Just In Case...



Thursday, June 17, 2010

...On Leather Steeds They Ride

Sonisphere Poland has come to a banging end featuring The Big Four on stage for the first time in history. Below is the first photo released of The Big Four together in the same room (Jeff missed out)


and here is from the last photo call before stage time last night at Bemowo Airport in Warsaw, Poland.

(for some reason Chris is missing here)

The setlists have been reported as follows:

METALLICA

Creeping Death
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Fuel
Harvester Of Sorrow
Fade To Black
Kirk Solo with riff from the UFO song Rock Rottom
That Was Just Your Life
Cyanide
Sad But True
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
All Nightmare Long
One
Master Of Puppets
Blackened
Nothing Else Matters
Enter Sandman

Am I Evil? w/ The Big Four
Hit The Lights
Seek and Destroy

SLAYER

World Painted Blood
Jihad
War Ensemble
Hate Worldwide
Seasons in the Abyss
Angel of Death
Beauty Through Order
Disciple
Mandatory Suicide
Chemical Warfare
South of Heaven
Raining Blood


MEGADETH

Holy Wars... the Punishment Due
Hangar 18
Wake Up Dead
Headcrusher
In My Darkest Hour
Skin O' My Teeth
A Tout Le Monde
Hook In Mouth
Trust
Sweating Bullets
Symphony Of Destruction
Peace Sells/Holy Wars reprise


ANTHRAX

Caught in a Mosh
Got the Time
Madhouse
Be All, End All
Antisocial
Indians/Heaven and Hell
Medusa
Only
Metal Thrashing Mad
I Am The Law

-Viva Chile!






James Hetfield (in white) watching MegadetH



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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Tutaj w dontpanicradio chcielibyśmy powiedzieć "cześć" do Powel, Kasia i wszystkich naszych przyjaciół w Polska, dziękuję!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Summer Isn’t So Without An Iron Maiden Tour

The Final Frontier tour kick-started last night in Dallas and the videos are starting to come in (way to go Internet!)

Tuesday night Steve and Janick were on Rockline with Bob Coburn where amongst other tour-related stuff Steve reiterated that Eddie “has had some changes” and is “much scarier now.” He also briefly mentioned the band will visit Mexico in September, could this mean further Latin American dates? Wait and salivate. The interview is available below.

As previously mentioned, audience videos are starting to surface on YouTube bringing the first glimpses of Eddie’s make over. It is also nice to see a list of newer material again:

01. The Wicker Man
02. The Ghost Of The Navigator
03. Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
04. El Dorado
05. Paschendale
06. The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg
07. These Colours Don't Run
08. Blood Brothers
09. Wildest Dreams
10. No More Lies
11. Brave New World
12. Fear Of The Dark
13. Iron Maiden

Encore:

14. The Number Of the Beast
15. Hallowed Be Thy Name
16. Running Free














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Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Playing On Your Fears... NEW MAIDEN!

Thants right! Last night we finally discovered the prize after time ran out on the countdown clock posted on Maiden's website last week. The band has released the first single of their upcoming studio effort The Final Frontier.

El Dorado, the second track off their 15th studio album tells the introspective tale of age old explorers hunting for something that was never there. Thematically the lyrics have a hint flavour of Stones and Sympathy for The Devil, exploring perceived dualities through the use of first person narrative. Sonically the song brings to mind previous songs such as New Frontier, Wildest Dreams and Montségur. Though notably different from pre-Blaze Maiden hits, El Dorado shows the logical progression of a solid, very progressive Iron Maiden building on previous works (Brave New World and Dance of Death) while evoking some classic sounds from works such as Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son of A Seventh Son.

It is no coincidence that El Dorado evokes days of Maiden-past. For production the band has partnered with long time friend and mastermind Kevin “Caveman” Shirley, who lists Zeppelin, RUSH and Dream Theatre as guests of his studio, and previously responsible for AMOLAD, BNW and Dance of Death, as well as a plethora of live DVD's-for those of you who have the AMOLAD spec-ed he's the guy that shoots their video diary found on the DVD (disc 2). For the recording process the band returned to Compass Point Studio in Nassau, a familiar place where they have previously recorded Piece Of Mind (’83), Powerslave (’84) and Somewhere In Time (’86).

El Dorado has been made available as a FREE digital download through the band's website and is also available for streaming below for your enjoyment as you read this blog.

The band has confirmed that they will be playing some of the new songs during their upcoming tour starting tomorrow in Dallas. They will tour the U.S and Canada over the summer and head to Europe for select appearances at festivals and stadiums around the continent, for official dates check HERE.

The album has a confirmed running time of 76:35 and is scheduled for release on Monday 16th August (17th in the US). The track list is as follows:

THE FINAL FRONTIER
1. Satellite 15....The Final Frontier 8:40
2. El Dorado 6:49
3. Mother Of Mercy 5:20
4. Coming Home 5:52
5. The Alchemist 4:29
6. Isle Of Avalon 9:06
7. Starblind 7:48
8. The Talisman 9:03
9. The Man Who Would Be King 8:28
10. When The Wild Wind Blows 10:59

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Sunday, June 6, 2010

We’ve Got Deadlines To Meet!

I had the chance to sit with Max Kerman for a burger and a chat before Arkells took the stage for the first official show of their “Fall Canadian Classic Tour" in Brantford, Ontario. The Arkells boys are enjoying a hard-earned rocket ride to stardom, becoming household names and receiving top honours from their hometown at the Hammies as well as recently garnering a Juno for best upcoming act. Max and the guys also did a phenomenal job warming up the crowd for Them Crooked Vulture’s Toronto date, marking the first show of the Edge’s Summer Concert Series. Their first album, Jackson Square, has created quiet a stir and proudly lists heavyweights such as John Paul Jones as their newly acquired fans.

A heavy touring schedule has helped Arkells bring their music to all corners of Canada, enjoying the top spot in radio stations across the country. “Mike usually does all the driving, but once we go out west we all kind of take a turn,” says Max. The road always brings interesting experiences and Arkells band members are no strangers to Canadian highways. Having toured the country extensively, they have a fair share of interesting road stories, “We were driving in BC [this past] February and we saw a sign on the side of the road warning of fog, we didn’t think it would be foggy all year round, how could it? And within 2 minutes after passing it was so foggy we couldn’t see 5ft in front of the van, we were so terrified. Dan had his head over the wheel trying to see and Mike had his head out the window telling him how far we were from the edge ‘cuz we were in the [Rocky] mountains, I was just behind Dan going like ‘Dan try defrosting it, try defrosting it’ and he’s going like ‘it’s fog outside man, there’s nothing we can do.’ Then finally this truck came out of nowhere and helped us out, he guided us through the fog, he came out of nowhere—our F150 angel.” Max is quick to point out that he doesn’t usually drive for a particular reason, one many can relate to. “For some reason I have a bad reputation as being a poor driver, I didn’t get my license until I was 18 or 19 which is much older compared to the other guys.” Though one could argue that the age factor is not a real excuse for not driving long distances the band has had some close calls with Ontario’s finest. “Once we were driving home from Winnipeg, we were near Muskoka and we had gone straight for like 19 hours … as we went through this small town the speed limit changed and I didn’t notice so we got pulled over [by the OPP] so I’m probably the only guy who gets away with just a warning for speeding—we didn’t get a speeding ticket.”

No doubt touring has helped Arkells build a strong fan base across Canada. However as is often the case with nationally recognized acts, it has proved rather difficult for the band to break into the American market. Difficulty is something Arkells are familiar with and it doesn’t easily discourage the band. An example of this is their plan to take the U.S by surprise with the upcoming American release of Jackson Square. “Yeah we’re gonna re-release (Jackson Square) in the New Year in America. A lot of Canadian bands do really well here but have a hard time crossing over so were gonna give it the old college try and see what happens.” When asked who their distributor will be, Max acknowledges that “it’s still being worked out but we have a few options were really excited about.”

Arkells have been going strong for about four years, starting as a university band out McMaster University in Hamilton (Ontario), but how did it all come to be? “I met Mike and Nick when I was 17 or 18 during my first year of school, we met Dan and Tim a couple years later.” Of course, I had to know - are you happy with the way the band has taken shape? “Yeah its great, it’s been a great year I think!” he adds with a humble smile. Reflecting on other bands’ success as either a rocket ride to the top or a work hard to party hard scenario, Max admits “we know we’ve been very fortunate to get the opportunities we’ve got, we’ve also worked really hard it sort of seems natural to us the way its growing, its not like ‘oh my gosh, we’re playing Letterman!’ We’ve taken steps in the right direction, and while we’ve gone to play some big shows as openers we have a pretty good idea where we stand as a band, the kind of numbers we pull and the work that is left to grow our music.” But, after all that, does it still catch you a little off guard? Like the gig with the Tragically Hip and Sam Roberts [this past summer in London,] or the Metric tour? “Some things have become sort of normalized by now” Max adds, “others we go ‘oh my gosh this is so cool!’ Like for example the other night the Hip were playing in Hamilton, we went out to check it out and ended up hanging out with some of the guys after, they came out to a bar [with us] and it was one of those times when we all kind of just looked at each other and went ‘yeah this is a little different, not what we’re used to.’”

As a personal favourite song, I had to ask Arkells about The Boss Is Coming! What’s with the warning? “Those lyrics are pretty literal. I’ve had a line of jobs by now and I hate the feeling of going to work and being afraid of that one person who might wreck it for you. I hate just keeping busy, where there’s always that one manager at your job where you go ‘well its not gonna be fun if he/she is there today,’” Max says. Left wondering if this alluded to anything in particular, he continues, laughing “I remember working at a restaurant as a waiter and I had a little pad to write down the orders and I’d also write down ideas and verses so I remember writing down the lyrics while I was there … the song came pretty naturally”.

The music of Arkells speaks to all groups, anyone can relate to their album because of the themes within it. I was curious to know how Arkells came across the ballad of Hugo Chavez? “Thematically, the album is about people who we think are interesting, that we admire or question. I was reading about Chavez and his rise to power. I read that in the early ‘90s he tried to overthrow the government but failed and got thrown in jail and that while he was in jail he ended up learning (about Marx, Lenin and Socialist Theory) even more so, I thought it was an interesting concept where this negative situation was turned into something worth his time, so I just thought that it was an interesting concept. It is not a political commentary on what’s going on right now, I’m not in a position to say anything because I’m not in the ground over there and I know there’s a lot of mixed feelings about him but as a story that took place in the early ‘90s over a guy who became an influential leader. I thought it was an interesting story.”


Arkells are: Max Kerman, Mike DeAngelis, Dan Griffin, Nick Dika and Tim Oxford.
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Hide your mothers, It's The Master of Metal!

After a dark and bumpy ride in the back of a Chupacabra down the Highway to Hell, I couldn’t help but notice the excellent choice of music as I dismount. The wailing guitars of Slayer and Leatherwolf drown out the torturous screams of politicians, rappers and members of New Found Glory and Nickleback as an army of miscreants take it upon themselves to dismember, torture and destroy for all eternity in an effort to please and entertain The Master. Waiting in line continues as I quietly wait for The Master’s hearse to come. It isn’t long before the distant unmistakable smell of nitro and the sound of Dio's Don't Talk to Strangers grows louder announcing the quickly-approaching hearse, the most beautifully demonic hot rod - one with big fat tires and everything.

The door opens and the sweet, sweet smell of deathleaf engulfs me as a cavernous, omnipresent voice fills the air: “Welcome to the Belly of The Beast.” From the front seat emerges Mortimer, amidst a steam cloud of sulphur. After a growl and some drooling he steps on it and we dart—it’s 1’320 to go ‘till the finish line. The Hearse from Hell blazes at the speed of light through a crowded, seemingly never-ending school zone, blasting Iron Maiden's Aces High and ploughing women, children and little old ladies a la Carmageddon.

After an unforgettable ride we pull into a cola bud-lined driveway, and I can see The Master standing at the end as he waits for our arrival. A most gracious host, The Master greets me with a skilfully wrapped number of the finest deathleaf from hell as he guides me into his lair. A modern day Dante, my ripped jeans, battle vest and Motörhead tee doesn’t compare to The Master’s black leather trench coat and Simmons-like boots, making me feel slightly underdressed—how dare I not dress to match the occasion? The plethora of beautiful nude women serving us food and other favours quickly makes me forget the attire as it slowly peels off and is left near the door. The Master’s lovely assistants bring forth a feast of unmentionable debauchery in which they take full part, a fitting preamble to a long awaited audience with The Master.

Before we get down to business, it is—in my view—imperative to ask you Master, where have your (YouTube) featured assistants gone? “Ah, my lovely assistants,” he adds with laughter. “The sad truth is I keep eating them, and yes, they are quite tasty! I would stop enslaving such lovely assistants but my minions insist on hot chicks with their metal and I can only oblige. Unfortunately for these ladies, I can't help feasting on their tender flesh. A conundrum like this cannot be easily solved. Luckily, there are millions of female minions eager to worship their Master so I won't run out of assistants or a warm food supply.” The army of lovely servants is overwhelming, supporting every word The Master says, an army that has made every effort to ensure I enjoy a comfortable stay.

A skilled magician, The Master has delighted his minions worldwide with a short selection of majick tricks, but will we see any more tricks in the future, Master? “Perhaps,” The Master continues, “I have a new trick which involves shuffling a deck of cards, picking three of them randomly to lay out on the table in front of a lucky Pooper or two, and then skull fucking them mercilessly while I ram the rest of the cards down their throats to suffocate them as quickly as possible.” The lone mention of the act makes his assistants pour over him in anticipation, as they all want to volunteer for a show. “[The poopers] are quite surprised and Mortimer always gets a kick out of it, quite a good trick for weddings and bar mitzvahs. Plus, Mortimer gets to eat the bodies and practice his perverted brand of lovemaking. Not in that order, of course.” So speaking of dirty tricks, have the contents of your bag changed? “The contents of My Bag are always changing, depending on what I need. For instance, right now in My Bag I have three and a half ounces of supreme Deathleaf,” adding quite proudly, to which I can vouch for in full, “half a bottle of lubrication, a small well-sharpened axe, a bag of peanut M&M's, a coil of rope, a grappling hook and a list of addresses for mothers I will soon fornicate with…I don't like to scrape the darkest depths... unless it is the dark depth of your Mother's cavernous vagina!” as He bursts out in his signature demonic laughter, letting out a thick cloud of yellowish-green smoke.

Staying on the topic of cavernous vaginas, on the drive here Mortimer mentioned the time he had to collect you after escaping Samantha’s vagina, a true odyssey by the sounds of it! How did you do it? “Are we talking the Sex in the City Samantha or the Bewitched Samantha? For no man would ever want to escape Elizabeth Montgomery's twitching witch hole! As to the Sex in the City Samantha, that vagina was more difficult an exit than when Indiana Jones tried to outrun that boulder in the Peruvian jungle. You may recall the rope and grappling hook from My Bag, which I used quite successfully to scale the gargantuan walls of that monstrous mound of vagina. Once I got to the top, I was able to navigate her taint and apply a modest amount of crushing anal penetration on the backside. Upon finishing, I let the other three girls lap up My Manspunk with their tongues until Samantha was clean enough for another go around, after which a thousand Minions had their way in the largest mass spelunking in the history of crevices and caves. Sloppy thousands, anyone?” –No kidding! And what about your Sack? Have you reached the bottom yet? “Not even close! However, many of My Minions have reached the underside of My Sack with their yearning tongues and hungry lips. Quite frankly, My Satanic Scrotum has never been cleaner!”

And speaking of clean, Mortimer allowed me to listen to some of your new recordings and mentioned you have a new album coming out soon. Is there anything else you can tell us about it? “My Minions have been begging and pleading for a studio album from their Master and in between mother fuckings and ganja burnings, I have recorded just such a ribald treat. Entitled "Rhapsodomy in Black," the album will feature newly recorded versions of some of My live favourites as well as songs that no (other) Minion has heard the Master perform. Provided you have the good sense to purchase one, I will squirm into your ear canals and infect your brain with culture, lust and degradation. Soon you will see and hear it all on YouTube and iTunes! For now, salivate and wait.”

And while we wait, you urge us to confess to be saved, however, wouldn’t that prevent all minions from partying for all eternity with you here at The Castle? “Confession is so very important, Minion,” The Master insists adamantly, “your fellow deviants and miscreants share their deepest, darkest secrets with you; it's the least you could do to share yours with them. Being saved from a life of Ignorance, Hypocrisy and Bad Taste in Music is all part of being a Minion. I'll also liberate your virginity and save your genitals... for lunch!” I can attest to this, after a succulent all-you-can-eat featuring The Master’s lovely assistants as the main course. “Salvation as offered by the Church only includes molestation, shame and sodomy in the fine print. I put it right on the front page in bold letters so you know what you're getting into. And I know what I'm getting into... it's called your sphincter! As to hanging with Me for eternity, that all depends on your ability to procure high quality ganja, freshly shorn vagina and new Minions to be inducted into the 9th circle of Hell. If you can handle that, you are welcome at the Castle!” If I may, oh great master, you mention the 9th circle and I’d like to thank you for the opportunity to unwind on some nasty politicians; which brings me to my next question: Why is it important to vote? “Though it may seem hopeless, voting actually holds power. Power against Poopers! Power to change things from the stupefied reality we now soak in to a glorified future that until now has remained forbidden. Take the UK, where Gordon Brown has recently earned his last name by stepping in a hot pile of shit of his own making. That grotty ponce David Cameron has shown us that somewhere a toolshed is missing its largest tool as he spews his xenophobic and bitter solutions to the problem (for the record, I don't believe euthanizing immigrants is good economical policy in any country.) That leaves Nick Clegg, whom I rather like. [He] seems like a decent chap who wants to get in and change the toxic culture of politics in jolly Olde England. He's like a brave man with an optimistically large shovel standing before a monumental mountain of steaming turds (thank you, Maggie Thatcher). No matter what, he couldn't possibly fuck up England any worse than the Labour party has for years. And his sickest nightmares would pale in comparison to the hellish landscape of a Conservative-run country, where the NHS would soon stand for "No Help. Sod off." In My estimation, Clegg is the only real choice. Is he the UK's Obama? Well, I haven't seen the size of his wang but he talks like he's got a right hearty set of bollocks, so perhaps he'll rise to the occasion. Perhaps if My Minions help get Clegg elected, he'll promote Me to Minister of Culture, where I can preside over a Carnal Cabinet of Mirthful Minions and host a nightly television spectacle on the BBC, channel 666. Sodomy, torture and cooking tips, plus a few musical moments and the execution of anyone who still says "Hey, Nonny, Nonny." Ah, a Master can dream...”

As per the need of minions worldwide to get a live glimpse of the Master, He adds, “In the words of Monte Hall, let's Make a Deal! See you soon, Minions!”