Tag Archives: Festival Previews

The 11th Annual Rock And Shock Festival Returns To Kill This Weekend

Posted on by

 

rock and shock poster

 

The orgy of gore, music and horror and just great culture in general collide this weekend in Worcester, MA for the 11th Annual Rock And Shock Festival. The event is always the highlight of the fall concert and horror convention season and is once again using the Worcester Palladium and the DCU Arena and Convention Center as its home base.

The weekend of music kicks off Thursday night with fests pre-party night featuring the triumphant return of King Diamond. Our spies at the few few dates of the King’s first headline tour of America, complete with full stage production, has been just sick! Hand picked openers Jess And the Ancient Ones are sure to be a treat for unsuspecting American audiences.

 

Friday brings headliners Overkill (stepping in for Machine Head and their tour cancellation). The Kill is always prime live and it will be great to hear some new songs from White Devil Armory (eOne) added to the set of thrash classics. Backing them up is the one-off supergroup The Rocking Dead, hand picked by photographer Jeremy Saffer. Led by Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein, Alan Robert (Life of Agony), Virus (Dope), Ace Von Johnson (Faster Pussycat) and Kriz DK (Device, Dope) will play a set of covers of The Misfits sure to delight festive fans. Also on the Friday bill are Battlecross, Brick By Brick, Arsis, Jamey Jasta’s namesake solo band, Avatar, Zire’s War and a bunch of great locals.

hatewear-box2-11

 

Saturday might be impossible to top with the GWAR Eternal Tour adding weight to the bill. And by weight we mean Blothar, the new co-frontman of GWAR, along with Vulvatron and the rest of scumdogs searching for their lost leader Oderus Urungus (RIP). Joining them will be a reactivated Life of Agony, fresh off of their recent sold-out comeback show in New Jersey last month. Other bands doing damage to your brains will be Palladium favorites like Unearth, Dying Fetus, Darkest Hour, Decapitated, and Carnifex all on the main stage. The small stage will be full of torturous mosh pits for Origin, Thy Will Be Done, American Shark, Tomorrow Will Fall, Conforza, and Swarm of Eyes.

Sunday has Juggalo protegees Twiztid and a bunch of similar acts if that is your thing. There is a also very cool free entry for Armed Services veterans Sunday too!

tattoo-site-box

 

The Horror Convention part of Rock and Shock is always a fun time for the entire family (yes, really) full of celebrities, tons of vendors, a Film Festival, guest panels and Q & A sessions, Tattooing, contests and many photo op sessions. In addition to the signings by movie icons, The Rocking Dead people will be doing signings and photos. Not only that but Jamey Jasta will have a booth sponsored by his Hatewear clothing company and will be joined doing a signing with Randy Blythe of Lamb of God, Mike D’Antonio of Killswitch Engage/Death Ray Vision and Skateboard legend/Actor/Black Flag front man Mike Vallely.

 

Get your tickets here

Rock And Shock on Facebook


Sonisphere UK Part II: Live at Knebworth, UK

Posted on by

sonisphere

SUNDAY

Sunday sees the sun come out again, and the weekend rapidly coming to an end. To ease the pain of Sonisphere being over for another year, ska-punk legends Reel Big Fish run riot on the Bohemia stage with a setlist made up of happy-go-lucky, bouncy ska hits. Disappointingly, the sound cut out for ‘Where Have You Been’, causing the audience to flit between chanting to get the sound back on as soon as possible, to helping the band out singing along word for word when the chorus kicks in. The ever notorious ‘S.R’ (‘Suburban Rhythm’) and the bands penchant for playing parts of the song in varying genres throughout the duration gives fans a chance to skank, mosh and any other form of dance that tickles their fancy.

 

Boston-Irish punks Dropkick Murphys are next, their whisky soaked bar room anthems in full swing today, kicking off with the well suited ‘The Boys Are Back’ before following it up with raucous renditions of ‘Black Velvet Band’, ‘Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya’ and ‘Shipping Up To Boston’. Despite a hefty collection of songs from previous albums, the Celtic boys opt for playing a fair few from their 2013 album Signed & Sealed In Blood, and it’s a credit to the guys that these tracks are as well received as ones that have been around for years, ‘Rose Tattoo’ being a notable favourite of the crowd.

alice-in-chains - apollo

Over at the Apollo stage, grunge legends Alice In Chains are in full swing, singer William DuVall once again proving his worth as he throws himself around the stage, his vocals mixing perfectly with guitarist Jerry Cantrell’s harmonies. ‘Dam That River’, ‘Man in the Box’ and ‘Stone’ all make obvious appearances in the set, sounding as good now as they ever did back in the day. After their comeback five years ago, Alice In Chains certainly set the record straight for any disbelievers whose opinons may have ever swayed towards their comeback being an unsuccessful one.

alice in chains - apollo - 2

Finally, Metallica bring the weekend to a blinding close, the songs they perform chosen entirely by Sonisphere attendees and fans who’ve spent the last few months casting their votes in the run up to the festival, some of whom were invited on-stage to announce them to the audience. Obviously, there were the odd grumble here and there as some songs are cut from their usual set list, but in all honesty, it’s hard to argue with the likes of ‘Enter Sandman’, ‘One’, ‘Nothing Else Matters’ and all the other hits they cram into their two hour performance. It’s a shame that the screens at each side of the stage were unfortunately hindered by the lack of backdrop due to some issues earlier on in the day, meaning that it wasn’t until dark that those of us vertically challenged and/or stood further to the back were able to watch the performance properly. Striding back on stage for their encore of ‘Whiskey In The Jar’, James Hetfield announces ‘…And Justice For All’ as the song that had won the vote from the ongoing polls, before ‘Seek and Destroy’ brings the main stage to a close for another year.

With just enough left in our vocal chords to have a sing along to some classic 90’s grunge, The Defiled top off the weekend with their ‘Nirvana Defiled’ set. Playing Kurt Cobain, singer Stitch pays homage and does justice to the raspy, gravelly vocals that Cobain was notorious for, as well as pulling off a performance whilst seemingly a little bit too tipsy. Playing the part of Courtney Love, The AvD wanders the stage in a skimpy dress as his band members crash their way through ‘Rape Me’, ‘Lithium’, ‘Heart Shaped Box’ before ending with the obvious choice ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’.

[slideshow_deploy id=’8955′]

Sonisphere on Facebook

WORDS: EMMA QUINLAN

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SONISPHERE (WITH PERMISSION)


Sonisphere UK Part I: Live at Knebworth, UK

Posted on by

sonisphere

SATURDAY

With the dawn of Saturday morning comes the rain, but if ever there was a band to provide an antidote to the grey skies, it’s British classics Chas & Dave. Though somewhat hard to grasp that the Cockney legends are sharing the stage with the likes of Slayer and Carcass, there’s no doubt that Chas & Dave’s back catalogue of hits such as ‘Gertcha’, ‘Rabbit’ and ‘The Sideboard Song’ is the perfect way to ease those hangovers and build you up for the rest of the days music.

ghost - apollo

On the opposing Apollo stage, Ghost take to the stage. A band notoriously ridiculed for their ghoulish garb, they’ve still drawn a large crowd to watch their own brand of heavy doom metal. With a set list severely lacking in any major stand out hits, Papa Emeritus and his Nameless Ghouls still manage to keep the attention of the crowd, the grim grey skies providing the perfect backdrop to witness this Swedish six piece at their best.

 

Over in the Bohemia tent, Finnish glam metallers Reckless Love welcome an eager crowd in out of the rain, singer Olli Herman sending the girls insane with his leather clad hips thrusting and gyrating as he belts out ‘Animal Attraction’, ‘On The Radio’ and ‘Beautiful Bomb’. Akin to an ever so slightly more serious Steel Panther, Reckless Love certainly know how to fill a tent with both a huge audience and blistering, ear splitting hair metal.

frank turner - apollo

Frank Turner makes his Sonisphere debut, and he clearly couldn’t be any happier that he’s got the chance to coincide this with performing on the same stage as his idols Iron Maiden, a fact that he makes no attempt at hiding throughout his set. It’s a shame then, that he plays to a disappointingly uninterested crowd, save for a handful of die hard fans down the front. Thankfully, it turns out that Frank and his Sleeping Souls put on a rip roaring performance regardless; from opening track ‘Photosynthesise’ to the ever poignant ‘Long Live The Queen’, right until set closer ‘Four Simple Words’.

Despite only playing their last ever gig barely a year and a half ago, Hundred Reasons regroup to play their rescheduled Sonisphere show after the last one was cancelled along with the whole festival back in 2012, with none other than ‘Ideas Above Our Station’ in it’s entirety. The album, released back in ’02, is wonderfully nostalgic; ageless songs such as ‘Answers’, ‘Falter’ and climactic closing song ‘Avalanche’ cause widespread sing-alongs across the entire crowd. It’s hard to walk away from the Saturn stage after watching such a performance knowing that there’ll be nothing from the Hundred Reasons camp any time soon, but it does instil hope in the hearts of their fans that this might not necessarily be a one-off show.

deftones - apollo

It’s Deftones time back over at the Apollo, and despite there being a good few moshpits and circle pits opening up nearer to the front of the stage, I find myself willing the band to end their fourteen song set by the time they’re only just halfway through. Whether it’s a combination of not knowing much of the material they played or a general lull in the afternoons atmosphere, the Californian five piece failed to entertain not only myself, but a good chunk of the audience who were stood further to the back.

deftones - apollo - 2

Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Saturday night at Sonisphere 2014 plays host to the final date of an epic three year tour by Iron Maiden, and what better way to end it than for it to coincide with Knebworth’s 40th anniversary of hosting live music. Pulling out the big guns with plenty of fire canons, smoke and other pyro, their setlist is a triumph; crammed with all the hits from their forty year repertoire. With his unmistakeable ‘Scream for me Knebworth!’, Bruce Dickinson tells us we’re a ‘rowdy and thirsty bunch’ before launching into classics such as ‘Moonchild’, ‘Can I Play With Madness’, ‘The Trooper’, ‘Run To The Hills’, the list is endless. Even the ever changing backdrops and various versions of mascot Eddie are overshadowed by the blazing performance that Iron Maiden put on. Even for someone who might not be their biggest fan, it’s hard not to get caught up in the show. Welcomed back onstage for their encore by a recording of a Winston Churchill speech, the band hint towards a new album in the near future, before ending the evening on ‘Sanctuary’.

[slideshow_deploy id=’8955′]

Sonisphere on Facebook

WORDS: EMMA QUINLAN

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SONISPHERE (WITH PERMISSION)


Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival Kicks Off This Weekend

Posted on by

therockstarenergydrink_mayhemfestival-2014

 

The wait is almost over! The most fun tour outdoors for the best price this summer on US soil is without a doubt the annual Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Ghost Cult will be on hand at the kickoff date, this Saturday in San Bernadino, CA. A total of 19 bands will play across 4 stages for the next six weeks, bringing some much needed metal to big cities as well as some places that sometimes don’t get very many shows at all the rest of the year. You may not always like all of the bands playing every year (2012, 2013, and 2009 standout as the best in our collective memory), but they definitely put on a big show that makes people fill the seats, with a little something for everyone year after year.

 

The main-stage this year is co-headlined by Avenged Sevenfold, who along with Metallica, Tool, Rob Zombie, and Slipknot are one of the the few commercially successful bands from the metal and rock world, who not only pack venues; but put on a tremendous live show. Even if you don’t count yourself as a fan of A7X (as their rabid army of fans refer to them) they always produce a spectacle live. The other main stage heavyweight is Korn. Twenty-plus years into their career Korn has returned to form with their last album The Paradigm Shift (Prospect Park/Universal). The album which features the return of co-founder Brian “Head” Welch to the band is about to see a deluxe release with bonus tracks and videos.

 

Metalcore pin updarlings Asking Alexandria is another band on the main stage that you could say are very polarizing to some. People either love them a ton or spend a lot of time making memes in tribute to their rage at them. The band will certain bring their own fans to the show and it will be interesting to see all the little tribes of metalheads vying for supremacy in the pit. Rounding out the main-stage lineup are neo-thrash favorites Trivium who have been on the big stage before at this festival, and are certainly worthy of their spot.

 

 

Heading up the Coldcock American Herbal Whiskey stage are the venerable death metal gods Cannibal Corpse. Of course they stick out like a sore thumb on this bill, but believe it, they will bring out the brutal, uncompromising musical wizardry as only they can. When they were in a similar slot in 2009, they crushed big time! Suicide Silence, armed with their new frontman Eddie Hermida (ex-All Shall Perish) are poised to be the breakout band from this tour. They are already riding high with their new album You Can’t Stop Me (Nuclear Blast) dropping the second week of the tour, so expect a deathcore party! Miss May I is also on a roll with their recent chart success and a lot of big tours under their belts. Mushroomhead makes an appearance too and should be more than a curiosity on the side stage with their costumes and effects that usually do well in darkened clubs at night. The rockers in Texas Hippie Coalition and Michigan bruisers in King 810 round out the second stage.

Headbang for the Highway/Sumerian tops the banner on the third stage with possibly the most anticipated band of the festival, Body Count featuring rapper/actor/celebrity Ice-T. On the strength of their new hit album Manslaughter (Sumerian), and a history of hits it should be a fun ride. Darkest Hour is another band that is a can’t fail proposition live. Other Sumerian acts such as Veil of Maya and the tasteless jokers in Upon A Burning Body round out that stage, with the local contest winners leading off in every city. Please come early for these bands, since without your locals, there are no new bands for tomorrow’s festival tours.

 

Bringing up the rear is the solid Victory Records stage, with Emmure missing the first few dates and then joining up in Auburn, Washington. This weekend, Ill Nino will carry the flag high. This should be a big comeback for these guys who have some solid albums; and their catchy, Latin-themed nu-metal, might inspire some mid-day sing-a-longs. Newer Victory bands like Wretched, Islander and Erimha round out that line-up.

 

Put on your sun block, stay hydrated and buy your tickets now!

 

 

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival on Facebook

Buy Tickets Here!

 

 

 


Festival Preview: Sonisphere Live At Knebworth- July 4th-6th

Posted on by

sonisphere

July has felt somewhat empty since Sonisphere went on a two year hiatus after the disappointing line up of 2012 caused it to be cancelled, and completely left off the festival circuit in 2013. 2014, however, sees its triumphant return to the fields of Knebworth Park July 4th-6th, coincidentally celebrating its 40th anniversary of live music held in its legendary grounds.

To honour such an occasion, Sonisphere really has pulled out the big guns headliner-wise; Friday welcomes The Prodigy to the Apollo stage for the first time, with the likes of Limp Bizkit, Band Of Skulls, Gary Numan, Anti-Flag and The Defiled playing beforehand to get you in the mood. Across other stages on Friday, there’s Electric Wizard, Bam Margera’s Fuckface Unstoppable, Lostalone, Brutality Will Prevail, Black Spiders, Glamour Of The Kill amongst so many more.

Throughout the Saturday, there’s The Sisters Of Mercy, New Model Army, Reckless Love, The Virginmarys, Bleed From Within, Alestorm, Chas & Dave, Ghost, Frank Turner and Deftones to look forward to, before you’re faced with the impossible challenge of having to choose who to watch between Slayer and legends Iron Maiden headlining the Saturn and Apollo stages respectively. But wait; what’s that? There’s no need for tough decisions, you say? Thankfully, no, as Sonisphere UK is sticking with its age old tradition of alternate stage times, so no pesky clashes between the main and second stage!

Bringing the weekend to a close on Sunday evening is none other than Metallica (By Request!). With the exception of their final song, the band have left it entirely up to festival goers to vote and decide what their setlist will be. Is there one song you’ve spent years desperate to hear them play live, and never had the chance? Well, now’s the time. Head over to http://www.metallica.com/ and cast your votes! But before the weekend is over, there’s of course Dream Theatre, Alice in Chains, Mastodon, Reel Big Fish, Dropkick Murphys, Gojira, Therapy? (playing Infernal Love in its entirety), the list just goes on and on.

Sonisphere is renowned for its diverse line ups, bringing many genres across the metal/rock/alt scene to one festival. It’s been sorely missed the last two years, so make sure you don’t miss out on what will surely prove to be one hell of a welcome home party.

Get tickets online to Sonisphere

Sonisphere on Facebook