NEWS: BLOODSTOCK adds Doro, Flozzy, Bloodbath, and Septicflesh

GERMAN metal legend, Doro will be Bloodstock's Friday night Sophie Lancaster stage headliner. as the festival announces yet more bands to the 2018 line-up.

With a career spanning over 30 years and 17 studio albums under her belt (including 4 with Warlock), Doro’s current label Nuclear Blast recently celebrated her 30 year anniversary with a 3 DVD box set, ‘Strong & Proud’; a great place to start if you’re not clued up on the Metal Queen.

WWE wrestling star Chris Jericho’s band, Fozzy join Sunday’s Ronnie James Dio main stage line-up.  Currently rampaging across Europe, the Century Media outfit dropped their seventh album ‘Judas’ last month.

Swedish death metal outfit, Bloodbath plan to lay waste to the main stage on Friday.

Guitarist Anders Nyström said: “After eight years, our time has come to put the Blood back in Bloodstock!”  Not familiar with this supergroup featuring members of Paradise Lost, Katatonia Opeth?
Investigate their video for ‘Church of Vestitas’, taken from 2014’s ‘Grand Morbid Funeral’ opus at https://youtu.be/whjf6LKmFYQ and ready yourself for their long-awaited return!

Landing a Saturday spot on the main stage are Greek symphonic death metal squad, Septicflesh.  First formed back in 1990, the pioneers unveiled their tenth record, ‘Codex Omega’ in September. 

Record label, Season Of Mist are streaming the whole beast including a 360° video for ‘Dante’s Inferno’ over at https://youtu.be/gSE0UPuiVnM.

With Friday night headliners, JUDAS PRIEST, Saturday night headliners, GOJIRA and Sunday headliners, NIGHTWISH already announced, along with EMPEROR, DEVILDRIVER, WATAIN, COMBICHRIST, NAILS, ORDEN OGAN and MEMORIAM so far, 2018 is shaping up to be another stellar year for BLOODSTOCK.

Bloodstock's first wave of Serpents Lair VIP tickets are now SOLD OUT!  The final allocation, the last batch of VIP deluxe packages and a limited amount of VIP upgrades priced at £145 (for those who’ve already bought ‘early bird’ tickets) will become available at 9.00am on 16th December in the ticket store.  Mark your calendars and don't delay if you want to join us in 2018’s VIP Serpents Lair, as they’re moving faster than ever before!

Weekend tickets are still available in very limited numbers at an ‘early bird’ price (just £125 for four days of metal fun) so grab yours now at the ticket store if you want to save £20!  To keep up with inflation and increased costs in 2018, standard weekend tickets with camping will increase from last year's £139 to £145 once the ‘early bird’ allocation sells out. Camper van pitches are also available now.

If you already know you can only attend for a single day, sign up for a day ticket reminder email as day tickets do not go on sale until next summer.  Register your day ticket interest here - https://www.seetickets.com/register/bloodstock. 

Bloodstock takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 9th-12th August 2018.  Get additional information over at www.bloodstock.uk.com. 

ALBUM REVIEW: The Dark Element is a dark, but joyful collaboration

SOMETIMES you get collablorations, and sometimees...The Dark Element is a new musical collaboration featuring former Nightwish vocalist Anette Olzon and Finnish guitarist and composer Jani Liimatainen (Sonata Arctica, Cain’s Offering).

With Jani responsible for playing the guitars, keyboards and programming their self titled debut album (due for release 10/11/17) delivers what is essentially a traditional European female fronted symphonic, melodic power metal sound but with a nice mix of AOR and hard rock twists and grooves.

The addition of Jani’s former Cain’s Offering bandmates, Jonas Kuhlberg on bass and Jani “Hurtsi” Hurula on drums means the band are already a tight formidable unit and with four singles already released and Olzon sounding better than ever this release comes with a lot of anticipation and totally
delivered.

First single and opening track ‘Dark Element’ sets the mood with it’s deep keys and heavy drumming intro before the bass and guitar kick in. A mid tempo number with Olzon  showcasing her vocal range with consummate ease, it’s a cracking start to the album.

‘My Sweet Mystery’ has Nightwish written all over it in terms of tempo, guitar riffs and vocals. A solid symphonic rock track with Olzon singing in a lower register for effect and producing a vocal delivery which has a deep, rich tone to it. It also has a catchy sing-a-long chorus and a tasty solo from Jani.

‘Last Good Day’ has a slower rock groove tempo to it with a great riff throughout as well as a very tight rhythm section and an interesting twist in the vocal arrangement.

Track four ‘Here’s To You’ has a melodic instrumental intro that develops into a very catchy dramatic song that contrast the lyrics which are dark, moody and seem to have a personal feel to them.

By the time you have listened to the next four songs, ‘Someone You Used To Know’, ‘Dead To Me’, ‘Halo’ and ‘I Cannot Raise The Dead’ you begin to feel that lyrically you are being taken on a very dark and personal journey.

From the pain Olzon suggests on ‘Someone You used To Know’ to the fast paced power synths , tight rhythm section and superb riffs the songs are all wonderfully written and delivered.

The powerful background vocals on ‘Dead To Me’ add depth to the song and with the tempo and mood changes it’s a prime example of symphonic metal at its best and one of the strongest songs on the album. ‘Halo’ continues in the same vein while ‘I Cannot Raise The Dead’ is a more AOR orientated song with a great groove to it and another very nice, if a bit short, solo by Jani before the main riff kicks in again.

Track nine ‘The Ghost and the Reaper’ starts with a fast tempo mix of synth and guitar before developing into a steady mix of mid tempo symphonic metal and hard rock riffs driven along by the bass and drums. Olzon’s vocals again stand out and are complimented with some great harmonies.

‘Heaven of Your Heart’ is a ballad with soft vocals over a light piano, a beautiful delivery from Olzon telling the story of a modern day failed love affair with photographs being the only memory of what used to be.

The album finishes with ’Only One Who Knows Me’ a strong hard rock song with Olzon’s vocals to the fore which builds nicely into an AOR style number. There’s a strong bass line and complimentary drumming again before a subtle keyboard and orchestration section takes us back into the hard rock riff again. Lyrically this song is more hopeful and upbeat and ends with a faded out solo from Jani that could have gone on a bit longer.

Overall this is an excellent debut album and another great release from the Frontiers label. Well worth parting with a few of your hard earned shekles!

Hopefully this will get toured as it deserves to be heard live.

Review by Andy Gillen

NEWS: Nightwish plan November DVD release of Wembley and Tampere shows

AFTER touring for a year and a half throughout almost every corner of the world and leaving fans of all nationalities breathless, the time has come for NIGHTWISH to immortalise their ‘Endless Forms Most Beautiful’ tour on DVD.

Therefore, the symphonic metal visionaries are set to release their new live milestone ‘Vehicle Of Spirit’ on November 4th, featuring not only two full concerts, but also plenty of bonus material.

"The title ‘Vehicle Of Spirit’ came from a friend of Troy's, who after seeing our show a few years ago defined NIGHTWISH as 'A vehicle of spirit that defies category'.

“That beautiful description has followed us ever since, and felt like a perfect match as the DVD title," states keyboardist and songwriter Tuomas Holopainen.

Sold out arenas and spectacular shows with never before seen pyro effects, wind machines, video screens and of course NIGHTWISH's incomparable melodies are the elements that made their latest tour so unique. Special highlights for the band have been two particular shows though:

The one in London, where they not only played their hymns such as 'Élan' and the majestic 'The Greatest Show On Earth' to more than 12,000 fans, but also welcomed the world famous scientist Richard Dawkins live on stage with them. Richard Dawkins´ works had a massive impact on the thematical orientation of their latest studio album ‘Endless Forms Most Beautiful’.
Finland's Tampere show however was a home run for the band and NIGHTWISH had never before had such an immense stage production with them.

"I would say the main part of the DVD are those two shows, both Wembley and Tampere. Wembley is mentioned first due to its recognisability and legendary status. I remember the show being very special, both a goal achieved, and a starting point. The crowd was heartwarming.

“The presence of Richard Dawkins on stage was just mind-blowing. The overall experience was a once-in-a-lifetime thrill ride! The show in Ratina Stadion, Tampere, was a home crowd specialty (for 4/6th of the band) with the biggest stage production we've ever had. A lovely atmosphere throughout the concert, with many same faces in the front row as there were 15 years ago. Heartfelt."

When it comes to the fine artwork of the DVD, NIGHTWISH decided to walk a different path this time and come up with a little alternative idea, as Tuomas explains:

"We didn`t want to include a traditional band shot for the cover, as on the previous DVD release ‘Showtime, Storytime’. So we started brainstorming on different options and the idea of a classic silent movie era Hollywood visuals quickly came up. With those classic slogans the cover has a little tongue-in-cheek-touch to it, but it's still classy and eye catching in its simplicity and originality."

ALBUM REVIEW: Nightwish excel on Endless Forms Most Beautiful...an early contender for album of the year

FOUR years after their highly acclaimed album 'Imaginaerum',Suomi symphonic metal heroes Nightwish return with their eighth studio album, and the first to feature current vocalist Floor Jansen - 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful'.

The title is taken from a quote in Darwin's 'On the Origin of the Species' and sets the theme for the album which is an exploration of life, evolution, science and the origins of Earth and Mankind.

Opening with 'Shudder Before the Beautiful' (and an opening narration from evolutionary biologist and author Richard Dawkins) Nightwish are on top form. Everthing is there, the orchestration, choir, frantic keyboards and fantastic guitar riffs; and, it's a great scene setter for what's to come.

'Weak Fantasy' is the metal side of Nightwish and Jansen shows her vocal quality which can be aggressive and sensitive in equal measure. Dealing with dark subject matter including being governed by the dead this is the first song Marco shares vocal duties on. The guitar work is heavy and menacing as befits the song.

Just when you think this is all out assault on your eardrums they change pace with the catchy melodic 'Elan' which has Nightwish's now familiar Celtic vibe to it featuring low whistles but also with a great riff throughout and a nice acoustic finish.

This is followed by 'Yours Is An Empty Hope', a return to the darker more metal sound with a nasty riff to start and featuring heavy guitar work throughout. Dealing with pain and truth it has vocals by both Floor and Marco which are more angry and aggressive in parts and suit the song perfectly.

'Our Decades In The Sun' is a love song but differing from the usual as it deals with the love for parents. A moving song which apparently had the band shedding tears in recording as Floors emotional rendering absolutely nails the essence of it! Great guitar licks and a haunting choir vocal only serve to enhance the emotion.

Next up is 'My Walden', another song with a Celtic vibe with showcases the other new permanent member of Nightwish, Troy Donockley, who displays an ability to play an array of musical instruments including, on this, the uilleann pipes and bodhran. A soft vocal delivery by Floor during the verse before a massive chorus gives this song a nice up tempo feel.

Title track 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful' starts like the soundtrack from a movie chase scene before one of the nastiest riffs ever kicks in. It then develops into a song full of operatic vocals, orchestral keyboards and crunching guitar work from Emppu. A highlight of the album so far.

The 'Edema Ruh' were a nomadic tribe of entertainers, storytellers,actors and musicians fabled in 'The Kingkiller Chronicle' written by fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss and the song is a melodic and beautiful telling of that story. Featuring a more classical metal riff and bass line with a chorus impossible not to sing along to and a bit more Celtic influence to keep it moving nicely.

'Alpenglow' is a dramatic, catchy tune. It's another love song with a varied vocal performance from soft to gritty to operatic combined with melodic guitar work. A dramatic key change at about four minutes lifts Floor's vocals a notch and helps the song build to an atmospheric climax.

The penultimate track 'The Eyes of Sharbat Gula' is an instrumental and is Tuomas Holopainen's attempt to convey the feelings he had on first seeing the photograph 'Afghan Girl', an award winning photo that graced the cover of National Geographic in 1985.

A delicate and spiritual folk song that is piano driven to start with a hypnotic drum beat, pipes and orchestration which includes a childrens choir for vocal effect. A wond composition that takes you right to the refugee camp where Sharbat was found.

Finally, the last track, 'The Greatest Show on Earth'

This song probably deserves a review all on its own as it clocks in at 23:58 mins!

Divided into five parts it has as its basis the book of the same name written by the aforementioned Dawkins and charts his theory on life and evolution by natural selection.

It is everything that Nightwish are in one song, atmospheric, symphonic and aggressive in equal measure; with sweeping melodies and some great guitar riffs. It starts with a simple piano and cello intro leading us to the 'Big Bang' theory. From there it takes us on a dramatic journey through time culminating in another narrative from Dawkins quoting Darwin's Origin of the Species.

The word Ethos was used by the Greeks to refer to the power of music to influence its hearers' emotions,behaviours and morals. Nightwish embody that word totally.

An unbelievably good album that could quite simply be described as EPIC!





Review by Andy Gillen




 

Ambitious Scandanavians win over Belfast

For the past decade or more hard rock and heavy metal acts have been pouring out of Scandanavia like a guitar laden plague. Some have achieved worldwide acclaim, and some have carved out a niche in the underground. This is far removed from the days when the only rock stories from the lands of winter's permanent night were black metal murders and church burnings.

While the Scandanavian Black Metal scene still exerts a healthy influence on diverse acts, there has been a revival from these Viking lands of what some disparagingly call 'mainstream'. And, it was one of the leading exponents of Finnish mainstream metal, Nightwish who touched down in Belfast's Mandella Hall on Wednesday.

Thus was the challenge faced by Swedish act Pain...opening to a partisan headliner crowd Pain have more than a hint of other acts from the lands to the north. Energetic and with melody playing a key part in songs that could have been lost in the low end, they at times came across like a 'lite' version of Children of Bodom.

Their energy and willingness to try to engage the audience eventually paid off, though in terms of pacing the set they could learn from other Scandanvians. While Turisas have made Rasputin a rambunctious set closer, Pain's excellent cover of The Beatles' Eleanor Rigby was lost in the middle of their set.

Nightwish have no such problems in terms of pacing their set. Seasoned in arenas across Europe, the Finnish act know when to turn on the power, allow the crowd a breather, and mix the new with the old.

However, their very existence was called into question less than two years ago after their very public and acrimonious dismissal of Tarja Turunen. In May of last year Anette Olzen was announced as a replacement. Fans who worried that Anette could fill Tarja's shoes need not have worried.

Kicking off with the stomp of Bye Bye Beautiful Anette proved a worthy foil for the complex melodies and power of Tuomas Holopainen's wrting. Mixed with Marco Hietala's vocals any doubts over Anette's ability to match Tarja's range paled into insignificance.

Instead she brings a different dynamic to Nightwish, which whilst retaining the symphonic elements of the past, comes to the fore live.

Tracks off latest release Dark Passion Play are given a fire and energy live. And, Anette's treatment of older tracks such as Nemo and Wishmaster showed she can adapt her performance when necessary.

The smattering of older tracks were almost overwhelmed by the new material. Amaranth and Sahara stood out, with the Stephen King tribute track 7 Days of the Wolves raising the bar yet further.

But what stands out with Nightwish is their ambition. Tuomas - as founder, chief songwriter, and band leader - is not afraid to tackle live lengthy epics. Album opener The Poet and the Pendulum was unveiled in all of its 13 minute plus glory. Even such an ambitious live performance was pulled off with aplomb as far as the crowd was concerned.

The only niggles of the night were the occassional over-reliance on samples and Anette's absence from the stage during longer instrumental pieces.

However, for a band who play stadiums in Europe the fact that they are prepared to play, what for them, are smaller venues such as the Mandella Hall is worthy of praise, and a tribute to promoter Wonderland that they were able to snatch such an act.

The stadium work of Nightwish paid off for the Belfast punters, who saw an international act lay down a mighty, ambitious soundscape in a relatively intimate venue. There were few that walked out on to University Road without a smile on their faces.

Pic courtesy of Nadia - Junior Editor, Belfastmetalheadsreunited