KingOfMetal

blabbrmouth.net

METALLICA will headline the 10th installment of the Download festival at Donington Park on Saturday, June 9, 2012, with an exclusive UK performance of the band's top-selling No. 1 album "Metallica", a.k.a. The Black Album.

 

It will be the eighth time the California metal titans will have played at Donington during their three decade-long career, having played both Monsters Of Rock and Download festivals.

 

"Six years is way too long to be away from the hallowed grounds of Donington Park," says METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich. "We are beyond psyched and feel privileged to come back once again to soak up the energy and vibe of the most legendary of festival sites."

 

"I am absolutely bowled over that METALLICA will be playing The Black Album at the 10th anniversary of Download," says Andy Copping, VP of Promotions at Live Nation. "The album is up there as one of the greatest albums of all time, everyone knows the songs. The Download festival has come a long way since we first started in 2003 and to have METALLICA back to help us celebrate this milestone is just fantastic."

 

Download 2012 takes place at Donington Park on June 8-10, 2012. Weekend with camping tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 18 from www.downloadfestival.co.uk.

 

METALLICA's 1991 self-titled fifth album, commonly known as "the black album," in 2009 surpassed SHANIA TWAIN's 1997 record, "Come On Over", as the best-selling CD of the SoundScan era. To date, the black album has sold 15,715,000 copies.

 

Although METALLICA had scored their first radio and video airplay with their previous effort, 1988's "...And Justice For All", the black album was the band's biggest commercial breakthrough, producing five singles and making them into one of the most popular rock bands in the world.

Slash's (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES) first-ever live solo album, "Made In Stoke 24/7/11", is now available for streaming in its entirety at RollingStone.com. The double-disc CD, and a special-edition 2CD+DVD package (featuring five bonus tracks and an exclusive interview with Slash) is due on Novemebr 15 via Eagle Rock Entertainment.

 

Captured at Victoria Hall as part of an intensive world tour, this 21-song set is a celebration of a legendary career. Joined by Myles Kennedy of ALTER BRIDGE on vocals, Slash ripped through cuts culled from his GN'R days, VELVET REVOLVER, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, and his solo album, (including the single "By The Sword"). His band lineup included bassist Todd Kerns, drummer Brent Fitz and guitarist Bobby Schneck.

 

With favorites like "Back From Cali", "Slither", "Sweet Child O' Mine", and many more reverberating the crowd-filled rafters, this proved to be one rockin' homecoming.

 

The track listing is as follows:

 

01. Been There Lately

02. Nightrain

03. Ghost

04. Mean Bone

05. Back From Cali

06. Rocket Queen

07. Civil War

08. Nothing To Say

09. Starlight

10. Promise

11. Doctor Alibi

12. Speed Parade

13. Watch This

14. Beggars & Hangers-On

15. Patience

16. Guitar Solo / Godfather Theme

17. Sweet Child O' Mine

18. Slither

19. By The Sword

20. Mr. Brownstone

21. Paradise City

 

Bonus DVD:

 

* Ghost

* Back From Cali

* Beggars & Hangers-On

* Been There Lately

* Starlight

* Interview with Slash

 

"I've been wanting to do this for a long time and for some reason it just never seemed possible," said Slash.

 

"One of the things about doing the solo record and setting up my own tour was that I told the powers-that-be that I wanted to play in places I'd never played before. And so Stoke was something that was high on my list and I told them just make it happen."

 

"I have memories that I went to school there, of the basic neighbourhood that I lived in. I remember exactly what the house looked like. Just everything in general, for some reason my memory is really clear. Better than my memory of later years."

 

The Stoke-on-Trent concert sold out in less than two hours after tickets went on sale on May 6.

 

Over 1,500 fans attended the show, which marked Slash's first-ever concert in his hometown.

 

David Bradbury, Group Press Officer of the Ambassador Theatre Group, told StaffsLive, "We always knew the gig was going to be popular and the fact that the gig sold out in less than two hours is brilliant.

 

"Slash is a local hero, he's from Stoke-on-Trent and not a lot of people know that. I think he lived here until he was 11 so this is a bit of a homecoming gig."

 

Slash stated after the concert: "Stoke was a [fuckin'] blast!! Great vibe and energy. It's going to make a killer DVD. We'll be back next year definitely!"

 

Although ALTER BRIDGE vocalist Myles Kennedy sang just two tracks on Slash's self-titled solo debut, Slash recently confirmed that Myles will sing everything on the guitarist's next solo effort.

 

In an interview with The Pulse Of Radio, Kennedy said about the fact that Slash would like him to handle the lead vocals on the guitarist's next CD, "It's very flattering. I think there's kind of a cool thing we got going. We really enjoy working with each other."

I went to Bloodstock in 2003 (Saxon and Nightwish headlining) when it used to be a 2 dayer at Derby Assembly Rooms. Obviouslyits grown since then, but I had a great time. I'd say you get a mix of people between the ones who know/love metal music in all its forms and the ones are "true"/"real" metal fans (the type that shit on any band for having a decemt degree of success)

Alice Cooper is revealed as the first headliner for Bloodstock! Come and get your tickets inside.

 

 

There will be blood, baby! God of Shock Alice Cooper will be bringing the Nightmares to Bloodstock in 2012!

 

Alice joins Anvil, Watain, Paradise Lost, Dimmu Borgir, Hatebreed, Corrosion Of Conformity, Orange Goblin and Anaal Nathrakh at next year

There

I think its going to a reunion tour rather a new album. There was talk of a new album when they first reunited in the late 90's, which, bar a new track on the 'Reunion' live album, never materialised

So, Manowar in Leeds on Friday night was the culmination of a dream Ive had for years. they played tight but had some sound issues throughout the night. One mic died in the second song ('Death Tone'), and another conked out soon after. Demaio forgot his part midway through 'Battle Hymn', with many audience members (including myself) shouting out 'it's the slow part before the solo!". For someone whose been playing that song a) close to 30 years b) as part of an '...album in its entirety' tour for nearly a whole year and c) 2 nights earlier, needless to say the crowd seemed a bit disappointed.

After doing the 'Battle Hymns' album in its entirety plus a couple of other numbers (approx 1hr 10mins), they announced an intermission, which left the crowd stunned. Your supposed to be the loudedst/most metal band on the planet, and your taking an interval? ROCK 'N ROOOOOOOOOLLLL!

When they came back on (20 minutes later), it took about 10/15 minutes for the crowd to get into it, seemingly still shocked by the interval. Second half was around 50mins, and was suprised that it included more from the 'Warriors Of the World' album than expected, as its an average album by Manowar's standards. Personally, I'd have included more from 'Fighting The World' or even something from 'Louder Than Hell'. Instead, gaps were filled with Karl Logan shredding away for 5 minutes (which people seemed to get bored of) and Demaio's compusary bass solo.

The main issues with the night, and this was the general concensus, not just my opinion, were:

* Doors opened at 7:00, band not on till 8:20. No support act, and a sound check that lasted a couple of minutes. Quite as to why the band didnt come on eariler is unknown.

* Very little crowd interaction, seemingly just wanting to plow through the set.

* A member of the event security announced before the doors opened that there was to be no filming or pictures to be taken. No issues with the staff memeber in question (hes just doing his job), this was "a request by the band" (and by 'the band', I mean Joey Demaio), which is pathetic in my opinion. your charging people

What are peoples predictions for next years Download & Soni headliners? The first announcement will be due in the next few weeks (going on previous years), plenty of rumours flying round too. I'm going for Soni - Rage Against The Machine / Black Sabbath / Paramore. Download - Metallica / Rammstein / Foo Fighters.

I'd be suprised if machine Head dont get a big billing at one of the festivals. Download put out a poll recently asking who fans would prefer to see reform- Guns n' Roses or Led Zeppelin. Don't kno if that means anything in the grand scheme of things or not.

personally, I reckon Tool will do one of them, with the new album due next year

Does anybody knows what's going on with the great Akercocke? It's been 4.5 years since the last album (which was a good one) and it seems the last time they got on a stage was 2 years ago.

If you check out the news section of totalrock, theres something about 3 of them working on a nee black metal project, the name of which escapes me at the moment

While im aware that in my review from a fe wminutes ago for the new Megadeth album, 'Thirteen', I made numerous references to the sound (of the album being that of something we have all heard before), it may seem a tad ironic that this may well some up what Im about to gointo here with the new release from the Sunset Strip's "best kept secret", Steel Panther. But thats part of the tounge-in-cheek nature of the band. While this isnt so much 'tricky second album' territory, more a case of 'how much longer will the joke last?'. But thats part of the charm of the band. While its very much an in-joke and parody of the 80's glam scene, behind all the guy-liner and zebra-print spandex, there are actually some very enjoyable very rocking songs to the bands portfolio.

Starting off with a short intro ('In The Future') speaking of it being "the year 6969" and how the "plowsies of the lesbo-dyke nebula" have made their way to Earth to continue breeding after "elimating their last known enemy...MEN!", its into 'Supersonic Sex Machine' hitting with the same amount of cockiness and swagger of 'Death To All but Metal' from previous release 'Feel The Steel'. While Reckless Love seem to still think its the 80's and play the whole glam-metal look without a hint of irony, its clear here that Steel panther are very much a fun band, and should not be considered a seriously band for a single moment, as everysong to date has been about fucking. 'Just Like Tiger Woods' crams in more sex/golf euthamisms than a...thing that has alot of sex/golf euthamisms, while '17 Girls In A Row' sound sdirectly out of the Motley Crue/Ratt/Warrant catalouge, and thats the whole point, depending on how into the joke you are. In this the 80's, this style of music was massive, while now its almost looked upon with a 'oh my god, i cant believe I used to like that' attitude. But ultimately, the songs rock and catchy. 'It Wont Suck Itself' even sees Chad Kruger (yes, the Nickleback bitch) unleaseh a James Hetfield-like cameo. YES, EVEN CHAD KRUGER IS IN ON THE JOKE.

And while Im shocked at how short this review actually is, theres not really much more I can say without repeated myself over and over. Steel Panther are a great band musically. While the songs are the sound of a past era, they play said songs with real aplomb and gusto. With the band opening arenas in the UK in November in Def Leppard and Motley Crue (more spandex than a spandex warehouse), its interesting to see how into those two bands are. While they'll be playing it straight, Steel Panther are very much there to whip up the crowd, but with the songs behind them that they have, they will have no problems doing so.

As promised here are the write ups for the new Megadeth, Steel Panther and the Metallica/Lou Reed collaboration. I'll split it over three posts so that if anyone wants to quote anything back they don't have to delete a shedload of text:

Following up 2008's grammy winning 'Endgame' album was always going to be a tricky task for Megadeth, and particularly its frontman Dave Mustaine. Since that albums release, stages across the world have seen Mustaine reunited with his Metallica bandmates of old, an event which many thought would never happen considering the way that events unfolded in the early 80's (depending on whose story you believe). But ultimately, it did happen, and fans are now hopeful for some form of reunion in the recording studio from both parties. there are a multitude of reasons as to why this won't happen, the most particular being that Metallica and Megadeth are comepletly different animals with the same cage and would simply not co-operate.

While Metallica headed in the direction of eliminating solos on 'St Anger' and reintroduced them on 'Death Magnetic' if the songs called for them, Megadeth seem to be heading in the other direction of having as many solos as possiblec rammed into each album. It was evident at the start of 'Endgame' and it is again in 'Th1rt3en' (simply written Thirteen for the rest of this review) opener 'Sudden Death', which kicks the album in brutal fashion with a galloping bass line and riff akin to materiao from 'Rust In Pace' before Dave unleashes some souring guitar work for the better part of 2 minutes. From their, lead single 'Public Enemy #1' (co-written by producer Johnny K, who also writes 5 more tracks on the album) pays tribute to 'Hanger 18', again off of the 'Rust In Peace' album. And therin lies the issue with the album as a whole. While the music on show is of a standard clearly worthy of being listened to, it all feels a little bit familar and of past era for the band. While they were out on the road last year, they were in the midst of the 20th anniversary of 'Rust In Peace', and one cant help but feel that playing a majority of that album for so long last year crossed over into the writting of this album. Is Mustaine trying to replicate the sound of the early 90's that brought the band such prominance and exposure? Or has he simply taken the music as far as he can musically and now re-treading old ground?

And in some cases, he is treading ground which shouldnt have been walked on in the first place. 'We the People' plods along before trailing off into a nothing conclusion, while 'Guns, Drugs & Money' seems out of place with its more hard rock as opposed to metal feel, echoing a gone-by Alice Cooper sound, which is also present on 'Wrecker' and very much so on 'Deadly Nightshade'.

'Never Dead' takes a full minute to get going, but once it does is a 'Megadeth 101' number, but from here, Mustaine gets lazy, very literally. 'New World Order' (a song with writing creadits for the classic line up of Mustaine, Ellefson, Friedman and Menza, a track which was originally demoed for 'Coundown to Extinction' and was previously released on the 'Youthamasia' remaster) once agains homage to the bands past in a modern setting. Inckuding this track is a puzzle as to why it was not released at the time, as it seemingly doesnt offer anything today that it wouldnt have done 20 years ago, and even less so since being included on the 'Youthanasia' remaster in 2004 as well being included on the Duke Nukem soundtrack. Another track to resurface from 20 years is 'Millennium Of The Blind', originally demoed in 1991, which Mustaine himself has confessed it reminded him of 'Absolution' (which went on to be from 'Trust' from the 'Cryptic Writings' album).

All in all, while the music on offer is certainly enjoyable, you cant help but feel that 'Thirteen' has all been done/heard before, or in some cases were literally concieved two decades ago. I read Mustaine's autobiograpghy a couple of months ago, and when I was finished with it, my image of the man was one of being bitter about no longer being in Metallica. While Metallica have evolved their sound since 1991's self-titled album, Megadeth, or more particaully Mustaine (as it is his band) seems to have struggled to get out of their earlys 90's comfort zone. 'Cryptic Writings' and 'Risk' tried new things and ultimately failed as albums (their were some big singles to come from 'Cryptic Writings'). Furthermore, Mustaine has got a strong set of musicans behind him, especially in Chris Broderick (Jag Panzer, Nevermore) and Shawn Drover. Rather than simply playing parts that Mustaine has come up with, it may be time for them to flex creative muscle to maybe add something new to the Megadeth sound.

7/10

I've wanted to see them for years too, hence why Im going. The upshot of it is that this could be the only time they do come back, most of the shows still have tickets available (I believe the only shows to have sold out are the dates in Belfast and Dublin). Im at the Leeds show on Friday, which has a capacity of 2,700. Now, even the fact that this is the first tour in 17 years, the show has still yet to sell-out, shows that either Manowar are not as big as they think they are, or people are hanging onto their money because they simply cant afford it. Im lucky to be in a position were I can drive to and from the show rather than have to fork out for a hotel, train etc.

Ultimately, if the tour is poorly attended (potentially due to high priced tickets) it will end up being a financial flop and they won't be coming back

Dimmu Birgir, Hatebreed, Corrosion Of Conformity and Anaal Nathrakh have all now been confirmed for the Bloodstock Open Air Festival. This happens at Catton Hall in Derbyshire from August 9-12

source: totalrock.com

I'll be doing my write up of the new Megadeth album tomorrow. along with Steel Panther - Balls Out and Metallica & Lou Reed - Lulu

Prices are so high for one of two possible reasons:

1) because of the production costs for the show that Demaio has promised, as to what the entails I don't know.

2) Academy Events/Metal Hammer have paid Manowar so much to come over, they need to charge that to at least break even.

But like with other bands, there are fans that will pay the silly prices no matter what. I recall reading that t-shirts at the Birmingham show in March were

I agree, tickets are stupidly priced for this (its like Demaio been taken lessons from KISS) and from what I hear only 3 shows have actually sold out for the tour. Demaio seems to be under the illusion that they are bigger than what they actaully are in this country, hence why no promoter has brought them over here for so many years because they would be operating at a lose. And anyone that has paid the

Going to see Manowar on Tuesday, a bit cheesy at times but I think we're in for a hell of a show.

thats the Glasgow show right?

Im seeing them in Leeds on Friday, cant wait. There one of the few bands left on the Metal-Bucket List.

Nothing cheesy in the slightest about them, as musicains they are solid as anything. People just get wound up about their lioncloth appearance being cheesy (which they havent done for years now)

Volbeat were fucking flawless on wednesday at Corporation, best

Pissing Razors are a band i got into through the free cd's. Obviously there's a lot of bands you'll end up hearing in other ways but so many bands are on those cd's and never amount to anything, so many hidden treasures outt here.

 

As for Pissing Razors, they had a relative amount of success, for some reason or other though the only album i ever purcahsed was Fields of Disbelief, fucking good album too. I need to get some more.

You can get them dirt cheap on amazon marketplace. I just hoped over there and the 'Live In The Devil's Triangle' DVD is 63p, a ste!l if ever I saw one.

One of the bands from a free CD I had was a band called Occupational Hazard. They were doing a sort of metal/drum&bass crossover (not Pendulum-style). They only put one album out (the self-financed 'The Human Deficiancy') which is well worth checking out

seeing Volbeat in Sheffield tomorrow, so fucking excited

Much love for the free cd's, discovered so much great music on there. Its thanks to those free CD's that I really got into Pissing Razors, whose discs Ive just found under my bed for when I move house

Its inevitable that people are going to shit all over it, Seven even started its own seperate thread to do just that based on a 30 second sound clip, but hey-ho, thasts his gimmick.

 

Im not going to get the chance to hear it properly for a few daysdue to work, so will post my write up (along with the new Steel panther and Megadeth releases) when I get the chance

 

Have you already heard the new Megadeth? I'm on the fence with what I have heard, it all sounds a little "stock" Megadeth.

Still waiting for my advance copy. Heard mixed things about it so far

Its inevitable that people are going to shit all over it, Seven even started its own seperate thread to do just that based on a 30 second sound clip, but hey-ho, thasts his gimmick.

Im not going to get the chance to hear it properly for a few daysdue to work, so will post my write up (along with the new Steel panther and Megadeth releases) when I get the chance

Millhouse - Schools Out,Up Yours Krabappel!