Lithuanian Sunday

COME Sunday evening, as Douglas Adams once said, we are all faced with the 'Long, Dark Teatime of the Soul' when the TV is rubbish, and you have had 'as many baths as you can usefully endure'.

Fear not, for Lithuania to the rescue! Ehh! says you...Lithuania?

For on Sunday, Lithuanian pagan metallers Obtest hit The Limelight, with Overoth and Brigantia. For a measly eight of yer pounds and fifty of your pennies the long, dark teatime of your soul will be bansished by dark reveries of sonic oblivion...and a few pints are available to purchase too!

Yet another Distortion Project success methinks!

Get rockin' for Haiti!

acts No Egos. Do your part


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BELOW is the CDC note on the forthcoming Belfast4Haiti gig on 31st January. Get along if you can - donate if you can't. Not a great many bands here for regular readers, but if you can then the delights of The Answer and Swanee River will get heads 'a' nodding and feet 'a' tapping - not to mention surreptitious air guitarin'.

"It has been over a week since the tragic earthquake struck the Caribbean island of Haiti. Even as we write aftershocks are still hitting the country and people are still, miraculously being pulled alive from the rubble of their former homes. The death toll, which some fear could reach as high as 200000 beggars belief, while tens of thousands of children have been orphaned.
"The day the news broke musicians and local music scene supporters wondered about the possibility of running a small benefit gig or fundraiser – anything to help the massive charity programme that Haiti will need to rebuild its shattered infrastructure.
"Within a week this grew, to take in The Spring and Airbrake, Katy Dalys and The Limelight. 50 acts, the cream of local talent, have agreed to play for free. Sound engineers, Djs and anyone willing just to provide a spare pair of hands have offered their time. Local businesses have offered their services as raffle prizes. All we need is you to come down and give as much as you can – starting with the very, very reasonable £10.00 ticket (though best think of that as a minimum donation…) www.ticketmaster.ie with no booking fee at all.

"For your tenner the Belfast4Haiti people can offer more than 30 live bands (‘which live bands?’ you might ask. Well (deep breath) …The Answer, General Fiasco,
"In Case Of Fire, Joe Echo, Panama Kings, Ben Glover, Brian Houston,Olympic Lifts, Mojo Fury, Dutch Schultz, Pocket Billiards, Cashier No 9, A Plastic Rose, Cutaways, Not Squares, Colenso Parade, Queer Giraffes, Ten Gallon Hat, Escape Act, Kowalski, Team Laser Explosive, Yakuza, Uber Glitterati, The Rupture Dogs, Tin Pot Operation, Black Bear Saloon, Axis Of,Swanee River,The Good Fight, The Beat Poets, Comply or Die, The Lobotomies, Suicide Dolphin Bombers. (yes, the rumours are true, the Suicide Dolphin Bombers will be playing. Can’t wait.
"Given the fact that both the Answer and General Fiasco headlined the Ulster Hall last year this bill represents amazing value for money even before you take into account the wealth of up and coming bands. That’s before you take into account the Djs, the raffles and the fact that Sunday 31st’s gig runs from 3pm-1pm.

"There’ll be plenty of opportunities to donate to this great cause on the day, but tickets are going very, very fast – available from Katy Dalys and Ticketmaster. There’s no booking fee so 100% of the ticket proceeds go towards the Disasters Event Committee. A similar concert was organised in the wake of the 2004 tsunami which raised £18084.64. Let’s beat that.

"Check out http://belfast4haiti.com/ for updates and join http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=253887616903&ref=ts On facebook."

Gettin' better with A Little Bitter

OKAY, time to confess...A Little Bitter are probably one of the favourite local bands we have reviewed and seen. There are many great, great local acts out there, but A Little Bitter seem to have both a charm and intensity that few are able to match.

If you haven't caught them live yet now here's your chance:

12 Feb The Rosetta Belfast

27 Feb The Black Boat Bangor
6 March The Nerve Centre Derry
20 March The Diamond Ahoghill

www.myspace.com/alittlebittermusic

Will see you at least at one or more of these dates...we're the ones who know all the words to Jebus, Angel and Battle Cry...

Rock for Haiti

FOR those of you occassionaly switch yer telly from music and sports channels you can't have helped to be moved by the horrific scenes emerging from Haiti.

On Sunday 31st January there will be a gig - Belfast4Haiti taking place to raise funds for the population of this tiny, deprived nation.

Many of the acts and DJs will not interest readers of this site but here are four reasons why you should make the effort:
1) It's in a good cause
2) The Answer are headlining
3) Swanee River are playing
4) It's in a good cause

Below are the details from the organisers and the full list of acts....and remember that this is a gig associated with DEC - in other words it's official and the money will help those suffering the dreadful after effects of the earthquake.

BELFAST 4 HAITI  50 ACTS – ONE CAUSE
THE LIMELIGHT / SPRING & AIRBRAKE / KATY DALYS

SUNDAY 31ST JANUARY 2010

£10
3pm – 1am

Haiti's strongest earthquake in more than two centuries rocked the Caribbean nation on Tuesday 12th January, The Haitian government reported that nearly 70,000 bodies had been recovered by official crews. So far, official estimates have placed the death toll at 200,000, with 250,000 injured and 1.5 million homeless. Experts caution that any final death toll will be a "guesstimate" as the scale of the disaster makes an accurate tally impossible. Many countries have responded to the appeals and launched fund-raising efforts, as well as sending search and rescue teams. The top names in the Northern Ireland music industry are pulling together for a massive one day event on Sunday January 31st with 50 acts including live bands and DJ's. Back in 2005 a similar event was held raising a total of £18,084.64 for the Tsunami appeal. All proceeds will be donated to the Haiti fund. Belfast 4 Haiti will take place in The Limelight, Spring & Airbrake and Katy Dalys on January 31st 2010, tickets are priced £10 and are available in Katy Dalys bar or Ticketmaster.

LIVE BANDS

The Answer
General Fiasco
In Case Of Fire
Joe Echo
Panama Kings
Ben Glover
Olympic Lifts
Mojo Fury
Dutch Schultz
Pocket Billiards
Cashier No 9
A Plastic Rose
Cutaways
Not Squares
Colenso Parade
Queer Giraffes
Ten Gallon Hat
Escape Act
Kowalski
Team Laser Explosive
Yakuza
Uber Glitterati
The Rupture Dogs
Tin Pot Operation
Black Bear Saloon
Axis Of
Swanee River
The Good Fight
The Beat Poets
Comply or Die
The Lobotomies
Suicide Dolphin Bombers

DJ’s

Stuart Baile
Nakatomi Towers DJs
Jane Bradford DJs
Panic Dots DJs
FAUX DJs
Shag DJs
Helter Skelter DJs
Chalkman
Ed Zealous DJs
Factotum DJs
Sketchy DJs
Josh Mc Cann

Please be advised this event is being run by the DEC – Disasters Event Committee
Charity No: 106263
DEC HAITI EARTHQUAKE, PO BOX 999,
LONDON,
EC3A 3AA.

Venue: The Limelight / Spring & Airbrake / Katy Dalys

Date: Sunday 31st January

Ticket Price. £10 no booking fee

Doors: 3pm

Distortion Project listings January/February

Book yer Saturdays - here's the Distortion Project listings for coming weeks. Add these to your metal diary and the gig list elsewhere on the blog

Saturday 30th January. Waylander + Natan + Burial, £9.00
Saturday 6th February. Anger Management (ex. Murder One/Medula Nocte) + By Any Means + TBC, £7.00
Saturday 13th February. Altus Astrum + TBC + Languished.
Saturday 20th February. Sweet Savage + Sinners Fall + Valkaine
Saturday 27th February. Interrogate (first gig as a 3 piece) + Mental Deficiency + Guilty by Association.

Calling Newry metalheads

QUICK call to the metal community in Newry. Tara commented on an earlier post about coaches/buses that are travelling up to the big smoke to the Machine Head/Hatebreed/Bleeding Through/All Shall Perish St George's Market metal meltdown on March 1st.

We hear are not aware of any planned buses up from Newry. but if you do let me know by commenting, or if you have a car travelling up with an extra seat email me and I'll pass the details on

So 2010...what's happening

'SO here I am once more, in the playground of the broken hearts; one more experience, one more entry in a diary self-penned...'

When Derek Wilson Dick (a.k.a. Fish) penned those words for Script for a Jester's Tear it was a song that was the emotional heartbeat before the chart success of Kayleigh.  In the same sense the fantastic year that was 2009 is but a prelude, nay a warm up for what is to come. With, but a few short days passed IN 2010, it seems that the coming 12 months are set to be a truly vintage year.

New albums are scheduled from the likes of Airbourne (March 8th), Coheed (April), Stone Sour, Down, Bullet for My Valentine, HIM, Cancer Bats, Avenged Sevenfold [tragic news about The Rev's death; hopefully new platter will be an appropriate swansong], Trivium [feck off the music snobs, they're still a good metal act!], Anthrax [Will Bush be back?...and truly we don't care who has vocal duties as despite those that slabber Anthrax were amongst the best of the 80s...and Bush was even better!] and, and, and, and, and, IRON FECKIN' MAIDEN's latest release is set to hit the stacks towards the end of 2010

Below are the confirmed gigs at the time of going to press [which is fancy way of saying we are too pissed to have more comprehensive listings!].  Any other gigs you know of, let us know!

Sweet Savage/September Cross/Soundstone - January 9th - Pavillion, Belfast
Million Dollar Reload/Bandwagon - January 16th - Diamond Rock Club Ahoghill
Waylander/Natan/Burial - January 30th - The Limelight
Glyder - January 30th - Diamond Rock Club Ahoghill
Marduk/Anaal Narthrakh - 3rd February - The Limelight
Airrace (feat.Jason Bonham) Feb TBC - Diamond Rock Club Ahoghill
Deft Leppard - February 20th - The Empire
Hayseed Dixie - February 22nd - Spring and Airbrak
Machine Head/Hatebreed/Bleeding Through/All Shall Perish - March 1st St George's Market
Blaze Bayley - March 4th - The Limelight
Hed(pe) - March 12th - Spring and Airbrake
Skindred - March 21st - Spring and Airbrake
Winger/Stormzone - March 27th - Spring and Airbrake
Eyehategod/Black Cobra - April 4th - The Limelight
Airbourne - April 13th - Mandella Hall
Dropkick Murphys - 20th April - St George's Market
GMT - April 24th - Diamond Rock Club Ahoghill
Bolt Thrower - May 3rd - The Limelight
Kiss - May 7th - O2 Dublin
Distortion Project 20th Birthday (Orange Goblin +19 other bands!!!) - all over Ormeau Avenue!
Metallica - 11th & 12th May Odyssey [HELL YEAH!]
Pearl Jam - 23rd June Odyssey
Deep Purple - 28th June Custom House Square

2010 -  one rockin' year!

First you play Carrick....

Carrick Castle...Status Quo appear there and then they Rossi and Parfitt get OBEs in the New Year's Honours list. A coincidence?

That was the metal year that was...2009

THE triumphant seizure of the Christmas Number One by Rage Against the Machine was, for many, a fine way to round up what we here on this blog predicted would be a vintage year for metal. For once, in several years the sub-Butlins talent show that is the X-Factor did not have a vacuous so-called singer, claim their predicted 15 minutes of fame while everyone talked about Cowell and not the phone-in friends failure to have a serious success later on.

But that clouds the fact that X-Factor will be back next year with another range of numpties with no talent. However, we do hope that the campaign to get a Cannibal Corpse track to number one next Chrimbo...

So, with 2009 ending with a small victory for the loud, unapologetically guitar orientated, beer swilling masses (yeah, there are more of us than they suspect mwuhahah!) what was notable in the hard rock, heavy metal world over the last 12 months here in Norn Iron? What was the best album? What was the best gig?

As philosophers of many a bar note opinions are like arseholes...everyone has one so whatever we commend or condemn there will be those that disagree, those that laugh out loud with incredulity and those that murmur and agree. Please feel free to slag off this review of the year, disgree with the selections and point out glaring errors - just make sure to post the comments!

2009, also ended with a triumphant homecoming gig for the fine gentlemen of The Answer, storming the Ulster Hall, just as they had laid waste to the Mandella Hall a bare six months earlier. Fantastic gigs apart (and a tour with AC/DC to boot!) it saw Everyday Demons hit the shops, an album with more darkness than predecessor Rise, and deservedly picking up plaudits and sales. The question for The Answer is the timing of the next platter. Just as Rise tracks have reduced in favour of '...Demons' songs, how long before the band need the fresh flourish of new tracks to keep themselves and the audiences interested? However it comes out one can be sure that the 12 months have been one that has consolidated the band in all our hearts and provided real hope for every other act here. The gigs and Everyday Demons are our first honourable mention for the year about to pass into history.

Now, for a wee swing away from that...extreme metal. While metal and hard rock has clawed its way back to the mainstream's attention (Iron Maiden's victory at The Brits) extreme metal has had a year worthy of note. While 2008 ended with Slipknot bothering the charts (and ending 2009 with the release of the brilliant Sulfur video) the year's outstanding extreme metal album was Slayer's 'World Painted Blood';  a true return to form, building on Christ Illusion to deliver a dystopian, defiant diatribe to a cacophony of ire and satire.

Honourable mention to Lamb of God for Wrath and a reportedly brutal Mandalla Hall gig. Also, one of the favourite platters of the year was Devildriver's Pray for Villains. The doubters that Dez would always struggle to shed the albatross of Coal Chamber off his back are the cantankerous minority who refuse to revel in the sheer metallic magnificence of Pray for Villains.

And, when it comes to putting extreme metal (and other forms) to the fore the work of James and the Distortion Project this year (and for the past decade!) must be mentioned. Everyone who has spent a Saturday afternoon losing hearing and destroying a liver at the Limer knows how much recognition the Distortion Project deserves for keeping the metal flame burning bright, notwithstanding the many other achievements such as bringing the likes of Amon Amarth to town.

On the subject of the Limer, the Spring and Airbrake and Katy Dalys were honoured as the best live venue in Northern Ireland. A worthy honour, especially from those of us who have enjoyed far too many nights in one of the three. Congratulations to CDC for not only this, but for the bravery at booking so many hard rock and metal acts into the venue.

And hard rock has been a theme for 2009. In the 80s Def Leppard, Whitesnake, UFO, Tesla et al were regarded as metal, together with DC and many others that today's genre splitters would disparage such titling.

But young and old alike took to hard rock with gusto at many of the gigs of 2009, whether it wasWhitesnake, Lepps and Tesla in Dublin, the Download headliner sets, AC/DC wet in Punchestown or the Tesla/UFO two night blast at the Spring and Airbrake.

UFO was certainly a stand-out night, with aged band and audience members managing to rock Ormeau Avenue to the core...yeah I hear Tesla the night before was even better, but hey can't get to as many gigs as we wish what with advancing years :)

UFO's The Visitor was a stand-out release of the year combining British blues with good old fashioned hard rock. Unfortunately it won't get the airplay or sales that it richly deserves.

And nor will many of the wonderful albums that emerged in 2009. For CDs are on their way out, as decreed by a record indstry that now sees the ease of plugging empty headed pop downloads over the effort of supporting a band to musical maturity. Not for the first time we have heard bands bemoaning the fact that gigs are populated by a minority who have either downloaded just one track or heard a song on a cover-mount sampler...and then talk through the rest of the set. While we can do the grumpy old men whine about this can we also humbly and with consideration ask those who natter while the band are playing to shut the fuck up. Other paying customers might want to actually listen to the whole set. We writers are generally peacable people, but others are not and we are led to believe that a smack in the mouth really can hurt...whether it does or not some pissed off fan of music battering teeth into a bleeding pulp will generally shut yer mouth.

And a smack in the mouth is a risk we may have to take in mentioning two non-metallic gigs that are worthy of real note. First Biffy Clyro roasting St George's Market. Yes they are darlings of some indie media and have yet to darken the pages of Terrorizer or Metal Hammer, but the Scottish threesome are no shoe-gazing freaks. From widdly wankers they have grown to have a stage presence echoed by a live sound akin to a sledgehammer being weilded with melody and angst...and if you don't get that over-stretched metaphor only being at a Biffy gig can explain it.

Also non-metallic was SLF at The Ulster Hall in March. Stiff Little Fingers may be casually labelled as punk (and they were, musically, in the late 70s and early 80s) but their sound is as much about loud hard rock than some teeny pop ten-minute sensation from the USA. When one magazine said Green Day were SLF 2.0 the writer missed the point. Without SLF, Jake Burns beloveed Clash (and their ilk here in Northern Ireland) the sound of Green Day and others would be empty, and the sociological rants of Billy Joe will never ever be as insightful as Jake. The Ulster Hall gig in March was a celebration, capped by Jake dedicating 'Guitar and Drum' to that cunt Cowell for destroying music.

And that is about where we came in, with Cowell as a pseudo hate figure for a mainstream and radio programming thought police who trot out metal once in a while to poke fun at, or nod with post-modernist wisdom at Anvil's film.

What they will never get is that Anvil's tragi-comedy documentary is not a Spinal Tap 'rockumentary' but rather a summation of the spirit that pervades all really great music, not just metal, rock or punk. Rather it is the sheer love that the band members bring and the audiences lap up.

By all accounts the career of an 80s bassist from a disbanded supergroup and latterly a noughties supergroup should be one now marked by caberet slots and bitter interviews with magazines. Not such Mr Duff McKagan who brought his 'Loaded' crew back to Belfast earlier in the year. On the back of the magnificent 'Sick' album Duff McKagan proved that it is that perverse attititude exemplified by Anvil as much as Guns 'n' Roses that sums up everything we love. Love the music - nothing else matters...

There ends the sermon....

But afore ye go to Hogmany hijinx a few honourable mentions...
Mastodon for delivering Crack the Skye - haven't got a clue what the lyrics are a metaphor for, but it was one of the best releases of the year
The return of prog - Bigelf to be the acceptable face of the resurgence, and Dream Theatre getting more of the acceptance and adulation they deserve in 2009, complex chord structures and time signatures back in style!
Alice in Chains - a super album, and here's hoping they can mantain the momentum next year
Heaven and Hell - not as good as we hoped the album would be, but still head and shoulders above others: now we can all just hope that little Ronnie recovers from his stomach cancer to deliver more magnificence
Steel Panther - cringeworthy porn lyrics and a real homage to big hair absurdity combined with actual musicianship
Back to reality with Dan Reed soulful brilliance in Ahoghill of all places
On that note kudos to Derwin and the Diamond Rock Club for keeping the metal dream alive beyond the Belfast boundary
And speaking of porn...Rammstein's video for Pussy just ain't for the kiddies. No really, it's not!
But most of all the honourable mention must go to each and every single reader of this site. Writing about anything can be a long boring stare into a computer screen, self delusion that your views count. That so many have taken the time to email, phone, comment, text, reply etc means that people care not about what we write, but about the music.

Yeah, fuck you Cowell, we won't do what you tell us! We're still here, metal lives on and my black atheist heart is ready and stoked with hard rockin' fire for 2010. Happy New Year to y'all!

Rage Against The Machine's Morello praises chart race

Morello backs download battle against x-Factor....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8415750.stm

Is it worth 79p (cheaper on some sites) to piss off Simon Cowell...value for money methinks :)

Is it a stupid thing...yeah, it's probably that too, but how will the radio stations cope :)

MSG gig cancelled

Just had confirmation that Saturday's Michael Schenker Group Belfast appearance has been cancelled. Quote from the promoters below:

"Due to unforeseen circumstances this weekend’s Michael Schenker Group performance in the Ulster Hall has been cancelled. Refunds can be attained from point of purchase."

BUMMER!

Shine like gold

GATHER together 1,4000 of your closest friends and you know a good time is to be had - and last night the Ulster Hall rocked with a homecoming festive gig from County Down's finest, The Answer.

The band had been looking forward to gracing the veneerable Ulster Hall stage, and made no secret of how much a privilege it was to mount the steps in front of fans who were prepared to simply bask in the an unadultered and pure hard rock that Cormac and co deliver.

Opening proceedings were the Black Spiders, who took the stage brim filled with attitude. To play at the bottom of the bill would daunt many a band faced with a hall yet to fill up. Triple guitar attack to the fore the Black Spiders took up the challenge with the furious set, all hair and intricate metal ablaze.

Derry classic rock crew took time to warm-up - perhaps daunted by the venue. By halfway through they eased into the groove and by the time they played Take Me Away off their new EP the band settled and broad grins shone as they left the stage.

But when it comes to The Answer hard touring for many years has honed their performance to such an extent that they have achieved a standard that many aspire to, but few achieve: that is to be both tight as the proverbial duck's ass but have a genuine feel for when it is necessary to loosen up both songs and performance.

When the band last played in Belfast, at the Mandella Hall, there was no lessening of intensity, but the toil of touring was apparent at a couple of points. On this December night there was a genuine feel that the band were relieved to be drawing the year to and end; and quite frankly ready for whatever challenges 2010 may hold.

When the band emerged for the encore Cormac stood above the drum riser, arms aloft. It was partly a salute to the crowd, but also what was sure to be a personal note of satisfaction - a vindication of what the band has achieved and no doubt a sense of achievement to be on stage at the Ulster Hall.

The setlist is almost an irrelevancy now when The Answer play Belfast. Most of Everyday Demons was aired. What a year ago might have been unfamiliar songs are now greeted as old favourites. On and On, Cry Out, Evil Man and Dead of the Night prompted mass singalongs.

Slower numbers, What Made You Change Your Mind and new single Comfort Zone were delivered with aplomb. Paul's solo was not only technically wonderful, but was evidently fun for him to play, with more than a nod to guitar idols he grew up with. James and Mickey nailed down the rhythm - and even Cormac's banter about the Belfast Giants trying to sign James didn't jar,  but was a joke shared not delivered.

The 'Belfast Blues-Off' could have been a clichéd chant, but amongst friends it had a sense of shared fun.

The Answer have worked hard. The Answer have proved their worth on album and on stage. The Answer have more hard work ahead to cement the success.

Every CD sold; every ticket bought and every grin from the band proves that Northern Ireland's top hard rockers are ready to move up to the next level.

Congrats and gig notes

Congratulations to Paul and Jason who won a pair of tickets each for Monday's The Answer gig. Commiserations to those not fortunate enough to win - there are a few tickets left for the Ulster Hall show, so make sure not to miss the homecoming concert!

On other gig news (HED) P.E. are playing the Spring and Airbrake on Friday, 12th March, and for a wee bit of Celtic punk mentalism Dropkick Murphy's are at St George's Market on Tuesday, 20th April.

Apologies

Apologies, but I just had to post this

'A friend told me to buy Rage Against the Machine's "Killing In The Name" after December 13th in protest against the X-Factor always getting the Christmas No. 1.


'I said: "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me".'
 
 
Still...if RATM did make No 1 it would really be a laugh listening to the radio clones trying to explain it!

Ulster Hall homecoming just The Answer before Chrimbo

Unless you've been living in a bunker, or hardened yer ears against news on the hard rock front, you cannot help but notice the slow, steady and certain rise of The Answer.

While wannabes wail and the X-Factor waste of oxygen acts pout awaiting vacuous fame The Answer have been working towards greatness the old-fashioned and certain way - writing great songs and playing them in front of real audiences.

After a year that has seen them perform on a global scale backing AC/DC and selling out their own headline shows The Answer are ready to storm the Ulster Hall on 14th December. As front man Cormac Neeson explains the band can't wait for this special homecoming.

"We are now counting the days until we headline the Ulster Hall.

"Having watched many great bands, local and otherwise, play there and grace that stage over the last 15 years it will be an honour to finally get the chance to do so ourselves, it will be a very special night and the best way to end a momentous year for us."

The Ticketmaster allocation has already sold out with balcony tickets also gone. There are a few left at the Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall box offices (and there may be a few left on the door).

If you want to score one of two pairs of tickets in an exclusive BelfastMetalHeadsReuntied competition click here.

Dan back in Ahoghill

DAN REED for one night only (Friday 11th December) returns to the returns to The Diamond Rock Club to perform a solo and acoustic show.

Dan last played The Diamond in May for two nights, Thursday 21st May and Friday 22nd.

The Thursday night was a complete sell out and the Friday night was a very hastily arranged gig (less than 24 hours) following the sudden cancellation of his show in Dublin.  On this trip, there will definitely be only one gig, anywhere in Ireland.

Ticket details will follow.

The Diamond Rock Club is in the village of Ahoghill, just 4 miles from Ballymena and 9 miles from Antrim.

Tenuous link to Douglas Adams

Douglas Adams epic stories under the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy stories featured the loudest band in the history of the universe Disaster Area...a band so big on a galatic scale that their guitarist had to spend a year dead for tax reasons.

But they had a problem with their drummer...

Which is a very roundabout way to say that one of Norn Iron's finest, Residual Effect is looking for a new man/woman to slot in behind the kit and lay down heavy as hell beats, double bass mania and battering any skins living or dead that falls within the range of his sticks.

Auditions will be getting underway soon, so if you want to try out for Residual be ready for some heavy, technically challenging hitting. Send your details via the band's myspace site, or email us and we'll pass on the details.

Win tickets to The Answer

Want to score tickets for The Answer's pre-Christmas homecoming date on 14th December at The Ulster Hall?

Yep, thanks to the good people of CDC Leisure we have two sets of two tickets up for grabs in an exclusive online competition right here at Belfastmetalheadsreunited.

Already the Ticketmaster allocation is sold out, but while there are some still on sale at the Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall box offices and some may be available at the door.

Later this week we'll have a few words from the band themselves, but in the meantime to enter the competition answer this simple question...name The Answer's debut album.

Send your entries here.

Competition closes at midnight on 10th December, winners will be notified by return email. Usual rules apply....which are if you're not in ya can't win!

Jamming at the Odyssey Arena...with Pearl Jam

Hot on the heels of the announcement of Deep Purple playing Custom House Square, which was hot on the heels of Metallica announcing two dates at the Odyssey, which was hot on the heels of Machine Head announcing a Market date in Belfast comes the news that Pearl Jam are to play the Odyssey on 23rd June...

2010 gonna be a busy year :)

Deepest June date for Purple

June 28th...Deep Purple, Belfast's Custom House Square....happy days!

Tickets are 38 notes, more details to follow as soon as we get them!

Metallica - again!

As Wayne has just commented Metallica's 11th May date standing tickets are all but sold out so....they've added a 2nd date on 12th May at the Odyssey!

A double dose of Metallica! Hell Yeah!

Sweet week of rock

Right, you've maxed out booking yer Metallica tickets and still counting the shakels after buying the Machine Head entry passes...so what to do in the meantime...

Well Thursday night sees Sweet Savage play an 'intimate' show at Auntie Annie's with Exit and Red Returned for three of your finest pounds

On Friday hard blues rockers the Quireboys touch down in the Spring & Airbrake...fun, fun, fun being the order of the day!

Saturday evening...you could do worse than heading along to the Limer for Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hades Lab, Less Help and Sadisture.

Sunday, for the geetar widdlers Joe Bonomassa will be showing up the teeny shredders at the Waterfront Hall.

Take a breath then you got The Answer on the 14th and MSG on the 19th! 

Metallica set for Belfast!

May 11th, Odyssey Arena - METALLICA

Tickets 49 notes and rumours are that if it sells out there is the capacity for a second date

Best wishes to the wee man with the big voice

Ronnie James Dio has been diagnosed with cancer – but it appears he is recovering.

In a statement, a spokesman of his management said:

"Ronnie has been diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer. We are starting treatment immediately at the Mayo Clinic.

"After he kills this dragon, Ronnie will be back on stage, where he belongs, doing what he loves best, performing for his fans.

"Thanks to all the friends and fans around the world that have sent well wishes. This has really helped to keep his spirit up. Long Live Rock and Roll, Long Live Ronnie James Dio"

All the best from us here Ronnie!

Source: Totalrock.com

Skindred march on Belfast

WITH March kicking off with Machine Head and co hitting the city, the month now also includes Skindred playing The Limelight on March 21st.