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Showing posts with label machine head. Show all posts
Showing posts with label machine head. Show all posts

Monday, May 28, 2012

HEAVY FECKIN’ BELFAST


LET’S face it, with all this unseasonal sunshine and the thermometer sitting at stupid hot degrees centigrade, we rock and metal fans are left to glower at the showers of summer frocks and pink-skinned spides stalking Northern Ireland’s streets.

Well, you know what? They can piss away off because the only fashion sense you need is a black t-shirt and jeans of cammos. And if it really is too warm, get the scissors out. Instant cropped top tour shirt and trim those trous to shorts.

Because when you step inside the hallowed halls of metal, the temperature already is at boiling point and the bands just crank it that wee bit further, because when it comes down to it metal is stoked from the fieriest pits of hell.

Tonight, things get even hotter that any of Danté’s imagined circles of hell when Machine Fucking Head descend on to unsuspecting mortals in their pre-Download attempt to rip the Ulster Hall a new arsehole.

Hard to imagine it, but Rob Flynn and his merry band of metal monsters have been crushing like the proverbial two ton hammer for almost 20 years, but over the last three albums they have become a real force – like the plague of locusts that

And the allegory of locusts now stands as not only the band’s new(ish) album title track, but also like the fans who are becoming more ready to devour any output from the band.

And as far as Roby Flynn goes, playing metal, for as long as he has done now, ripping it up for fans is the only course he knows. He told one interviews:

“I’ve been playing in bands since I was 15 years old. I’ve been on tour since I was 18. I don’t really know anything else, so I’ve never had a Plan B — this kind of had to work.

“I think when you try and tackle something with that much tenacity you make it work. A lot of people told me how I should get a Plan B, but I don’t want a Plan B, this is what I want to do.”

If you want to see why Mr Flynn and his Machine Head compatriots do not need a Plan B then get down tonight to the Ulster Hall to see Machine Fucking Head, with retro-thrashers Evile and and Dead Label…

And  if that isn’t enough, think on fellow madmen and madwomen of the metal flock. Post-Download we have the mighty Lamb of God to come…Heavy Feckin’ Belfast indeed!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Machine Fuckin' Head...no excuses now

RIGHT arseholes,  no excuses now. The two winners of the Machine Head ticket competition have been drawn. If you haven't received your email by now then deepest regrets, but you've no excuses left, get your fingers out of your rear end and buy your own tickets for the May 28th, Ulster Hall show.

Why? Well Machine Head are one of the most important bands leading the charge to make sure metal is remembered amidst a world of mediocrity; where the mainstream has waved goodbye to credibility; they're a band who have been through more ups and downs than a roller coaster in an earthquake zone, and have emerged stronger, harder and tighter than a shark's sphincter.

When they hit Belfast it will be a warm-up for an hour-long second headline slot at Download: acclaim from the metal world that Machine Head are climbing yet further towards the upper echelons, and are near the very top.

They are touring the new album 'Unto the Locust', an album which shows a band confident in ability and songwriting. From the ascent back that began with 'Ashes...' to the battle cry of 'Blackened' Machine Head are now in a place where they can release black paeons to the power of music in the 'Darkness Within' to threat of the title track - right through a worthy addition to the Machine Head catalogue.

More later on Machine Fucking Head, but right now remember to head along to your usual outlet or Ticketmaster and make sure you're there!

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Gig-tastic time

OKAY peeps - who'd got the beer tokens? It's a fantastic few months of gigs coming up. Can we handle it all?

First up, if you were planning to go see Korn or You Me At Six...if you haven't got your tickets yet it's too late: both gigs are sold out. But if you want your fix of hard rock and metal there's plenty out there!

This Friday night Nasa Assassin and Trucker Diablo are at Ma Nelson's; and if you want a full listing of local  rock and metal head over to RockRadioNI's gig guide or the Distortion Project pages.

Meanwhile there are still tickets available for Amon Amarth (with Grand Magus and In Solitude) at the Mandella on 18th March, UFO and Sweet Savage on the 21st March at the Spring and Airbrake, with Vain playing the same night at The Limelight.

If you can still keep up Ministry are playing the Mandella on July 17th, Ice Earth are at the Spring and Airbrake on 8th August. Hang on to your hats then because WASP will be bringing their 30th Anniversary tour to the Ulster Hall on 24th September, with Y&T playing the Spring & Airbrake on the 29th of that month....

Damn it, I've probably missed a few out, but....who's heading to Download?

Sabbath [possibly the last time to see Ozzy, Tony and Geezer play together live], Metallica, Anthrax, Slash, Machine Head, Black Label Society and a host of others.

Who's going?

Sunday, October 30, 2011

If you have an IQ over 75 and watch X-Factor shoot yoursellf

SERIOUSLY - if you have an IQ over 75 and watch X-Factor shoot yourself! Or at the very least shoot your computer and give your 'Smartphone' an acid bath.

Here's a fact for you numpties: the advertisers, those sons of Satan grubbing their way into your souls, judge the success of TV on the basis of how many people tweet or update. Media agencies cancel shows when not enough people are tweeting about them.

I mean go and f*ck away off! X-Factor is an off-cut from the mechanically recovered meat of TV entertainment while the real talent, real musicians, artists, scientists are left hanging on the butcher's hook, unwanted; their intellectual muscle forever untasted...

Next week I will have the joy of watching a series of actual, real life, talented musicians. Stiff Little Finges, Loaded, The Answer and Therapy?

I will not be approaching my televisual remote control to watch the 'reality' shows, unless it is to switch over to a music channel or something that might stimulate me to THINK. Go on try it! You think about it for a minute: formulaic fodder for the masses, with cynical executives rubbing their hands as they grub around for another pound of your hard earned cash. Advertising is paid for by you! When you buy their tasteless tat, or have banks sucking cash from you that's you paying for the ads as the bastards hope to get more of the money you earn so it can pay the salaries of those that use every trick in the book to avoid paying tax: yeah they won't pay tax, but when they've a heart attack at their over-priced gym it is your tax money that pays for the paramedic, the emergency department's nurses, doctors and staff, because you pay tax. Every pay packet, every bottle of buorbon, every 10-deck of ciggies, every CD, you're paying tax: they're not.

How has this world, this island come to the state where hard rock and heavy metal is sneered at by prats who idolise the pro-tooled vacuous pretty boys and girls with their sampled drum lines, backing dancers and destruction of the nations brains. They stand accused of murdering songs penned by people who knew what a tune was, how to write and how to perform. Their guilt is apparent to all who watch...

So, what prompted this outburst. Moving languidly to the kitchen to retrieve a stray beer, lest it got lost and failed to make it to my hand, I switched on ye olde transistor radio; BBC Radio 5 Live to be precise. A popular radio presenter from these parts moved from a serious story about standards of care for older people to a report on the X-Factor - in the language these so-called people will understand I thought...WTF!

There then followed a debate that included a snippet of some brain-dead person destroying The Clash's Should I Stay or Should I Go. No intonation, no concept of the song's central themes. Nothing. The debate included one bampot saying that Gary Barlow had been brought to the X-Factor as, and I quote the no-dick nonentity here, "an incredibly authoritative figure". WHAT! He sang in a boy band that was managed within an inch of its life: over-dubbed, studio toned, mimed live and definitely not authoritative. Christopher Hitchens, Richard Attenborough, to name but two, are authoritative. Gary feckin Barlow is a product for pre-teen girls and their middle aged mothers to give air to maternal instincts while hoping he actually has a dick and not some genitalia recepticle for more money.

C'mon people of the UK and Ireland: let's hunt down the executives and producers of this twaddle and ship them off to Rockall, a tiny almost inaccessible island off the north coast. Dump them there and they can live in bird shit and seaweed til they confess the error of their ways.

Right, sorry this is a music blog. But this penchat for people with even a smidgeon of intelligence to watch this dipshit show while Cowell (or to give him his full title as revealed by Jake Burns of SLF, that c**t Cowell) counts his millions and prays for a Christmas Number One because he really, really doesn't have enough money.

Do you think he'd ever, ever think about listening, let alone backing one of the many, unsigned but immensely talented hard rock and heavy metal acts pounding the boards in Norn Iron. Would he feck! Would he back any actual musician? Not unless its the session musos earning peanuts to back talentless musicians.

But you know what's even worse? Pseudo intellectuals trying to rationalise X-Factor, Strictly Wankers Dancing, or Britain's Got Talent (which on the evidence to date it does not have talent on prime time TV shows). These self-same so-called smart people then have their giggle, their tweets and move on to praise some shoe-gazing sweetie eating arsehole. If they have a conscience they'd be calling a care line to have the contestants counselled and referred to a psychiatrist.

I've been listening today in the car and on ye olde computer to Anthrax, Trucker Diablo, Machine Head, Mastodon, Last Known Addiction, Stone Sour, Trivium, Dogs D'Amour, Nightwish and Manowar (random shuffle on iPod!). Now these X-Factor watching numpties will snigger at the growling vocals, the wall-of-noise and worse will guffaw at Manowar. They know nothing, they're worth nothing. Manowar, for all the over-blown theatrics, obsession with deafening a generation and over-the-top attitude are head and shoulders above these non-entities clogging the airwaves and causing previously intelligent people to tweet about this drivel.

A few weeks ago I raised a beer in memory of Cliff Burton, who died just over 25 years ago. I had the honour of seeing Mr Burton perform twice (Donington in the Ulster Hall). This was a bassist who knew his way aroung Bach, Lyrnyrd Skynyrd, The Misfits and Rush. This was a man whose time signatures confused atomic clocks and Danish drummers. Do you think Mr Burton or Johann Sebastian Bach would be enamoured by X-Factor? No, they'd be grabbing the nearest semi-automatic weapon and sending Cowell and his 'friends' back to Satan with the message 'Do Not Return'.

Here's another useless wee fact for you: scientists have begun to work out how quantum physics is at work when the transistors in your radio and older televisions receive power. Do you think Cowell and co would ever think of broadcasting something about how physics, chemistry or another science actually matters? Do you think they'd ever do a show on how modern medicine and pharmacological advances use cutting edge biological understanding and micro-electronics has changed the way we perceive disease? Next time you're in hospital whether seeing and ultra-sound of your unborn child, or watching a sick relative receive an fMRI scan the diagnosis from which may help save their life, spare a thought for X-Factor. They scanned the brains of contestants and the resulting CT scan showed no cerebral activity. They scanned the brain of Rob Flynn of Machine Head to understand how the lyrics of The Darkness Within came about, but the radiographer's mind was too frazzled by Strictly and X-Factor that their head melted.

I'm not even drunk yet and that one snippet of a radio show has got me so enraged! Hell, I checked my Twitter feed and couldn't find a single thing of real importance such as football (side jokes welcome) for all the people going on about X-Factor. Yes, BBC presenter who does shows on a Sunday you know who you are! And, yes one massive supporter of local hard rock talent, you know who you are.

Right here, right now, pledge to boycott X-Factor, Britain's Got Talent, Strictly..or whatever twaddle the ratings hounds want you to empty your brain to.  You have brains, use them.

That is all....apart from this...

I and those about me do not advocate suicide in any way. This post has a satirical note and if you take it seriously then you really have problems. And as to shooting yourself, you may have difficulty procuring a gun: as we have a current issue in Norn Iron with 'dissident' terrorists/gangsters, they may willingly shoot you thereby removing your stupid tweets once and for all as well as keeping the terrorists/gangsters from hurting anyone else (satire, people, satire: see: Bill Hicks, Lenny Bruce, Folks on the Hill etc for further information)

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Your Machine Head Black Procession reviews

MACHINE Head open reviews was the first attempt by this site to 'crowd source' - that is to see if the wider community could 'source' content from our faithful readers in the form of reviews. Much thanks to the ever popular Anonymous, Bill 'Redskull', Wayne and Tara posting comments on the page that contained the request for the crowd sourcing reviews. You can read them here.

Before reading them what do y'all think about the idea of allowing more people to provide reviews to this blogs? We're not talking about just plain comments and discussions - the likes of the Metal Ireland gig discussion pages are better suited to that, and we'd never want to usurp that wonderful resource and source of views, news and opinions.

What we're talking about is opening up the potential for readers to review gigs. We've had some guest reviewers before and their posts have proven popular. Basically the idea would be to email the review and we'll post it, with byline to the blog?

Views please...

In the meantime below are two other reviews from Matthew and Conor.


By Conor McCormick:

GOT in just in time for Bleeding Through, absolutely raging that I missed Man Must Die, doors at 7? Dont think so!


Bleeding Through were really powerful, sound for them was immense! Even though the keyboards weren't that high in the mix (Possibly a good thing!) Played a blinder of a set, although I may be slightly biased as a bleeding through fan.

Hatebreed were awesome. Not really a thinking man's band, but I think thats a big reason as to why there so good live. You can switch off your brain and just mosh. Suprised Jasta took getting hit with a bottle so calmly, was good to see though, any further attention to it may have antagonised the situation. Also suprised by the lack of bro-dudes present, last two times I've seen Hatebreed its been full of macho brodudery. The energy that band create is fantastic. Perfect opening band for a headliner in a venue such as the Ulster Hall.

Finally there was Machine Head Must admit im not their biggest fan and after the fiasco at the Kings Hall a few years back I wasnt overly keen on seeing them again. In saying that, the sound in the Nugent Hall was a key factor in the muddiness of their sound, they would have sounded clearer playing a cave!

The Ulster Hall is a good venue and the sound for the support bands was tight and cohesive which is why I know it can't be blamed on the venue or the PA they had with them.

It was simply too loud, they sacraficed clarity for volume. From what could be made out it did sound like the on stage sound was good but that was hard to make out. Stood everywhere, from front of stage, to the sides to the middle of the venue, even beside the sound desk and for a few minutes upstairs we managed to sneak up onto the balcony. Pretty much everywhere it was uncomfortably loud. Worst gig for that I've ever been to. Will be investing in a set of plugs incase this happens again. Machine Head's sound man has been with them for many years so he knows what he's doing, he looked to be pissed off at times. Not sure whether this was to do with the sheer volume or for alternate reason. Sound issues aside they did appear to be playing a sweet set and I know those up the front had no issues as the fans were going mad. Although it did them no favours in gaining myself as a new fan, it didn't seem to do any harm to current fans.

All round it was a pretty good show by all bands and maybe now people will refer to Machine Head as the loudest band to play Ireland as opposed to the messiest.

ENDS
 
By Matt Dougherty



THE Ulster Hall is a venue renowned for its great sound across Ireland, but on Monday night Machine Head weren’t quite so clear. Indeed, it’d be easy to argue the support bands benefited more from the acoustics than the headliners.

Unfortunately, we missed all but the last two songs of Man Must Die, but the two songs left a lasting impression. The first was that they were heavy as fuck. The second was, somewhat ironically in hindsight, that the sound was pretty good. Unfortunately the latter would not join the first to become a recurring theme through the night.

Bleeding Through had a relatively short time slot, and were much like the first group to perform in that they were brutally heavy. For many, the female keyboardist was a memorable highlight, even if her input on songs was questionable, if present at all. Certainly, with their death metal stylings, keyboards wouldn’t be the first instrument to jump to mind, but towards the end of their set she proved her presence was more than one purely for aesthetics.

Not long after Hatebreed took to the stage, a stray cup filled with water landed on frontman Jamey Jasta’s head, who didn’t react to it at all. This seemed to echo the attitude of the band – if you don’t like it, that’s your problem. Meanwhile, Hatebreed were here to perform for both dedicated fans and curious newcomers alike, and boy were they were out to impress. Their impressive setlist comprised of 15 songs – albeit short ones – won them many fans, with a particular highlight being the anthem In Ashes They Shall Reap. Simple lyrics which are no doubt relevant to everyone meant most of the crowd could appreciate them, even some of the more sceptical punters towards the back, with a great deal of headbanging and moshing happening throughout the hall. Thanks from the stage were genuinely heartfelt, and it was apparent that the band were enjoying themselves as much as the near capacity crowd in the Hall.

And then came Machine Fuckin’ Head. Opening with Clenching the Fists of Dissent from the new album before taking things back with older tracks like Imperium and Ten Ton Hammer, it was clear that if the Machine Head boys have learned anything from their support of Metallica, it’s that the crowd wants to hear a mixture of material old and new. Five tracks from the new album were played, including the tribute to Dimebag Aesthetics of Hate and the nine minute masterpiece Halo, with a mixture of many older songs, including Exhale The Vile and the recently premiered Vim padding out the setlist. Indeed, Machine Head played a great mixture of material that both dedicated fans and new recruits could enjoy. The operative word being could. By this time, the sound had unfortunately decayed to a muddy, murky mess, with any sound from the guitars or the vocals being drowned out by the thunderous drums and the rumbling bass. It’s a pity too, because somewhere under the sound it was evident the band were on top form, performing their songs flawlessly and genuinely thankful for the support of the people gathered to see them. It’s pretty clear why they’ve cemented a reputation as being immense live – but in Belfast it just didn’t go their way.

Vader, Blaze Bayley, Dan Reed, Cathedral, Deicide etc etc

THANKS to everyone who has posted/sent their views on Machine Head - I'll be amalgamating these for an opinion piece tomorrow, but in the meantime there's Vader tonight, Blaze Bayley on Thursday, Dan Reed on Saturday (still tickets available for the bus from Belfast). Again, as part of the experiement email me details.

And look out for further details about the Cathedral and Deicide gigs and other gig news.

Right off to see if the ringing in my ears has eased any \m/

Monday, March 01, 2010

Machine Head after-show party

After yer ears have been blasted, and yer senses are over-loaded by the aural assault of Machine Head, Hatebreed, Bleeding Through and All Shall Perish there is a chance to chill to some more metal.

The Distortion Project's own James Loveday will be spinning some heavy vibes at the Limelight for an after-show party. A sound way to relax after Machine Head and plan the week ahead...y'know the week with Blaze Bayley, Vader and Dan Reed!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Machine Head competition winners

Congratulations to to Tara, Wayne and Gavin who won a pair of tickets to see Machine Head, Hatebreed, Bleeding Through and All Shall Perish on March 1st at St George's Market.

Thanks to all who entered...and if you didn't win get yer proverbial arses along and buy a ticket for what is set to be one of the heaviest nights in a long, long time.

And look out for an exclusive interview with Machine Head next week? Where do you look for it? Right here of course, where there's a little Halo birghtening the Blackening of yer dark metallic hearts \m/

Monday, February 15, 2010

Machine Head ticket competition

TICKETS are selling fast for Machine Head's 1st March date at St George's Market, Belfast. After all with a line up headed by the Bay Area's hardest men of metal since Hetfield and co started playing Sweet Savage covers and which includes Hatebreed, Bleeding Through and All Shall Perish why wouldn't they be selling damn quick?

Those kind folks at CDC have donated three pairs of tickets for an exclusive Belfastmetalheadsreunited competition.

To win one of these pairs of tickets just answer this simple question:

What Metallica song did Machine Head cover on the special edition of Blackening and a Kerrang! covermount 'Tallica trib CD?

The competition closes on Wednesday 18th February at midnight. Send your answers here. Usual competition rules apply...which are - if you're not in ya can/t feckin' win!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Calling Newry metalheads

QUICK call to the metal community in Newry. Tara commented on an earlier post about coaches/buses that are travelling up to the big smoke to the Machine Head/Hatebreed/Bleeding Through/All Shall Perish St George's Market metal meltdown on March 1st.

We hear are not aware of any planned buses up from Newry. but if you do let me know by commenting, or if you have a car travelling up with an extra seat email me and I'll pass the details on

Monday, December 07, 2009

Jamming at the Odyssey Arena...with Pearl Jam


Hot on the heels of the announcement of Deep Purple playing Custom House Square, which was hot on the heels of Metallica announcing two dates at the Odyssey, which was hot on the heels of Machine Head announcing a Market date in Belfast comes the news that Pearl Jam are to play the Odyssey on 23rd June...

2010 gonna be a busy year :)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The official notification from CDC...

MACHINEHEAD

+ support from HATEBREED / BLEEDING THROUGH / ALL SHALL PERISH
ST GEORGES MARKET
MONDAY 1st MARCH 2010
"Grammy-nominated Bay Area metal titans, MACHINE HEAD have added 5 more dates to their UK headline run in support of their now silver-certified album (60,000 UK units sold), ‘The Blackening’. The tour, dubbed ‘The Black Procession’ will now includes a show in Belfast’s St Georges Market on Monday 1st March 2010. Tickets are on sale this Friday from www.cdcleisure.com and from 0844 277 4455. Tickets priced £29 including booking fee."
Doors: 7:00pm

March to Machine Head

March 1st - Machine Head, St George's Market...let the moshing commence

Friday, March 06, 2009

Seems that over the past week there has been a flurry of bands rumoured to be on the bill when Metallica play Marlay Park on August 1st.

Thanks to all the tips and suggestions, but all that can be confirmed (at least for the next day or so anyway!) is that the two-day Sonisphere event in England (at Knebworth) will see Linkin Park, Machine Head, Avenged Sevenfold, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Thin Lizy, Alice in Chains, and The Sword play the two-day festival.

More bands are to be added (in the war of metalfests being run between Sonisphere and Download!) but which from the announced list will be added to the Dublin date remains to be finally confirmed. And, which ones can be persuaded to play a wee gig in Belfast on August 3rd? Well, we can but hope!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

First tentative news on Metallica

The first tentative confirmation has emerged of the what, where and when of Metallica's indoor European dates - of which Belfast is touted to be one!

Shows are being scheduled between May and July and support will be in some two or three from Lamb of God, Machine Head, Mastodon and The Sword; the exact mix of bands to be decided in each country/region.