Never has the phrase Portents Of Doom ever been so apt. We all know Roadburn is an earth-shattering event but coming off the plane (thank god we got the early one) in Eindhoven we didn't expect to get calls from friends asking if we'd made it. The Festibubble had already set in, I was miles from home, in another country, mentally preparing myself for 5 days of my favourite festival and we were getting word that the world was ending, that a volcano had erupted AND that Pete Steele had died (connection between the two not confirmed at time of writing). With no newspapers and no access to TV news, we stood, jaws on floor, taking in the craziness of the situation and then shrugged, settled in for a coffee at The Grass Co and planned what bands we would see over the 4 amazing days that Walter, Jurgen and the Roadburn crew had arranged for us.
It was only when we recovened to the strip, Tilburg's amazing row of bars, to sit in the sun and move onto something stronger that the impact of the Volcano started to dawn on us. I first got a call from Yvonne, Roadburn's PR and my most awesome friend, to tell me she'd be late to meet me for lunch as she was stressing about how some of the stranded bands would make it. Wow, now this is serious. Who was here? Who was stuck? This was the buzz around the bar, as we sat there with friends old and new from Greg and Steve from Sunn, Chris from Profound Lore, Enslaved. That's the best thing about Roadburn. That you can settle in for a bevvy and be sat in the same bar as your musical heroes - no distinction between artists and fans. No backstage egos.
I hooked up with my friend Bidi and Arve and Herbrand from Enslaved and headed over to the Midi Theatre, a new venue in Tilburg that had been added to the Roadburn experience. It was open for press and artists to grab a beer, some food and catch up before the madness started. We got word that Enslaved's manager, the amazing Tonje, as she will now be known, was running around ordering nightliners top travel all 20 hours to ensure bands like Trinicria and Sarke didn't miss their set, and we knew that most of the British acts were hiring cars and making it over somehow, anyhow.
With an early start and my mind full of volcano gloom I needed to have a serious wake-up call and that came thanks to Kylesa, first band of the weekend, and boy, it was spot on. They shook me awake and sent me hurling into the void that is Roadburn, where the rest of world no longer matters.
The worst thing about Roadburn are all the clashes, it's impossible to see everything and the best thing I learnt from previous years is not too plan a schedule. Wander into rooms and watch band you didn't expect to see, miss bands you really wanted to check out, just take it all in, and that's what I did this year. It's a shame I couldn't see Russian Circles and Ancestor as they played the same time as Kylesa, and I wanted to see Shining play over in the Midi Theatre but I got so transfixed by Jarboe that I couldn't move. Backed by Eric from Cobalt on drums I was taken away to some ancient Sumerian rite, she is a true Goddess.
I had to take some time to recover from that transcendant experience, which meant I was a bit late for The Wounded Kings and could hardly get in their room, it was totally rammed for the Dorset doom crew. Luckily I barged my way to the front to get a full-frontal assault of heavy riffage, just before weaving my way through Bong's room (trippy as fuck) to make it back into the main room for Yob. I'd just met Mike while chatting to Chris and Eric and promised I would check out his set as he'd promised some blissed out, mind-melting doom for part 1 of his Roadburn onslaught (part 2 of his set a few days later at The Midi was due to be the loudest, heaviest set ever!). He didn't disappoint.
At this point I needed to take 5 and soak in the crazy day thus far so Terrorizer writer Olivier and I grabbed some food with the TWK dudes and missed EyeHateGod, well most of it and managed to see just a bit of Eagle Twin and Magnus Pelander from Witchcraft's solo set before taking place, right at the front for Enslaved, the Artists In Residence, who would play 3 more times in different guises.
As always they didn't let us down and put me on the top of the world. Now buzzing off the vibe of this incredible fest I got lured into harmonica heaven to watch Goatsnake, flitted between rooms to check out Bill Steer's Firebird and ended up dancing my ass off at Orange Goblin's metal disco before staying up until 8am, something that would become a habit, at my friend Yvonne's house.
Tuesday 20 April 2010
Wednesday 14 April 2010
ANGEL WITCH CONFIRMED FOR LIVE EVIL
I mentioned it yesterday but a few people weren't sure - yes, indeedy, reanimated NWOBHM legends ANGEL WITCH are playing the Fenriz-curated Live Evil festival, in London, in October. Be there!!!
Here's a wee message from promoter Marek Steven:
Oh boy!
The massively influential and frankly incredible metal band ANGEL WITCH are confirmed to headline Saturday, they sound better than they did in the late 70s... will be a heavy, satanic sing-a-long finale to the nite.
We have also booked the fucking AMAZING new band Ghost from Sweden. Don't take our word for it, Darkthrone's Fenriz says...
BAND OF THE WEEK: GHOST (Sweden)
www.myspace.com/thebandghost
"Without a shadow of a doubt, this will be the IT-BAND of 2010 and beyond..."
KEY THING TO BE AWARE OF IS THAT WE HAVE INSANELY CHEAP £20 EARLY BIRD WEEKEND TICKETS ABOUT TO RUN OUT... DON'T EXPECT GUEST LIST, WE HAVE TO PAY THE BANDS!! £20 for two days of the best bands and much more (including free after-evil gig with more bands at the Hobgoblin/Dev) get the last one's here or regret it in September!!
www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=372043
Don't say we didn't warn you....
Praise Him,
Live Evil
Tuesday 13 April 2010
ENFORCER 'DIAMONDS' TRACK BY TRACK
So, this blog, much to the dismay of the boys in the office (I would imagine), is turning into a bit of an Enforcer slashfictionathon (ooh don't get me thinking - all that dry ice and spandex), but indulge me, I'll get it all out of my system in a week or so and move onto fresh obsessions (new albums from Grand Magus and Enslaved already getting me excited). But I found a fellow steel warrior in the form of this week's Wretched Spawn (our budding intern Mirza Gazic) and he's been doing nowt else but rocking da Force's recent opus 'Diamonds' on his headphones all day. So I got him to dissect it, track by track, to get you, the readers, as excited as me about it. Hope it works.
'DIAMONDS' TRACK BY TRACK
1. 'Midnight Vice'
The album kicks off with a build up of wailing guitars and rolling drums - sounds just a tad like Maiden’s ‘Wrathchild’ intro - before the anthemic tune starts. It’s instantly memorable and heavy on Iron Maiden influences, especially with the galloping bass lines. It has a shamelessly melodic chorus and the high-pitched Halford sounds are out in full swing straight away. A great opener and with potential is bound to be high on the singalong list.
2. 'Roll The Dice'
This one is faster, with a good rollicking tempo and bringing in the Exciter influence. So far the focus is on short, punchy anthems just over three minutes long that will get heads banging and fists pumping. There is a part in the chorus which is perfect for a short singalong outburst finishing of with with “come on let’s go/roll the dice”. Lyric-wise it seems to be about taking a chance, but then again it could just be about gambling.
3. 'Katana'
Here we are onto more epic territory. Katana is over six minutes long and with a Japanese lyrical theme. It’s about the samurai sword with lyrics like “roaming in the poison air/within its shogun hand” and once again we’re in Iron Maiden’s territory. This is the kind of long, epic track they specialised in. It beats anything off Trivium’s ‘Shogun’, that’s for sure.
4. 'Running In Menace'
It starts of like a mid-paced thrash tune with a good, solid rhythm going. One of the things Enforcer do well is to throw in some inspired thrash shreddery in their trad metal. It works well with those choruses that tattoo themselves onto your brain. ‘Running In Menace’ is another infectious tune. Here Enforcer sound like one of those old rock dinosaurs, playing an arena and prowling the big stage, especially when Wikstrand sings “See you in Tokyo/Out in the city”.
5. 'High Roller'
The pace is picked up again, albeit still with a groove maintained and some good riffing to show off. Playing with deathsters Tribulation clearly isn’t doing guitarist Adam Zaars any harm.
6. 'Diamonds'
The title track is an instrumental exercise in driving, supple riffs and guitar solos aplenty. It has a slower mid-section and a strangely mellow and ballad-like finish and seems like a chance to just blast out some guitar riffs without any vocals interrupting. Maybe it’s good to let the singer rest a bit - sounding like a mix between King Diamond and Halford must take its toll.
7. 'Live For The Night'
This is a fast one - fastest one so far. The inspired shredding brings to mind Toxik but the song is also one to be in the race for one of the most anthemic. It’s punk in length and delivery but is a real pulse raiser too. The chorus to this one will be yelled out during concerts, that’s for sure.
8. 'Nightmares'
This one also focuses on speed and has some good choppy riffage going. It has a slower, rhythmic part mid-way through but picks up again. The vocal histrionics are particularly good here and we get some really high-pitched yells courtesy of Olof Wikstrand.
9. 'Walk With Me
This song is, like 'Katana', one of the longer ones and thus takes its time with the build up. Instead the vocalist is allowed to show his range. Unlike its epic cousin on the album, ‘Walk With Me’ is not so heavy on Maiden, instead going with the Angel Witch influence when it picks up pace, with a some Priest thrown in as well.
10. 'Take Me To Hell'
The album finishes how it started - fast and anthemic with another fist-pumper. In all honesty the album is full of memorable tunes and this one is one of the more infectious ones.
'DIAMONDS' TRACK BY TRACK
1. 'Midnight Vice'
The album kicks off with a build up of wailing guitars and rolling drums - sounds just a tad like Maiden’s ‘Wrathchild’ intro - before the anthemic tune starts. It’s instantly memorable and heavy on Iron Maiden influences, especially with the galloping bass lines. It has a shamelessly melodic chorus and the high-pitched Halford sounds are out in full swing straight away. A great opener and with potential is bound to be high on the singalong list.
2. 'Roll The Dice'
This one is faster, with a good rollicking tempo and bringing in the Exciter influence. So far the focus is on short, punchy anthems just over three minutes long that will get heads banging and fists pumping. There is a part in the chorus which is perfect for a short singalong outburst finishing of with with “come on let’s go/roll the dice”. Lyric-wise it seems to be about taking a chance, but then again it could just be about gambling.
3. 'Katana'
Here we are onto more epic territory. Katana is over six minutes long and with a Japanese lyrical theme. It’s about the samurai sword with lyrics like “roaming in the poison air/within its shogun hand” and once again we’re in Iron Maiden’s territory. This is the kind of long, epic track they specialised in. It beats anything off Trivium’s ‘Shogun’, that’s for sure.
4. 'Running In Menace'
It starts of like a mid-paced thrash tune with a good, solid rhythm going. One of the things Enforcer do well is to throw in some inspired thrash shreddery in their trad metal. It works well with those choruses that tattoo themselves onto your brain. ‘Running In Menace’ is another infectious tune. Here Enforcer sound like one of those old rock dinosaurs, playing an arena and prowling the big stage, especially when Wikstrand sings “See you in Tokyo/Out in the city”.
5. 'High Roller'
The pace is picked up again, albeit still with a groove maintained and some good riffing to show off. Playing with deathsters Tribulation clearly isn’t doing guitarist Adam Zaars any harm.
6. 'Diamonds'
The title track is an instrumental exercise in driving, supple riffs and guitar solos aplenty. It has a slower mid-section and a strangely mellow and ballad-like finish and seems like a chance to just blast out some guitar riffs without any vocals interrupting. Maybe it’s good to let the singer rest a bit - sounding like a mix between King Diamond and Halford must take its toll.
7. 'Live For The Night'
This is a fast one - fastest one so far. The inspired shredding brings to mind Toxik but the song is also one to be in the race for one of the most anthemic. It’s punk in length and delivery but is a real pulse raiser too. The chorus to this one will be yelled out during concerts, that’s for sure.
8. 'Nightmares'
This one also focuses on speed and has some good choppy riffage going. It has a slower, rhythmic part mid-way through but picks up again. The vocal histrionics are particularly good here and we get some really high-pitched yells courtesy of Olof Wikstrand.
9. 'Walk With Me
This song is, like 'Katana', one of the longer ones and thus takes its time with the build up. Instead the vocalist is allowed to show his range. Unlike its epic cousin on the album, ‘Walk With Me’ is not so heavy on Maiden, instead going with the Angel Witch influence when it picks up pace, with a some Priest thrown in as well.
10. 'Take Me To Hell'
The album finishes how it started - fast and anthemic with another fist-pumper. In all honesty the album is full of memorable tunes and this one is one of the more infectious ones.
LIVE EVIL FESTIVAL'S MAREK CHATS WITH OBLITERATION'S SINDRE SOLEM
With only 2 sleeps to Roadburn it'll soon be time for me to start counting the days to my next planned weekend of debauchery. Sure, I've got the Enforcer tour coming soon, hotly following by Armageddon Festival and then, eek, Hellfest, but towards the end of the summer I'm set on going giddy over Live Evil, an amazing 2-day event at The Underworld in Camden (with planned aftershow madness at The Dev). Curated by current Terrorizer coverstar Fenriz this fest brings together the best of his Band Of The Week blogees [I made up a word] alongside one of his fave bands; Angel Witch. But in the midst of the already killer lineup there is one band I'm desperate to see: OBLITERATION. And luckily, to whet my appetite, Live Evil promoter Marek Steven got to chat to Obliteration, exclusively for this blog. AAarrrgghhHH.
Fully obsessed with your new album 'Nekropsalms', such a great mix of the best elements from metal in a cohesive whole. Congrats! You must be happy with it?
"Fuck yes. We are extremely happy with the album, we've taken some time from our debut for this, to put it all together and to find our sound. We've recorded everything ourselves at our own studio in Kolbotn this time, so the sound is organic as hell, how we like it, and it suits our death metal mix perfectly. We also think we've captured something interesting on this album, an ancient feeling you don't find anymore, and the mix of elements from punk, doom, black metal, thrash and death metal just blends in so well. This album is a tease of how we think metal should be; raw, organic, horrid, and with soul, that'll make your spine go cold... So it's safe to say that we're happy with 'NEKROPSALMS', but I can promise you that there is more twisted sickness to come."
You're from the same town in Norway as black metal (and general heavy metal) legends Darkthrone. Did they have an impact on you growing up?
"Not at a very young age, but when we started to get into metal when we were 13-14 years old, we soon discovered Darkthrone, and other bands from the around here, and Norway in general. And it had a HUGE impact on us, and our music from an early age. Next door to me lives Apollyon's (Aura Noir, Lamented Souls, Cadaver, Immortal among others) parents, and he gave me a Cadaver album early on. This also had a HUGE impact on us, and how we and our music tastes turned out. That the Darkthrone guys supports us so much as they do is insane, and we love'em for it. Total respect."Your list of influences cites some of the best (all early) doom, death, classic rock, thrash and black metal bands ever. I can hear this broad knowledge in your riffing too, were you guys always metalheads?
"Well, Arild (lead guitar) and I grew up together and in our childhood we were skateboarders. We watched lots of old skate movies and there we found lots of cool punk and hard rock music. So at the start we were punks I guess, and when Obliteration started back in the day, we were playing punkish music. But Didrik and Kristian (bass and drums) were into some metal at the same time, and when we heard Slayer for the first time (also through a skate movie) we were sold, and it kinda evolved from there."
"Well, Arild (lead guitar) and I grew up together and in our childhood we were skateboarders. We watched lots of old skate movies and there we found lots of cool punk and hard rock music. So at the start we were punks I guess, and when Obliteration started back in the day, we were playing punkish music. But Didrik and Kristian (bass and drums) were into some metal at the same time, and when we heard Slayer for the first time (also through a skate movie) we were sold, and it kinda evolved from there."
Are you looking forward to playing Live Evil Festival in October?
"FUCK YES! It will be one of our definitive highlights of 2010, together with our gig at Maryland Death Fest. Live Evil gives us the chance to come back to the UK, which was a insanely cool place to play the last time we were there. And LIVE EVIL is perhaps one of the coolest initiatives EVER in the music world, spawned from pure idealism and a genuine love of music - a festival with ONLY killer underground bands that hold the flag of raw, old school metal HIGH! Great! And this is also a great chance for people all over to get to know all thise great bands. And Hooded Menace are playing their first gig, that's gonna be SICK"
"FUCK YES! It will be one of our definitive highlights of 2010, together with our gig at Maryland Death Fest. Live Evil gives us the chance to come back to the UK, which was a insanely cool place to play the last time we were there. And LIVE EVIL is perhaps one of the coolest initiatives EVER in the music world, spawned from pure idealism and a genuine love of music - a festival with ONLY killer underground bands that hold the flag of raw, old school metal HIGH! Great! And this is also a great chance for people all over to get to know all thise great bands. And Hooded Menace are playing their first gig, that's gonna be SICK"
And what else have you got coming up?
"We've got our EAST COAST HOLOCAUST tour in US/Canada in may/june(see our myspace for info on all dates), witch is gonna be sick. We're gonna play with Autopsy, Sadistic Intent, Nirvana 2002, Pentagram, Possessed, Stormcrow and many more. This is our first time in the us, so it will be very special for us. Nekromantheon is also joining the tour. Aafter this we have more gig's in Norway, and it looks like we're doing some more dates around Live Evil as well. Nekropsalms are beeing released on vinyl / LP in may with a bonus 7 inch single, that will be sick. And we're working on more music for our next album as we speak, so it woudn't be long 'til the next Obliteration release."
Finally, what are five of your favourite riffs of any (metal) genre.
"Holy hell, great question but hard. Most likely gonna regret some of my choices since there are so many great riffs out there, but a great riff is just a great riff without the proper sound - a fantastic riff on the other hand, has both. Here are some riffs that have it all."
Black Sabbath - Under the Sun
Black Sabbath has TOO MANY F A N T A S T I C riffs, Tony Iommi is the riff master of all time. Period.
Autopsy - Retribution for the Dead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7LwxtsOU44
Fantastic riffs and leads. A favorite in the Obliteration camp.
The feeling in this riff is soulful, bluesy and just perfect.
Second riff/verse riff. This is what black metal is all about. Great cold feeling that just keeps on going and going. From the Filosofem album.
From where the legend begin album. the two riffs that starts around 03.50. Those riffs fits TOO well together and everytime I listen to that song, I get the feeling that this is the best riff ever. A true epic classic, and an unique album.
Obliteration's second album 'Nekropsalms' is out now
Live Evil Festival is at the Underworld on 23/24th October. Limited £20 early bird tickets on Ticketweb now
Monday 12 April 2010
TOTAL ROCK PLAYLIST 11/4/2010
Did you know that they let me loose on the airwaves every Sunday? No? Well some people have no sense, and the guys at Total Rock (www.TotalRock.com) allow me to talk garbage and play a lot of bad power metal (mainly) from 3-5 every Sunday. Tune in. I'll be posting my playlists on this blog so you can see what you're missing (or maybe what you're glad you missed).
Because I'm off to Roadburn this week (can't bloody wait) I had Toby 'Age Of Taurus' Wright join me to talk about what we're going to be seeing and doing over 4 blissful days in Tilburg. Only 3 more sleeps - arrrgghhh
This is what you missed:
Celtic Frost - Circle Of The Tyrants
Eyehategod - My Name Is God
Kyuss - Demon Cleaner
Goatsnake - Easy Greasy
Pagan Altar - Judgement Of The Dead
Candlemass - Under The Oak
Sons Of Otis - Clowns
Kylesa - Said And Done
Eagle Twin - Crows Hymn
Night Horse - Wicked Love
Dark Castle - Into The Past
Enslaved - Clouds
Sarke - Frost Junkie
Because I'm off to Roadburn this week (can't bloody wait) I had Toby 'Age Of Taurus' Wright join me to talk about what we're going to be seeing and doing over 4 blissful days in Tilburg. Only 3 more sleeps - arrrgghhh
This is what you missed:
Celtic Frost - Circle Of The Tyrants
Eyehategod - My Name Is God
Kyuss - Demon Cleaner
Goatsnake - Easy Greasy
Pagan Altar - Judgement Of The Dead
Candlemass - Under The Oak
Sons Of Otis - Clowns
Kylesa - Said And Done
Eagle Twin - Crows Hymn
Night Horse - Wicked Love
Dark Castle - Into The Past
Enslaved - Clouds
Sarke - Frost Junkie
WOT - NO INTERNETS
Hi all,
I set up this blog to fill the gaping void in my life where www.Terrorizer.com once lived. For those of you that have asked, we're still here, still producing the world's most extreme heavy metal mag on the whole fucking planet, but we're offline temporarily while we re-launch a bigger, better, sexier website dedicated to the cacophonous racket we like to call music.
But for now, here's this wee lil' blog, where the gang from Rizer can pour their innermost feelings about what we're doing, what's new and what we're listening to: which at the moment is just two things for me: WATAIN AND ENFORCER.
I've got both 'Lawless Darkness' (out on Season Of Mist on June 7) and 'Diamonds' (on Earache - real soon) on heavy, heavy rotation.
I'm so excited, I might do a sick, because both bands are coming to London soon. AND both shows are Terrorizer sponsored.
You can check out Enforcer on these dates - eek
and what's more - the first 50 peeps through the door will get a super limited split 7" courtesy of those nice people at Earache - aaaarrrgghhhh - get there EARLY. Check out the cover here:
I'm going back to listening to 'Diamonds' until my ears bleed. Watch this space for news of the Watain show, or head over to http://www.myspace.com/armageddon.festival for details. I can't cope - two good shows in London in a matter of days. Eek
I set up this blog to fill the gaping void in my life where www.Terrorizer.com once lived. For those of you that have asked, we're still here, still producing the world's most extreme heavy metal mag on the whole fucking planet, but we're offline temporarily while we re-launch a bigger, better, sexier website dedicated to the cacophonous racket we like to call music.
But for now, here's this wee lil' blog, where the gang from Rizer can pour their innermost feelings about what we're doing, what's new and what we're listening to: which at the moment is just two things for me: WATAIN AND ENFORCER.
I've got both 'Lawless Darkness' (out on Season Of Mist on June 7) and 'Diamonds' (on Earache - real soon) on heavy, heavy rotation.
I'm so excited, I might do a sick, because both bands are coming to London soon. AND both shows are Terrorizer sponsored.
You can check out Enforcer on these dates - eek
and what's more - the first 50 peeps through the door will get a super limited split 7" courtesy of those nice people at Earache - aaaarrrgghhhh - get there EARLY. Check out the cover here:
I'm going back to listening to 'Diamonds' until my ears bleed. Watch this space for news of the Watain show, or head over to http://www.myspace.com/armageddon.festival for details. I can't cope - two good shows in London in a matter of days. Eek
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