Firebrand Magazine Issue 21 - June

Issue 21 – June 2014

Robin George

Heaven The Axe

Shotgunz PLUS

7HY

Bernie Marsden Powerwolf

Georgia Satellites Ted Nugent

Night By Night

Virgin Steele

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Festival season is well and truly upon us so be safe people enjoy some of the fantastic events going on this summer and don’t forget your waterproofs. Alan Kelly’s Seven Hard Years has been doing the rounds in the Firebrand Jail this month and it is an absolutely brilliant slice of AOR so make sure you check it out. Musically I feel like I am slipping into a regression phase in my life at the moment …even been blasting The Monkees out in the office….honestly I think someone has been putting something in my coffee.

Also I have been talking to Sergei the Meerkat recently to see if we can have two new ones made that resemble Dan Mann and Paul Nichols, More news on this soon but I hope to hell they are not inflatable.

Anyway people have a wonderful time with all the great music events on this summer, get out there support live music and rock on.

Peace and Respect Doc

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Night By Night Debut 'A Thousand Lies' Video

strong songs, telling tales of hope and heartbreak.

From the beautifully addictive ‘Can’t Walk British hard rockers Night By Night, who feature Ben Away’ to the hard rocking, ‘Siren’ and everyone’s new Christo (Sisters Of Mercy guitarist) in their favourite song, ‘If Only’ – Night by Night are creating ranks, have released the new music video, for the musical alchemy. song ‘A Thousand Lies‘. The clip is taken from the “If you like hard rock with intensity, melody and forthcoming debut album“NxN“, due to release meaning, you will find it here. We have real passion on July 11 (Europe), July 14 (UK) and July 15 (USA/ for what we are doing and have pushed ourselves to Canada) via A Sun Hill Production/Cargo Records. create the best music possible – no disclaimers, no The video can be viewed below: excuses – we’ve worked hard and we are really proud of the result…”

Night by Night have toured extensively supporting the likes of Europe, Y&T, Jettblack, Heaven’s Basement, Alannah Myles, Acey Slade, The Quireboys, Jayce Lewis,Warrior Soul, Dear Superstar, The Dirty Youth as well as performing storming sets at Hard Rock Hell and Download Festival.

Classic Rock UK magazine states: “We recently claimed that Night By Night were spearheading the “new wave of AOR”, and we see no reason to change our opinion now. A Thousand Lies has the harmonies, and the big shiny guitars, and the chorus a postman might sing in the shower.”

“NxN” was produced by Romesh Dodangoda (Motörhead, Bullet For My Valentine, Sylosis) at Outhouse studios, engineered by Rob Thomas, lead vocals produced & engineered by Ben Christo & Henry Rundell and mixed by John Mitchell (Alter Bridge, Asia, Snakecharmer) at Outhouse studios.

“Night by Night are without doubt one of the best young bands out there today. Real songs with great riffs and vocal harmonies. Packing the best ot the 80′ s with a youthful, fresh enthusiasm.” (Rick Savage/Def Leppard) ight by Night areahard rock 5-piece from London who fuse searing riffs with soaring melodies.

This cutting-edge quintet combine the best of classic and contemporary rock, charged with 3-part vocal harmonies to create their own sound and the result is a debut of unparalleled strength and musical maturity, with across the board appeal.

Combine the heavyweight riffs and modern crunch of Alterbridge, add the infectious choruses and lush vocal harmonies of Def Leppard for a taste of what Night by Night are all about. The band members each come with their own musical pedigree (The Sisters of Mercy, Voodoo Six) – and it shows. With flawless production (by Romesh Dodangoda -Funeral For A Friend, The Blackout, Bullet For My Valentine) and irresistible choruses, this is a rare gem of an album with ten

Judas Priest Announce Confirmed Dates For "Redeemer Of Souls Tour 2014" Ever since it was announced that metal icons Judas Priest would be unleashing their 17th studio album overall, 'Redeemer of Souls' (on July 8, 2014), their legion of fans have been wondering if the band would be launching a supporting tour. And the answer is a resounding YES - Priest will be touring the US in the fall, with dates running throughout October and for most of November. Steel Panther will be "special guests" for all the dates.

Already, 'Redeemer of Souls' is creating a deafening pre-release buzz, largely due to overwhelmingly positive reviews: "The word 'epic' is thrown around too often in the world of music, but Judas Priest's new album 'Redeemer of Souls' is, in fact, truly epic. From Rob Halford's powerful vocals to Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner's monster riffs and soaring guitar solos, 'Redeemer of Souls' takes listeners on a fantastical metal journey from beginning to end." --Loudwire "Galloping riffs, dueling solos and Rob Halford's battle shrieks make it classic Priest at its metal core." --Rolling Stone Magazine [review of "Redeemer of Souls" single] "The gods of metal return with all cylinders firing on 'Redeemer of Souls,' a juggernaut of an album that features raw, unleashed power as only the mighty Priest can deliver. Valhalla, they are coming — and coming HARD." --Mike Mettler, Sound & Vision Magazine Comprised of Rob Halford (vocals), Glenn Tipton (guitar), Richie Faulkner (guitar), Ian Hill (bass),

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for some of heavy metal's all-time classic songs ("Living After Midnight," "Breaking the Law," "You've Got Another Thing Coming," etc.) and albums ('British Steel,' 'Screaming for Vengeance,' 'Painkiller,' etc.).

And come the fall, the mighty Priest will be ferociously rocking the US once more - with more dates to follow shortly.

Following the original track list of “Colours In The Dark”, its counterpart “Left In The Dark” contains rarities, B-Sides as well as demos, instrumental versions including five previously unreleased tracks, thereof two live radio acoustic recordings of “500 Letters”and “Until Silence”. Furthermore the high quality digi-pak includes exclusive liner notes written

by Tarja herself which give a personal insight behind the scenes of Tarja’s work.

Not only is the track selection of “Left In The Miracle Master ‘Come Alive’ Video Released Dark” one of a kind, the story behind the creation of Danish/German hard rockers Miracle Master have the album artwork is as well. released their third music video, for the song “Come In February 2014, Tarja fans were called for Alive“. The clip was directed and produced by creating the cover artwork for her exclusive tour Germany’s MV Video Productions. item “Left In The Dark”. With over 1.000 great and creative submissions, Tarja had a hard time choosing five winner artworks. In the end, this left her with no other choice than to decide on even ten lucky winners.

Congratulations to Mikoláš Gál (1st prize, front cover), Predrag Milosevic (2nd prize, back cover), Bruno Bogarin, Eric Imbimbo, Timo Lorch, Thamires Moraes, Vivien Scalbert, Pavel Simo, Stanis W-Decker and Kevin Weiß (3rd – 10th prize; all artworks included in the booklet).

“Come Alive” is taken from Miracle Master‘s debut album ‘Tattooed Woman‘, which was released on March 7th via GoldenCore Records/ZYX Music in Europe and North America and in Japan with two bonus tracks on April 23rd via Bickee Music.

Recordings for ‘Tattooed Woman‘ were done at Studio 22 in Germany and Medley Studios in Denmark. The album was produced, mixed and mastered by Miracle Master and Axel Heckert (Brainstorms, Symphorce.)

TARJA to release 10-track CD “Left In The Dark” including rarities and previously unreleased versions on July 4th, 2014 on earMUSIC The thirst for new music of the queen of heavy rock, Tarja, has been ever strong and ever growing.

It all started with the success of the multi-platinum and gold awarded previous records “My Winterstorm” (2007) and “What Lies Beneath” (2010), followed up by the top 5 live project “Act 1”. Her most recent rock album “Colours In The Dark” has been charting in 12 countries with four Top 10 entries, got praised by the media and more importantly, by the fans. Precisely for those, a very special fan item was created.

Previously only available bundled with a ticket for the “Colours In The Road Tour 2014” in selected countries, the exclusive tour CD“Left In The Dark” will now be released worldwide in stores on July 4th, 2014 on earMUSIC.

Walter Trout's protégé, Danny Bryant, to release solo album British blues guitarist and singer-songwriter, Danny Bryant will release his new album “Temperature Rising” in the UK on Monday 1st September. The album, released by Jazzhaus Records, is produced

by Richard Hammerton, and is the follow-up to Bryant’s critically acclaimed 2013 album “Hurricane”. The album is followed by a UK tour that starts at The Robin 2, Bilston on Wednesday 3rd September.

To celebrate the release of the “Temperature Rising” album, Bryant is giving fans a free MP3 download of the song “Nothing At All” which is featured on the new album. From Monday 23rd June, fans will be able to download the song from www.dannybryant.com/free-download. To listen to the new song in its entirety via YouTube.

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Bryant is a guitar protégé of the American blues guitarist, Walter Trout. In 1994, at the age of fourteen, Bryant first met Trout at one of his concerts in Cambridge. The two have remained close friends for the past twenty years. In May 2014, when Trout underwent a liver transplant in Omaha, Nebraska, he was in no condition to tour his new studio album “The Blues Came Callin”. He asked Bryant to front his band and tour America. Bryant’s manager/wife, Kirby, was responsible for setting up the online fundraising campaign for Trout’s liver transplant, which, to date has generated $240,000 U.S. dollars.

On the U.S. tour, which starts 31st July in Hermosa, California, Bryant will perform songs from Walter’s new album, plus songs from his own “Temperature Rising” album. “Temperature Rising” is edgier, fiercer and rockier than his previous albums, but still has its roots steeped in the blues.

Steve Hackett Genesis Revisited Live at The Royal Albert Hall DVD 7 CD box set & Oct Nov Tour

Prog pioneer Steve Hackett proudly announces the DVD release of his critically acclaimed live spectacular Genesis Revisited, filmed at the sold out show at London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall in October 2013. The DVD of this landmark performance will hit the stores on 30th June 2014.

Genesis Revisited: Live at the Royal Albert Hall the next best thing after being there – was recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound and will be available in the following formats: Standard 2CD/DVD digipak Limited 2CD/2DVD/Blu-Ray art-book with liner notes, photos and bonus interview features An ecstatic Steve Hackett comments: “I'm excited the Steve Hackett Genesis Revisited show at the extraordinary Royal Albert Hall is being released on both DVD and Blu-Ray in 5.1. It was a thrilling musical experience for all concerned with a fantastic light / visual show! Paul Green and team filmed it The Cadillac Three, The Treatment & Voodoo brilliantly too. It's a feast for eyes, ears and all the Six Announced To Play This Year’s Planet senses...”

Rockstock Festival In December 2014…

In order to re-live such a seminal chapter of Further to the recently announced main-stage prog rock history live on stage for Genesis Revisited, appearances of Voodoo Six and The Cadillac Three, Hackett surrounded himself with a team of we can now reveal that a third Spinefarm exceptional musicians including keyboardist Roger Records act, The Treatment, have been added to King (Gary Moore, Snoop Dog, Jamelia), Gary O’Toole the Planet Rockstock bill for2014; this three-day (Chrissie Hynde, Kylie Minogue) on drums, event takes place from December 5th – 7th at Park percussion and vocals, Rob Townsend (Eddie Dean Holiday Park, Trecco Bay, Porthcawl, Wales.

Henderson, Bill Bruford, Django Bates) on sax, flute Tickets are available at the following and percussion, Lee Pomeroy (Rick Wakeman, Take link: http://www.planetrock.com/events/planetThat) on bass, and Nad Sylvan (Abbas’s Michael B rock-live/planet-rockstock-2014/ Tretow) on vocals.

Meanwhile, all three acts have a busy schedule this summer, with festival appearances and tour dates booked all over the globe.

In terms of the UK, The Cadillac Three and Voodoo Six will be kicking out the jams this July at the world renowned Sonisphere festival; TC3 will then follow this with a sold-out, intimate, one-off headline show at The Lexington, London, on July 7th.

Meanwhile, V6 have a Sonisphere warm-up confirmed for July 3rd at Yardbirds in Grimsby, then two guest appearances with The Winery Dogs…

Voodoo Six dates with The Winery Dogs:July 7 – Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton July 8 – Underworld, London Having just played to a bursting-at-the-seams tent at this year’s Download festival (UK), part of a lengthy run taking in major festivals and key supports (Alter Bridge, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, etc.) all over Europe, The Treatment will finish the summer season with a main-stage performance at Raismes Festival, France, onSeptember 6th.

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Katerina Feelk speaks with

Shotguns from Thessaloniki, Greece, representing the Greek hard rock scene.

Their name is as strong and powerful as their music!!!

They literally blast us with it. But it is safe to approach them; your life is not in danger from their bullets. The only risk you run in getting to know Shotgunz is that you won’t ever be able to let go.

Their homonymous demo contains four songs, and at present they are in the studio preparing their first album. We met them during one of their breaks and they kindly accepted to speak to Firebrand Magazine

Hi Shotgunz. Welcome to Fireband Magazine !!!

Hello! Greetings from Greece!

First of all, tell us what the name means and why you chose it!

We wanted a name that represents our sound … so we picked “SHOTGUNZ”! We believe that our music sounds as hard and loud as the sound of a shotgun!

We always make clear that we don’t like guns and wars!

the band! A few years later, Giannis Mourtezas (guitar) joined and in 2011 Asterios Tolis (bass) completed the line-up!

What are your influences?

Our common influences are all the great rock bands from 70s, 80s and 90s … such as: Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Queen, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Rage Against the Machine and many more…

Although you’ve been on the rock scene for many years, it’s only now that you’re in the process of How did you first get together?

We ‘ve known each other since high school. In 2004, producing an album. What delayed your decision Johnny Bakas (vocals), Giorgos Daskalopoulos for so long? (guitar) and Aggelos Mauropoulos (drums) started For many years, we have been searching for the

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exact “sound” of SHOTGUNZ. A lot of musical experiments took place in our studio and there was a time when we composed our songs with Greek lyrics.

We decided that the English language fits better with our music and now we are pretty mature to produce a good album.

What themes do you like to deal with in your lyrics?

Most of our songs talk about love. Also we write about the social problems that we face.

Will the album you’re preparing hold any surprises in terms of sound?

You’ve covered many hits, always giving them your Forgive us but we won’t reveal that! own special sound. Do you like experimenting in general?

How many songs will it have, and when can we We believe that music has no boundaries so except expect it to be released? rock; we also listen to other genres and we have fun It will contain from 10-12 songs and by the end of mixing elements from various styles! this year, we expect that we will have our first album in our hands.

You’ve appeared on the Greek stage beside several notable artists, but you’ve also supported To close, I’d like you to send your own message to foreign bands on two occasions. Which were the readers of Firebrand. these?

Make rock, not war! As soon as our album is We had the opportunity to warm up the stage for finished, we will wait for your opinion!

Grim Reaper (UK) and The Black Rain (IT).

Thank you very much, and good luck in all your Would you like to play to foreign audiences outside future plans.

Greece at some point, or doesn’t it bother you?

Lots of thanks to you! That was our first foreign An advantage of English language is that a lot of interview. It was fun! We wish you the best! people around the globe can understand what you are talking about. That’s one of the reasons that we chose it. So, the answer is yes and we hope that one day we could play outside Greece!

Do you follow developments on the international rock scene? What’s your opinion?

Of course we follow the scene but we are sad to say that nowadays, bands that get promoted don’t have the same quality as the ones from older eras.

In your careers so far, what are the difficulties you’ve encountered?

The majority of the Greek audience doesn’t listen to rock , and prefers Greek pop music.

That’s why it’s difficult for a rock band to promote its work. Another thing is that in Greece there are laws that are against live shows and they don’t let musicians express themselves. Finally, our financial situation as a band isn’t the best and this makes it harder for us. Although the difficulties we are trying to do our best, because we love it!

What is Shotgunz’ strong point?

Our strongest point is that apart from being band mates, we are friends. We were and we will be! Nothing compares to performing among your friends on stage!

And where do you see your weaknesses?

The truth is that we lack in Public Relations, a very important factor in the music industry.

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Ahead of the release of History, Lee caught up with guitar legend Robin George to discuss that legendary song, his work with other iconic rockers and what the future holds 12

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Everyone remembers that classic photo that graced Kerrang’s front cover of you in what I would say is one of the most iconic guitar photos of the era. How did that shoot come about?

Arista Records booked Fin Costello, the fantastic rock photographer. He suggested the location should be on top of a rubbish tip in South London. I thought he was losing the plot, but I arrived at the shoot with my trusty BC. Rich guitar, climbed to the top of the tip, and waited for Fin to set up lights, smoke machines etc.

What Fin neglected to tell me was that the tip was directly opposite a bus stop, and that I would be in plain sight (almost touchable) of the upstairs passengers on the infamous London red double decker buses. Imagine their, and my surprise to see a bloke with a guitar on top of a rubbish dump on a freezing evening...I hope it brightened up their rush hour journeys home. I know it did mine!

Fin later took the photos for my Dangerous Music album. Again, Mr Location had the superb idea of a shoot at London’s Smithfield market at 6 am…

Allegedly a great pic, and at least the pubs were open!

inspiration...eleven albums involving me are available now on Angel Air Records, which is amazing really… thanks to Peter and the team.

‘Heartline’ was and still is a truly classic, ageless song. Back when you wrote it did you realise just how big it would be?

No, but people kept telling me it would be, which gave me hope. The original demo is on the History album, and features Dave Holland, Daniel Boone and Pino Palladino. I was offered many deals on that version, but the final from the Dangerous Music album suited the time better, apparently.

After the big splash created by ‘Heartline’ you seemed to almost fade into the background as a solo artist and work more behind the scenes be it as a guitarist in various bands/tours or even as a musical producer. Was this shift in direction intentional?

No, it just happened that way. When Bronze records went broke just as my single and album were peaking word wide I was left in the wilderness with no deal. I recorded the Dangerous Music two album with Gus Dudgeon producing four tracks, and the rest between me and Daniel Boone. I just re-mastered fourteen tracks from DM2, and so far reactions are...they say it would have been massive!

On the positive side I produced some great albums for some great bands, including Diamond Head, Wrathchild, Witchfinder General, Quartz, Fuzzbox and Vix Fuzzbox, and of course I formed Damage Control with Pete Way, UFO, Spike, The Quireboys, and Chris Slade, AC/DC. I’ve worked with some of the very best rock, blues and soul artists on the planet, and have always continued playing with excellent musicians and recording my own stuff with their support and

Reading though the list of who you have worked with over the years reads like a veritable who’s who of the rock world with people ranging from Phil Lynott though to Robert Plant though to Glen Hughes all featuring. Who was your favourite artist to work with?

Robert was cool to work with...he knows his stuff. We recorded an album worth of songs firstly in my Wolverhampton studio, then various London studios to master the tracks. We also rehearsed extensively in London, some great facilities, others not so good.

Robert called me to ask me to bring my keyboards to a room in south London, so he didn’t have to rent any. The first night, the gaff got burgled and all my gear was stolen...they weren’t insured and I lost the lot, no recompense at all!

I remember Robert saying ‘I’m not going to pay you, you’ll earn a house in the country from this’ then he met a keyboard player who convinced him guitars were History (pun intended!)

I listened dismayed in the studio as machines and samples replaced the real thing, and that was the end of it for me. Robert did use a song of mine, Red for Danger, on his Sixty Six to Timbuktu album, but unbelievably, all my royalties have been stolen...so no country house and not many happy memories of a rock god!

Glenn was on really fine form vocally on the master demos we recorded in my studio, but when we got into the ‘real’ studios, his magic was swallowed by drugs. I’m glad to hear he’s been clean for a long time.

Whilst producing the sessions I was committed to go to LA to master the Notorious album, Radio Silence, which I had recorded with Sean Harris (Diamond Head). When I got back to the Glenn recordings, the record company had drafted in some LA session musicians, great players but not much inspiration. Then they decided to re-form Trapeze so in came Dave Holland and Mel Galley.

That could have been really good, but by then the album had run out of steam and was never released as far as I know.

The demos of Sweet Revenge were bootlegged from appalling quality mp3s, but one day maybe the hi-fi version will see the light and sound of day.

Phil was ace. I met him properly when he turned up at DJM studios when I was recording Showdown. He said he’d got a bass in the car, and would I like him to play on it. He did of course. I was surprised and gratified when I read a Kerrang article

by Phil where he said he liked my Dangerous Music album.

Not long after, I got a call inviting me to play guitar on his single, Nineteen. After the session, we started writing and recording together, which was great. We made a video, and then flew to play a TV

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show, which went well. Brian Downey was the drummer for the show, and on the flight back, Phil asked us to re-form Thin Lizzy. Of course, we both said yes, and Phil and I continued writing towards the new Lizzy album. I was heading home for the holidays and Phil came with me to the station.

As I was getting out of the car, he asked me to leave my master tape with him as he could work on it over Christmas. That was the last I saw or heard the tracks, and tragically, Phil. I found out he had died when a radio station called me, live on air, to comment on his death. I was very shocked. But not surprised I suppose. He lived life to the limit and it caught up with him at in the end. We lost a tremendous talent, and we were heading for a tremendous album!

I later recorded Phil’s song Kings Call and Crying Diamonds (which we co-wrote) for the Spirit of the Black Rose tribute album, and then re-vamped Kings Call for the my tracks. I had to do something to keep my mind LovePower & Peace sharing album. It was Phil’s active, and so, I re-mastered History...lost in the tribute to Elvis, and my tribute to Phil. vaults since 1982, so here it is, found in 2014.

If you could pick any artist or band right now to work with who would it be?

I’ve worked with so many fabulous musicians over the years; I’d love to be in a band with any of them. I recently made a ‘sharing album’ LovePower & Peace, with over sixty superb musicians, all for free, all to the charity, and I’d work with any of them again tomorrow.

Is it true that the songs were recorded over three years?

History was actually recorded over two years, we were all so busy gigging etc that I’m surprised it didn’t take longer. I toured with Roy Wood (The Move/ELO) and I was also forming The Byron Band with David Byron (Uriah Heep) as well as loads of production work including The Climax Blues Band, Daniel Boone, Raymond Froggat, Noddy Holder Why did you choose 2014 as the year to release (Slade), et al, and also numerous guitar sessions. So lots going on in the background.

‘History’?

History was recorded in downtime, when the 2014 chose me really.

Pete Haycock joined me along with Mel Collins, studio didn’t have paying clients. So, that could mean going in at midnight, and doing as much as we could Charlie Morgan, Jax Williams and Charley Charlesworth to record ‘Cruel’ a great album which until the next set of clients were due in, usually the next afternoon. What would happen was that I’d get tragically has become Pete’s swan song. Climax a phone call, telling me the studio was free, and I’d Blues ‘Cruel’ features Pete at his best, which is phone around to see who was available, and then absolutely superb slide guitar! A commemorative album for my close friend and brother in guitar, Pete we’d go in and make music.

We were spread over a wide area, all across Haycock. the Midlands and hours apart, so you have to factor When we lost Pete last October, my world rocked...we’d known each other for over thirty years, in driving time and time in the pub! and to be with my friend and brother in guitar, with a superb band who were ready to tour, with a finished How did the album come about? album and the next one on the way, stopped me in I’d played in covers bands since I was fourteen...

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which was a good grounding, and a great way to learn lots of chords. I’ve always written songs and started sticking them in at gigs. The audience either didn’t notice the difference and/or loved them. So I formed my own band ‘Life’ playing all my material.

The success of the gigs led to us recording at the Old Smithy studios, which is where I met the guys who became the Life band on the History album. They liked what they heard, and so it began.

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

As always, thanks for your interest and unfailing support. I so much appreciate it my friends. Most of you know who you are, and now, so do I. Cheers Robin.

Did you encounter many problems during the re-mastering process?

Re-mastering the album from many different sources, including ½ inch master tapes, cassettes and all in between was a challenge, so lots of editing to remove ‘wow and flutter’ speed fluctuations and so on. For me, it’s about the superb musician’s performances more than the sound sensibility, but it sounds well OK to me. So this is what you get. Play loud and enjoy!

What does the future hold for you? Can we expect to see a reformed Robin George band popping up at any festivals/tours or any new material to be released?

Yep. Both I hope. I’m ready to rock and so is the band!

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Diamond Rock Club, Ahoghill, Ballymena 21 June 2014 Supported by: Conjuring Fate Review and Photos by Stephen Brophy 16

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Rage Of Angels are the brainchild of Ged Rylands (Ten, Tyketto) and also containing Neil Fraser (Ten). With ROA's "Dreamworld" album being one of my favourite albums of 2013 and having been very eager to hear the tracks live you can imagine that there has been a little bit of excitement for this gig for me. Add to that the fact that this will be Rage Of Angels first Live show and it's taking place in for me one of the best venues in the Brittish Isles, the Diamond Rock Club in Ahoghill constantly manages to surprise me with the acts they manage to bring over and I have never been to a disappointing gig there, it may not be the biggest venue around but it's certainly run by people that are fans and love the music they put on there.

and they are attacking the Metal Scene in NI with gusto. Strangely enough I have never seen Conjuring Fate live before tonight, I've seen most Northern Irish Metal bands, either from my frequent visits up North or when NI bands play in Dublin, so was great to be able to see them, and damn are they good, after a brief Into it's straight into it, twin guitar, bass drums and vocals, Tommy Daly is certainly a vocalist not making his debut tonight, works like a pro and has a really good quality voice. In fact all around this band are impressive, great introduction for me to their music and look forward to seeing them again soon.

Along with there own songs we got an excellent cover of Helloween's "I Want Out" and a really nice touch when the lads got Eddie Currie of Worldsend up to play Worldsend's own "Enemy", as the But first lets talk about the support act, Conjuring Worldsend's lads were originally down to support Fate (8), a local band that have this year been but due to circumstances outside their control had re-invigorated by the addition of some new members to pull out.

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Onto the main act of the evening, the debut show from Rage Of Angels (10), personally I'd been waiting for this moment for the last 15 months, and could the guys produce what they had on the album, also we're throwing a new singer into the mix with Jason Morgan, lots of questions to be answered, and of course on a debut show there have been a few obstacles put in the guys way - for the Diamond Crew to get this gig on at all was a brilliant effort from all involved, so after a couple of technical problems the guys get going with the title track of the album "Dreamworld" and after only a few seconds all my queries are answered, and then some and I can't help but have a smile on my face, this is going to be something special, Jason is a powerhouse vocalist, and the first song makes those around the venue that may not have known much about Rage Of Angels that this is a band to be reckoned with. For the whole set to be standing right in front of Neil Fraser (Guitar) was truly a pleasure, he's not only a great guitarist but one of those players that you can just tell enjoys his work, so what do we get from ROA as a set, well it's the entire album, and that's just brilliant, how does Jason do handling tracks which on the album had been sung by some of the best vocalists in the business, to be absolutely honest I think he killed it, hit the nail on the head, and I pretty quickly just listened to his renditions of the songs and didn't think at all about the brilliant singers on the record, I don't think I can pay Jason a higher

compliment than that. "See You Walking By" and "Falling" were just excellent and then followed by my personal favourite "With The Beating Of Your Heart" which is a superb ballad and is even better live, this is one of those shows that you just have to say "I was there".

Ged Rylands has assembled something very special here, not only in the music they have created, but in the live band, along with Ged, Neil and Jason we have Gavin Cooper on Bass, Joao Colaco a beast of a drummer and Irvin Paratt tying it all together on Keyboards, these guys are all very impressive. This is shown really well on "Requiem For The Forgotten Soldier" and "We Live, We Breathe, We Die", the set is just getting better and better as we go along and the crowd is really getting into it, I notice I'm certainly not the only one singing along to the songs, not that I ever care if I am, it's just not to know sometimes that you are not alone, we also get bouncing versions of "Over and Over" and "Spinning Wheel" sung on the album by Danny Vaughn, with Jason making the point that Danny has more hair than him, the banter and crowd interaction with Jason and Ged throughout the show is also excellent and it's really nice that Ged took a moment to thank a number of people in attendance that have been supporting the band for a long time or that have travelled from around the UK, and Ireland to catch this show. The atmosphere was brilliant, and I hope the guys felt very much at home

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in the Diamond, it has that vibe all the time, so lets see that's the nearly the whole album done, and the guys are still on the stage, with no signs of them giving up, next up we get probably my favourite Ten track "Name Of The Rose", and what a great job the guys make of it, they leave the stage to loud applause and cries of more. This wasn't going to be a night for long delays backstage and the guys are back out pretty quickly to tear into "Prelude For The Gods" and another excellent track "Through It All" which completes the full album done live, and I have got to say it sounded amazing, Jason is an excellent vocalist and fits into the band perfectly, so how were they going to round off the Encore, belting out Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back In Town" with a very loud accompaniment from the crowd, not too difficult with Lizzy tracks in Ireland, North or South. All this gig has done for me is make me eagerly await the next time I get to see ROA live, in October and I really can't wait to hear what the guys have been working on for their second album. It's been some week for Ged, playing with Tyketto at Download and now finally getting to air his own bands songs in a live arena, tonight the Diamond Rock Club, Ahoghill was rockin' and rollin' and I can see the guys making a return at some stage in the near future. These are the nights that the travelling, buses etc are all irrelevant, I would have stood and watched them play that set all night long and still had that silly grin on my face, great band, great gig.

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Interviewed by Phil Schofield Transcribed by20 Carol TuckerFirebrand Magazine

Ok, joining me all the way from Sydney Australia we’ve got winners of Firebrand’s Band of the Month competition for May. Big ‘Hi’ to Matt, Alex, Amy and Sam, otherwise known as… Smokin Mirrors hi guys, how are you doing?

SM: Great Ok, it’s nice to be able to chat to you, you’ve put some nice tunes together that we’ll be playing throughout the show, before and after. Can I fist ask a question that I always like to start with and that is give me a bit of history and background on the band..

SM: I guess how we met, we’ll start with that one.

Well Matt, Sam and myself, we’ve been sort of jamming together since high school and we were just sort of like a garage band, we just played at lots of mate’s parties for free alcohol. We never really got off the ground and one day we decided we probably needed a guitarist and so we put an ad in the music street press here and found Alex How long would you say then was it before you started to gig on a regular basis where you started to play? I’m assuming you started to play local first of all? How long before you spread your wings and started to get regular bookings or play out of the state, so to speak?

SM: We were together for about six months before we actually went out on the road and started playing gigs but funnily enough our fist gig wasn’t a local one at all. We actually travelled up north to a place called Byron Bay with another band. It was this youth centre gig and it wasn’t well set up at all. Instead of having a wall of death, we had a wall of couches. It was people sitting down on couches, there was like about eleven people. It was like eight people sitting around drinking juice and we were rocking out on stage

What’s the success rate been on it? For our listeners, I’ve given the links to the web pages, the need to check out the videos and to see the making of it, were you trying to barbeque your guitarist, that’s what it looked like you were doing there. How much petrol can you pour on a couch or settee, depending on what people call it wherever they’re listening in radio land, just to give them a bit of an explanation. Just for a nice aesthetic effect, ala Steel Panther or some 80’s rock video that decided to set fire to a couch behind them while they have a guitarist throwing some shapes in front of it but too much petrol in it, it looks like you’re trying to burn the back of him SM: It went up a little bit more than what we expected. We didn’t really plan on how much petrol we were going to put on the couch, we just sort of doused it and hoped for the best. It wasn’t really well thought out as much. It was in a controlled environment, which was good but we had no idea how much the flame was gonna go up. We were shit scared we were gonna start a bushfire. We had people controlling it so it didn’t happen I’m sure you’re environmentally friendly of course, you used a premium or unleaded didn’t you? You didn’t use diesel?

SM: Absolutely ethanol, none of this E10 What about musical influences? We’re going to be playing some songs that you’ve put together, a great mix again. Some songs that people may know or may not know from back in the day and more recent but if I was to ask you either individually or collectively, you can obviously chuck in here, what kinds of songs or bands that have influenced you that have shaped the sound of Smokin Mirrors as it is today?

SM: It’s pretty varied collectively. Start off with Alex: I started off listening to anything 80’s, when the guitar was fast, heavy loud

You didn’t set fire to the couch did you and try to burn your guitarist?

SM: Nah, that came a bit later on but the fist gig was Such as? a memorable one for all the wrong reasons I think.

Alex: Metallica, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Darkness.

But about six months with writing and playing Basically anything that was good…. together before we actually got out on the road What about from a guitarist point of view? I love Recording wise, other than the EP, which you’ve to ask this question, I’m a bit of a guitarist myself. obviously released, the EP itself is not a new thing Not as good or adept as you are, as I see on the is it? How long ago since you recorded the EP video. What guitarist would you say you like to itself? listen to, who are your favourites?

SM: It was a long time ago, we recorded it probably Alex: Mat Freedman is huge about two years ago but we were sort of sitting on the recordings for awhile because we had some sort Jason Becker of record deal negotiations pending and we were Alex: He’s just no choice, they’re just phenomenal advised not to release our stuff in case we got the funding to record a full album but after a year Because of his fluidity and his shredding style? passed we realised that maybe it wasn’t going to Alex: Oh yeah, that too but more so the note choice I happen so we just decided to release it last guess. Gus G… November

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Matt: A lot of influences, aren’t really as much to do with bass but more to do with good song writing. I’ve had a bit of a wide path through music. I started off in high school, especially, I went really, really metal, almost like death metal. Sort of like Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, stuff like that. Really heavy, obviously a bit of an angry high school phase. As I slowly came out of that, I grew up with my dad playing a lot of live music, in a rock band as well and that’s sort of where I’ve come back to be a little bit more, I guess, like him. I love anything rock or metal, anything from Megadeth to Pantera to Metallica to Guns ‘n Roses. Pretty much anything, I’ll listen to blues and jazz. Anything with really good song writing usually grabs me Amy: I think that’s where we sort of all, because we do have very varied influences, that’s where we all meet in the middle. Songs that are well written, well structured, great melodies and really guitar driven, great riffs and awesome solos He’s in Ozzy’s band at the moment isn’t he? He’s fantastic Alex: And then all the way to George Benson Right, ‘Give me the Night’ Alex: Yeah and stuff like that SM: There’s no middle ground for me, it’s more the all out. It’s either all out metal/rock or jazz, 60’s, 70’s And the other guys?

Sam: Pretty much anything with catchy singing grabs more, like Foo Fighters, Guns ‘n Roses. Anything with a massive chorus but still very guitar driven is better Fantastic Amy: and as for me vocally, as a female vocalist I get compared to other famous female vocalists I guess that people know. I don’t really have many female influences at all.

Male ones?

Amy: Like I love Chris Cornell, Myles Kennedy, just those guys with the big blues voices. They’re playing over here very shortly, Alterbridge are playing a big Download festival that we’ve got next weekend. I’ve seen him with Slash a couple of times, the wife loves him to death. I don’t know if she loves his singing. I said,it’s because he keeps taking his shirt off, he’ll catch his death of cold, you know he really needs to put his shirt on. Must be because of the ladies.

Quite good because when you see the videos and people can catch you on line and listen to the EP, it comes across the mix that you put and the styles that you all bring together to the table, you’re very much up for a party, no nonsense, straight on just rock ‘n roll band if you like, without fitting into a slot that everybody tries to. What does Smokin Mirrors sound like? Well I said ‘they’ve got their own sort of sound, a bit eclectic sometimes but it’s screaming at you’. The first time I heard it, I don’t vote, just in case people think we get to vote on Band of the Month. I listen to the tracks from the bands, ourselves and the other band you laid waste to in the voting. I thought straight away, it stuck out a million miles. Quality varies from band to band, some are prepared for it, some just send in some demo tape they’ve done. It hit me straight away at how good, how sharp the quality is. It just hits you like a hammer when you hear the vocals screaming at you and the guitar just sears from end to end.

SM: Cheers! Big credit goes to Big Sun Studios, that’s where we recorded it. Those guys have done some well known bands that have made their way over to the UK and States as well . Just great guys, when we were first looking for a place to record, we took our music around everywhere and there were the guys that seemed really passionate about the kind of music that we play. A big shout out goes to them. We’re actually going in to record with them again in a couple of months time

What about you Matt?

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I was about to move onto that, recording plans because the EP itself, we have privy to listen to and I’ll be playing tracks on this hour special and we’ll be featuring it all month for the Band of the Month competition. So your plans on the horizon, I was going to say, it sounds like you’re now going to head in and record more songs, a full LP, what are you planning on doing?

Amy: Possibly, we have enough new songs to maybe record an LP but I think we’re just going to go in there and have a crack at everything and see how it turns out. We might end up recording a full album or we might end up just releasing another EP, just depending on the quality and how our finances are

sad and I guess the last sort of bastion that has a really thriving live music culture is down in Melbourne in the state of Victoria so other than Sydney, Sydney is wheezing like an emphysemic mule to keep it’s live music scene alive.

Distance wise then, when you’re travelling to play Melbourne, have you played Melbourne many times?

SM: Yeah definitely, that’s somewhere we’re trying to base ourselves more at the moment. It’s a little bit of a success as well. We really like going down there.

It’s probably the last place in Australia with a real culture of people that follow live music. That’s lacking in almost every other place. All the other places, like the major cities still have their good places you can What’s the situation, I always like to ask the go to. Sydney has a couple of places around which bands, you’re just outside Sydney in Gosford and you play all over. You do travel around and go out are great to go and see but Melbourne as a general of state, is it the situation with the sheer size and city still seems to have the culture Amy: The thing that happens in Melbourne is that vastness of Australia, when you travel around people actually go out just to see live music and that from state to state, gigs, do they tend to be geographically in certain areas or are there better just doesn’t happen pretty much anywhere else. If you play a place in Sydney, unless it’s at one or two areas to play in Oz then others? specific venues, the only people that are going to Amy: Yeah, absolutely, like you said with Australia being such a big place, it’s challenging to find pockets show up are the people that the bands bring themselves. You don’t just get random punters off of where live music figures prominently in the local the street so it’s a bit devastating but we’ve been on culture but I think as a nation, we’re actually plenty of road trips to Melbourne so we’re going to experiencing a bit of a live music crisis across the board. All over the country there are so man iconic keep doing that. It’s about eleven hours in the car live music venues that have been around for years Geez, but it’s interesting that you should say that. that are closing down or getting rid of the live music Sadly, it’s a global thing as well, it’s happened in factor, replacing fans with poker machines. It’s really England and Europe, you’re not alone in that. It

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was funny to watch the video, which I’ll refer to once again, a great idea that you can just kidnap people and chuck them in the back of a van then they all wake up and do a gig. I think that would be one hell of a gig to go to, I’d love that. ‘Go and catch a band playing’…’I can’t be bothered, I’ll stay and see if there’s something mind numbing, banal on TV’, as a lot of people do. Why not go out and support the local bands. These local bands are not going to grow organically or grow any bigger unless people get out there and start supporting and then it’s the case that the don’t want to pay unless it’s a name but then they’re quite happy to give a bunch of dollars or pounds, as we are in England to watch those big bands trot out the same old songs as they’ve done before…. People won’t go unless it’s a name band, so they can buy the t-shirt and disappear. It’s turned into a bit of a political rant this part. It’s very good that bands like yourselves and lots of other up and coming artists do at least still need a vehicle. They need somewhere to play, rather than play in their own back yard or the garage or in a swimming pool or something like that.

SM: It’s definitely something like that here, which is it’s a bit of a crisis at the moment and I guess the only thing you can hope for … there’s been a lot of attention made with the fact that there is a bit of a crisis here and you hope that that translates a bit of a kick into action from people Amy: there’s some positives that have come out of it, that I have found, especially in Sydney because like I said the Sydney scene is quite terrible. One of the positives that has come out of it is there’s a huge amount of camaraderie with all of the bands because everybody knows how hard it is and everybody knows how had each other’s working and the bands support each other so there is a real sense of community, which I really value So there’s a little bit of networking going on that you can pass on from band to band to keep the spirit of live music alive and well.

Amy: We still have the likes of ourselves and there’s quite a few up and coming bands from Australia that are still rocking Would you say the music scene, from the kind of music that you play, if you were to try and give an overview of the kinds of music, let’s talk rock mainly, as being a rock radio station, what kinds of rock would you say are predominant in the times of going to book bands? If I give you an example of what occurs over in this country. They go more for the indie bands.

Amy: OMG I’ve hit the nail on the head, sounds like it’s the same?

Amy: People have forgotten the meaning of the word

‘rock’, that is just how I feel. There’s these bands that just wear their hipster clothes and the play like two notes. They’ll slap rock on any band that uses the guitar even if they’re using it scratch their balls or something…

Ooh tough, exactly I couldn’t agree with you more.

The term ‘rock’ is used too easily to describe bands that are anything but rock. I listen to stations and that’s the first thing I say ‘ that’s not rock’, especially on the BBC when they’re saying ‘up and coming rock band’. Well how long has this been if they’re a rock band? What sort of a rock concert have you been to where they spend more on the clothing and the hairstyle, the look and the image, then you could actually say ‘ give me a bit of a background as to what it is you like in rock’.

The next minute they’ve changed the style completely because it sells records or it shifts units Amy: Yeah and that’s a huge problem. I wish we had more stations like Firebrand in Australia because there is such a lack of support. On the one hand, we’ve got this live scene, like we’ve said on it’s last legs then on top of that there’s no support for rock music. We could start an indie band and get airplay, you know, like next week if we wanted to. It’s so much easier for indie bands than it is for real kick ass rock bands SM: We’ve got mates in sort of more high rock bands similar to the style that we play, I guess and we’ve seen them have great success just by going overseas and touring overseas or getting picked up and that seems to be the only way. A great tale on that, you know of the band Airborne Airbourne are supporting Black Stone Cherry over here. They’re doing an arena tour and Airbourne are actually doing it with Black Stone Cherry & Theory Of A Deadman.

SM: The funny thing about that is, we’ve known Airbourne for awhile as well, they come over here and play tiny venues and barely any people come out.

They still get decent turnouts at venues but they’re just small venues but they can go play arenas and stadiums in Europe or in the UK and everybody knows who the are and they’re huge. It’s almost a little bit ridiculous. They’re so much bigger overseas then they are in their own country. You’ve seen that, we’ve got a couple of bands, who we’re friends with here that have gone and just toured in Europe with like Skid Row and Buck Cherry but the come and they play on the same local level like as we do in Australia. It is a big sot of problem over here I guess in our band of music, like we were just talking about, the term rock just gets thrown around everywhere like it’s a big sorta thing. It’s a big talking point amongst ourselves and other bands that we know into our style of music. Do we just get out of the country and tour or do we stay here and fight?

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It’s a very, very interesting video if you watch the Slash song. If you’ve got access to YouTube, which obviously everybody has, I find a get an awful lot of requests for the Slash with Fergie song, only because she ties him up in some black bedroom and assaults him with some leather underwear. A very, very interesting video. We’ll exhaust that and move swiftly on. Are there any other artists you would look to play with?

SM: Probably Dave Grohl, puts on an amazing show eve time. I’ve seen them a couple of times but one time they played for two and a half hours, just non stop energy, so much passion and he’s a mad spokesman for Amy: It’s really sad. We’ve gotten advice from so many different people that if we want to make it then rock in general we just need to get out of Australia because no matter how loud we scream nobody’s gonna listen to He gets around a bit, he’s played with McCartney and he did the Led Zeppelin performance. He does our music cos it’s not hip right now. the inaugurations into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Well let’s hope that this is a vehicle that puts you Fame. He’s a massive Rush fan, the guy’s musical talent belies him, this guy used to be a drummer in firmly on the map and who knows we might get a band! you on a support tour with Airborne SM: He’s unreal, I do love the fact that he’s the big, Amy: That would be awesome!! outspoken guy just for live music in general and for rock music as well. Sort of a big voice to have, I’d like to get answers to some curve ball questions as I’ve mentioned before. If I was to ask you, certainly helps out anyway money being no object and let’s say these people were alive or dead, you get to play with anybody at Where can people catch more if people are interested to listening to more of Smokin Mirrors? all, one of your heroes, as I said they could have been passed away from yesteryear. If you had the We have posted the links up on the station and I’m going to feature the links so the listeners can opportunity and they said there was a venue you check out more wok. Where can people check out could play and we’re gonna get so and so to turn up, who would the kinds of artists you would like to Smokin Mirrors if they like and see the video that I’ve posted as well? You’re quite predominant on stand on stage or play with?

Facebook, you’ve got your own Facebook page SM: That’s such a tough question because there’s yeah? so many. If we could choose I suppose, alive o dead SM: Yeah, that’s pretty much our main website, the Amy: You mean who we would like to support on Facebook page so facebook.com/smokinmirrors stage or who we would like to actually play with on and Smokin is spelt ‘s m o k i n’ An occasional stage? confusion point Amy: We picked a confusing band name Play with on stage Amy: I’d have to say Slash, I’ve been obsessed with It’s just when you put in some search engines it Slash since I was in early high school so yes, I think takes you to right strange sites. I don’t need that would be awesome. He plays with lots of double glazing, there’s nothing wrong with it. You different vocalists got smokey windows? No…Oh Smokin Mirrors, yeah..are you on Twitter?

Of course he does, you listen to the one with Fergie, the track they did and the recording on his SM: Yep, we’re on Twitter so it’s snm_ben We’re on first Slash and Friends album before he got Myles Twitter as well, YouTube is Youtube/user/ smokinmirrorsmusic to sit in the seat Amy: I think if you go to our Facebook page, it has all Amy: That song actually kicked ass, I was very the links to all our other sites impressed with Fergie on that song

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Not forgetting those funny videos SM: It’s something that we like to do and going back to the Dave Grohl thing, especially for us, one thing I do always love about him, he never took himself seriously and just took the piss a little bit of every sort of video that he made and it made the videos just timeless, in a way. You could always go and watch those and even if you weren’t a huge fan, you’d still laugh at the ridiculous stuff they’d do Amy: I think that’s one of the big things I don’t fancy about the indie music scene as well is that all those bands all just take themselves so seriously. The can’t laugh at themselves

so once we’ve got that recorded and put together then we’re probably gonna go on a thee date mini tour, just some major cities and that sort of stretches in between July and August and apart from that we’re going to be busy writing, recording and tinkering with songs, getting ready for a really big tour once we do the next CD, which is as of yet, we have no real plans on when we’re going to release that. So that’s the general strategy at the moment I guess in terms of gigging

Well, it’s been lovely to talk with you. Looks like you had great fun last night when you were out playing.

And you’re hopefully going to enjoy the rest of your Please don’t smile in the video…no it’s just not cool evening and tomorrow when you get a day of relaxation or some cups of tea that you can to smile partake in? Fantastic that you’ve won Band of the Amy: Yeah, just look at your shoes Month. Well done and congratulations again from Anyway, on the horizon, gig wise, as I was all the people here in the UK and Firebrand mentioning before, what’s the plans for the band Amy: And a massive thankyou to everybody who as it stands at the moment? Yes, you’re looking to supported and voted for us. I know we spammed a go back in and lay down some tunes and see where lot of people so it goes fom there, how busy are you gig wise?

SM: We’re just doing a couple of between tour shows at the moment to stay sharp and all that sort of stuff but we’ve got a bit of a mini tour coming up soon. We’re actually filming in a couple of weeks for one of the songs off the EP called ‘State of the Mind’,

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Wulfrun Hall Wolverhampton 3 May 2014, Supported by: Neonfly Review and Photos by Reg Richardson

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energy that Magnum probably wouldn't be capable of these days.

This was Magnum's "Escape from the Shadow Garden" tour and if Ken Dodd had misplaced any of his Diddymen from the Jam Butty mines in Knotty Ash then they were here and out in force, dressed in their purple tour t-shirts, daft little purple pointy hats and red noses! Some of them did look like the Ribena blackcurrants though (other brands of blackcurrant squash are also available).The set was one of two distinct halves; the first half consisting of songs taken from the most recent albums. The set got underway with 'Live til you Die' from the 2014 'Escape from the Shadow Garden' album and was followed by 'Black Skies' and 'Freedom Day' both from 2011's 'The Visitation'. A couple of songs from the 2012 album 'On the 13th Day' came next before it was back to the most recent release for 'Unwritten Sacrifice'. It was clear that Bob Catley had gone to the same School of Hand Signals as Uriah Heep's Mick Box but I suspect they may have been in different classes, despite being in the same school year, since Bob's hand waving was far more majestic that that of Mr. Box! Well, this was a great turn out at the Wulfrun Hall, not far off full capacity in fact. All here to see Magnum, the band that started out in the early 1970's as house band at Birmingham's Rum Runner night club. Formed by current frontman, Bob Catley, and guitarist, Tony Clarkin this pair have been the constants in the line-up for the band's entire existence.

Before the main act we had a session provided by NeonFly, a London-based five-piece. It was difficult to pin down a genre for this outfit, a little bit metal, a little bit rocky, a little bit sleazy. Frontman Willy Norton is certainly an individual with his helium-toned voice and dapper dress sense. The rest of the band are fine musicians and the set livened up the crowd quite nicely, exuding levels of

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We were almost half way through the set and it was time for a complete change in era as the setlist travelled right back to give some of the early albums an airing.

Songs from 'On a Storytellers Night', 'Chase the Dragon', 'Vigilante' & 'Kingdom of Madness' made up the large majority of the songs played, the main set ending with the title track from the latter of these.

loved it, as did everyone else in the packed hall; this wasn't rocket science, it was just a tried and trusted formula that the band have followed for decades and it works. Over the past few months I've had the pleasure of seeing bands such as Magnum, Uriah Heep and UFO play to largely full venues and it's been brilliant to see new generations of music fans coming along to these gigs and watch some of the veterans of British music still at the top of their game.

Bob Catley looked resplendent in his electric blue jacket while master composer and songwriter, Tony Clarkin, played consistently well alongside him. The low end was supplied by the excellent Al Barrow and at the back of the stage, more often than not blanketed in stage smoke, were Mark Stanway on keyboards and Thunder's Harry James on drums both working hard to maintain the musical balance.

The bunch of blackcurrants, sorry - escapees, pinned up against the press barrier

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Rick chats to Phoebe Pinnock Transcribed by Carol Tucker I’m an extremely lucky chap tonight. I have with me the absolutely gorgeous Phoebe Pinnock from Heaven the Axe and it’s just been a week of gorgeous women. It’s such a hard life for me…

Phoebe good evening how are you?

Hi how are you?

Yeah, Miss Pinnock, I don’t want to hear any comments from your legal team please, honestly really. I’m not even going to go down that road because it will get me into trouble, I know what the last time was like. I had a very famous interview with a mate of mine from Adelaide a couple of years ago and we got taken over and it ended up Absolutely great thankyou, how’s life in Australia? being a lesson in how to speak Australian. It went Oh well, it’s good. Everybody’s writing songs about on for hours and it was the most hilarious thing how much they hate the Prime Minister so it’s really ever because obviously there is mainly quite a quite an inspired time considerable load of differences, considering over here a thong is underwear and a thong over there Haha, well it’s a good source of material for people is something you wear on your feet and the to get their teeth into I guess really differences with Sellotape and they just went nuts.

Yeah, definitely every time I sit down to write a song I got my thongs on right now it is definitely. I have to get the political rant out of the way before something entertaining comes along.

I don’t need that mental image really Even that’s very entertaining to bag out Tony Abbott. Speaking Australian is a lot of fun though. I guess we

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sound very weird to you No, you don’t actually Well, I had an English mother so I was kind of brought up with a bit of that English tone in my voice so I can say, ‘Would you like a cup of tea’ but then when I’m around my band it’s like ‘Come on, get your shit together, play the drums, lock it in good’ and a lot more swearing..

That’s the way it’s got to be, I’m like that. I manage a couple of bands as well and I’m like that with my bands. Yeah..get your shit together..it’s fun and games That’s the fun about being in a band, is being able to swear copiously and have the most outrageous time but still achieve lots of stuff so that’s..I don’t think I could work with people I couldn’t swear at

listening to. But with Australian ones, it’s like nine of every ten Wow, that’s cool It’s like there’s nothing else to do in Australia but to do music Well I guess there’s a really good rock/metal scene over here. I’m not sure what’s really good though as I haven’t been able to compare it to the rest of the world because we’re so far away Would you consider that a hindrance with the band?

Oh yeah definitely. We would like nothing more than to get on a plane and go and play and meet new friends all around the world, new fans and perform.

We really would like to do that definitely with this next album that we’re doing

Well, that’s got to be a way with things?? You said that you’ve got an English mother, were you from England originally?

No, my mother was from Cornwall but she moved around a whole lot. She came from a lot of different places. I have brothers over there and cousins…’hi Vincent, Marcus, Emma and all my beautiful cousins’, they’re all over there but I haven’t been over there to meet them yet so I can’t wait to

Oh new album, when’s that coming?

We’re writing it at the moment. We’ve had a few setbacks with the band. We had a great lineup, we were all living together last couple of years in a big house with a massive band room and that was really nice and we all got on great but then everyone seemed to have some sort of torrential, personal setback in some area all in the last few months of last year and our bass player nearly died. He’s great now, he’s back. We did have to get a new guitarist, You’ve gotta get over and bring the band with you which was beautiful. We’ve got Eddie Lacy. He was in a bunch of amazing Australian bands. We’re just so and this is the main point why I brought you on blessed we have such a great community of artists here tonight. Just tell us about your incredibly that hang out at the house and write with us. So brilliant band Heaven the Axe we’re just really enjoying going underground for a Thankyou so much. We love it, we’re a little family little while. Not playing any shows locally and just you know focussing on new material rather than just keep on touring and doing the older material Yeah, I’ve been a big fan since I first heard you guys and you’ve done phenomenally well Yeah ‘Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n Roll’ is a fantastic Thankyou, it’s amazing how you can just put album, it really is. If you’ve not heard it folks, get something on the internet and people will get out there and really try and track it down because involved from all over the world. It’s such a special, it really is worth listening to amazing, magic thing You can find it on our website at heaventheaxe.com It’s kind of weird with Australians because There you go, even better particularly when you’re dealing with Australian Mail it out all the time bands because there doesn’t seem to be a bad one out there. We get submissions from Aussie One of the things obviously, you’ve just done a title bands all the time obviously and we also get submissions from a lot of UK bands, European etc. track for a TV series I believe Yes, it’s the most out there, craziest TV show. I can’t Out of the European and the rest of the world ones, it seems like two out of every ten are worth believe it!!

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For anybody that’s in the UK or Europe who has no idea what a bogan is, I’m sure that Phoebe will explain it Well I think from what I gather from our fans from overseas, a bogan is similar to a redneck in America.

Do you have a term over there that you use? It’s totally lower class, like just doesn’t give a rat’s arse about anything, likes to drink and get stoned and listen to AC/DC and just be a total swag! There’s many profanities that’s used to describe it. Everyone in Australia that’s into rock and metal prides themselves on being somewhat of a bogan so it does have a bit of pride about it but really straight, upper class people would ‘poo poo’ them

Unfortunately these guys all dress in tracksuits, listen to music and drink cheap cider. You can always find them in the gutter on a Friday night That is exactly the same over here for sure when it comes to a bogan

Well yeah, the track’s great, the video too. Where the hell do you find the energy for doing your videos?

Well we just did that performance in the bush that’s just around the corner from our new house now that we call the Axe treehouse so we went out into the bush and did that performance there and then the rest of the clip is footage from the TV show. So that was quite easy because the TV show people, who are We have something over here, unfortunately being amazing, they made that clip. They asked us to write the UK, ours is a bit sort of weird. They’re called the song because they used a lot of our music in chavs over here. It stands for ‘Council House And Violent’ That sounds like exactly what it is

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their other series, which is called ‘Houso’s’ and houso’s is like chavs.

for sure.

I’ve heard about that series. A lot of Australians seem to rave about it If you can get it, they won’t mind me saying download it. Get onto it if you can get onto a torrent. When we first saw it, we loved it. We laughed so hard. It was Christmas time, we had Skitz who’s one of our drummers, who’s just toured all around America with a band called King Parrott. He came over and we rewound the whole series, we sat there eating devils on horseback and watching it from scratch and anyone that would come to the door, we’d take it straight back to episode one and watch it and laugh.

So when we got our music to be the soundtrack for their movie and their series too, we were just stoked and then we just continued to work with them and they asked us to write this theme song for ‘Bogan Hunters’, which is what you are talking about now.

I saw a video come out literally a couple of weeks ago and it’s fantastic. Again it’s got that manic, sort of catchiness that everything else I’ve seen from you guys has got. It’s got that hook, which is just really cool. One of my favourites, well I always loved ‘Enemy’. It’s a great track and the video too was done superbly well The guy that made that video is actually in my loungeroom now. He’s just come over to say ‘G’day’ so he’s sitting out there. He’s great, we spent so much time and effort doing that clip. We did it all with no money at all because we were quite bogan ourselves at that time, just touring and not having any money or anything, just entirely focussing on investing all our money into getting around the country and showing off what we got so everything in that clip was done for nothing at all. So it took quite abit of effort and work to make it happen without the finances. It was great to have the support that we did to get it all happening. That was the first time I’ve ever made a clip. This is the first band I’ve ever been in so just want to create and be unstoppable at it.

I see that drive and energy does come across in that video, it really does. One thing I meant to ask was what about touring because obviously, from what I understand, touring in Australia is a bit of a nightmare Well I don’t know because this is all we know but say we live in Melbourne and if we wanted to do and do a show in Sydney then it’s about a ten hour drive and you take all your gear and the rest of your stuff and unless you can fly, which is really expensive so it can be a lot of fun but it is quite expensive and Sydney just doesn’t have the scene that Melbourne has too so it’s a lot of money to get there and it’s just not the same as playing a show in Melbourne and Melbourne’s the rock capital, Melbourne’s rock city

I’ve got friends in Melbourne and it’s kind of funny because one of the things that I’ve always wanted to do was to interview Airbourne and I was speaking to this mate of mine and he actually says ‘just hang on a minute’ …footsteps walking away from the computer and says ‘I was just speaking to Dave Rhodes over the back garden fence’. I’m like ‘what the hell?’ It’s just the whole network in Melbourne is pretty tight but the weird thing is no band seems to know each other Really?

Well, from the sort of feedback I get, yeah. It’s like ‘have you heard of these guys from Melbourne’ and it’s ‘no, never heard of them ’ You know more about Melbourne bands than we do.

It’s kind of funny because a lot of the people I know originally came from Perth, which obviously has a big scene as well but they all moved to Melbourne because kangaroo steaks are cheap! Also, you mentioned the television stuff, do you see that as a way forward for bands these days because as we know the market is financially drying up for musicians now?

I think you have to look at it as your band’s a business, you’ve got to see it as a product and a service that you sell and keep it entertaining as well so if you look at it as something that’s in demand and try to find the demand for it then you’re on a winner.

Some bands win when it comes to live. We have really great live shows and some bands have great music but don’t have great live shows and some bands have brilliant music but they just have no idea how to promote themselves on the internet. It’s very tricky, you just need to be across everything really and do what works for you. You’ll figure out your tone and you’ll figure out what it is that your fans connect to about your particular project and then you need to keep just thinking outside the box, think of opportunities for it because at the end of the day this band is far more than just a band. It’s our family and we love to be together and we love creating and we just love whatever we create. It’s not about any sort of, I don’t know, we just really enjoy it and this year, taking time off from playing live and writing has given us more of that perspective of how much we love it and enjoy each other and enjoy writing and the whole process of creating.

That’s actually quite a good thing to hear and I hope a lot of bands out there are listening to this are actually paying attention. It is not just about getting your instruments out and playing a few songs, there is a lot more to running a band than just that. You’d be surprised the amount of bands that do not treat it as a business

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I’d say probably ten percent is getting the music right because the amount of work that goes in after you’ve got something to promote to the world is mind boggling It certainly is but I say bands need to take note of all this because if you don’t then it’s going to be their fault, particularly in this sort of modern age of crap turnouts at venues, poor cd sales, iTunes sucking the life out of your very existence. I’m sorry, I’m on a rant about these things this morning Well it’s looking at that too and looking at how you want to live your life. If you want to live your life as a musician but you want to have money or you want to have other interests and things like that, you really gotta look at how you treat yourself and how you respect yourself and then how you go about achieving all those things because at the end of the day it becomes hard work. The things that excite you about the first release will just not be the same thing that excites you about the second thing. I know that when we finally completed our first video clip, I had a moment when I sat there and went ‘ahhh I did it, I’m at the top of the mountain’, I’m a Capricorn, ‘I’m here’ and I remember having this vision turning around, standing on the top of this mountain I’d created and looking and all I saw was a massive, massive new mountain right in front of me and I was at the bottom of the mountain, I realised. It just doesn’t end, you gotta enjoy it every day Exactly, obviously you guys do. So you’re writing the new material at the moment and you’ve got a new lineup of the band, which we’ll be showing you photographs of that hopefully later in the month folks, what’s next?

We’re writing more music for the Houso’s and the Bogan Hunters, who are making a new feature film called ‘Houso’s vs Fat Pizza’. Fat is just another series they made, which is a huge hit in Australia at the moment. All you have to do is look up Houso’s Facebook page or download the show and you’ll see how big they are. What’s that girl? I can’t remember her name, Fat Amy? She’s a really famous Hollywood actor but she was in Fat Pizza, that’s where she first started, Rebel Wilson her name is

we have some new material, which we have so many songs. I’ve probably 300 songs just for the band ready to go. My husband, Steve and I write all the music together I guess but now that we have this new guitarist Eddy, who’s just amazing. He’s such a great song writing contributor so we’re like little kids in a toy shop with Eddy. We’re just like ‘yes, come here!’ and he’s just so amazing so we’ve got this whole new dimension that we never had before, in terms of a band member actively contributing to the song writing Didn’t I see a poster the other day on Facebook that you and Steve are celebrating your 11 anniversary?

I know, it’s so funny because we were so young when we got married. Like Kylie and Tommy?? style love affair and people would’ve been at our wedding saying ‘this is going to end in tears’ but we’re so madly crazily, totally, ridiculously in love and it’s great because when we go on tour, we’re on tour together.

One person’s not left at home, it’s like this whole awesome adventure and it just gets better and better Congratulations on that, I know that after 11 years others are basically trying to dig an escape tunnel but I guess we both have the same dream in life. We’ve got everything in common so that helps I was getting to the stage of planning assassinations, the whole works but that’s just me. Well hopefully, ideally we will see you over here next year. It would be an ideal thing to see you come over to some of the UK/Europe festivals and blow most of the European bands off the stage because I think that is what would happen if you guys came over, seriously Well all it takes is a flight and a couple of emails so I’m sure it’s not going to be too hard to do hopefully, fingers crossed

If there’s anything we can do to help through the station, we always will. Phoebe, where can people find out about you guys if they don’t know about you already?

You can google Heaven the Axe and we’re on I’ll definitely have to check it out because I’ve seen Facebook, we’ve got our website where you can see a fair few loaded comments from my Aussie all our videos there on the front page and stream buddies about how great this TV show is. What will our music on Soundcloud, Spotify, Deezer, Twitter, all be the ideal for Heaven the Axe over the next of it, everywhere twelve months?

Well, what our plan is, is to go into lockdown and Phoebe, it’s been a great pleasure to have you on write at the moment and that’s what we’re doing as always as ever and it’s been too flaming long as and we’ve got some great songs that we’re doing, well we’ve got a couple of different drummers as well, So great to hear your voice Rick, thanks for having that’s always as we do and then we really want to set me and thanks to everyone for listening our sights on making some connections overseas so that we can tour overseas, hopefully next year when Look forward to doing it again very soon

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Final Fantasy XIV Patch 2.3 - Defenders of Eorzea The trailer for Patch 2.3 is here 'Defenders of Eorzea' is scheduled to go live on 8th July.

Delve into the mystery of Ramuh and learn why he must be faced in combat.

As well as the latest story content, new dungeon environments and quests 'Defenders of Eorzea' also sees the introduction of the highly anticipated three-faction Frontline PvP, Chocobo Raising and much, much more.

Ahoy! One Piece Unlimited World Red Set Sails Today In European And Australasian Stores Journey to the Mysterious Island!

Bandai Namco Games Europe S.A.S announced today that One Piece Unlimited World Red is available in Europe and Australasia! This new game is playable on PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, Nintendo 3DSTM handheld system and Wii UTM! One Piece Unlimited World Red is an action-adventure RPG game developed by Ganbarion Co., Ltd., based on the widely popular and praised ONE PIECE manga created by the renowned mangaka Eiichiro Oda. Boasting amazing and exclusive content, this new game offers hours of exciting gameplay where the players’ will happily discover two brand new haracters –Red and his follower Pato– through an

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cepic original storyline! Topping that; an all-new mode called Battle Coliseum mode, inspired by the Dressrosa story arc, the characters compete in a tourney to test their battle abilities. During this tournament, the fighters contest in five different battle types: In Battle Royal, the players fight against two mighty opponents or against one mighty foe supported by a swarm of enemies In Duel gamers fight one-on-one against one tough enemy.

In Scramble, the contenders compete against a swarm of weaker enemies, The heroes battle against the most dangerous bosses of the One Piece universe in Boss Rush Try the Special Match to challenge your battle skills using preselected characters to win in battles that cannot be witnessed in the One Piece storyline!

“Our association with Ganbarion Co. Ltd has been successful for years, yet we prove it again with the release of a high quality One Piece game on 4 different platforms! Having tons of new first-class content to fulfil all fans’ desires is a true honour and an objective to us, and we are sure that our most enthusiastic followers will enjoy it!” Herve Hoerdt, Vice President of IP Strategy at Bandai Namco Games Europe.

For all the fans eager to have exclusive items, the Straw Hat Edition offers 10 outfits (Luffy Strong World Adventure outfit and the Anniversary Pack with 9 outfits commemorating Japan’s 15th Anniversary of the One Piece Animated series – this item won’t be sold later!) and a unique quest where the 2 brothers are re-united: “Flame Fist & Straw Hat”.

The Straw Hat Edition can be purchased from leading retailers, including Amazon by visiting http:// tinyurl.com/njvyeec Surprises aren’t stopping here as BANDAI NAMCO Games Europe created a special Chopper Edition with all of the above items, plus a Key Holder of Chopper, 10 stickers of the Straw Hat Crew members and the game logo, Wall scroll of Chopper, lanyard with Chopper, Artbook and the Takoyaki DLC Pack (3 costumes & 1 quest)!

The Chopper Edition will be available for PS3 only and is only available to purchases from GAME. To pre-order your Chopper Edition, please visit http://tinyurl.com/p3rkg5z For all the excited gamers waiting for the upcoming additional adventures of Luffy and his friends, a season-pass is available on the PlayStation®Network! http://bngames.eu/OPUWRPS3SeasonPass The challenging One Piece Unlimited World Red is now available on European and Australasian shores for PlayStation®3, PlayStation®Vita, Nintendo 3DSTM and Wii UTM. For the latest news and updates, check www.OnePiece-Game.com. For the latest videos, check bngames.eu/

OPunlimitedworldredvideos.

For more information about BANDAI NAMCO Games’ entire line up, go to www.BandaiNamcoGames.eu.

Hasbro And Activision Publishing, Inc. Ignite The Galaxy With Transformers: Rise Of The Dark Spark, Out Now Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) and Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), bring together two universes for the first time ever in a Transformers franchise video game with the release of Transformers: Rise Of The Dark Spark, a thirdperson action adventure game. ”Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark engages the fans with digital game play that brings all stories together,” explained Mark Blecher, SVP Digital Gaming & Corporate Development at Hasbro. “Transformers: Rise Of The Dark SPARK links the unique universes of the live-action Transformers films from director Michael Bay and Paramount Pictures – including the upcoming Transformers: Age Of Extinction – and Activision’s priorCYBERTRON video games.”

Transformers: Rise Of The Dark Spark continues the saga of the valiant Autobots and villainous Deceptions, sentient robotic life forms who bring their cataclysmic war across the galaxy to planet Earth. The battle for the Dark Spark – an ancient, destructive relic, equal in power to the Matrix of Leadership – spans the Transformers ruined home world of Cybertron in the past, as well as their new sanctuary on Earth. Over 40 playable Autobots and Decepticons from both sides fuel this perilous conflict, inspired by many of the amazing action sequences directed by Michael Bay, across the game’s engrossing single player campaign and its wave-based, cooperative multiplayer mode, Escalation.

Transformers: Rise Of The Dark Spark’s Escalation mode incorporates a handful of new additions, including empowering offensive and defensive utilities like turrets, decoys and barricades, while the inclusion of special mini-boss Power Foes from Transformers lore makes each battle even more personal. Player progression has also evolved, offering character levelling and unlockable load-out choices that carry through both single player and multiplayer, no matter which mode players’ use. And newly introduced HACKs allow players to alter the core game experience, modifying factors like enemy health and behaviour to their liking for greater challenge and reward.

Transformers: Rise Of The Dark Spark is available now on Sony’s PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems,

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Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Nintendo’s Wii U™ system and Windows PC and is rated PEGI 12. The Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system edition is rated PEGI 7. For more information, please visit www.TransformersGame.com.

The Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system edition of Transformers: Rise Of The Dark Spark is a hybrid turn-based tactical strategy game in which opposing armies attack each other on a battlefield where smart tactics reign supreme. Players may fight with special abilities and ranged attacks, or choose to engage the enemy in a 1v1 3D combat arena. The game’s single-player campaign traverses both Transformers factions over more than 30 missions across Earth and Cybertron.

Transformers: Age Of Extinction, the fourth film in director Michael Bay’s global blockbuster franchise, stars Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Sophia Myles, Li Bingbing, Titus Welliver and T. J. Miller. Produced by Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto and Ian Bryce. Based on Hasbro’s Transformers™ Action Figures. Written by Ehren Kruger.

Lost Orbit Greenlit by Steam Community PixelNAUTS Inc, an independent game studio, today announced that Lost Orbit has been Greenlit. After a few short months on Steam Greenlight, Lost Orbit garnered thousands of votes, broke into the top 100 and was Greenlit on June 25th 2014.

You can check out the official Steam announcement “June 25th Batch of Greenlight Titles” and Lost Orbit’s Steam Greenlight page (http:// steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/? id=229624829)

Stranded after his ship is destroyed in deep space, Harrison, a lowly maintenance worker and our hero, must struggle to find his way home...

Lost Orbit centers around the exploration of space.

Players take control of a lone astronaut (Harrison) who sets off on a dangerous journey to rejoin his civilization, armed with only an improvised set of equipment and a relentless spirit. Without the help of his ship, Harrison will need to use the gravitational forces of planets to navigate and propel himself through space.

Set in a world rich with comedy and tragedy, Lost Orbit is a game filled with risk, loneliness, wonder, and death.

Lost Orbit is scheduled for a Summer 2014 release on Dead Island: Epidemic - The World's First ZOMBA Explained In A New Trailer From Deep PC.

Silver Larkspur, Calif. - June 26, 2014 - What do deadly umbrellas, flaming trumpets, shark tornados and legions of gruesome zombies have in common? Today Deep Silver releases the Dead Island: Epidemic gameplay trailer to explain everything you need to know about the world's first *ZOMBA* (Zombie Online Multiplayer Battle Arena).

Dead Island: Epidemic, the Free-to-Play PC game is currently in Closed Beta. Those who want to join the zombie slashing party can now get one of 3 digital Early Access starter packs. A detailed overview of the different packs (Patient Zero, Deadicated and Contagion) available for purchase now can be found online at www.playdie.net.

Dead Island: Epidemic pits three teams of players against each other in a desperate fight for survival. Dead Island: Epidemic is a Free-to-Play PC title that features all the trademark zombie-slaughtering elements that are hallmark of any Dead Island experience.

Gameplay Features · Explore 40 levels set across 4 unique solar systems on your perilous journey home. · Each level features a detailed ranking system and time trial mode. · Choose and upgrade your set of abilities to customize Harrison as you see fit through a light RPG system. · Boost, swim, bounce, leap and teleport your way through a myriad of obstacles. · Simple and intuitive controls make the game easy to pick up, yet surprisingly deep. · Balanced between tense technical moments and cathartic graceful flight, LOST ORBIT is a game that is instantly immersive and satisfying to play. · Die alone in space; where no one will know of your struggle.

Nickelodeon Continues Relationship With Activision Publishing, Inc. To Produce The Legend Of Korra Video Game Nickelodeon and Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) today announced plans to develop and publish the first-ever video game inspired by the fan-favourite animated series, The Legend of Korra. The Legend of Korradigital video game is developed by PlatinumGames, Inc. and capitalises on the studio’s pedigree of creating visually flourishing experiences with fast-paced, dynamic combat. The game is planned to be available for download this autumn on Sony’s

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PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems; Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC. The game is provisionally rated PEGI 12.

The Legend of Korra fans will have the unique opportunity to select the cover art for this digital video game by voting on three different concepts drawn by one of the show’s character designers, Christie Tseng. Fans can visit https://www.facebook.com/legendofkorra to cast their vote. Voting will run until 31st June at 8am GMT. “We are thrilled to expand our relationship with Activision Publishing, Inc. to bring the hit animated series from TV screens to gamers everywhere,” said Yaacov Barselah, Vice President of Games & Digital Publishing New Business, Nickelodeon. “Capturing the true essence and exquisite creative of the series, The Legend of Korra games are sure to captivate fans as they delve into the rich and exciting world of Korra.”

The Legend of Korra video game follows Korra, a strong-willed young woman who, as the reincarnation of the Avatar, can bend the four primal forces of nature to her will. Scripted by staff writer Tim Hedrick and consulted by series co-creators and executive producers Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino, the game's original adventure takes place between Books Two and Three of the TV programme allowing for an authentic Avatar experience. The game’s cell-shaded visuals recreate the beautiful look and immersive feel of the show, with colourful, vivid detail going into every action, elemental effect and animated story sequence.

The Legend of Korra is a single player, action-packed brawler, in which Korra's mastery of martial arts and the four elements – fire, earth, air and water – can be used on the fly to bolster her combos and counters against foes. Throughout the game, Korra's polar bear-dog, Naga, will aid her in high-speed traversal segments. The game also brings to life the series' competitive sport, Pro-Bending, in which teams of three use the elements to fight for territory in an arena.

A handheld version of The Legend of Korra for the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system is also being developed by Webfoot Technologies, as a retail-only release. The handheld version of the game will feature a similar story and is a single-player, turn-based strategy RPG, in which players focus on tactically manoeuvring Korra and her allies on the battlefield.

experience is now attracting the attention of some of the industry’s leading trade bodies and high profile game players.

Mark Simmons Game Director/CEO at Freejam commented “We really happy to be have been shortlisted alongside some amazing UK indie talent. We’ve put our heart and soul into Robocraft so it’s great to be getting noticed.

We’ve stayed under the radar pretty much while we get the game right, but now we’re ready to start coming out of the shadows” Chair of the judges panel Adam Green from Assyria Games commented "While Robocrafts multi-player game-play is great within it's own right; it's the highly customisable vehicles that really make this title stand out.

Vehicles can be modular upgraded in such a way that provides endless re-playability. You find yourself continuously tinkering, testing and improving your craft in between matches, before eventually unleashing your carefully honed killing machine upon the world!

An excellent game, and one I'm sure delegates at the Develop in Brighton Conference are going to have a lot of fun checking out."

Freejam would like to take this opportunity to invite trade press, game journalists and industry enthusiasts attending the Develop Conference to come a take a look at the Robocraft experience at the dedicated Indie Showcase Expo during the two day event.

Robocraft Makes The Shortlist In Develop’s Indie Showcase UK based indie developer Freejam are delighted to announce that their Free-to-play MMO robotvehicle shooter Robocraft has successfully made the shortlist for the Develop Indie Showcase competition and will feature at the expo at this years Develop Conference in Brighton.

The Indie Showcase will be held at the Metropole Hilton on Wednesday the 9th of July and Thursday the 10th of July. After 12 months of development and now over 500,000 registered users, the Robocraft

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Georgia Satellites - Georgia Satellites (Collectors Edition) Record Label: Rock Candy

7/10

Released: 21 April 2014

Highlight of the album: Battleship Chains Website: www.facebook.com/rockcandyrecords Reviewer: Phil Kane

Brothers and sisters, will y’all please take up your southern harmony and musical companion prayer books, look to the pages marked Salvation And Sin and opening your hearts, reacquaint yersel's with one the most ferocious southern outfits to come out of the eighties.

chicken scratch guitars more prominence, the groove more poke and raw vitality. Getting on for thirty years old 'Georgia Satellites' remains a damn fine record, so get yersel' a little bit of Coca Cola and some Ron Rico 151, strap on yer favourite air Tele, adopt the pose, press play, and just shunt.

Another band that went big in the UK before the Americans realised what they had, these boys took a driving country groove and shoved a fucking huge stick of Quo's boogie dynamite right up its flabby ass. Or was it the other way 'round? Dunno, but when this little Georgia outfit released this southern gem in '86 via Elektra, it gave the flagging 12 bar the biggest boost it had had in years, reminding us just what three chords and a cloud of dust could do, air guitars being dragged out of cupboards nationwide. Shot through with an over-riding love of Chuck, Jerry Lee an’ Keef at their most raucous, what we have here is a blistering dose of southern rock the likes of which had never been heard before, grounded on gut riving rock ‘n’ roll. Some may claim a Faces thing, (due more to the cover of Rod’s ‘Every Picture Tells A Story’), Skynyrd and Stones even, but that's just a blind because this album is basically straight-down-yer-throat boogie of the highest order. Any aficionado of southern rock's bar wars should be familiar with this album by now (and if not, why?), making it hard to pick out a highlight; ‘Battleship Chains’, ‘Nights Of Mystery’, ‘Railroad Steel’, ‘Keep Your Hands To Yourself’, 'Every Picture…’, 'Can't Stand The Pain', 'Red Light' … it’s all good stuff. Johnny Reb hadn’t sounded so good for a long time. The remastering has lifted the sound from the original vinyl mud, giving the

What lets this reissue down is the bonus stuff. The seven tracks, four live (one of which, 'I'm Waiting For The Man' is a misjudged, mid section edit of 'Nights of Mystery'), a b side and two virtually identical mixes of ‘Battleship Chains’, are all a bit lazy really. There must be tons of contemporary archive material just waiting for a run out. For instance, the full gigs from Reading '87 (where they faced down headliners Quo) and London's T&C Club in '88, both of which had edited highlights transmitted on the BBC at the time (and of which my overused tapes are fading, knoworimeen guv?). Or what about the hard to find 'Keep The Faith' debut mini album from 1985? God knows how many King Biscuit Flower Hour gigs lay forgotten on the shelves. If Jimmy Page can be persuaded to dust off his archives, I'm bloody sure the Rock Candy dudes could've done the same for the Satellites. 'Georgia Satellites' may come with a16 page full colour booklet, rare photos, band interview blah blah blah... but who gives a flying toss when such a chance has gone begging. Most Satellites vets will have them anyway.

The album itself is a near classic, but the add-ons aren't worth diddly squat, hence the score.

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In The Whale - Nate & Eric Record Label: Self Release

6/10 Released: 24 June 2014

Highlight of the album: Lake Of Fire Website: www.inthewhalesucks.com Reviewer: Phil Kane

Ok, so Jim Jones, Grady and Left Lane Cruiser may have the raw, feral rocking blues thing sewn up, but In The Whale sure as hell have a damn good go at giving them a run for their money. This album combines 2013s ‘Eric’ EP and the new 'Nate' EP, released in April this year. With a sound that takes the blues, injects it with a shot of alt punk quirkiness, and overdrives it all to within an inch of its life, ‘Nate & Eric’ is jagged assed, snotty nosed, spiky. For a guitar/drums duo, they make a hell of a racket.

As a studio offering, ‘Nate & Eric’ is pretty earthy, and doesn’t particularly break new ground. 'Robert Johnson' morphs into a frantic 12 bar that's allowed to crawl away after being kicked all over the barroom floor, 'Wedding Bells' does the same to rockabilly cowpunk. Elsewhere the duo gets all shouty on the metallic 'Grandpa Pete' and very Clutch on 'Sunbeam', the lo fi 'Lake Of Fire' too. 'On A Roll' and 'Girlfriend' are the aural equivalent to being poked in the eye. None of the tracks repeat a given formula; none plough the

same groove, the production suitably down home and variable, the seven tracks coming across as an exercise in garage blues experimentalism that challenges the listener not to get hooked in. So, the studio nips the album’s bollocks a bit, but given a stage, a jug or two of the devil’s brew and a floor to jiggle about on, I suspect ‘Nate & Eric’ will probably take on a bad assed life of its own.

The pundits might be plugging Well Hung Heart as the next big thing, but despite the reservations here, these boys knock that pair into a cocked hat. Play loud; very, very loud.

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Black State Highway - Black State Highway Record Label: Cherry Red Records

10/10

Released: 18 August 2014

Highlight of the album: Trouble Website: http://www.blackstatehighway.co.uk Reviewer: Graham Pritchard

Dirty, ballsy Rock N Roll with Bluesy undertones all wrapped up with powerful vocals that will melt even the hardest of metal fans. That’s the only way to describe Black State Highway.

songs and with no bad tracks to mention I found it hard to choose just one favourite song. From ‘Aint Got know’ right through to ‘Trouble’ the whole album is a real treat.

Despite being formed in Brighton at the Institute Of Modern Music. The members come from all over including Liva Steinberga, a Latvian singer with one of the best and most powerful voices I have heard in a long time. These guys would not look out of place on stage with the likes of Skid Row or Gary Moore (not that this will ever happen sadly) and could comfortably support someone like Joe Bonamassa and by that I mean their music style would fit a lot of other artists.

They also have an album out, the self-titled album consists of 8 tracks of groovetastic rock and blues

I have listened to it five times so far and it gets better each time. Not only are Liva’s vocal great but the way the guitars come across you would think they have been around a long time. That’s one hell of an achievement for such a young band. I can’t wait for the next one.

Falconer - Black Moon Rising Record Label: Metal Blade Records

6/10 Released: 10 June 2014

Highlight of the album: In Ruins Website: www.falconermusic.com Reviewer: Phil Kane

Euro power metal from Sweden, anyone? Here be prominent echoes of NWOBHM amongst the Teutonic grunt, galloping harmony guitars aplenty, the ghosts of Helloween, early Maiden, and Accept conjured up, again!

The band also touches on the folky canticum medieval, ‘Scoundrel and the Squire’, throw in the odd battle line choral, ‘Age Of Runes’, and give ‘The Priory’ a rather ham fisted jig motif. Folk metal, barbarian metal, battle metal or any other metal you care to think of, it's all here, the band even trying to squeeze it all into one song, opener ‘Locust Swarm’ for example, making the album way too bloody busy, which is a bit unnecessary. Mathias Blad’s operatic vocals, not yer usual screaming glass shattering stuff, are strangely calm and calculated, unflustered. His style takes some getting used to, but as the album progresses the understated baritone creates an interesting counterpoint to the instrumental maelstrom.

When its fast, its fast, ‘Wasteland’, ‘There's A Crow On The Barrow’, the title track and ‘Halls And Chambers’ all scamper along satisfyingly enough, yet it is when the pace becomes more considered that the power cranks up a notch, ‘Dawning Of A Sombre Age’ and ‘In Ruins’. ‘Black Moon Rising’, Falconers eighth album, is a melting pot of Teutonic muscle peppered with catchy ideas and good performances that should set pulses racing; I said, should.

The production sounds bang on but the mix lets Karsten

Larsson’s drumming run rampant over everything, his frantic barrages more in keeping with thrash, so he could have done with being made to sit in the groove. Imagine if he was laying down the beat as this bunch of Swedes rowed their long ship across the North Sea for another raid on Bridlington. What d'yer think the oarsmen would do to him if he kept flipping into twenty beats a second mode? Exactly! He wouldn't last long. Though let’s be fair here, neither would the rowers. Some of you more technically minded bods will call it blast beating, revelling in the sonic violence, but really he’s just a bloody double kicking nuisance.

A rollicking ride through speed metal’s various sub genres, there's an exceptional album trying to get out here, but it's chained by a glut of ideas, an eagerness to press as many buttons as possible, to throw enough shit at the barn to door in the hope that something might stick. If the band had just sat back, taken their time, tightened up the song writing and arrangements, reigned in the damned drummer and kept to the groove a bit more, ‘Black Moon Rising’ would've been an absolute barnstorming tour de force. So, not their best then.

Falconer’s camp followers will chance cry havoc, sharpening their steel replicas in contemplation of banishing this poor mortal's soul to the very depths of Hel itself, but as long as they turn the damn drummer off, they can do what they like.

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Firebrand Magazine

Ted Nugent - Shutup&Jam! Record Label: Frontiers Records

8/10 Released: 8 July 2014

Highlight of the album: Never Stop Believing Website: www.tednugent.com Reviewer: Phil Kane

Anachronistic? Perhaps. A dinosaur? Most definitely. A flamed out, loud mouthed gun toting lunatic? Weeeell, maybe, he does get a bit carried away with himself sometimes. Call him what you want, the truth is there are too many of today’s young rock bucks (and, it has to be said, some older vets) who fail to measure up to his energy and rock ‘n’ roll credo, too many of rock's chattering intelligentsia who lack his moral fibre and honesty. Uncle Teds mouth does him into a lot of trouble, his outburst regularly seen as phobic in one shape or another, but really, he’s just an attitudinal young gobshite stuck in an over sixty year old frame, pushing it as far as it will go. His youthful enthusiasm still finding life a blast pours out of every note on ‘Shutup&Jam’; even Sammy Hagar’s Cali bounce on ‘She’s Gone’ has trouble keeping up. The anti gun lobby may hate his guts, the fragile moral majority may find his opinions obnoxious beyond cartoonish, but Nugent is a one man rock ‘n’ roll evangelistic army, a patriotic rock ‘n’ roll preacher who never passes up a chance to wave Old Glory in yer face.

'Never Stop Believing (Blues)' being the nearest to introspection you'll ever hear from the man. There is the odd dud, ‘Do -Rags And A .45’ for instance, but hey, no one’s perfect, and it still kicks up a storm anyway. The whole thing is shot through with Ted’s trademark whipping guitar flicks and hanging feedback. With some pre song banter thrown in here and there, the album does have that live in the studio jamming feel to it, despite only three numbers lasting more than four minutes.

The production is earthy, and though there are no 'Stranglehold' moments, the songs are snappy, short, bolts of good old fashioned 70s rockin’ Americana the like of which is rarely heard these days, and throwing in some nice blues flourishes for good measure, Ted ‘n’ his band are on fine form.

Someone asked recently if Nugent could be classed as southern, which isn’t as stupid as y’all wild eyed boys think. His groove might not be Alabama bred, but its rock ‘n’ roll attitude shares the same lust for life, jealously guarding its freedom, proud as hell, pissed as Yep, drag that old air guitar out of that there cupboard a fart; ‘Everything Matters’, the afore mentioned because the mighty, mighty Ted Nugent is back with his marine corp homage ‘Semper Fi’ for instance, ‘I Love fourteenth studio album, and what a loud as hell, My BBQ’ with its touch of ZZ’s Texan smokiness. muthafuckin’ son of a bitch it is as well. His stock in Southern he may not be, but in Ted world, the blue trade is basically simple rock ‘n’ roll that is cranked collar guy is just the same wherever he is; building cars right up to the edge of feedback, his sound that in Detroit or fixing them in Jacksonville. almost-country, cranked up, '62 Byrdland twang, his groove still taking blue collar, patriotic Americana as The un-pc sentiments of ‘Shutup&Jam’ aren’t going to far as it can go up the Richter scale of magnitude appeal to everyone, but Ted Nugent still has a R’n’R without actually destroying anything, 'cept his hearing, heart bigger than a 6.6L V8 engine, and don't you ever, of course. At nearly seventy, the man is still ably ever fuckin' forget it. keeping most snakeskin cowboys from nicking his stage. But you know this already? Yes? ‘Course y’do.

There have been claims that ‘Shutup&Jam’ pushes the boundaries, but that’s just plain bollocks. Showing today’s retro bands just how retro should be done, this album is classic Nugent; kick ass rock that filled America’s arenas throughout the seventies. The (great) Derek St Holmes sung (I think) 'Everything Matters' has the late night swagger of 'Hey Baby', The title track and 'Never Stop Believing', the instro ‘Throttledown’ and ‘Fear Itself’ all hark back to the glory days of his debut and ‘Double Live Gonzo’.

'Screaming Eagles' and 'Semper Fi', both nod to the military in time honoured, driving, Uncle Ted fashion , 'Trample the Weak, Hurdle The Dead' summing up Ted's philosophy on life to perfection, 'I Love My BBQ' and ‘I Still Believe’ hail the American way as only Ted can; loud, raucous and proud as hell. So, 'Shutup&Jam' ain't fancy, but it’s sure as hell does the job, with only

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Firebrand Magazine

Bernie Marsden - Shine Record Label: Mascot Provogue Records

7/10 Released: 18 August 2014

Highlight of the album: Bad Blood Website: http://www.berniemarsden.co.uk/ Reviewer: Rob Birtley

I am not often daunted when starting a review but this one was out of the ordinary. A project headed by a genuine legend of English Rock and Blues guitar playing combined with an virtuoso supporting cast and just to top it off recorded at Abbey Road well it had all the ingredients to be more than just a bit special.

Whitesnake debut album of the same name. The opening guitar and most of the track is right out of the Free/Bad Company song book. We all know David’s voice is no longer silky smooth but this rougher growl really fits with this incarnation of the song. I do have to say all in all I really liked it. ‘Bad Blood’ features the sultry voice of Cherry Lee Mewis and in my opinion is ‘Shine’ is Bernie Marsden’s 19th solo album and the vocal highlight of the album. It also has Bernie’s features a literally galaxy of stars. To start the name most soulful guitar solo as part of it. The title track dropping David Coverdale, Joe Bonamassa, Ian Paice, ‘Shine’ features none other than Joe Bonamassa Don Airey, Jimmy Copley, John Gordon, Ian Jennings, another Blues luminary and considered by many to be Simon Webb, Cherry Lee Mewis and more. Add to this The Man with a Six String at the moment. This song producer Rob Cass who has recently been twiddling has a feel of The Byrds and Bread rocked into it and the knobs on the latest Jack Bruce solo album gives Blues tinted with a late 60’s California vibe. ‘Dragon Fly’ this album all the ingredients to be extraordinary but is goes even further in this direction with a flavour of it?

Carlos Santana in the guitar playing its almost dreamy and psychedelic in construction. The next two songs The album opens with ‘Linin Track’ a traditional blues revert to recognisable Blues and the album ends with work song, sung by Leadbelly among others. It’s is a an instrumental ‘NW8’ which just happens to be the straight ahead Blues/Rock version and beautifully Abbey Road Studio post code. Nice as it is the piece executed with a nice harmonica backdrop and ending. has all the feeling of a filler to round off the album ‘Walk Away’ pays more than a nod of the head to about it.

Bernie’s work in Whitesnake and is definitely in the AOR camp. It has the trademark riffage ending on a Conclusion well I guess I’m going to upset some people. fine guitar break and everything you’d expect from that Everything about the performance, playing and part of his career. ‘Kinda Wish She Would’ has a more production of this album is first class and you’d expect blues and chunky guitar sound with a little bit of ZZ Top no less with the people involved. It’s just that it’s a work going on and a nice tinkling piano accompaniment. The of nice bits and pieces with no overall direction that whole song is light in mood and endearingly tongue in just seems to drift about. It’s not an album you would cheek. ‘Lady Friend’ is more traditional Blues. Delicious sit down and listen to all the way through and it lacks a Hammond organ and really fine harmonica playing sense of purpose and discipline needed to make it a mark this one up as really rather special. Next up is cohesive whole. That said it does have its moments.

‘Trouble’ a reworking of the title track from the 1978

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Firebrand Magazine

Powerwolf - History Of Heresy 2004-2008 Record Label: Metal Blade Records

8/10

Released: 23 May 2014

Highlight of the album: Kiss Of The Cobra/Saturday Satan Website: www.powerwolf.net Reviewer: Phil Kane

Here yer are then, German heavy metal wrapped up in corpse paint, gothic imagery and songs based around Romania's werewolf and vampire legends. Powerwolf use the Gothic lot; church bells, danse des morts keys, Ennio Morricone masculum vocem chorum, religious and occult pretentions to give their metal a huge dollop of Goth charnel house atmospherics.

‘The History Of Heresy, 2004-2008’ is a beast of a box set that comes with a hard bound book, photo cards, the DVD 'The Wacken Worship' and the topics of interest here, CD reissues of 2005s debut 'Return In Bloodred' and 2007s 'Lupus Dei'. The albums will be getting rereleased as vinyl pic discs as well. Some have pegged this band as a power metal outfit, which may be so on later releases, but here its more straight down the line heavy metal, very theatrical, hammy, operatic, though ‘Lupus Dei’ does have its moments, ‘Vampires Don’t Die’ ‘Behind The Leathermask’ and ‘Mother Mary Is A Bird Of Prey’ for instance. Powerwolf certainly don't take themselves seriously, even flirting with the comic strip dramatic on occasions, as on ‘Mr Sinister’ and ‘Lupus Demonae (Intro)’, and it’s all the better for it too. Both albums are big sounding, pompous, tongue in cheek; metal that yollops along like a medieval cavalry unit. Although the overall sound throughout is chunkily guitar driven, the keyboards are prominent enough, commanding even, to give Powerwolf's groove a touch of the old Heep/Purple/ Rooster classic rock thing. Elsewhere, the prog metallic gets a gentle run out, the songs treading darker paths, sprinkled liberally with graveyard atmospherics, spoken word pantomime interludes offering a touch of dark moonlight theatre, ‘Lucifer In Starlight’, ‘Lupus Dei’ and ‘Montecore’ for instance… I could go on but you get the picture. The riffs motor and the booming engine room keeps it all nailed to the groove, leaving the intricacies to the surprisingly soulful lead guitars and orchestrations, the backline choral

work occasionally nicking just a little of cinema’s Gothic spaghetti nous. Offering an impressive vocal that mercifully foregoes honey monster growling or witchipoo screeching, Attila Dorn's style occasionally gets close to Dio's with just an inkling of a Hetfield inflection, but retains more than enough of its own character to render any similarities inconsequential; pretty powerful stuff. Both albums are reproduced here in their entirety with added bonus tracks, all live.

Of the two,’ Lupus Dei’ has the edge, but to be honest, there is not a lot to chose between either of them.

Both albums are packed to the gunnels with standouts, but ‘Saturday Satan’ and ‘Kiss Of The King Cobra’ got the nod purely because they are so bloody catchy.

Overblown rock theatre? Perhaps. Camp? Oh, absolutely, though the Hammer House Of Horror kitsch does get a bit over powering, but when done without the hysterics of the likes of Cradle Of Filth, as Powerwolf have done here, the music achieves some quite extraordinary depths of drama, both albums sounding massive, the production clear as a (funeral) bell.

The third disc of this nifty box set is the 'The Wacken Worship' DVD, which was unavailable for review, so I’ve absolutely no idea what it’s like, but the two CDs with their bonuses should keep Powerwolf’s congregation occupied well enough. For those who aren’t in the know, however, there is more than enough metal here to keep the denim n leather brigade happy and the Gothic melodrama will likely have the demon dabblers quaffing their goblets of neat Ribenna virgin’s blood with gay abandon. Of course, this bunch of crypt bothering vaudevillian comedians would probably shit themselves if Ol’ Harry dropped by the studio for a spot of Tiffin and a catch up, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that ‘The History Of Heresy…’ a thoroughly diabolical, metallic hoot. Excellent.

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Firebrand Magazine

Fair Warning - The Box Record Label: Steamhammer/SPV

7/10 Released: 16 June 2014

Highlight of the album: Website: www.facebook.com/fairwarningmelodicrock Reviewer: Phil Kane

Germany’s Fair Warning rose from the ashes of V2 and Zeno in 1990, releasing its eponymous debut in '91. It says a lot about the quality of the music that the band weathered the grunge storm relatively intact, all be it by finding a welcoming refuge in Japan. Taking a five year break, the band reformed in 2005 to pretty much carry on as before, producing some high end melodic rock that begged the question; why did they never achieve mega status?

sound is more polished, the songs built for FM radio, sunshine, and a bloody fast convertible; a masterpiece in construction and execution. Standouts? Where do you start? Ok, try the motoring 'Find My Way', 'Through The Fire', the chunky 'Wait' and 'Forever’, and 'For The Young' has to be the ballad of 'The Box' (it's even got a bagpipes thing!). That the vox are exceptional goes, as usual, without saying, the groove driven, the riffs and soloing exquisitely Teutonic.

‘The Box’ gathers together all the band’s mid period output that bookends their 2000 – 2005 hiatus, three pre, two post; 'Go!', from '97, the bands third studio album, 'Live And More', from 1998, the third official live album, 2000's '4' speaks for itself, 'Brother’s Keeper' from 2006, Aura from '2009'. All in card board sleeves with original art work and, it would appear, no obvious retouching. Listened to chronologically, it anthologises one of Europe’s better melodic rock outfits that ably took on the Americans at their own game. The extra tracks that graced initial and subsequent album releases are missing, which is a shame, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers. With some of these albums going for £30 as imports, the sub fifteen quid tag for this exceptional melodic hard rock collection represents an absolutely huge bang for your bucks.

In 2005, after scratching their various itches or just generally buggering about, Fair Warning reconvened to give us 'Brother's Keeper' (6/10) in 2006. Originally to be a Tommy Heart solo album, it’s a little darker, not so sparky, possessing a grittily thumping, claustrophobic feel with just a little experimentalism, the rap(ish) vox in 'Generation Jedi' and the almost-blues of 'The Cry' and 'Once Bitten, Twice Shy' (no, not that one) for instance.

Though what the seven and a half minute silence topped off with a Bavarian a cappella stuck on the end of 'Push Me On' is all about is anyone's guess.

Otherwise, the band keeps the groove pretty much as was, the big choruses are back; the drama, the virtuosity, the magnificence. Possibly the weakest album of 'The Box', but still an accomplished, if rather safe return, it set the stage for...

Recorded in an old Hanoverian mansion, 'Go!' (7/10) packs a surprising wallop. With a German grittiness that sharpens up its AOR edge, it’s solid, unrelentingly bouncy stuff. Standout has to be the grunter of an opener 'Angels Of Heaven' but you could say the acoustic driven 'Follow My Heart' with its Joey Tempest gospel joyousness gives it a damn good run for its money, the AOR Americana of 'Save Me', too. It could do with a few more out ‘n’ out rockers, but it’s still cracking stuff.

'Live And More' (8/10); y'know, for some, live albums can be risky, but not this one, oh no. As with all FW’s live albums, this was recorded in Japan and sounds thumpingly satisfying, with Tommy Heart's vocals bang on the button. With virtually no ballads (except the studio recorded 'Meant To Be'), this is absolutely storming stuff. Standout track should be 'Don't Give Up', but the driving 'Get A Little Closer' knocks it into a cocked hat.

…'Aura' (6/10). Dropping any pretensions, Fair Warning just put their heads down and went for it, producing another lump of exceptional melodic rock perfectly summed up by 'Here Comes The Heartache'.

Yet, like 'Brothers Keeper', there is something missing, as if the boys returned with a monkey on their backs they just couldn’t shrug off, illustrated by ‘Aura’ literally losing steam over the final four or five ballad heavy tracks.

Despite the patchy latter two albums, this collection is required listening for anyone interested in melodic hard rock, especially the European Teutonic variety.

'The Box'? The absolute dogs bollocks, more like.

The band decided to record '4' (9/10) in an old farmhouse somewhere outside Hanover, producing the last album before Fair Warning's extended leave of absence, and arguably the best of this batch. The

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Firebrand Magazine

Virgin Steele - Inviticus Record Label: Steamhammer/SPV

9/10 Released: 13 June 2014

Highlight of the album: Sword Of The Gods Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Virgin-Steele-Official/343424605669868?fref=ts Reviewer: Phil Kane

'Invictus' (that's Latin for unconquered to you ‘n’ me, guv), the third and final part of new 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell' saga reissue, is a storming finale to the trilogy. You could also argue it is the best of the three; it’s certainly the most cinematic, epic. Released in '98, the band's eighth studio album, it closes the exploration of the fractious relationship between humanity and the divine.

So, good as ‘Invictus’ is, it’s the second, wholly acoustic bonus disc that is almost eye popping. I'll let the band's brains David DeFeis explain; "Originally on the bonus disc for 'Invictus' we had planned to issue this new 19-song 'Ghost Harvest' collection that I had spoken about in the latest interviews. That plan has changed.

'Ghost Harvest', which has now grown into more than one CD at this time, will instead be included in the We’ve already done the intro dance, so you should upcoming box set, and the bonus disc inside 'Invictus', know about this New York lot by now (and if not, why which bears the title 'Fire Spirits', will contain not?), especially if you like yer metal of the Judas Priest over-the-top acoustic versions of various songs mainly trad speed variety. Virgin Steele’s approach is a bit taken from 'The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell' and more proggy, very epic, if a bit Toy Town, keyboards 'Invictus' albums (but a few others appear as well). It will thrown in and all that, but the JP simile puts the also contain a brand new track recorded this week. The uninitiated there or there about in the right place. performances on 'Fire Spirits' were captured live and are raw, heartfelt, and genuine. We wanted to show The remastered ‘Invictus’ picks up the baton from ‘The those who missed out on the acoustic gigs we had Marriage Of Heaven And Hell Part 2’ and runs like hell done some of what went on there, and to also express with it. The structure, the songs, the themes, all bring how powerful these stripped down versions can be." to mind images of a barbarian age of chivalry that And he's right; couldn’t have put it better myself. The never was, at least not this side of Robert E. Howard's only thing to add is that given the band's proclivity for writings. It’s all big, dramatic, and epic with just a touch the medieval fantasy thing, they might have tried using of the prog metallic about it. Maybe it’s a little more a more traditional approach with the instruments to direct than its two sister albums, which is fitting for the match, (Wardruna did and look what happened there? finale of this particular three part rock opera. On the What? You've never heard of 'em or their take on whole then, there is little more to say that hasn’t been Viking folk? Shame on you) because for the want of a said in the write up for the ‘T.M.O.H.A.H. Parts 1 & 2’ top drawer folk songstress, there is at least one twofer, except, as before, it’s exceptional stuff, the potential 'Battle Of Evermore' moment here. grace and power of which very few of today’s metal outfits quite manage to match, despite them blustering Invictus! £7.99! What the hell you waiting for? Get it. In and blowing to the contrary. ‘Invictus’ is an album that fact, treat yersel’ and get the complete ‘The Marriage needs to be heard in its entirety, but you can jump Of Heaven And Hell’ trilogy reissue, or be damned to anywhere and find a diamond encrusted nugget, but hell.

‘Sword Of The Gods’ pretty much edges it.

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Firebrand Magazine

Virgin Steele - The Marriage Of Heaven & Hell Part 1&2 Record Label: Steamhammer/SPV

9/10

Released: 13 June 2014

Highlight of the album: Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Virgin-Steele-Official/343424605669868?fref=ts Reviewer: Phil Kane

Generally quantified as Barbaric Romanticism Metal (er, quite), New York’s Virgin Steele inject their modern themes with classical fantasy, Greek, Roman and religious imagery. So, break out those stud lined cony fur shreddies, sharpen that steel and smear olive oil over those pecks, Virgin Steele are riding out again, the glory trails beckoning, the valkyrae expectantly hovering.

The Spirits’, ‘Self Crucifixation’, ‘Life Among The Ruins’ (strangely), ‘I Wake Up Screaming’, the driving ‘Blood And Gasoline’ and the bonus acoustic instrumental ‘Angela’s Castle’. But with this sort of epic power metal album, dip in anywhere and you'll come up with a solid gold nugget.

‘T.M.O.H.A.H. Part 2’, originally released a year later, carries on where the former left off. If anything it This twofer is a remastering of the first two albums of cranks up the metal quota along with the cinematic the ‘The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell’ trilogy, originally orchestrations. Again, the synth work could've done released in 1994 and 1995. Both were brave moves; with being beefed up, the intro to ‘Symphony Of Steele’ grunge had practically wiped the big hair crews from for instance. On the whole though, the prog tinged the face of the earth, spandex was laughable and it power metal is as rampant as before, the album seemed everyone and his dog was down tuning as well another beautifully balanced piece of epic rock. Subtle as toning down. Virgin Steele had had a go at change and esoteric, it is a more layered, complex beast than with 93s 'Life Among The Ruins', dropping any camp its predecessor. A sound that owes more to Iron glam pretentions, which didn't please everyone, so the Maiden than the darker Queenryché undertones of its band went back to reconsider. predecessor. Yet it is not as engaging for some reason but I suspect it will prove to be a matter of taste.

For a foundation, Virgin Steele use traditional driving Highlight? ‘Emalaith’; possibly the best thing they've American heavy metal, but throw in enough twists and ever done. turns to arguably be described as progressive. With a groove that is surprisingly uncluttered, a huge influence So to sum up, both albums are excellent, great Yankee on today’s crop of melodic outfits, 94's ‘T.M.O.H.A.H. metal touched with just a smidge of campness, the Part 1’ certainly carries on the harder rock of its production is bang on the button and with the package predecessor, but this time the band has been more weighing in at well over a hundred and forty minutes, considered, preferring to give the progressive excellent value for money. Neither album is swamped approach of, say, Queenryché, a go and produced by its technical excellence and the band shows its class possibly their best work to date. The sound is given a by allowing the music its head whilst keeping it in its big cinematic boost, an epic vision enhanced by the groove, and no bloody inappropriate double kicking. willingness to throw in the intricacies of the traditional Each disc comes with a handful of bonuses that don't progressive metallic. The album is heavily orchestrated, disgrace. They are both plagued by the dated sound of the synth work impressive, but it’s also the album's toy town synths orchestrations, but that's what some Achilles heel. The syths sound too twee at times, prefer so who am I to judge. As double sets go, this is a lacking the gravitas a full blown orchestra would've huge bang for your bucks (or £7.99). If you are a given it. Bands such as Magnum certainly had a better power metal aficionado, then it should already be on handle on their use. The occasional spoken word your 'to get' list; you like House Of Lords? You’ll fucking interludes get a bit hammy in the way only the love this. If you haven't yet discovered the pleasures of Americans can too. Otherwise, the album is big hitting American melodic power metal par immaculately balanced, the metal is allowed to keep its excellence, then here is the perfect opportunity to groove, the songs have a drive that's hard to resist, the remedy the situation and get a bit of New York swords instrumental interludes enhancing rather than and sorcery bling into your life. detracting from the overall effect. Let's let David DeFeis, Virgin Steele's vocalist, key tinkler, orchestrator and general OIC explain, "From a whisper to a scream, barbaric, romantic, bombastic, yet subtle, grandiose, yet earthy. A call, a shout, an invocation to freedom and the continual awakening to the awareness that every moment of life is lived to its fullest potential. It is a force, a sacred quest which drives Virgin Steele on".

Got that? Yes? Good. As for highlights, it’s difficult to pick one out but try ‘Blood Of The Saints’, ‘Weeping Of

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Firebrand Magazine

7HY (Seven Hard Years) - No Place Like Heaven Record Label: Lynchburgh Records

9/10

Released: 30 June 2014

Highlight of the album: You Lie Website: https://www.facebook.com/AK7HY Reviewer: Rob Birtley

When you hear about a new album coming along with X-Shy sticks man Alan Kelly the driving force and vocals supplied by Shawn Palata the voice of Line of Fire amongst other AOR luminaries in the band well you certainly need to check it out and so I did.

slow the pace a little. Mr Palata gives a vocal tour de force full on passion and a sense of loss, The guitar solo ending only brief but draws the song to a satisfying conclusion. This is followed by ‘You Lie’. This is the up-tempo Rocker that has been used as a taster in various places for the album. Powerful guitar work is a feature and the track really drives along at a rate of knots. Who or what ever inspired this song is definitely not on Alan Kelly’s Christmas card list. ‘Never Meant to Hurt you’ is the slower number and opens with just a simply piano structure and the Palata vocal. It grips you right away even before the hint of strings adds to the texture. Laid back and stripped bare compared to the rest of the album sure but it works so well. ‘No more Yesterdays’ has a neat keyboard line running through it. The song builds up to a crescendo topped off nicely by a fine guitar solo. The title track ‘No Place in Heaven’ for me has everything you’d want on a track of Melodic Hard Rock. Great vocal, Fine guitar riffage and a Massive hook all in a song that relates an emotional experience we’ve all been through.

It seems Alan had been pondering on a number of musical ideas for years before deciding to do something more concrete. Finally taking the step of presenting the songs to Roy Davis, (SHY bass player and CEO of Lynchburg Records), whose immediate reaction was this album in the making that it needed to be heard. A transatlantic and multitalented band was recruited for this project with some serious talent in the shape of US based Singer Shawn Pelata (Line Of Fire), Dave Martin (Former Guitarist for Marshall Law), Martin Walls (After Hours), Elliot Kelly (Ocean City), Claire Kelly and of course Roy Davis (SHY). The obvious question considering Alan’s heritage is does this sound like a Shy album. Well to my ears not really. It is not as guitar driven and if you’re expecting clones of Steve Harris solos on every track look elsewhere. It stands alone and on its own two feet very nicely.

Now comes the hard bit the summation. Do have to say and maybe it’s the combination of the total The album opens with the epic ‘Angels Will Fly’. My American sound of the vocals and the total British immediate reaction was this was the missing song in sound of the Band that this album reminds me of the trilogy that comprised ‘Dallas 1 pm’ ‘Strangers in another favourite band Strangeways for some reason. the Night’. Quite simply it is that good. Yes it’s driven Add the elements of Def Leppard and a small bit of story-telling Rock verging on Metal but still very Foreigner you have a potent mix. Reservations well I do Melodic. I have to say it’s a brave move for any band to applaud Alan Kelly for putting the whole project start an album with a song about 9-11 but 7HY do this together and in the process becoming hot topic true justice. In some ways this track is the multi-instrumental but I do like to see albums like this odd one out the rest of the tracks remind me of a performed LIVE so let’s hope it achieves the sales it blend of American class vocal with a hard edged deserves and this happens. That said this is a Great British Rocking that takes me right back to opening album, a true Tour de Force of Melodic Rock.

Strangeways. Next up is ‘Hold me now’. Think of the There is variation and plenty of contrast and not a power ballads by a certain Sheffield outfit named after single week link. I can recommend ‘No Place in Heaven a hard of hearing big cat and you have the picture. It’s ‘unreservedly and it leaves you on tenterhooks for any a gem of a track. With ‘Live Without You’ the band follow ups.

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Firebrand Magazine

Night By Night - NxN

9/10

Record Label: Sun Hill Productions/Cargo Records Released: 14 July 2014 Highlight of the album: Everywhere Tonight Website: http://nxnofficial.com/ Reviewer: Rob Birtley

It not often a track makes an immediate impression on me but that’s exactly what happened when I heard the Voodoo Six album ‘First Hit For Free’ and the Epic ‘Saints and Sinners’. It just seemed to suck the air out of my lungs like a Tyson punch to the Solar Plexus and a great deal of the impact came from the voice of Henry Rundell so when I heard he had a new band and an album on the way I was more than interested.

Leppard groove circa ‘Hysteria’ Right from the opening guitar rhythm that repeats through the track to the solo that Phil Collen would have been proud of.

‘Everywhere Tonight’ is more Leppard ballad territory with that same melodic hook and it may have the best vocal performance from Henry Rundell on the album.

This song is compulsive and is definitely a grower and the ending guitar wail reminds me of some of the work of John Sykes. ‘Siren’ well it lures you in like the fabled Night by Night are London based 5 pieces and consist Lorelei right on to the rocks then sinks you. Rocking of Henry Rundell – Lead Vocals (ex Voodoo Six), Tom along like a ‘Blue Murder’ track and having as much Daniel – Guitars, Ben Christo – Guitars, Vocals (Sisters polished menace it’s another winner. ‘It’s Not Faith’ of Mercy), Jonny Thornton – Bass, Vocals and Damien plays to the ear like early Leppard with a touch more Diablo – Drums. Their sound well think of the hooks subtly. Same build up and massed harmony in the title and darker side of Def Leppard add the heavyweight chorus but a lead vocal at least as accomplished and riffs and modern crunch of Alterbridge plus mix in may be more so than Joe Elliott in his pomp. ‘The amazing 3-part vocal harmonies sprinkle in the more Moment’ is the track the band has been making fiery AOR Rockers of the 80’s like Lone Star, Jagged available to trail the album. May be because it is the Edge and Grand Prix you’re almost there. most accessible but also I think it sums up the band’s sound rather nicely. This is single material most The first track ‘Time to Escape’ sets the scene for the definitely. album as a whole. The chorus featuring their trade mark harmonies, a nice chunky and distorted guitar To sum up yes it’s an album of influences but they are line and a driving rhythm section that just doesn’t quit. all moulded into a unique new whole. We do have a It has the same Raw Energy that flowed through number of new bands trying to do 80’s sugar coated Jagged Edge in the ‘Fuel for Your Soul’ era. Next up is AOR not many pulling it off but the better more Rocky ‘Holding onto Holding on’. This song takes me right stuff of that era is sadly neglected until now. If you like back to the 80’s and the splendour that was Lone Star the sound of Jagged Edge, early Leppard, shades of circa ‘Firing on all Six’. It has the same energy and Lone Star with a modern twist then you’ll love this passion with great playing. This is followed by ‘Can’t album I know I did.

Walk Away’. This track finds the band firmly in a

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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 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 Counting Crows November 01 Birmingham O2 Academy 02 Glasgow O2 Academy 04 Newcastle O2 Academy 05 Leeds O2 Academy 07 Manchester O2 Apollo 08 Leicester De Montfort Hall 10 London Roundhouse 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 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 26 Birmingham O2 Academy 27 Glasgow O2 Academy

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28 Newcastle O2 Academy 29 Sheffield O2 Academy 30 Liverpool O2 Academy 31 Bristol O2 Academy September 01 Brighton Concorde 2 Genesis October 21 Ipswich Regent Theatre 22 Brighton Centre 24 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall 25 Glasgow Clyde Auditorium 26 York Barbican 28 Southend Cliffs Pavilion 29 Southampton02 Guildhall 30 Cardiff St David’s Hall November 01 London Eventim Apollo 02 Salford The Lowry 03 Guildford Glive 04 Birmingham Symphony Hall Hecate Enthroned July 19 Bridlington Basement Iron Knights July 26 London The Garage

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 17 Glasgow ABC 2 18 Sheffield 02 Academy 2 19 Bristol Academy 20 London Islington 02 Academy 21 Birmingham 02 Academy 2 Karma To Burn August 15 Oxford O2 Academy2

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Sonisphere 2014 4 - 6 of July The Prodigy, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Alice in Chains, Airbourne, Anthrax and many more 16 Cardiff The Moon Club 17 Southampton The Joiners 18 Portsmouth The Wedgewood rooms 19 Manchester The Deaf Institute 20 York Fibbers 21 Leamington Spa The Zephyr Lounge 22 Edinburgh Bannermans 23 Glasgow Classic Grand 24 Newcastle The Cluny 25 Plymouth The White Rabbit 26 Bristol The Fleece 27 Northampton Picturedrome 28 Chester The Live Rooms 29 Bournemouth The Anvil 30 London The Underworld 31 Dublin Fibber Magees September 01 Belfast Voodoo Orange Goblin October 30 Dublin The Button Factory 31 Belfast The Limelight 2 Pearl Jam July 08 Leeds Arena 11 Milton Keynes Milton Keynes Bowl 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 Rival Sons December 08 Portsmouth Pyramid Centre 09 Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall 10 London The Forum 11 Manchester The Ritz

13 Sheffield Leadmill 14 Glasgow O2 ABC 15 Newcastle O2 Academy 16 Norwich UEA Saxon November 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

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

Sebastian Bach July 03 - 07 Knebworth Sonisphere 08 Wolverhampton Slade Rooms 09 London O2 Academy Seether November 16 Birmingham Institute 18 Glasgow 02 ABC 19 Manchester Ritz 20 London Forum Slayer July 01 Dublin The Academy 03 - 07 Knebworth Sonisphere Status Quo December 06 Liverpool Exho Arena 16 Cardiff Motorpoint Arena The Temperance Movement November 16 Bristol O2 Academy 17 Manchester The Ritz 20 Birmingham The Institute 21 London The Forum December 02 Glasgow Venue TBC Vain July 06 Norwich The Waterfront 07 Edinburgh Bannermanns 08 Sheffield Corporation 09 London The Underworld Wolf September 13 Nottingham Rescue Rooms 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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