An Apology to Soil

We had an interview with Soil but due to technical malfunction the entire interview has been lost!

This means that all the funny and intriguing stuff we found out is gone, but the highlight is thus-

The band have their heads screwed on right, the lack of ego is awesome and the guys all seem to just enjoy playing the music and performing for the fans.

There is no pretense and they understand the need to still play the music of the old line-up with absolutely no bitter attitude toward it.

The four piece band seems to truly enjoy what they do and enjoy the Idea of just taking the good with the band and growing stronger as an act.

Between that and drinking paint stripper-esque vodka and eating Kettle crisps, it was a good interview and the band answered with honesty and style.

We WILL catch them next time and ensure you get a full interview, rock on!

The RC team

SOIL LIVE IN MANCHESTER

Even though Soil were Supporting, they were who I was there to see, and I was interviewing them during the headline (Shinedown) so Soil is who I shall review.

Solid and energetic, with a complete change to the Soil of old, but they don’t forget to play the song that made them famous, although, let’s be fair, it made the band name famous as the band is almost totally unrecognisable now as a four piece.

The band played well, consistently and really drew the crowd in, and for a support act this was very well done, especially since I thought that it would be a one song run, but the crowd seemed fired up throughout and there was a burst during Halo but nothing that paled the rest of the gig.

This new Soil is one to watch out for and I truly think that if the public let them forget the band of old then they have a great future in front of them.

8.5/10 – Solid!

IE

AMON AMARTH LIVE IN MANCHESTER

The metal mammoth that is AMON AMARTH returned to the Manchester Academy for what felt like the millionth time in the last couple of years.

Seriously, they seem to be there every five mins and they sell out, amazingly.

This was Halloween night, so all the costumes were out in form, the band hit the stage and to be fair to them, performed their usual set list with a few tweaks and additions, the fans seemed to lap it up at points and at others seemed too inebriated to know what was going on…

I would tell you highlights if I could think of any, but I really can’t.

This time I have to be honest, it was a tight gig from all involved, tight and accurate and… dull as dishwater.

Yes, this is cruel criticism I guess, but I just can’t seem to connect with a band that stands in one spot, swear a little at the crowd and swing their long hair around a little. The lack of any form of showmanship when the music you play is essentially filled with fantasy cheese is just old hat and unforgivable.

You want the whole viking image to work, give us a viking stage show damn it!

All in all 5/10 – Average and boring, the 5 is for the fact that the music is tight and executed well!

IE

Impious – Death Domination

With an album title like ‘Death Domination’ you kinda get the gist of how Impious will sound. Citing the likes of Slayer and The Haunted amongst their influences you know your in for a rough ride and these Swedes don’t disappoint. Stand out track ‘I am The King’ is a brutal three minute eight second assault upon your nerves. True its nothing ‘new’ but it doesn’t try to be, what it sets out to do it does and it does it in a way that looks set to f**k you up big time.

If you like your music fast, straight to the point and stripped down then this is the album for you. With hints of death legends Necrophagist (minus the sweep picking) if this band doesn’t blow you away then you must be bigger than Goliath himself. It won’t be for everyone and isn’t the best introduction to the genre but for the junkies it will do perfectly well till the next major fix arrives.

7/10

Mr Bogle

Gwar – America Must Be Destroyed (Reissue)

It doesn’t feel like 25 years since the mighty Gwar first crash landed on earth and by now it would seem their sick of us. But just as an extra kick in the face to those who have tried to imitate the bands prowess  the raw alien power of ‘Crack in the Egg’ and ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Never Felt So Good’ have not been matched.

Ok time to cut the bulls**t and get to the point. As anyone who has heard Gwar will know, the band are more about show than sound and after witnessing the debauchery that was their Wacken set its easy to see why. This album remains timeless though and could quite easily have been written 2 days ago and would sound just as fresh. The reason being that its not overly ‘of the time’ its just a good, straight up, drinking album. Something to get pissed to at a house party. Whilst its a reissue many people may not own it and with the additional material you’ve never had better value for your money!

Long may they remain on Earth!

8/10

ANTERIOR to premier new material at UK shows in December

ANTERIOR have announced a short run of dates in December to close the year and air some of the new songs they’ve been busy working on over the past few months.

“After being confirmed on the Garage show with Sylosis we decided to add a short string of dates in some new places and venues that we haven’t hit before. We are using these shows to play some new songs for you guys so you can let us know what you think!

We are all very excited to play some new material live as we have been writing for the album and have not been near a stage since August. Playing live is always what we have loved the most and we cant wait to get back out and see in the festive season in some new cities, its gonna be a blast! See you there…”

Catch them at:

ANTERIOR

December 2009

12th    PONTYPRIDD – Club Y Bont (with MALEFICE)
13th    COLCHESTER – The Twist
15th    BOURNEMOUTH – Champions
16th    LONDON – Garage (with Sylosis, Ted Maul, Savage Messiah)

ANTERIOR are looking to record their highly anticipated follow up to 2007’s ‘This Age Of Silence’ early in 2010

‘THIS AGE OF SILENCE’ is out now on Metal Blade

Metal Fans = DUMB

Yes its a fairly bold statement for a site that interviews metal bands and likes their music. But its also true. Metal as a whole is pretty f**king dumb…the lyrics, the culture, the fat gits who go to the gigs and drool at the sight of a glimpse of female breast…’bier fur titten!’ I mean…really…I’ve got the point now where I like my music to have a degree of intelligence and sadly most really don’t.

Without doubt my album of the year..and one of my now all-time favourites is the masterpiece that is ‘Crack The Skye’. I mean yes its a far cry from Mastodon’s early work and a large amount of the ‘crust’ has been lost in favour of a much clearer sound. A sound however..that has infinite depth and a sense of enveloping atmosphere that is inescapable. The lyrics are a whole new level of intelligence and showcase the genius of the bands writing with them being able to cover some of the darkest and most complex concepts ever tackled.

Another prime example of this would be the mighty Tool. A band whose sprawling landscapes and philosophical depth are unmatched in the music world. ’10,000 Days’ features some of the finest metal songs ever written. Not only are the musicians simply incredible but the atmosphere that the music creates is unparalleled.

Fair enough not every strives to do this but when my local ‘alternative’  night is now full of fat d**ks who still get excited at the sound of ‘Duality’ over some speakers. At Bloodstock this year the ’4 DJ’s of The Apocalypse’ played..’Davidian’ then ‘Duality’ then ‘Book of Heavy Metal’ then ‘Walk’ every…single…sodding…night it gets just a little tedious.

I could rant for many more hundreds of words but the point is that it would make sod all difference..much like saying ‘get rid of racism’ won’t end it..all that will happen is those who agree agree and those who don’t…well don’t. That’s pretty much it to be honest…

Mr Bogle

BREAKING NEWS!!!

MONSTER MAGNET sign to Napalm Records

Napalm Records is very proud to announce that the MONSTER MAGNET has joined their ranks.

The legendary New Jersey rock outfit, who have released a string of cult classics since the early nineties, signed a worldwide record deal with the Austrian label and are currently working on new songs, which will shake the foundations of the rock scene!

Charismatic frontman Dave Wyndorf:

“I’m really looking forward to joining the roster at Napalm Records and working with them on future endeavours. Our plan is to record our next studio album with Matt Hyde starting in January, for a release early this summer. And with a new album comes a new run or two of live shows! Stay tuned – we’re comin’ to your town!”

Markus Riedler, Napalm Records Managing Director:

”It is an honor to cooperate with a scene icon such as Dave Wyndorf! He’s very enthusiastic, full of energy and together, we want to rock through the coming years! The new album will be killer and fans should make sure to check out the high-energy live show of the band! 2010 will be the year of Monster Magnet!”

MONSTER MAGNET headline Friday night at Hard Rock Hell 3 at Pontins, Prestatyn and then begin a string of UK dates with KARMA TO BURN and Lions

MONSTER MAGNET

December 2009

4th PRESTATYN – Hard Rock Hell III @ Pontins

MONSTER MAGNET + KARMA TO BURN + Lions

December 2009

5th NOTTINGHAM – Rock City
6th LONDON – Koko
7th GLASGOW – Garage
9th MANCHESTER – Academy 2
10th LEAMINGTON SPA – Assembly
11th WOLVERHAMPTON – Wulfrun Hall
12th LEEDS – Met University

Metal Blade News Update: 20/11/09

METAL BLADE NEWS 19/11/09
WWW.METALBLADE.CO.UK

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UPCOMING RELEASE DATES 23.11.09 GWAR-‘America Must Be Destroyed’ (CD+DVD Re-Issue)
23.11.09 IMPIOUS-‘Death Domination’ (CD)
18.01.10 SIX FEET UNDER-‘Graveyard Classics 3’ (CD)
18.01.10 VALKYRJA-‘Contamination’ (CD)
01.02.10 CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED-‘Charred Walls Of The Damned’ (CD+DVD)

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ARMORED SAINT post video clips from studio online!

Mighty ARMORED SAINT are nearly finished mixing their new album! You can watch video footage from the studio, uploaded straight from the notebook of drummer Gonzo! Go check!

Joey Vera laying down some bass tracks <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcOZZrDZmPw>
Again Joey at work <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C1b4WqKzbU>
Gonzo tracking drums for ‘Head On’ <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNaa900Pr8A>
Gonzo tracking drums for ‘La Raza’ <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOJRd4h-IXY>

The new ARMORED SAINT album is expected to drop worldwide in March of 2010 through Metal Blade Records!

http://www.armoredsaint.com/ <http://www.armoredsaint.com/>
http://www.myspace.com/armoredsaint1 <http://www.myspace.com/armoredsaint1>

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AUTUMN to support THE GATHERING on upcoming European tour!

Female fronted Dutch heavy rock outfit AUTUMN will be supporting THE GATHERING on their “The West Pole/20th Anniversary” European tour in January and February 2010.

THE GATHERING + AUTUMN
22/01/10 – DE – Krefeld – Kulturfabrik
23/01/10 – DE – Erfurt – HsD
24/01/10 – DE – Berlin – Columbia Club
26/01/10 – DE – Karlsruhe – Substage
27/01/10 – DE – Nürnberg – Hirsch
28/01/10 – CZ – Praha – Abataon
29/01/10 – PL – Krakow – Loch Ness
30/01/10 – SI – Bratislava – Randal
31/01/10 – HU – Budapest – Diesel
01/02/10 – HR – Zagreb – Mochvara
02/02/10 – IT – Milan – Zoe
04/02/10 – ES – Barcelona – Salamandra 1
05/02/10 – ES – Alicante – Nave 8
06/02/10 – ES – Granada – El Tren
07/02/10 – ES – Madrid – Heineken
09/02/10 – FR – Lyon – Ninkasi Kao
10/02/10 – CH – Pratteln – Z7
11/02/10 – DE – Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
12/02/10 – BE – Vosselaar – Biebob
13/02/10 – FR – Lille – Le Splendid
14/02/10 – FR – Paris – Elysée Montmartre

Comments AUTUMN: “It’s truly an honor for us to join forces with a band that rocked the cradle of contemporary female fronted heavy music and that has since then firmly set its own unique course into uncharted territory throughout its 20 year history. The Gathering have managed to create a trademark sound that sets them apart from the wealth of bands that followed in their footsteps and in this sense they have been a true inspiration for us.

Though our musical styles may differ slightly, we feel that Autumn and The Gathering share a very similar approach to music: persevering in the face of setbacks and rising to the challenge of creating music that expands our musical boundaries while remaining close to the hearts of both ourselves and our fans.

An evening with The Gathering and Autumn therefore holds the promise of being a varied, honest and intense musical experience. We hope to welcome you at one of these shows!”

For a statement by THE GATHERING and more info on the tour, check out www.gathering.nl <http://www.gathering.nl/> !

http://www.autumn-band.com/ <http://www.autumn-band.com/>
http://www.myspace.com/autumnband <http://www.myspace.com/autumnband>

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CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED release track listing and front cover to self-titled debut album!

As CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED prepare for their self-titled, first-ever album out January, 29th / February, 1st 2010 – the group is gearing up for their official release by announcing the track listing and unleashing the album’s artwork upon the metal world. The self-titled debut by CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED. contains nine tracks and a bonus DVD: “The Making of Charred Walls of the Damned” – and comes in a Digipak.

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED tracklisting:
1. Ghost Town
2. From The Abyss
3. Creating Our Machine
4. Blood on Wood
5. In a World So Cruel
6. Manifestations
7. Voices Within the Walls
8. The Darkest Eyes
9. Fear in the Sky
*Bonus DVD The Making of Charred Walls of the Damned

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED was produced by Jason Suecof and recorded at his Orlando, FL based studio, Audiohammer Studios, and boasts an all-star lineup consisting of some of metal’s most talented musicians.

Richard Christy, former drummer for Death and Iced Earth, comedian, and radio personality on the legendary Howard Stern Show on Sirius-XM Satellite Radio on drums. Famed producer Jason Suecof who has produced and/or mixed some of the most prominent albums from metal’s leading bands, including: Trivium, All That Remains, The Black Dahlia Murder, Chimaira, DevilDriver and many, many more, on guitars. Tim “Ripper” Owens, who fronted heavy metal legends Judas Priest from 1996 to 2002, performed alongside Richard in Iced Earth from 2003 to 2004, and currently performs with Beyond Fear and Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force, on vocals. And one of metal’s most heralded bassists, Steve Digiorgio, who played alongside Richard in the bands Control Denied and Iced Earth, and has also performed with Death, Autopsy, Testament, Vintersorg, and is a founding member of technical thrash pioneers Sadus.

The self-titled debut album of CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED will be released the 29th of January / 1st of February 2010 all over Europe via Metal Blade Records!

Add CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED at their brand new MySpace site:
http://www.myspace.com/charredwallsofthedamned <http://www.myspace.com/charredwallsofthedamned> !

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GOATWHORE European tour kicking off next week!

American Black Metallers GOATWHORE will embark on a European tour in November with TOXIC HOLOCAUST and SKELETONWITCH. The tour is beginning next week Friday, don´t miss out on this great Underground event!

TOXIC HOLOCAUST + GOATWHORE + SKELETONWITCH
(3-bands co-headline tour, the bands will rotate every night)

27.11.09 Netherlands Nijmegen @ Doornroosje
28.11.09 Belgium Gent @ Minus One
29.11.09 UK Plymouth @ White Rabbit
30.11.09 UK Glasgow @ Ivory Blacks
01.12.09 UK Sheffield @ Corporation
02.12.09 UK London @ Underworld
03.12.09 UK Birmingham @ Eddie’s
05.12.09 UK Prestatyn Sands @ Hard Rock Hell
06.12.09 Day Off / Travel Day
07.12.09 France Nantes @ Le Ferrailleur
08.12.09 Germany Trier @ Exhaus
09.12.09 Germany Hamburg @ Hafenklang
10.12.09 Denmark Copenhagen @ Loppen
11.12.09 Germany Berlin @ Cassiopeia
12.12.09 Germany Bischofswerda @ Eastclub
13.12.09 Poland Wroclaw @ Wagon
14.12.09 Czech Rep Prague @ 007
15.12.09 Germany München @ Feierwerk
16.12.09 Italy Arcene (Bergamo) @ Soundcheck
17.12.09 Switzerland Zürich @ Abart
18.12.09 Germany Darmstadt @ Steinbruch Theater
19.12.09 Germany Essen @ Turock

http://www.goatwhore.net/ <http://www.goatwhore.net/>
http://www.myspace.com/goatwhore <http://www.myspace.com/goatwhore>

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GWAR’s ‘America Must Be Destroyed’ deluxe edition with “Tour De Scum” and “Phallus In Wonderland” out this week!

The almighty GWAR have unleashed upon the unwitting populace of Europe a special collection of classics from the GWARchives. America Must Be Destroyed, GWAR’s 1992 opus, can now be purchased in a special edition digipak that’s also crammed with a DVD that includes the seminal GWAR films Tour De Scum and Phallus In Wonderland. Never before have they all been available in one package for you to get your clammy human hands on!

The America Must Be Destroyed special edition is available everywhere from Friday/Monday on!

12,99,- BUY <http://www.emp.de/feature/?id=74&partnerid=1>

http://www.gwar.net/ <http://www.gwar.net/>
http://www.myspace.com/gwarofficial <http://www.myspace.com/gwarofficial>

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HAIL OF BULLETS premiere new video for ‘Warsaw Rising’ on MetalInjection.net!

MetalInjection.net, the internet’s source for the most (in quantity and substance) metal videos, is bringing you the latest assault from HAIL OF BULLETS!

Warsaw Rising, from the EP of the same title, is a live video that features Martin Van Drunen and co.’s crushing live show. The video can be seen RIGHT NOW on MetalInjection.net <http://www.metalinjection.net/av/exclusive-video-premiere-hail-bullets-warsaw-rising-win-copy-rare-ep> !

Comments drummer Ed Warby: “Our first official video features the Bullets performing the track Warsaw Rising against a backdrop of total, all-out war! With its muted colour palette emulating the super-imposed archive footage of destruction, this is the perfect visual companion to our brutal aural onslaught!”

Warsaw Rising features two new tracks, Warsaw Rising and Liberators, live tracks for Red Wolves Of Stalin, Nachthexen, The Crucial Offensive, and a cover of Twisted Sister’s Destroyer. You can purchase the EP on iTunes HERE <http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/warsaw-rising/id321019040> . European fans can buy the EP on emp.de HERE <http://www.emp.de/bin/shop.php?rubrik=&Sucheintrag=warsaw+rising&list_sort=gd&prog=search&tc=SEARCH&stat=yes> .

“I don’t know if it’s their wealth of experience, pure talent, or sheer love of the music, but this band has just the right energy and atmosphere to unload classic, kick-ass death metal even in this day and age, without sounding too modern or like a complete throwback.” AversionOnline.com

“Rarely do Death Metal performances come across clean and powerful on live albums, but these three tracks are quite amazing.” Metal-Rules.com

“True to their World War II themes, “Warsaw Rising” and “Liberators” roll like tanks, while the doomy stomp of Twisted Sister’s “Destroyer” is a surprisingly good fit.”InvisibleOranges.com

“When you think there’s no hope left for brutal music, where every band sounds the same, HAIL OF BULLETS comes along and just level everything with the ground. Pretenders – move over!” Silenoz/DIMMU BORGIR

HAIL OF BULLETS

December 2009

19th    CORK – Winterfest @ An Cruiscin Lan

http://www.hailofbullets.com/ <http://www.hailofbullets.com/>
http://www.myspace.com/hailoffuckenbullets <http://www.myspace.com/hailoffuckenbullets>

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IMPIOUS ‘Death Domination’ full album stream on TheGauntlet.com!

Swedish Death Metal veterans, IMPIOUS, are poised to unleash their third album on Metal Blade Records, Death Domination. We could tell you all day long how good this band is, how they’ve been crushing audiences worldwide since 1994, and how their new album is a crushing slab of death metal – OR, you could head on over to TheGauntlet.com <http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/674/17280/Impious-Death-Damnation-album-stream.html> and stream Death Domination in its entirety and judge for yourself!

Guitarist Valle Adzic adds about the album: “Death Domination is our sixth album, and I must say it’s the first time I’m actually really happy about how the end result turned out. It just gets my engines pumping, you know? We’re talking about ultra brutal death metal here, but still it has those memorable hooks somehow. Death Domination is a team effort that’s as honest as it can get. We’re not trying to be original or something, we’ve simply just worked hard on making the best songs we can come up with, and then get that on tape. I think people will notice that rock solid energy and confidence, and I hope they’ll appreciate the album as much as we do. It’s our fastest most aggressive record to this date for sure.”

Death Domination will be released in Europe the 20th/23rd of November, 2009!

Click to HERE <http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/674/17280/Impious-Death-Damnation-album-stream.html> stream Death Domination in its entirety NOW!!

http://www.impious.net/ <http://www.impious.net/>
http://www.myspace.com/impiousofficial <http://www.myspace.com/impiousofficial>

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VALKYRJA finish recordings for ‘Contamination’ and reveal tracklisting & artwork!

Swedish Black Metallers VALKYRJA have finished recordings for their 2nd album Contamination! Again recorded at Necromorbus Studios (Deströyer 666, Watain) with Tore Stjerna at the helm, Contamination is the logical successor to the bands debut album The Invocation Of Demise (re-issued by Metal Blade Records in July 2009).VALKYRJA act even more relentless than on their first effort and they have also refined their sense for compelling melodies close to perfection!

The band comments on Contamination as follows: “The two years which have passed since the ‘The Invocation of Demise’ session has been a hectic period of composing, crafting and some line-up changes. During this last summer VALKYRJA manifested the second album. There were no doubts that we would return to Necromorbus Studio, again with Tore Stjerna as producer, and the outcome of this session formed an abominable weapon. January 2010 Metal Blade Records will unleash this dweller of the underworld – by far the strongest material thus far – namely Contamination, a mark of violent and dark Metal for the predator and beast of opposition within man.”

Every Black Metal fan in general and followers of DISSECTION and NAGLFAR in particular will love the hymnic riffing and the vicious atmosphere VALKYRJA unleash on their new album.

Crowned by a top-notch, freezing cold and brutal production, Contamination is indeed the first Black Metal highlight of the new year and makes VALKYRJA THE Black Metal band to watch out for in 2010!

Tracklisting Contamination:
1. Advent…
2. Oceans to Dust
3. Catharsis (Contaminate the Earth)
4. Solstice in Withdrawal
5. Laments of the Destroyed
6. Ambience of the Dead
7. The Womb of Disease
8. Welcoming Worms
9. A Cursed Seed in the World
10. The Adversarial Incentive Within All

Contamination will be released all over Europe the 15th/18th of January 2010!

http://www.myspace.com/valkyrjaswe <http://www.myspace.com/valkyrjaswe>

Brainstorm – Just Highs No Lows (12 Years Of Persistence)

I’m not a fan of power metal in anyway shape or form (except for maybe Sabaton). I do however realise that lots of people like it and fair does to them! This album is nothing new its essentially a ‘greatest hits so far remastered with some other songs we haven’t released before’. With a press release that describes the songs as ‘Heavy Metal Hymns’ you kinda get the point. This is just chugging, repetitive power metal which at best sounds like a poor mans Iced Earth.

The songs aren’t bad they’re just not very…well good. It’s nothing very original and listening to the whole album feels like a chore at times. The middle eastern/ asian intro to ‘Shiva’s Tears’ is one of the strangest things to ever be heard on an album calling itself ‘power metal’ then again..Brainstorm are German and therefore whilst be awesome..also aren’t that good at making music.

Good value but for fanboys only.

5/10

Mr Bogle