great conflict. It is the player's task to organise the opposition to the invading forces, uniting the kingdoms into an alliance and ultimately in taking the war back to the invaders.

The culmination of a year’s worth of game content, Marvel Heroes 2015marks a significant step forward for the Marvel Heroes franchise and includes sweeping improvement made over the original launch.

New features and a number of new game modes have also been added alongside the ever-expanding superhero roster. For the anniversary, players can look forward to new end-game raid content that will have them face off against the ruler of fire demons himself, Surtur.

QUOTE: “Marvel Heroes 2015 nicely represents everything we have accomplished and intend to accomplish with one name,” said David Brevik, CEO, Gazillion. “We've come a very long way since our original launch a year ago, and the now imminent release of Marvel Heroes 2015 alongside our massive anniversary celebrations marks the beginning of something even better. Whether

As the various characters encountered across Ashworld are recruited to the player's cause, the player can then move them around the lands, having them performing a variety of activities, such as hiring mercenaries, buying goods and provisions, and attacking hostile forces. The lands of Ashworld contain many places of interest - especially noteworthy are various temples, from those occupied by servants of wizards' orders which provide magic services, to ancient abandoned ruins where valuable magic items can be found. Outside the territories where humans reside other races live who may become important allies if persuaded

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it’s defending the X-Mansion or recruiting your favorite superhero as a Team-Up, we’re excited to continue delivering on our community's expectations. We truly believe we put more improvements into our game than any other iterative release out there. The 2015 moniker reaffirms our commitment to keep doing it.”

swords that transform into shields, bows that can punch an arrow straight through an armored skull or electrocute your foes with high powered blades crackling with electro-static energy.

"The BattleCry team is happy to unveil the game that bears our studio’s name," said Rich Vogel, president and What is Marvel Heroes 2015? executive producer at BattleCry Studios. "We have been Marvel Heroes 2015 is a new launch for the Marvel hard at work to create a fresh experience for gamers Heroes brand coinciding with a one-year anniversary that brings together multiplayer action with visually milestone on June 4th and it highlights all the new game stunning combat and are excited to share details about content added since launch. Marvel Heroes 2015 also the game and have people play BATTLECRY in includes even more game content, including end-game Bethesda’s booth at E3.” raids, alternate advancement systems and other various additions. For Gazillion, it's a new release and a challenge The beta for BATTLECRY is set to begin in 2015 for PC. to continue adding more content and improvements than any other iterative release on Earth.

New Wii U System Update Adds Gamepad Quick Start Feature Nintendo has announced a new system update is now available for Wii U,

Bethesda Softworks Announces Battlecry Fight for Power and Glory in BattleCry Studios’ 32-Player Online Team Action Game.

introducing changes that enhance the user experience.

The most notable change is the addition of a Quick Start Bethesda Softworks, a ZeniMax Media company, feature for the Wii U GamePad controller. After the today announced BATTLECRY, an all-new multiplayer update has been downloaded, users starting Wii U with action combat game featuring fast-paced and the GamePad controller can view the Quick Start screen, frenetic 32-player battles under development at which features the icons of 10 recently used or installed BattleCry Studios. games and applications. Users can start the game or software they want to use immediately without first BATTLECRY is the first project for the studio since it was loading the Wii U Menu. Quick Start is ideal for users formed in 2012 with one goal: to create fun, high-quality who want to start playing games right away. online experiences for a connected world. Led by long-time industry veteran Rich Vogel, the team at Some additional changes include: BattleCry Studios is comprised of seasoned developers · Users can now receive occasional visual with decades of experience working on notifications about new games and products, special critically-acclaimed action and competitive multiplayer promotions and more on their GamePad controllers. franchises. Together they have created BATTLECRY – a Users can adjust or remove alert sounds, choose fun and accessible free-to-play game that amplifies team- whether to power up the GamePad when notifications based combat by combining visceral brutality, striking art arrive and even set hours when such visual notifications direction and competitive multiplayer action to create a are prohibited (such as the middle of the night). refreshingly new gameplay experience. · System updates, in addition to being downloaded automatically, are now also installed Step into a bold, expressive world envisioned by Viktor automatically while the Wii U console is powered down.

Antonov (Half-Life 2,Dishonored) where gun powder has · Easier Nintendo Network ID setup for new users. been banned following a cataclysmic world war at the · Notifications (different to notifications on the Wii U dawn of the 20th century.

GamePad) can now be accessed from the Home Menu as well as the Wii U Menu.

Traditional warfare is now a relic of the past and all conflicts are settled head-on by elite teams of chosen warriors in sanctioned WarZones. Trained and bred for battle they face off for the glory of their nations.

Choose your faction and progress your warrior through the ranks. Each rank unlocks new abilities and effects allowing deep strategic builds for your warrior on every level. Risk life and limb as the powerful Royal Marines or the fearless Cossacks in imaginative WarZones each designed to combine positioning, spacing and verticality to redefine your core combat experience. Fight with transformative melee and ranged weapons that harness iron and energy and eviscerate your opponents with

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The Bermondsey Joyriders - Flamboyant Thugs Record Label: Fuel Records

10/10

Released: 26 May 2014

Highlight of the album: Just Like Me Website: https://www.facebook.com/thebermondseyjoyriders Reviewer: Lee Walker

So following on from the double A-side Brian Jones (The Real True Leader of The Rolling Stones)/Johnny Thunders Was A Human Being we finally have the new album ‘Flamboyant Thugs’ by The Bermondsey Joyriders.

Thunders Was A Human Being’ from the album. That said the quality of those two songs is more than worth the price of the single. ‘Flamboyant Thugs’ simply put is damnned addictive – expect these songs to stick in your head for weeks at a time.

Picking up from where the double A-side left off ‘Flamboyant Thugs’ continues the adventures of our punk trio with their tongue in cheek lyrics being more prominent on this release as sensibilities are firmly cast aside allowing The Bermondsey Joyriders to let their music do the talking as they quickly rattle off 12 tracks of annoyingly catchy punk anthems in rapid fire succession with the occasional hint of of ska and steam punk being thrown in now and and then to spice things up.

It’s pretty hard to find fault with this release with my only surprise being the omission of ‘Brian Jones (The Real True Leader of The Rolling Stones)’ and ‘Johnny

Tom Fuller - Freedom Record Label: Red Cap Records

4/10 Released: 2 June 2014

Highlight of the album: Fat Boy Website: http://www.tomfullerband.com/ Reviewer: Rob Birtley

To be honest with you, as I always am the name Tom fashion.

Fuller was a new one to me when the album ‘Freedom’ arrived in my in box for review. The band hails from the To sum up ‘Freedom’ the playing is of good standard.

‘Windy City’ Chicago and was founded in 2004.

Production loud and clear is being it in a 60/70’s post Beatles during Wings way. The hard part is to find a lot ‘Freedom’ is their forth studio album and their sound of originality in it you will of heard it all before just done well it’s straight down the middle candy coated Pop. better. I dare say some of you out there and some Most striking is the influences of Cheap Trick and post other mags may well take a different view on this album ‘Band on the Run’ McCartney with a bit of decaf low fat but as I said at the start I’m just trying to be honest Tom Petty floating around the edges. Some echoes of with you. ‘So how does this all stack up’ in my humble late Bon Jovi and a hint of the Boss can also be opinion not very well. detected.

The album opens with the ‘Roller Coaster Freefall’ right away reminding you of Cheap Trick and their take on the Fab 4 but without the humour or the skill. It certainly is not another ‘Helter-skelter’ that’s for sure.

You can tell in the arrangement and harmonies with a hint of brass they were going for a ‘Sargent Pepper’ feel it’s well played but hardly original with the remaining songs on the album continuing in similar

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Firebrand Magazine

Uriah Heep - Outsider Record Label: Frontiers Records

8/10 Released: 9 June 2014

Highlight of the album: Looking At You Website: http://www.uriah-heep.com/newa/index.php Reviewer: Phil Kane

These days, it seems the place is overrun with bands trying to capture the creative magic of the early seventies, claiming their undying devotion to a classic metal sound of another age. Yet, as Heep show here, the old guard remain untouchable, and to ram the point home we have ’Outsider’.

Despite guitarist and OIC Mick Box being the only remaining original member, the sound of ‘Outsider’ is unmistakeably Heep, The buzzing guitar, the anchoring engine room, the swirling Hammond drive, and Bernie Shaw's vocal isn't that far removed from Byron's, the harmonies evocative. But don't expect a re-run of 'Very Eavy..' or the like, because the songs here have a bouncy, sunshiny modern groove that betrays a band thoroughly enjoying its umpteenth resurgence, not that they ever disappeared, epitomized by ‘Looking At You’.

With you more likely to hear echoes of upbeat classics like ‘Sweet Lorraine’ and ‘Easy Living’ than the grunt of ‘Gypsy’, Heep’s past glories resonate through this album like echoes of the Big Bang through the universe.

"Sometimes I can’t keep my feet on the ground" lyric betraying a not unfounded optimism that underpins the whole album, despite last year’s passing of bassist Trevor Bolder. The hefty 'Say Goodbye' sees the album out with the bang it deserves. 'Jessie' is a bit mundane, and the obligatory slowie 'Is Anybody Gonna Help Me?' just puts an annoying brake on the whole affair, but that’s a comparative thing. It may not be the best Heep album ever, and the modern metal head might have trouble with the old classic sound, but the Heep Heads should find ‘Outsider’ up there with the best of them, classy enough to make picking a standout track damned difficult.

There is also to be the now trendy vinyl release, but it's not an album to have on as you contemplate the state of your toe nails, using the cover to roll that nice big reefer. Nope, carrying on a more contemporary rock direction originally heralded by the fabulous 'Abominog', 'Outsider' has too much drive and bounce. Uriah Heep could've just resurrected the old sound of their 70s heyday, play an old album or two in their (yawn) entirety and freighthopped the resurgent nostalgia gravy train The album does not shred like a bitch, the vocals don’t that's built up a head of steam this last decade. But shatter glasses, the drums don’t pound everything to they haven’t, and as with the previous two studio destruction, and the modern production gives albums, 'Outsider' shows the genre’s young guns, and everything an airy lift that even the more 70s tinged not so young also-rans, how this sort of old Hammond progressive bits cannot shackle. 'One Minute' starts off driven classic rock can be dusted down and dragged deceptively quiet, rapidly morphing into the sort of BBC into the 21st century; still kicking and screaming, still R2 chugger that the mighty Quo (yes, I'm serious, so demanding your attention and still sounding absolutely titter ye not) wouldn't turn their nose up at. It's not fabulous. difficult to imagine the jaunty 'Kiss The Rainbow' getting some airtime either. 'Rock The Foundation', the title Uriah Heep are still a force to be reckoned with and track, and 'Can't Take That Away' are all great motoring that’s not bad for a whorey old bint of nearly fifty eh? classic Heep rockers, 'Speed Of Sound' too, with the Not bad at all.

Photo by Christie Goodwin

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Firebrand Magazine

Stop, Stop! - Join The Party Record Label: Metalapolis Record

9/10 Released: 17 April 2014

Highlight of the album: Lost In The UK Website: http://www.stopstoptheband.com/ Reviewer: Lee Walker

For some the golden days of the 80s never properly ended and even now we sometimes come across bands whos love of this period of music is stamped clearly across their songs. Stop, Stop are one such band having a sound which screams early 80s glam rock, with their mix of over the top tunes and lyrics, all they need is the big hair to go with it.

As albums go ‘Join The Party’ gets things flowing in next to no time with its mix of catchy songs and feel good tongue in cheek glam lyric’s being the order of the day as opening track ‘Lost In The UK’ gets the party started in next to no time and sets the scene for the rest of the album with the outrageous Slade style Is it time to Join The Party? definitely with the only vocals of Jacob adding to the early 80s feel as the thing needed to complete this album is a nice cold party gets louder and louder as it goes on with the beer. cheeky (early) Guns’N’ Roses style guitar solo thrown in for good measure now and then to shake it up a bit.

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Firebrand Magazine

Night Ranger - High Road Record Label: Frontiers Records

9/10 Released: 6 June 2014

Highlight of the album: I’m Coming Home Website: http://nightranger.com/ Reviewer: Stephen Brophy

Night Ranger have always been one of those bands that I love to listen too, but not necessarily a band that I've loved whole albums by. Their body of work as a whole remains very much that of a high quality band, so can they still produce the goods with a new album on the Frontiers label ? Well the answer is definitely yes, High Road is a really nice piece of work.

A slight contradiction here , but even though the sound through out is modern and pretty fresh the style on many tracks such as ‘Brothers’ is definitely based in more familiar times, more like the 70's than 2014, but that's no bad thing, there's something uplifting in this and almost reassuring. The mix throughout the album is really good with rockers like ‘X Generation’ hold the whole thing together through the middle section of the There should be something here for everyone, well album and allows slower paced tracks like ‘Don't Live written songs, nice guitar work, good vocals, and some Here Anymore’ to breath and take their own shape. stand out tracks, in particular for me the awesome!

Don't leave this CD without checking out the excellent ‘I'm Coming Home’ which just keeps popping into my instrumental "LA No Name" which is one of the nicest head the last few days. There is a maturity about this ways to round off an album I've heard in a long time. release that you'd expect, Not every track on the album blows me away, but at the same time this will be one of If this is how Night Ranger are to sound after more those albums that I stick on and enjoy listening too. The than 30 years then I for one am all for it, with that title track ‘High Road’ kicks thinks off really nicely, has a same backbone of Kelly Keagy, Brad Gillis and Jack fresh and modern sound to it, setting the stage for Blades still running strong there's a lot more to come what's to come, where a track like ‘Rollin' On’ really from these guys, they are still creating something new, does nothing for me, but the mix here is good and something that has relevance and this is not an album interesting, ‘Only For You Only’ takes the pace down a just thrown out to appease critics and fans, or just to notch, but it's not like it's the standard (and almost get something out there, there's a lot of work in here, obligitory these days) Power Ballad, it's quite an ok we may not have an amazing hook like ‘Sister unusual song, but it hit's home and that helps to tie Christian’ in here, but that's not to say that some of the some of the different tracks together here, nicely songs here won't grow on you with each listen. played Night Ranger.

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Firebrand Magazine

Tesla - Simplicity Record Label: Frontiers Records

10/10 Released: 6 June 2014

Highlight of the album: So Divine Website: http://teslatheband.com/ Reviewer: Stephen Brophy

Have been a huge fan of Tesla since the huge debut Mechanical Resonance, which I still rate as one of the best debut albums ever, and even through what may be considered leaner or more difficult times they have been an extremely solid and consistant band releasing new material of high quality on a pretty regular basis.

That of course makes it a little more difficult to generate a review for this latest release and remain impartial.

similarity ends as this is almost a pained shout out to the listener, and again it's just a cracking track, the song content throughout the album isn't happy and fluffy, it's a lot about personal pain and anguish, which suits Jeff's vocals perfectly.

This album really does do what it says, this is Tesla as they should sound, tracks like ‘Rise And Fall’, ‘Cross My Heart’ and ‘Other Than Me’ have all the hallmarks stamped on them, where ‘Break Of Dawn’ is a foot Having given this release a bit of time to sink in and I've stomping, head bangin track with enough venom being got to say I really like this album, there's some cracking spat out by Jeff that you get the impression you tracks on it and the standards stay high throughout shouldn't get on his wrong side, but from the start this the 14 songs on offer. It always helps to have a album has quality written all over it, then we come to frontman with a distinctive vocal style and sound and something that maybe isn't a track you would Jeff Keith gets the opportunity to flex and stretch on a recognise automatically as a Tesla song, but damn it's wide range of rockers, bluesy numbers and of course good, ‘Burnout To Fade’ is a wonderful piece of work, the more ballad oriented tracks. As with most albums it's the standout ‘ballad’ on the album I guess you could that really hit me in the face each member of the band say, a really classy piece that lingers in your head after can be easily identified here, Brian Wheat's powerful hearing it. It would easily be the best track on most bass lines rumbling along throughout, Troy Lucetta albums I've listened to this year, but this time around always solid as a rock and driving each song onwards, there's more there, the more I listen to and the twin terrors of Frank Hannon and Dave Rude Simplicity the more I like it, and again what you want running all over the place - yes this is Tesla, and of from an album there are new parts in some songs the course that's a great thing, this album to me harks pop their head up as we suddenly latch onto them after back to classic Tesla, something some of the more multiple recent albums didn't, and it benefits from it. Ok the listens. opener ‘M P 3’ is a little unusual to these ears, but I don't mean it's not good, it just took a little listening to Maybe it is true and I am a bit biased towards the get it, but the rest of the album is just very immediate, band, but really I think this album deserves to be heard on the money Hard Rock. and played loud, there is no doubt to me that this album will be played many times while on my travels, or It's got to be said that the album title sums things up when the dark nights start coming in later in the year, perfectly here ‘Simplicity’ the songs are just presented it's going to pick me up a bit, put a smile on my face to the listener to enjoy, it's far from 14 versions of the and also force me into foot tapping, air guitar playing same song here, that's the not the impression you are and wishing they were playing my local venue that left with, but isn't it great to just be handed an album night. that screams and whails and just asks to be played at a high volume, there's highlights a plenty too, only two Love it !!!! tracks in and ‘Ricochet’ blows the windows out, it doesn't take a break and more than makes you sit up and take notice. One of the many highlights here is the track ‘So Divine’, for me it's a monster and somehow manages to build and build while it's keeping pretty much the same pace throughout, it's already one of my favourite tracks of the year, but it's not alone, I've rarely played an album in recent times where I've not been able to just split the tracks out and pick a favourite, but this album has done it, onto the second of my personal favourites on this album ‘Sympathy’, to be honest I think it's just a couple of notes of the bass intro in and I definitely recognised the band were it a blind listening test, it's a pure Tesla into, but maybe that's there the

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Firebrand Magazine

Humbucker - King Of The World Record Label: Hells Bells Records/Humbucker Records

7/10 Released: 10 April 2014

Highlight of the album: I Did It All (Thank You and Goodnight) Website: http://www.humbucker-rocks.com/ Reviewer: Phil Kane

Them damn Vikings have gone and done it again, haven't they? While Texas Hippie Coalition did it to Metallica's groove, the Georgia Satellites did it to Quo's, da Crowes did the impossible and did it to the Faces', Humbucker have turned the tables on Johnny Reb and taken the ‘DC stained southern biker attitude of The Four Horsemen, Great White and Jackyl and shoved a fucking big metal engine on it. Sounding like the mischievous spawn of Nashville Pussy after getting banged up by Saxon, born infected by good ol' eighties sleaze, nodding at Black Oak ‘n’ Monster Magnet, Humbucker have basically nicked someone else’s thing and shown ‘em how it is done.

Humbucker formed in Telemark around ’98, puddled about doing mainly ‘DC covers with a few Rods and Motorhead ditties thrown in, and then disbanded in 2002. 2010 saw them reform, since when they’ve concentrated on doing their own thing, releasing their debut album ‘R.O.C.K.S.’ in 2012, and now we have their second, ‘King Of The World’.

weep and if 'Lord Have Mercy' doesn't spin yer steely southern wheels, then nothin' will. Whitesnake's ‘Wine, Women And Song’ gets turned into a proper barroom 12 bar brawler, joining the heavier ‘Gone Fishing’ and ‘Hey You' in the general melee; Jack Russell and Jim Dandy would be proud.

It ain't perfect though. While there are no throwaways as such, the mediocre chugger ‘Lone Rider’ is saved by the twin lead fills, tail end Charlie ‘Strongman’ doesn’t quite provide the departing bang the album needs and overall there is the occasional tendency to allow the groove to wallow a bit when it needs to be driven, things getting a bit samey after a while. Originality isn't its strong point either (see if you can spot the Stonesy chorus, for instance), but ‘King Of The World’ is gritty and tough, with balls the size of dumbbells and brains inversely proportionate, and ain't afraid to work hard to stick in your head.

If your favourite chainsaw won't fire up, your old lady has found your secret stash of Tennessee's best, and Peppered with some righteous southern guitar you suspect yer neighbours shot yer dog, ‘King Of The harmony fills, ‘King Of The World’ is motoring southern World’, cranked right up, should ease the pain, help you tinged grebo metal that leans heavily enough on 'DC's contemplate cold blooded retribution. Of course, the groove, and a sporadic Kilmister style vocal, to betray irony is that the south being too fat to rise again has the bands formative tribute years. Yet it’s not just a had to get the north to give it a hand, and when I say two dimensional metallic lump, oh no. The twelve bar of the north, I mean way north; like Akkerhaugen, the breezy ‘Harder Being Me’, the sleazy ‘One Size Fits Telemark, Norway north. It won't be to the liking of the All’ and the driven rock ‘n’ roll of ‘I Did It All (Thank You southern rock purebloods, not enough authenticity, and & Goodnight)’ wouldn't disgrace any album featuring the metalheads might find it a bit light weight, but if you Rick Richards or Warner E Hodges. The only ballad, like your rock bloosed, boozed, battered ‘n’ bruised, ‘Dirty Nelly’, with its lap steel, electric sitar and touches this should do the trick. of desert highway guitar, has enough of that lonesome cowboy shtick to make the likes of Poison and JBJ Oh fuckin' hell yeah, (as they say in Norway).

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Firebrand Magazine

Rival Sons - Great Western Valkyrie Record Label: Earache Records

10/10

Released: 9 June 2014

Highlight of the album: Destination On Course Website: http://www.rivalsons.com/ Reviewer: Rob Birtley

For me Rival Sons began back in 2009 when a copy of ‘Before The Fire’ came into my possession and things haven’t looked back since. I tracked their progress via CD but it wasn’t until the 15th of March 2012 I got to see them live sharing the bill with the fine band Black Stone Cherry who I had seen before and on the night The Sons had no Rival. So I guess you could say I am a fan of the band. From the beginning they have been compared to a number of British bands of the 60’s and 70’s most often Led Zeppelin, The Animals and Free. This is a gross simplification as their music has in its roots elements as diverse as and including rock and roll, glam rock, rockabilly, surf rock and soul dating from the 50’s all the way to today. Tags such as ‘The Next Big Thing’, ‘Saviours of Rock &Roll’ and ‘The New Led Zeppelin’ have been hung round their necks. In their defence I have to say yes Rival Sons do have all the elements of all of the above in their sound and they are a Classic Rock Band but they combine it all in their unique own way and are also Blistering Live.

the Fool’ showcases the drumming of Mikey Miley powering the track along. The guitar sound is chunky stop/start rock and roll, complete with a nice little instrumental break towards the end. The vocal well it’s more low-key than the other tracks but fits perfectly.

‘Good Things’ is another tour de force. Its Southern Blues to the core has that old Southern Soul and Bourbon soaked blue collar vibe all the way through it.

Bits of it brought to mind the laid back style of ‘Heard It through the Grape Vine’ by Marvin Gaye. ‘Open My Eyes’ is the first official single and is the most recognisable straightforward rocking track on the album. It has all the ingredients needed to provide a hit catchy guitar riff, a solid rhythmic backbone and soaring vocals from Jay. It is most instantly accessible track on the album. This is an album full of intriguing surprises none more so than the ballad ‘Where I Have been’. This is silky smooth from beginning to end. It may not be earth shattering in terms of originality but it is full of charm and with Jay giving it so much soul, sincerity and feeling the song really does engage you The album opens with the teaser track ‘Electric Man’ and pull you in. Jay’s voice has never sounded clearer. that has been out in the media for a month or so.

The band saves ‘Destination on Course’ till last. A Immediately the band is right into the groove it doesn’t seven minute and six second epic neatly paying tribute hold back and is right in your face, straight away has to Led Zeppelin without plagiarising, this has everything your feet tapping and head nodding. The song has a including the kitchen sink and a reverb of David Gilmour modern feel but with a 70’s funk edge, a fuzzy guitar in Scott’s playing at one point. Vocals I can only be sound, commanding tight rhythms on drums and a described as so high pitched they soar, angelic, divine funky bass line all perfectly compliment the distinctive ethereal falsetto choir, along with may be the best vocal. ‘Good Luck’ lower the pace slightly as it takes you instrumental I have ever heard Rival Sons play. back a few years and is full of old classic sounds. It has a contagious rippling rhythm and groove. The vocal as To sum up from the beginning I have been a believer as a touch of The Big ‘O’ about it. ‘Secret’ is a real gem. far as Rival Sons are concerned and have seen the The song is an animal with the menace and grace of a progression of each release confirm and strengthen big cat on the prowl. It has a heavy deep rhythm and my initial belief. I wouldn’t go so far as to say ‘Great bass line, keyboard subtly adds building up the Western Valkyrie’ is a Classic album only time will tell if pressure. Jay’s vocals star reminding me of Jim that is true, but it is mighty fine in an epoch making Morrison with albeit some vocal effects used and I kind of way. couldn’t help thinking it would be greater still live. ‘Play

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Firebrand Magazine

Morning Dwell - Morning Dwell Record Label: Liljegren Records/ Doolittle Group A.B

7/10 Released: 18 March 2014

Highlight of the album: Predator Website: http://www.morningdwell.com/ Reviewer: Phil Kane

This CD is twenty three quid as an import on Amazon UK. That isn't bloody annoying, is it? Still, luckily for you the MP3 download is a more modest eight quid.

Them All’ is a thumping prayer to all things Valhalla. Yet it’s ‘The Gate Keeper’ and ‘Orange Moped’(eh?) that best sum this album up. Arguably the album’s most accessible tracks, they’re driven, snappy, memorable Morning Dwell is the brainchild of lead vocalist, Petter Euro speed metal at its most poptastic and frantic, a Hjerp. He started writing music around 2000, and constant double kick barrage keeping them 2012 found him proudly handing out a CD of his scampering along. There's more than a little of efforts. Originally meant as just a demo to pass around Helloween's ‘Keeper Of The Seven Keys, Pt. 2’ about his friends and acquaintances in his home town of ‘Morning Dwell’, early Edguy too, yet it’s not just a Munkfors, a copy found its way to Doolittle Group and carbon copy, the band seemingly having had a cursory voila, here is Morning Dwell’s debut. rummage through metal’s archives.

Now, this is the sort of classic power metal where frantic double kick drumming belongs, though you wouldn’t think so initially because the album’s intro is an insipid attempt at some sort of dramatic entry of the gods type of thing. They should’ve used a full orchestra, because done on a synth it just sounds twee and puny, cartoonish. Then ‘Unlock The Doors’ kicks in and, wham, we're off, and the pace doesn't slacken until tail gunner ‘The Story Never Ends’ puts the brakes on, but even that can’t resist the big climactic end crescendo, the album finally spent. ‘Predator’ could have snuggled comfortably on Priest’s ‘Angel Of Retribution’ and the reeling ‘The Pirate Song’ isn't that far removed from what a metalized Dropkick Murphys would come up with (if they were German), or a souped up Thin Lizzy even; of the marching men variety of course, and the marginally less frantic ‘Strongest Of

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For those who like speed metal of the classic kind, ‘Morning Dwell’ has got the lot; the twin lead harmonies, soaring vocals, big tunes and even bigger choruses, the drama, the epic fantasy imagery, the restrained sparkling keys, the juggernaut production. It doesn't mess about with a tried and tested formula, it doesn't try to be clever, it just does what it does best, straight down the middle, classic Euro power metal.

Original then? Nope, but when it's so joyously life affirming and done this well, who cares? The boys seem to have had an absolute blast making this album, and as a bonus, during the reviewing process ‘Morning Dwell’ also proved to be an absolute first class, top gun neighbour baiter.

Job Done.

Firebrand Magazine

Perfect Beings - Perfect Beings Record Label: My Sonic Temple

8/10 Released: 30 June 2014

Highlight of the album: Walkabout Website: http://www.perfectbeingsband.com/ Reviewer: Phil Kane

For those who yearn for the return of prog rock’s heyday, the ancient giants under the sun have blessed yer sorry, sad mortal souls and sent you Perfect Beings with this beautiful debut. It’s prog that belongs in the parallel universes of Yes, shot through with occasional chaotic Frippisms and Focus’ eccentricity; there are even hints of mellotron and Moog, you lucky, lucky people. The guitars have Howe written all over them, the bass is Squire to a tee in places, and the drums? Brufford. As for the keys, I'm surprised Perfect Beings don't have someone called Rick amongst them.

Ok, I'm being unkind, but Ryan Hurtgen-vocals/piano, Johannes Luley-guitars, Chris Tristam-bass, Jesse Nason-keyboards, and Dicki Fliszar-drums do flirt a bit too closely with their inspirational roots, are a bit too respectful of their subject matter, though their passion is undeniable. This Californian outfit has been doing its homework, rummaging deep into the section of rock’s archive marked Progressive to plunder at will.

Obviously there is a modern sheen to ‘Perfect Beings’; an unavoidable leakage of 2014 into the groove. The boys could've saddled the whole thing with a modern metallic straightjacket, or slid into the dark depths of tribute sycophancy, but they haven't, there are no attempts to inject inapt double kicking, and note perfect reproduction has been left to the creatively bankrupt tribute bands we're currently plagued with.

It's, how can I put it, classic '70s prog done in the style of now. There are moments where dissonant prog threatens to spiral into free form jazz territory, 'One Of Your Kind', 'Bees And Wasps’, or 'Removal Of The Identity Chip' for instance. Spiced with the psychedelic

whimsy of the Beatles, 'Canyon Hill', initially, is dreamy, whimsical stuff, intricate and involving, with echoes of Jeff Lynne’s McCartney obsession and the acoustic 'Remnants Of Shields' gives us a breezy spaced out break from the technical excellence. Yet it's not all airy sweetness and light. It gets jagged, 'Walkabout' apes Elbow at their most tripped out, flipping from a sunshiny folk intro into full on extravaganza, 'Program Kid' does the same with its dreamy sci-fi opening, its subtle undercurrent of piano led noir allowed to vent itself occasionally via crazed Gabrielesque vocals. End song 'One Of Your Kind' (again) brings everything together into a single tumbling eight minute wig out. There has been a lot written about this debut being symphonic but that's misleading, it’s certainly delightfully layered, maturely realised, orchestrated even, but Symphonic?

No, it's far too minimalist for that, despite the intricacy and deep electronic washes, but I bet it still sounds bloody great in 5.1 surround sound. It all just makes you think of Asia coming to terms with its illustrious past. Giving a new prog convert this album would be like giving a Quo fan 'Tales From Topographic Oceans', so for the uninitiated this album is a bit of a no-no. If they must jump in with both size nines, however, they'll need patience and a huge bag of grass. Ah but, for the gnarly old vets of prog’s monumental excesses 'Perfect Beings' will be like a pleasant stroll through happy memories of the pounds of good shit smoked.

So, it's all here, everything today’s progmeister could ever wish for. All that's missing is what's irretrievable from the past; that and the elfin vox and the whacked out, ding bat fantasy lyrics, of course.

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Firebrand Magazine

Seven - Seven Record Label: Escape Music

10/10 Released: 20 June 2014

Highlight of the album: Don’t Break My Heart Website: http://www.escape-music.com/ Reviewer: Rob Birtley

For me the golden age of Melodic Hard Rock AOR was the late eighties. Bands the likes of Mitch Malloy, Paul Laine, Firehouse, Tyketto and Talisman were all signed up and ready to make an impact on the scene. In the U.K with the likes of Magnum, Little Angels and Jagged Edge were making waves in the water. So it was with no small interest when an album from a band of that era who didn’t quite make the breakthrough expected landed in my in box.

The band was Seven, originally 7 Seven hailing from Bournemouth recorded two singles produced by John Parr called ‘Inside Love’ and ‘Man with A Vision’ on Polydor and opened on a number of big tours before the label dropped them without actually recording that elusive studio album. In terms of the overall sound well think aspects of Bad English, bits of Foreigner, melodies and vocals reminiscent of Unruly Child all with a distinctive English flavour and you’re in the right Ball Park.

scene for the whole work. Think Foreigner around the time of ‘4’ and you won’t go far wrong. Add some interesting keyboard but keep the strong almost flesh tearing hook and you have the picture. The second track is ‘Inside Love’ a reworking of one of the singles.

Again the vocal is reminiscent of Lou Gramme and like the entire album the production is pin sharp, tight and modern. Many young bands now try to pull off this mix with little success. With Seven you get the genuine article track after track it’s no homage it’s the real thing and it shows. ‘Diana’ is the classic ballad of the album. It’s relatively striped back most of the melody being carried by the piano at great effect and in this case less is more.

I have struggled to give this album a final overall rating.

In the end I just had to rate it against other albums of the genre and in my opinion it’s the best one I’ve heard since 2010 with the vocals and vocal harmony right up there with the best of Marcie Free and Unruly Child so reluctantly I had to give it full marks.

The album opens with ‘Shoot to Kill’ and it does set the

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( ) Black Stone Cherry

Blow My Mind

Outloud

Death Rock

Mother Road

The Sun Will Shine Again, These Shoes

Tesla

M P 3, Taste My Pain

Iron Maiden

Flight Of Icarus

Van Halen

Panama, Jump

AC/DC

Thunderstruck, Back In Black, A Touch Too Much

Rival Sons

Open My Eyes

TEN

Stormwarning

Skid Row

Youth Gone Wild

Three Lions

Sicilian, Don’t Let Me Fall

Sunstrike

Power Of The Dreams

Whitesnake

Crying In The Rain (Original), Slide It In,

Edguy

Love Tyger, Forever

Alien

Love Will Lead Me Home, Unbroken

Kiss

Heavens On Fire, Love Gun

The Winery Dogs

Elevate

Gotthard

Bang

Brother Firetribe

For Better Or For Worse, Love Is Not Enough

Crowsaw

Money, Skin And Bones

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Firebrand Magazine

Tony C

Tony Corner is the Presenter of two Shows

Tony has built up a popular following on the radio airwave From The Bins’ and progressing with his passion for Bl listeners regularly tuning in from all over the world, Tony Firebr

Ably assisted by his producer Trevor Hazel, who only wo guaranteed an interesting two hours of ear-lu

Tony’s “Spins From The Bins” airs every Thursday at 8pm and metal, blues and is often home to long tracks too. If it’ music and the show really reflects

September 2012 saw the start of Tony’s “Blues Corner” w features a wide variety of blues styles from across the g upbeat numbers, acoustic, e

Check out Tony

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Corner

s - ’Blues Corner’ & ‘ Spins From The Bins’

es ever since he began to broadcast. Starting with ‘Spins lues to generating the very popular ‘Blues Corner’ with y has certainly made his mark on the airwaves here at rand

orks for a reward of cake after each show, you can be uxury variation on each and every broadcast.

m (3pm EST), which includes classic & progressive rock s one thing he’s become known for, it’s his varied taste in s this with lots of light and shade.

which you can listen to every Sunday at 7pm (2pm EST). It genre from down and dirty, laid back, jazz, funky, rock to electric and instrumentals.

y’s page HERE

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Absolva September 05 FR Arras, Blue Devil's Bar 06 DE Waldbronn Soundcheck One 12 DE Berlin Blackland 13 PL Bielsko-Biala Rude Boy Club 14 CZ Litvinov Attic Rock Club 19 NL Amsterdam The Cave 21 NL Emmen, Blanko 26 BE Namur Magick 27 BE Aalter Wizz's Autumn Festival October 02 DE Muhlhausen Kulturfabrik 03 DE Herdorf Rattenloch 04 FR Fismes Underground Investigation Festival 11 FR Bartenheim Caf Conc 18 NL, Nijmegen Rockcafe Backstage 19 BE Roeselare De Verlichte Geest

SOS Festival 19 - 20 July Absolva, Savage Messiah, Monument, Exit State, Wizz Wizzard, Fantasist, Blaze Bayley (With Chris Appleton) and many more Anathema June 13 Derby Donington Park September 18 Belfast The Limelight 2 19 Dublin The Button Factory Anthrax July 01 Belfast The Limelight 05 Knebworth Sonisphere Bernie Torme October 17 York Fibbers

Black Star Riders July 18 West Yorkshire The Picturedrome 22 Northampton Roadmender August Buckley Tivoli Dragonforce September 17 Edinburgh Liquid Room 18 Aberdeen The Lemon Tree 19 Glasgow King Tuts Wah Hut 20 Belfast The Limelight 2 25 Manchester The Deaf Institute 27 Birmingham The Institute 30 Brighton Haunt October 02 London White Rabbit 03 Bridgend Hobos Live Music Venue 04 Bristol Thekla Dream Theatre July 05 Sheffield City Hall 03 – 07Knebworth Sonisphere Eagles June 04 Dublin O2 06 Dublin O2 16 London O2 18 London O2 23 Leeds first direct arena 25 Manchester Phones 4u Arena Extreme ‘Pornograffitti Live’ Tour July 04 Manchester Academy 05 O2 Academy Glasgow 07 Birmingham Institute 08 London Forum Fish September 29 Durham Gala Theatre December 19 Liverpool O2 Academy 20 Sheffield City Hall FM August 09 Cambridge Rock Festival Furyon with Mordred August 22 Dublin The Voodoo 23 Belfast The Limelight2 25 London O2 Academy

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26 Birmingham O2 Academy 27 Glasgow O2 Academy 28 Newcastle O2 Academy 29 Sheffield O2 Academy 30 Liverpool O2 Academy 31 Bristol O2 Academy September 01 Brighton Concorde 2 Hecate Enthroned July 19 Bridlington Basement Iron Knights July 26 London The Garage Jeff Scott Soto June 25 London Borderline Machine Head July 29 Nottingham Rescue Rooms 31 Edinburgh Liquid Room August Newcastle University Student Union My Ruin August 20 Birmingham O2 Academy 21 Bristol Fleece Onslaught July 13 Dublin Voodoo Lounge 14 Belfast Limelight 2 16 Newcastle 02 Academy 2

Download Festival 13 – 15 June Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, Aerosmith, Rob Zombie, Alter Bridge and many more Firebrand Magazine

Sonisphere 2014 4 - 6 of July The Prodigy, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Alice in Chains, Airbourne, Anthrax and many more 17 Glasgow ABC 2 18 Sheffield 02 Academy 2 19 Bristol Academy 20 London Islington 02 Academy 21 Birmingham 02 Academy 2 Orange Goblin June 14 Derby Donington Park October 30 Dublin The Button Factory 31 Belfast The Limelight 2 Primal Fear September 17 London 2 Academy Islington 19 Glasgow O2 ABC 21 Sheffield O2 Academy 24 Newcastle O2 Academy 25 Liverpool O2 Academy 27 Leicester O2 Academy Rayne June 28 Bridlington Basement Red Dragon Cartel June 06 London O2 Academy 07 Nottingham Rescue Rooms 08 Wolverhampton Slade Rooms 15 Derby Donington Park

30 Bristol Academy December 01 Bournemouth Academy 02 Nottingham Rock City 04 Manchester Ritz 05 Dublin Academy 06 Belfast Limelight/ Mandela Hall 07 Glasgow ABC 09 Newcastle Academy 10 Leeds Academy 11 Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall 12 Oxford Academy 13 London Shepherd's Bush Empire Sebastian Bach July 03 - 07 Knebworth Sonisphere 08 Wolverhampton Slade Rooms 09 London O2 Academy

Bloodstock 7-10 August Down, Emperor, Megadeth, Dimmu Borgir, Carcass, Amon Amarth, Children Of Bobom and many more

Slayer June 29 Belfast The Limelight 30 Belfast The Limelight July 01 Dublin The Academy 03 - 07 Knebworth Sonisphere Status Quo June 13 Cheshire Cholmondeley Castle 14 Cheshire Cholmondeley Castle December 06 Liverpool Exho Arena 16 Cardiff Motorpoint Arena

For a free listing please email your gig or festival information to: sales@firebrandrr.co.uk

The Day Will Come June 21 Bridlington Basement The Treatment June 15 Download Festival, Castle Donington, UK 17 Belfast Limelight 2 18 Dublin Academy 2 Vain July 06 Norwich The Waterfront 07 Edinburgh Bannermanns 08 Sheffield Corporation 09 London The Underworld Winger June 15 Download Festival 17 Glasgow O2 Academy 18 Newcastle O2 Academy 20 Bristol O2 Academy 21 London O2 Academy Islington

Rival Sons June 09 London Scala 10 Birmingham Academy 2 12 Manchester Gorilla 13 Castle Donington Download Festival 14 Isle of Wight Isle of Wight Wolf September Saxon 13 Nottingham Rescue Rooms November 14 London Borderline

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Cambridge Rock Festival 7 - 10 August FM, Wishbone Ash, Snakecharmer, The Ultimate Eagles, Chantel McGregor and many more

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