Anal surgery required for The Limelight

NO - you didn't read that headline wrong! According to James (of Distortion Project fame!) Eyehategod ripped a new ass for The Limelight on Sunday night. As too often is the case through illness/resposibilities/lack of beer tokens we didn't have a presence there. If you were there and want to send a review email here. And the same applies to any other reviews you may want to send me (Ozzmium in Omagh anyone?).

But as it is now almost 3am there are a few things that need to said...

No, it's not another rant: but suffice to say there are some things that need to be said.

First off - Cathedral are playing The Limelight on 28th April. The simple instruction is: get along to this; Lee Dorrian knows more about rock/metal than most other living mortals...give your homage gratefully!
Next - A Decade of Aggression: If you need to know more and are into heavy music we don't know where to start...
Thirdly - thanks to everyone....readers/commenters/emailers; somehow it makes it all worthwhile
Lastly (well for now!) - what are we missing? Let us know!

To conclude - this blog would not be anything more than the rantings of a 40+ metalhead without your active involvement. Thanks! Now, what more do you want included? More gig info? More reviews? More videos? More general news? (Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi are to record a couple of tracks and I believe I'm one of the few people on the planet that thinks Born Again is an under-rated album!)

But the real purpose of this post is to sort of hark back to the 'Quiet Rant' post last week. The Guardian (and other members of the so-called intelligentsia) has poured scorn on the campaign to have people register their religion in the 2011 census recorded as 'Heavy Metal'.

Last time out I registered as a Jedi, and according to the statistics Jedi was the 4th biggest 'religion' in the UK. I was going to register this time as a Pastafarian (member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster) but have decided that when the census forms come out I will register my religion as 'Heavy Metal'.

Of course, it is a wee bit stupid. Of course, it denegrates the whole census system. Of course, it plays into the hands of the smarmy, wordy Sunday supplement columnists.

But it is also a chance to have a laugh, snub the nose at the Simon Cowell-led 'pop' culture, and offend as many people as possible. I'll do the Newsnight interview and the Distorion Project can provide the bands for a backdrop when Heavy Metal becomes one of the Top 10 'religions' in the UK....

Most of all - the biggest underground scene in the UK will continue to encourage rock and metal acts worldwide to keep on playing no matter what happens in 2011.

Here in the UK and Ireland we can pick and choose when we go to a gig. In parts of the world - especially where fundamentalist religion dominates - listening to metal, wearing a metal/rock t-shirt, playing in a band can lead to jail time, persecution, and persistent observation from the so-called authorities.

Rock and metal is a freedom that should not be taken for granted, and as we approach the General Election should all candidates be asked what their views are on heavy metal? Go on! When a candidate or their representatives lands on you doorsteps ask them for their party policy on heavy metal! Let us never take for granted the scene we ALL have. And let's see if we can cause a few uncomfortable moments for DUP, Sinn Fein, UUP/Tory, SDLP, Alliance, TUV, Green Party candidates and all others who want our votes!