The Azerbaijan military has released a bizarre heavy metal music video touting their war weapons and featuring lot of explosions amid a violent dispute with its neighbor Armenia.”
Here are the tour dates repeated below in case you can’t read the tiny font in the poster above.
Amon Amarth Fall 2019 North American Tour Dates:
09/26 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO
09/27 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
09/28 – Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum
09/30 – Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Convention Centre
10/01 – Calgary, AB @ Grey Eagle
10/03 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
10/04 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
10/06 – Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theater
10/07 – Chicago, IL @ The Riviera Theater
10/09 – Toronto, ON @ Rebel
10/10 – Montreal, QC @ M Telus
10/12 – New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
10/13 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
10/15 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
10/16 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
10/18 – New Orleans, LA @ The Fillmore
10/19 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
10/20 – San Antonio, TX @ The Aztec Theatre
10/22 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
10/23 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
10/25 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
10/26 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Palladium
How many of you would die for the metal? My friend Azeez is from Iraq. He lived just 50 miles away from where the Islamic State took over. And yet he was openly metal and pagan in a country that would kill him for it.
Eventually he had to flee for his own safety, but in the process he became hospitalized and is now in a terrible situation.
He was one of the biggest followers and promoters of this blog.
Now is the time to help our fallen metal brother. Let us put our forces together to prove that you can’t destroy the metal!!!
His brother needs money to help pay his hospital bills. Every little bit helps. Even if you only have $5. Or maybe you could just share this post. Or maybe you could just post a message of moral support on his GoFundMe page for his family.
DONATE TO HIS BROTHER’S PAYPAL: mahmoudxeno9@gmail.com
Rammstein guitarists Paul Landers and Richard Kruspe protested Russia’s anti-LGBTQ laws this past Monday, July 29 by kissing on stage during the band’s concert in Moscow.
What consequences, if any, Landers and Kruspe will face as a result of their dramatic protest remains unclear. But you gotta admit what they did was pretty bad ass.
Syrian Metal Is War will be screened at the 30th edition of Wacken Open Air on July 31 at 09:00pm and August 3 at 08:30pm.
It’s a documentary about how the heavy metal is staying alive in Syria, despite the war.
I just have to say that my Middle Eastern metal head friends are some of the bravest metal heads I know. Keep on head banging, guys, and never stop.
“Prior to the war, Syrian metal musicians faced jail time and persecution for “satanism.” During the war, they face new challenges, roadtripping along dangerous highways and dodging snipers to make it to shows at the one remaining café in Aleppo where live metal music still lives. They try to record amid the rumble of bombs and regular power outages. “The symphony of Aleppo,” one musician tells the camera, “is generators and bullets.” – Reason.com
Every year, some 80,000 metal heads invade the sleepy little village of Wacken for the ultimate metal hajj, the biggest metal festival in the world, Wacken Open Air.
Check out some of the links below to get a taste of the mayhem.
Recently Trish, the drummer of the Norwegian avant-garde black metal band Urarv found out she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I myself have battled breast cancer, and know how expensive and difficult this disease can be to deal with.
So please do what you can to help Trish, even if it’s just donating a few dollars along with a few minutes of your time.
“Burzum was never my choice of life. I didn’t even want to become a musician.”
Varg Vikernes has announced that Burzum is no more after giving away his only copy of the project’s 1992 self-titled debut album.
The disc went to a fella named Nathan B, who beat Varg in a challenge of getting from 0-100 kmh (0-60 mph) in their 4×4 vehicles.
Burzum was active between 1991 and 1999, and then again from 2009 until now. The project has 11 studio albums in its discography, the final of which came out in June 2014 under the title of “The Ways of Yore.”
Themes: Entropy, Space, The Cosmos, Destruction, Chaos
“A singularity is the point in a black hole where density becomes infinite, space-time bends, and the laws of physics as we know them cease to operate.
This is the perfect way to describe Mesmur’s newest album “S,” an infinitely dense soundscape that bends space and time around the listener. A meandering funeral dirge through the chaotic void that is the universe. A universe that was doomed from the start.”
This is a review I did for Dark Art Conspiracy. Check out the rest of my review HERE
What I didn’t get to mention in my review is that entropy has four phases. I think that this album has four songs to reflect the four phases of entropy. Entropy is represented by “S” and is the measurement of disorder in a system. The idea of having an album focused on creating the sound of entropy is fucking brilliant in my humble opinion.
July 12 Sanford Center, Bemidji, MN
July 13 Rock Fest 2017, Cadott, WI (Slayer and Lamb of God on this bill)
July 15 Rock USA 2017, Ford Festival Park, Oshkosh, WI (Slayer and Lamb of God on this bll)
July 16 Chicago Open Air Festival, Toyota Park, Chicago, IL (Slayer, Lamb of God and Behemoth on this bill)
July 18 Express Live!, Columbus, OH
July 20 Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC
July 21 St. Augustine Amphitheater, St. Augustine, FL
July 23 Electric Factory Outdoors, Philadelphia, PA
July 25 Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA
July 27 Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
July 28 Pier Six Pavilion, Baltimore, MD
July 30 Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN
August 1 Providence Medical Center Amphitheater, Bonner Springs, KS
August 2 1stBank Center, Denver, CO
August 4 The Joint, Las Vegas, NV
August 5 The Forum, Los Angeles, CA
August 9 Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
August 11 The Cuthbert Amphitheater, Eugene, OR
August 12 WaMu Theatre, Seattle, WA
August 14 Encana Events Center, Dawson Creek, BC CANADA
August 15 SMS Equipment Stadium, Fort McMurray, AB CANADA
August 17 KettleHouse Amphitheater, Missoula, MT
August 19 Isleta Amphitheater Albuquerque, NM
August 20 Comerica Theater, Phoenix, AZ
(This is the album cover of Risala’s “Patterns of War,” a band containing Tony Aziz Yaqoo, former member of Iraqi Thrash Metal Band Acrassicauda)
On this blog I like to get opinions about all things metal and pagan from different corners of the globe. I have a fan in Iraq who has been a very helpful supporter of this blog, so I decided to have a conversation with him and get his opinion on some things. Also (as a U.S. citizen myself) I thought it might be interesting to get some of his opinions on America’s increasingly bat-shit-crazy-political situation with President Trump and his travel ban.
MG: Hey there, I was curious…you said you were from…Iraq? I’m just asking because I like seeing what people in other parts of the world think about some of the topics that I discuss.
AA: Hey. Yes, that is right. I’m from Iraq. I would be glad to answer any question you may have. Although you shouldn’t count me as a typical Iraqi since most my education and culture is very western oriented.
MG: Are you still living in Iraq? And did you study in a Western country, or that’s just your interest?
AA: Yes i still live in Iraq. Depends on what you call study. I didn’t go to college outside the country but I speak English ever since I was 15. Most books I read are in the English language.
MG: If you don’t mind me asking, what part of Iraq do you live in?
AA: I live in Baghdad. So the very middle hahaha.
MG: This might be a dumb question…but in that part of Iraq are things relatively stable now? Or is there violence as an after effect of U.S. involvement and current violence in Syria and what not?
AA: It’s not a dumb question at all. Yes things are relatively stable now. Which seems to be the perfect way to describe it. Most cities are being taking back from ISIS, but because of the U.S. intervention in Iraq, many things are now broken and seems to be beyond repair. Not in the short run, anyway.
MG: Agh that sucks. But yeah I heard that ISIS was losing ground, so that’s good. Do you know anyone who was stuck living in an ISIS taken city like Mosul?
AA: No, they moved before things went REALLY bad. And good thing too since everything happen over night.
MG: That’s good!
AA: ISIS was never that strong but we made it so ourselves. Our government did by giving it land and making it the bogeyman that it is now.I remember not knowing anything about it. However, saw large billboards on the streets with a text saying “No for ISIS”. Which seems to be a free ad campaign for them made by the government. That and the fact that the military left in one night without any battle or anything.
MG: What are your thoughts on Trump’s travel ban?
AA:We have people who are misinformed and call it a Muslim ban. Which is not. Since over 700 million Muslims are excluded from it. They seems to be going crazy about it. On the other hand, we have those who believes it’s very well-intentioned and harmless, which is far from it. Because Trump have always had it for Muslims and talked about it across his campaign. The fact that also affects those who already have green cards. They don’t know if they left the US, they’ll ever be able to go back. Not to mention that most of those countries haven’t had anything to do with any terrorist act in the US. Even though this list been made by the Obama, not Trump’s administration. It wasn’t as absolute and as strong as it is now.
I’m personally against immigration. We should stay and try to fix our country instead. So I might think it’s a step in the right direction. It’s just the fact that it was like this. And from someone like Trump, makes me uneasy. And we have those who prepared their whole life to leave and sold all their belongings. Only to be put on hold for 90 days.
MG: Yeah, that’s harsh. I feel bad for the people who are stuck in limbo because of this. Or the people who went to Iraq to go visit their families and now can’t come back. Trump should have at least given people a few weeks to prepare for this instead of just springing it on people. But yeah…what a mess. But anyways…to take things in a completely different direction…I wanted to ask, how is the metal scene over there in Baghdad?
(Iraqi Thrash Metal Band, Acrassicauda)
AA: It’s not very common. But it DOES exist. Metal has always been misunderstood and simply not for everyone. I guess you know that better than anyone. I don’t know if you heard that few years back there was a phase where people were killed in a very horrible way for dressing, hair style and tattoos that got to do with metal. The main attack was against gays. But it also included all that isn’t considered “Good” For social standards.But with all that, we still have many die-hard fans here.
MG: Wow. Yeah, you definitely have to be hard-core to be able to face that kind of threat.
AA: Hahaha yeah. My look, and some of my friends, still haven’t changed. Not because we are metal fans, but we simply don’t want change by following people who have no idea about what’s considered a good taste. We rather die than to live their lives, not ours.
MG: That’s awesome. Power to you, man.
AA: Thanks.
MG: Was that the government killing people? Or just some crazies who took matters into their own hands?
AA: Little of both. The people who took things to their own hands, had a lot of influence in the government and they are well known. People are just too afraid of saying it. The government says, “We are unable to protect you if you keep dressing and behaving like this.” So the government isn’t literally doing it. But they aren’t doing anything to stop it either.
MG: Ahh that sucks. Just curious, are bands able to play shows anywhere or is that just…impossible?
AA: Yeah that’s impossible. Just so few people that it’s not worth it. Maybe for the best, if too many people, it will bring a lot of attention to us. It’s very different to our culture. The closest thing to it that people interested in it is rap. So you can imagine.
MG: Can people actually gather to listen to rap, or is that impossible too?
AA: Yeah they can. We have people who go drinking and whoring and no one beats an eye. We also have bars and parties and all that. It’s not as grim as it might seem. It’s just that, people like us (excuse the expression) , the fewer, and the more strange to society they are, they are easiest as a target.
MG: Ah I see. So among you and the people you know, what metal bands are pretty popular?
AA: Depends. For me, Eternal tears of sorrow, not saying they are the best, has always had a place in my heart. Metallica, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Death, Black Sabbath and Megadeth are the most common. For good reason too.
(Metallica fans in Abu Dhabi, Dubai)
MG: Hell yeah!
AA: \w/
MG: So I was also curious about something else. I obviously post about ancient Earth religions on my blog like paganism. How common is it for people to talk about or explore things like alternative spirituality over there?
AA: Not very common. To tell you the truth, I’m yet to find someone who’s interested in spirituality and the old religions as I am. When society is at it’s weakest point, they turn to religion. When they get comfortable with their lives, they tend to move away from it and from the concept of god, and it always seems to be one of the reasons of their downfalls. It’s like they lose their reason to live. As in example, you know how things ended in Rome. You can also see it in Europe today . I always try to find a place in between.
MG: Yeah. That’s very true. [After much further discussion about religion and what not I asked] What do you see yourself as?
AA: Well, for me I left Islam or simply stopped caring much about it years ago. Even though I studied it more than the average Muslim. And memorized almost half of the Quran. But there were things I noticed made no sense. Other are simply too harsh. Aside from stuff in the Quran and Muhammad’s life that I simply rejected all together.
About 6 years ago, I went through clinical depression. Didn’t like the proscribed drugs at all and the way it made me feel. So as I was looking for an alternative treatment, I stumbled on meditation. Maybe it was just me but, it worked great. From it, I started to learn more about Buddhism and Hinduism. As much as I loved their teachings, didn’t want to follow them but rather learn from them. After that I got into witchcraft and self-empowering. Didn’t practice any black magic, but I continued to clean my chakras, empower them, my aura and heal myself as god knows I have a lot of emotional baggage and can see how broken my soul is. I got to a point where it’s very hard to explain. I know it seems crazy but, I feel very connected to higher powers than ourselves. Don’t know what it is. But I know it’s guiding and helping me. I’m still looking to this day to recognize it. Maybe it’s just like Michelangelo’s creation of Adam’s painting. That god is in our mind all along.
“The Creation of Adam.”
MG: That’s awesome! Maybe this just shows my ignorance, but I know in some parts of the Middle East there are pretty harsh apostasy laws that can punish or even kill people for leaving Islam. Is this something you have to worry about?
AA: Yeah, but. I don’t mind. Not many people know about me anyway. But those who follow my posts and got close to me, might notice. But there is nothing I can do about that.
As for metal, well, you know how they always use Satan as an inspiration. Even when I was a Muslim, kinda admired him in a way. His story in the Quran is different than the bible. He was fallen from heaven because he refused to bow to Adam when asked by god and said “I’m better than him. I am fire and he is mere mud”. I thought that he saw and knew heaven and hell, yet he chose hell for what he believed in. Right or wrong, it was really something to admire. Because I was in a very authoritarian household myself. He really is the symbol of freedom, I thought. So metal music kinda just came with it.
MG: That’s pretty badass.
MG: Do you think things will ever change in Iraq…like people will eventually be more open to these ideas that we’ve talked about, metal and alternative spirituality…or that people may embrace a more secular form of Islam that permits more freedom of expression and so on?
AA: Little bit of both. If things got better like it did before, some people will turn to science, others will follow spirituality or a form of it. Like the Sufi, for instance. But never Paganism or Hinduism. They have a very strong reaction toward it. Because it’s the main thing Islam is out to destroy. I’ll just be happy to reach a point where we have freedom and tolerance like in the US or the West. Where no one cares about what you do or believe as long as you keep it to yourself.
What I told you about civilization rise and fall. History repeat itself. I’m very afraid for Europe and the US. Because when they strayed away from religion, they didn’t make up for it with spirituality or philosophy or maybe both. I’m sure you see it yourself. People lack direction and morals. But with the internet, where it’s so easy to share knowledge, I believe there is hope. That’s why I love your blog. I believe it’s a form of what the world need. A form of mindset and understanding I mean.
(Scenes from Baghdad)
MG: I guess in your opinion, what do you think needs to change in the Middle East — or at least just Iraq — for people to move toward a more secular, less religiously extreme direction?
AA: Every era comes to the country; it puts its mood on it. Right after the fall of Saddam, there was a strong movement toured a secular direction. That quickly changed after Shia religious fundamentalists took over.
To answer your question, the policy and the parliament needs to change. They are all thieves and killers. Most of them hide behind religion to command their followers. As we are neck-deep in ignorance and the lack of objective thinking, we come to Islam for the solution to all our problems. And that’s where politicians get their votes, thus their power.
And so, we should either change the whole system because democracy only work as well as people’s education and common knowledge. Alternatively, wait for things to slowly change as it doing now since we have something we never had in a very long time. And that is the freedom of speech that the internet provides. Which gives us the power to criticize Islam and show its true face. ISIS, as bad as it was, it did us a favor. It showed the people the elephant in the room. And that’s Islam is NOT unrelated to terrorism and jihadist.
Other ways I don’t see how we can convince people in doing it. People need to read in order to have an argument with them. It works both sides, you see. You can’t play football with someone without legs. The problem is they only read school curriculums, the Quran and dream explanation books. They also need to speak English. As it will give them, a prospective they never had before and show them the world outside their sphere.
MG: Wow, very well thought out answers. Thank you!
I stopped watching TV on the regular about ten years ago. Yet one of my major disappointments (in the occasions that I do watch the boob tube) is that there was no longer a music channel, just MTV (the reality TV channel) and VH1 (the reality TV channel that sometimes had music). So you can’t imagine my excitement when Sam Dunn – the director of several heavy metal documentaries – announced that there is going to be a whole freakin’ channel dedicated to metal. This means more metal documentaries, more metal videos, and the exploration of the millions of sub-genres of metal (including the ones that you never knew existed – or the ones that don’t exist yet). Like how about Pirate Jazz Metal? Does that exist? Maybe I can just create it out of thin air. And what about the prospect of metal commercials? Commercials for things like soap that ooze goat’s blood on you in the shower? (Okay, maybe that idea needs to be work-shopped a bit)
So anyways…something definitely to look forward to. Thank you very much Sam Dunn!
It is not uncommon for a very creative person to suffer from mental illness, especially living in today’s world, which can be very unfriendly and cruel towards creative people.
Jill Janus, the talented vocalist of Huntress describes the challenge of living with mental illness along with a recent cancer diagnosis.
I wish this heavy metal heroine all the best. Sending some positive vibes her way.
Don’t forget. The new Huntress album ‘Static’ comes out September 25th!
“I believe in Satan Who rend both heavens and earth And in the Antichrist His dearly misbegotten The anguish ov our future A Bastard spawned from lie Born ov a harlot nun Reign high in luxury Aloft the kings ov man”
– Messe Noire Lyrics
Behemoth’s grim new video is a tribute to the Swiss surrealist H. R. Giger.
Giger is most famous for his role in the award winning visuals of the film Alien. He was named to the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2013. Giger is well known for his depiction of human bodies and machines in a cold, interconnected (and often sexual) relationship. His works primarily feature nightmarish, demonic and alienesque landscapes.
The music video above is inspired by Giger’s surreal style, with its focus on large demonic doors, as well as Sharon’s attachment to an occult and demonic machine that drains her blood. The story depicted is the fall of an archangel and his triumphant rise as Lucifer.
I can definitely see much of Sharon Ehman’s own artistic bent in the video as well. Sharon Ehman of Toxic Vision is without a doubt a fucking genius and the top designer of metal and occult inspired style in today’s world.
Zev Deans said the following about this video: “The story of Lucifer’s fall, followed by his defiant rebirth, reminds me of Nergal’s own personal struggles of recent years. Like Lucifer, Behemoth has recovered from hardship, and they are stronger than ever. With Messe Noire, I was lucky enough to work with some of the most talented people in the genre. I owe the success of this project to the intense SACRIFICE that Sharon and the rest of team gave to this work.“
THE ART OF H.R. GIGER IN MOTION
RELEVANT LINKS
(Sharon Ehman of Toxic Vision, as “Abysmal Queen”)
“Our show is a church of heavy metal. I hope everyone will put their weapons down and listen to metal. That’s my Utopia.” ~ Orphaned Land Frontman Kobi Farhi
Metal Hammer recently released an article in which the Orphaned Land Frontman Kobi Farhi opens his heart up about the current Israeli and Palestinian conflict. For those of you who don’t know about Orphaned Land, they are a Israeli Folk Metal (former death metal) band that writes music about conflict in the Middle East. As a token of goodwill, Farhi even shared a Metal Hammer award with his Palestinian tour mate of the band Khalas. He states that the only thing he and Khalas argue about is “who will pay for the beer.”
Yet now the lives of people in Palestine and Israel have turned into a nightmare, as these places have turned into a war zone once again. Yet Farhi didn’t just speak out about this violence, but about the general bloodshed in the Middle East – referring to the tragedies in Syria and Iraq.
“We feel like we’re some of very few awakened from a deep slumber. It’s not just Israel and Gaza. Look what happens in Syria, look what happens in Iraq with Isis. The place is full of weapons, fire and death. Terrible things are happening – and we can’t stop them with our guitars and lyrics.”
The video above discusses the topic of children being handed toy guns and taught hatred from a young age, instead of being taught about life and how to have a dialogue with one’s enemy.
While times look dark, there is a tiny flicker of hope in the power of music and art. Maybe one day we can use the power of art and music to achieve a real global dialogue and a lasting peace.
INTRODUCING YOUR LORDS AND MASTERS: THE MIGHTY GWAR!
“Eons ago, there existed an elite group of chaos warriors who ravaged the galaxy with a boundless hatred of all things alive. They were called the Scumdogs of the Universe, and they grew in might and fury, the greatest weapon in the arsenal of their cosmic Master.
But they became too powerful, and too defiant, and for their cosmic crimes were banished to the most insignificant planet in the universe…the seething mudball known as Earth.
Millions of years passed, and they slumbered, until the pollution of your world de-thawed these creatures from their ageless coma…and now they stride the Earth, living gods, dedicated to one goal, the destruction of the human race, and the eradication of existence itself! Wait- that’s two goals!
Hark to the hideous majesty of your MASTERS, rulers of Earth, the MIGHTY GWAR!!!
It is I, ODERUS URUNGUS, lead singer of the sickest band in metal history, Earth’s only openly extra-terrestrial rock band, and the destined destroyers of not only the human race but also reality itself. GWAR! Hulking, heaving, dribbling WAR-GOD’s who like nothing better than putting hordes of our sniveling fans to the sword while playing the marauding mutant metal that we are famous for! Star’s of stage and screen, carvers of stem and spleen! GWAR LIVES! (GWAR Mythos)”
THE HUMAN ODERUS OCCUPIED, DAVE BROCKIE, HAS PASSED ON
The body of the man Oderus occupied in his earthly life, Dave Brockie has passed on. However, I would like to believe that Oderus has broken free his human cadaver on this mud ball to unleash his madness across time and space as the War Lord of the Cosmos. My first GWAR show was actually at Epcot in mother fucking Disney World bitches! That’s right, I got to experience GWAR taking the audience on a journey to hell along side a two faced Hitler-Jesus in DISNEY WORLD! I’ll never forget the blood canons or the saucy spray of space jizz that blessed their audience of human slaves. The crowd moshed so hard that my friend got kicked in the face and broke his glasses. Twas a good night for metal.
But what about the man Dave Brockie?
Dave was found dead in his apartment early Sunday evening. The cause of death has not been confirmed as of yet, but police do not suspect foul play. He died at 50 years of age. His death has come as a complete shock to many because he did not appear publicly to have any major health problems. Before his death, he even confirmed the date of the August 16th GWAR-B-Q at Hadad’s Water Park on Osborne Turnpike.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM GWAR’S MANAGER
Jack Flanagan, manager of GWAR has issued an official statement:
“It is with a saddened heart, that I confirm my dear friend Dave Brockie, artist, musician, and lead singer of GWAR passed away at approximately 6:50 PM EST Sunday March 23,2014. His body was found Sunday by his band mate at his home in Richmond, VA. Richmond authorities have confirmed his death and next of kin has been notified. A full autopsy will be performed. He was 50 years old, born August 30, 1963.
My main focus right now is to look after my band mates and his family. More information regarding his death shall be released as the details are confirmed.”
GWAR’S HISTORY
It’s hard to imagine the future of GWAR without their lead singer and main spokesman. GWAR formed in 1984 from a group of musicians who Brockie was involved with who jokingly called themselves “Gwaaarrrgghhlllgh.” Obviously this name was shortened to GWAR. The group created wild and gruesome costumes and created elaborate shows with props. Since then they have awakened the might of the War Lords of the universe and traveled around the world, unleashing metal and carnage upon the human race.
In the 1990’s they began to get widespread exposure on television with their appearance on the popular MTV Show “Beavis and Butthead.” Yet GWAR would also make appearances on many unlikely shows such as The Joan Rivers Show, Jerry Springer and a total of 14 appearances on Fox News!
Now in death, I hope Dave Brockie gets to retire his soul in Metal Metal Land, a place where you can only get to by Stolen car, where nothing ever dies….except of course your enemies who are attracting metal flies. All the chicks are strippers and all their fathers proud!
Enjoy some GWAR music below along with some great TV moments in GWAR’s history.
I’ve got some pretty exciting news Metal Heads of the Interwebs! The Titans of the Heavy Metal era, Judas Priest, have just finished their newest album. This will be album number 17 for those who are counting. There’s no news yet on what this new album will be called, but I’m definitely going to check it out once it is released. It’s simply amazing to think that Judas Priest is still cranking out albums after 40 years of ear shattering, atomically loud metal. Just goes to show that you can’t kill the metal. It lives on forever. \M/
UPDATE (3-21-14) Angela released an official Goodbye on her facebook:
Thank you for all your kind words, your support, your understanding. I am sorry some of you are really sad So am I in many ways, it’s really hard to say good-bye. I have had a lot of time to reflect on my life in 2013.. I had to turn a page. We all get to this point in our life some time.. I do embrace this change, I hope you do too.
I am very busy with Arch Enemy right now as you can imagine, they got a lot of things lined up. The music is still a 100% Arch Enemy, trust me Thank you for the last 13 years, they have been truly wonderful, I enjoyed playing live for many of you, meeting you, interacting with you. I am not sure yet what I’ll do with this page, I will most likely use it to keep you up-to-date with all things Arch Enemy, my band management business and whatever else my busy little brain comes across.. thoughts, inspirations, things that make me laugh. Be well, take good care of yourselves and enjoy life. It’s too short to look back.
Yours,
Angela
After 13 years of being a hard core voice of metal hell, Angela is stepping out of the limelight. Gods knows that the woman deserves it. She comments more below:
“After 13 years of pure fucking metal, 6 studio albums and countless tours through five continents, I feel the need to enter a different phase in my life, be with my family and pursue other interests. I will, however, remain business manager for ARCH ENEMY, and I will continue to develop my artist management roster.”
Angela will be replaced by Alissa White-Glutz of The Agonist. Alissa responded as following:
Alissa White-Gluz comments: “I am very honoured and happy to announce a new chapter in my life and musical career beginning now; I have joined forces with one of my all-time favourite and globally respected bands, ARCH ENEMY. ‘Wages Of Sin’ was the first metal album I ever bought, and it was love at first listen.
“It is not often that you get a phone call from your favorite band asking you to join! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such amazingly talented musicians whom I also consider great friends. I look forward to being able to write and perform at a whole new level now with ARCH ENEMY! Music is forever, metal is limitless and this is only the beginning!”
It will be very hard to fill Angela’s spiked leather shoes, but I’m going to give Alissa a try. In a salute to Angela, I’d like to post a live version of my favorite Arch Enemy song, “Enemy Within.” Check out the amazing energy! This video makes me want to have a Gay Marriage with Angela, adopt a child from China and settle down with her in The Caribbean for a nice Metal Retirement.
THE ENEMY WITHIN LIVE – ARCH ENEMY
Here’s a sample of the new singer Alissa with her former band, The Agonist.
This weekend as I checked out my usual blogs for the latest Metal News, I noticed the internet was crammed of the gossips clamoring about “OMGz…Jill put a picture of herself naked and puking on her facebook.” Or, “Er Mer Gerds! Did you know she was a topless DJ?”
You know what I think? I really don’t care. Did you know that I too am naked under my clothes as are you? Nudity isn’t really a big deal until people make it a big deal. The metal sphere erupted with the story when Jill Janus posted a picture of herself naked and puking after she got food poisoning and had to cancel a concert in Germany. She did it as a joke and somewhat of an apology for having to cancel the show. Male musicians have done similar things in the past and the internet barely made a ripple.
Revocation posted humorous pictures of one of their tours with some of their members in their underwear or with pee bottles they used in the van. Then of course there is the fact that Gwar performs onstage with giant fake phallus’s, or the iconic picture of The Red Hot Chili Peppers wearing nothing but a sock.
Isn’t it interesting how male nudity is funny, but that female nudity gets people angry? Isn’t it interesting that when male musicians are almost naked or do crude things people laugh and move on, but when a female does it she’s “shamelessly using her body” to get attention?
This brings to attention the idea that women aren’t allowed autonomy over their own bodies. The female form must be something that is moderated and controlled by a force other than herself. There are many debates over whether women should or shouldn’t wear religious head coverings (the hijab), when it should be their own personal choice. Yet there is barely a peep when male Sikhs cover their hair for the same reasons. When a male rock star or rapper poses with a bevy of almost naked or scantily clad women in a video, nobody accuses him of using sex appeal, rather than talent to get ahead. Yet when a woman uses her own body and sexual charms to advertise her music, people accuse her of being a talentless hack. Maybe a woman can be sexy AND talented? Eh eh?
Anyways, so enough of my rantings. Here is one woman’s awesome response to the media over-reacting to her anatomy rather than her music.
DEAR DAILY MAIL (FUCK THE DAILY MAIL) – AMANDA PALMER
2014 has barely started and already a hellish horde awaits us. Time to break in your eardrums with the new year and check out when the next big metal albums are coming out. Now you know what to get your Valentine’s Day Sweet Heart. ;-D