Firebrand After Dark Issue 8 - February by Firebrand's Rock&Metal Express

Issue 8 - February 2014

Killswitch Engage

Gama Bomb

Battlecross Slough Fen Spewtilator Slaughterday Nervosa Flotsam & Jetsam Throwdown Harlott Exumation Nocturnal Breed

10 16 24 28 36 38 44

04 05 12 20

- DLC - News - Gama Bomb Live Review - Martin Shortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 60 Birthday Badass Bash Live Review 32 - Skindred/SOiL Live Review 34 - Dark Side Of The Emerald

- Killswitch Engage - Butcher Babies - Gama Bomb - Slough Feg - Slaughterday - Spewtilator - Battlecross

- Coldwar

41 42 47 48

53 - Nocturnal Breed - Flotsam & Jetsam 54 - Throwdown - Kuolemanlaakso 55 - Nervosa - Vornth 56 - Kult Of Taurus - Crematory 57 - Hirax - Shroud Of The Heratic

- Top 5 Videos - Behind The Music - Top 5 Album Covers - Games Dungeon

58 - Reverend Horton Heat - Entartung 59 - Iskald - Harlott 60 - Mother Abyss - Exhumation 61 - Burnthru - Alexa De Strange

Cover Photo: Jeremy Saffer *All content and layout are copyright of Firebrand Magazine. Any attempt to distribute Firebrand Magazine to another site for purposes of download is strictly prohibited. All Firebrand Magazines are property of Firebrand. *

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Meet The Team! Editor In Chief Rick Palin

So another month flies by as we edge closer to festival season. Will this years be a wash out or will the music gods reward the fantastic lineups that are forming with good Senior Media Consultant Rachel Whiston weather? only time will tell. Some of you might have noticed that we have changed our email addresses at Firebrand which all part of the Tasselled ones plans for global music domination. Please can you update your address lists accordingly. Joining us this month we have an interview with Mark Appleton, the man behind what many people are calling the UKs fastest growing independant record label Rocksector Records. Also featured this month are a whole host of the usual After Dark madness including an interview with the mighty Gama Bomb where bass monster Joe McGuigan gives us the lowdown on what the Gama bomb musical commandments are and with that thought I will leave you to enjoy the magazine.

Editor Lee Walker Reviews Team Graham Pritchard Joey Lowebins Jon Seymour Sonya Valantasis Stephen Brophy Stoodge McNulty Download Content Team Rick Palin Judith Fisher Content Download sales@firebrandrr.co.uk Advertising Enquiries sales@firebrandrr.co.uk Review Requests

afterdark@firebrandrr.co.uk

Contact Telephone +44(0)207 0978556

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Monsterworks Monsterworks is a London based band that has, possibly to its own detriment, never followed trends or towed the line; preferring to forge its own path in the continually evolving world of heavy metal. In this respect it has always stayed true to its mission statement: IMAGE IS NOTHING; METAL IS EVERYTHING. Hugo – Bass, James – Drums, Jon – Guitars/Vocals, Marcus –Guitars Stylistically the band has always been difficult to pin down, at one moment death metal, in another stoner rock, then thrash, then prog; but somehow it works - at least that’s what we keep telling ourselves. The new 2014 album “Universe” is a birth to death trip of the great void and everything in it.

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NEWS Cris Migliore And Cristiano Mozzati Split With Lacuna Coil

Coldwar Ink Deal With Candlelight Records!

Quotes from the band members read Dear friends, It is with a heavy heart that we share this news with you today: Our two brothers Cris 'Pizza' Migliore and Cristiano 'CriZ' Mozzati have decided to retire from LACUNA COIL. Both Pizza and CriZ have had big changes impact their lives recently - we know how stressful and difficult it can be to balance both real life and the life of a professional touring musician, and we have nothing but total respect for their decisions to focus on their families and lives at home. We have such incredible memories of traveling and exploring the world together with Pizza and CriZ, and we want to wish them both all the best as they begin these exciting new chapters in their lives. We will never forget the important roles they played in this band, or the incredible times we shared together. THANK YOU PIZZA AND CRIZ! WE LOVE YOU GUYS!! Cristina, Andrea, Marco, and Maus. LACUNA COIL

Candlelight Records is proud to announce the signing of Irish hardcore punks Coldwar! Debut Candlelight Records album coming 2014. Equally thrilled by the signing, Coldwar had this to say about it, “Coldwar are proud to announce that we have signed to Candlelight Records. We are very excited about our future with Candlelight and are honoured to be on a label with such a varied and talented collection of artists.” This is Coldwar with their latest recording ‘Pantheist’. Listen to 'Heart Of Darkness' from the upcoming Coldwar album 'Pantheist' https://soundcloud.com/candlelight-records/coldwarheart-of-darkness Pantheism: The belief that everything composes an all-encompassing, immanent God, or that the universe (or nature) is identical with divinity. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal or anthropomorphic god. The darkness of the soul, esoteric symbology, natural evil, scrutinization of the irregularity of the Gregorian calendar, the meltdown crisis point at which capitalist society presently finds itself, and the possible final gasp of our current ‘material age’, to The band have announced that none of their pave way for a potential revolutionary shift in upcoming tour dates would be affected, although they values-consciousness for a jaded humanity. These have not currently disclosed any replacements. are some of the varied concepts with which Coldwar lyrically engage, in their latest For further information you can find this on the bands anthology, and forth-coming release ‘Pantheist’. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ Formed in 1999 in Dublin, Ireland, Coldwar are influenced by underground hardcore punk and lacunacoil?fref=ts extreme metal. Fuelled by a rejection of Church & State institutions and other oppressive, intolerant and absolutist states of mind. To date, Coldwar have toured Ireland and the UK as well as having made several trips to Europe and the USA. The band have also played a number of festivals including Wacken Open Air (Germany), Obscene Extreme Festival (Czech Republic), Load As Fuck (USA), Day Of Darkness (Ireland), Up the Punks (UK), Cork Winter Fest (Ireland), Burning Oak Festival (Ireland), Subvert Festival (UK) and more. Coldwar have shared the stage and toured alongside bands such as Fear Factory, Soulfly, Sepultura, EHG, Suffocation, Anthrax, Hatebreed, Discharge, Napalm Death and many more. With four releases previous since their inception via Underground Movement each release has gained the band a growing fan base.

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Frail Grounds Set To Release Debut Album ‘The Fields Of Trauma’ Norwegian progressive metal quintet Frail Grounds recently signed a deal with UK based indie label Hostile Media to see the release of the bands debut album ‘The Fields Of Trauma’. Mixed by Øyvind Larsen (Lionheart Studios) and mastered by acclaimed producer Jens Bogren (Fascination Street Studios) ‘The Fields Of Trauma’ was originally self-released by the band in 2012. This release sees the record getting proper distribution for the first time. Frail Grounds formed late 2005 with a musical vision to create interesting and flowing soundscapes, merging elements from different genres ranging from traditional heavy, progressive and extreme metal, yet always maintaining a melodic baseline. The band released their debut record, an EP titled ‘Corrosion’ which led to many in the media earmarking the band as one to watch. Most of 2010 was spent in the studio as the band began work on their concept debut album ‘The Fields Of Trauma’. The story follows an expedition deep into Siberia, questioning how far a person might go under extreme circumstances in order to achieve a sense of resolution. Vocalist Morten Andre comments, "We are very excited to be presenting "The Fields of Trauma" to the UK metalheads and beyond.” “The album took a long time to finish, but listening to it now we are confident it was worth the effort and time. There are so many details in between the musical layers; hopefully you will hear something new every time you listen to it. This musical endeavour is wrapped up by a faustian inspired conceptual horror story, which fits well with the musical theme. Enjoy!" "First time listeners, expect a chilling musical journey leading you through acoustic melancholic moments and into more brutal epics! Throughout this trip you will be treated with lots of melodies, guitar solos, heavy riffing and complexity leading up to the grand finale, the emberstorm!"

Deadlock nominated for PETA2 Liberation Award The German Melodic Metal Machine Deadlock, amongst bands like Arch Enemy, are nominated for the PETA2 Liberation Awards 2014 in the category "Best animal-friendly Metal Band". The Liberation Award was created to motivate people and companies to stand up for animal rights. For those of you, who wants to support the band evolving around supreme Sabine Scherer, can do this at the link below until February 17: http://liberation-award.de/deadlock/

Nervosa - "Victim of Yourself" – Preview Right before the Brazilian demolition crew Nervosa unleashes their highly anticipated debut album, you can listen through the tracks! "Victim of Yourself" will be released via Napalm Records on March 3, 2014 in the UK. Listen to the album below:

ALESTORM begin recording new album ‘Sunset on the Golden Age’ Today, the next chapter in the ALESTORM tale begins! The band has just arrived at Lasse Lammert's LSD-Studio in Lübeck, Germany, to record their 4th full-length album, which will be titled "Sunset on the Golden Age". "This is gonna blow all your expectations as to what an ALESTORM album is all about" comments Christopher Bowes (vocals/keytar). "Over the past couple of years we've been writing non-stop, and we've come up with a ton of badass material. Some of this stuff is catchiest pirate party anthems you've ever heard, with choruses that'll make you want to raise a pint of rum up high and sing your guts out. And for the fans of the epic stuff, we've got some songs that hit the 10-minute mark, with lyrical themes about historical events and crazy mythological madness. It's gonna rule!"

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Expect more updates and drunkenness over the coming months, and a release through Napalm Records sometime in the early summer!

Devildriver: European Tour 2014

Possessed To Headline Obscene Extreme Festival, Cattle Decapitation Announced! Without death metal's founding fathers, Possessed, Obscene Extreme would be a very different festival indeed. Forming in San Francisco in 1983, the band dragged thrash metal into darker and heavier places with their classic albums ‘Seven Churches’ and ‘Beyond The Gates’ on Combat Records. Possessed created a whole genre and then faded away like ghosts. Reforming around vocalist and founder Jeff Becerra in 2007, the original death cult are back and they're writing new material too. Obscene Extreme 2014, prepare yourself for a new chapter in the unholy book of the dead… Making an overdue return to Obscene Extreme since their debut visit in 2010, furiously outspoken death/grind San Diego outfit Cattle Decapitation have been confirmed to play at Obscene Extreme Festival 2014. Obscene Extreme organisers are proud to welcome the US powerhouse who will take their razor -wire brand of technical death/grind back to Trutnov, Czech Republic to pick up where they left off… filling the pit with teeth, blood and bones. Having set a terrifying new standard with 2012's ‘Monolith Of Insanity’ – a chaotic slaughterhouse floor of chainsaw riffs and bolt gun drumming – Cattle Decapitation are at their absolute best. Obscene Extreme 2014, prepare for the slaughter!!!

Californian Groove Metallers Devildriver are returning to Europe in Spring 2014 for a headline tour that will bring the legendary Metal institution to major cities on the old continent. Along for the ride are support bands Sylosis and Bleed From Within. The tour will kick off on March 27 in Cologne! This tour will be the only chance to catch Devildriver on stage in Europe in 2014! If you want to experience the power of Devildriver live in concert, you must not miss this tour! Please see below for the complete list of dates. Devildriver sixth studio album "Winter Kills" was released in late August 2013 via Napalm Records and was met with overwhelming praise from fans and critics alike. "Winter Kills" debuted at position No. 32 at the US Billboard 200 chart and entered numerous charts in Europe (e.g. No. 24 in Germany, No. 26 in Austria, etc.). Rest assured that the band revolving around legendary frontman Dez Fafara will present a perfect blend of old classics and new tunes at the upcoming dates! Get ready for the most intense Metal experience of 2014! See you in the pit!

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STOODGE MC NULTY SPEAKS TO MIKE FROM

It's been a long time since the mighty Metalcore machine that is Killswitch Engage touched down in Ireland, in fact it's been seven years if our memories serve us well. Stoodge got speaking to Mike D'antonio from the band about having Jesse Leach back on vocals, his graphic design company Darkicon and the bands little excursion to this years Grammy Awards. So Mike, it's good to have you back in Ireland after all this time, how's the hospitality been? Amazing! We love it here, I don't know why we haven't been back in a while but we're happy to be here.

was singing along really fast. That got us extremely psyched. We played in America and it was just, g oing ok, it was a slow build but now it's gotten to a good point. You guys gravitated towards it right away, and that's a very heart warming thing. Thank You!

You played this very venue, I think it was about ten years ago now? Yeah, that's what I thought, it looks very familiar. I think it's changed a bunch too.

In terms of audiences here in Europe compared to those in the States, what's the striking differences from your vantage? The big one is that the crowd is willing to Since then what's been the biggest change in the travel between five and ten hours, where in the band? Apart from the obvious one of course. states they don't want to travel an hour out of their Ah, yeah well Jesse's back now. The band is way. They're really complacent, and there's a lot of feeling better than ever, it's more like band than it shows so they they don't have to go that distance has in a long time and we're all really excited that either. But I feel like the fans here are more motived he's back in the mix. We're able to write some more and just really excited to see you travel over. aggressive tunes these days. Yeah we're pretty dedicated over here. So, what How about the latest material, who's it going about your other band 'Overcast', have you or down with the fans? Brian Fair got anything in the pipeline? It seems to be going well. I know right off the bat that Um no nothing really planned, we actually just played Europe kind of quickly picked up on the record and last weekend. We did just three shows. It stemmed

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from an old friends band called Section 8 who were playing a show in Albany, it was their reunion show, and first in thirteen years. Albany, New York had their own special scene that never really left Albany, it was really big in just that town. It was very strange but this band was doing a reunion show along with three or four other reuniting bands so we thought we'd get on that too. It sounded like a really fun idea and we stayed the whole weekend at it. Brian is living in Missouri now which is a long distance from Massachusetts so we have to make sure to make it worth his while and cover flights and all that type of stuff. We did a nice three day stint and we're talking about doing something, maybe this summer. We'll see.

nomination came up and it's a really cool thing, nothing we ever though would happen but yeah it was daunting and weird, we knew we were never going to win. Black Sabbath were in our category, I mean how the heck are you going to beat Black Sabbath? But yeah it was really cool just to be acknowledged and that sort of thing. Oh, and we had a lot of fun dressing up. The idea behind it was to go somewhere fun and dress up, and that's what we did.

So when you're not making music or playing Bass you're busy with your graphic design company 'Darkicon' can you tell us about that? I started Darkicon as kind of a school project when I was in College. We needed to come up with a whole identity package for a fictitious company, and I was starting my own graphic design business anyway so I kind of rolled it into that and started using all that material, and it's still alive today. Since then I've done loads of different bands stuff, I've done the newest Crowbar, I did the new Unearth, the new Killswitch, I do lots of logos for Shadows Fall, Unearth, All That Remains, I've done stuff for Hatebreed and I just like spreading myself out. It's a really fun thing to do when you're on the road, and helps to forget that you're a long way away from home. There's a lot of time on your hands when you're touring and you just tend to think about “Oh I wish I was with my significant other” or “I wish I had my Dogs around” that sort of thing, so when you bring out the laptop and get into a different World , it really helps you cope.

You're back over in the UK for an exclusive show at this years Download Festival. Besides this show what has the rest of the summer got in store for Killswtich Engage? Um, I'm not sure right now. We're planning out different scenarios and whatever falls into place we'll go with. I know what happens after now, but after then I'm not sure on. I know we are going to do South Africa for the first time, we'll also to heading to Russia. It's kind of a hard thing to pack for, it'll be hot then super cold, but we're excited about that. We'll also to going back to Japan and Australia again which are two of my favourite places on Earth. We've had some fun times there, and always awesome crowds also. After that, then I think we'll be writing a new record. The record company wants us to write one every year now so....we'll see if we can do that. Sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves and it doesn't always work out but we're going to give it the old attempt.

So definitely no hard felling towards Black Sabbath then for lifting the award? Oh no, we love Black Sabbath and we knew they were going to win. There was never a doubt in our minds.

So what would be the Holy Grail for you in terms of doing artwork. Which band would you be like “Oh shit, I'm doing these guys new album”? Metallica would be pretty neat, although I'd imagine they're pretty hard to deal with. I know Megadeth is. But it would be cool to work with any band I listened to as a kid. The Crowbar thing was a proud moment for me, I was super excited to do that. You guy were at the Grammy's on Sunday night, that must have been a fascinating experience? Yeah, we've done it once before and we sore we'd never go again. But the

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Support from: SSS, Divine Chaos and Visceral Attack The Kazimier, Liverpool 31 January 2014 Review and Photos by Lee Walker 12

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After finally finding the Kazimier venue in Liverpool I was immediately reminded of an article that I had read regarding “toilet venues being the back bone of today’s music scene” with the venue itself being fairly innocuous and not looking like a traditional venue at all from the outside (I only knew for definite that I was at the right place when the signage was brought out from within the building and hooked up above the doorway into it). Thankfully once we were inside the venue seemed much bigger on the inside somewhat like the topical Tardis. After chatting with Gama Bomb’s bass monster Joe McGuigan I managed to catch the end of Visceral Attack ‘s brutal set. I don’t know whether it was the early start time, the lack of beer that the crowd had drank when they went on stage or their vocal style differing from that of the other bands but Visceral Attack to me seemed to struggle to get the gathering crowd going despite putting their all into their power packed mix of almost death metal, with the guttural vocals of Chris McCabe contrasting well with the thrash fused twin guitar attack of Adam McCormack and Aidan Ingram. On any other night VA’s performance would have opened up pit after pit but on this night they seemed to struggle to really ignite the crowd that had gathered which was a shame as they deserved a better reception than they received. Next up were Divine Chaos. Technically speaking these guys are the dog danglies right now. Having never heard of them prior to this gig these guys kicked ass and quite frankly blew me away, with their mix of technical thrash metal being heads and shoulders above what you would expect of a band going in at this level in the billing of a tour setting the stage nice for local heroes SSS. Now many many years ago Kerrang! (waaay back while it was a proper magazine) when reviewing Type O Negative’s set at the Monster’s of Rock in 1996 stated that if Type O had gone onto the stage and took a dump then walked off stage the crowd would have gone wild and loved the set, with SSS playing in Liverpool you have a similar thing re-occurring. When I referred to them as being “local heroes” I was pretty much understating the following for this cult band in their home town. Trying to nail down a genre for SSS is nigh on impossible with their “sound” resembling a bastedised mix

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between punk and thrash and well pretty much anything in between. Carcer City might have claimed the “Scouse Metal” tag but these guys don’t care about tags (well to be brutally honest I don’t think they give a fcuk about them), all they care about is creating and playing their own breed of music which is exactly what they do and their set was no exception. They didn’t thrash it up or add anything else to it to try and fit in with the other bands ~ all they did was be… well SSS – unfashionable, uncompromising and yet somehow highly fucking addictive.

close to a thrash fans wet dream lineup) but these Irish boys slid straight back into the type of live form which has seen them play countless gigs as well as gather slots at the likes of Bloodstock, with their high octane, balls out set which read pretty much like a who’s who of the best of their back catalogue of songs with their laid back, tongue in cheek, style of old school thrash bringing a brilliant closing blow to this killer gig which hopefully will kick start the return to Liverpool of gigs of this nature which seem to have sadly been missing as of late. Truth be told if you missed this gig and live in Liverpool then you should feel ashamed of yourself as you missed out on what is easily one of the most kick arse gigs of the year for this city.

In stark comparison tonight’s headliners Gama Bomb take a different approach to their live show. Crowned the “Kings of Nerd Metal” this Irish based take a different track from the bludgeoning approach that many of tonight’s bands take with pyjama clad Philly Byrne being on the charm offensive. It must be a good ouple of years since these guys visited Liverpool (while supporting the mighty Onslaught forming

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So you’re over in the UK with the guys from The Defiled. Have you been to the UK very much up until now? Yeah, I’ve been over as tourist a few times. As a band we came over and played Download Festival a couple of years ago, and we also did a short run with Anthrax too. We’re really excited to be coming back though, as we’ve always had a lot of fans in the UK that have written to us on Twitter and Facebook to say how much they like us. The response to the tour has been great so hopefully a lot of people will show up and we’ll all have a real good time. We’re really excited to meet up with The Defiled too, as we’re all going to be on a tour bus together so that’s going to be an experience. The Butcher Babies get their fair share of bad press, and it seems that a lot of people just don’t take you seriously. How do you guys deal with that? You know people say we get a lot of bad press, but we don’t read a lot into the negativity, so we just don’t bother to read it. There’s so much good press around, so why worry about the bad? We’re always pretty well received. There’s a big article about us in Metal Hammer this month, and there’s also a big article in Revolver right now. We like to pay attention to the good things, and ok maybe people do say bad things about us, you know, when people see two women doing something powerful, they get a little nervous and a little worried and they start to judge. That’s happened to us our whole lives though, and we just don’t pay any mind to it.

the band except these guys, and the way things happened was very organic, the way we work together and write together, so we’ve been really lucky. Some people have said that your vocal styles are quite similar, and that they don’t see the point in having both of you in the band, what would you say to those people? When Heidi and I started the band, it was because we wanted to make music together as best friends. We didn’t know what would happen, or where we’d end up. We thought we’d write some music, play some cool shows, and go out and travel, but the most important thing was that we were going to do it together, whatever happened. Our voices are not actually similar and we both do different things. I do a lot of the low growls and stuff while Heidi does the higher vocals and screams, although we do switch it around sometimes and I’ll do some high screams and Heidi will do low stuff, but our voices fit together in a very unique way, especially on our album Goliath. I think that now we couldn’t imagine doing it without each other.

So when you originally got together, who were the main influences that helped you decide that this was what you wanted to do? We all had different influences. In fact the whole band has different influences. I grew up listening to Maiden, Slayer, old school Metallica, and I absolutely love Pantera. Phil Anselmo was a huge vocal influence on me, and you can tell that in some of the vocal parts I do in the songs. Heidi’s more of a nu metal kid, and was more influenced Do you think that a lot of women in the metal by Korn, Limp Bizkit and Slipknot.In fact that’s world don’t get taken seriously, and have to one thing the whole band has in common. We all work twice as hard as the guys to get the love Slipknot, because they’re very theatrical. same amount of respect? Absolutely. I don’t know why that is, but yeah we Your shows have a reputation as being have to work a lot harder, but when you work theatrical as well, and they’re as much visual twice as hard you develop your own work ethic, as they are musical, is that still relevant? and I don’t know anyone that works as hard as We used to do a lot of visual stuff, you know like Heidi and I, or anyone who is as committed to with blood and body parts, but now we’ve toned our project as we are. It’s hard work, but it’s it down a lot, and what you see is mainly the what we do. band and nothing else. We like it that way, as it’s more intense. It’s still very theatrical though, as So how long have you guys been together? we put all of our emotion into it, and all of our Heidi and I have been working together for energy so it’s still very visual. We’ve been out to around six years now. We were in a cover band see bands that just stand there and play songs, to start with, and that’s how we met. The band so when you come to our shows and see two as a whole has been together for around four girls jumping around and putting on a show, you years now. Heidi and I founded the band, and might think it’s theatrical, but it’s really just us the other guys that we found have been with us. being who we are. We’ve not had any other permanent members in

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Is there any new material on the horizon any time soon do you think? You know, our whole year is pretty much planned out already. It’s crazy. We’re on tour in April in the US with Black Label Society, so we’re really excited to see how that goes, and we’re obviously looking forward to coming to the UK. We’re then going on to do a short run in Europe after that, playing Spain, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands I believe. After that we’re hoping to take some time off to do some writing, and maybe record our second album towards the end of the year. We definitely have some more tours in the works that we can’t really talk about right now. We really want to start writing some new material in the summer though, but who knows what will happen?

together and created something really unique. Our bass player loves old school death metal, I like Pantera and Slayer like I said, Heidi and the drummer love nu metal, and Henry likes experimental music like Meshugga, so what we’ve created together as a team is just something new and fresh, and we’ve put so much passion into it that you can’t deny that from listening to the album, and that’s why you should go buy it.

Are there any tracks on Goliath that are personal favourites, or that mean something very personal to you? Yeah sure, I love Magnolia Boulevard, our latest single, because it’s just a straightforward rock/ metal song, but also because it’s very personal to Heidi and I. The lyrics are about the struggle So is any new material making its way into we had when we first moved to LA, and going the shows yet? through some hard times and getting to where You know, we’ve been touring so much that we we are now. I also love Gasoline, because haven’t had the time to play any of the new stuff although we don’t write too much stuff about we’ve come up with, so we’ve not had the relationships, as we’re not like that, it’s a song chance to work the new material into our set. At about all of the people that tried to hold us back, the same time though, Goliath is still pretty new, and we’ve got to where we are despite that. The and it’s going to be brand new when we hit the Deathsurround is also a great song, and it’s UK and Europe, so we really want to enjoy the great to play live too because people form big moment. It took about four years to record our circle pits in front of the stage and it’s just a debut album, so we just really enjoy playing really cool song. those songs out on tour for ourselves as much as the fans. Do you have anything you’d like to say to the people in the UK that might come to the shows, or might be reading this? Just thank you so much, you know when this band first started we had nothing, but we built up such a huge following on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook just by word of mouth, and we’ve a ton of fans over in the UK that have supported us from the start. You know, without an album or a record label you just followed us around, and showed us so much support and love, so for that we thank you. Also, would you like to tell anyone that hasn’t bought your album yet, why they should go out and get it? You should go out and buy it because it’s a breath of fresh air. To be quite honest, the metal world these days is very corporate, and a lot of stuff has the same sound, and I think that Goliath has given a new voice to metal. Not just because there’s two female vocalists, but because the whole band comes from such different metal backgrounds that we’ve come

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Martin Short's 60 Birthday Badass Bash The Maze, Nottingham - January 18th 2014. Review and Photos by Reg Richardson

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We started with 'Steroid Freak Pussy', eazy, sleazy, lemon squeazy. This four-piece band from Wakefield thrashed out 35 minutes of sleazy rock and roll to set the day off nicely. The set was a mix of old and new material with a couple of covers thrown in for good measure. The set included 'D.O.R.', 'If it ain't broke' and 'Pussy Blowout', all raucous songs! Hello? Did we wake you up? We did, good! Next up were 'Twisted Species' displaying the art of grunge! This was their opportunity to showcase their current album, 'Genus' which they did admirably well throwing in one 'Black Label Society' cover for good measure ('Bleed For Me' from the '1919 Eternal' album). The set was dark and heavy, the crowd loved it and so did Martin. Job done! Time for the lighter side of metal with 'Steel Threads', a folk rock/metal duo from somewhere further North than Nottingham - it was time for some acoustic rock. I saw Neil Wardleworth do a solo set during which he played 'Ace of Spades' with much gusto on an acoustic guitar. Having Laura Wilcockson alongside him on fiddle rounded off a revisiting of the song nicely. This wasn't their only cover, alongside a selection of songs taken from their two albums they also So here I am, back at the Maze, Nottingham for played 'Born to be Wild' with great enthusiasm; a another charity day. This time it's to celebrate the tremendous set enjoyed by everyone. 60th birthday of nice guy Martin Short as well as to generate some funds for two very worthy causes; The Sophie Lancaster Foundation and chART UK. There can't be many rock& metal fans who don't know about Sophie Lancaster and the foundation set up in her name designed to encourage understanding and respect for those who choose to be part of one of the myriad subcultures in our society. chART UK is Children's Hospice Arts, a charity set up to enrich the lives of children in hospices with life-limiting conditions by enabling access to the arts, including creative, literary and performing arts. Both charities are supported by numerous musicians and today was an opportunity to show unilateral support for both. The day included 12 excellent bands, a raffle, much joking about, plenty of liquid refreshment, both alcoholic and otherwise, and the chance to help swell the coffers of two worthy causes. MC for most of the day was Noize Level Critical's David Tonge.

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Fourth on the bill were the colourful 'Dakesis' and I was interested to see how they were getting on without previous frontman Wayne Dorman. I say colourful in the literal sense, the ladies in the band always brighten the stage and as usual it was Gemma sporting the bright blue hair and Amie the bright red hair. Today Gemma was at the front with no keyboards on show and what an excellent set they produced. The emphasis was on songs from their album 'Trial by Fire', fair belted out by Gemma, supported wholeheartedly by the oversized bass of Amie, the guitar of Matt and the timing of Adam on drums. Always popular with the crowds, this was one of the best sets of the day for me. It was time to get 'Kaine'd. This bunch of Essex boys have taken the NWOBHM and brought it bang up to date. They started with 'Entropy' an instrumental track which led into a selection of songs from their two albums, 'Falling Through Freedom' and 'Rock the Castle'. This proved to be another of my favourite sets of the day particularly when the band finished the set with a song that threatened to propel them into the Prog four-piece project a punk injected metal vibe Rock genre, the highly requested 'Witchfinder which works remarkably well and their first outing General' an 8 minute epic of a song, brilliant! of 2014 went down a storm. The set was based on their 2013 album 'Chapter Zero' with six of the We approach half time with a set from 'The songs coming from it, the remaining three songs, Senton Bombs' who gave up the attractions of including the finale 'Jackals', all came from the Blackpool's Golden Mile for the day. This 2012 album 'Gambit'. This band is well worth a listen too, particularly if you're a fan of punk rock. And relax! It's half time. It didn't take long for the break in proceedings to be forgotten as a bunch of lads down from Yorkshire known as 'The Idol Dead' hit the stage running. The band gave a highly energetic set led by hyperactive frontman Polly Phluid. This was good old fashioned rock and the 35 minute set starting with 'Blue Skies' from the 'Dark little Hearts' album and ending with the crowd contributing to 'I.D.O.L.' went over in what seemed like no time at all. Exit 'The Idol Dead', enter 'Psychobabylon'! Another of the brigade of Yorkshire-based rock bands, and one that seems to have grown a significant following. The current line-up contains former members of bands such as 'Phluid', 'Slash Vegas' and 'Velvet Star' who combine to create a strong stage presence. Heavier than 'The Idol Dead', the 'Psychobabylon' lads thumped out a set of seriously good music finishing with the first airing of a brand new song, 'Babylon'.

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the exception of Mez Merrix the drummer, who proceeded to give a drum solo of the highest quality.

The entertainers were next; 'JD & the FDC's' came along to support the causes (as did all the bands of course) and take audience interaction to another level. Plenty of banter and mickey-taking from the bands' frontman Jamie (JD), plenty of effort, plenty of sweat. Jamie's efforts to quieten the restless crowd lasted seconds while his threats did encourage them to sing along; "[JD]Stupid Music........[crowd]Played by Idiots!". A really enjoyable and highly entertaining mix of music, banter and perhaps not so idle threats!

So we reach the end of a very long day of music and mirth as 'Exit State' get on stage. I've seen these a few times and they never disappoint. This is straight up rock, nothing fancy. The band are in the Rocksector Records fold and are patrons to chART UK. They say that their influences include iconic bands such as 'Nirvana', 'Pantera', 'Led Zeppelin' and the 'Foo Fighters' and that strong rock grounding comes across in their music. The majority of the set was taken from their 2013 album 'Let's See it All' and included 'Crystalline' a song originally released by the band in 2013 with all proceeds going to chART UK. The only band to do an encore, they treated the remaining die-hard fans to 'Death of a Rockstar'.

That was it, the day had finished and the remaining few traipsed out of the door weary but well entertained. Congratulations must go to Martin Short who put the show together and who couldn't stop the tears flowing at the end (the big 'Babylon Fire' were up next, this was a set of soft bugger), it was a well organised day demolten metal! I'm a traditional, straight up and signed not only to celebrate his 60th birthday but down rock fan, growing up with the likes of 'Deep also to support some very worthy charities. The Purple', 'Black Sabbath' and 'Led Zeppelin' so downside of the day was that he had his car modern metal doesn't always sit well with me towed by the very nice (not) people of probably because I don't understand it. Having Nottingham council, but that still didn't dampen said that the music from 'Babylon Fire' was very the event in any way. Well done Martin....oh, and good indeed, it was heavy, dark and infectious happy birthday mate! with Mark D's industrial strength vocals leading the way supported by great riffs and hooks from Rishi Mehta glued together by the drumming of Mark Cooper and bass of Ryk Swillo. This was an opportunity to showcase the bands' 'Dark Horizons' album, an opportunity they took maximum advantage of. Time for a much more light-hearted set of music, 'Captain Horizon' have arrived. This is one very accomplished band, thoroughly entertaining, throwing out quality music. Led from the front by Steve 'Whitty' Whittington, the band stomp through songs from their debut album, 'The Lights of Distorted Science' with new material thrown in for good measure. As usual both Whitty and bass player Alex Thompson go walkabout through the crowd allowing the crowd, if they want to, to touch their heroes.....nah, they're all sweaty like! In a move from the norm the band finished 'Radiostasis' from the 2011 EP of the same name by all leaving the stage, with

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Lee speaks to Joe of

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The last time I saw you in Liverpool you were supporting Onslaught. What have you been up to since then? Well that was 2011 We did a lot more touring for our last album and changed our record company and changed our guitar player and changed our singers vocal cords and brought out a new album so we have been pretty busy. How’s has the tour been going so far? Really good. We brought SSS over to Ireland in 2010 we are good friends with them and have known them for ages. That noise you hear in the background is Visceral Attack who are from Ireland as well so we brought them out to support us. The tour is going really good. We had one hundred and fifty people in Glasgow last night, which for a Thursday night was pretty good. We were in York the night before that and had one hundred people. We hadn’t done a UK tour in two years so we are surprised that we are getting such good turnouts. LW: Yes but you played Bloodstock Joe: Yes – we played 2013 but we were on pretty early How did you feel your set went? Were you happy with it? Yes – we are trying to do as many songs as we possibly can. Luckily all of our songs are only around 2 and a half minutes long so its easy to do that. We are playing twenty two to twenty three songs a show at the minute and trying to do lots of songs from the new album as well as songs from the old one (‘Tales From The Grave In Space’). For Tales we did five UK tours so we have played that album enough. How has your new album gone down? It has been really good. Its good to get reviews and for people tell you that it was at the top of our game. We live in a really small box musically. There’s no clean acoustic guitars or keyboards or anything so there are only certain things we can do so it’s all about not trying to change the style but do the same type of music better . You are being labelled as the ‘Kings of Geek Metal’. What ‘s all that about? We write songs about nerdy stuff, just geeky stupid stuff like computer games and cartoons from the 80s back when we were kids. I’m very happy with that title though because most people are geeks you know. Anyone who likes heavy metal is in some way a geek or a nerd so for people to call us the ‘Kings of Geek Metal’ is very flattering.

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Your press release makes reference to your “metal commandments” such as prohibiting ballads and acoustic intros If you had to make your own Gama Bomb commandments what would they be? No clean guitars No synthesisers or keyboards No beats that are under 150 bpm No downtuned guitars No growling No drinking cans of Carling or Tennants What would you say that your greatest achievement as a band has been to date? We have done tones of legitimately cool stuff like playing the Whiskey A Go Go and playing South America and all that type of shit. I guess though we are the first band ever to release an album for free while signed to a label. The thing that I am most proud of though is writing songs that can stand up just as well as songs from the 80s. What do you have planned for the rest of the year? Another European tour, a South American tour and we have been offered to do another UK tour around Christmas time. I don’t know if we are going to be doing Bloodstock again this year but we might be doing Sonisphere. That’s all I know (laughter). Final question. Do you have any messages that you want to pass onto your fans? Thank you very much for supporting us, keep downloading our music and coming to our gigs.

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Since 1996 'The Lord Weird' Slough Feg have been regaling us with such tales as 'Galactic Nomads' 'The Great Ice Wars' and 'Traders and Gunboats'. Now, that we inhabit this planet in the Star Trek age, the attention of Slough Feg's frontman Mike Scalzi has been turned to a 'Digital Resistance'. Can humanity stand up together and get itself out of this zombified drone age, and survive? We'll let the bands doctor Frankenstein tell you himself. You can get the new Slough Feg album 'Digital Resistance' from 18th February via Metal Blade Records.

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So Mike, the reason this interview is happening is to discuss your new album 'Digital Resistance'. Can you tell us a little about the record and give us some background on the title of the record? It's about exactly what it sounds like, a resistance to digital technology and what it's doing to the human mind (and perhaps body). It’s weird what’s happening. This new generation of 20 year olds don’t feel the need to rebel the way we did. They are more complacent, which scares me. They seem content to just stare at screens all day. I find this somewhat disturbing - growing up for my generation compared to being an ‘adult’, and seeing kids grow up in this new technological generation. We are getting lazy and slothful and quite ‘flabby’ as a species, physically and mentally. Perhaps this is inevitable for some. But I certainly don’t want to go that way myself. I don’t have all the answers, but I would hope that my music would make people get off their asses and simply assert themselves. Do something with yourself!! As far as I can tell my generation, who grew up in the eighties really, were still sort of part of the 50’s and 60’s rebellious youth groups. We still had a a lot in common with them, compared to today’s kids, who seem to have very little to rebel against. So I will rebel against them!!! It’s the kind of the reverse of the way it has been for so long - now the adults are rebelling against the kids!!! I have no doubt that digital technology will in fact find its way eventually into our biology, and already has found its way into our mentality, but maybe that’s inevitable, and maybe it can be seen as quite natural. It’s going to happen so why fight it? Well, I guess because it seems like the right thing to do - Maybe we’re all destined to become stupid drone-clones. So be it. I don’t know if this classifies as a “glimmer of hope”, but what the hell, life’s too short to get paranoid about this stuff.

survival. No one's getting any happier as far as I can see with all this 'convenience". people are just trying to make money by coming up with all these contraptions, and everyone else is just buying them up because they want to keep up with the Jones. It's Pretty goddamn stupid. Of course I use technology myself, I'm doing it right now, so who am I to talk, but the difference is I USE technology. It doesn't USE ME!!! TECHNOLOGY IS MY BITCH!! In terms of the lyrical content on 'Digital Resistance' did you create stories perspectively or it is strictly fantasy and fiction? Well, like I just said, a lot of it isn't fiction, it's my opinion on things going on in the world now. But there are some stories as well, that aren't based on reality, and then some stuff that just doesn't mean anything. Listen to 'Laser Enforcer' and try to tell me what it is about. I dare you. I mean, I've never known a hit man as far as I know, but there's a song about on the album. From all of the stories, tales and concepts that you've dealt with over the years is there one in particular in which you'd love to go and be apart of? Maybe science can develop a casual time machine sometime soon. I don't know, that sounds so far fetched that its hard for me to take the idea seriously enough to tell you where Id' go. I guess back to per-historic times, although admittedly that would probably a bit uncomfortable. I guess it depends on how long I'd have to stay there!! Or maybe I'd go back and talk to Socrates!! Or maybe back to the KIT festival in 2005 and play a tighter set!!

I know a few story-telling bands that have unique preparation routines before entering the studio. Any traditions of Slough Feg that you can tell us about? None. unless you're talking about the vocals. I always get this feeling of entering another When I'm recording vocals I go on a bike-ride World or realm when listening to your before I go into the studio to clear out my albums, this new one is no different. Is there sinuses, I try to go about five or ten miles, up an element of loosing yourself, or finding hills, etc. so I get a clearer sound going in. I've yourself I should say, when recording or had much trouble with this over the years, and it performing Slough Feg material? gets worse the older I get. I never could sing I suppose. I try to loose myself in the music, but high, but now I can hardly sing clearly. This is a really this is a question for the listener to answer, real problem and I'm trying to find ways to deal if they loose themselves then I suppose I've done with it, but traditionally metal singers don't usually my job. Who the hell doesn't want to escape from age well. Otherwise nothing, we just go in and the boring, tedious everyday life they live. It's play, and try to make sure we're prepared really quite sad when you think about how musically. divorced our daily lives have become from basic

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This is also your first album with Metal Blade records. Was there any change or difference on how you approached this album with it being on a major label? Well, last I heard Metal Blade was not a major label, but no, it has not change the album making process in any way. The promotion is a bit heavier though, which is good ( I think). I wanted to make sure, before we signed, that they understood what kind of record we were going to make. I was afraid they would want another Traveller record or Down Among the Deadmen. I wanted to make sure they understood that we don’t make normal, standard metal records - and try to do something new each time - since the reason we were never signed to Metal Blade earlier is because our sound was considered “unmarketable”, and it probably was. But the market is changing. So they agreed that we should continue with our own style and do something different, but Slough Feg-ish. So we did, and that’s what you’re hearing. I must say they have been very easy to work with so far, and willing to let us be who we are. As far as more money, budget, etc. goes, that remains to be seen. We got about the same budget for Digital Resistance as we got for the last couple records—which is enough. I don’t see making too much more money with any album we do, in the current market— the days of moving to stardom, or even material success by playing

metal are pretty much over I believe. Getting to a larger audience I think is the best you can hope for, and that’s what it’s really about anyway. I’d love to make money at it, but I sure as hell am not going to stop if I’m not making any - or change the way I play. For people picking up their first Slough Feb album with 'Digital Resistance' which other past recordings should they investigate? Down among the Deadmen, Twilight of the Idols, and the first album. In terms of the Slough Feg destiny, do you see yourselves flying the flag for older folk bands like The Horslips and Jethro Tull? Maybe, but I don't consider us very folk influenced. I never have listened to folk music, and know next to nothing about it. I like Horslips, but I'm not a big Jethro Tull fan. But I don't consider those guys folk bands anyway. We're just a metal band, and some of our riffs are very Irish/Nordic sounding, like a lot of other bands. But this is more the influence of Maiden than anything - when I was 19 I was trying to sound like Iron Maiden, but I realized that they had already exhausted a lot of riff ideas - I had to come up with something a little different to make my songs unique, so I gravitated towards major-key metal riffs, with the same sort of maiden-esque swing to them. that's about it, but then people started telling me it wounded like Irish Folk, which I knew absolutely nothing about. I started to listen to Thin Lizzy's "Black Rose" then, and I realized that other bands had done this before. But up until that point I had no idea of folk-metal. I was just trying to write catchy metal riffs that were fun to play. Any tour plans in the pipeline for later in the year? Europe in may/June for just a couple of weeks. a festival in Sweden, and some other stuff, hopefully in Italy.

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As the impending doom of Monday morning draws closer, the hearty Manchester Academy crowd exude a ‘no fucks given’ approach to this Sunday evening as they eagerly await a night of high octane metal.

disregard Ryan heads straight into the middle of the pit where he sings pretty much the entire song, as revelers bask in his presence. What a set, what a band, Soil brought their A game tonight.

As Soil take to the stage it’s immediately evident that the Chicago hard rockers have a decent fan base present, as they begin with Breaking Me Down the crowd vocally expresses their joy to have such a great band in the support slot. And what a great, in my opinion extremely under rated band they are. Original singer Ryan McCombs returned to the lineup in 2011, and the way in which he engages with the crowd as a front man it’s hard to imagine how the band functioned without him. Tracks such as Loaded Gun and Hate Song from their latest release Whole, demonstrate that Soil are more than a one album wonder (I am of course referring to 2001’s Scars) and have so much to offer as a band. A cover of Black Betty incites a surge of energy through the crowd, as the vast majority clap their hands and belt out the lyrics to the Ram Jam classic.

The levels of excitement sky rocketed as AC/DC Thunderstruck came blaring out, followed by a remix of the Imperial March as Skindred take to the stage to a very welcoming crowd. Kicking off proceedings with one of their most well known tracks Rat Race, the Welsh ragga metal superstars are on fire tonight. A band held in high regard for their live performances, Benji Webbe is thrilling to watch, his interaction with the crowd is hugely effective and not a single person is stood still at any point.

Other fan favourites such as Doom Riff, Nobody and Stand for Something whip the crowd into a frenzy, even new tracks from their latest album Kill the Power and Ninja are received as classics despite being fresh material. A constant bounce emanates from the crowd for the entirety of the set and the general giddiness is infectious. While not necessarily being a band I would sit at home As I have mentioned there is more to Soil than and listen to, their ability as live performers is their most popular release Scars, however each without a doubt impressive. Concluding with and every person in the venue is chomping at the Warning as well as initiating the ‘Newport bit to hear the song we all know and love, Halo. Helicopter’ (for those unaware, swinging a Mitch Gable who is on skin bashing duty this tour garment above your head) I left the venue feeling gets things started with the unmistakable drum like I hadn’t just been to a gig, but been part of intro as the crowd for no better words ‘lose their something incredible. shit.’ What a special moment it is, and it’s not just the crowd getting carried away, with complete

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By Stoodge Mc Nulty

Recently signed to Candlelight Records, Dublin's Coldwar are preparing to release the next chapter of their pro-human, anti-religious agenda with 'Pantheist'. Stoodge got speaking to the bands frontman Trevor about the forthcoming album, their recent merging with Candlelight records and what the future has awaiting for the band.

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How's things hanging Trevor? All good So guys, you recently signed for Candlelight Records. Was there an embargo on the announcement or was it like "shit that was a gratifying phone call, time to let the World know"? We signed with Candlelight in November, but chose to remain silent until now, because there was little point in going public until artwork and a release date was finalized.

colonization of territories, and the breaking of human spirit. All of these could be classified as negative aspects of the destructive forces we have come to know as organised religions, On the flip side of Pantheist, as an album we celebrate the concept of spiritual liberty, which we view as being a polar opposite to the moral bondage which comes hand in hand with any of the Abrahamic faiths.

What about your own beliefs, would you call yourself an atheist or an anti-theist? I know there's a thin line but anti-theists can still Any sudden changes in the Coldwar camp believe in an afterlife, just not in one where since the signing of the contract with CR? you'll be sharing a urinal with Jesus. There have been no changes in the Coldwar camp I recognize the universe as God therefore, since our signing to Candlelight. technically I’m classifiable as an atheist. You've been together for 15 years, is there a feeling that your work hard has paid off in anyway now? Yes , Coldwar sound has changed since it begin , Heavier and more dynamic with every release . But the ethos of the band has not change in the slightest. We view it as a tension release. The rewards are in the music 15 years is a long time but time flies when your having fun. Your upcoming album 'Pantheist' can you tell us a little about that? The writing for Pantheist started around late 2012 the album was sort of musically moulded by around February 2013, but vocally-lyrically we played about a little more then usual and finalized the shape of the songs in studio, which was exciting, to say the least. ‘Pantheist’ was record at Track Mix Studios in Dublin with Michael Richards between June and August of 2013. We really enjoy recording in track mix studios. Michael really knows his stuff and he managed to capture Coldwar at our very finest to date. It was a pleasure working with him. We could really feel something kind of special or uplifting for want of a better word, whilst recording ‘Pantheist’. We know its natural to feel as though you’re on a high when recording new material, but this felt very different, and still does.

What's your personal stance on the practice of religion and should it be taught in schools? Should it maybe could with an age restriction like Tobacco and Alcohol? I’m not of the belief that religion should be taught in schools, It should be left outside, it causes too many problems, I also find it alarming the emerging tendency within the secular society to disallow the right of the individual to exhibit religious identity. You guys have any touring or debauchery planned for the summer months? With the release due on the 28th of April. We plan to do shows in the U.K. during the summer and a tour too follow in Europe . The only gig in Ireland this year booked is the pre release gig on the 26th of April in Dublin. Venue and Supports T.B.C. Well guys, best of luck with the album. For those that haven't heard you yet, what are they missing? Coldwar are a collective of individuals that play heavy and dark music with a touch of class and quality, Hear for yourself, Heart of Darkness on Candlelight stream on soundcloud or visit us on our ‘thisiscoldwar’ Facebook Page

How about the lyrical content on the record, have you went down the same road as past releases? I'd assume by the title that religion and belief is certainly the apex of the lyrical concentration. The lyrical content of Pantheist touches various areas some of which being the potential darkness of the soul, horrific consciousness spawning from

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Stoodge Speaks to Jens Finger from

Consisting of the duo of Jens Finger and Bernd Reiners, Slaughterday bring everything you love about old-school Death Metal into the new age, and their latest album 'Nightmare Vortex' kicks the shit out of everything you hate. Jens speaks to Stoodge about life as being part of the twoFirebrand piece Death AfterMetal Dark outift. 36

Hey Jens, how have things been with you lately? Thanks, we are very happy with the positive reactions to the album. We never never expected such an overwhelming response. I reviewed your debut album 'Nightmare Vortex' back in issue 6. I described the record by saying "the arrival of this release will have fans of Entombed and Autopsy feeling as blissful as a caveman having found a hole in the ground" do you agree with what I said? I don't know much about cavemen, but I think, you got it right! Autopsy is of course our biggest influence, alongside with Massacre, Death and Finnish Death Metal. Actually, in our eyes the Swedish influence isn't that big, but there are worse bands that one can be compared with! Your name Slaughterday I assume is taken from the track of the same name from Autopsy's 1991 album 'Mental Funeral', could the Slaughterday sound be said to be something that's organically Teutonic but has a lust for old-school US Death metal? You are right with the assumption of the origin of the band's name. The idea came up at an Autopsy gig, where Chris Reifert announced they were going to play the song “Slaughterday” for the second time. That was probably a sign. I'm not really sure, what “organically Teutonic” should be. To us “Teutonic” stands for bands like Running Wild, Grave Digger and so on. Those bands are definitely not the ones we want to be standing in a row with. I guess in other countries the German Death Metal scene today may be seen differently. So, the album has been out via FDA Rekotz for a couple of months now. How's it been checking up on all the reviews and feedback post release? Great, as I mentioned before. That's the only good reason to have facebook account as a band.

maybe don't like. And the rehearsals are very relaxed, no waiting around for the bass player, haha! Jens, you were playing guitar in Obscenity before Slaughterday came about. Now you're also playing Bass, was your ability as being a multi instrumentalist one of the ice breakers for getting together with Bernd and what were your plans when you first got together back in 2010? For me it was not a big problem playing bass. I did it before on one album, but I must admit, it's not as easy as it looks sometimes. For some Thrash or brutal Death Bands the bass guitar may not be very important, but when you want to play this groovy stuff, the bass plays a greater role. What Bernd did, was absolutely great. He never had a drumkit and only played on his brothers kit sometimes. We are close friends for many years now, and after I quit Obscenity, we wanted to jam, maybe write some Old School Death Metal songs. So Bernd borrowed an old kit from former Obscenity drummer Marc-Andree Dieken and we just started. Neither me nor Bernd knew if this would work, but after our first rehearsal we had a finished song! Will you be auditioning for permanent members or will you be looking for touring players in the future? We already found some friends who help us out when we play live. These guys played together in 'Ingurgitating Oblivion' and are great musicians. Bernd only plays drums. Therefore Ulli Kreienbrink sings. But they're only touring with us and they also have their own bands. Well guys, thanks a lot of doing this interview. Where and when will we be hearing from the juggernaut that is Slaughterday again? We are planning to release a MCD in summer/fall this year with 4 tracks that were not on the album and of course we hope to be able to play some more shows.

With you guys being a two piece there must be a few pros and cons that come along now and then right? For me this is the best constellation one can have. Bernd and I share the same views on what the riffs, the structure of the songs and the atmosphere should be like. Being the only guitar player in the band of course makes it sometimes hard to write all or most of the riffs. On the other hand there's no other guitarist writing riffs, that I

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Stoodge Chats to Ryan and Rafay Yeah, these guys have an awesome name right? They can also make a hell of a combustion in the studio. Ryan (Vocals, Bass) and Rafay (Guitar) tell Stoodge everything that's to know about Atlanta's tripod of terror. Apparently Rafay has the biggest balls in the band too.

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So guys, tell us a bit about the band, your name and which one of you has the biggest balls? Ryan – Hey dude! We started Spewtilator back in ’07 for the sole purpose of playing house parties and drinking free beer… and we’ve been pretty successful so far! I hate trying to describe what kind of band we are but basically we play thrashing death metal that incorporates elements from grindcore, punk, and other fast shit we’re stoked on. Rafay’s balls are pretty big, I haven’t seen Amos’ (yet) but Raf is def a contender. I’ve played many-a show and recorded vocals in the nude so if how many people have actually seen your balls is a factor then I probably win by default.

a full length, as we recorded all the tracks at the same time, but Sam/Boris Records wanted to do an EP so we split the stuff up into two separate releases. Rafay - Yeah, when we had recorded the “Inhale Awaits” EP, we had intended to record for a full length. Everything on the upcoming “Goathrower” EP was recorded during the same sessions. As far as labels go, it was a lot easier and a lot more fruitful for all parties involved to have Sam at Boris Records release it as two separate 7”s.

Yeah, all these EP's and split tapes are all well and good, but when listening its kind of like having sex while wearing two condoms. Maybe it's time almost time for Spewtilator to rip off the protection and delve into a full 'Goathrower' is a fine name for an EP. Is there length album bareback? a personal reason why you went with this Ryan - I’ve always been a proponent of leaving title? Please say there is. the listener wanting more, both in the live show Ryan - A story about one of us throwing a goat and on record. One of my biggest pet-peeves is in some sort of drugged-out adventure would be seeing a band play live and them playing too a way cooler story but I can’t even remember long. Everyone has experienced it, the band how we came up with the name anymore. We finishes a cool song and it just feels like the right constantly renamed the songs we were working time for their set to be over, just enough to get on with stupider and stupider titles at practice so you stoked without getting bored, and you’re like it was probably the result of a bad pun or some- ‘fuck yeah, that ruled’ and then the singer is like thing. I do remember joking about what the song “Alright, we’ve got three more songs for you!” and would be about… some super burly warrior dude you’re just like FUCK. I hate that shit and I’ve who didn’t even use weapons to fight, he would never wanted to be that band. Same thing with just pick up goats and chuck them at people… listening to a band on record. I’d much rather then there was something about our buddy someone be like “fuck, I wish there was more!” Tommy not even having parents or ever having than “fuck, I don’t want to listen to this anymore!” been a baby and just bursting out of a tree at his That being said, I’d love to do a full album, but current age… it’s all a bit hazy. The song ended definitely at 45 rpm and like 20 minutes tops up being about Tommy being a wizard and haha! conjuring hellish fiends from the pit and causing Rafay - Bareback is always nice, this is true, butt posers to spontaneously burst into flames. Real we’ve always preferred to dangle the steak in high art shit. front of the dogs and let them chase after us, as Rafay - Ironically enough, Tommy works at the it were. This has been the case with our High Museum of Art here in Atlanta, so there ya’ releases, as well as a lot of our merchandise, go. Total master. where we’d almost always press nothing but one-off t- shirt designs, or limited release You guys originally formed in 2007 yet still no patches, etc. Gotta’ keep people wanting more. full length releases. Any major reason behind not having an album out yet? You come from Atlanta, Georgia, how do the Ryan - A big part of it was the kinda tenuous locals find the anomaly that is Spewtilator nature of the band after that first cassette. We when you're on the live circuit? were working in spurts amid periods of inactivity, Ryan - Atlanta has a killer metal and punk scene ‘last’ shows, lineup changes, and other right now! So many killer bands playing a bunch responsibilities so the time-spans where we were of different styles and it rules! There’s even been actively writing and compiling music was never a couple bands flirting with grindcore popping up really long enough to put together a full album which is a REAL anomaly down here, though worth of music at a time. I suppose technically they’re closer to powerviolence than I’d prefer, between the Inhale Awaits EP and the it’s still cool to see folks down here wanting to Goathrower EP we did have enough material for play fast instead of all the boring stoner sludge

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crap the south is known for. We’ve got a few good spots in town doing metal shows regularly… 529 Bar, The Earl, Drunken Unicorn, Wonderroot… there’s a few more. There’s actually an Atlanta metal forum loosely affiliated with one of the radio stations in town that keeps a solid list of local shows going - http://forum.atlantametal.net/ Rafay - When we first started, we were playing the now infamous 585 Wells Street Warehouse (PS Warehouse) religiously. That was hands down the best venue Atlanta has ever had. Total DIY nonsense that actually worked really well. All the dudes who ran the place were super cool, and everyone who came to the shows almost always had a great attitude and an awesome time. I can’t even begin to tell you how many insane sets we played and the amount of absolutely ridiculous shit we got away with there. A lot of the Atlanta bands, namely the majority of the Boris Records roster, started out at the PS Warehouse and have swarmed the city all over again in their own rights. Like Ryan said, it’s really nice to see so many fast bands that we’ve been friends with and have shared the stages with playing and doing well in a city/area known for sludge and stoner metal.

enjoy and are appreciative towards crazy shit. Any movie or book recommendations for us to check out? Ryan - Everyone needs to see shit like Street Trash, Braindead, Cannibal Ferox, I Drink Your Blood, The Thing, Zombie, Re-Animator, Night of the Creeps, The Stuff etc. The more gruesome, over-the-top gore, and gross out stuff the better!! I got hooked on Troma’s stuff pretty early… The Toxic Avenger films, Class of Nuke Em High, Surf Nazis Must Die… and just haven’t looked back. Not necessarily ‘crazy’ but Rafay and I are both total junkies for The Legend of Drizz’t series by R.A. Salvatore. Rafay - What Ryan said, 100%.

For the readers that haven't checked you out yet, what are they missing? Ryan - Permanent ear damage! I’d like to think we have a pretty unique sound among our peers. When we started, the whole retro-thrash thing was in full force, but aside from having generally un-serious lyrical themes and obviously loving thrash metal we didn’t really fit in with those bands. So many of them were just kinda blatantly rehashing the 80’s sound… same thing with the current wave of osdm bands… we all love old The B-52's are from Georgia too right? Could death metal and so elements from that stuff are we see you guys on the road with them or incorporated into our sound but I get stoked on REM if they ever reform? That tour would way too many different kinds of fast music to not make for some epic diversity wouldn't it? incorporate elements from everything into what Ryan - Both those bands are from Athens which we do. It’s super cliché to say ‘we play what we is a college town about 70 miles east of Atlanta want to hear’ but it’s true. I love fast shit… thrash, where generally anything musical deserves to die death metal, grindcore, old hardcore, punk… why in a fire. Playing our shit to the kind of crowd not play it all at once? REM would draw would be hilarious but I’m not Rafay - If you like fast music and short songs, enough of a masochist to subject myself to you’ll probably like us. Give us a listen, would having to hear that crap every night. ya’? I will put my house on the fact that you dudes

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Metal vids to sink your teeth into

1 2 3 4 5

Happy Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Psychostick Severed Kerbdog Essense - Feat Whitfield Crane of Ugly Kid Joe Sight Of Emptyness

Foehammer Conan Victimiser Absolva Firebrand After Dark

Lee Walker Speaks to Mark Appleton the man behind

www.mwaweb.com/rocksector.htm 42

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What prompted you to start Rocksector Records? Having been involved with band management & band promotion for a while there was a frustration with what was available from other labels so I though I'd do the job myself. Why not!?

If you could work with one band that is not currently on the Rocksetcor rosta who would it be? Iron Maiden.

What does 2014 have in store for Rocksector? Our priority for 2014 is to increase the number of If you had to sum up Rocksector Records in a releases we do in the year compared to previous sentence what would it be? years. I'm 99.99% sure we'll achieve that Rocksector is a hard working, open & honest objective. We've increased the team a little just label, with an extremely fair deal for bands. recently & that already looks like a really smart move. As an independent record label what are the biggest obstacles that you come across and Are there any messages that you would like how do you overcome them? to pass on to the Firebrand readers? Cashflow is difficult. I've put a lot of money into Sincerely thank you to those of you that take an this business over the years & taken very little interest in this interview and/or what we do in out. We're expanding currently & it's tough to pay general. We're a group of people that simply love the wages & other costs prior to receiving the music & absolutely love what we do. There are benefit of extra income. We're doing it though! people/magazines out there that will tell you that record labels are dead, that albums are dead. Looking through the current Rocksector Don't believe the hype - it's obviously all rosta, you seem to have a very varied split in changed, the industry has changed, the terms of the genres of bands that you have on marketplace is smaller but it's very much alive & board. Was it you intention to cultivate such kicking, you just need to know where to look. a diverse range of bands? To be honest I don't think the split is as varied as you may think. In the main we operate in a reasonably narrow field between classic rock & classic metal. There are one or two exceptions such as the death metal of Incassum & the alternative sounds of Fantasist & Captain Horizon but in the main I think we stick within a field we know & love. In terms of the bands that you work with what do you look for in them? We look for bands that are as hard working & committed as we are, talented, in the genres we normally choose & with people involved that we think we can work with. They normally need to be able play live frequently as we believe that is undoubtedly the best way to help promote a band & its' music. Which band has been your favourite to work with? It's impossible for me to choose one.

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Stoodge Catches Up With Hiran of

For a few years now, Detroit's Battlecross have been slaying stages all over the US and Canada. Now on the back of their monstrous second album 'War of Will' it's time for these gentlemen to rip up Europe also. On tour with Killswitch Engage, Trivium and Miss May I will certainly assist the hard working blue collared metallers in spreading their seed. Stoodge caught up with Hiran Deraniyagala backstage at the Limelight in Belfast to discuss the bands approach to their first European shows and how important keeping a healthy connection with fans really Firebrandis.After Dark

Hiran, this is the first ever Battlecross european tour, in fact you played your first show on this continent in Dublin last night. How excited are the band to have gotten this far? Hiran, We're extremely excited, we've been waiting to come over to Europe for a long time, we've been touring for three years now in the states and in Canada so it's really good to get over here. So far so good also, we played the show in Dublin last night and everyone was super cool, the crowd seemed to love it so hopefully it keeps falling like that on the rest of the tour.

Will' onto the audiences? Yeah, it's going to be a mixture, no one here has seen us live yet so it would be unfair to discard the older stuff. Last night and tonight we're getting more stage time, because we're direct support for Killswitch we've got an extra couple of songs on the setlist. Once we jump on with Trivium and Miss May I, I think our set is going to get a little smaller because we'll have less time, which is fine. I think being over here we're trying to make it so the crowd gets a taste of both albums and at the same time leave fans wanting more.

How would you describe the bands sound Are there any aspects of the tour that you're and style and where does it sit on the really looking forward too over here? evolutionary table of Metal? I think just getting out and playing the shows and Um, I'd say we are predominately thrash, I mean meeting new fans. There's been such a buzz that's where the element of our music kind of from Facebook and Twitter from fans over here comes from. There's definitely different styles that have been wanting to see us, so I'm just mixed in there, Tony and I both come from a looking forward to meeting all of them and more old-school thrash background so there's a playing new venues. It's already been and is lot of those influences in there. We do like to mix going to be a whole new experience for us. I'm in all different styles, death metal and everything just exciting about seeing what the crowds are else that just comes out of us when we write. going to be like and we've heard so many good We don't like to put a limit on what a song has to things about playing in Europe, so it'll be be like, we just write and we build off of it. interesting to see how it goes. Thankfully we all have a very diverse taste in music so we try to mash that all together and it's Any sightseeing planned or are you stuck to not just one guy that writes all the songs, a strict schedule? everyone tries to collaborate and we try to work Um yeah, as much as we can get in I suppose. together and to me that's the best way to do it. We got in the day before yesterday we got to go We just go in with feeling and go with it, and to some pubs and stuff like that. We'll see as whatever feels right or sounds right and what much as we're can, when we're not held down at just naturally comes out is what we go for. the venue or stuff like that. What's been the major changes in the band How are you guys approaching these habits over the last couple of years, have shows? I mean every night is going to be a you got a different vantage of how the brand new crowd, so you're telling them the industry works now? story right? Everything is a learning experience and as far As far as what we do, I don' think we'll be trying as being a musician goes I practice a lot more anything different. We just want to give them the now than I used to. I try to do that every day and same experience as everybody else and it's just as far as touring you just learn so much. As going to be a high energy show. We're a pretty much fun as we have and we love what we do, high energy band so when we get up there we we also have to keep a serious approach about don't just stand there, we get into what we do so what we do. The priority is getting everything hopefully the crowd can feed off what we do and done and making sure we have everything in get rowdy. We're hoping to go out there and hit line. As a band from the local scene going to this them hard, that's kind of our goal. No BS, no you learn to deal with the punches, sometimes gimmicks, we get go out there and kick some bad things happen and you just have to roll with ass, that's about it. it. You can have vehicle break downs and all that and it might seem like your day is ruined but In regards to the set-list on the tour, you've you still have to work sure you're at that venue released two albums so will it be a mixture or that night, and that's the most important thing for will you be throwing the latest one 'War of us, playing for those fans.

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You do have to be prepared for those kind of things and when the worst comes to the worst you just have to fight through it and go out there and kick ass. As long as you go up there and do your best, even if there is a fuck up here and there as as long as you give your all then people are going to walk away appreciating you.

use it to your advantage. A lot of bands are doing that now and it helps. Beyond that also there's the actual shows. We don't just play a show and hang about backstage, we come out and hang around with the fans, we want to meet everybody, shake hands and take pictures, sign things. That to me is just as important as social media because people really do appreciate that, You guys are also devout advocates of the I mean they're paying money to come and see social media age, how important is it to you you and buy your stuff, the least you can do is to interact with your fans on the like of thank them personally. There's been bands that Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? have done that without social media, Pantera for I think it's really important, the way everyone is example. They went out and toured and met online now and connected in that way, we're so fans, and that's how they really grew as a band, much into this technology age now. Everybody is people loved them because of ow they were. on there and if you're not on there then you're Dimebag would come out and hang with fans missing out on people hearing about your band, and sign things, it's about being apart of it's basically free promotion. Of course not something and for something so little it has big everyone is online so by going online you still rewards for everyone involved, the fans included have to do the work outside of that also. So yeah in that. it's a pretty important thing, as least for us it is anyway. You know it's not only about posting You must get some crazy ass requests and stuff but interacting with your fans and talking to messages though when leaving yourselves them and it's about making that connection. open like that online. When people connect with us and we connect Yeah it happens man. You get a lot of people with them, it's a really cool thing. I think people that do that and you just have to give them the are more likely to become a fan if they know that best answer without coming across as a prick. I they can talk to a band whenever. There was a try not to but sometimes you get requests like time when people felt very disconnected from â&#x20AC;&#x153;can you share my band page?â&#x20AC;? and it's like well bands and it was almost like everyone was no I can't. I'm going to have to share anyone's untouchable, but now with social media it's band page on there if I did that, it's things like impossible to get away from it. Everyone has that you just have to shrug off. Sometimes camera phones also so they're taking pictures people will get angry and I'm sorry that you're and posting them to you. You can't get away upset but we do our best. It happens man, from the public eye now, so you have to be there there's crazy people everywhere out there man. and in a way you just have to embrace that and

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One of the things that we at Firebrand After Dark have noticed is that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always give credit where it is due to the artwork which accompanies the albums. We would like to address by bringin to you, what the team feel are the best 5 covers of the material which we have reviewed this month. If you have any comments about them please feel free to tweet us @fbadmag, comment on Facebook /FirebrandAfterDark or email us at afterdark@firebrandrr.co.uk

Kuolemanlaakso Tulijoutsen

Nervosa Victim Of Yourself

Vornth Vornth

Iskald Nedom Og Nord

Flotsam & Jetsam No Place For Disgrace

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Square Enix’s Highly Anticipated Action Rpg Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy Xiii Launches Today

Tekken Revolution 1.05 Update Available!

As the love flows around, Tekken Revolution decided to show its love to all the Final Chapter in Lightning’s Saga Now Available gamers by getting a new update! Among the new on PlayStation 3 System and Xbox 360. features, fighters will enjoy: Square Enix Inc., the publisher of Square · A new character: Jaycee Enix interactive entertainment products in the · Increased chances to be a lucky winner with Americas, today announced that its action the Blood Seal Jackpot(From 14th to role-playing game (RPG), Lightning Returns: 19th February) Final Fantasy Xiii, is now available in North · Premium Effects at a lowered price (18th to America for the PlayStation 3 computer 24th February) entertainment system, Xbox 360 games and · A new Level Cap: Level 70 and 25 Dan, which entertainment system from Microsoft, and for digital download on the PlayStation Network and corresponds to “Raijin” Xbox 360 Games on Demand. New and old fans · A Mokujin Festival (21th to 23th February) Get back on the arena to beat up your opponents of the series can now completely immerse themselves in this epic finale to Lightning’s saga. with love! Tekken Revolution new game update is Featuring a brand-new story, world, now available. Download Tekken Revolution for characters and an enhanced gameplay Free: system, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy https://store.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#!/en XIII allows players direct control over iconic -gb/games/tekken-revolution/cid=EP0700heroine in a constantly moving, expansive NPEB01406_00-TEKKENREVOLUTION environment, as she quests to save a doomed world from complete destruction. “We wanted to create a conclusive title with Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII – one Midnight City announces Double that not only ties up Lightning’s storyline, but also Dragon: Neon now available on Steam provides players an extremely memorable and aesthetically visual gameplay experience,” said Face-Melting Neon Action Pushes Steam to the Yoshinori Kitase, producer. “We thank the MAX community for their invaluable feedback during Midnight City, the recently founded indie development, and are excited for fans to dive label of Majesco Entertainment Company deep into this new Final Fantasy universe.” (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of Additional downloadable content (DLC), games for the mass market, is proud to including a Tomb Raider “Lara Croft” costume announce Double Dragon: Neon is now available and Yuna’s “Sphere Hunter” costume from Final for Windows PC via Steam, listed at a tasty Fantasy X-2provide more ways for players to £6.99/€8.99. extend their experience. Both DLC will be Building on the highly successful release on available for $3.99. Additionally, original console, the PC version sports full Steam Japanese Voice-Overs are available from today integration and online cooperative play for a true until February 25 as a free download. Following Double Dragon experience. In its console debut, this two-week period, the Japanese Voice-Over Double Dragon: Neon revitalised the franchise Pack will be available for $3.99. with an updated look and good ol’ fashioned Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is now street fights. The world’s most iconic arcade available for the PlayStation 3 system and Xbox brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee are back in a 360 systems, as well as a digital download on the reboot of the classic side-scrolling beat-em-up PlayStation Network and Xbox 360 Games on that fueled a generation of gamers. When Marian Demand, for $59.99. The collector’s edition will is kidnapped by the evil forces of the Shadow be available in limited quantities for both Warriors gang, the brothers set out to win her platforms and will be sold exclusively at back and take down their chief nemesis the Square Enix Online Store for $89.99. Skullmageddon. Along the way, players will take on hordes of street-gangs, guzzle gallons of soda and rock out to some stellar tunes in the form of ability-enhancing mixtapes.

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Mythical Pokémon Diancie Revealed! The Pokémon Company International revealed a newly discovered Pokémon from the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y video games, Rock- and Fairy-type Pokémon, Diancie! Diancie is an extremely rare Mythical Pokémon, a special Pokémon that cannot be found during normal gameplay. Known to boast the greatest beauty in all the world, Diancie’s body glitters pink, captivating the hearts of many. During battle, Diancie can produce a great volume of diamonds instantaneously by compressing air between its hands. It uses these diamonds to attack enemies and protect itself. Details on how Pokémon X and Pokémon Y players can get Diancie will be shared at a later date. In the meantime, a brand-new trailer featuring the Mythical Pokémon in action is available to post on your site. Official character art and screenshots of Diancie are also being made available for the first time, today.

Blade Lords – The game Boss is now playable! Developed under Unreal Engine 3 technology, Blade Lords is the very first free and iOS exclusive fighting game. Its unique gaming experience and its extreme fluidity immerse players in an Asian / Middle-Aged visual landscape and environment. Combining an easy and intuitive gameplay to an advanced combo system, Blade Lords gathers all types of gamers, from hardcore gamers to casual ones. And today, the game is filled up with a new fighter… With his tremendous power and his sharp and dancing swords, the Dark Lord has haunted the nights of many players. But it’s high time that things change... The new update of Blade Lords, available right now, proposes the most feared fighter of all! The time where players were shaking in front of his destructive power is over… Now it’s others who will be scared! During fights, they will drive a lethal dance impossible to block. Their spinning swords will lead them to a crushing victory and while their enemies will know a humiliating defeat. Through more than 30 missions, players will do much more than learning the past of this dark and powerful character. With a Dark Lord specific gameplayand fighting skills, the players will have to learn how to turn this new character into their OWN character. And they’ll be able to do so thanks to their victories which give them the chances to upgrade the Dark Lord’s skills and equipment. It’s high time to show who reigns in this kingdom!

The update of Blade Lords is available right now on the AppStore here

Cubical Drift Reveals The Player’s Progression In Planets3 A System Of Areas, Npcs, Vehicles To Build. The independent studio Cubical Drift delivers further details on the RPG dimension of Planets3, its voxel-based space adventure role playing game for PC, with new information and visual assets. In Planets,3 the player will be free to explore the universe as he sees fit and attack any monster he may encounter. However he will have to find the optimal combination of materials to build the most relevant equipment (weapon, armor, vehicle etc.) to face given enemies and his surroundings in order to survive and continue to progress in the game. A variable open world In Planets3, as in any other role-playing game, monsters are present in a given area determine its difficulty level. The monsters’ level is based upon their equipment characteristics and core statistics such as health or strength. In addition to monsters, the level of area is also determined by the "hardness" of its consitutive blocks (granite, sandstone etc..) Only advanced-enough tools will enable players to pick those blocks up. Therefore it is the combination of both the average hardness of blocks of an area and the level of the monsters spawning in this same area that characterize the level of difficulty. The player will have to navigate progressively through the world of Planets3, each area providing useful rewards for the next one. Crafting and NPCs NPCs, which are core elements of the game’s storyline, are essential to the evolution of the player in Planets3. The master craftsmen teaches the player the manufacture of certain classes of objects, like Watts the blacksmith, master of weapons and metal armor in the game. Each NPC has its own story that the player will discover throughout the game. Planets3 crafting mechanism is based on an assembling system. Each object is divided into different parts, whose shape and material define its statistics. Item's construction interface Build vehicles to go further and faster To speed up the exploration of the world in Planets3, the player can build vehicles, another essential element of the game that influences the storyline. Vehicles are made of blocks, among which

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are "control blocks" that interact together. For example, a terrestrial vehicle should include wheels, an engine and a cockpit. The materials used to build the vehicle condition whether it will be optimized for one type of ground or another (desert rocks, snow, etc..), and will therefore be faster or slower. Some NPCs also offer different "ready-to-use" vehicles in exchange for resources. But the real benefit of the system is definitely to create one's own vehicle! Vehicles made of blocks Planets3 is schedulded to release in summer 2015 on PC. The Kickstarter campaign to support the development of Planets 3 will start soon, get ready! More information about Planets3: http://www.planets-cube.com/

back next month to see what else is in store!” 'Europe' is designed to increase the scale of the political metagame in Stronghold Kingdoms and cultivate the title’s end game as much as possible. Rather than having a single King to rule over a game world based on the map of Britain, France or Germany, the new world will have 33 Kings and a huge number of Sheriffs and Governors. As a game with a persistent online world warfare and political conflict in Stronghold Kingdoms is a constant battle. With more players, countries, leaders and land to fight over Firefly expect the new world to take on a life of its own in no time at all. The full list of included countries, which now includes Georgia, is as follows: Norway, UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, West Balkan States, East Balkan States, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Poland, Stronghold Kingdoms Hits 200,000 Lithuania, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Monthly Active Users, Launches Finland, Sweden and Georgia 'Europe' Game World Kingdoms remains one of the most popular Firefly Studios has just released a new update for games on Steam, with nearly 3 million registered their popular MMORTS Stronghold Kingdoms, players from over 100 different countries. one of the most actively played games on Steam since 2012. The launch of the new world coincides with a recent increase in the game’s Cleanse the Hollow Earth in The Secret active player base, which is now well above World's Massive Raid Event! 200,000 monthly active users. Players can now access the new game world, which pits 33 Players get to battle the huge Bird of the Zero different medieval countries against each other in Point Pathogen in a 40 man raid event to clear all out PvP warfare. More information about the away the Filth and open the way to Tokyo – update can be found in a new post on the game’s The final showdown in Agartha takes place official website at www.strongholdkingdoms.com now in Funcom's The Secret World! The last “For many players Kingdoms is at its best in chapter of the extensive Whispering Tide event times of warfare and PvP, which keep the has come, and now the players must face a huge political mind games going and competition 40 man raid challenge to defeat the invasion of between Factions and Houses alive. Our recent Filth. Domination World, which will come to an end on The devastating Filth has been corrupting 20thFebruary, was very much an answer to this the world tree itself as it emanates from its and something that was great fun for us to desource in Tokyo. But the community of players sign. We know players appreciate the change of has been fighting against this invasion in a series pace and we’re hoping that ‘Europe’ provides a of collaborative in-game events and is driving the similar change, with a greater number of Kings enemies of Gaia back. and other political officials than ever before. This This latest chapter in the event chain will new world is a feature players have requested for run until victory has been achieved and the portal some time now, so it’s fantastic to see it go live to Tokyo has been cleansed. The players will and let everyone join in the war for Europe. We then gain entry to the upcoming Tokyo area really are committed to continuing the trend of when Issue #9 is released. sharing design and development with the game’s The Whispering Tide event does not only community, allowing your ideas to shape the offer great rewards in the form of epic gear and direction Stronghold Kingdoms takes. We are unique outfits, but this challenge also gives the also committed to monthly updates, so check players the chance to win powerful raid loot.

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For any review requests please contact the Firebrand After Dark team at afterdark@firebrandrr.co.uk

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Nocturnal Breed - Napalm Nights Label: Agonia Records Released: 11 March 2014 Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Highlight: Napalm Nights Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturnal-Breed-OFFICIAL/250907411181

These Norwegians have survived a few line up changes over the years, but now they're back to fill our veins with their antagonistic poison. Napalm Nights is the indomitable troupes first album since their 'Fields of Rot' LP was injected into the World in 2007. With original guitarist Axeman I. Maztor having rejoined the group, there's also room on the record for guest appearances from Darkthrone's Nocturno Culto on vocals and another former member A.E. Rattlehead on guitar. A vicious, toughened and well versed assemblage indeed.

Ridge' and the 13 minute barrage that is the records title track catapult the listener into lands where men stand knee deep in trench-shit. At times this record sounds like Motorhead on a diet of sulphur and piss, and at times it's akin to early Kreator on a regime of mustard gas and gangrene. Tasty!

Straight from the perennially fulminating sound-scape of the perilous battlefield, what's expounded on this 65 minute bloodshed recital is nothing but full on warfare and belligerency. Tracks 'Speedkrieg', 'Dawn Campaign....Flamethrower

Flotsam & Jetsam - No Place For Disgrace Label: Metal Blade Records Reviewer: Jon Seymour Website: http://www.flotsam-and-jetsam.com

Released: 3 March 2014 Highlight: Hand On Your

These guys are something of a legend to be quite honest, and when it comes to reviewing something from a band with legendary status, there’s some trepidation. Expectations are already decidedly high, and you start going through all the “what if” questions before you even start listening. You realise that there’s nothing else for it but to take a deep breath and dive in.

What follows is more of the same, which is no bad thing at all. The album is full of high quality songs, and is no less than you would expect from such giants in the world of thrash metal. Seriously, this band have been going for over three decades now, and show no signs of slowing down or wimping out. They’re as relevant today as they ever were, and equally as powerful.

The album’s intent is immediately apparent, as the opening track sets of at breakneck speed, then just when you’re starting to get short of breath trying to keep up, it slows from “screaming speed demon” to “menacing bulldozer” and pretty much flattens everything in its path, before screeching off again and leaving everything in its wake. We’re still on the opening track, and already we’re somewhat battered.

One of the true giants of the big eighties thrash movement are still around, and showing the younger bands how it used to be done, and how it’s still being done today. This is just a great metal album, and it really is as simple as that. Now go out and buy the f***ing thing!

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Throwdown - Intolerance Label: Steamhammer/SPV Reviewer: Lee Walker Website: http://www.throwdowngo.com/

Released: 24 February 2014 Highlight: Hardened By Consequence

Not really being massively familiar with Throwdown I devastating and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if think my speakers exploded as soon as ‘Fight Or ‘Intolerance’ was as pivotal to Throwdown as ‘A Die’ was unleashed with its punishing sounds Vulger Display Of Power’ was to Pantera. bursting from the remains of my smouldering stacks. Throwdown have a sound which can be best described as Pantera meeting classic Max Cavalera era Sepultura, with a killer combination of pure unadulterated riffage and brutal, unforgiving ‘in your face’ style vocals being the order of the day as pleasantries and intricate breakdowns are replaced with out and out powerhouse metal as slab after slab of hard hitting tunes ram there way down your throat. As an album goes the result is simply flawlessly

Kuolemanlaakso - Tulijoutsen Label: Svart Records Released: 28 February 2014 Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Highlight: Me Vaellamme Yossa Website: https://www.facebook.com/kuolemanlaakso

So, here we have another fine Finnish export from the mighty roster up at Svart Records. Produced by Tripykon and Dark Fortress guitarist V. Santura, this magnum opus brings us deep into the Finnish Forests and realms of folklore fascination.

respite away from the otherwise doom hardened backbone of the record. And yes, you will be clicking your fingers in unison to the beat of this track, that is a fact.

Kuolemanlaakso have already deservedly been Unlike their 2012 debut 'Uijas uusi maailma' which ascending through the myriad of bands in the was almost entirely written by guitarist-keyboardist Finnish scene. That's only on the back of one full Lasakso, the impetus this time has come from all length too, so just wait until this album comes out to members of the band. This passing of the gavel has see what happens. opened the door for a more complex and unpredictable creature to crawl freely. Creating and projecting infinite diversity seems to come organically for these wood wanderers from Kuopio. 'Me vaellamme yossa' reeks of Bathory while the unique never ceasing Kuolemanlaakso linchpin protrudes. 'Glastonburyn letho' with it's psychedelic, jazz folk vibe offers the listener a little

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Nervosa - Victim Of Yourself Label: Napalm Records Reviewer: Jon Seymour Website: http://www.nervosa.com.br

When you read “all female thrash trio from Brazil” you should at least be intrigued. When you load this album into your music player of choice and push play, you know almost instantly what you’re in for though. The intro builds up slowly before launching into an all-out assault. This is old school thrash, and it’s bloody good. Couple the pounding drum beats, crunching guitars and thundering bass lines with a vocalist who sounds like a Cougar with its bollocks wedged between a couple of boulders, and you get a match made in, well I can’t say Heaven can I? If Heaven sounded like anything, it definitely would not be this. This sounds more like it was crafted in the deepest darkest depths of Tartaros by the accursed titans.

Released: 3 March 2014 Highlight: Into Mosh Pit

assault, and it rains blow after blow and keeps going long after you’ve been battered into submission. This gives no quarter and takes no prisoners. The overall sound of this album will transport you back in time to the golden days of the Bay Area Thrash movement, and it sits among the best of them. Call me old fashioned (or just plain old these days) but this is just the kind of music I was brought up on, and I turned out ok (I think). Put this in your music player, crank it up to eleven, and just give in to it, because as the Borg say, resistance is futile.

It’s fast, it’s aggressive and it’ll make your ears bleed and your brain shake. It’s relentless in its

Vornth - Vornth (Self Titled) Label: Iron Tyrant Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Website: https://www.facebook.com/Vornth

Spitting us back into the age of proto-metal is this fiery and demonic debut record from Sweden's new kids at the gallows, Vornth. By grabbing their influences (early Destruction, Kreator, Coroner) tight by the balls the Swedish quartet have served up a very rapturous teutonic treat.

Released: 27 January 2014 Highlight: Axemurder

reason why your house should still be standing after engorging on this conflagration.

Engulfing everything in it's path is a proud attainment of the album, and with 12 tracks all as blistering as it's former, this self titled release plays out like one gargantuan inferno. If you listen closely enough and can survive without getting burnt, you can almost feel the bands toxic approach and delivery searing the sound desk. This is raw, rustic and as genuine as a debut album gets. With it concluding at almost an hour, there's no

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Kult Of Taurus - Divination Labyrinths Label: Forever Plagued Records Released: 20 January 2014 Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Highlight: Hidden In All Ages Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kult-Of-Taurus-Official/231330920222703

Having already released two demos and one split, the inevitable advent of the rabid beast has finally come. Hailing from Greece, what Kult Of Taurus have achieved with this, their first full length release, is a well structured, more than tolerable, slightly avant-garde, more than evil, black metal artifice.

A big kudos also to Forever Plagued for having faith in this band, I think their decision on signing this exemplary unit of malevolence has been more than vindicated with 'Divination Labyrinths'.

Yes, this is in essence a black metal record. What sets this apart though is the crucial experimentation and overbold innovation that inundates pretty much all of the genres ancestral roots. I can only imagine if Hawkwind ever applied themselves to the iniquitous landscape, and decided to make a black metal album, it might just sound something similar to this. That's probably just me though.

Crematory - Antiserum Label: Steamhammer/SPV Reviewer: Lee Walker Website: http://www.crematory.de/

Released: 24 February 2014 Highlight: Inside Your Eyes

Having had the pleasure of previously reviewing the occasional songs sung in their native German single ‘Shadowmaker’ I pretty much knew what to language) resulting in an iconic release which expect from the ‘Antiserum’ album. should feature in any industrial/gothic fans wish list and should bring Crematory the recognition that they Crematory have got to be in my opinion one of the deserve. most underrated industrial acts out there right now and despite being around since 1991 seem to have not really been picked up on by the UK main stream metal media for some reason. As albums go ‘Antiserum’ is pretty damn impressive and weighs in at eleven tracks of unadulterated industrial Germanic anthems for the standard edition (with digi packs as well as vinyl editions also being available both with additional bonus material) providing a mix of industrial/gothic crossover at its best with a mix of out and out almost darkwave beats providing the backbone to its multi layered Ramsteain style industrial tracks (complete with the

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Hirax - Immortal Legacy Label: Steamhammer/SPV Reviewer: Joey Lowebins Website: http:// www.hirax.org

Released: 24 February 2014 Highlight: Violence Of Action

Hirax, the US thrash metal veterans have released their fifth studio album, ‘Immortal Legacy’.

your head for the next hour. There are no real stand out tracks, they all sort of roll into one.

Before its release vocalist Katon W. De Pena was quoted as saying ‘This is our most epic-sounding record to date, sonically powerful and over the top. 14 new raging thrash metal songs that will make you bang your head!!!’

One track that attempts to capture your attention is ‘Atlantis (Journey to Atlantis)', a lovely little bass medley thrown in the album, but at just under 1.30 seconds you feel that it was just a track to make up the numbers, when in fact if they concentrated on it, could have been the track of the album.

This record will make you bang your head, that’s for sure. It is an enjoyable listen with the foundations of All in all if you like thrash metal then give the record this record being really laid down by the drums, a listen. I wouldn’t deter anyone from the album but which make this album, truth be told. Other than that just don’t get your hopes up. though it is just another thrash metal album. The production of the album doesn’t help either. You can hear the energy and passion from the band, it’s just that once the album finishes you can’t remember any riffs that would usually be stuck in

Shroud Of The Heretic - Revelations In Alchemy EP Label: Blood Harvest Released: 10 March 2014 Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Highlight: Revelations In Alchemy Website: https://www.facebook.com/shroudoftheheretic

This debut offering from this triptych of wretchedness is one ominous scourge on the senses, which allows for an aura of inhospitable and barren matter to absorb any surrounding domain.

metal. Half way through opening track 'The Arrival' I had already traversed into that aforementioned otherworld, only to have clawed my way back, uncovering what can only be described as necrobiotic doom seeping from my follicles.

Arising from the sediment of a cataclysmic explosion is this unholy eructation. Thumping the listener into sub-normality with it's unforgiving and forbidding slab carnality and luxuria, this insectivore is a brute, and it's ravenous. With a reordering of the line up since their 'Boiled To Death' demo, Portland Oregan's Shroud Of The Heretic are here to molest your vulnerable afferent neurons, and they do it without repentance. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect from this record. On viewing the cover I thought I was about to touch into some realm of sludge tarred drone

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Reverend Horton Heat - REV Label: Victory Records Reviewer: Lee Walker Website: http://www.reverendhortonheat.com

Having never heard of the Reverend Horton Heat I was somewhat apprehensive about reviewing this latest release from the Texas based rockabilly group. ‘REV’ is an interesting affaire and definitely an album that grows on you in a good kind of way, with its rockabilly infused songs slowly infusing their way into your bloodstream as they stealthily attack your subconscious and sink in.

Released: 21 January 2014 Highlight: Zombie Dumb

them. As the first album that the Reverend Horton Heat has put out on Victory Records ‘REV’ ticks all the right boxes for what will hopefully become a long lasting relationship between the two.

Sure there are songs which immediately grab your attention such as the single ‘Let Me Teach You How To Eat’ or gothic/psychobilly infused ‘Zombie Dumb’ with its ‘The Monsters’ style groove running through it or the opening salvo ‘Victory Lap’/’Smell Of Gasoline’ but by the by a lot of the songs fall in the stealth category as they slowly grow on you taking you by surprise as you find yourself nodding away to

Entartung - Peccata Mortalia Label: W.T.C Productions Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Website: http://www.w-t-c.org/

The impinging of these two long time black metal militants (Lykormas & Vulfolaic) has again resulted in a catalogue of maleficent hymns that drag you deep into the swallowing Gehenna chasm.

Released: 8 March 2014 Highlight: Blasphemaverit In Spiritum Sanctum

Following up from their first nefarious excursion together, 2012's 'Krypteia', this German duo have again surpassed all earthly limits with this diabolical compendium. Whether you implore for black metal recorded on a dusty old 4-track, or you have a thirst for polished mainstream productions, you'll find everything entwined into the unrelenting and malignant Peccata Mortalia. Underground German label World Terror Committee have got themselves one hell of a beast in Entartung.

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Iskald - Nedom Og Nord Label: Indie Recordings Released: 13 January 2014 Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Highlight: Nedom Og Nord Website: https://www.facebook.com/iskaldofficial

Norwegian blackened-core entity Iskald is the I'll not say that the album is as the bands name brainchild of both Simon Larsen (Guitars, Bass, roughly translates 'Ice Cold', but tepid might be a Keys, Vocals) and Aage Krekling (Drums,Vocals). more opportune branding for this record. With their rudiments firmly nestled into the black metal occult, what this band also bring to the table is elements of melodic death metal, most noticeably that of which is heavily associated with their eastern neighbours Sweden. There are a few memorable moments from the record, opening salvo 'A Fading Horizon' 'Iskald' and the the swansong title track. But, with 6 tracks in total and with the record concluding at 50 minutes, there just seems to be something absent. I just get the feeling that this album doesn't know to bestow itself. It's hard to exist when you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, unless you're maybe a trilobite.

Harlott - Origin Label: Punishment 18 Records Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Website: http://www.harlott.com.au/

Released: 31 March 2014 Highlight: Regression

Bellowing from the fallout of a post nuclear attack on well. These Aussies have had two EP releases to the Bay Area is the mighty Harlott. Throwing all the learn their craft, and from what's on here they've strongest tools of the genre into the box and darn mastered it. discarding the grievances is what this band do so Enclosed in this package is 12 tracks crashing in at just under 40 minutes, ensuring an all head banging, all balls hanging thrash metal bombardment. And I like it! These guys are metal thrashing mad, they can sure make a deadly symphony (of destruction) and they'll not be fading to black any time soon.

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Mother Abyss - Burden EP Label: Aonair Productions Released: 28 October 2013 Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Highlight: The King Website: https://www.facebook.com/motherabyssband?ref=br_tf

This EP has been available for a while, but as it's the first release on new independent label Aonair Productions I thought I should give some fresh impetus into what I'm sure is already a highly positive reviews collection.

It's a rarity to come across a record that projects such an environment of despondency and bareness yet can harbour so much animation and life.

Hailing from Portugal this quartet have certainly delivered all the goods on this six track sludge/post-rock heavy as mountains transmission. At the base of that steeple of nature is a swamp, a downcast marshland which inhabits the ascending and astute elephantine Mother Abyss. This twenty seven minute accumulation of low bass stabbing, perpetual cosmic riffing, throat rending vocals and potent drumming gives this record the opportunity to evolve into many organisms and beasts whilst never crawling to far from it's sluggish constancy.

Exhumation - Hymn To Your God Label: Dunkelheit Produktionen Released: 11 February 2014 Reviewer: Stoodge Mc Nulty Highlight: All Seeing Eye Website: https://www.facebook.com/dunkelheitprod

Incoming from Indonesia and now for the first time thanks to Dunkelheit Produktionen, this death metal horde have been granted the hunting ground to spread their necrotizing disease globally. Not a lot is known about this band yet, but having a debut album that sounds kindred to a suture of Entombed and early Gorefest wrapped in barbed wire and soaked in vinegar is definitely not a bad introduction.

highlight is the brainsick drumming that's displayed, it's an unceasing blitzkrieg of blasting and skull lacerating poundage. Tracks 'All Seeing Eye' 'Omnipotent' and 'Dominion' are the three momentous impacts made by this record. The release also boosts a highly commendable cover of Blasphemy's 'Ritual' as it's swansong.

This record is fucking colossal, it reaches it's tongue out to a vast universe of influences, swallows the ones that stick, digests them until they're bone dry and shits out the finest elements of each mineral. This is some fine ass death metal! Although every facet of the music on here is strong, well worked and pretty faultless, a particular

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Burnthru - Faithless Label: Self Release Reviewer: Graham Pritchard Website: https://www.facebook.com/Burnthru

Released: 7 September 2014 Highlight: Faithless

Burnthru are a 4-piece band from Devise, Wiltshire, UK who formed back in January 2012 and working quickly they released their first self-titled EP in May of that year and whilst it was good the new EP shows a definite progression.

hooks you in, and the other three tracks follow this in the same vain with just enough difference to keep it fresh and interesting. The sweet vocals of Andy Mitchell are powerful and handle the songs very well with great guitar from Mitch Underwood, powerful drums from Chris Constable and equally powerful ‘Faithless’ is a brilliant effort from these four guys Bass from Elmo Jones. Burnthru will be a force to who have made an impact on the local scene and in be reckoned with in the what should be a bright fairness to them they have worked dam hard to get promising future for them. there, supporting bands like Grim Reaper (yes the 80s metal legends), Black Acid Souls, Fury, Tainted All in all a bloody good EP with all the ingredients for Nation. As well as a few festivals and have built up a an even better album, clean vocals, groovy tunes, loyal following of fans. They sound like a cross blistering guitars and a powerful back line. between Soundgarden (in the way that Andy Mitchell sounds a bit like Chris Cornell) and Clutch with a bit of Tool thrown in just for the hell of it. Faithless is a four track EP and the first of these is the title track Faithless. A catchy groovy tune that

Alexa De Strange - Tits Of Death Label: Paranoise Records Reviewer: Lee Walker Website: http://www.alexadestrange.com/

With an e.p name like ‘Tits Of Death’ you could’t help but notice the forthcoming e.p from alternative act Alexa De Strange, and I dare say that when the Tassel Lord reads this title he’ll have a double take and think I have had one to many shandy’s and reviewed a 60’s B-movie by mistake. Being described as being like ‘a spoonful of Bella Donna with a shot of absinthe’ Alexa De Strange have only been around for a few years but are already making a name for themselves and have already lined up a slot on the April edition of ‘The Whitby Goth weekend’ this year.

Released: 10 March 2014 Highlight: Luxxxurious

categories ranging from pop punk through to sleaze rock through to an almost psychobilly. As an e.p goes the interestingly titled ‘Tits Of Death’ gives a wide picture of this fledgling band with its strange mix of musical sounds and collection of tongue in cheek lyrics providing a feel good effect to the e.p which is pretty much exemplified by ‘Luxxxurious!’ with the only exception being the Within Temptation style ballad ‘If Only’ showing that Alexa De Strange can easily do other genres of music should they wish to do so and demonstrating that these are clearly a band to watch for the future.

Sound wise they are hard to pin down with clear cut influence’s vocally to both Jack Off Jill and early No Doubt in places with hints of Bif Naked thrown in for good measure while musically they seem to hover in that ‘alternative’ realm with songs that fall into many

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