COMPETITION: Win tickets to see Megadeth, Lamb of God, Children of Bodom and Sylosis on the same bill on the same night

BELFASTMETALHEADSREUNITED and RockRadioNI have teamed up with those generous folks at MCD to offer you the chance to win one of two sets of double tickets to see one of the most metal shows in 2015.


Yes we have two pairs of tickets up for grabs to see Megadeth, Lamb of God, Children of Bodom and Sylosis at Dublin's 3Arena on November 9th as this four-band collective of fearsome metal kick off the UK and Ireland leg of the tour. Simply answer the question at the end of this article!


It's a co-headliner, between 'Deth and LoG, but inevitably will see Mustaine's band closing the night - after all it is the 30th Anniversary of their début release 'Killing is My Business...And Business is Good'.


As they prepare to release their 15th studio album here's what Mustaine had to say: “Having just finished an amazing record full of high-energy heavy metal with Chris Adler, Kiko Loureiro and David Ellefson, I am excited to announce this tour and see all of the metal fans come out for this one. I literally can’t wait to hit the stage again!”

 

After headlining the second stage at the Download Festival last month, Virginian metal titans LAMB OF GOD are delighted to return to the UK as co-headliners backing new album VII: Sturm und Drang (released July 24 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment).  And long time drummer Chris Adler recently joined the Megadeth ranks as well, so will perform with both bands each show.

 

"I have to say that it's definitely exciting to be announcing this one! I'm more than pleased to let the world know that Lamb Of God will be sharing the bill with thrash metal legends, Megadeth, for five shows in the UK and Ireland, from November 9th-15th!

"It's been almost a decade since we've had the opportunity to tour with Megadeth, and we're absolutely thrilled to be teaming up with them once again for these very special UK dates. Also appearing will be our good friends and long time co-conspirators Children Of Bodom and Sylosis. This lineup is unstoppable! If you're not stoked about this bill, then you very simply do not like heavy metal! Take a plane, take a boat, hitch a ride, take the tube, bring your Wellies…see you there!" – Mark Morton, Lamb Of God.

 

To win tickets to see this line-up in Dublin on November 9th answer this question:


Dave Mustaine collected which award in June of this year?


Send you answer and contact details here.


Competition closes on August 2nd

COMPETITION>: Win tickets to see Placebo in Belfast

ONE of the unclassifiable greats of rock, Placebo, are playing Belfast on 26th February, and you could win a pair of tickets to see them at the Waterfront Hall.


Yes, Belfastmetalheadsreunited and Rockradioni have teamed up with our good friends at MCD to offer you a chance to Placebo on the UK leg of their Loud Like Love.


The critically acclaimed album of the same name is the seventh studio album from Brian Moloko and co, one which sees the band overcome the niggles sometimes made towards them by the UK music press.

To win the pair of tickets to see Placebo, just answer this question: name the bassist and founder member of Placebo.


Send your answers here before the 1st of February.


Usual competition rules apply - if you're not in you can't win.

Day Two of Richie Sambora's tour of the island of Ireland: Review

Review by Darren Seaton

In the Dublin review from yesterday I wrote “tonight was brilliant, not perfect, not flawless” and if you’re looking a summary of tonight in Belfast, that pretty much does it!

 

Taking the stage at 8.30 with a pretty similar set list to the previous night, again opening with A Song For You and by the time we reached Lay Your Hands On Me the crowd were sparked into massive sing a long mode!

 

Tonight probably wasn’t as tight as Dublin, but as I said in the previous review rock n roll is supposed to be flowing and entertaining, not sterile and over produced!

 

While the set was broadly the same, there were more extended solos and jamming on some songs, there were also occasions where the set list basically went out the window, none more so than when the opening bars of Seven Years Gone started and Richie called a halt, had a quick word with the band then spoke to the crowd about what the song meant to him, and that he’d also had another song come into his head that day that related well, there was then a brief gap while they tried to work out if the band knew it etc, then in typical Sambora humour he asked the crowd what they wanted to hear, queue hundreds of voices all shouting at once before a laughing Sambora announces “you know what I’m just gonna play the shit I wanna hear” before taking on a cover version of Kite by U2.

 

Sambora’s banter with the crowd was very entertaining, his cheekily toned “And you thought I was just a guitar player” was hilarious, writing it down just doesn’t do it justice!

 

At times tonight Richie reminds me of Gary Moore, improvising here and there, extending where the emotion takes him and getting lost in his own music before leading the band back into wherever they were originally.

 

His partner in crime, Orianthi, riffs, solos on command, sings her heart out and shows what an amazing talent she is, maybe at some point we’ll get a solo show from her too, now that would be something!

The main set ends with I’ll Be There For You, cue massive sing a long, wonderfully bluesy emotional extended solos, and as the band leaves the stage, some idiot in the Ulster Hall turns the lights on and people on the balcony start leaving…..ah hello, have you been to a rock show before?

As the lights dim again and the band return to the stage, Richie brings out the five local support artists to join him on stage for a cover of Lean On Me, each getting their turn to sing.

 

Encores continue with Wanted Dead or Alive, again showing the fluidity of a Sambora show, as the song closes it transforms into a cover of Midnight Rider by The Allman Brothers Band. At this point based on Dublin’s set list I’m guessing Living on a Prayer is coming next, so was Orianthi apparently as she came out on stage with an acoustic guitar, only for the band to start jamming the reggae beats that take us into Get Up Stand Up and eventually the Jovi classic, These Days, so off she goes for a quick guitar switch.

 

Set List? Who needs a set list when you can call the songs as you feel! The band leave the stage once more, and while the lights stay off, again people get up to leave…..the band return and again

 

Sambora is issuing instructions to the rest of the band, Prayer starts acoustic, Orianthi on lead vocals, my friend from England who flew over for the show informs me she wasn’t singing it on the shows at the start of the tour on the mainland, Richie sings alternate verses with her and as we reach the mid solo section, a quick change of guitar and we suddenly have the full rocked up version of Prayer blasting out across the venue, a complete change to the version heard the night previously!

 

And so 2hrs 15mins since it began, it was over, Richie promising he would return and expressing his gratitude for the love shown by the crowd tonight, something he then went on to twitter only minutes later to reiterate!

It's been 21 years since Richie had graced the stage in Belfast, last time was the Kings Hall on the Keep The Faith tour, but tonight he seemed extremely happy to be back, and the Belfast crowd responded in kind.

 

I look forward to seeing where this journey continues, new album to come hopefully a new tour. Its always great to see someone loving what they’re doing and these past two nights have been a joy to watch someone great at their craft have the space to explore it with their own band! Long may that continue I say!

 

 

All photos Courtesy, and copyright of Paul Verner

Day one of Sambora's Island of Ireland tour in Dublin: Review

Review by Darren Seaton 

ALTHOUGH it’s a little under 2 hours down the road, Dublin can, at times, feel like a completely different world to Belfast, and nothing showed that more than the venue and staff at The Olympia Theatre, one of the calmest, most easy going entrances to a concert I’ve ever experienced, as opposed to the “Behind the yellow line” and “right drink up get out” brigade of a lot of Northern venues, lessons to be learned there folks!

And so to the nights events, as with the German run of shows, two local singer songwriters were chosen by Richie to open the show, they were limited to two songs each possibly because the show seemed to be running since Richie was apparently due onstage at 8.30pm and it was now past that when the second act finished.

Earlier in the day as your reviewer left Belfast around 4pm, Richie was apparently just leaving London due to an airline mix up, so one could have been apprehensive that his enforced late arrival into the city may have on the set a downbeat mode for the night…..thankfully not the case!

Just after 9pm, to the strains of Leon Russell’s Song for You, Richie makes his entrance sans guitar and demonstrates why many say he has the best singing voice in that there band from New Jersey he is or currently isn’t in!

I had wondered what type of crowd we would have tonight, would it be Jovi fans who didn’t really know Richie had solo stuff out, or a nice mix of those but also Richie fans who would know pretty much all the man’s back catalogue!

It was definitely the latter. Opening single from Aftermath of the Lowdown, Every Road Leads Home To You, was extremely well received and quickly followed by Nowadays from the same album.

If you’ve seen any festival coverage at the weekend, you’ll know Richie joined Dolly Parton onstage in London and Glastonbury, for her version of the Jovi classic, Lay Your Hands On Me, thankfully tonight the original lyrics were reinstated, and Richie’s slower grooving version wowed the crowd, although I think their singing back of the chorus possibly also wowed Richie!

Any concerns on whether the crowd would respond well to the non Jovi stuff were immediately laid to rest when the opening bars of Stranger In This Town filled the hall, the crowd singing every word, as Richie and indeed Orianthi let loose on some killer bluesy solo’s.

In our recent interview with Richie he said that one thing lacking in Jovi was creative freedom, to just play what he felt, there was no lack of freedom tonight, elongated solos, guitar duelling with Orianthi, impromptu sing alongs, who needs wide open fields where you’re a mile from the stage when you can be this close you can almost smell it?

Continuing the solo run, Burn That Candle Down, Weathering The Storm (written with Bernie Taupin) Sugar Daddy, Learning How To Fly With A Broken Wing all retain the same impressive band crowd repartee.

The emotional, and possibly the best track from Aftermath, Seven Years Gone, sees Richie open his heart a little about the situations that caused him to write it, and the crowd continue singing every word.

One thing noticeable from my vantage point in the Circle, is this isn’t the polished almost sterile production of the big Jovi arena shows, this is a band recently put together - albeit featuring long time Sambora/Bon Jovi contributor producer Luke Ebbin - who like jamming, who can extend and change songs when called for by Sambora, from the gesturing to Orianthi that says your turn play some guitar, even back to the keyboard player frantically flicking his cheat book on how one of Richie’s solo songs go…..its all part of a rock n roll show!

Orianthi for her part shines when asked and returns to “rhythm” guitar when not required, her chops are impressive, her vocals even more so, and when they play one of her tracks, You Don’t Know, with Richie pretty much taking a back seat, you can just see how talented this lady is and why she’s been playing with Alice Cooper, Steven Tyler, Steve Vai, Michael Jackson, never mind her own solo career!

She and Sambora play a fine version of Storybook Love by Wille Deville/Mark Knopfler and to be honest it was almost as if they wrote it together, anyone can sing a cover version, but its when you take it and make it your own that's when things shine.

This gives way to Jovi classic and biggest sing along of the night, I’ll Be There For You, Sambora unleashes some of that wonderful emotional soloing in an extended outro of the song and the who oh ohs from the audience continue for another two tes even after the song has finished!

In act, on previous nights Richie has used songs like Stick To Your Guns as an intro to Wanted Dead or Alive, tonight he takes the guitar off, grabs some water and lets the crowd continue singing, before putting the six string back on and taking us through an amazing version of the Jovi national anthem!

And so the main set ended, hardly a Jovi song in the first hour, then a run of classis, where do you go from here?

You bring out more! Asking the contestants for the opening slot to come out and join him and the band for Living On a Prayer, sung amazingly by Orianthi; she owns that song vocally!

Rounding off the evening with an impromptu version of Get Up Stand Up, before continuing the reggae theme into the start of These Days.
The night finishes on a high as we hit curfew, clocking in around 2 hours and the crowd still woh oh oh-ing as the band leave the stage.

I’d waited 16 years since my last Sambora solo show, tonight was brilliant, not perfect, not flawless, but what rock n roll should be, flowing and entertaining. Now for round number two in Belfast!

ENDS

Richie Sambora Belfast bound

ONCE known only as the guitarist standing beside Bon Jovi Richie Sambora has grown in stature over the past few years...and now he's set to play Belfast's Ulster Hall as part of a run of dates across Europe.

Sambora now has three solo albums under his belt, to add to the 130m album sales accumulated as part of Bon Jovi, with the latest release Aftermath of the Lowdown receiving both critical acclaim and fan backing.

The date for Sambora's Ulster Hall date is July 1st - the same day thrash icons Anthrax - lay waste to Limelight1. It has some resonance that these two ends of the rock and metal spectrum are still going strong so long after the 80s.

The venues may be smaller than the tours of that decade which saw Bon Jovi and Anthrax play Belfast, but the audience age range is greater; and arguably more devoted. How many of today's so-called stars will still be touring in 30 years time...

The soft rock hero Sambora will be backed by six-string wunder-kid, Orianthi, who was last spotted wielding her axe with the venerable Alice Cooper.

Tickets for Sambora go on sale this coming Thursday, April 17th (the same day as Cheap Thrill with members of Cinderella and White Lion play the Diamond Rock Club (yet more stars of the 80s still touring!).

The fee to gain access to see Richie Sambora is £36 including booking fee, which you can proffer via www.ticketmaster.ie, at the Waterfront and Ulster Hall ticket desks and at Ticketmaster outlets across the country.

We are currently deciding which members of our review crew will be at each venue on July 1st...we may convene on April 17th...in the meantime "Oh, Oh, We're Living On A Prayer".

Middle class, middle aged - and that was just the majority of the audience at Foreigner...

THERE was a time when the rock 'n' roll fraternity enjoyed the anarchy and the middle finger to the establishment and disdained the sit down concerts of their parents; when even the most moderate sounding rock bands enjoyed a swirling mass of swaying fans.

But when Foreigner played at Belfast's Waterfront Hall there were even people wearing their best glad rags and ladies of a certain age with Cashmere overcoats and the latest fashions...

All did not bode well...

Opening the night's proceedings were No Hot Ashes, and as home town heroes they surely deserved a better turn out, but the bar's attraction was obviously more of a draw for those who only knew the hits from the headliners.

Nevertheless the band's 80s songs from NHA still sounded fresh, and with Eamonn's easy banter greeting the personal shouts from those present, songs such as Diane and Summer Rain prompting sing-alongs from those who bothered to see this exciting reformation. Only a lack of a punchy sound detracted from the performance - no fault of the band.

FM are one of those bands who bubbled nicely in the 90s and then faded to the hard rock festival circuit. Kicking off with Tough Love and including songs such as Closer to Heaven and That Girl they produced a set that was mostly enjoyable, if at times insipid - perhaps they will see greater audience turn-out and warm the songs up as the tour progresses.

With the bar tannoy announcing three minutes to Foreigner's appearance drinks were quickly quaffed and the hall finally filled with its sell-out crowd.

A deceptively simple stage-set (take note Journey!) and a subtle and appropriate lightshow the band were quickly into gear, with Double Vision. It had all the hallmarks of a heritage show, a pension show for an act that were only there to pay some bills.

However, such fears were quickly dispelled when front man Kelly Hansen bounded off the stage, crawled along seat backs and reprimanded the person who had the temerity to use his phone when the band were playing.

It was at that crucial moment that momentum shifted: this was not a heritage show; it was a band that were onstage enjoying playing hits to an audience familiar with almost every song.

Those more familiar with the band's back catalogue rather than just the Top 10 hits were clearly pleased when Mick Jones - finally emerging on stage led the way to a stunning version of Star Rider. In the late 70s and 80s many a band wanted to produce Freebird Mk2, and while the structure of Star Rider is roughly the same, it was always a song that excelled as an art piece of rock performance. Even if half of the 'ladies' looked a bit bemused by the guitar solos it was a high point of the gig.

As many of the band are 'a little older' the keyboard solo and drum solo were an opportunity for a breather. While obviously competent and excellent players they were relatively pedestrian and left many heading for a smoke or bar break...

However, when the band kicked off the guitar anthem Juke Box Hero the pace was headlong to the conclusion. Juke Box Hero has always been the aspirational song for budding rock guitarists alongside Blue Oyster Cult's Marshall Plan.

With tweaks and extended sections the song rose above the excellent recorded version and Mick Jones was the epitome of the Juke Box Hero - a highpoint, a rousing song that shows off Foreigner at its best.

Closing the evening with the anthemic ballad I Want To Know What Love Is and a stomping version of Hot Blooded Foreigner proved they are no longer a spent force. New material from the band would have capped off a tremendous evening.

The average age of the audience may have been in the middle part of middle age, and many well into middle class. Is this a sign of people reliving their youth, prompted by easy listening Radio Two? Or is it a sign that with the right band there are many who yearn for that little bit of anarchy and sheer enjoyable release? We hope it is the latter and hope that if Foreigner return there will at least be a section for standing audience members who are still capable of bouncing up and down despite their ages.

Foreigner produced a fantastic performance of hard rock excellence. Take note younger acts!

Winners of Eric Church competition

CONGRATULATIONS to James and Finlay who have won tickets to see Eric Church at the Ulster Hall on February 25th.

After an exhaustive draw process (numbering the entries, putting them into a baseball cap and getting the metal mutt, a.k.a. the dog, to sniff out the winners) it now means that if you haven't got an email now then you're not a winner and will have to pay to see Mr Church.

Thanks to MCD who provided the winners and look out for more competitions in coming days on Belfastmetalheadsreunited and Rockradioni.

Befuddled and bemused by the brilliance of Black Sabbath

THIS is not a review. There is no way we here at Belfastmetalheadsreunited (and our colleagues at www.rockradni.co.uk) could ever produce an unbiased, detached review of Black Sabbath.

Ahead of Zeppelin and Purple even, Sabbath defined heavy metal. All else that went before was proto-metal, and none produced the glorious sense of evil perpetuated by that single diminished fifth on the opening track of the eponymous début album.

Thence came to an end the Californian dreams of an illusory Age of Aquarius, stomped down by Brummies who told tales of darkness, Lucifer and a doom-laden planet.

But more than 40 years on would the triumvirate from the original line-up be able to deliver the power and potency that defined a music style that refuses to die? The test was at the MCD-promoted event in Belfast's Odyssey Arena yesterday evening (12th December).

As we noted we cannot be unbiased or detached - the power, the infernal majesty, the very ridiculousness of it all beat down doubters, battered the scenester folks, kicked into submission the shoe gazers and reminded us all that this Black Fucking Sabbath, poseurs and preened pop princes and princesses need not apply.

Photo courtesy of Paul Verner

Sure there were a few moments when it seemed that Ozzy's voice was over-topped to keep it right, and sure there was a song dropped from the set-list to keep the obviously ailing frontman from collapsing, but this was a night when these were minor niggles.

Iommi was masterful, the riffmeister general, played runs and riffs that resounded with the power of a musical tsunami; Butler's bass lines flourished and flew around as his fingers slapped, rode and flayed booming runs under-scoring the sheer low-end resonance of early Sabbath material.

On the drum stool was Tommy Clufetos, who not only played the drum lines with ferocity, but played a relatively entertaining drum solo - relatively entertaining as most drum solos can be tedious.

Photo courtesy of Paul Verner

Ozzy - mad as a hatter. Although hatter's mercury may not have been the only chemical additive in his veins.

Despite the Ozman's occasional interruptions on Iommi's soloing and phrasing to once again implores all to sing, chant, clap, throw our arms in the air, Ozzy's limited mobility and obvious pain was obviated by his commitment onstage.

The set list - yes with such a back catalogue of metal monster songs there are always going to be songs that individual fans would want; but this was a set comprised mainly from the first four albums with two tracks from '13' (one previously aired was dropped from the set).

War Pigs, NIB, Fairies Wear Boots, Children of the Grave, NIB, Under The Sun, Into the Void, Age  of Reason - we're not going to list them all; you either where there for the bone crushing heavy metal, or you were not.


All of which, as we filed out of the Odyssey Arena, were pored over not as critics, not as writers, not as journalists but as fans. Befuddled, bemused here today (13th December) we sit, stand and muse that this was not a band to tick off the bucket list. This was THE band that defined our music, that still defines each generation that discovers heavy metal.

A note on support band, Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats. Sabbath meet Hawkwind in a dark alley meet-up only to be mugged by Cathedral. Potential may lie within, and as one of the Belfastmetalheadsreunited team commented "not the worst support act I've seen".

Scores on the doors:
Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats - 3 out of 5.
Black Sabbath - 10 out of 5....well we did say we couldn't be unbiased!

Americans are nuts - right? If not then where did '30 Seconds to Mars Day' come from...

THERE are times when every nation exhibits a propensity to bonkers behaviour; however in the good old US of A there are times when sanity is not in evidence.

In the case of Houston we have to question the sanity of the Mayor of Houston, Annise Parker, who in 2013 named March 18th this year as '30 Seconds to Mars Day' when the release of the single Up In The Air from album Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams was released on radio, and bizarrely played on the International Space Station...

But then again Jared Leto has always had a propensity to the dramatic.

The band he formed with his brother Shannon has veered from progressive rock through to emo and even 'concept' albums, but always with a wish to deliver epic tracks and visuals.

Of course, Leto is an actor and director as well as frontman for the band.

Which means that when 30 Seconds to Mars play in Belfast's Odyssey Arena this Tuesday, 26th November we should expect a dramatic performance for their Northern Ireland début.

Let's put it this way, at this MCD promoted event there could be performers other than the band...

Also tracks like Conquistador, Do or Die, City of Angels and the aforementioned Up in the Air are all sure to feature, which means that whether you like earlier 30 Seconds to Mars material, newer releases or are just fascinated to see what this Hollywood star can bring to a Belfast stage it's worth the trip.

Support comes from You Me At Six and tickets are still available.

When Josh rocked the house - QOTSA tear through the Odyssey

QUEENS of the Stone Age are a band that bridge the hard rock and heavy metal genres and occasional pop fan scenesters brought up in watching videos in the noughties in student flats.

That aside, when John Homme and his merry mad men played the Odyssey Arena, Belfast on 18th November QOTSA played as if they were rocking a festival of devoted rockers, backed by an impressive and varied stage set that cunningly married the sense of the songs with visual paradies.

However, as some refer to Queens as an alt-rock or indie band it was appropriate that two alt-rock/indie acts opened the bill.

Sweethead are fronted by Serrina Simms on vocals, who appeared wearing an all-in-one bodysuit, prompting misogynistic shouts from numpties who really shouldn't be allowed out unescorted. The sound for Sweethead - formed by QOTSA guitarist Troy Van Neeuwen and ex-members of the Mark Lanegan Band, Plexi and Handscome - was typical overblown indie rock, lot of noise but a lot less substance.

Compounding the problems for Sweethead were a quarter full hall and a sound mix with the drums over-bearing and the guitars almost drowning out Simms vocals. Although slightly reminiscent of Jeanette Lewis, there is potential here if the band were to drop trying to be 'indie' and just get rocking.

For Nathan Connolly, the problem seemed to be the Snow Patrol guitarist's memory. After an impressive hard opening from Little Matador he told the crowd that it was great to play Belfast and that it was Little Matador's first time. He later had to be reminded that Little Matador had played Belsonic festival in the heart of the city opening up for Nine Inch Nails.

Having said that the band were much tighter this time round, tours and club dates have honed them to razor-edge sharpness. Shatter was particularly impressive amid a cacophony of noise.

Noticeably more relaxed than Belsonic, the triple guitar act were a fitting opener for QOTSA, but one wonders if Connoly and the band (who also include Troy Stewart from Gary Lightbody's side project Tired Pony) can escape from the shadow of Snow Patrol. [You can read our pre-gig interview with Nathan Connolly here.] Also, given the (very) slight resemblance in some tracks to the headliners it is a matter for speculation if the band's name is in anyway connected to QOTSA's label - Matador Records.

Stage cleared from the clutter of supporting acts the scale of the stage set became apparent - a stripped down set of amps and instruments dwarfed by a ceiling height screen and an assortment of neat lighting effects.

Queens of the Stone Age are now old hands at playing stadia. With recent release...Like Clockwork indicating a return to some of the earlier desert rock grooves the set had a balance and a pace clearly designed to both please the crowd and to introduce newer tracks.

With the Odyssey curtain covering an empty back quarter of the hall clearly the number of recent and walk-up sales for this MCD promoted event ensured the rest of the standing area was packed in as they tore into the set with precision and power, a long way divorced from easy classification as desert or stoner rock.

Of the newer tracks Fairweather Friends stood out, along with encore opener The Vampyre of Time and Memory. One feels that these will become set regulars in future appearances along with the title track ...Like Clockwork.

However, for many in the hall excitement was reserved for the single hits of the Queens' past. Having No One Knows as the second track of the evening showed a stylish touch in keeping the crowd engaged.

The illuminations and visuals on the backdrop were a mirror to each track, worryingly disconcerting in the best possible way for the band's mythos of part bandidos, part cynical observers.

Of course Go With The Flow was impressive and closer Song for the Dead was drawn out appropriately for the by now adoring crowd.

However, there was a distinct lack of connection between songs with the audience. Saying the word "Belfast"" after the second track, asking "If we can play a new track" were about the sum of things until he apologized with the somewhat lame excuse of "I don't know always what to say, but we know what to play" this seems to be par for the course for Homme.

The 'Ginger Elvis' is the only remaining member from the original QOTSA line-up; and while the diverse and challenging arrangements on some tracks may reflect the past of the Queens, Homme's metal roots (Kyuss etc) are there for all to hear in the sheer weight of the sound and the riffing of the guitars.

While this was a memorable night for many fans, once you strip away the backdrop this was a good, entertaining set, rather than a great performance.

It is also probable that many present would willingly see them again, though sales suggest they may have to travel to see them on the festival circuit.

Overall the Queens of the Stone Age are now far removed from the desert generator parties. It may not be possible to ever recreate those, and with Homme's near-death on the operating theatre in 2010 this is probably a more reflective time for the band to consolidate their position and earn a few extra dollars (which no-one can blame them for, it is their 'job' after all!).

Therefore any hopes for spontaneity would be forlorn, but a little more verbal interaction could have elevated Homme's already high standing.

Congratulations to our QOTSA winners

THIS weekend we pored over the many, many entries to the Belfastmetalheadsreunited, rockradioni.co.uk competition to win tickets to see Queens of the Stone Age and Little Matador at Belfast's Odyssey Arena on November 18th.

Thanks to everyone who entered this competition, backed by promoters MCD.

A pair of tickets each is on their way to Una and Peter

Sorry we couldn't make you all winners, but we hope that we'll see y'all down there for what is set to be a stonker show.

Some tickets are still available via Ticketmaster and the Odyssey Arena box office.

Win tickets to see Queens of the Stone Age at Belfast's Odyssey Arena

YOU lucky, lucky punters! We here at Belfastmetalheadsreunited and www.rockradioni.co.uk are joining forces with MCD to offer two lucky readers a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Queens Of The Stone Age on November 18th at Belfast's Odyssey Arena.

Yes, Josh Homme and his merry band of stoner/alternative metal will be joining forces with local alternative rockers Little Matador for a night of groove and desert rock.

Queens Of The Stone Age emerged as one of the top bands of the noughties, seamlessly merging their stoner origins with breakthrough album Songs For The Death in 2002 balancing the alternative with a hard rock attitude.

Now with ...Like Clockwork they have their first album to debut at Number 1 in the US charts.

To win tickets to see Queens Of The Stone Age all you need to do is answer this simple answer:

Which Foo Fighters member played on Songs For The Death?

Send your answer here before 1st November.

Usual competition rules apply and remember if you're not in you can't win.

Congratulations to our Avenged Sevenfold ticket compettion winners

THE entries have been counted, the adjudicator has inspected them and the draw was made last night (October 7th) for the Belfastmetalheadserunited, rockradioni and MCD Avenged Sevenfold competition.

Congratulations to John and Finlay, who will each receive a pair of tickets to see the A7X team play with Las Vegas's finest, Five Finger Death Punch, and Device.

The trio are hitting the O2 in Dublin on 3rd December and we'll y'all down there.

Thanks to everyone who entered (if you haven't received an email by now you haven't won), and thanks to MCD for promoting the gig and providing the tickets for the winners.

Look forward to reading more about this gig and just why it is an important date for hard rock and metal on this island.

The tribe of rockers and metallers always trumps the scenesters

THERE is a camaraderie about rock and metal fans that is beyond compare - and for the past several days that has been demonstrated time and time again...but the scenesters and their chequed designer shirts will never know how to give and receive respect. (More of that later.)

First let us rewind back a week or so. 'Twas a Saturday evening and all was well in the world. A healthy gathering of like-minded souls congregated in the vicinity of Ormeau Avenue, many graduating to the hallowed Distortion Project residency in Limelight1.

Once inside there was a four-band treat, at which many nodded in agreement at the mutual enjoyment.

This was a celebration of the launch of Gacy's Threads split 7" with Swiss monsters Colossus Fall.

Opening up was the rhinoceros like charge of Tusks. In your face, in your ears, in your way if you wanted a casual early evening pint, because this was an unrelenting, groove assassination on your senses. Outside Limelight1 casual drinkers and scenesters winced. Where there was calm once there was now mayhem; and it felt good. Tom was manic in this his second singing slot of the weekend, and more than aware of how 'under the weather' he was and how 'angry' he was at everything and everyone while he was on stage, despite being a model of congeniality off-stage.

As more and more people in checked shirts and coloured jeans gathered (hand in your mancard people!) for the early show with Jimmy Eat World in Limelight1 Lantern Gale came on two doors away. Self-proclaimed 'post-hardcore, melodic hardcore they quickly into the groove and the obligatory singer, Paul on the dance floor.

Post-hardcore and melodic post-hardcore has always been a slightly mystifying to us here at Belfastmetalheads. Apart from 36 Crazyfists and local act Escape Fails there has been a lack of coherence to 'post-hardocre' acts. Lantern for a Gale kicked up a noise but only held together with some of the melodic sections. Of note was the title-track of their ep Cut Throat Blues, which had more than an echo of the Cancer Bats but cleared the decks with a frenetic energy and an edge that left more than a few nodding their heads in appreciation.

As more and more pints were consumed - naturally - we broke our Fivewilldie cherry. First time seeing these guys from Cork and wow! Sludge, metal, doom, prog all mixed together in a wonderful brew of noise.

This is where the camaraderie of rock and metal was in clear evidence. This was a band unknown to more than half those present, but each person appreciated their effort in making the journey and their effort on stage. And what an effort it was.

With more groove than a 12" long player, more noise than a flag protest and more focused energy than a thousand Duracell Bunny Fivewilldie are a potent force. The homage to Sabbath was done perfectly with a modern take on the riffmeister's sound.

But, let's face it we were there to celebrate Gacys Threads split launch with Swiss Noisenicks Colossus Fall.

How come we can celebrate such a furious assault? There has been some recent research that listening to loud, aggressive music makes you happy. Well, f**k me pink, we already knew that!

And when Gacys Threads came on stage they made us happy. Furious, aggressive hardcore metal played with an intensity that was frankly scary at times - but scary in a good way.

Life Struck, Titans and the tracks from the split Plague Wielder and Salvation struck the assembled like a smash in the face by a knuckle-duster wielding thug.

Aaron Vance prowled the stage like a caged animal until let loose off the stage, rampaging and tearing loose. On this night in particular Gacys Threads were at a peak, rhythm rolling, guitars furious and an attitude that bound all in attendance together.

Contrast that with the crowd at Jimmy Eat World. Wandering two doors up from being pummeled by Gacys Threads and smiling faces we were immediately taken aback by the numpties there as it was an 'event' to be seen at rather than a gig to enjoy.

Would you rather actually watch performers and enjoy the effort they put in, or would you rather talk amongst yourselves?

For the vast, vast majority of rock and metal fans you pay your fee and enjoy the show. You do not talk, chat, compare styles, take selfies, watch the gig through your phone and keep on talking, and talking and talking....

While the Belfastmetalheads crew were divided over whether Jimmy Eat World were great or insipid it was difficult to make up one's mind when the people next to you are talking, or complaining about getting bumped into (it's a rock gig for Odin's sake not an opera!).

After the sheer exuberant joy of The Distortion Project Gacys Threads show (and the three superb acts with them) it left a slightly sour taste in the mouth.

Fast forward a few days. A double header - The Distortion Project were hosting four bands and Rockradioni were promoting a Motley Crue tribute band.

Unfortunately we missed the debut of '84 at Stiff Kitten, but there were smiles all round when Bakken brought the thrash - and grins were in evidence. Darkest Days and Sasquatch were awesome. This is a band that deserves more exposure!

As to exposure we saw a Scottish invasion in the form of Mair. Now we like a band that shows enthusiasm, and we like a band that enjoys being on stage, and we really like a crowd of people of people gathered together for the music, not to chitter and chatter.

Mair provided a refreshing take on groove metal, with Del's broad Glaswegian accent transmogrifying into a deep bellow, verging between Tom Araya and Howard Jones. Miranda's bass playing was outstanding, but her off-stage antics, running around the crowd while playing, egging on the audience kept the momentum flying during the set. The easy, between song banter, showed a cohesive unit leading the line. Scotland are lucky to have these crowd of glorious nutters. If Scotland gets independence will we need to show our passports to see them...

What can one say about Sinocence? They are players par excellence, with a fine sense of subtle songwriting. Noise and finesse, excellent playing and sheer talent. No Gods, No Masters Vol1 is an obvious platform to build upon as they march onwards.

Again this shows what a rock audience is about. Appreciating the band, acknowledging the effort and being genuinely entertained by the likes of Sinocence - and if you want to chat go outside and have a smoke or take in the fresh air.

Having been so thoroughly entertained smiling groups of people wandered amiably from the Stiff Kitten to The Empire. Genially chatting before hooking up with friends old and new before Screaming Eagles ripped apart the Botanic Avenue venue. Quite literally - in the same way that Gacys Threads and Sinocence rise to new heights - the Eagles lay it down. Three bands, three very different genres within the spectrum of rock and metal and three performances that earned admiration.

The Eagles seem to be growing with each performance, as if the spirit of DC, Cream and Free has inhabited all four band members.

And this returns to our main theme: when two or more are gathered together at the altar or metal, the tribe honours the music and upon completion of the music the congregation - whether in clusters of friends or at the bar contemplation and critiquing the tribe has a camaraderie no other genre has.

That particular evening concluded with Motley Crew UK, headed by the irrepressible Ash. While more entered into the spirit (get drunk and party!) there were others - Anto for example - who did not find it as appealing - yet no-one fell out over it, no-one took the hump.

No matter which genre of hard rock and metal there seems to be a genuine camaraderie, a general feeling that we are one tribe.

Yes, there are always a few numpties out there, who spoil it more for themselves than the people around them, and there bands that part ways due to 'musical differences' but in general it seems that the tribe holds together better than any other group of people. As Eamonn Nancrow says: "protestant, catholic, black, white,   or Bangorian" rock 'n' roll transcends boundaries.

And a big hand to all the promoters and publicists, from Stephen Currie and Savour Your Scene through to MCD, from Derwin and the Diamond Rock Club crew, from James and the beloved Distortion Project to Shine and the Limelight, from all at the Voodoo through to Rockradoni - all deserve a hearty slap on the back for enabling bands to play for the benefit of the tribe.

Suondgarden winners and another ticket competition to see Motley Crew UK

THE winners of tickets to see Soundgarden play Dublin's O2 have been drawn. Congratulations to Leah and Ryan.

If you haven't received an email you weren't lucky this time in this Belfastmetalheadsreunited, Rockradioni competition.

And thanks to MCD for supplying tickets to see this fantastic band on September 16th. If you didn't win then you can still head over to buy tickets here.

And don't say we're not good to you lot out there - we've another competition for you this week and more to come.

This week you can win tickets to see Motley Crew UK with the tremendous Screaming Eagles at Belfast's Empire on September 14th.

Just tell us the name of Motley Crue's second album.

Email your entries here before September 12th. Usual terms and conditions apply - the main one being if you're not in you can't win!!

And look out for another competition coming soon!

Throwing the horns in honour of our local promoters

IT'S a thankless task, with the attendant financial risks and promotional effort needed, but promoters are the unsung heroes, bringing to us a selection of fine raucous gigs this 2013.

While we can all wish for one more tour, one more gig, one more concert, one more show from a favourite band we must take the time to raise the horns and a glass of liquid refreshment for Northern Ireland's promoters and venues.

Just last night we witnessed Lamb of God (review here) in The Limelight, and tonight we have Slayer's second visit of the year less than five days after Vivian Campbell brought Last in Line to Belfast.

And that's just some of the shows that Shine and the Limelight have brought our way.

Of course we also have to raise a glass or six to the smaller promoters and venues, Mr Loveday at The Distortion Project for keeping Saturday afternoons choc full of metal and bringing the likes of Wintersun and Satyricon for us.

And, of course a wee toast for Derwin and everyone at the Diamond Rock Club for putting Ahoghill on the rock 'n' roll map!

Finally, the big boys at MCD also deserve a mention for Black Sabbath...along with Whitesnake, Thunder and Journey et al.

So, next time you're in a queue on Ormeau Avenue or the Odyssey, travelling on the beer bus to North Antrim or deciding what to quaff ahead of a show, spare a thought for all the promoters and venues and thank them for bringing the best possible rock and metal to our shores.

[Of course we've missed out a few due to space restrictions, but you can always post your favourite venues and promoters in the comments below!]

Take a step back and get saving...for the rock!

RIGHT rockers, metalheads and lovers of the loudness – right now is when you take step back, speak to your bank manager about an overdraft, sell that spare kidney online and wonder how the hell you are going to afford the summer’s gigging.

Seriously, to parphrase Harold Wilson, you’ve never had it so good...

We recently took a wee journey through the gigs being promoted by MCD, the Limelight/Shine, The Distortion Project, and the Diamond Rock Club, amongst others. And just starting from this week, here’s a wee list that you should keep your eye on...

This Thursday, June 6^th La Faro are at Limelight2 for what they leadman Johnny Black says harkens back to “...when rock music was still fun”. Tickets at the door.

Recover from that and you can sit back and hear true tales from the road and the studio as Anthrax founder and all round nice guy Scott Ian brings his spoken word tour to Limelight2. Ready to hear from the great man? Ready to ask questions? See you on Friday night then.

And, if you want to nip up the Comrades Rock Club on the same night in Ballyclare for Screaming Eagles and Baleful Creed plus a couple of others we’re sure taxis and helicopters can be provided.

Should you not make it to Ballyclare then fear not, because on Saturday, in the Limelight2 Screaming Eagles will be among the support acts for Maverick’s ep launch. Hard work...all part of the game for Adrian and co.

Keeping up so far? Good because I hope all those who managed to get Slayer tickets have their lungs, liver, kidney and rib cages insured for this Limelight1 fest to honour the titans and pay homage to the late Jeff Hanneman.

Recover from that and catch Trucker Diablo at the Black Box on the 13^th June...Year of the Truck just keeps on rolling...

The next Saturday things get punked up at RockD when The Organ Grinder head a four band line-up – pogoing is mandatory!

Alright, so punk might not be your thing, but Parkway Drive is, and they play the Mandella Hall on 18^th June in a 14+ gig. Better still the previous night Triggerman and Astralnaut support Red Fang’s assault on Ireland (17^th June).

Thursday the 20^th June sees Altus pick up from where they left off at Helfast with a date at the Voodoo, where they will be joined by Red Six and Scimitar.

Saturday 22^nd should be a laugh if you are in the Derry/Londonderry region. Triggerman are supporting ageing 12-bar boogie merchants Status Quo. Wonder what the Quo and their fans will make of it when the riff holds sway...

The same night Baleful Creed, Altus, Cutter and Rosco’s Riot are at RockD in Limelight2...

Now hold on a minute says you...can we hold out throughout June to payday? Well I haven’t even mentioned Lixx at the Voodoo and Pat MacManus at the Black Box...

And as for the rest of the summer...Wintersun and Darkest Era are at Limelight2 on July 20^th, a certain Mr Campbell will be reuniting Dio’s old band as Last in Line at Limelight1 on August 8^th and Lamb of God are back to crush the same venue on 12^th August.

And that’s not to mention Faster Pussycat, yer man’s version of New York Dolls, Harv  Look No Bands etc etc

Then you have Belsonic with Nine Inch Nails, Bullet for My Valentine, Bring Me the Horizon and Gojira...

And don’t forget Soundgarden, Avenged Sevenfold, The Answer, Black Star Riders and Black Sabbath...

Dear Mr Bank Manager...owing to this line-up of gigs I require an overdraft facility for beer tokens, merch vouchers and a plethora of tickets...

Thanks to Dino at Limelight, James at MCD, Andy at Metal Blade, NI Rocks gig guide, James Loveday for keeping us up to date with the rock...

New riff on old clichés - foo reflections

SO the Fo Fighters came to town - we drank beer, we got soaked and we sang-a-long to Everlong...so fucking what?

Well, there's a lot more than that...

First off - too loud? How many eejits can be crammed into one radio phone-in whining and whingeing about a rock concert being too loud? Officialy the Foo Fighters reached 104db at one point before reining it in....boy the residents who moaned would have really hated it if Manowar were playing with their full rig.

But first and foremost the Tennents Vital show with the Foo Fighters was a great, beer soaked, rain-drenched experience [More of that later].

And Trucker Diablo were opening the show - how fucking good could it get? Unfortunately otherwise faultless organisation of the day was marred by having Trucker kick off at 3:40, just 10 minutes after the gates opened; leaving the thousands (and I mean thousands) standing around, shuffling. Apparently an issue about checking IDs led to the confusion...still what we did see (three songs) were excellent as usual from the Diablo crew, with Drink Beer, Destroy, Big Truck and new song When the Rain Comes; which of course had been coming down in torrents with accompanying thunder

The pre-Foo line-up was not to my taste, nor anyone else's in my company, still the over-priced beer was flowing and the craic was good.

Speaking of beer (which we occassionally do) the whole concept of Tennents Vital is an interesting one. It is huge a brand opportunity for Tennents, not to mention the many pints sold at £4 a pop: captive audience and all that the queues for a pint were extraordinary. Partnered with MCD this type of gig involves all sorts of arrangements that require a law degree, a business masters degree and a wealth of experience.

With 32,000 there the ticket revenue would have been more than £1.2m, but put that beside the cost of bringing the Foo Fighters (and those other bands...) you probably have the guts of £750,000 down the pan including stage set-up and sound system. Then staff costs, legal costs (you need lawyers for contracts and to get your entertainment licence through the council's committee system), the costs of the hire of the playing fields and restoration of the pitches afterwards, added into a marketing budget and it is plain that the margin when selling those tickets is tight.

Which means that MCD and Tennents are taking a risk booking Vital. Should a calculation and estimate go wrong, then there are serious losses on the cards, which can be mitigated to a certain extent, but still it is a risk that has already seen one promoter badly stung (albeit through booking a very strange line-up) and the cancellation of Sonisphere in England. Large and small, we should all take the time to all gig promoters for taking the risk everytime they book a band.

So, just over a week on, one must doff a cap to MCD and Tennents - hefty ticket prices and dear beer aside - nevertheless they offered us the chance to see an international grammy award winning rock legend in the person of Mr Grohl.

In a lengthy set Mr Grohl covered all that would be expected, with a smattering of tracks from the new album through to the greatest hit selection. For those who watched the Foos Reading slot on BBC3 you'll know that much of the stage routine and banter is pre-planned and scheduled - that's not being predictable, that's why practice makes perfect delivery. Hard rock can be a cliché at times but the Foo Fighters brought a new riff to the old formula.

It is then a challenge for the front man to hold the crowd, something which Mr Grohl manages to do rather well.

But, here comes the confusion: the choice of the Pink Floyd cover, which they played a snatch of (if you don't know what it was then you need more rock education! It's from The Wall and is a key moment in Pink's life).

The track is at the point when the rock 'n' roll dream lies in tatters and Pink's persona takes a turn towards messianic megalomania. "Pink isn't well/he stayed back at the hotel/they sent us along as a surrogate band/tofind out where you fans really stand"

What message is that sending out. Is it simply that Dave likes the riff. Is he ripping a line to the fading memory of Nirvana, or is it an ironic take on where superstardom has taken the Foo journey to.

If Dave would care to comment, we'd be most grateful.

In the meantime - thanks to Tennents, MCD, Trucker Diablo and all the Foo Fighters. Next time make sure it's even louder - we rockers like to share!