NEWS: Four more added to Bloodstock line-up

RINGING in 2019 Bloodstock has announced Powerwolf, Soulfly, Incite and Swallow The Sun as the latest addition to another burgeoning August festival line-up.

For full details below is the full official announcement...keep going like this they're going to need a bigger poster!

"BLOODSTOCK welcomes in 2019 by announcing four new bands for August’s best metal weekender.

"If you’ve dropped all your money on Christmas and are counting the pennies, the popular ticket payment plan is also now open, breaking that weekend ticket cost into five much more manageable chunks.  First things first though, four more join the fray....

"POWERWOLF land the coveted main stage special guest slot on Friday.  The band tell us "We're looking forward to returning to the mighty BLOODSTOCK Festival after almost ten years to celebrate the metal mass with our friends in the UK - this is going to be a truly wild one!!"  The German power metallers released their seventh studio album, ‘The Sacrament of Sin’ in July of last year, from which spawned the vampire-themed video for ‘Killers With The Cross’; https://youtu.be/cXOAcuNhFS4.

"SOULFLY also step into a Ronnie James Dio main stage spot on Friday.  Frontman Max Cavalera is looking forward to playing at Catton Park, telling us “BLOODSTOCK 2019, get ready!  It will be a Cavalera invasion!  SOULFLY will be playing a lot of songs off our new album, ‘Ritual’.  My son, Richie, is coming with INCITE too and together we will make a day to remember!  Fuck yeah!  Let the Ritual begin!”  SOULFLY released their eleventh studio album, ‘Ritual’ via Nuclear Blast earlier this year.  Check out the groove laden title track here; https://youtu.be/z2LHZs7xx-w.

"As Max Cavalera pre-empted, Phoenix metal squad, INCITE come to Catton Park for the first time, picking up Friday’s hotly-contested main stage opening spot!  With their fifth studio album, ‘Built To Destroy’ landing in stores on 25th Jan via MinusHEAD Records, there’s plenty of catalogue to check out if you’ve not listened to the band before.  Maybe start by watching the video to the new album’s title track here; https://youtu.be/CCoGid3u-wc.

"Finnish prog doomsters, SWALLOW THE SUN grab themselves an early main stage spot on Saturday.  Introduce yourself to their sound with ‘Rooms And Shadows’ - https://youtu.be/0_veG-Hv4I8 - taken from their 2015 album, 'Songs From The North I, II & II'.  The band also released the atmospheric and ethereal ‘Lumina Aurea’ EP on the Winter Solstice in December via Century Media.

"These four bands join the previously announced Friday night headliner, SABATON, Sunday’s bill toppers SCORPIONS, together with ANTHRAX, DIMMU BORGIR, CHILDREN OF BODOM, CODE ORANGE, SOILWORK, CRADLE OF FILTH, THY ART IS MURDER, TESSERACT, METAL CHURCH, DEATH ANGEL, DEE SNIDER, QUEENSRYCHE, ELUVEITIE, EVIL SCARECROW, ROSS THE BOSS, GRAND MAGUS, ROTTING CHRIST and HYPOCRISY on the Catton Park stages next August.  Stay tuned for more bands to be announced soon!

"BLOODSTOCK’s very popular ticket payment plan is available now, where you can spread the cost of your standard weekend ticket over 5 affordable instalments!  Your first payment of just £36 (initial instalment of £29, plus £7 booking fee) is due at sign up - which you can do at any time until 28th Feb - then four further instalments of £29 will debit your bank account on 3rd April, 1st May, 3rd June, and 2nd July respectively.  Please note, VIP tickets are not available on the deposit scheme.

"The final allocation of VIP tickets, plus Podpads, Luxpads, Bellepads and Octopads are now on sale, plus a limited number of VIP upgrades (for those who’ve already purchased a standard ticket).  For full details click to http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/pages/vip-camping. Standard weekend tickets are also in the ticket store, priced £145 (+ fees), snap yours up at http://bloodstock.seetickets.com.

"You can also subscribe to the BLOODSTOCK e-mailout to get band and news announcements as they happen!  Click through to http://eepurl.com/dKZrG-/ to sign up.

"BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 8th-11th August 2019.  Get additional information over at www.bloodstock.uk.com."

NEWS: Classic sets from Pantera and Soulfly released by Dynamo Concerts

Dynamo Concerts is releasing of a live album series – taken from archive recordings from the legendary Dutch music festival

Starting from 22nd June 2018, via Caroline/Universal. The preorder for the Pantera album will go live on Monday 30th April with two instant grat tracks “I’m Broken” and “Becoming”.

The Pantera pre-order link is now live here - https://PanteraUK.lnk.to/LADOA1998

Dynamo Concerts archives comprise more than 300 live performances. Throughout the course of 2018 and beyond Dynamo Concerts will release these remastered, unique and previously unheard recordings, providing an exclusive opportunity to take a look at how today’s biggest metal and hard rock names started their extraordinary careers.

The first releases will be the Pantera and Soulfly live performances at Dynamo Open Air 1998, which will be released both digitally and physically on CD and vinyl format.

“Pantera: Live at Dynamo Open Air 1998” catches Pantera at their ultimate height, touring their seminal ‘Great Southern Trendkill’ and ‘Live 101’ live album of the previous year.

Their electric set includes Pantera classics ‘Walk’, ‘I’m Broken’, ‘This Love’ and new songs of the time ‘War Nerve’, ‘Suicide Note Pt. II’ and Sandblasted Skin’. Phil Anselmo’s brutal vocals over one of the tightest and fiercest musical backings in metal history of Vinne Paul, Dimebag Darrell and Rex Brown. A genuine slice of metal history, available for the first time.

“Soufly: Live At Dynamo Open Air 1998” encapsulates the eclectic thrash metal band’s live performance debut. On this show, Soulfly played songs from their first album as well as Sepultura classics, such as ‘Beneath The Remains’ and ‘Roots Bloody Roots’. Guests on this special show include Chino Moreno (Deftones) and Benji Webbe (Skindred).

Dynamo Open Air was initially organised to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Dynamo Rock Club in Eindhoven. With a lifespan of twenty years, Dynamo Open Air was regarded as one of the biggest and most influential hard rock and metal festivals in the world.

Over the years Dynamo Open Air exponentially grew in size from 5,000 people in the Dynamo parking lot to over 110,000 attendees in 1995. The seasonal music gathering ran from 1985 until 2005 and saw performances from the best hard rock and metal bands in history such as: Metallica, Iron Maiden, Pantera, System Of A Down, Marilyn Manson, Incubus, Testament, Sepultura, Anthrax, Monster Magnet, Machine Head, Black Label Society, and many many more.

“Pantera: Live At Dynamo 1998”
Track Listing
1 Walk
2 A New Level
3 Suicide Note Pt. II
4 War Nerve
5 Becoming
6 Sandblasted Skin
7 Hard Lines Sunken Cheeks
8 Primal Concrete Sledge
9 I’m Broken
10 Fucking Hostile
11 This Love
12 Domination, Hollow
13 Mouth For War
14 Cowboys From Hell
“Soulfy: Live At Dynamo 1998”
 Track Listing
1 Eye For An Eye
2 No Hope = No Fear
3 Spit
4 Bleed
5 Beneath The Remains / Dead Embryonic Cells
6 Tribe
7 Bumba
8 Quilombo
9 Prejudice
10 Roots Bloody Roots
11 Attitude
12 The Song Remains Insane
13 First Commandment
Links:
Website: www.dynamoconcerts.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dynamoconcert

NEWS: Cavaleras' extra busy (again) and Steak release video for new song

MAX Cavalera is a busy bunny - it seems he can't keep still...

Last month Soulfly were in Belfast as part of a tour cycle (review here) shortly after releasing
the awesome Killer Be Killed, with assorted collaborators. (Review here.)

And now the countdown to the release of the new Cavalera Conspiracy album is underway, with Iggor Cavalera revealing the track listing for the album and the artwork.

Pandemonium is set for release on Napalm Records on November 3rd.
The track listing for Pandemonium is:

1. Babylonian Pandemonium
2. Banzai Kamakazi
3. Scum
4. I, Barbarian
5. Cramunhao
6. Apex Predator
7. Insurrection
8. Not Losing the Edge
9. Father of Hate
10. The Crucible
11. Deus Ex Machina
12. Porra
If you want a wee preview the first track from Pandemonium is available for streaming now.  Check out “Bonzai Kamakazi” here: http://metalhammer.teamrock.com/news/2014-08-18/premiere-cavalera-conspiracy-bonzai-kamakazi

For More Info Visit: www.cavaleraconspiracy.com/
_______________________________________________________________________________

Steak sneak preview

With English stoner/desert rock act Steak added to the John Garcia they have released a preview of their forthcoming Napalm release, 'Slab City'. 

The album is out on 1st September. But while you wait you can watch the brand new music video for their track 'Rising' here.
 
  

GIG REVIEW: Where to find one's soul: Soulfly and Lody Kong, Belfast

THE soul is a fragile thing; and even though most of the assembled reviewers on this site are mostly atheists, and have no time for a deux ex machina, there can be few who love hard rock, punk and metal that doubt the balm for the deepest part of ourselves that a damn good extreme gig can provide.

Such was the case when Soulfly, backed by Lody Kong, played Belfast's Limelight2 on the 10th July, 2014 as part of the Soulfly Savages tour cycle.

And, in terms of extreme metal there are very little who can match the peerless record of Max Cavalera from the time when Sepultura burst upon an unsuspected metal world through to his various side projects and the Soulfly track record to date.

It is also worth noting, for those who do not know, that metal is a family business for the Cavalera. Nephew Igor is among the four-piece that is Lody Kong, a fearsome merging of metal, hardcore and crusty noise.

Earning their gigging stripes, they are producing a damn fine noise as they look forward to securing a recording and distribution deal.

On the strength of tracks like Pig in a Pen, Chillin' Killin', Monkeys and Smashed such a deal will see Lody Kong begin a rise through their mediocre peers by sheer nerve and solid arrangements to back musical talent.

But as a young band their profile as laid out, for example, on Facebook and other sites needs to show the same maturity and professionalism that they put out on stage.

For Soulfly there is an undoubted professionalism that comes from experience and a confidence in the material and stagecraft. To many they still associate the Soulfly name with Max, but make no mistake about it, Soulfly are a band, first and foremost; not a 'project' to be picked up and put down according to whim.

From the opening strains of Blood, Fire, War Hate, face melting material piles upon more ferocity. Marc Rizzo's lead work is as much a feature as Max's guttural growls.

Max's son Zylon's drumming, merging seamlessly with Tony Campos' bass, is a foundation as solid as slab of concrete for the songs.

Particularly worth recording is that songs from the 'Savages' release, such as Bloodshed, sit comfortably with better known crowd pleasers.

Max is as dominant front man as many in the business; the clichés calling for pits et cetera are part and parcel of most metal lead protagonist's repertoire, but Cavalera's engaging persona enables him to carry off Jumpdafuckup and general good natured banter that belies the challenging nature of many of Soulfly's lyrics.

Rizzo's teasingly concluding encore performance, with Campos and Zylon, see riffs from classic metal songs interweaved with soloing; a hyperspeed version of the Trooper engendered headbanging throughout most of the crowd.

Of course, the likes of Roots... delight denizens of the Limelight's depths, but this is not Soulfly living off a legacy; this is not Soulfly as another occupant of the middle ranking in the metal pantheon; this is a band, and this is a band that continues to deliver a full-blooded, fiery, war dance of hatred aimed at those who deny the potency of extreme music.

And, as all good metal is a balm for the soul, so the various members of the audience emerge into the Belfast evening. There are smiles all round, as disco goers look askance at the Soulfly tribe's beaming faces.

We doubt their music will provide as potent a salve for the mind and body that Soulfly can, and do, provide.

Review by Jonny 

Dry your eyes and get along to Soulfly tomorrow night - Competition winner has been drawn

Dry your eyes if you didn't win one of the pair of tickets to Soulfly tomorrow night (Thursday 10th July) we've drawn the winner, so the rest of you metalheads, it's time to get finger out of arse and buy your tickets to welcome Max and his metal band of mayhem back to Belfast!.


The winner of this Belfastmetalheadsreunited/Rockradioni competition - brought to you by the good folks of Limelight/Shine - is Gareth. Open your email Gareth and smile.


Now the rest of you! I expect to see you gracing the Limelight2 tomorrow night!

Summer of metal rolls on - gear up for Soulfly....and much more

RIGHT, buckle on your bullet belts, pick out an appropriate t-shirt and get set for the next stage of the Summer of Metal.

On Thursday Max Cavalera - the man with more side projects than hours in the day - lands with his merry band of metal mayhem men in Belfast's Limelight2 for a Thursday night of grooves, fury and rhythms from across the globe.

There can be no doubt that Cavelara has produced more extreme metal, from his Sepultura days, right up to this years Killer Be Killed and the recent release of Soulfy's Savages.

Backed by his son Zylon on drums, and Marc Rizzo (lead guitar) and Tony Campos (bass) Soufly's music encompassed a range of visions, a range of topics, and a clear rage against the dystopian 21st Century earth. All of which makes this return to Belfast something special.

See you on Thursday (July 10th).

And, then we have a Public Holiday on Monday and Tuesday (14th and 15th July), which of course means more metal...

Monday sees Onslaught, Artillery and Donum Dei blast a path to Limelight2. If y'all are still standing Inquisition, Malthusian and Zion are in the Voodoo.

And...well the rest of the year is packed, with everything from Tim 'Ripper' Owens, Eric Martin, Prong, Amon Amarth, Mordred & Furyon, Carcass, Dragonforce, Orange Goblin & St Vitus, Y&T, New  Found Glory, Saxon...

Shine, the Limelight1, Limelight2, Voodoo, The Distortion Project, Diamond Rock Club are offering you a smorgasbord, a horn of plenty, a cornucopia of hard rock and heavy metal.

And, that's without even mentioning the plethora of local bands who will be at RockD on a Saturday, at the Voodoo, The Diamond Rock Club et al.

Anyone who complains about not enough shows, or nothing to do, should just take a moment of their precious and check out the local listings...you'll shit yourself when you see all that's on offer.

See y'all at Soulfly.

Belfast's summer of metal just got better - Soulfly announce July Limelight date

THIS summer, of the year of 2014 is turning out to be 'The Summer of Metal' after another band announced a Belfast date - the mighty Soulfly are playing Limelight2 on July 10th.

Yep, it is turning into a summer of neck-snapping, headbanging brilliance!

Tickets for Soulfly - priced £18.50 (+booking fee) go on sale this Friday.

So, to recap (and we're only talking metal in this post - there's plenty of hard rock and classic rock at venues like the Diamond Rock Club and others) we have so far:

• Slayer,
• Anthrax,
• Onslaught/Artillery/Hatriot,
• Prong,
• Tim 'Ripper' Owens,
• Amon Amarth
• Mordred/FuryOn,
• The Architects...and in September
• Dragonforce and Carcass/Coldwar.

Remember to be nifty on your feet to grab your Soulfly tickets on Friday - while there you may be able to snap up one or two of the very few available tickets to see Slayer on their second date in boomtown.

We know that you're all familiar with Soulfly...and if you're reading this site you really should be familiar with Max Cavalera and the mighty force he has brought to metal, from his days in Sepultura right through to Soulfly and side projects such as the Cavalera Conspiracy and the recently released Killer Be Killed album.

With Soulfly he has his son 21-year-old son behind the drums and Tony Campos on bass (StaticX, Ministry and Prong are all on his CV).

Max Cavalera is quite probably one of the real metal icons and living legends: from family man to revolutionary, from shaman to the man on stage who has street cred Cavalera has grown up in the limelight in his native Brazil to a worldwide presence for metal fans and all who support the underdog, the disenfranchised, and just causes.

Do yourself a favour, listen to some Soulfly - and we mean really listen to the depths in what appears straightforward extreme metal...

In the meantime the Belfastmetalheads team are limbering up with some exercises and neck stretches for The Summer of Metal right here in Belfast.

Now, dear leaders of the Executive at Stormont, you stumped up millions for men on bikes and badly dressed golfers. How about the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister do the same for 'The Summer of Metal'. And, while ministers are considering this, I'm sure that Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness will extend a warm welcome to Max Cavalera, and will be buying their tickets on Friday to make sure they can stand right in the middle of the pit on July 10th...wouldn't that be a sight!

Metal week

Recovered from the weekend?
Right, time to get started:

• Soulfly and Sinocence tonight
• Fear Factory and Gacy's Threads on Tuesday and
• Katatonia on Wednesday night...

There! Has that got August off to a good start or what?

Here's a wee Trash Talk exclusive for ya!

ON Monday the support for the awesome Cancer Bats' November 4th Limelight appearance will be announced as Trash Talk and Vera Cruz...and we have to say that this is shaping up to be a tasty autumn night of full on noise.

Trash Talk - for the uninitiated - were a nominee for Kerrang!'s besy international newcomer. Normally that would have most of you running for cover, but bear with us here: Trash Talk are a nice, thrashy hardcore band, and one perfectly fitting with the Cancer Bats trademark anarchy. Check out the track Explode off the Eyes and Nines album to see where we are coming from.

So, November 4th: Cancer Bats, Trash Talk, Vera Cuz - all at the Limer for a measly £12...another heavy night in store in a long year of neck breaking, liver killing, ear bleeding 'heavy fuggin metal.

Come this weekend 'twill be time try and sum up all that is coming up...if you see me bealry eyed at the Spring and Airbrake at Soulfly on Monday it will be not because of the beer but as a result of trying to list everything coming up!

Soulfly winner

Thanks to the many people who tortured my email inbox with entries to our Soulfly competition. The winner is Bill (he knows who he is).

For the others who entered in the hope of scoring a free pair of tickets now's the time to make your way to buy the ticket. And while you are there pick up a Fear Factory ticket (Gacy's Threads confirmed as FF support).

Seriously, this is a chance to see two epic acts, who have each, in their own way, shaped metal in recent years. But unlike a lot of acts they continue to do so...Soulfly's Omen is a contender for album of the year.

Soulfly play on Monday (with Sinocence) and Fear Factory the next night.

Sinocence support Soulfly

Sinocence have been confirmed as support for Soulfly on August 2nd at the Spring & Airbrake.

And don't forget that the competition win tickets to the gig closes tonight!

Wanna win Soulfly tickets?

Do you want to win a couple of tickets to see Soulfly? Of course you do!

Anyone who has a heart beating with the molten lead of heavy metal couldn't but want see Max and co rip up Belfast once again!

Well, those kind folks at CDC (cheers Sabrina and Dino) have a pair of tickets up for grabs for Soulfly's 2nd August appearance at the Spring and Airbrake. All you gotta do is tell us the name of Max Cavalera's crew's latest platter. Email yer answers to be in with a chance.

Closing date is Tuesday 27th July - usual competition rules apply (which basically are, if you're not in you can't win!)

Don't panic - Soulfly still on

To all those in a panic about whether Soulfly's gig tonight will be affected by the adverse weather you can stop calling/texting and plaguing me. The promoter has just confirmed that Max and his merry band will definitely still be playing tonight at the Spring & Airbrakea. So get your asses along for the fun and warm yourself up with some metal on Ormeau Avenue.

Fuck fhe credit crunch...it's time to rock

THE dark clouds of economic misery, the global recession, the gloom of plunging exchange rates...well fuck that! It's time to rock!

Get ready for a stomping badass start to February. On Thursday the Soulfly tribe lands in town with Max's merry crew ready to rattle the rafters at the Spring & Airbrake as they bring the power of new platter Conquer to bear on unsuspecting ears.

Friday, you can take a wee breather if you fancy the less intense garage grooves of The Datsuns, also at the Spring & Airbrake. At the same time Two Tales of Woe are at the Rosetta supporting a Sabbath tribute band.

By Saturday the Distortion Project rocks Ormeau Avenue with No Grace Given and Dead Angels. Later Condemned are at Lavery's.

As if this all wasn't serious enough Sunday has the city being laid waste by Lamb of God at the Mandella Hall (support from Mass Extinction and the much touted Five Finger Death Punch).

Drawn a breath...well you'll need to catch more when Judas Priest, Megadeth and Testament tear down the Odyssey on the 11th.

Yep, six weeks into 2009 and already it's shaping up to be a vintage year for hard rock and 'eavy fuggin' metal!

Updated confirmed gig listings

This post comes under the HOLY SHIT category....I mean, be serious, just how much rock and metal can be crammed into the first few months of the year. There is something here for everyone, from extreme metal madness to glammed up campness. There's even something for the more elderly fans.

But it all goes to prove that Northern Ireland's scene is vibrant with local action and as a destination.

Overoth/Shadow's Far/Razor Sentry/Cursed Sun - Spring & Airbrake - 23/01/09
Soulfly - Spring & Airbrake - 05/02/09
The Datsuns - Spring & Airbrake - 06/02/09
Status Quo - Waterfront Hall - 04/02/09
Lamb Of God / Five Finger Death Punch/ Mass Extinction - Mandela Hall - 08/02/09
Judas Priest/Megadeth/Testament - Odyssey Arena - 11/02/09
Hot Leg - The Limelight - 26/02/09
Residual Effect/Sinnocence/Razor Sentry - Auntie Annies - 26/02/09
Nazareth - Spring & Airbrake - 27/02/09
Triggerman/Stand-up Guy/TTOW/Bad Boat - Auntie Annies - 05/03/09
Gojira - The Limelight - 15/03/09
Stiff Little Fingers/The Beat/Blood and Whiskey - Ulster Hall - 16/03/09
Eagles Of Death Metal - Spring & Airbrake - 01/04/09
Blaze Bayley - The Rosetta - 09/04/09
H2O/Death Before Dishonour - The Limelight - 13/04/09
AC/DC / The Answer - The O2 Point, Dublin - 18/4/09
The Answer - Mandella Hall - 20/04/09
Supersuckers / Nashville Pussy - The Limelight - 20/04/09
In Flames / Cancer Bats - Mandela Hall - 23/04/09
Full Metal Racket (Paradise Lost/Rotting Christ + more) -Mandella Hall -25/04/09
NOFX - Spring & Airbrake - 26/04/2009
Saxon / Sweet Savage - Mandela Hall - 26/04/09
Gallows/Everytime I Die- Limelight - 25/05/09
AC/DC - Punchestown - 28/04/09

The Soulfly tribe is once again on the warpath

Soulfly have confirmed a Belfast date - 5th February, 2009 at the Spring and Airbrake.

Max Cavalera's happy band of warriors will bring their metal on the back of the album release of Conquer earlier this year. And the main has this to say about his commitment to the world metal music cause:

“I do this for the love of music. We could use the tools of the market to make a commercial record and sell more, but I wouldn’t be as happy inside. I made the choice, and we aren’t going down the easy road. We’re going down the fucked up road, but that’s the road that we know.”

Tickets £17.50, usual outlets, neck brace must be purchased separately.