Dimmu Borgir - Orchestra

This news made me very happy indeed! If ever there was a band who really justifes playing with an orchestra its these guys! An outsider looking in will dismiss this band on image alone but you don't have to stratch far below the surface to find some truly talented Musicians they make the most inhospitable Metal genre mainstream somehow!!!! If you are new to Black Metal this is where to start, purists will harp on about the early stuff but its all good!

Saw them a couple of years ago and loved them! I have nearly all their albums and they get played a lot!  I really hope they record this gig. I would be tempted to fly to Oslo if i was in Europe! I cant say enough good things about these guys, incredibly creative and exciting. Check them out and if you can see them live, you get your moneys worth!

Here is one of my favorite songs:

Future Of Heavy Metal

In the beginning there was Sabbath…..

Ozzy not taking part in the 1970 Movemeber campaign 

It is often argued where Heavy Metal started and there are many theories and ideas but if you generally believe that it all started with Black Sabbath you aren’t far wrong. Of course it was not known at the time what those first few notes on the song Black Sabbath would create but create it did. Call it calculation by Tony Iommi, call it luck, or divine intervention (having his finger tips chopped off which led to the way he plays guitar) what happened was huge! Through the 70’s the music grew skip 40 years and its now huge with a family tree of thousands of branches and genres that most metallers couldnt name all of.

During the 70’s Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Blue Oyster Cult and many more bands kick started the genre, each era has seen its giants dominate the scene. From Kiss in the late 70s Iron Maiden in the early 80’s closely followed by Judas Priest, then there was Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Def Leppard. Moving into the 90’s heavy weights Metallica took up the mantle with a strong support cast. The millennium would not stop the juggernaut as unlikely heroes Slipknot became the biggest metal band of the decade. But who is the next big thing? And where is it coming from?

Name another British band with their own Plane!

One look at any heavy metal or hard rock festival and the same headliners are seen again and again. The concern is where are the next Iron Maiden and Metallica. Lets not get to worried just yet, as anyone who has seen Iron Maiden recently will have noticed Bruce Dickinson bounding around the stage like a 20 year old, and Metallica these days look and sound better than ever but there will come a time when Papa Hetfield will have to hang up his “Truckster”.  

If your 555 then i'm 666!!!!!

Obvious choices would be Slipknot, but with the sad news of the bassist dying and reports of relations between Joey Joridison and Corey Taylor not being the best it’s unlikely that we will see Slipknot being a year in year out band, sporadic appearances being the best we can hope for. Early contenders Linkin Park have gone so far the wrong way in the eyes of the metal world there announcement as a headliner will bring as many groans as cheers. With an eye on this summer’s two big Metal festivals it’s not hard to see there are future problems. Download announcing System of  a Down, Linkin Park and Def Leppard, this isn’t so bad but compare it to last year’s headliners of AC/DC, Aerosmith and Rage Against the Machine you are not getting the same quality of band for your money and it does seem to be confused as to where its target market is. Sonisphere announced Slipknot which was good and then Biffy Clyro which was a disaster but they pulled it around by announcing the Big 4 (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax). Credit to Sonisphere for trying to introduce a younger more contemporary band and give them their break but most metal/hard rock fans will agree they could have picked a better one.

There are hundreds of young metal bands who have lots of potential, look to five years ago and Trivium were the big thing, they went from one unknown album to huge, everybody thought they were it. But they suffered with “Anthraxitis”, released a disappointing follow up to their breakthrough album and fans lost interest. (For note in the 80s when thrash metal came out Anthrax were tipped to become the next big thing. But the follow up to Among the Living didn’t quite live up to expectation and the rest is history, Metallica’s). But they seem to have fizzled out somewhat maybe this year and a new album can put them back on the map as pretenders to the top spot or was it a case of too much attention too young.

The media have a big say. You will never hear the younger bands on mainstream radio stations. The BBC shut down Bruce Dickinson’s Friday night rock show a positive outlet showcasing old favorites and also giving new talent airplay they might not get otherwise, this was very disappointing. So for a fan to discover new bands they must rely on other media, magazine, depending on what magazine you read will depend on what is reported on (nothing new there) Then there is the internet, trawling through YouTube and best of all is talk to other fans, read message boards etc.

Chimaira - One of my favorite bands of the last 10 years, Please Tour the UK soon!!!!!!

A wave of bands have achieved a lot in metal and recorded some great albums, Mastodon, Lamb of God, Chimaira but they haven’t reached the sort of album sales their talent deserves. This is because there are just too many genres of metal now. This is a good and a bad thing. Go back to the mid 80s and there were only 2 or 3 genres. There was Traditional Heavy Metal (Iron Maiden, Judas Preist etc etc) and the New Wave Metal, Trash ( Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus etc etc) Now when you meet a fellow Metaller you will argue about which genre is better, Melodic Death Metal or Symphonic Black Metal, Hardcore or Metalcore.

And here in lies the strength, a tree is only as strong as its roots. This being true Metal has hundreds of roots with so many different genres. What is important is that an individual support the bands they like, buy the CD’s (download the MP3 if that’s what the kids do these days) wear a t-shirt and most importantly go and see them live!

Opeth - Royal Albert Hall, What a Night!!!!

No one could have predicted in 1990 that Metallica would be the biggest band in the world some day (maybe Lars Ulrich) but that they are and that is because 21 million people bought the Black Album and millions of people around the world go and see them live. There will probably never be a band of that magnitude but what gives hope is that a niche band like Opeth (a band from Sweden specializing in Progressive Death Metal, if you must label things) can play the Royal Albert Hall. Basically Metal is being made for Metallers if you like Alternative Viking Gypsy Metal it’s there for you. The fact here may never be a huge band is not such a bad thing, Metal lives very healthily with no outside support it will be upon you young Metal fan to get behind their favorite acts. So long as our gigs and festivals are well attended I have no doubt a band will break out of the arena and into the stadium, the headliners will out! 

Rolling Stones Top 10 Albums of the 90's

Rolling Stone has recently published a list of the greatest albums from the 90’s. Now you’re talking I love 90’s music! Usually these things are dull to read, I find it very hard to see the value in lists. Depending on where you read the list will depend on the bias of the content I am sure NMA would pick a completely different 10 and there is no Hiphop in the lsit when you consider it was this decade it really got big with some quality material released.

This list was voted for by people, ok people know what they are talking about don’t they? Well yes and no, once you start getting peoples votes involved it all becomes very predictable so I find it hard to see the point. So here it is anyway and a link to the site if you are inclined to take a peak.

Nirvana – Nevermind

Radiohead – OK Computer

Pearl Jam – Ten

U2 – Actung Baby

Oasis – (What’s the story) Morning Glory?

Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream

Metallica – Black Album

Jeff Buckley – Grace

Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

Guns & Roses – Use Your Illusion I & II (errrr Rollign Stone thats 2 albums!!! good call though)

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/rolling-stone-readers-pick-the-top-10-albums-of-the-nineties-20110216

So if you remember the 90s with any great passion please leave in the comments your ten favorite albums of the 90s they can be anything even non metal! Basically let’s see if we can’t get at least a few lists by individuals proving that no one list is definitive and that not one person will whole heartedly agree with that list. For one who would vote for that Oasis album errrr Defiantly Maybe????

Heres mine. (No particular order)

Alice in Chains – Facelift

Janes Addiction – Ritual De La Habitual

Megadeth – Countdown to Extinction

Marilyn Manson – Antichrist Superstar

Nine Inch Nails – Downward Spiral

Opeth – Still Life

Korn - Korn

Deftones – Around the Fur

Ozzy Osbourne – No More Tears

Metallica – Black Album

There are a few more that could easily be on that list – this is why I hate lists!!!!!!!

Pantera – Cowboys From Hell / Vulgar Display     

Dimmu Borgir – Enthrone Darkness Triumphant        

Alice In Chains – Dirt / Alice In Chains

Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine

Korn – Korn / Life Is Peachy

Emperor – In The Nightside Eclipse

Fear Factory – Remanufacture

Nirvana – Nevermind / In Utero       

Opeth – My Arms your Hearse       

Slayer -Seasons In The Abyss      

Oasis _ Defo Maybe      

Blur  - Parklife

Radiohead – the Bends / Ok Computer

Smashign Pumpkins – Siamese Dream – Mellon Collie

Pearl Jam - Ten       

Satyricon – Nemesis Davina        

White Zombie – Sexorcisto:Devil Music. Vol. 1

Machine Head – Burn My Eyes

I could go on and on and on and on……….



Rob Zombie

This month see’s Rob Zombie playing his first UK gigs in 12 years and I am not going.

Gutted much?

Like you wouldn’t believe!

I wouldn’t say he is one of my favorite metal acts and I tend to listen to White Zombie more than his solo stuff. That being said I bought his new album Hellbilly Deluxe 2 and loved it, John 5’s (ex Marilyn Manson) guitar works has really given Robs music an added dimension. The critics have given fairly average reviews but who cares what they think. The live shows I have seen on YouTube look great with a cool set and I am sure plenty of showmanship, kind of  what you would expect from a guy whose major hobby is making movies.

What is most annoying about not seeing this gig and being in the middle of an ocean is the incredible line up. First of all as previously mentioned John 5 who is really making a name for himself as a bit of a shredder with his unique chicken pickin’ style is a head fuck of influences. Incidently he has / had (not that up on gossip) an incredibly hot mrs! 

John 5



The Line Up - I think? i have no idea what Piggy D looks like but i am sure thats him on the left, Rob John 5 and Joey.



Then there’s Joey “Slipknot” Jordison on drums considered by many to be one of the most talented drummers in the business, who am I to disagree with that. He is pretty awesome and gets a big thumbs up for me simply for filling in on drums for Satyricon some years ago,  putting on Frosts drum slippers is no mean feat.

And finally Piggy D from Wedensday 13 who if you are about 14 wear lots of eye make up and generally hate life are a good band I believe, not really my thing and I don’t in all honesty know much about them but its all got a place and he no doubt has some pedigree.

Then you have Rob up front who in every interview I have seen of him comes across as a really nice interesting guy who is very well informed and does something a bit different in the genre of Metal carving out his own very unique style. Plus he looks every bit like a rock star should!

Who doesn’t love Dragula! I am trying not to imagine how well its going to go down in the arenas across the UK.

Dig through the ditches,
And burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
Dragula!!!!!!!!

Couldn't have said it better myself! 

Glastonbury Festival

“The Glastonbury Festival aims to encourage and stimulate youth culture from around the world in all its forms”

BULL SHIT!

This is the first line of the objectives set out by the organizers of the Glastonbury festival. Nothing could be further from the truth. Granted the event does not claim to be a music festival but a performing arts festival. Seeing as this blog is going to take a metal view on life then I thought it would be interesting to see why Hard Rock and Metal is extremely badly represented at the nation’s largest festival.

It would be very easy to say; “well they are not the kind of acts that would go down very well at an event like this.” I couldn’t disagree more! Some of the best most innovative live music shows are Metal. I am sure there is the odd hippy fire breather wandering around the site so why not get Rammstien to headline a night and show people how to do a show with fire. Anyone who has seen Rammstien live even non believers would be hard pressed to think of a better live act in the world in terms of showmanship, stage presence, quality musicianship and special effects. I think the people attending Glastonbury would love it!

I thought I would trawl through the past line ups and see what hard rock acts there have been in the last ten years. An argument could be made for Muse but I am not counting them as most people who listen to them are completely unaware of the huge mid 90’s metal influence (Rage Against the Machine, Deftones) in some of their music and they draw a mainly indie crowd. (Classification is a whole huge subject I might tackle in my own way another day). So last year 2010 had a grand total of two Hard Rock bands Slash (low down on the main stage) and Coheed and Cambria on very early on a secondary stage, cheers for that! In fact you have to go back to the year 2000 till you get another one, Nine Inch Nails headlined the Other Stage with A Perfect Circle criminally low down the bill on the same stage. (I am surprised Maynard even turned up seeing as Bloodhound Gang were above them on the bill) You have to go back into the 90’s to get a much better representation of the genre at the festival.

Ironically Acoustic duet Rodrigo y Gabriela have played the festival a few times, they are of course famous for doing acoustic covers of famous metal songs such as Orion and One by Metallica.

So why do the Glastonbury organizers have such an apprehension when it comes to signing a metal band?  

Well the fact that the Year 2000 saw the last of the quality hard rock acts is no coincidence. In that year there was the tragic accident where nine people lost their lives in a crowd crush during a Pearl Jam set at the Roskilde festival in Denmark. The following year Glastonbury was cancelled as it did not feel its safety planning was sufficient. And since then it seems that our music is not wanted! In 2001 Roskilde despite the tragedy opened the gates to 92000 festival goers with headliners Guns and Roses notorious for their crowd troubles.

So do the big metal bands want to do it?

Of course they do! Headlining or playing such a well publicized event could do untold good to the world of Metal. Lars Ulrich of Metallica revealed that having headlined the 2008  Reading and Leeds Festivals, the band had  the Glastonbury Festival firmly in their sights for 2009. The drummer felt that after, "Having Jay-Z headline this year, it might open doors for other people and genres - maybe us." Metallica are without question one of the biggest bands in the world and an incredible live act so surely the people who pay top money to go to Glastonbury deserve the best?

Metallica Selling Out Wembley Stadium

There are as I have stated in a previous blog a lot of dedicated Hard Rock Festivals in the UK alone, this is because Metal looks after its own and its self. I think this is a shame I would like nothing more than to see the best acts blowing away so called “cool” and “popular” music at events all round the world.

When you think about it though what is the best thing about seeing quality metal live, its knowing that you are stood shoulder to shoulder with people who are there for the right reasons and that’s the love of the music. No one goes to a Metal festival for any other reason than the primary reason of seeing good music. This makes the atmosphere at any metal gig exciting and incredible safe as everyone looks out for each other. If you have ever seen Metallica and seen the bit where James asks how many people have seen Metallica before there is a huge cheer as nearly every hand goes in the air. That is why we have our own festivals we are loyal and stand by our acts, go and see them again and again.

So do Metal acts deserve a place at Glastonbury – Fuck Yea James!

Do we want them to go – Fuck NO James! 

UPDATE: Its been three years since i wrote this post and I'm shocked how many people read what i write on here, its very much appreciated. Looks like the powers that be at Glastonbury may have read my post sat he might Tallica are headlining the biggest festival in the world, quite deserved as well, i hope the Glastonbury crowd get it and enjoy it. Now Iron Maiden..

.

Brit Awards

Every year it seems to get worse from the point of view of Metal. 2009 and sparked hope when Iron Maiden were given a well deserved best live act award. This award has been done away with as it seems the organizers of the “Brits” have conceded that the best live acts are metal and don’t want to give it to Iron Maiden every year. So there is no representation of the metal world in our national music awards. Britain invented the most globally popular music genre which still sells millions of albums has spawned hundreds of sub genres, attracts millions of fans to concerts around the world. Even in the UK Metal has a more than healthy following with 100,000 people attending the Download Festival last year not to mention the sell out Sonisphere, Bloodstock, Hard Rock Hell, High Voltage, Damnation festivals plus countless other gigs ranging from stadiums - arenas - clubs - pubs! 

Iron Maiden Accepting Their Brit Award 2009 - Please note Bruce emphasizing the bands popularity around the world

Its typical of Britain to snub its most successful export musically, year by year global sell out tours the latest of which will see the band playing in front of 750000 people without even touching Europe, I am sure Coldplay couldn’t even sell out a school hall in Moscow!

So it comes to the best album and you think well here’s hope, but yet again no. The winners Mumford and Sons would not be out of place playing in the corner of a grotty local pub. You can help but get the feeling there style is a bit one trick pony and will go down as one of those you “remember them” acts?

If that’s the best album of the Year from a British artist how did it compare to the latest offering from Maiden. Well it was 3x Platinum and reached wait for it…..number 3 in the UK chart! It did reach number 1 in three countries, Australia and New Zealand (bizarrely) and Ireland which is hardly surprising.

We come to Maiden who released a new album named the Final Frontier which did not even get a nod so why? Did it sell poorly? Nope! In fact it was one of the best performing commercial releases by the band; The album debuted at Number one in 32 countries, their best to date. It debuted at Number one in the European album charts for 3 weeks in a row and is also their 4th number one in the U.K charts. The album also debuted at number four in the U.S charts, the band's best in the country. The song Eldorado was recently given the best performance by a metal band at the US Grammy Awards. The Grammys incidentally do pretty much get it wrong every year and some of the nominations are just plain confusing but they do try and the best acts will eventually get an award.

So where did it all go wrong? Well the Darkness I am afraid to say. They shot to fame in 2003/4 won tons of awards and really were an embarrassment to the metal world. OK the album was not that bad but it was not a fair representation of what we as listeners and watchers of heavy metal are into, call it light relief if you must.

Is there the talent out there?  HELL YEA!!! The older guard continue to produce current relevant albums Iron Maiden already mentioned, Ozzy Osbourne, Motorhead have just released one of the best albums in their history recently. But younger bands such as Bring Me the Horizon (the whole are they metal question is for another time) Bullet For My Valentine, Evile, The Architects, Your Demise, The Gallows, Devil Sold His Soul and many more. More mainstream support would allow these bands to for fill their potential and one day be may talk about amongst the biggest bands of their generation.

Bullet For My Valentine Playing to the Metal Masses!

So what do we want, just to be represented at a major awards! So please Mr/Mrs Brit Awards organizer please can we have a Hard Rock Metal Category domestic and . And Maybe a performance just to show the world who the best live acts are!

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