Within Temptation - Hydra

Dutch Symphonic metal band Within Temptation are back with their latest studio album, Hydra.  Since the release of their last album (The Unforgiving) in 2011 the band have toured in support of the album and also celebrated their 15th anniversary with a huge show at the Sportspalais in Antwerp.  Since then they've been busy writingDutch Symphonic metal band Within Temptation are back with their latest studio album, Hydra.  Since the release of their last album (The Unforgiving) in 2011 the band have toured in support of the album and also celebrated their 15th anniversary with a huge show at the Sportspalais in Antwerp.  Since then they've been busy writing and recording the new album and shortly after it's release will be embarking on  their European tour. The title of the new album, "Hydra" seems very appropriate.  Like the multi-headed hydra of mythology, this album is quite multi-faceted.  There's more variety than we've come to expect from a Within Temptation album, with songs that sound like they are influenced by different times during the bands history and there are some radically different new things here. Most fans will have heard several of the songs on the album already as the song "Paradise (what about us?)" was released as an EP and included three other album tracks in demo form way back in September. Since then the band have released a video for another track – "Dangerous".  So that means fans have heard half the songs on the album already and means there's plenty of pressure [...]

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Iced Earth, Islington, London, 14 January 2014

First up tonight were Elm Street.  The band were lucky to be able to play as they'd been travelling with Warbringer and had been heavily delayed so didn't arrive at the venue till just minutes before the doors opened, and will have had to skip the luxury of a soundcheck.  Elm street are a metalFirst up tonight were Elm Street.  The band were lucky to be able to play as they'd been travelling with Warbringer and had been heavily delayed so didn't arrive at the venue till just minutes before the doors opened, and will have had to skip the luxury of a soundcheck.  Elm street are a metal band from Australia and they got the night off to a flying start.  It was good heavy stuff and sounded great.  They went down well with the crowd too and their set was over far too soon. Warbringer Next up were Californian band Warbringer who took the power level up a notch with some thrash.  They certainly got the crowd going with plenty of headbanging visible among the crowd.  I enjoyed their set although it did feel to be fairly generic thrash – 15 minutes after the end of their set I couldnt remember a single song, but despite the lack of originality it was very enjoyable to listen to. Iced Earth One of the last gigs I went to see of 2013 was Iced Earth and Volbeat in Brixton, so it was with a sense of déjà vu that I headed to the O2 [...]

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Photos of SOiL at Rock City, Nottingham - 24th January 2014

Continue reading Photos of SOiL at Rock City, Nottingham - 24th January 2014.

Altar of Betelgeuze – Darkness Sustains the Silence

Finland has a history of  producing a lot of top notch death and doom bands such as Hooded Menace, Reverend Bizarre, Unholy and Skepticism to name but a few. This is Altar of Betelgeuze's  debut album with only one prior EP release in 2012. The band has mixed the styles of death, doom and stonerFinland has a history of  producing a lot of top notch death and doom bands such as Hooded Menace, Reverend Bizarre, Unholy and Skepticism to name but a few. This is Altar of Betelgeuze's  debut album with only one prior EP release in 2012. The band has mixed the styles of death, doom and stoner quite successfully, perhaps it interrupts the flow of the album at times but it certainly doesn't detract from its overall quality.  "A World without End" has a solid chugging riff with a growled vocal which compliments the pace of the track and is the band in death doom mode. "Spiral of Decay" continues in this vein although a bit more upbeat with an "Obsessed" feel about it, at the halfway mark a traditional doom metal riff kicks in with a clean vocal. At this point we are looking towards bands like Penance and Stillborn, great groove and and altogether wider appeal. "Smouldering Clouds above Orion" wades through all moods, slow, heavy, clean and melodious, before bringing the double kicks and a menacing atmosphere to finish of the song. The title track is a monstrous 17 minutes long and incorporates thrash into the middle section and [...]

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Photos of Skindred at Rock City, Nottingham - 24th January 2014

Continue reading Photos of Skindred at Rock City, Nottingham - 24th January 2014.

Classic Rock Presents: Bad Company – Official DVD Collector’s Pack

One of the most acclaimed bands in rock, Bad Companycelebrate an incredible 40 years of rock 'n' roll with the release of their official 40th anniversary DVD documentary as an exclusive Classic Rock Collector's Pack.   Released on 3rdMarch, this limited edition pack includes a brand new DVD documentary movie - Bad Company: The Band. The Music.One of the most acclaimed bands in rock, Bad Companycelebrate an incredible 40 years of rock 'n' roll with the release of their official 40th anniversary DVD documentary as an exclusive Classic Rock Collector's Pack.   Released on 3rdMarch, this limited edition pack includes a brand new DVD documentary movie – Bad Company: The Band. The Music. The Story. featuring live concert footage, TV performances and unplugged versions of the band's classics Feel Like Makin' Love, Shooting Star and their anthem Bad Company.   The collector's pack will also come with a 132-page magazine that has been produced with the full cooperation of the band and offers an insightful retrospective look through the bands incredibly vibrant and successful past.   The Bad Company DVD & Magazine Collector's Pack is exclusively available to pre-order now at www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/badcompany   The collector's pack will include:   100% official DVD documentary 132 page magazine Collectable art cards   The 132-page magazine includes:   Brand new exclusive interviews with all three     surviving original Bad Company members: singer Paul Rodgers, guitarist     Mick Ralphs, and drummer Simon Kirke An exclusive celebratory memorial to their     late bass player, Boz Burrell, including interviews with his wife, Cathy,     godson, Mike [...]

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The Headbangers Balls 2014

Following on from their successful launch in 2013, UK Charity Tour HEADBANGERS BALLS has started up the engines on it's second music fuelled campaign and this years looks like it will be even bigger. The 2013 tour, comprising of 50 of the UK's hottest emerging rock & metal bands, alongside special guests such as HATEBREEDFollowing on from their successful launch in 2013, UK Charity Tour HEADBANGERS BALLS has started up the engines on it's second music fuelled campaign and this years looks like it will be even bigger. The 2013 tour, comprising of 50 of the UK's hottest emerging rock & metal bands, alongside special guests such as HATEBREED and XENTRIX, took in 12 major UK venues and raised awareness for Testicular Cancer and funds for TEENAGE CANCER TRUST. The new 2014 campaign begins with a call to arms for bands and fans alike, inviting applications for the live shows scheduled for a November staging. The team are inviting all rock & metal outfits to get in touch with merchandise donations, sponsorship, and publicity partnerships. The campaign has already received over 300 band applications, and has been inundated with enquiries, with more than a dozen major UK events donating ticket prizes to the cause already. The Headbangers Balls have been selected by "Out of the Ashes" festival as their official good cause for 2014, and EMP, Europe's largest rock & merch retailer have become official sponsors. James Pritchard-Barrett, EMP UK Manager, said: "EMP, Europes biggest merchandiser of Rock and Metal merchandise are pleased to [...]

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Dirt Box Disco to release their third album Bloonz in April 2014

@Planetmosh @Dirtboxdisco @stprecords @LouellaDeville_ @Planetmosh Dirt Box Disco will release their twelve track third album "BLOONZ" via STP Records on Saturday 26th April 2014 with album launch gigs at The Zombie Hut, Corby on that day and at The Star and Garter, Manchester on Sunday 27th April 2014. STP Records say on their Facebook page 'Since making@Planetmosh @Dirtboxdisco @stprecords @LouellaDeville_ @Planetmosh Dirt Box Disco will release their twelve track third album "BLOONZ" via STP Records on Saturday 26th April 2014 with album launch gigs at The Zombie Hut, Corby on that day and at The Star and Garter, Manchester on Sunday 27th April 2014. STP Records say on their Facebook page 'Since making it public over at the Dirt Box Disco page, I've already had people asking when they can order it….the answer to that will be MARCH 1ST for pre-orders and any pre-order will get a free gift when their copy is sent out'                 Dirt Box Disco were recently announced as the face (make that the sound) of Rimmel as their track Freaks, which is on their album PEOPLEMADEOFPAPER, can be heard on Rimmel's new TV advert for 'Scandaleyes Rockin' Curves' featuring none other than supermodel, Kate Moss, maybe she will be at one of the launch gigs! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUUmGKEupdo&feature=youtu.be PlanetMosh reviewed the STP Records 2013  Xmas Special gig – read our review here: http://planetmosh.com/dirt-box-disco-stp-records-christmas-show-the-star-and-garter-manchester-22nd-december-2013/ Links: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DIRT-BOX-DISCO/129060477115572 https://www.facebook.com/pages/STP-Records/240547192647599 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iElEvRRvisg

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Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers: A ZZ Top Guide

Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers: A ZZ Top Guide, The Ultimate Guide To Those Sharp Dressed Men. There are surprisingly few books about ZZ Top considering what a huge band they are. Top rock writer Neil Daniels rectifies that with an unashamedly joyous celebration of the Texas trio, who are celebrating their 45th anniversary in 2014. WhatBeer Drinkers & Hell Raisers: A ZZ Top Guide, The Ultimate Guide To Those Sharp Dressed Men. There are surprisingly few books about ZZ Top considering what a huge band they are. Top rock writer Neil Daniels rectifies that with an unashamedly joyous celebration of the Texas trio, who are celebrating their 45th anniversary in 2014. What fans get here is a history of the band from their pre-ZZ Top outfits through to the present day, along with analysis of their albums, gigs and (of course) videos. Neil also looks at the great blues players, country musicians and rock acts who have influenced the band, plus who the band have themselves influenced, and a look at their peers. There is also a section on ZZ Top trivia, which will amuse folks. For example, Billy Gibbons is an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church Ministries and performed the marriage ceremony for a couple at a Houston branch of IKEA in 2008. Neil also looks at the band's many awards, appearances on TV and film, a discography and more. There are some rare photos, and the whole thing is top and tailed with a foreword and afterword from top rock writers [...]

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Crematory release new album next month

Veteran German gothic metallians Crematory are to release their 11th studio album, 'Antiserum', through Steamhammer / SPV on February 24. The new album is described by the band as a follow up to their 2004 release 'Revolution', and places a greater emphasis on the use of electronics, as drummer Markus Jüllich explained: "We have gone one stepVeteran German gothic metallians Crematory are to release their 11th studio album, 'Antiserum', through Steamhammer / SPV on February 24. The new album is described by the band as a follow up to their 2004 release 'Revolution', and places a greater emphasis on the use of electronics, as drummer Markus Jüllich explained: "We have gone one step further than we did on 'Revolution' in terms of our electronic influences.  In collaboration with Elmar Schmidt of Hamburg EBM act Centhron, we have come up with a haunting mix of metal riffs and EBM keyboards… that's why I would refer to Antiserum's musical direction as 'EBM metal'!" Jüllich admits, however, that it took a lot of concentration and focus before the musical elements meshed together:  "In the beginning, it was more difficult than we had thought.  The sounds and samples that Elmar brought us had no real song structures – that's why we didn't have a central theme to start off with.  It took us two or three songs to get in to the groove, but from that point on it was an extremely exciting process to work on the new material." Jüllich concluded:  "We were even bolder this time than we [...]

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