"YouTube, they're the devil. We don't get paid at all," he said during a BBC Radio 4 documentary. Mensch went on to critique the site's business model. Sounds like he's been around Lars Ulrich for WAY too long.
You can always tell when a band is overstaying their welcome because the quality of music goes down. Some are in it for the money, while others don't wanna see their dream die.
Something You Whisper is showing they have what it takes to become an iconic band in the post-hardcore scene. With a strong Canadian tour history, impressive new singles, and a cultivation of an American fan base SYW seem destined for the next step. In 2014, SYW is becoming more aggressive, and hunting down the opportunities to lead them forward.
Lamb Of God are one of the biggest Metal bands in recent years. Controversial, heavy and mesmerizing, they’re one of the most influential Metal bands to have spawned since the likes of Metallica, Pantera and Iron Maiden and have only seemed to progress with each album they release.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of one of their most critically acclaimed albums to date, an album that inspired many artists and influenced some of the greatest Metal albums released over the last ten years. This remixed, remastered version of ‘As The Palaces Burn' is something for the fans to relish in as the tracks sound better than ever and an assortment of bonus content.
The album begins with ‘Ruin’, a track that is fast and heavy. It is a killer opening, filled with chuggy riffs, epic and complex drumming, shredding bass-lines and Randy’s unique vocal abilities. From the outset, you can hear the vast difference between sound quality from this remixed edition to the original version. Everything is heavier, sharper and more crisp. The mix seems a little more tight and things you may not have noticed before hand appear from nowhere.
Every little detail can be heard, providing a richer, more fulfilling album to listen to. Tracks such as ‘11th Hour’, ‘A Devil In God’s Country’, ‘Blood Junkie’ and ‘As The Palaces Burn’ really stand out, with ‘11th Hour’ being one of their most acclaimed and popular songs to date.
Everything works nicely, a smooth flow of heavy and furious Metal. With anger and hatred being spit out by Randy Blythe and with everyone else providing the instrumentals that help complete the album, it is an amazing experience that seeps into your mind. The lyrics are full of hatred that is aimed at the US government, questioning their motives and facing the subject of 9/11 (something daring seeming as the event took place just two years earlier).
People despised the album for it being so daring but it proved to be an essential album that helped influence so many other artists, including Machine Head, with ‘As The Palaces Burn’ helping to inspire their latter album, ‘Through The Ashes Of Empires’, released one year after Lamb Of God’s masterpiece. After the usual tracks from the original album, you get three unreleased demo tracks for ‘Ruin’, ‘As The Palaces Burn’ and ‘Blood Junkie’. These are the perfect companions for a tenth anniversary, showing the progression of these particular songs.
Fans will revel in the bliss of these demos and in the perfection of the entire album itself. Something of a collectors item for all the fans, it serves its purpose and does it well. The mix and the mastering is well handled, making sure every little thing can be heard providing an amazing experience for its listeners. It is something to give back to the fans and proves why this band are one of the biggest Metal bands in recent history. It is damn near remarkable.
With chuggy bass, precision drumming, electrifying riffs and vocals to wake the dead, this is something to behold and revel in its beauty. The original album was, and still is, amazing but this really helps bring it to the forefront, showing everyone just how good it is. It’s understandable why the band are as big as they are now, with this album alone proving their masterclass. Some hail it as their masterpiece, others say it was the first album that truly showed how good Lamb Of God are.
Whatever your opinion, there is no denying that this album is as beautiful as it is heavy, as shocking as it is amazing, as influential as it is controversial. It is inspiring whilst it makes you want to smash everything in sight. Now, what else would you want from a Metal album?
10/10
- Asa
Metallica frontman James Hetfield talks about the 25th anniversary of …And Justice For All. You know, the one where you can hardly hear Jason Newsted’s bass playing. This interview comes courtesy of ARTISTdirect. Here are a few excerpts from the interview:
…And Justice for All is a very special record in the Metallica catalog. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the album now?
I agree. It wasn’t the first time with Jason Newsted, but it was the first real studio record he showed up and kind of was heard on the album [Laughs]. That’s another whole therapy session right there! Touring that thing, I think of it as our fancy, showing-off album, “We’re crazy progressive musicians. We really know how to play here!” [Laughs] Making that work into this is a challenge, and I love that part of it.
You mentioned the more progressive element of …And Justice For All. It’s definitely prevalent, but if you listen to “Dyers Eve”, it’s the most metal song ever…
I would have to agree that it’s pretty intense lyrically, sonically, and ability-wise with the playing, especially on the drums. It’s remarkable. We’ve played that song live before. It’s not on this live album though.
This week’s “Classic Bands and Why We Love Them” contributor is Bradley Dillion from Introduce: Yourself Band Promotion Page.
Deftones. Why are they my favorite band, and one of the best bands of the 90’s, in my opinion? A multitude of reasons, but mainly because I saw them for the first (and only) time back in 2003, with Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Metallica, and Mudvayne. It was one of the best shows I’ve ever been to, and while I was only familiar with most of “White Pony” at the time, something about them stuck with me. I think it may have been their stage presence. The fact that they were (and still are) a very heavy band, but still influenced by genres other than metal, was what really stood out to me.
I listen to a much broader spectrum of music now than I did back then. But Deftones will always be my favorite band just because of how tight Stephen Carpenter, Chino Moreno„ and friends are with their instruments. Add the to the fact that they’re a lot more experimental than any band I’ve heard in two decades, and you have a recipe for perfection. A big part of my love for them is Chino Moreno’s voice, though. It’s just one of those things you have to hear to believe. Also, Deftones have never made a bad album, or even average one. They’ve all been great, from Adrenaline to Diamond Eyes. And personally, I can’t wait to see what they do with their new album that drops in October. I know it won’t disappoint.
Deftones got me through a very dark couple of years in life. Between them, Linkin Park, and Funeral For a Friend, they all provided an outlet for me to escape reality. And really, isn’t that was music should do? Shouldn’t it make you open up your mind and lose yourself in it?
This, my friends, is why Deftones are my favorite band.
Southern California’s KYNG will join Danzig on tour kicking off this weekend! The dates come on the heels of a sprawling 8-week tour with Clutch and Hellyeah. Following the dates with Danzig, KYNG will stop in Atlantic City for Metallica’s Orionfest on June 23-24 prior to hitting the road with 10 years. Metallica frontman James Hetfield recently sung the band’s praises after discovering them through Sirius XM program director Jose Mangin, who has championed KYNG since hearing early demos a few years ago. Details on the dates are below, but stay tuned for another big tour announcement for KYNG next month as well.
Kyng released their debut record Trampled Sun last fall on REALID Records (through Independent Label Group). The new single “I Don’t Believe” is pushing Top 30 at Active Rock Radio and continues to climb while first signle “Falling Down” saw heavy airplay at Sirius XM’s “Octane” and “Liquid Metal” channels. SiriusXM was instrumental in bringing the band to what became their record label (REALID/Independent Label Group) and managers (In De Goot, who also represents Shinedown, Chevelle and others).
KYNG’s self-proclaimed “California Heavy” sound is a unique and universally appealing combination of heavy and captivating concepts, channeling influences from Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin to Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age. KYNG is trio, Eddie Velix (guitar and vocals) Tony Castaneda (bassist and vocals), and Pepe Clarke Magaña (drummer).
Check out KYNG at any of the following venues:
DATE CITY VENUE
with In This Moment, 10 Years
05.21 Denver, CO The Summit Music Hall
05.22 Colorado Springs, CO The Black Sheep
05.23 Farmington, NM Top Deck (*w/o 10 Years)
05.24 Gallup, NM Slopshot Billiard (*w/o 10 Years)
05.25 Scottsdale, AZ Martini Ranch (*w/o 10 Years)
with Danzig
05.26 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless amphitheater
05.27 San Francisco, CA The Warfield
05.31 Kansas City, MO The Uptown Theater
06.01 Indianapolis, IN Murat Egyptian Room
06.02 Detroit, MI The Fillmore
06.04 Silver Spring, MD The Fillmore
06.05 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
06.07 Philadelphia, PA The Electric Factory
with The Sword, Red Fang
06.19 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
06.20 Raleigh, NC Kings Barcade
06.22 West Chester, PA The Note
Orion Music & Arts Festival
06.23 Atlantic City, NJ Bader Field
with 10 Years
06.27 Jefferson, LA Southport Hall
06.29 Dallas, TX Trees
06.30 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
07.01 Corpus Christi, TX Brewster Street Ice House
07.03 Pensacola, FL Vinyl Music Hall
07.05 Tallahassee, FL Coliseum Tallahassee
07.06 Knoxville, TN The Valarium
07.07 Chattanooga, TN Track 29
07.10 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live
07.11 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
07.13 Portland, ME The Asylum
07.14 Hampton, NH Wallys Pub
07.15 Bristol, CT Bleachers
07.18 Flint, MI The Machine Shop
Southern California’s KYNG is excited to announce that they will join the lineup for Metallica’s Orionfest. The two day festival, created and curated by Metallica themselves, takes place on June 23-24 in Atlantic City. Metallica created this festival to give each band member a chance to showcase their diverse musical interests and lifestyle under one stage. Metallica frontman James Hetfield recently sung the band’s praises after discovering them through Sirius XM program director Jose Mangin, who has championed KYNG since hearing early demos a few years ago.
The band has just confirmed an 8-week tour with Clutch and Hellyeah which will kick off April 10 and take the band across the country with stops in Detroit, Dallas, and Nashville. See below for more details.
Kyng released their debut record Trampled Sun last fall on REALID Records (through Independent Label Group). The new single “I Don’t Believe” is pushing Top 30 at Active Rock Radio and continues to climb while first signle “Falling Down” saw heavy airplay at Sirius XM’s “Octane” and “Liquid Metal” channels. SiriusXM was instrumental in bringing the band to what became their record label (REALID/Independent Label Group) and managers (In De Goot, who also represents Shinedown, Chevelle and others).
KYNG’s self-proclaimed “California Heavy” sound is a unique and universally appealing combination of heavy and captivating concepts, channeling influences from Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin to Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age. KYNG is trio, Eddie Velix (guitar and vocals) Tony Castaneda (bassist and vocals), and Pepe Clarke Magaña (drummer).
Check out KYNG at any of the following venues:
with Clutch and MonstrO
04.10 Norfolk VA -The NorVa
04.11 Lancaster PA - Chameleon Club (*and Kingsnake)
04.12 Clifton Park NY - Northern Lights
with Clutch, Hellyeah, and MonstrO
04.13 Providence RI - Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
04.14 Atlantic City NJ - House of Blue’s
04.15 Huntington NY - Paramount Theater
04.17 Stroudsburg PA - The Sherman Theatre
04.18 Rochester NY - Water Street Music Hall
04.20 Traverse City MI - Ground Zero
04.21 Ft. Wayne IN - Piere’s
04.22 Toledo, OH - Headliners
04.23 Dayton OH - McGuffy’s House of Rock (*w/o Hellyeah)
04.24 Madison WI - The Orpheum Theater
04.25 Des Moines IA - Val Air Ballroom
04.27 Fargo ND - The Venue
04.28 Lincoln NE - Bourbon Theatre
04.29 Boulder CO - Boulder Theater
05.1 Springfield, MO - Gillioz Theatre
05.2 Wichita KS - The Cotillion
05.3 Oklahoma City OK - Diamond Ballroom (*w/o Hellyeah)
05.4 Sauget IL - Pop’s
05.5 Chattanooga TN - Track 29
05.6 Raleigh NC - Lincoln Theatre (*w/o Hellyeah)
05.8 Libertyville IL - The Fuel Room @ Austin’s Saloon
05.10 Rock Island IL - Rock Island Brewing Company (*w/o Hellyeah)
05.11 Joilet IL - Mojoes (*w/o Hellyeah)
05.12 Detroit MI - St. Andrews Hall
05.13 Flint MI - The Machine Shop (*w/o Hellyeah)
with In This Moment
05.14 Dallas TX - Trees
05.15 Houston TX - Scout Bar
05.17 Nashville TN - Exit/In
with Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown
05.18 Bloomington IL - US Cellular Coliseum
Rock On The Range
05.19 Columbus OH - Columbus Crew Stadium
KPNT Pointfest
05.20 Maryland Heights MO - Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre
with In This Moment and 10 Years
05.21 Denver, CO - The Summit Music Hall
05.22 Colorado Springs CO - The Black Sheep
05.23 Farmington NM - Top Deck (*w/o 10 Years)
05.24 Gallup NM - Slopshot Billiard (*w/o 10 Years)
05.25 Scottsdale AZ - Martini Ranch (*w/o 10 Years)
05.26 Flagstaff AZ - Orpheum Theater (*w/o 10 Years)
Orion Music & Arts Festival
06.23 Atlantic City NJ - Bader Field
