Another boring Saturday...NOT!

Saturday afternoon's can be a pretty boring time. You've had what passes for lunch, scrabbled your frame in passably clean clothes and now nowt to do til the evening session takes serious hold...

But then again there's always Saturday salvation and hope at the hands of The Distortion Project. And next weekend salvation and hope will be cast into a sulphorous pit..

THE DISTORTION PROJECT PRESENTS
Condemned http://www.myspace.com/condemneduk
Nailed http://www.myspace.com/naileddeathmetal
Neandertahl http://www.myspace.com/thisisneandertahl
Warpath http://www.myspace.com/warpathire

Saturday 6th September, The Limelight, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast. Doors 4.30pm. Admission £5.00.
http://www.thedistortionproject.com
http://www.myspace.com/distortionproject

CONDEMNED BIO

Traumatising GORE Metal Since their conception in 1993 Condemned have continually pushed themselves in order to create the definitive sound that they stand by today. The sound of traumatising gore metal. Since the release of their first CD “Prelude” and their second “Somebody stop…” followed a number of gigs overseas as well as high profile gigs including shows with Napalm Death, Extreme Noise Terror, Desecration etc. Since that time a number of disruptions hindered the release of their forthcoming Ep “…and that’s how I found them” such as getting kicked out of one practice hall, the burning down of another and of course the departure of the bass player and rhythm guitarists. However with the addition of Michael Ardill the bass role has once again been redefined within the Condemned line-up. Back from the ashes Condemned decided to keep the band as a four piece and with that in mind “…. And that’s how I found them” was recorded between February and March 2005. With the new CD release Condemned are reassessing their plans for world domination. See you soon.

NAILED BIO

Aside from pockets of resistance in the major cities, UK death metal is the sole domain of Myspace-dependent idiot bands who'll release two EP's in two months and break up still wondering who or what the subject of their Suffocation T-shirt is and why the guy they got it off Ebay from started crying when he saw them.
And were it not for Nailed, West Yorkshire would be no exception.
Forming in 2000 and culling members from similarly respectable bands In Dying Grace and Sweet Sorrow, the band's ties to their region's maudlin heritage of frilly-shirts-amid-the-gravestones Peaceville gloom began and then quickly ended with the addition of veteran guitarist Mass Firth whose previous bands Ebony Lake and Dominion later contributed members to local powerhouse My Dying Bride. Yet it can't all be rolling fog on isolated moors and Nailed are less the sweeping grandeur of bleak, rural splendour and more the concentrated rage born of urban neglect and industrial decline.

Leeds may have wallpapered over the obvious signs of ill-health with glass-fronted 'renewal' and 'regeneration' but down the road, Wakefield still suffers with an endless parade of fast food outlets, pound shops and broken glass.Having shed all but two of their early members - drummer Garth Wray & Mass Firth - by the release of their debut 'A Pure World Is A Dead World', it was nevertheless a release deeply rooted in their past demos and a product, no matter how slight, of every musician to have played under the Nailed banner.

Gaining a reputation for militant gigging and more importantly, for savagely stirring Floridian death metal chops in with a full-on NYDM slam and a pinch of dirty, early Carcass, they took to stages with Obituary, Entombed, Krisiun, Nile, Dying Fetus, Cancer, Behemoth and many more across the UK and Europe, playing the chugarific Neurotic Deathfest in the Netherlands and the uber-filthy Obscene Extreme grind festival in the Czech Republic.

Long overdue second album 'Hatred, Failure & The Extinction of Mankind' is on the verge of delivering a brutal wake up call to the cause of real death metal. No longer tied to their past material and earlier line-ups, or dogged by associations to bands with whom they share only their accents, Nailed are raising the colours for songwriting, brutality, old school values and a balance of the three in a scene where beatdowns and pinch harmonics are all that seem to matter.

Saturday reminder

In case you're doing nothing exciting tomorrow/today RockD presents Corral and Gacy's Threads at Katy Daly's for the tiny sum of £2.50 from 3.30pm....and after that there's the BNB Promotions Rosetta Bar End of Summer Bash with Celtic Legacy, Sorrowfall, Darkest Era, Fierce, Fireland, Valediction and Decayor. Doors 7pm Admission £ 5 Enjoy.

And there's a drinks promo... The first 25 people in the door get a free drink of the new Tennants 1885 Lager.Carslberg are also giving away an Ipod Nano at the end of the night. Everyone who buys a carlsberg will be entered into the draw, winner gets picked from a hat at the end of the night

Times: Celtic legacy 12.20 to 1.30 Sorrowfall 11.25 to 12.05 Darkest Era 10.30 to 11.10 Fierce 9.30 to 10.15 Fireland 8.45 to 9.15 Valediction 8.00 to 8.30 Decayor 7.15 to 7.45 Doors 7pm

I'll miss out on the RockD event and won'tbe up to the Rosetta until about 9ish...still time enough to bang some heads, rock out etc:

Stand back: rant-a-coming

Stand back those of a nervous disposition, there’s a rant-a-coming.

To cut to the chase a 19-year-old know-nothing has just emailed me complaining this blog doesn’t have enough ‘true metal’. Apparently posting blogs on Extreme and Feeder damage my ‘metal’ credentials.

Fear not faithful readers, I bit back the invective and did not set the raging dogs that guard metal’s hallowed gates of hell upon his pimply ass (though I do reserve that as an option!)

Instead it got me to thinking – why oh why are we still doing this genre thing again.

Currently on the Belfast Metalheadsreunited Decks of Doom are: Slipknot (once dismissed as nu-metal), Dragonforce (Euro Power Metal) Black Stone Cherry (non-drinking Southern rockers), Gojira (French Prog doom) and Pink Floyd.

As this wasn’t enough he’ll shit his pee-stained pants when he sees a post about the mighty Deft Leppard! (playing The Empire on 13th September)

But on with the rant….being an old wrinkled rocker I, and many of the readers of this blog, where about back in “the day” when a tattered motorbike jacket was de rigeur, complete with a cut-off denim adorned with patches of metal and hard rock gods (from Def Leppard to Motorhead; AC/DC to ZZ Topp, from Dan Reed Network to Dio). And we went to see Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Anthrax and Metallica amongst many others not least Ozzy, Whitesnake, MSG, Slayer etc.

Then came the 90s…

So-called music journalists conveniently forgot that grunge was inspired by Sabbath and that Kurt Cobain was trying to do what Nikki Sixx did, but couldn’t handle the shit.

To set the record straight...

Metal is not cookie monster vocals. Metal is not sub-Maiden/Metallica riffage. Metal is not glammed out partying. Metal is not Death Metal corpse paint. Metal is not stadia rock.

Metal is all of these things and more. Sometimes the mainstream tries to claim metal. Most times it ignores us. We've never needed the mainstream, the pop charts, the play-listers or the poseurs.

We are stronger when we acknowledge that this wonderful, life-affirming music style accommodates so many styles, so many talented bands, and so many good people unfortunately a few wankers who spend time dissing bands they don’t like.

If you don’t like it don’t listen to it.

When Manowar played Belfast (how many of you pimply assholes remember that!) a dear departed friend asked them what the fuck was false metal. Joey De Maio assured him that he would get his answer from the stage that night.

The bass player of Mano-baby-oiled-a-war announced from a Mandella Hall stage that “false metal was any band that didn’t have the balls to play in Belfast”.

Ok, Man-o-man-they’re-very-short-a-war, may not have been back since, but to all those who indulge in this silly, silly I’m more metal that you or we’re harder funk/rock/metal/classic/trad/prog fans than anyone else; give it a rest.

Flame wars and abusive emails are for Americans and Spides. Here in Belfast, respect the music, respect the views – until then see you at Deft Leppard, Mastodon, Loaded, Dragonforce, Airbourne, Biffy Clyro and many other hard rockin’ metal events!

Extreme Belfast date...that's Extreme the band not extreme metal!

Hard rock funksters Extreme may be noted more for their annoying all persuasive 1990 hit 'More than Words' but had more in common with hard rock than that acoustic whine ever betrayed. Back with new album 'Saudades de Rock' Extreme touch down in the Spring and Airbrake on 9th November on the Irish leg of their promotional tour. Here's the official blurb...

"To date, the Grammy-nominated EXTREME have released four albums, plus a greatest hits set—selling over 10 million records worldwide. On the strength of multiple world tours, they also achieved a #1 hit single, “More Than Words”—from their 1990 multi-platinum album Extreme II: Pornograffitti—on the Billboard Hot 100, which they followed with the Top Five “Hole Hearted.”

"Although these two acoustic hits brought the band great mainstream success, it overshadowed the band’s trademark sound: a mix of hard rock funk in the spirit and style of their predecessors Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Queen and Van Halen—fueled by BETTENCOURT’s signature guitar flights and CHERONE’s resonant vocals—and matched with a social consciousness in their lyrics.

Extreme
Saudades de Rock
Gary Cherone (Lead Vocals)
Nuno Bettencourt (Guitar)
Pat Badger (Bass)
Kevin Figueiredo (Drums)

'Extreme’s first album in thirteen years doesn’t just mark the band’s hotly anticipated return to the studio and stage. Saudades de Rock (pronounced “sow-dodge”) is a groundbreaking record that reaffirms the beloved, Boston-bred foursome’s stature as innovators in the world of rock & roll.
'Fostered by the same unwavering songcraft and diverse musical approaches that first earned the band – vocalist Gary Cherone, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, bassist Pat Badger and new drummer Kevin Figueiredo – multi-platinum albums with chart topping hits and sold-out tours the globe over, Extreme’s fifth studio offering just may be its finest hour yet.
“A record is what makes a band vital,” says Bettencourt, who recorded Extreme’s comeback disc at NRG Studios in Los Angeles and served as the project’s producer and mixer. “For the fans, it’s like, ‘Show me if you still got it.’ And we’ve done that. I really think this is the best record we’ve ever done.”
'Boasting badass, groove-laden, swaggering numbers (“King Of The Ladies”), raw funk metal (“Learn To Love”), expressive ballads (“Interface”) and soulful, piano steered winners (“Ghost”), the raw, organic Saudades de Rock is the next logical step in a catalog that’s as ambitious and expressive as it is thought provoking.
'Anchored by the amazingly memorable “Star” where Cherone’s vocals launch the forceful song before giving way to a brilliant hook and a topical observation of starlets falling from grace. 'Elsewhere, the anthemic rocker “King” is similarly lighthearted, as its mojo works a chorus that just won’t quit. “It’s one of those songs made for driving around with the top down,” Bettencourt asserts.
'If the arc of Extreme seems surprisingly in synch, considering the large decade-plus gap between records, it’s because Bettencourt and Cherone kept in touch during the years when the band was dormant. Then, in 2004, a series of hometown reunion gigs planted the seed for what has ultimately become the outfit’s official regrouping. When the pair came together to pen the tunes that would comprise Saudades de Rock in late 2007, the creative floodgates were open. 'Says Nuno, “The chemistry was there from day one, as we suspected it would be.”
To which Cherone marvels, “I’ve spent my whole life trying to keep up with Nuno. There was actually too much material! We were doing a song or two a day, and we wound up with 23 or 24 songs in a two week writing session.”
“We knew within an hour of Gary and I getting back together to write, that we still had something relevant to offer,” Bettencourt continues. “And while there are great bands out there, from Muse to the Raconteurs, we felt like there was a void as far as straight up rock and roll goes.”
'Consider that hole filled by the blistering, Zeppelin-minded riffs and powerful rhythms that that elevate “Slide” into a raw rock opus. Less bombastic, but equally scorching is the passionate, blues-y “Last Hour,” which Nuno describes musically as “something you’d hear in the 1960s. It reminds me of “House of the Rising Sun, but heavier.”
'Bettencourt also calls the latter “Gary’s shining moment,” insisting, “he’s reached the mountain vocally.” Meanwhile, the two piano-steered numbers, the important, Lennon-minded “Peace” and the aforementioned atmospheric “Ghost,” exhibit Extreme’s broad stylistic abilities.
“We’ve always had a track or two where I sat at the piano with Gary,” Nuno says of “Ghost”. “But we wanted to make that one more upbeat.” Equally hypnotic and undeniably great, “Take Us Alive” incorporates a thumping country blues approach with Gary’s exceptional vocal performance and Nuno’s breathtaking guitar picking.”
“We’ve always had these ‘Right-turn-at-Albuquerque tracks’,” Nuno says, reminding us that Sirs Page & Plant utilized similar approaches long ago. Speaking of the ZOSO purveyors, he is quick to acknowledge that Extreme has always nodded proudly to its heroes.
“We’ve never had a problem wearing our influences on our sleeve,” the guitarist says. “I don’t care if it’s Zeppelin, the Beatles, Nirvana or Prince. You’d have to literally rise from the dead, get a guitar strapped on and write and record your record to not be touched by the music all around you. Going back to when we started, we always thought that Zeppelin and the Beatles were the greatest bands ever, and if we could fall somewhere in between them, we’d be doing something right.”
'Based on the enthusiasm of the rock aficionados and diehard fans that have followed the band since its self-titled debut, Extreme’s 2008 ‘Take Us Alive’ world tour is destined for success. Showcasing material from the majestic new album and classics from discs like 1990’s multi-platinum, Pornograffitti, not to mention 1992’s critically acclaimed III Sides to Every Story, the members of Extreme are thrilled to be heading out on the road.
“As much as we enjoy recording, for me, I’ve always loved playing live for the fans,” Cherone says. “We can’t wait to get out there and play this music live.” Staying clear of a common practice in recording studios, Bettencourt shunned computer trickery and vocal tweaks associated with Auto-Tune software.
“We’re having none of that,” Nuno explains. “Things can get really complicated in the studio if you let them. That’s why we wanted to do so much of this album live – these songs will translate easily to the stage. We’re really looking forward to getting out on tour, putting on a show. That’s really where the band shines.”
'And for those still pining for the approach of Extreme’s chart smashes, “More Than Words” and “Hole Hearted,” where Cherone and Bettencourt harmonized with such effortless grace, look no further than “Interface,” which celebrates that proven formula while arguably trumping it.
'Saudades de Rock finds the men of Extreme excited to be back together and playing to their collective strengths. And clearly, the accomplishment is not lost on them. “It didn’t take long for us to be reminded of what we were capable of,” Cherone enthuses. “We always knew Extreme was special. We always knew it was a matter of time.”
'It’s a sentiment that carries over to the title of Extreme’s phenomenal new disc. “’Saudades’ was always a beautiful word to me,” Nuno explains. “It expresses a longing; an underlying sadness for something or someone that’s been missing in your life, and never quite sure if it will ever return. In this case, for us, it’s Rock and Roll. Saudades de Rock.”
'Or as Gary concludes, “I like how it expresses that longing we’ve been feeling to play for our fans and be together again.” Amen. '
www.myspace.com/extreme

Footnote: no word as to whether King's X will be support in Belfast as per other dates on the Extreme tour, but very much a distant bet...damn!

Rumour mill...Maiden and Metallica

In the newspape trade August is generally regarded as the silly season...and no less in the metal blogging world. Seems rumours are flying back and forth about Metallica and Maiden putting in appearances in late 2008 (Maiden) and February/March 2009 (Metallica) on this wee island.

Comments by Hetfield on stage at Marley Park last week and at the Kerrang! awards led to somewhat garbled assumptions. The facts so far are the Metallica have confirmed North America dates (Lamb of God and Machine Head are among the touring package on various dates) that will last until January 31st. After that there will be a short break before more touring. By that stage they will have criss-crossed the US...therefore a European tour will take place. Whether Ireland, north or south, is included on the itinerary remains to be seen.

As to Maiden. Every couple of years they wrap up 12 months of work with a couple of UK dates that culminate in one or two dates at Earl's Court. If, and at this stage it is a big if, they decide to do a short Christmas tour, somewhere in Ireland (basically Odyssey or Point) will be included. Suggested date at this early stage is 8th December (which at the Odyssey has no poxy boy bands, whining Indie idiots or gospel conventions listed...it's free if you're listening Mr Smallwood)

Oh, and for the n-th year running AC/DC are supposed to be playing Slane...

Once the facts are clear we'll bring you the full details...well at least where you can wish you had bought tickets as they'll sell out pretty quickly if the rumour mill grinds some truth

FOOTNOTE: As noted in the comment from Alertz (see comments) below the Maiden date is looking less likely. I've also spoken to a 'source' today who said that Maiden's management were allegedly demanding heavy cash for Irish dates owing to transport costs. The source said that unless it was an extremely stripped down show an Irish Maiden date, north or south, would not take place until next album release. As said in the post, everything is a big if.

Glaswegian classic noise comes back to Norn Iron

Glaswegian classic hard rockin' noisenicks Wired Desire are back in Norn Iron for a brief tour that will see them play the Spring and Airbrake on 27th August, with Stonecrow and Dead Zebra as support. The next night they play Londonderry/Derry's Nerve Centre with Stonecrow and Niyah Sky. On the 29th they play an acoustic set at Zavvi in Victoria Square Belfast.

Galactic Nebula

AMENDED POST: There's a timeand a place for stoner rock...and it assuredly never includes Josh Homme. That time in Belfast is from 8pm on Sunday, 12th October at The Limelight when monolithic Stoner Rock Titans Nebula play in the Ormeau Avenue venue.

If you haven't heard Nebula before here's the blurb (links at the end).

"Los Angeles based trio 'Nebula', comprised of Eddie Glass (Guitar/Vocals), English geezer Tom Davies (Bass/Vocals) & Rob Oswald (Drums).
It all started when Eddie & friend Neil Blender were making weird 4 track music for skate movie's like 'Alien Workshops' first video.

"He then went on to drum for 'Olivelawn' and later on played guitar with 'Fu Manchu', writing some of the songs and playing lead guitar on the first three albums.
In 1997 Eddie decided it was time to use the whole arsenal - Guitars, Drums, Moogs, Sitars, The Jug and formed Nebula.


"Tom crossed the pond in the summer of 2004 to join the Nebula ranks and with the recent addition in early 2007 of Rob (Karma To Burn/Mondo Generator), Nebula are re-igniting the fires started in '97."


Details: Doors on the day will be at 8PM, and tickets, priced £11 are available from KATY DALYS, and by following this link. http://www.geturticket.com/product.asp?P_ID=597

Support slots are still to be confirmed.

http://www.nebulamusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/nebulamusic
http://www.thedistortionproject.com/
http://www.myspace.com/distortionproject

September noise

With the wet, miserable August drawing slowly to a close, September's line-up from the Distortion Project has been set...and noise is as usual coming to Ormeau Avenue in slabs of metal.

September 6th sees Condemned, Nailed, Neandertalh and Waspth flay the Limelight. On the 13th Sorrowfall hit Katy Daly's (support to be confirmed). If you're still raring for noise, the 20th will see Backfire, Sixkillerzero and Cursed Sun (TBC) at Katy Daly's.

The month's fun concludes with Skypilot's album launch at Katy's on the 27th, with support from Dutch Schultz.

Grand date at Auntie's

Grand Magus - one of the most underrated of the battle/fantasy metal acts currently on the scene - are set for a Belfast appearance on October 27th in a Distortion Project promoted gig at Auntie Annie's.

For the uninitiated Grand Magus are Swedish classic metallers, with a penchant for epic tales of pre-Christian romance, battles, vengeance and errr, well lots of the same, plus gratuitous killing.

Promoting their new album, Iron Will, Magus will hit the stage with Belgian doomsters Serpent Cult and Norn Iron's own Honey for Christ.

Grand Magus have been knocking about the underground scene for more than eight years, with members also involved in numerous side projects (newest member, drummer Seb, played with Glenn Hughes touring outfit).

They'll bring an epic world to the intimate surroundings of Auntie Annie's and with tickets at a miserly £12 (on sale now from Katy Daly's and GetUrTicket) there should be no excuse not to get your asses into gear for a night that will show all the fans of 'new' battle/fantasy metal that it's been around for years and has some fine original proponents.

Time to raid the piggy banks!

There is quiite literally a shed load of albums coming out in coming weeks and months that could bankrupt the serious metalhead or hard rocker; or at least seriously drain the supply of beer tokens...

Already on the shelves this week is the Black Stone Cherry new platter, and next week Slipknot and Dragonforce have their latest offerings upon us. Then Metallica's Death Magnetic hits the racks on September 12th. [And despite the naysayers the evidence from first single 'The Day that Never Comes' shows Metallica are only rivalled by Maiden as the biggest cult band in the world].

Ten days later Amon Amarth release 'Twilight of the Thunder God'. Terrorizer readers will already have some of the comic strip preview to enthrall them with tales of Viking derring-do!

As if all this, and the dozens of recent CDs piling up in the "I want" list wasn't enough AC/DC have finally gotten around to recording their new album and set a release date. Black Ice will arrive on Columbia Records on October 20th, with debut single 'Rock 'n' Roll Train' out on August 28th....what price for the much rumoured Slane date now?

Then there's Master's of Reality's new album late in October; the new Satyricon album 'Age of Nero' in November, plus a host of others.

Right now the piggy bank is glancing nervously at the hammer in my hand...

Christ single

No, the big JC has not signed a record deal in time for the second coming...instead head on down to The Limeliht for the regular Distortion Project slot when Honey for Christ launch their new single...mayhem, good beer and damn good music in a congenial atmosphere...sounds like a plan. Doors open at 4.30.

Half sans bar, half avec bar...cunning ploy!

Come Saturday, November 8th there's a novel wee event happening at Belfast's Black Box: two gigs in one day. The half and half deal will see an afternoon 'dry' all ages show...and then in the evening ID will definitely be required when the bar opens...

Sorrowfall and Darkest Era are lined up so far to play both events. More details soon.

Falling upon an unsuspecting UK...

Sorrowfall are bringing their Prayers for the Faithless to an unsuspecting UK. Kicking off at the Rosetta on August 30th they will hit stages across the country until 8th November at the Black Box...

Just a reminder

Just a quick reminder for those who will not be heading down to Metallica on Wednesday punksters Fucked Up will be playing The Limelight the same night. Their weird and have metallic undertones to their live set...they even credit Londonderry/Derry starlets The Undertones as influences!

Support comes from Belfast noise merchants and hardcore/metal act Gacy's Threads.

Norwegian Black Metal anyone...

Norwegian black metallers Gorgoroth are to play Belfast's Limelight on November 23rd...can't wait to see what the Nolan Show and the fundamentalists who protested at Ackercoke will make of this gig!

Anyhow...congrats to all at the Distortion Project for landing a Belfast date for Gorgoroth. Much maligned by those with closed minds (and who don't read Terrorizer :) ) Gorgoroth have been through line-up nightmares and legal wrangles that would stop many other acts in their tracks!

Gaahl and King will be bringing along Averse Sefira and Zebediah Crowe as support.

Summer ends...hell awaits...say goodbye to August in style

As we prepare the draw the blight that has been a washed out summer to a close, we can look forward to harkening darkening nights with a Rosetta line-up chock full of dark intent.

BNB promotions have laid on an End of Summer bash that will see Celtic Legacy, Sorrowfall, Darkest Era, Fierce, Fireland, Valediction and Decayor lay waste to the Rosie's venerable stage on August 30th (doors 7pm, £5 in)

As if that wasn't enough there's a drinky poo promo. First 25 people staggering up the stairs will get a free drink, new Tennants 1885 Lager.

Carslberg are also giving away an Ipod Nano at the end of the night. Everyone who buys a Carlsberg will be entered into the draw, winner gets picked from a hat at the end of the night.

Carlsberg don't do gigs, but if they did...

Blaze at the Rosie

Thanks to Dale for reminding me to post that A Little Bitter will be supporting Blaze Bayley on his Irish jaunt in October. On 9th October Blaze and A Little Bitter will be joined by Darkest Era and Fireland at the Rosetta. For £15 it's a killer line-up!

Escape Fails and A Little Bitter make soundtrack débuts

Two of our favourite bands here at Belfastmetalheads have made their début on a video soundtrack.

The video, produced by members of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People's Youth Panel was filmed to mark International Youth Day (12th August)

The young people wanted a track to open the video that conveyed, musically, the rage that adults feel young people must be acting out. And they wanted a track with an uplifting musical feel to conclude.

Escape Fails 'A Growing Distance' opens the video, with its post-hardcore screamo rage, while A Little Bitter's 'Angel' concludes the video.

Both tracks are also included as incidental music. You can view the video here.

Speaking to members of the Commissioner's Youth Panel today they asked me to express sincere thanks to all the members of Escape Fails and A Little Bitter for donating the tracks and wished them every success! Feelings we endorse here at Belfastmetalheadsreunited!

Rosetta...Friday night

Fancy a trip to a whole lot of rockin' at the Rosie on Friday night? In an Armstrong Music Promotion Angel Chambers, 5% Milk and blue line Paradox will take the venerable stage with admission set at the princely sum of £3.

This is blue line Paradox's first gig, for 5% Milk it's a hometown gig and Angel Chambers are travelling all the way from Warrenpoint...making sure they make it past passport control at Lisburn :)

FFAF supports confirmed

As predicted earlier the support slots for Funeral for a Friend on 15th October at The Spring and Airbrake have been confirmed as Cancer Bats, In Case of Fire and Attack Attack.

Sounds like a competitive line-up to say the least...odds being laid already as to who will blow whom off the stage...

Deft September

Everyone's favourite tribute band (and the best Def Leppard tribute band!) Deft Leppard are making their regular end of summer return to Belfast. Deft will play The Empire on September 13th for a set sure to freshen memories of Def Leppard's visit to the Odyssey earlier this year...and whisper this softly, some of the Deft Leppard versions of Lepps classics might even be better than the originals take on these!

Black (Stone Cherry) Christmas

Down home Kentucky rockin' dry heroes Black Stone Cherry are set for an early return to Belfast with a pre-Christmas gig at the Limelight (yep you read that right, The Limelight!)

With new album 'Folklore and Superstition' set for release this Friday, tickets for the December 17th gig go on sale tomorrow (12th August)

Here's the blurb:

WEDNESDAY 17th DECEMBER 2008
THE LIMELIGHT
Doors 9:00pm Tickets: £16.00


More than anything, the South is known for its music and its strong family ties. Both are highlighted with BLACK STONE CHERRY a Kentucky band that redefines southern rock for a modern audience.
They are storming into Belfast this December 17th at The Limelight. Tickets priced £16 on sale tomorrow from Kathy Dalys, geturticket.com, Ticketmaster, and usual outlets nationwide.
By any standard, BLACK STONE CHERRY is unconventional, they take the larger-than-life mystique of classic rock and modernize it with a driving attack that is equal parts roots and modern hard rock.
None of the four members is older than 23, the youngest is 20 - sound this powerful or versatile. They're hard and heavy, but BLACK STONE CHERRY is southern to the core, and they come by their love of music in genuine way: it's in their blood, and it's in their home.
Their second album ‘Folklore and Superstition’ is set for release on August 15th. On ‘Folklore and Superstition’, BLACK STONE CHERRY incorporate lyrical tales with upbeat riffing and atypical conventions like turkey calls, making it a collection of songs that is pleasing as it is unpredictable.
The album crackles with a down-home, feelgood, rock ‘n roll current and was produced and mixed by veteran rock producer Bob Marlette.
After picking up the ‘Best New Band’ award at November’s Classic Rock Magazine ‘Roll of Honour’ Awards, in front of a room filled with rock legends such as Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Steven Tyler, BLACK STONE CHERRY are still on a high. As well as storming sets at the Download and Isle of Wight festivals last month, the band also opened up for Whitesnake and Def Leppard on their UK arena shows.
Don’t miss Black Stone Cherry Live at The Limelight this December 17th.

Biffy back in Belfast

Biffy Clyro are set to return to Belfast's Mandela Hall on December 14th. Last time they proved that live the beardy Scots slay a new way, with their combination of indie grooves rooted in metallic delivery.

Heavier than on vinyl and with an intensity few can match, the Clyro may be Baal's least favourite Scots, but last time out they delivered big time. Pity that half the crowd were twats with fringes, but ho hum one can't have everything!

Escape Fails snag Shikari support slot

Let's be clear first...we here at Belfastmetalheadsreunited believe firmly that Enter Shikari are shite. They are an abomination which shows why chavs and spides should never be let near a guitar, much less ever given a record contract. But we have to concede there are some, well err people I suppose, who listen to them...

That's why we say big up to Escape Fails for snagging the support slot for the Enter Shitekari tour in October. Escape Fails will play with the Enter their own arses Shitekari on October 15th at the Ambassador, Dublin, October 16th at the Savoy Theatre Cork and on the 17th at Belfast's very own Mandela Hall.

One thing is for certain. Our homegrown Escape Fails will blow Exit the Stagekari right off the stage. Ryan and Co will deliver a "post-hardcore wrecking ball" to these pathetic twats. Might even head along myself to see the wee Shitekari fans ears blown right off! On second thoughts Sunday's EF gig with Triggerman and Soundstone is a better bet for now!

Rock for Mozambique....

Doing nothing next Saturday? Fancy helping raise some money for needy people...and listening to some damn fine hard rock and heavy metal? Well get yer proverbial asses down to Ormeau Avenue!

A charity fundraiser for Habit for Humanity's Mozambique project is being held with a line-up that promises to rock like the proverbial bastard!

Headlining will be Triggerman with their trademark preacher metal. Supporting will be Escape Fails, still on a high after their début CD launch. Also in the line up will be Soundstone (and if you have any love of classic hard rock you really have got to hear them!) and Dwell in Sun.

As if this wasn't enough Baggy's Death By Video will be opening the proceedings and linking.

And if this really wasn't enough... The Distortion Project's RockD will be laying on a terrifying line-up earlier in the day...RSJ, Residual Effect, Stand-Up Guy and Two Tales of Woe will be laying waste to Katy Daly's

Swag...

Head over to Total Rock for a threesome of competitions well worth checking out.

On offer is a Whitesnake 3-disc 30th Anniversary Pack, a signed version of Panic Cell's What Doesn't Kill Us 2007 release and the Guitar III Companion Pack...

Metal TV channel Scuzz are also in competition/swag mood. Head over to Scuzz to see if you can win. Prizes include tickets to Pukkelpop in Belgium...Metallica and Serj Tankian are among the headliners.

'Tallica release date...

Total Rock are reporting the worldwide release date for Metallica's new album (Death Magnetic) has been set as September 12th, with simultaneous release on Guitar Hero III:Legends of Rock download.

No doubt some of the tracks will receive an airing on August 20th at Marley Park...and from initial reports Death Magnetic is not only a return to form, but references 'Tallica platters both old and...well older yet :)

Mastodon for Belfast

American metallers with a penchant for complexity, chaos and concepts, Mastodon are set for a return to the Spring and Airbrake on December 4th.

No doubt taking advantage of their slot on the Unholy Alliance III Tour (with Slayer, Trivium, and Amon Amarth) to fit in a three-date Northern Irish/Irish tour this looks set to be yet another pre-Christmas pressie for Belfast metalheads!

Not metal, but good fun

They're not exactly metal, but still good fun in a guilty pleasure sorta melodic rockin' way...Feeder. They're playing the Mandella Hall on 21st November. Tickets are £24 and on sale now.