Dawn Of Battle

Political statement from Summoning

2014-06-17T06:48:00.000-07:00

Political statement from Summoning

Due to some Nazi propaganda videos which i found on YouTube using Summoning music I decided to finally write down all the facts I know, showing why metal music and rock music in general don't suit Nazi, fascist or racist ideologies.

Actually, Summoning was never accused of being connected to this scene, and so there is no need to defend us or excuse anything. The reason I write is that I think it's a pity the scene is tending more and more in this direction, and therefore working to its own extinction. Also, I think there is a lack of information coming from the non-national socialist side, information which needs to be said as no one else does it. At the beginning I never wanted to associate Summoning with any kind of political topics as our music is not connected to reality at all, but as national socialism-supporting bands are constantly spreading their political thoughts, I think the time has come to finally stand up and show people that Nazism is not the only ideology of the current metal scene.

Here you can read all the facts and thoughts I gathered in the last 15 years, showing why national socialism, fascism or racism is in contradiction to any kind of sub culture.

- Metal music has historically been heavily influenced by black music. First there was blues music done mainly by black people, then rock developed from blues, and finally metal developed from rock music. Metal has no roots in any of the old Germanic tribes at all. Any metal fan thinking that his music is an Aryan one is simply wrong, and singing German does not make this music traditional white music. Nazis in the third reich called music like blues (as well as jazz) "nigger music" and therefore would also not have liked metal music either.

- Apart from the black blues influences of metal music there are lots of other non-Aryan influences in metal. The bass drum used in metal music derived from the bass drum used in jazz, which is originally the Turkish bass drum "davul". Cymbals of any kind have Chinese roots, also with Turkish influences. The same goes for tom toms.

- Metal is not the only music that has non-Aryan roots - the same goes for classical European music:

The oboe derived from the Arabic "mizmar" (or "zurna" in turkish), which later became a shalm and finally the oboe as we know it.
The lute is nothing other than the Arabic "oud". Not even the shape has changed.
The guitar is Spanish as well as Mauritanian (that's probably why "Varg Vikernes" once called them "nigger instruments" and therefore stopped playing guitars in "Burzum").
The violin derived from the Persian instrument "rebab". It is well known that Persians are "Aryans" as well, but anyway they don't belong to the old Germanic tribes.
The complete percussion section in European orchestra music comes from the Turkish military music of the Ottoman empire called "Janissary" music.

- All of these modern Nazis who use the 'fracture letters' because they think they are Nazi-styled should know that those letters where forbidden in 1941 by the NSDAP regime because they found out that they have centuries-old Jewish roots – the font was called "schwabacher judenlettern".

- Slavonic people where not considered Aryan by Hitler, and all of these Polish NSBM bands who think he was just wrong and that Nazis love the Polish people shall check the lyrics of a well known German Nazi rock band Landser, called "Polakentango". Polish people are pure scum for real German Nazis. If you are from Poland and need to be proud about something, rather be proud of great artists like Stanislaw Lem, Zdzislaw Beksinski, or even Marian Rejewski :-), than support Nazi propaganda.

- All those Varg Vikernes-admirers thinking that a nation can only survive if it is clean and pure should take a short look at the Ottoman empire that was an extremely multi-cultural nation and lasted 624 years - that's 52 times longer than The Third Reich :-). I know that the Ottoman empire behaved awfully to other countries and I did not mean to offend any person in those countries (because I realised how sensitive Nazis are concerning that). I do not mention the Ottoman empire because i adore it - actually they did nothing else than Hitler wanted to: try to conquer the world. I mention it to show that different ethnic groups don't need to fight with each other. For example in Austria you just need to take a look in the telephone book and read the different names there, you will see that 30% of all names are Slavonic ones, because during the centuries and decades people in Austria got mixed together a lot, and there was never a problem about it. No one will ever notice a difference between people with such names and people with pure German names. Those people look, speak and feel like pure Austrians (some of them even are against foreigners despite their non-Austrian names).

- If you think you are an individualist or rebel because you like fascism then you are wrong. There is no space for individualism in fascist regimes. In fascism conformity and obedience are the most important value. This goes for Nazi Germany as well as the Stalin-Soviet Union. Fascism means extreme conformity and following orders and leaders. You have to be a working component in the huge fascist system - thinking for yourself will disturb this system.

- Nazis leaders don't care about the people of their folk - they care only for symbols like flags, and for their personal advantage. A real Nazi leader did not mind if 1000 Germans died on the battlefield as long as the flag was not get damaged and the leaders could live in luxury. While thousands of people fought in a war, freezing and with hardly anything to eat, Hitler and his friends lived in luxury until the end. Officers at the Stalingrad front-line had champagne each day whereas the normal soldier was freezing with only 2 slices of bread per day.They could have prevented the death of a million German people and the destruction of thousands of German houses by stopping a war that was already obviously lost 2 years before its official end. But they did not because the end of the war would have meant the end of the peaceful and luxurious life they had each day.This doe not mean that i think positively about the huge English and American bombings of Austrian and German cities; they where also a crime in the Nazi style, but I want to say that the Nazis could have prevented that if they hadn't been such cowards.

- I often experience that people think if they are against Stalin then they have to love Hitler. Two wrongs don't make a right, and an idiot fighting against another idiot does not turn either idiot into a wise man. Stalin was fascist like Hitler. If you don't like Stalin then it is absurd to like Hitler.

- Another problem I notice often is that people can not decide between fascism, racism and nationalism. Those are three different things that don't necessarily have to be connected. Fascism means the maximum of conformity and control of its people, racism means a simplified way to understand people personality by just considering their race, and nationalism means to be free from other national influences. You can be a non-racist nationalist for example. Gandhi was something like that - he wanted to keep India free from English reign but was surely not a racist. On the other hand the Nazis were not strict nationalists. They still supported colonies for Germany, they always wanted to increase their German "master race" and take space from other countries for that etc. To be true nationalists they should have cared about their historically ground, their historically culture and not mess around in countries they didn't belong to.

- I prefer to be proud about things i did or am responsible for, but I never ever could feel pride for things I could not even decide upon. I can be proud about my music for example, but never that I was born in Austria. I am of course happy to live in a country like Austria instead of a poor country, but I am definitely not proud about that. It seems for me that Nazis have nothing else to be proud of than the coincidence that they were born in their father-land. Even if you are proud of your country, that doesn't naturally mean you're a Nazi. But if national pride is your most important pride, and probably the only pride you have, then it starts getting a bit weird.

If you feel like part of your country, and see the positive things your country did as a personal act of yours because of your derivation, then you also have to accept the consequences and be ashamed of all the bad things your country did. That's why I never ever felt ashamed about anything that Hitler did, what happened to the Jews etc. I am not responsible for that.

- I know a lot of Summoning fans and have friends from and contacts to people of different nationalities. I personally know and like people who are Arabic, Jewish, Chinese, Russian, people from Latin America, blacks etc. and I never could see any difference between me and them. For me the personality counts and not the ethnicity, and i prefer an Arabic or Israeli music fan 100 times more to an Austrian with total different interests. I choose friends because of their personality, not because of their ethnicity.

- If you like the old Germanic tribes, their traditions and their runes etc., that's fine. The ancient culture of your own nation is probably the most obvious one to deal with if you are interested in ancient cultures; I also have a Germanic drinking-horn hanging on my wall btw. But it is a huge mistake to think that you can accent those likings by supporting the Nazi regime. Apart from some runes on some uniforms they did not bring back any Germanic symbols or traditions. On the contrary they even supported the greatest historical enemies of the Germanic tribes, the ancient Roman empires. Here's some info proving this statement: Hitler decided to name his new empire the "Third Reich" because he considered the so called "Holy Roman Empire Of German Nation" (that lasted from the medieval times till 1806) as the first one, and the "German Empire" (from 1871 to 1918) as the second one. He even kept the Catholic and Protestant Religion as the main religion in Germany and did not really bring back the old gods like Odin etc. During the Third Reich they had a good relation to the Church, and the Pope and other important people from the Church even blessed the weapons of the German army. I am an atheist so I believe neither in Odin, God nor any other kind of higher force. I just wanted to show that Nazis did not care about old historic Germanic traditions very much, and saw the Christianisation of the German tribe as the real rise of the German empire.

- I support total freedom in speech and thought, and even a Nazi should be free to say whatever he thinks. For me forbidding special thoughts or opinions does not fit into a democratic society. Forbidding opinions turns them to taboo, which attracts young metal heads very much. It makes them feel like real rebels to break those taboos. I want that those taboos never even appear. As long as they don't abuse my music for that they can say or do whatever they want. The more they talk openly and freely about those weird ideologies, the faster people will realise all the contradictions ... as long as there are still some opposing people drawing attention to those contradictions.

- Original black metal has no national socialistic elements, so you are not more "true" or whatever if you follow national socialistic tendencies. For example Burzum makes good music which influenced us a lot at the beginning of Summoning, but this was never a reason for us to follow his ideologies because we always preferred to think for ourselves.

- There is nothing wrong if you only love your own culture and don't like other ones; nobody can force anybody to like anything, but what I want to add is that you cannot escape foreign influences even if you listen to pure European music. Of course European culture found its own way during the centuries and now doesn't have much to do with its outside influences, but it cannot be denied that without those influences, it would not exist.

For example Summoning definitely does not sound like blues, nor do we have any other obvious foreign influences, but like any other kind of music derived from metal it would not exist without it. That might be self-evident for some but not for narrow-minded Nazis who want to remove anything they thought is not pure German styled - even if there is the slightest non-German influence in it (like the above mentioned fracture letters). I personally don't like hip hop at all for example, but as it is so easy to turn off a radio or switch off a tv show i have no problems with it. I like being free to decide what I have to do, to like etc. and don't want any dictator deciding for me what i have to do, like etc.

Source: http://www.summoning.info/Stuff/PoliticalStatements.html

Enforcer - Skull Fist - Vanderbuyst - Genghis Khan, Live @ The Underworld, London, UK, 03/02/14

2014-02-09T19:24:00.000-08:00

Enforcer - Skull Fist - Vanderbuyst - Genghis Khan, Live @ The Underworld, London, UK, 03/02/14

Ah, another cold night in London; it had a breeze of fresh air though and really, you couldn’t get any fresher than ENFORCER, SKULL FIST, VANDERBUYST and GENGHIS KHAN. The first gig of the year would definitely be packed with hard and heavy energy and lots of booze.

Unfortunately the venue posted an incorrect time schedule so instead of 19:00, Genghis Khan started to play at 18:15. I arrived at the venue just in time for a beer some chatting with Olof from Enforcer and also managed to see three songs from Genghis Khan (woo-hoo). Although I wasn’t too impressed when I first heard them, I must say that they are way better on stage. Solid sound and very good communication with the crowd. The crowd was about 30-40 people at the time, which was sufficient, judging by the wrong time schedule and the fact that only 140 tickets were sold for London, unlike the previous sold out gigs of this tour (info from Olof). Too bad that London metalheads don’t support young bands.

Time for another beer and Vanderbuyst. Having seen them live in the past, I sort of knew what to expect from this power rocking trio, but I must say that their live appearance was way better thatn the one before. A nice blend of classic rock and heavy metal, reminding you bands like Thin Lizzy, Accept, Uriah Heep and Judas Priest. Once again the band was very energetic and communicating with the crowd all the way through. They’re definitely developing their own style and combined with a great sound, I must say that this was indeed a great overall performance.

I remember when I first heard about Skull Fist back in 2010. I spoke with their drummer at that time, who also promoted the band a lot and I loved them from the start. A few months later I also got the chance to see them live at the Up The Hammers festival. I loved their first two works, and now they have a new album named "Chasing the Dream". Skull Fist are a love-em-or-leave-em situation, their heavy-ish, nwobhm-ish, speedmetal-ish style is definitely not unique, but fresh and powerful. Their live performances are strong and loud. The band supports the classic Heavy Metal style all the way. Some people can handle it, some can’t. The fact is that the band always delivers and they are a must-see for every metalhead as far as I’m concerned. Speedy riffs, 80s metal clothing, high-energy on stage performance and screams out of Hell. 100% Heavier than Metal.

Time to witness the miracle named Enforcer. 3 great albums in a row, and hundreds of gigs around the globe in just a few years. Having seen Enforcer three times already (one with Adam Zaars on second guitar and Olof in vocals and acrobatics) I knew exactly what to expect. The weird thing is that the last time I saw them was in economic-crisis -stricken Greece in a packed place with almost 500-600 people and now only 100 people more or less were there. However, even if you’ve never seen them before, you can easily start to get in the mood. Enforcer quickly developed their own style and stage presence. Smoke, candles and banners surrounded the band and into battle we ride again… Their set and on stage presence is mostly composed of their last album as it should be, without missing the classics from the previous two. It didn’t take long before the crowd turned into a huge mass, mesmerised by fire and Enforcer. If I tried to be a little harsh, I’d say that I’ve seen them play better, but watching Enforcer live is always a great experience and one really feels rejuvenated afterwards, and so did I. Enforcer classics came and went along with a cover of Venom's "Bursting Out". Another great night has reached to an end, leaving us once more with lots of memories.

Also on Metal Kaoz: http://www.metalkaoz.com/live-reports/12350-enforcer--the-underworld-london-uk.html

RUINS: Chronicle of an HIV witch-hunt

2013-12-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

RUINS: Chronicle of an HIV witch-hunt

"RUINS: Chronicle of an HIV witch-hunt" is a documentary directed by Zoe Mavroudi.

Description:

A documentary about the shocking case of HIV criminalisation in Greece. The story of the prosecution of women who are HIV carriers, who were arrested by the Greek Police, were forced to have HIV tests, were imprisoned for criminal offences, and finally were castigated when their photos and all their personal data were published in the Greek media, only a few days before the national elections of the 6th of May, 2012.

This was another event in a series of events that took place during the last years in Greece and involved criminalisation of groups like prostitutes with HIV, Roma people and immigrants, among others, and led the Greek Neonazi Party "Golden Dawn" to be the third party in the elections, while the ruling parties that led Greece to where it is now, are still in power through a coalition government.

In the directors own words "We are not making a sacrifice, we are the sacrifice".

Full documentary: http://ruins-documentary.com/#

The Birthplace of Dracula

2013-08-31T04:44:00.000-07:00

The Birthplace of Dracula

Being a horror movie fan for as long as I can remember myself, I always had the desire to feel like the first people who stood there in a cinema back in the day and got the first chills from a horror film. And yesterday was the perfect occasion to feed that desire.

When I saw that the original Dracula was about to be screened, I almost instinctively thought that there was no other place that I should be on the night of Friday the 30th of August 2013, than the British Museum. Christopher Lee is one of my favorite actors of all time, and Peter Cushing is also great in every single movie he has ever done. Besides being ''partners in horror'', those two actors were also born one day apart, Sir Christopher Lee was born on the 27th of May and Peter Cushing on the 26th of May. My own birthday is on the 30th of May, so that strengthens the bonds a little. Oh, and I forgot to mention that Vincent Price, another horror movie icon, was also born on May 27th. Coincidence? Or...

And there was even more for a horror movie fan to quench his thirst...

The first premiere of the 2007 restored edition of the original 1958 horror classic ''Dracula'', courtesy of BFI, had a lot more to offer than just the original film. Besides the restored version of the film, Hammer had also included lost footage and deleted scenes from a longer Japanese cut of the the film, never before seen. The premiere took place where Bram Stoker did his research for the original 1897 Gothic horror novel ''Dracula'', in the British Museum. What more is there to ask for?

I remember my uncle who had seen the original film the year it was released, telling me stories about people who were scared to death from watching it, and about cinemas full of horrified people screaming in terror. Dracula was indeed a very shocking film for it's time, I mean, we are talking about the 50s here. Although it was hardly a precise adaptation of the original novel, Dracula became the definitive film representation of the original creature, and the majestic and icy figure of Christopher Lee, became Dracula.

The novel fanatics will find many differences between the original novel and this film. First of all, Dracula does not have a mid-European accent. Also he is not looking forward to buy a house in London. In the directors own words ''The budget was so small, that Dracula couldn't afford a second home'', so Jonathan Harker also became a librarian instead of a solicitor. Dracula was also portrayed as a lover here. There are also many gaps in he plot, but director Terence Fisher, the greatest director of Hammer, kept only what was absolutely necessary. And so, he gave birth to a classic and Sir Christopher Lee, played the role of Dracula in many more films that followed.

The premiere of the film was narrated by Sir Christopher Frayling, who also showed us the original banned film poster, as well as a letter from Bram Stoker to the British Museum, where he asked for permission to do his research for Dracula.

Original poster for Dracula

Bram Stoker's letter

Watching the premiere of the uncut, restored Dracula, in it's own birthplace, was undoubtedly one of the best and most memorable nights of my life.

Warlord / Lordian Guard – A Night of Fury with Bill Tsamis…

2013-07-09T14:52:00.001-07:00

Warlord / Lordian Guard – A Night of Fury with Bill Tsamis…

I never thought that I’d be able to write these words, but it seems though I must, so the following text will be more like a small testimony.

And so it begins…

Warlord was one of the very first heavy metal bands that I ever listened and loved, as well as the first band with an epic feeling in both the lyrics and the music (Iron Maiden and Manowar came into my life much later). The “W” sign of Warlord, was the first metal sign that I ever drew. The Warlord lyrics are the first metal lyrics that I ever written. The music of Bill Tsamis definitely contributed to who I am today and for that I’m forever grateful.

Having said that, I must also say that during the last 3 years, many things have happened about Warlord that have saddened me deeply. And I will have to share those things here, even if it means reliving them in a way.

Here goes nothing…

I was “Facebook friends” with Bill Tsamis since my first days on Facebook, back in 2008. At that time there was not even the slightest hope of a Warlord reunion. Well, all that changed a couple of years later. But so did many other things. Something was weird about that reunion from the start, at least from my point of view. Of course, Bill Tsamis is dealing with some serious health issues and that was definitely not helping. But I got the feeling in several occasions that he didn’t want to reunite Warlord. And I was proven right. The first problems started to appear. No certain lineup for the band, disagreements about the reissues of some records, bad comments about certain things concerning fans and responses towards Warlord, too much information about Bill’s personal life, and all of the sudden, tidal waves of “hardcore Warlord fans” coming from all over the place. It was just too much to handle.

I will certainly not get into details here, I will only say that all this fuss, didn’t make it any better for me. And then the final blow came from out of nowhere. Bill Tsamis visited the Facebook event page of the Warlord show in Thessaloniki and made all sorts of bad comments about Kreator (!), about the small presale of tickets and about the “all talk – no ticket” type of Warlord fan base. Of course at that point there already were hundreds of Warlord fans who defended (!) that rant and even dissed Kreator themselves! Suddenly Bill Tsamis was a “highly skilled musician and composer who could write better noise than Kreator” (in his own words, I have kept photos of every single comment on that thread). What happened if someone said that he liked Kreator? He “shouldn’t show up for Warlord, because he doesn’t know of good music”. What happened if someone said that he couldn’t afford to go to the Warlord show due to the economic crisis here in Greece? Well, when Bill “was 16 years old he was in economic crisis too, but he saved every last dime to see every last show”. Then why does Warlord come to Greece? Because “Everyone begged and begged Bill Tsamis to come to Greece. He didn’t want to because it was all talk, which seems to be the case for the Principal Club. If only 500 people show up, why bother? Just wait for the live DVD to come out. Why waste your time and money on Warlord? Bill knew this would happen (financial crisis blues) so why should he come?” And more blah-blah-blah… Is anyone disappointed with that statement? Then “Do him a favor and don’t show up because you never cared for Warlord and you are not fans”. And last but not least. “Warlord is nothing more than an insignificant underground metal band (not even a band) and since he has done nothing in 30 years of music career (or lack of one) he shouldn’t come. Warlord is a train wreck and has no relationship with fans whatsoever. So this whole reunion thing was wrong, but now it’s too late to call it off… too bad, huh?”

Of course Bill Tsamis posted an apology about the “Kreator-incident” afterwards, but I didn’t believe any of that.

Warlord always was a controversial band in Greece (as well as Manowar) due to certain people who wrote in magazines and connected the Warlord music with fascism and racism and all sorts of “good values”. I don’t know if Bill Tsamis is a racist or fascist, but I wasn’t all that pleased when I heard him say that “Racism is a part of the nature of man”, during an interview in a Greek metal show in TV, called “TV WAR”. I wasn’t all that pleased, because the narrow-minded fans of Warlord (and they are too many too count) have only kept that part because it suited them more than the “I’m not a racist person” sentence that Bill used to start his answer.

I could go on and on and write about more incidents in the WARLORD FAN CLUB on Facebook, but I’d rather stop here.

I wrote the questions for this interview back in 2012, but due to certain circumstances at that time, they were not answered by Bill Tsamis back then. If I was given the chance to write them once more today, I probably wouldn’t have gone through with it. I also didn’t feel like going to the Warlord shows here in Greece, or the several meet-and-greets with the band, or even some other Warlord/Tsamis-related events. At this point, I no longer consider myself a fan of the band anymore. I waited for some months before I wrote this text, hoping that my feelings towards that subject might change, but that didn’t happen. Below you can see the interview in pictures.

As far as I’m concerned, the Warlord has risen, but the fight was lost…

Domine Interview – Rising From The Flames with Enrico Paoli…

2013-03-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

Domine Interview – Rising From The Flames with Enrico Paoli…

Prologue: Mythology and fantasy blended together under the banner of Heavy Metal. Italian epic/power metal at it’s finest, the way only Domine can play it. Enrico Paoli, the mastermind behind the band, shares a few words with us, only a week before the band visits Athens for another killer show.

Hello Enrico, nice to have you here.

Thank you very much for the interview request!

Domine is one of the oldest Italian Heavy Metal bands; you guys are around for 30 years now. Was it easy back then in Italy for new bands?

Not at all. It was very difficult for every band which decided to play Metal or Hard Rock. We were also based in a small town for many years, so things were even harder there. No clubs, no record labels, not that many Heavy Metal fans. We started to play just for the passion of music and dreaming to record an album.

Tell me a few things about your influences as a musician.

Well, I am a music fan first of all. I love many different kind of bands but I started to buy albums by Queen, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Kiss, Thin Lizzy, Jethro Tull, Kansas, Genesis, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and only a few years later the Metal stuff like Maiden, Priest, Def Leppard, Saxon. So the stuff from the 70’s has always been my main interest, even though I totally got into Heavy Metal during the eartly 80’s. As a musician my fave guitar players are Brian May, Ritchie Blackmore, Randy Rhoads and Gary Moore. But there are a lot of great artists which influenced me. Also a lot of writers like Michael Moorcock, Clive Barker and Frank Herbert, just to name a few.

Your first album “Champion Eternal” came out in 1997. Until then you’ve already had released several demos. What kept you from releasing the album earlier?

Because we were not good enough to get a record deal and because in the early years it was difficult to get attention anyway. Even good bands were releasing very few albums and most of them were done with truly bad productions. I don’t think there was ever a proper scene in Italy. Out band was founded by schoolmates, we were just friends who happen to like Metal, in the first years we were just learning to play. Then we started to write our own songs and record demos, but we didn’t have any budget or money for a proper studio and honestly some members of the band were not real musicians. But we were friends and we have grown up together. It took a life time to put together a real line-up of wanted to make a proper album and play correctly. By the end of the 90’s there was a kind of renaissance for Metal in Italy, with many good bands releasing good albums, that’s when we had the chance to do our debut CD. You can tell the process was EPIC indeed, AHAHAHAHAHAH!

Many people claim that “Heavy Metal died in the 90’s”. Grunge, pop and other styles of music were very popular and the music industry was focused there. What are your memories from that era?

That’s a mainstream music point of view. If you looked at the charts, it was true that grunge and indie rock bands wiped away all the glam metal bands. Some of the grunge and indie rock bands were actually good, in my opinion. Boy-bands were pretty bad. But in the underground there were always good Metal bands around, maybe more in the extreme styles than classic, but still heavy. In a way, it was actually a good thing that major labels stopped to deal with Metal labels, so bands like Priest or Motorhead went ot indie labels and the underground flourished. And by the way, Metal was never big in Italy, not even during the 80’s. The biggest Metal festivals happened from 1997 on over here.

You also played in another band called Masterstroke. What do you remember from that? Have you ever thought of doing something besides Domine?

Well, that was just a fun thing. I was a friend of the guys and I played with them for a couple of years, we even recorded an album worth of material, it was more US Power Metal kind of style, a bit like Agent Steel, Sanctuary and Exciter. When Masterstroke was over and our drummer left, Mimmo, the drummer, became a member of Domine. He was one of the musicians who made Domine’s first album possible, with his great playing and devotion to the band.

During the last decade, old school Heavy Metal got more and more popular. Old bands are reuniting; we have festivals that are 100% for underground and old-school bands and many more new are trying to sound well… “older”. Do you believe that things are better for bands now or worse?

More popular? You must be joking… I think things are really bad now, as the “scene” is so difficult, with economy crisis, illegal download and the usual disinterest from the main medias. The underground festivals are great, but in the end they are attended by the same people who have been there for years and years, with only a few exception. There have always been bands which sound “Older”, some because they want to, some because they don’t have the budget to record an album in a real studio, other because… they are old! AHAHAHAH! But this is not a popularity rise, I don’t really see it, we have played at an edition of the Heineken Jamming Festival in 2003 with Iron Maiden and they attracted 40.000 people. That’s what I call popularity. The underground has always been there but of course it’s build by a minority of people who really enjoy music. They are kept the underground alive, but they are few in numbers (but the look in their eyes… oh, that’s Manowar…)

Looking back in time, which was the best and which the worst moment of Domine?

Difficult to say. We were lucky to have some great moments during all these years, not easy to pick up the best ones. I really loved some of the gigs we have played, like being on tour in Europe with Riot, Anvil and Agent Steel, the gig at Gods Of Metal festival 2000 with Maiden, or the one supporting Judas Priest, the big one at Heineken Jamming Festival in 2003 and 2007 and most of all, it was aleays great to get the band together every time we have finished a new album and having a listening to it. In the end, we record the albums we would like to listen to. We are music fans. The first gig in Athens is a great memory too. I’m sure I’m forgetting many more moments. Worst moments… well, there are many days when I would want to stop but that happens from the very beginning. But as a matter of fact life puts you through some really hard times, much difficult than the problems of playing in a band.

The last few years every band, big or small, is around the almighty Internet Empire. Do you think that the Internet helps a band or not?

It would take hours to discuss this. Internet is a great communication tool, so of course that can help bands to promote themselves, but at the same time most people are using Internet to illegally download music, movies, pornography, games, programs, books and that’s destroying everything. It is now impossible to think about a world without internet, as it has changed the way people are using their free time. But it should be used properly. I don’t know, maybe I’m too old, but when there will be Metallica and Maiden only, maybe kids will realize they should have bought the albums of the bands they like.

Your last album came out a very long time ago. What is the current state of the band? Are you currently touring or recording?

Domine is not a full time professional job, we all have our day=jobs and families and during the last years many things happened to our personal lives, we had some very important changes, se we are not fully dedicated on a new album, even though we have been rehearsing constantly. We are working on new songs but we want to take our time to make sure we will have the right songs. We want to improve with every album and not just do a copy of the previous one, we don’t have big budgets behind us or big commitments to honor. It’s not that easy but I’m sure we will come out with the album we want to make.

What are your future plans?

To record a new album and play a few good gigs. We would love to tour the world with a stage like the one KISS are using but I don’t think it will be possible in the near future. ;)

Are there any new bands that you’re currently listening to?

Of course. I do like In Solitude, Fast Animals And Slow Kids, Jess And The Ancient Ones, Foxy Shazam, Heart Of Cygnus, Portrait, Rival Sons, Purson, Witch Mountain… I’ve just bought a new live album by a band called Led Zeppelin, I think they are good enough to go places…

You have a concert scheduled in Greece, at the Up The Hammers festival for the 8^th of March. Tell us a few things about that.

We are very happy to come to play in Greece. This is our fourth time and we always have fun with you people.We are going to play mostly songs from our first two albums, as you guys love those. I’m sure we will have a good time.

What are your memories from your previous concerts in Greece?

Well, the first gig in 1999 was amazing, the club was packed with people and it was the very first gig of Stefano with the band and our very first gig outside of Italy. I got to meet people who supported the band in the 80’s, sending drachmas in enveloped to buy demo tapes. Demo tapes !?!?!?! It sounds like Jurassic era now!!

Last but not least, I want you to send a message to your Greek fans.

Just want to thank you guys for all your support and we just can’t wait to play for you guys soon. “Conquest is mine into the fight, screaming the battle cry!”

Check out the band:

http://www.dominetruemetal.com/

Next Domine gig:

http://www.up-the-hammers.gr/
https://www.facebook.com/upthehammersfestival?fref=ts

Sacral Rage – Deadly Bits Of Iron Fragments [EP, 2013]

2013-02-28T14:45:00.005-08:00

Sacral Rage – Deadly Bits Of Iron Fragments [EP, 2013]

Release Date: 23^rd February, 2013

Sacral Rage was formed in late 2011, from Vaggelis (drums), Dimitris (vocals), Marios (guitars) and Spyros (bass) and they’re heavusly (pun intended) influenced by such bands as Agent Steel, Jag Panzer, Vicious Rumours, Annihilator, etc. After their first and very promising 2-track promo which came out last year, Sacral Rage is back with their first EP named “Deadly Bits Of Iron Fragments”. A little less than 30 minutes of high-quality speed/heavy metal unfolds in this EP, which will be released by Eat Metal Records in late February. Having heard a lot of albums from the majority of Greek bands around, I can definitely say that this EP is definitely among the most perfectly executed Greek speed/heavy/power metal EP’s ever. Usually such efforts lack something, from vocal lines to guitars, or generally creativity. And I’m getting really tired of listening to more and more uninspired bands nowadays. One can tell from the very beginning that this EP is not among those. The guitars are top-of-the-league, from riffs to solos, from fills to harmonies, blending and backing up perfectly the speed with the melody. The vocals balance a lot from early Panzer and Priest to early Helloween, but they actually stand out on their own without being just another bad copy of either one of those bands. What I also like is that –unlike many bands with high pitched vocals- the bass and drums have a big role in the EP as well. Generally this is a very good release for fans of the old US heavy school, but also for anyone who enjoys a fresh good speed/power blast in their ears. I definitely hope that the best is yet to come for the band.

Hint: Go check a live show of Sacral Rage, they kick serious ass.

Tracklist:

01) Foreshadower

02) Return Of The Dead

03) Master Of A Darker Light

04) Born In A Cage (Raised In Rage)

05) Forced To Betray

06) Gladiator (Nasty Savage cover)

07) Burning Yearning

Lineup:

Spyros – Bass

Vaggelis F. – Drums

Marios P. – Guitars

Dimitris K. – Vocals

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/SacralRage

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Exarsis – The Brutal State [Full Length, 2013]

2013-02-28T14:43:00.003-08:00

Exarsis – The Brutal State [Full Length, 2013]

Release Date: 01^st March, 2013

With almost 3 years of being around, Exarsis has definitely made a name for themselves. The band has given numerous live shows and they’re releasing something new every year, from demos to full length albums. Their new child will be named “The Brutal State” and it is the successor to their debut “Under Destruction”, which was released back in 2011. So, what do we have here? Some more old-school thrash metal that’s for sure! Although I’m still very attached to the bands first album, I can easily say that this is way more destructive. It’s like a bulldozer of speed/thrash. The album has not got a single relaxed moment, well, except the intro. The fact is that this album will definitely blow your minds. The guitars are going from the totally killer riffs to the speedy solos in the blink of an eye. The vocals are definitely among the most aggressive and unique vocals around. Along the whole moshpit atmosphere of the record one can also find more catchy songs, such as “Vote For Crisis”, “Toxic Terror”, “Dying Earth” and “Under Destruction”. Generally the record will not leave anyone into “Apathy, Ignorance, Oblivion” (pun intended). The themes that the band uses in their lyrics are mainly about political and social matters. These are very troubled times for Greece, as well as for the whole planet, which should make more bands focus on social matters even more and use music as a tool for expressing their beliefs or disbeliefs.

I believe that there won’t be a single thrash metal fan that will not enjoy this album, except the regular I-hate-my-guts dudes of course.

The band is giving a live show with Biocancer, Domination and Suicidal Angels at Gagarin 205 Club, on the 19^th of April, 2013.

Tracklist:

01) Annihilation… Proceed!!!

02) Mind Poisoning

03) Addicting Life Waste

04) Vote For Crisis

05) Dying Earth

06) Toxic Terror

07) Surveillance Society

08) Apathy, Ignorance, Oblivion

09) Suicide Disorder

10) Under Destruction

Lineup:

Christos P. – Bass

Giorgos – Drums

Panayiotis – Guitars

Christos T. - Guitars

Alex – Vocals

Links:

www.myspace.com/exarsis
www.youtube.com/exarsis
www.reverbnation.com/exarsis

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Manilla Road - Mysterium [Shadow Kingdom Records, 2013]

2013-01-22T08:53:00.001-08:00

Manilla Road - Mysterium [Shadow Kingdom Records, 2013]

Release Date: February 1^st, 2013

The legends of Heavy Metal from Wichita, Kansas are back with their new “child”. The new record of Manilla Road is named “Mysterium” and it is the first one with the bands new drummer, Neudi and their new bass player Josh Castillo. Manilla Road are a band that really leaves you wondering about their upcoming releases, because they can really easily jump from theme to theme and from style to style, a thing that costs you some fans but also gains you some others. The fact is that the band has been delivering Heavy Metal for a little more than 35 years (with a small break) and they’re also one of the first and most important bands of the underground scene, still recording, still giving great gigs, still around in every sense of the word. And that alone says a lot.

The first thing I notice about their new record is that it has a lot of aggressiveness, much like their bands previous record “Playground Of The Damned”. Actually, the post-2000 Manilla Road, sound like their constantly changing their style. Their sound throughout all their latest releases is really hard to describe with just a label. It seems like they try to blend all the elements that the band had presented in their past releases, from epic to thrash and from prog to much darker riffs and melodies. “Mysterium” takes off exactly where “Playground…” left us. Bryan’s vocals are much smoother and more similar to Mark Shelton’s and at some points; I could say that it is somehow hard to tell which one is singing. Josh and Neudi have also done a very decent job on the record, considering that this is their first recording with Manilla Road. “Mysterium” is one of those records that grow inside you, like most of the bands releases. After all, Mark Shelton is not a musician who is recording cheesy stuff for the big arenas, but only for the true lovers of Heavy Metal music. What I also like about this record, is that it has a lot of groovy riffs which also blend perfectly with Bryan’s vocals. Mark Shelton voice sounds somehow mellow in songs like “The Battle of Bonchester Bridge” and “The Fountain” (which I’ve had the pleasure of seeing live), but instead of leaving you with a sad feeling, he leaves you stronger and with more hope towards anything. Much like the song “Art Of War” in their previous album.

Finally, this is a fine release from Manilla Road and much similar to their previous one, with a much better touch on the production though. It is a very heavy and solid album, with faster as well as darker moments. Bryan Patrick and Mark Shelton are beyond great throughout the record. I’ve come to terms with the constant changes in the band’s style and I like almost all their releases so far. Many fans tend to judge new albums by instantly comparing them to the masterpieces of the band which is wrong. Every album has something else, something new to say. I think that in this record the band combines every single style that they’ve played during the past and the outcome is indeed very good.

Tracklist:

01) The Grey God Passes

02) Stand Your Ground

03) The Battle of Bonchester Bridge

04) Hermitage

05) Do What Thou Will

06) Only The Brave

07) Hallowed Be Thy Grave

08) The Fountain

09) The Calling

10) Mysterium

Manilla Road Lineup:

Mark Shelton – Guitars, Vocals

Bryan “Hellroadie” Patrick - Vocals

Josh Castillo - Bass

Neudi - Drums

Contact Links:

http://www.manillaroad.net/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/6207831666/

Links with review posted:

https://www.facebook.com/Neudi666/posts/590236727660191
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=162380903909389&id=222505821165293

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Helloween – Straight Out Of Hell [Sony Music, 2013]

2013-01-21T14:42:00.001-08:00

Helloween – Straight Out Of Hell [Sony Music, 2013]

Helloween is one of the greatest chapters, if not the greatest, in the German heavy/power metal scene. They’ve been around for nearly 30 years and they’re still very productive and energetic. Their previous album “7 Sinners” was actually among the best albums that the band has released during the last years, and I really didn’t expect that they could easily repeat such an accomplishment.

I wasn’t all that impressed with all the albums that came after “The Dark Ride”, but their previous album, as well as their latest release “Straight Out Of Hell”, really grab you from the face from the beginning until the end. “Straight Out Of Hell” starts with the song “

Nabataea

”, a classic Helloween song, which also has a very interesting videoclip and continues with the song “World Of War”, a fast paced song with a slightly more modern feel to it. The next songs are “Live Now!” and “Far From The Stars”, two songs with very strong melodies and powerful vocals. The guitars and the vocals of Andi Deris, are the two most distinct things throughout the record. The next song “Burning Sun” is another shining example of this combination. Also the keyboards have a strong presence in most songs. The next song “Waiting For The Thunder” is the classic Helloween slow intro-explosive riffs-cheesy verse. And here we are, reaching the middle of the record, to find a power ballad named “Hold Me In Your Arms”. Very nice ballad indeed, but I wanted a little something more. The next songs are the classic ‘weird-ish’ Helloween songs “Wanna Be God” and “Asshole” with an instrumental piece between called “Straight Out Of Hell”. The next song is called “Years” and it is really a very special and sentimental song. It really grows in you. The record ends with “Make Fire Catch The Fly” and “Church Breaks Down”, two of the heaviest and fastest, as well as the most meaningful songs on the record.

Andi Deris has brought a lot of himself in the band and that is more than obvious to anyone who has observed his career throughout the years. Actually Helloween is a BAND in every sense of the word, on studio and on stage as well.

Closing up, the band sounds fresher than ever in their latest release. This is definitely an album, not only for the hardcore Helloween fan, but for every fan who loves a good power metal release. I’m a big fan of old-school Kiske/Hansen Helloween, I also love their 90s releases as well as the works of Andi Deris besides Helloween. Having said that, I believe that this is one of the bands best releases.

Tracklist:

01) Nabataea
02) World Of War
03) Live Now!
04) Far From The Stars
05) Burning Sun
06) Waiting For The Thunder
07) Hold Me In Yout Arms
08) Wanna Be God
09) Straight Out Of Hell
10) Asshole
11) Years
12) Make Fire Catch The Fly
13) Church Breaks Down
14) Another Shot Of Life (Bonus Track)
15) Burning Sun (Hammond Version) (Bonus Track)
16) No Eternity (Bonus Track)

Helloween Lineup:

Michael Weikath - Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
Markus Grosskopf - Bass, Backing Vocals
Andi Deris - Lead Vocals
Sasha Gerstner - Rhythm & Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Daniel Loble - Drums

Contact Links:

http://www.helloween.org/
http://www.facebook.com/helloweenofficial?ref=stream

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ENFORCER - Death By Fire [Nuclear Blast, 2012]

2013-01-19T01:14:00.000-08:00

ENFORCER - Death By Fire [Nuclear Blast, 2012]

Release Date: February 1st, 2013 (Europe), March 5th, 2013 (North America)

Having seen Enforcer in an explosive live performance and also, having nearly melted their first two albums, I was more than honoured to do a review on their upcoming third album entitled “Death by Fire”.

At first I was expecting something similar to their first two albums, which are both masterpieces of classic Heavy Metal. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. “Death By Fire” grabs you from the throat from the very beginning and won’t let go until you’re dead! And Death is what this album is all about, quoting vocalist and guitar player Olof Wikstrand “The album title refers to the most horrific ways to die… all lyrics on “Death By Fire” hold the same theme throughout the record: death - in all different shapes.” The record starts with a small instrumental keyboard piece called “Bells Of Hades” which kind gets you in the mood for what is about to follow. Then all hells breaks loose! “Death Rides The Night” is a classic bang-all-the-way Enforcer song. “Run For Your Life” has the perfect blend of riffs, melodies and high-pitched vocals that we love in Enforcer. “Mesmerised By Fire” is a another classic high energy song with even more aggressive vocals. During the middle of the song, there is a killer part that really adds a lot to the whole mood. “Take Me Out Of This Nightmare” is by far one of the best Enforcer songs ever written. The whole band really giving their best self, their heart and soul really went on this one. “Crystal Suite” is a great instrumental piece, in the style of old Iron Maiden but still, keeping the originality and freshness of Enforcer. The next song is called “Sacrificed” and it’s like the record is starting all over again. Melodies, screams and riffs all mixed together in an actual Heavy Metal Bomb! Along comes the most epic song of Enforcer called “Silent Hour / The Conjugation”. It is the only song that I will not analyse at all, I’ll only say this. It is indeed an EPIC composition and I could easily hear it 100 times in a row and not get tired of it. The record ends with “Satan” (he he he) one of the fastest songs ever written by the band. After all the horror of death that is present in the record, a scream shouting “Satan take me away…” is the best way to end it.

The album is less than 40 minutes, in the spirit of every classic Heavy Metal record, from Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, to Slayer and Manowar. It also helps the sound quality in the vinyl format, because when the duration is longer that 19 minutes on each side, the sound is losing it’s quality. That is all folks, keep an eye out for this record when it comes out, it is one of the best Heavy Metal albums of this year.

Tracklist:

01) Bells Of Hades

02) Death Rides The Night

03) Run For Your Life

04) Mesmerized By Fire

05) Take Me Out Of This Nightmare

06) Crystal Suite

07) Sacrificed

08) Silent Hour - The Conjugation

09) Satan

Enforcer lineup:

Olof Wikstrand: vocals, guitar

Joseph Toll: guitar

Tobias Lindqvist: bass

Jonas Wikstrand: drums

Contact links:

www.enforcer.se

https://www.facebook.com/enforcerofficial?fref=ts

Download is a substitute, support real music and buy some records!

Skull Fist Interview – Riding the Beast with Jackie Slaughter…

2013-01-09T13:23:00.001-08:00

Skull Fist Interview – Riding the Beast with Jackie Slaughter…

Prologue: I like Skull Fist and I can not lie! They’ve been among my favorite bands since I first heard them back in early 2010 and I was lucky enough to see them live in 2011 at the Up The Hammers Festival in Greece. Jackie Slaughter, founder, mainman and eh-man of the band, shares a few dirty words with us just one day before the band departs for their tour in Brazil.

Hey Jackie! What’s up dude? Your album “Head öf the Pack” was released last year and as far as I’m concerned, it is among my top 5 best albums for 2011. How did it went?

That's funny because it was recorded in pretty much 5-6 days hahaha well it was done over the span of 2 weeks we had little money to produce it so had to work on it at this studio after hours. Which means an hour here, an hour there haha it was still fun as hell recording though. We got drunk. Jammed out funny parts. Recorded some really funny stuff that we of course never released haha.

You are one of the bands that are really serious when it comes to their outfit. You don’t see that in many bands nowadays. What’s the philosophy behind that?

Outfit has never been a concern for me. This is just what we wear and what we look like. I don't like looking like all the other sap's here in canada. It's fuckin rad when you walk down the street and everyone is staring at you with that stupid look on there face hahahah. So we dont dress the part. We are the part!

Your song themes are mainly Metal, Metal and well… METAL! It would be a little dumb to ask about your inspirations. Which bands do you look up to?

None. Everyone and every band did there own thing and I want to do my own thing. I don't need to get inspired from what other bands have done. I make up my own inspiration.

What is a normal day in the camp of Skull Fist like?

When were NOT on tour or something it's hard to say. All of us live on opposite sides of the city so we only get together to jam or drink or go out to party. When were off tour we still rehearse about 4 times a week so we still hang out alot but everyone is off doin there own thing. I go skateboarding with Jonny. Casey eats chips and drinks redbull. I never know what the hell that guy is up to. Last I heard he was _______ girls in his __________ ___________. I cant fill in those answers since it would get him in trouble. I usually go running and shit. Jonny likes going to random bars he's never been to hahah.

How is it like being a metalhead and metal musician in Canada ? Is there a metal scene? Do you get to see a lot of shows, hang out in clubs, etc, or is it all just work, work and more work?

I've seen quite a few heavy metal clubs come and go since I moved to Toronto. 6 years ago now. The metal clubs never last or they slowly fade away into obscurity. It sucks but theres just not alot of metalheads in Toronto. Not to mention, most of them are broke ass and cant afford bar beer. And then again, lots just hangout at home and dont go out often. The thing is we dont get lots of awesome concerts in Toronto so not too many people go out and pretty much all of the metalheads in Toronto are all in bands. So everyone's always scattered about playing gigs or some shit! There definitely is a scene here. It's just not huge. I don't get to see tons of shows at least not lately since weve been touring a buttload this year but I did get to see Exciter without Beehler the other day. That was still rad. I played tetris and got free shots hahahah

Heavy Metal. What does it mean to you?

The only music that stands strong and maintains a perfect woven relationship with Musical Mastery and Lyrical genius!!! It's really the only music that empowers those that need power, I think thats what makes it so intense for people. We base our lives around this whole style of life and Its totally possible. Heavy Metal covers every aspect of life and teaches you shit from how to react to assholes and how to appreciate the large and the small things in life. Fuckin well spoken music it is!

Last year you’ve had several lineup changes. Actually, you were the only member left in Skull Fist from the original lineup of the band. How did that affect the band?

To me, there is no original lineup, because every person that someone thinks is part of the original lineup has been surpased by another. Bottom line is this. I started the band in 2006 and I write all the shit. Shred and Alison were on the E.P. and Now Jonny and Casey are on the Album. Before the release of the album I had went through shitloads of different guys and girls that had helped and hindered the fist along the way. Whatever the hell anyone would like to call the original lineup they can do. Doesn't matter to me haha All I know is Jonny and Casey are on the 1st album. And the next. And the next. Hopefully all the way to the end!

The classic Heavy Metal sound is gaining more and more fans, unlike the 90s. Bands with the old school sound are on the loose once more! Also there are several new releases in vinyl! Do you believe that the classic sound is here to stay, or is it just another trend among fans?

I think its peek in the coming years will be a trend. As is just another trend. But then again, EVERYTHING is a trend of some sorts peeking for a number of years or only months. Heavy Metal peeked in the 80s only to have 75% of fans give up to join the grunge phase followed by the super heavy tunes phase. It's easy to know who will stay and who will go though. The true will always keep the spirit alive no matter what. I do say all the vinyl repressing is nice though. : )

This is one of my fav questions. Is the internet a “blessing” or a “curse” for music?

You can argue both points over and over but in the end it depends on from whos perspective. It completely destroyed the magic of searching hunting and borrowing or waiting for release dates and the glory of riding the bus to the record store and finding magic albums or bands youve never heard of before. Going to friends place and seeing albums you never even knew existed. New band photo's youve never seen before. lyrics PRINTED!!!! This is all for the listener. But then again, i'ts 10 times easier to discover great bands, as long as you can maintain the sense of wonder. Which unfortunately I dont think too many people can do. For the musician, it's by far the best thing that ever happen. I can't imagine having to search phone books or some shit or mailing people in different countries trying to find out which magazines in other countries could potentially do a review of our cds. Or calling club after club and mailing cds waiting months on end to find out of a venue will book you or some shit.

Speaking of the Internet, what happened to that video sensation of yours with the killer-milk-carton? I’m really missing that little guy…

Total drag man. I loved that video too! But because it shows my damned penis on camera youtube took it down. So now its a goner. I'm working on blacking on the schlong shot though! It could potentially be back up in the next few weeks!

What is it like right now in the world of music industry? Do you live of your music?

You'd be surprised some of the guys in big bands I've met that work full time jobs. Damned surprised. These next few years will decide who stays and who goes because very soon everyone will realize there is no money left in this! Once again only the true will be left!

Let’s suppose that a young musician from Canada who is just starting is asking for your advice. What would you tell him?

Wanna make it? Goodbye social life! That's the number one first step. Either you go and play video games at your loser friends place or grab your guitar and fuckin rock.

Are there any new bands out there that you enjoy listening to?

I'm going through everything Paganinni every wrote right now. Just finished Chopin haha
the last two months have been a break from straight heavy metal. Although I had been listening to MX from brazil and the few new Angra albums that came out after the 90s. New bands. hmm.. ohh! Evil Invaders from Belgium haven't heard the full EP yet just a song. Awesome. Check it!. Katana from Sweden. New Bullet album Full Pull. Listened to it with Jonny in the fist van a few days ago.

Do you believe that a band should retire after a certain time period? Have you ever seen a one of your favorite classic bands live and were disappointed after their show?

In the words of Canada's president Mr. Young. Its better to burn out than to fade away. If you can't rock like you did then don't rock at all. I think a huge amount of bands that I never thought would are losing a lot of credibility right now. It's a good thing alot of new great bands are going to replace this shit.

Greece and Germany are two countries that really praise Heavy Metal. What’s your best memory from those countries?

Greece. Up The Hammers. I don't remember much. But I do remember disappearing and everyone telling my band I got arrested and was in Jail. Best 5 days ever. I ate soo many damned Wrap things and serious amounts of ouzo. Some of the funniest guys and chicks I've ever met that I still talk to! I will masturbate with Tzaziki sauce the second I find out I'm going back. Which will be this year. For sure. Germany. You all know what im thinking. I love you, but fuck your fizzy water! In Germany the beer is so strong and never ending that sometimes the BEER DRINKS YOU. I've never been drunker than I have in Munich. I had some of the funniest nights in Germany though. Long stories. Weird situations. Rad parties. And rad friends! But man. I guess I never really think about countries. It's all the same shit. Being a metalhead is like a universal language! Everyone understands how to rock and how to party hahaha.

What’s the latest of on-the-road stories of The Fist?

People ask for stories all the time but almost all the stories we have are offensive. I just cant share those kinds of stories in print. When we get loaded together this year and we will we can talk about them. It'll include stories of mass pukings. Women who turned out to be men. Bar fires. Bar fights. Mothers with extremely young daughters (dont take that the wrong way hahahah) Poncho Piss. Well cover all the different spectrums of weird shit hahaha.

Your next tour is in Brazil right? When do you plan to visit Europe again?

We record the new album this year. Can't say when. Can't say when it releases just yet. Can't say when well be back. But it will be this year for sure.

When should we expect your new album? What are your future plans?

Can't say just yet. But were going to announce this very damned soon! We did a fuckload of touring with this last album and with the next one were going to do a fuckload more. Stay on the road. In the words of Motorhead. KEEP US ON THE ROAD!

Ok Jackie, that’s all, I’ll leave the last word up to you.

I'm taking a crap right now. It's 2 am. I wasn't tired so figured I'd shit and answer this interview. So when you read this, know that at the time I was dumping... isn't that neat?

Check out the band:

www.skullfist.ca

www.facebook.com/skullfisted

Next Skull Fist Tour:

https://www.facebook.com/events/485891278090198/

WIDOW Interview - Taking Hold of the Night with Chris Bennett...

2013-01-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

WIDOW Interview - Taking Hold of the Night with Chris Bennett...

Prologue: Widow is real sensation of Horror and Heavy Metal from the U.S.A., banging for more than 10 years in the classic sound of Heavy Metal music! With 4 fulllength albums and countless live shows, you can easily say that they're keeping more than just "busy". Chris Bennett, founder and frontman of the band, takes a little time off his busy Christmas schedule to share a few words with us.

Hello Chris and welcome, thanks for finding time for the interview.

Thanks for having me Elias!!!

Would you care to share with us a short bio of the band?

Widow was formed in 2000 here in North Carolina. We really were formed first of all because we loved traditional metal, and to have fun playing locally around NC. I would never have believed that we would have released four albums and played in different countries around the world. I'm so grateful to have had that opportunity. We've really devoted our lives to heavy metal, and it means a lot that people appreciate what we do!!!

You’ve had a lot of lineup changes over these years. How did that affect the band?

Yes, the band really started around me, John E Wooten, and Joshua Pantke. Johnny was on guitar then. We had numerous drummers, and a couple of bass players after Josh left the band in 2009. We even had a female singer on the album On Fire, which was cool, but we just had a lot of differences with her. But, Johnny switched to bass, and honestly the line up of me, Johnny and Peter Lemiuex on drums is the best we've ever had. We sound the best as a three piece, and we are devoted to playing as much as we can. Peter has been here for six years, and we get along great and just have a blast together!!!

Despite the fact that you guys are touring all the time, you also have released four great albums in the last nine years. You’re definitely overactive with the band right?

Oh, thanks man!!! I never turn it off, that's for sure! I'm living this 24/7! The last few years have been the busiest for us. We got mentioned in magazines all over the place that we are a big part of the New Wave of Traditional Metal. I'm so happy that new fans are getting exposed to this type of music, it's really cool. But, we've been playing this style for a long time, and we would do it whether it's popular or not! I love this music, and to the real fans of metal, this is a lifestyle! But, when all this New Wave stuff came about, we got a lot of touring opportunities, and that rules! We've played around the US, Canada, Germany, and Japan this year!!! It's really awesome! As far as the albums go, we have worked so hard on all four of them. I really think we worked the hardest on Life's Blood though, our newest one. It took a few years to get that one done. But I think it's our best, and so far people around the world seem to agree!!!!

What do you enjoy most about touring and playing live?

My favorite thing about touring is meeting people who are big fans of metal, just like me. People that truly live for this stuff! I love to be a part of their scene and life for just one day! It's really cool! It was so shocking to me, going to Europe and Japan and seeing SO many metalheads, it's paradise there!!!! Canada really is like that too. The US scene is really getting better and better too! On our last US tour with White Wizzard and Icarus Witch, it was amazing to see so many people supporting this music. You probably couldn't have done a tour like that a few years ago! It was so much fun!!!!

“Life’s Blood” is your latest album and I can easily say that it’s among my top-5 Heavy Metal albums of 2011. Tell us a few things about the album and the response that it got.

Thank you so much!!! It really got the best response of any Widow album so far. What really happened with the album, is that I wanted to get rid of the excess, just have a stripped down, straight forward album from start to finish. Just focus on the songs, not so much guitar or whatever. I really think it worked, and our best songs were created from that. I love all our albums, and at the time that was the best we could do. But I felt we needed to make something way beyond what we had done before. Several different magazines listed in it their best of 2011 lists! I really appreciate this, it means a lot to see that after working so hard on the record!

I really love the artwork in “Life’s Blood”. It is way different from the artwork on your previous albums. What inspired it?

We wanted to have some sort of character sum up the entire album, and we came up with "Lady Twilight", which is the first song on the album. We got this German artist, Timo Wuerz, to do the artwork. This guy is absolutely incredible! I thought his rough sketch was good enough to be the cover hahaha! I love his work, and he really brought her to life. I felt we had the best songs we had ever had, and I knew we needed our best cover to go with it! Thanks to Timo, I think we got it!!!

I like all your albums and strangely, I’ve heard them backwards. First I heard “Nightlife”, then “On Fire” and last “Midnight Strikes”. I had always wondered why I hadn’t heard of you before. Was the press kind on you all those years?

Well, in the US maybe not so much at first with Midnight Strikes. It was so different at the time, and I think people thought the sound was "dated". But on the other hand, their were also people who to this day think Midnight Strikes is our best album! But, on all the albums we've always gotten mostly positive press, and the fans have really always supported us since the beginning. It amazes me, and makes me so happy! With Life's Blood, it was pretty much unanimous around the globe that the album was great! That was hard for me to believe, I was expecting some people to bash it hahahaha!

More and more bands with the “classic” sound are getting a warm welcome here in Europe nowadays. I’m not sure that I can say the same about the U.S.A. though. How do you see the Heavy Metal scene now?

Well, the US is tricky. It is hard to break through here with people. You just really have to tour here constantly to make a name for yourself. But just like in Europe, there are die hard metallers here too! Over the last few years we've been out on the road, I've noticed lots of younger kids getting into true heavy metal. It really does my heart good to see them getting into bands like Angel Witch, Warlord, and Diamond Head! Man, we just played with Raven, and the show was packed! It was so awesome!!! This music makes fans for life, so I know that no matter what, it will last! And we will stick around too!

Nowadays more and more bands, old and new, are rushing to become part of the Internet and Social Media. Do you believe that this is a good or harmful thing?

I'm a little older, so I used to be part of the tape trading underground. I would write and receive letter from people everywhere! It was hard work, but it was so rewarding! It seems that the internet has allowed everyone the ability to do this same thing, only much easier and faster! So I don't think it's a bad thing. I think it exposes a lot of people to bands they might not have heard of, and that rules!!!! But . . . it also floods the scene with tons and tons of bands that maybe haven't developed yet. We worked really hard in the beginning of Widow to develop our sound. So when we did finally release an album, we were ready to rock haha!!!!!

Your albums are a little hard to find and if I’m not mistaken, you’ve rereleased your first album “Midnight Strikes” with a slightly different title right?

Yes, it's called Midnight Strikes Twice! It's got our demo on it also! And, it has a live concert you can watch on your computer from 2004 with Josh on bass and the drummer from Midnight Strikes Tim Heisman. The album was out of print, and their was a real demand for it to be reissued! That is awesome, and I'm glad that people who missed it got a chance to hear the album. Like I said earlier, their are people that say it's our best album! I think it's great, but On Fire and Nightlife are all cool for different reasons. Just like Life's Blood, each one shows where our heads were at during that time. And I can assure you, we will always play songs from each album live. I know people like different albums, and I know how awesome it is when you go to a show and get a song from that album that you love!!!!

Tell us a few things about your influences as a band and as a musician. What inspires you mostly to create?

My biggest influences are bands like King Diamond, Metallica, Van Halen, Ozzy, Priest, Maiden. Also, bands like Crimson Glory, Queensryche, Leatherwolf, and Warlord! Also bands that we don't sound exactly like, but still inspired me are Slayer, Venom, the Ramones, the Misfits, Skynyrd, KISS, Thin Lizzy and Def Leppard. I love so much stuff man, I've been inspired greatly by Dokken, Ratt and hair metal bands too! I love everything from Thrash, Death and Black Metal to Motley Crue! I also love 80's pop music, like Michael Jackson, Prince, and Pat Benatar! I think having a wide range of influences is the best way to have a unique sound.

Most bands that deal with horror themes in their lyrics are either packed with a ton of keyboards and female vocals or have a certain dress code or both. How d you manage to combine horror with classic Heavy Metal?

I am such of fan of the classic horror movies, like the Exorcist, Phantasm, the Omen, etc. I wanted to get that feeling into a traditional metal band! We play almost always in minor keys, and I really felt the two went together well! And you're right, a lot of bands have the dress code or whatever! I don't want to follow any rules man! Widow is just ourselves! I can't be any other way!!!!!!

Are there any new bands that you’re currently listening to?

Most of the new bands I love I'm lucky to call them friends! We've toured with Cauldron, and their new album is great! We were in Japan with Skull Fist, and they blew me away live! They are killer too! And I had not really heard White Wizzard when we went out with them, and I went out and bought both of their albums and loved them! They are awesome too! I'm also way into Municipal Waste, Icarus Witch, Ghost, Twisted Tower Dire, Hellfueled, Midnight, Slough Feg and High Spirits! I recently discovered a Swedish death metal band called Vampire that I really dig! Some of these bands aren't that new haha, but I love them anyway!!!!

What does the future hold for Widow? Any plans?

We've got some touring that is lining up for 2013, and I'm really excited about that! Keep in touch with us on facebook at www.facebook.com/widowtheband or at www.widowusa.com and we'll make some announcements really soon!!! Also, we've demoed songs for a new album that we will record this year! I'm really excited about it!!!! Hopefully we will record it by summer and it will be out not too long after that!

You have a show planned in Greece on the 9th of March 2013 at the “Up The Hammers Festival”. How does it feel to play in Greece for the first time? What should we expect from Widow?

I am beyond excited to get to Greece! It's somewhere I have always wanted to go, the country is so beautiful! And I've heard it's one of the best places in the world for real traditional metal! Manolis, who puts on the fest, is such a cool dude and I really appreciate him giving us the chance to play there! I've got a lot of friends over there, and I just can't wait to get there and party with everyone!!!! It will rule I can tell you that!!!!!!!!!!!

Let us finish this interview by sending a message from Widow to the Greek fans.

I want to say thank you for supporting Widow, and I cannot wait to meet you guys in March at Up the Hammers!!! It's gonna be a party we'll never forget!!! Cheers everyone, see you at the bar . . .

(Widow has a show planned in Greece on the 9th of March 2013 at the “Up The Hammers Festival”)

Up The Hammers Festival links:

http://www.up-the-hammers.gr/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/UP-THE-HAMMERS-FESTIVAL/513660118657434
https://www.facebook.com/groups/upthehammers/
https://www.facebook.com/events/196520220453518/

Η Αταξία Ενός Σκούφου…Ξανάρχεται!

2012-12-29T08:21:00.000-08:00

Η Αταξία Ενός Σκούφου

Από 14 Δεκεμβρίου – 12 Ιανουαρίου

Κάθε Παρασκευή και Σάββατο στις 9:15 στο θέατρο Rabbithole (Γερμανικού 20), Μεταξουργείο.

Χάρτης: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%CE%B3%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%85+20+%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BE%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BF&hl=el&ie=UTF8&ll=37.982769%2C23.718066&spn=0.01189%2C0.026157&sll=37.98331%2C23.721735&sspn=0.01189%2C0.026157&hnear=%CE%93%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%8D+20%2C+%CE%91%CE%B8%CE%AE%CE%BD%CE%B1+10435%2C+%CE%91%CE%B8%CE%AE%CE%BD%CE%B1%2C+%CE%95%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AC%CF%82&t=m&z=16

Είσοδος: Ελεύθερη συνεισφορά

Τηλ. Κρατήσεων: 6945518296

Συντελεστές

Σκηνοθεσία – Συγγραφή: Ομάδα Σπίρτο

Παίζουν: Αλάραμπι Μαρία, Βρακά Τζοάννα, Τσομάκα Ευαγγελία, Σκαρμέας Πέτρος

Κοστούμια: Μ. Αλάραμπι

Φωτισμοί: Γ. Σίμωνας

ΧΟΡΗΓΟΣ ΕΠΙΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑΣ: EΣΕΙΣ!

Δύο λόγια για το έργο “Η αταξία ενός σκούφου”
Ένας συγγραφέας – αφηγητής προσπαθεί να συνθέσει την δικιά του ιστορία. Έχοντας ως στόχο να αποδώσει, όσο καλύτερα γίνεται, τον αυθορμητισμό, το χιούμορ και την δυναμικότητα των προσώπων ζωντανεύει τους ίδιους τους ήρωες του έργου επί σκηνής. Άλλοτε καθοδηγεί και άλλοτε αφήνει ανεξέλεγκτους τους ήρωες που δημιουργεί στην φαντασία του. Το κεντρικό πρόσωπο της ιστορίας είναι ένα παιδί, που δίνει τον δικό του αγώνα απέναντι σε μια κοινωνία που άλλοτε του φαίνεται αφιλόξενη και παράλογη και άλλοτε μαγευτική. Όλα τα πρόσωπα που εμπεριέχονται στον διαδραστικό κύκλο ζωής του παιδιού παίζουν το ρόλο τους για το πώς σκέφτεται και το πώς δρα…Από τους γονείς του μέχρι έναν περαστικό που συναντάει…Το έργο πραγματεύεται το κατά πόσο η κοινωνία καθορίζει ένα άτομο, πόσο χώρο του αφήνει να σκεφτεί και να δράσει με ελεύθερη βούληση όταν οι περισσότερες σχέσεις γύρω του λειτουργούν κυριαρχικά – ανελεύθερα.

ΘΕΑΤΡΙΚΗ ΟΜΑΔΑ ΣΠΙΡΤΟ: http://spirto2011.wordpress.com/

To blog αυτό θέλουμε να αποτελέσει ένα ζωντανό δίαυλο επικοινωνίας μεταξύ όσων ενδιαφέρονται για τη τέχνη και δίνοντας την ευκαιρία για ένα ανοιχτό διάλογο πάνω σε ο,τι αφορά το χώρο της τέχνης. Η συζήτηση (διαδικτυακή ή άμεση) πάνω στα θέματα που καταθέτουμε εξελίσσει και συνδιαμορφώνει πιο βαθιά τις σκέψεις και τις δράσεις μας. Στόχος μας είναι να θέσουμε ερωτήματα και να πάρουμε θέση σε ζητήματα που μας προβληματίζουν αναδομώντας μια καινούρια μορφή και εισάγοντας περιεχόμενα τα οποία θα προκύψουν από μας τους ίδιους σε συνάρτηση με την τέχνη. Η ομάδα Σπίρτο είναι ένα ανοιχτό σύνολο ανθρώπων που έχουν σαν βασικό συστατικό τη συμπόρευση στη δημιουργία και την προσπάθεια να αναπραγματευθεί έννοιες, αξίες και δράσεις στο χώρο της τέχνης. Η επαφή με ανθρώπους που θέλουν να μας προσεγγίσουν είναι ένα εντελώς ζωτικό κομμάτι για μας και θα αποδείκνυε πως αυτή η προσπάθεια που έχουμε ξεκινήσει αρχίζει να αποκτάει έναν πιο συλλογικό παλμό.

ATTACK Interview - Fantasy, Life and Destinies of War with Ricky Van Helden...

2012-12-24T05:07:00.002-08:00

ATTACK Interview - Fantasy, Life and Destinies of War with Ricky Van Helden...

Prologue: Some secrets are better kept than others. Some secrets are yet to be discovered. Ricky Van Helden, the frontman, founder and creative mastermind and overall genius behind the legendary band ATTACK, shares a few words with us about Music, Fantasy, Life and Destiny. The past, present and future of ATTACK, blended perfectly in a journey between the magical world of Heavy Metal.

Hello Ricky and welcome! It’s nearly 30 years since you formed Attack. What do you remember from those days?

Well... I remember many things of all this Time... there where good years and not so good years, but at least we only tried to make the music, what we liked.

You are one of those musicians who are very active in social media (Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, etc). Some people say that internet is good for promoting music but, it might destroy the myth. Do you believe that internet is good or bad for a band?

Normally I say that the Internet is not a good thing for music, cause I think too, that it destroys the myth. On the other hand Bands and musicians can promote their music and other Information so that People can get it if they want. I opened Profiles their to save my Name, cause I saw that other people opened accounts with my Name. That was the reason.

It seems like you never had a very steady lineup. Also in most albums you name is next to most instruments. How did you usually record for an album?

That’s right. We changed the Line-up sometimes in all this years. It was not funny to say "Good bye" to some musicians, but new blood brings new inspirations. Well, when we recorded in Studios it was different... Sometimes I had to play the Drums too...and all the other stuff... and sometimes we recorded normally as a Band. This was my personal Destiny.

Attack is one of those bands that blend the epic feeling perfectly with majestic guitar melodies, power vocals and bass/drumming and even keyboards sometimes. Only a few bands have accomplished it like Iron Maiden or Warlord. Was that the sound that you were always aiming for, or did it just came out like this?

In the beginning we where a Trio and had a style a little bit like Rush. Later we played with 2 Guitars and became another Sound... and we were inspired by Music we heard at that Time... I liked the Drive of Iron Maiden more to play, than the Groove of AC/DC. But at least you make the Sound of how your musicians play. A good example is Led Zeppelin. The Voice of Robert Plant, together with the Guitar-Style of Jimmy Page which is his own, the great Drummer John Bonham (he has his own Style too) and Bassist and Keyboarder John Paul Jones created a their unique and their very own music...with another Singer or Drummer it would not have been possible.

Your themes are mainly fantasy, war, life, etc. From other bands to books or movies, what were your main influences?

Heavy Metal is Fantasy, War and Life... Movies like "Braveheart", "The 13th Warrior" or "Gladiator" bring me not in a mood to hear Country-Music. What’s better, than to dream about a Fantasy-World, you’ve never seen? I like such Movies...and I like Music with these Themes.

Are there any newer bands that you listen to right now? Any good records that you heard lately?

What is new? ...Anyway... I just heard "Turisas"... I like some of these Scandinavian Bands. And I hear many of these older Bands too… Manowar, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Nightwish, and so on.

One of the main problems in every country nowadays is the economy. What is the main impact of that situation for bands and artists? Has the whole “crisis” affected you somehow?

Well...I don’t like what’s going on in the Music World... We live in a rich men’s World and I think music has to do with feelings and not with money.

You are a guy who has a wide perception of music and you play many instruments. Have you ever considered of playing something else, recording something different?

Yes...often I play classic music and more progressive things...and sometimes I record it too...but only for me.

Your albums are very rare and difficult to find. Also, if someone finally finds one of them, he has to pay a small fortune to get it. Have you ever considered rereleasing them?

I know this... but just in Greece some Records of ATTACK will be re-released... step by step… I think next Month "Destinies of War" comes out there in a CD and Vinyl-Version on "Lighten the Underground-Records"... last year the Label "Steel Legacy-Records" released "The Secret Place". "Seven years in the Past", Revitalize" and ""Return of the Evil" will follow.

You’ve also recorded a lot of demos in the 80s. Do you have the tapes from those demos? Do you plan to release them?

I have no Demos of this Time anymore...maybe other people have it.

I believe that you have recorded or where about to record a song with Ross the Boss for a band from Argentina. Do you care to share some info on that?

Yes that’s right... but this Band split up...

You know, I lost a very good friend of mine very recently and your song “Heroes Die Young” was a good companion in these hard times for me. What’s the story behind that song?

First I will say sorry that you lost a friend... The Story is that in the middle-age Kings and Warlords force young men into Wars... and nobody remembers the young who died, before their Life begins…

Attack, like many other bands, was inactive for many years. But you told me that Zacky Tsoukas and Thorsten Köhne had mailed you last year about returning to action and it’s slowly happening, like a lot of other bands recently. Do you believe that people are turning to the classic Heavy Metal sound once more? How was it like in the 80s and 90s?

I don’t know, but the next year will show, if I can realize it... but when it happens, it will be like the Style we have.

You have released the compilation “Warriors Of Time” last year and I believe that you are currently in the process of making a new album. How is it going?

"Warriors of Time" was released from a German Company... and I have the hope to make a new Album soon… But who knows? ;-)

From all those years with Attack, what is your best and what is your worst memory?

The best where the feelings of the 80´s… all this Gigs and Tours with all the Fun we had... the worst thing where the last 5 Years, cause ATTACK seems dead... but we will be back…

I think that I have seen photos of Attack playing live, but never a live video. Did you use to play many concerts back then? Is there live footage from the band?

There are Live-Videos too, but not in the Internet. Also we have some Video-Clips. Maybe they will be uploaded some day. Yes, we played many Shows in the 80s and 90s.

You know, there are some music festivals where many older and newer bands who still uphold the banner of Heavy Metal, like “Keep It True” in Germany and “Up The Hammers” in Greece. Have you heard of those festivals? Have you got any future plans for any shows or is it too early?

Of course I know these Festivals and we where invited to this, also in Greece... maybe, if it’s Gods will, we will play there, next Time.

Ok, time for the “Never Ending Story” of the band. What’s going on with the album “Deadlocked” which you have recorded from 1996?

"Deadlocked" was my Destiny... I hope, to release it next year. I had so many Problems with this Album that I must release it... cause only then the way is free for a new Album.

Thanks once more Ricky. I have one last question. What are your future plans for the band?

It was an honor for me, Elias. My Future Plans are to make a new Album, to release "Deadlocked" and a Solo Album.

Nightfall - Cassiopeia [Metal Blade, 2012]

2012-12-12T03:11:00.002-08:00

Nightfall - Cassiopeia [Metal Blade, 2012]

Another record from Nightfall named “Cassiopeia”, their second one after their return back in 2010 and the great release “Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants” from Metal Blade Records that followed. Forget the old days of semi-goth/semi-black Nightfall this record is pure melodic black metal in the style of their previous one, with brutal screams from the depths of Hell.

The record starts with the song “Phaethon”, where pompous keyboard parts and light guitar melodies, along with a more “relaxed” singing from Efthimis, prepares you for the hell that is about to break loose. Efthimis’s voice throughout the record, sounds like a beast that is rising out of the abyss and blends perfectly with the raging drum beat which is dominant in most songs. The guitar melody parts are 100% “to the point” and not a “hit and miss” situation. A thing that becomes even more obvious in songs like “The Nightwatch”, where the riffing and melodies really grab you by the neck. The next two songs “Stellar Parallax” and “Hubris” continue in the same devastating riff ‘n’ melody pattern which keeps a doomy black feeling without a great presence from the keyboards. Then the sound starts becoming faster and more hellish once more in “The Reptile Gods” and “Hyperion”, but especially songs like “Akhenaton” and “The Sand Reckoner” really tear you apart and the last song “Astropolis” ends the record in the most appropriate manner. The band is definitely back on track and as far as I’m concerned, this is one of the best Nightfall records.

Tracklist:

1) Phaethon

2) Oberon And Titania

3) Colonize Cultures

4) The Nightwatch

5) Stellar Parallax

6) Hubris

7) The Reptile Gods

8) Hyperion

9) Akhenaton, The 9^th Pharaoh Of The 18^th Dynasty

10) The Sand Reckoner

11) Astropolis

Lineup:

Efthimis Karadimas - vocals

Evan Hensley - guitars

Constantine - guitars

Stathis Ridis - bass

Stathis Kassios - keyboards

Jörg Uken - drums

Download is a substitute, support real music and buy some records!

Also on Burst.gr - http://www.burst.gr/archives/albums/item/2395-nightfall-cassiopeia

Devon Graves, Live @ The Drugstore, Athens, Greece, 8/12/2012

2012-12-10T09:53:00.000-08:00

Devon Graves, Live @ The Drugstore, Athens, Greece, 8/12/2012

The first time that I heard Devon Graves (AKA Buddy Lackey) in a record was a little more than 15 years ago. The record was “A Social Grace” by Psychotic Waltz, a real masterpiece of music. The band was not active at the moment so, it would be a wild dream to think that in 15 years from then I’d have seen Devon not one, but three times live, with Deadsoul Tribe, Psychotic Waltz and as a solo artist.

The 8^th of December is really a sad day for music. Two great musicians were shot to death on that day, John Lennon and Dimebag Darell. The whole day in Athens was cloudy and gloomy with lots of rain as well, which combined with the traffic made it from hard to impossible for many people to attend tonight’s gig.

I arrived at the bar were the gig was about to take place a little earlier, to grab a beer and chat with friends and Devon. The bar was really small but the 60-70 people who attended the gig were very comfortable inside. At about 1,5 hour after the doors opened Devon went “on stage”, which wasn’t actually a stage, more like a small opening near the bar, but spacious enough. I had already asked him if he was going to play songs from his great album with the band “The Shadow Theory” but I got a negative answer. I also got the same negative answer when I asked him if he was planning to come for a gig with them. Oh well, we can’t have everything.

The place was packed and Devon started with some classic Deadsoul Tribe tunes. The sound was really good (I think that Devon was working on the sound a little earlier). One or two covers came along, aw well as some songs from the album “The Strange Mind Of Buddy Lackey”. A small speech from Devon followed and the first break of the show. Devon is well informed about the way the music industry works nowadays as well as the fact that the companies do not support musicians the way they used to so, he is planning to start his personal website, from which he will be distributing his music in the form of free downloads. He is also planning to record a new album with Psychotic Waltz. And that’s more than enough for now; I wouldn’t want to get into any more details about what he shared with us for the future.

After the break he came back with a couple of more Deadsoul Tribe songs for us and… the first Psychotic Waltz tunes! Such hymns as “Drift” and “Hanging On A String” played with only an acoustic guitar and Devon’s voice are magic beyond words. I can’t really describe the sentiment, but I’m sure that everyone could feel it at that moment. A fantastic cover of Rainbow’s song with DIO came along, another real blast of the night. “Catch The Rainbow” might be a classic and catchy ballad, but Devon gave his best to play it like it should be played, by putting all your soul to it. Two more hymns from Psychotic Waltz, “I Remember” and “My Grave”, three more covers, and that was the end of a very special show, that only few people enjoyed. However, some things are better to be left for the “few” and not the “many”. I couldn’t leave unmentioned though, the “hot sweet stuff”as Devon called it, known to us as “rakomelo” a combination of raki and honey, which Devon seemed to enjoy, a lot!

After the end of the show, we started yelling one of the most known to the fans of Devon Graves motto, which combined our desire for one more songs, as well as the old name of Devon Graves, Buddy Lackey. Devon just smiled and played a couple of more songs for us. One of them was a cover to “Tribute”, with lyrics inspired from Psychotic Waltz.

Devon Graves setlist:

Toy Rockets

Time

Windsong

Some Sane Advice

Space Oddity (David Bowie cover)

Lady Of Rain

Goodbye City Life

Regret

Some Day

-Break-

Into The Spiral Cathedral

Just Like A Timepiece

Cry For Tomorrow/Spiders And Flies

Black Smoke And Mirrors

UTWOMS

Empty

Drift

Hanging On A String

-Break-

Fear

Catch The Rainbow (Rainbow cover)

I Remember

My Grave

Imagine (John Lennon cover)

Hotel California (Eagles cover)

Tribute (AKA “The Greatest Song In The World”, Tenacious D cover)

Also on Burst.gr - http://www.burst.gr/live/reports/item/2381-devon-graves-live-the-drugstore-athens-greece-8-12-2012

High Voltage Festival 2012 Day II Live @ Kyttaro, Athens, Greece, 24-11-2012

2012-11-26T10:51:00.003-08:00

High Voltage Festival 2012 Day II Live @ Kyttaro, Athens, Greece, 24-11-2012

Getting ready for the second day of the High Voltage festival, that mostly included bands with a hard rock vibe. Well guess what? I was once more the first fan to show up, despite that fact that I only arrived at the gig nearly half an hour before the doors open. I guess that something went terribly wrong here. Either the gig wasn’t promoted enough, or the fans simply don’t care. Or maybe both. Still, it was a sad image.

The doors opened on time and the first band, Heart Attack, came on stage. They took the place of Junkyard 69 who probably cancelled. They were all dressed in a similar ‘hospital’ manner, which shows that they’re following a certain direction in their dress code for concerts, which is good. The band played songs from their first EP along with some covers. They also filmed one of their songs for an upcoming video so; some more female dancers came on stage dressed as nurses. I especially noticed the excellent playing of their keyboardist Lila Moka as well as their guitar player Teo Ross, who also has a solo record.

The next band was Wild Machine, a veteran band of the Greek scene and one of the first ever Greek bands that I saw live. They are a total glam-dynamite on stage, combining all the good elements of hard rock with a totally 80s sleaze outfit and resulting in a rock overload. Despite some lineup changes and a big delay before the release of their new record, which is finally out now, the band seemed to have more energy than ever. They’re a definite ‘must’ for everyone who enjoys a good gig.

The next band was Nostos, a southern rock band, who also took the place of another band called Soundtruck who had probably cancelled. They resembled a classic Southern American band and guess what? Most of their setlist was Lynyrd Skynyrd covers, although I believe that they also played a couple of their own songs. Their overall performance was very good although I believe that they played ‘Freebird’ slightly different.

Soon after Nostos, it was time for Danger Angel to take the stage. The band needs no introduction among the fans of the Greek scene, they’re one of those bands who quickly made a name for themselves and for a good reason. They were definitely one of the best bands of the whole High Voltage festival and that’s because they’ve been working on every last detail, from recordings to on stage performance which is obvious. Like I’ve said before, Kyttaro has a very good sound in most occasions, but I believe that it could be a little bit better during Danger Angel. Sadly I missed some of their set as well as the performance of George Gakis who played after them because something urgent came up.

The only bad thing that I have to say for those days is the the fans didn’t support it. Going to a gig and seeing bands attending concerts of other bands alongside their families and some friends, is a sad sight. Also, it’s one of the reasons that many bands form their own ‘cliques’ and support only their friends, etc. And that goes for every band and every fan. If we don’t rise up from this situation, the Greek scene will always be the outcast of the global scene.

First Day: http://dawnofbattle.blogspot.gr/2012/11/high-voltage-festival-2012-day-i-live.html

Also on Burst.gr - http://burst.gr/live/reports/item/2307-high-voltage-festival-2012-day-ii-live--kyttaro-athens-greece-24-11-2012

Links: https://www.facebook.com/wildmachinegr/posts/396602193748690

High Voltage Festival 2012 Day I Live @ Kyttaro, Athens, Greece, 23-11-2012

2012-11-26T10:50:00.000-08:00

High Voltage Festival 2012 Day I Live @ Kyttaro, Athens, Greece, 23-11-2012

Another busy week was coming to an end and this time, with a High Voltage blast! I’m talking about the High Voltage festival of course. 11 bands in 2 days with 10 euros per day! Every one who claims to support the Greek metal scene should have been there. Sadly, not may people thought likewise…

I arrived at the gig nearly half an hour before the doors open only to discover that I was the first fan to show up. Talk about starting on the wrong foot. There was another gig in town of course by WASP, which is always a soldout gig, but I expected a few more people to show up for this one. The doors opened and the first band called Strangeyes was on stage. The first thing I noticed was that the sound had some problems which is weird, because the sound in Kyttaro rarely has any problems whatsoever. The band was overally good, especially their frontman. They played some of their own stuff alond some covers (Opeth and Annihilator of I remember correctly).

The second band was Never-Trust. I can’t say that metalcore is really my style but the band had tons of energy. Of course some problems started to emerge once again. The pedal of the drummer started to fall apart so they had to play their songs in a less blasty manner. They delivered their groove very good though. The next band called Ivory Tower was probably the first band to play without any serious problems. They were also very good and thankfully, some more people started gathering up.

The next band was Sorrowful Angels, a well known band to the Greek scene. They definitely showed that they ‘owned’ the stage from the first moment, despite that they had a new member, guitar player Stelios. Their style is mostly goth metal, with a lot of melancholic melodies blended inside. I could say that they’re our very own “Paradise Lost”.

The next two bands were a surprise (good for some, bad for some others). The first band was Trendy Hooliguns, a band well known for their sarcasm on stage, both lyrically as well as when interacting with the crowd. They were very good but unfortunately, not many people stayed around to see them. It’s one of the bad things that always happens when Greek bands play, many friends and family of each band comes around to see one band, without caring for others. The last band was The Fallen Within, a band which uses a ton of elements. I could describe their style as modern metalcore, but it has a lot of electronic and prog stuff also. They’re definitely not my style but they were very good on stage and it seems that they’ve been working on their songs, as well as their on stage performance a lot.

That ends the first day of the High Voltage festival. Be sure to check the report for the second day as well.

Second Day: http://dawnofbattle.blogspot.gr/2012/11/highvoltage-festival-2012-day-ii-live.html

Also on Burst.gr - http://burst.gr/live/reports/item/2306-high-voltage-festival-2012-day-1-live--kyttaro-athens-greece-23-11-2012

Links: https://www.facebook.com/Sorrowful.Angels.page/posts/440961985962874

MASS SOCIETY

2012-11-09T03:42:00.001-08:00

MASS SOCIETY

Το βίντεο δείχνει την καθοδήγηση του ανήμπορου και άβουλου ατόμου με σκοπό τον έλεγχο.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYMdEE_eBbA&feature=context-gau

Photography by: Nick Papaevangeliou

Sound Design: Konstantinos Gerontis

Directed by: Vangelis Papaevangeliou

Written by: Vangelis Papaevangeliou

Screenplay by: Vangelis Papaevangeliou

Produced by: Vangelis Papaevangeliou
Music by: Vangelis Papaevangeliou

The directors Facebook profile here: https://www.facebook.com/vangelis.papaevangeliou.3
Contact e-mails here: papaevangeliou@yahoo.gr

Ένα Μεσημέρι Στο Πάρκο

2012-11-09T03:22:00.000-08:00

Ένα Μεσημέρι Στο Πάρκο

Ένα μεσημέρι σε ένα Αθηναϊκό πάρκο. Η καθημερινότητα των ανθρώπων μέσα από μια συζήτηση ενός ζευγαριού.

Μικρού μήκους ταινία με κοινωνικές προεκτάσεις για την Αθήνα (και όχι μόνο) του σήμερα. Μερικές φορές το όμορφο είναι απλά επιφανειακό.

Starring: Daphne Vlasakidou , Leonidas Tzortzakis
Voices: Daphne Vlasakidou, Aris Kaplanidis
Photography by: Nick Papaevangeliou

Directed by: Vangelis Papaevangeliou
Written by: Vangelis Papaevangeliou
Screenplay by: Vangelis Papaevangeliou
Produced by: Vangelis Papaevangeliou

The directors Facebook profile here: https://www.facebook.com/vangelis.papaevangeliou.3
Contact e-mails here: papaevangeliou@yahoo.gr

Inkubus Sukkubus, Come With Reverse, Dr D and the Voodoo Shreeks Live @ Second Skin Club, Athens, Greece, 02-11-2012

2012-11-05T00:13:00.000-08:00

Inkubus Sukkubus, Come With Reverse, Dr D and the Voodoo Shreeks Live @ Second Skin Club, Athens, Greece, 02-11-2012

It was a very big surprise for me when I heard that Inkubus Sukkubus were going to play a concert here in Greece. They are one of those bands that I used to listen to when I was younger, then stopped listening for a couple of years, only to “rediscover” them recently. The magic was still there.

I had arrived a little late due to heavy traffic and saw only a few people standing outside Second Skin club, so I entered almost immediately. The gig was about to begin. The club is somehow small, but also very cosy. The only bad thing is… what else? The poor airconditioning, which quickly turned the place into a factory chimney. The first band to come on stage was Dr D and the Voodoo Shreeks. They play a mixture of electro/ambient music with slices of darkness. They managed to create a very nice atmosphere although they could use a little more practice together for live appearances. The keyboards and other stuff on stage didn’t help much also because the stage was somehow small, which made movement difficult. They overally had a nice vibe and good communication with the crowd.

Dr D and the Voodoo Shreeks setlist:

1) Invisible Strength

2) I Will Kill For You

3) The Riddle Of The Sun & The Moon

4) Love & Rape

5) I Am Deamon

Next band on the bill was Come with Reverse from Thessaloniki. The crowd had almost doubled at that time which made the band feel even more welcome. Their doomy/goth sound along with a great performance from the bands frontman, instantly made the crowd participate in the whole experience. The sound started having some problems though which somehow spoiled some songs. They band seems very tight though which can only be a good thing for the future.

Come with Reverse setlist:

1) Vanity
2) Inner Demise
3) Mandolism
4) Evolution Of Broken Minds
5) Sullen Look
6) Come With Reverse
7) Retour An Dich
8) Lust Pace

I was finally time for Inkubus Sukkubus and with breathless anticipation the crowd was waiting the unveiling of the band. The drum set was removed off the stage, because the band used pre-recorded drums in their concert and the three members of the band came on stage! Their faces were painted like corpses, due to the celebration of the “Dia De Los Muertos”, the Mexican celebration for the rememberance of the dead. The band started playing and unfortunately at the same time, the sound started having major problems again. Of course the band and crowd didn’t seem to mind a lot, so they kept on playing even more passionately. Especially Candia’s performance was something you rarely see. I’ve seen my share of female fronted bands and I’ve seen frontwomen only have the looks, or the voice, or both, but rarely have the passion to support them. I’m sorry to say that without passion, you get nowhere. The band also had a very nice video-show playing in the background which fitted perfectly to every song, but one or two lights in the club were very bright which made it difficult to create an even nicer atmosphere or see the videos from certain angles. What made me very happy was that with every small problem, the band kept on playing even better. Most bands lose the ground beneath their feet with small things like a broken string or something. Despite all the small problems and the somehow small duration of the show (a little over one hour) they definitely were a pleasure to watch on stage. Let’s just hope that we won’t have to wait so many years before they visit us again.

The Inkies stayed around after their show, for a meet and greet and dance and party with their fans. I usually have an epilogue for such occasions, but for now I’ll only say this. Magical night.

Inkubus Sukkubus setlist:

1) Messalina

2) Vampyre erotica

3) Lose Yourself At The Nympahaeum

4) Paint it Black

5) Night Angel

6) Away With The Faeries

7) Love Eternal

8) City Of The Dead

9) Heart Of Lilith

10) The Goat

11) Belladona & Aconite

12) Samhain

13) Wytches

14) I Am The One

Special thanks to Candia for the extremely heartfelt show.

Also on Burst.gr - http://burst.gr/live/reports/item/2162-inkubus-sukkubus-come-with-reverse-dr-d-and-the-voodoo-shreeks-live-second-skin-club-02-11-2012-athens-greece

More links: https://www.facebook.com/InkubusSukkubus/posts/260713860717964

The Lagarde List, first published on HOT DOC magazine

2012-10-27T12:06:00.001-07:00

The Lagarde List, first published on HOT DOC magazine

Journalist Kostas Vaxevanis published this list on HOT DOC magazine and he is now being prosecuted from the Greek authorities for it. The Greek government is trying once more to end free speech. As a blogger I'm showing my support by also uploading this list.

Sign the petition here to drop all charges against Kostas Vaxevanis:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Drop_all_charges_against_Greek_journalist_Kostas_Vaxevanis/?cmlcgcb

Accept, Marauder Live @ Fuzz Club, Athens, Greece, 18-10-12

2012-10-21T04:44:00.000-07:00

Accept, Marauder Live @ Fuzz Club, Athens, Greece, 18-10-12

If you’re into pure classic Heavy Metal, there was no other place for you to be tonight, than Fuzz Club. The almighty Accept were once again visiting Greece to deliver the goods, this time supported by one of the best Heavy Metal bands that Greece has to offer, Marauder.

I didn’t have the chance to see them the last time they visited Greece with their new singer Mark Tornillo, so I was really looking forward to see him on stage. The night didn’t start very well though, due to the fact that the doors were about to open at 19.30 which didn’t happen until one hour later. Oh well, a few more beers for us “thirsty” ones! The line of people started filling up the club until it was half-full and Marauder came on stage. Sadly most of the crowd didn’t seem very familiar with the Marauder stuff, although a lot of people in the front rows were singing along. The band played 8 songs, some old and some from their new great record –check it out- with a mediocre sound, but an excellent performance. It was a very special case because despite the fact that the founder/guitarist of the band George had his birthday that night and that they were supporting Accept, the legendary singer Tony Martin was there to watch both bands play. During the last few songs, the crowd looked a lot more active and warmed up. The band finished their set and a big applause followed.

Marauder setlist:

Elegy of Blood

The Great War

Warriors

Free Like An Eagle

Face the Mirror

Classics Never Die

The Return of the Warrior

God’s Will

The Greek Revolution Begins

A small break, lights down, crowd cheering. Accept was about to hit the stage, hard. They started out playing a couple of songs from their new “child” Stalingrad. You could tell right from the beginning that the sound wasn’t in any case their ally. The vocals were way too low, although Mark was giving his best self, and the guitar and bass were very high. I’ve said it before, but sadly in half the gigs that take place in Fuzz Club, the sound isn’t exactly crystal clear, but more like a mess of electricity and buzz in places. Anyway, the band continued with some of their classics and the crowd –which has doubled until then- didn’t seem to mind so much about the sound quality. I haven’t checked live setlists from the band, I’m a fan so I didn’t have to learn the songs or something, but Monsterman did come as a nice surprise. I think that people didn’t like Accept records like Russian Roulette but mostly their 80s classic stuff. The song that followed was Shadow Soldiers and at that point you could see that the band was tighter than ever. I’ve seen them with UDO as well, and I’m a big fan of UDO in both his Accept and solo career, but I didn’t enjoy their performance with UDO as much as I enjoyed this one with Mark. He’s definitely way more than just “a good replacement”!

This is was the part where the Accept classics started to tear us up, with the highlight of all of them being the song Aiming High. A few more sons from Blood of the Nations, and the band left the stage for a few minutes. The encore was more than great. Metal Heart, the bands anthem and generally, a Heavy Metal anthem as far as I’m concerned, Teutonic Terror, their smash hit single from Blood of the Nations and Balls To The Wall ended the bands show. I don’t think that there was anyone who left with bad memories from that gig, a real Heavy Metal concert, a true and full Accept show in every sense of the word. Mark is more than great, Stefan and Herman are metal machines and Peter and Wolf are like one on stage. I believe that today’s classic Heavy Metal scene, really fails to offer the kind of on and off stage quality that bands like Accept have set the standards for.

Accept setlist:

Hung, Drawn and Quartered

Hellfire

Restless and Wild

Losers and Winners

Stalingrad

Breaker

Bucket Full of Hate

Monsterman

Shadow Soldiers

Neon Nights

Bulletproof

Aiming High

Princess of the Dawn

Up to the Limit

No Shelter

Pandemic

Fast as a Shark

Encore:

Metal Heart

Teutonic Terror

Balls to the Wall

Cheers to Alice from Ruthless Steel for the company and photos, Alexis from Hurlement -come back soon brother- , Andreas Andreou for the beer and the hookup with T.M., Tony Martin -for just being there-, Dimitris Tsouanas for the photos with Accept, the guys from Battleroar, Greg from Eat Metal, Nikos Mac, Antonis Souvatzis, and last but not least, the 2 dudes I always like to tease, Mitsos “Swordmaster” and Leonidas “Spartan” -they know why-.

Also on Burst.gr - http://burst.gr/live/reports/item/2099-accept-marauder-live--fuzz-club-athens-greece-18-10-12

Moonspell, Sorrowful Angels, SadDolls, Fallen Arise, Live @ Gagarin 205, Athens, Greece, 29-09-2012

2012-10-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

Moonspell, Sorrowful Angels, SadDolls, Fallen Arise, Live @ Gagarin 205, Athens, Greece, 29-09-2012

Going to a gig is always a top priority on my list, even on a Saturday night. The all time classic Gagarin 205 Club was ready and willing for another season full of concerts and events and despite the whole Greek economy crisis, I hoped that people would be there to support 3 Greek bands and Moonspell, who always honour us in almost every single one of their tours.

The whole day didn’t start all that good. I had to work overtime and I wasn’t sure if I could make it in time to see all the bands. Thankfully, despite all the delay from buses etc, I made it in time to see more than half the set of Fallen Arise, the first band on the bill. Fallen Arise are a somehow fresh band, with operatic/symphonic metal sound. Their on stage presence was excellent, along with their communication with the crowd. Too bad that there weren’t many people around to see them play. They’ve been working a lot on their music and that was more than obvious on stage also. Their new singer Spyla has a very good and sensational voice and she adds a lot to the whole presence. The band had both male and female vocals. I believe that they are far better now than the last time I saw them supporting InnerWish, another great Greek band. The band is currently working on their first full-length.

Fallen Arise setlist:

Burned Ivy

Eternity

Eternal Sins

Never Forget Me

Furor

Nightouched

The second band on the bill was SadDoLLs, a band I’ve never had the chance to see before. Their style is semi-goth, semi-electro with very few industrial elements. It’s really not my style although I did enjoy their more goth/romance stuff. The fact is that they reminded me HIM a little, but I don’t think that the more industrial stuff suits the bands style, maybe they should stick to just goth. They do have a good stage presence though, and good sound. Among their stuff they also played two covers, Erased from Paradise Lost and Pussy from Rammstein.

SadDoLLs setlist:

Bloodred

Criminal Of Love

Erased (Paradise Lost cover)

Psychedelic Love

Pussy (Rammstein cover)

Life=0

Watch Me Crawl Behind

Misery

Finally it was about time for Sorrowful Angels. They are one of my favourite Greek bands and I’ve seen them live many times. Every time is different of course. The band hit the stage furiously and you could tell from the beginning that they were very excited to be here. Moonspell are one of their fav bands and I guess they were over enjoying supporting them tonight. They had a very good sound and combined with their energy, they showed some explosive results. Their singer Dion kept at all times very good contact with the crowd while their bass player Ilias was blending his playing and on stage figures perfectly. The drumming was also very good as well as the second guitar. Definitely one of the best Greek bands.

Sorrowful Angels setlist:

Mistress Of Desire

Unspeakable Cult

Shores Of Capture

Nous Undue

Right Of Way

Suicidal Manners

Love Means Death

Omens

Mourn

Denial

Time for the almighty Moonspell. I don’t like getting political, but I do feel a little like brothers with the Portugese people, after all the stuff that they’re going through. We should all stick together in times like these. Ribeiro was in an excellent mood along with the rest of the band. He appeared on stage with a weird helmet, which looked like the one they have on their record cover. The sound was perfect which is very rare for both the club and Moonspell. I’ve seen them many times, well, mostly in open areas, but it was a pleasure to listen to such a perfect sound. I can’t even begin to describe the whole atmosphere… after all those times (Ribeiro was saying 8 times over and over again) Moonspell feel like home here. He couldn’t stop talking about Greece and Athens (Athina! Athina!) and all the Greek bands that he admires so much like Rotting Christ and Septic Flesh. The best moments of their show was the performance of Scorpion Flower and Alma Matter and a moment when Ribeiro remembered another great frontman, the late Peter Steele from Type O Negative. A little less than two hours, and it was time to say goodnight and farewell to Moonspell once more.

Moonspell setlist:

Axis Mundi

Alpha Noir

Love Is Blasphemy

Finisterra

Night Eternal

Opium

Awake!

Mephisto

Lyckanthrope

Nocturna

Scorpion Flower

Abysmo

New Tears Eve

Em Nome Do Medo

Vampiria

Alma Matter

Encore:

Wolfshade

Grandstand

Fullmoon Madness

Best moment of the show was definitely mr Ribeiro. Worst moment was that when Fallen Arise was playing, the club had much less than 200 people inside.

P.S. - Cheers to Dorina, Anastasia for the company, Fragiskos Samoilis for the… compliments, Vaggelis Sadus and last but not least “The Boozerman”.

Also on Burst.gr - http://burst.gr/live/reports/item/1950-moonspell-sorrowful-angels-sad-dolls-fallen-arise-live-gagarin-205-athens-greece-29-09-2012