Some rockers have their own alcohol. Others have their own coffee.
Introducing Valhalla Java Odinforce Blend (there's a geographical paradox somewhere here) crafted by Death Wish Coffee Company for Black Label Society's Zakk Wylde.
"With maximum flavor and caffeine content, this coffee will bring you
back from the nights you thought you’d never wake up from. Do you bleed
black?," says the description of the coffee blend on Black Label Society's official website.
Here's a video promoting Valhalla Java Odinforce Blend featuring Wylde.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Monday, September 9, 2013
Metallica Releases "Sad But True" Performance in Kuala Lumpur
If you missed Metallica's first ever show in Kuala Lumpur, here's a chance to check out a part of it. Metallica has posted video footage of the band rehearsing Ride the Lightning, among others, before the show and a live performance of "Sad But True" at Stadium Merdeka in front of 35,000 fans.
Check it out below!
Check it out below!
Machine Head's Rob Flynn Pokes Fun at A7X
I suppose it was only a matter of time before the jokes came in.
In my earlier post on Avenged Sevenfold's Hail To The King, I remarked on how the album sounded a bit like a tribute album to the band's influences. Well, Machine Head frontman, Rob Flynn, went a little further and labeled it a "covers album" on the band's official Facebook page.
"Congratulations to Avenged Sevenfold on their latest 'covers album' coming in at #1, who knew re-recording Metallica, Guns N Roses and Megadeth songs could be such a worldwide hit!!?? Ba-dap Psssss!" he wrote.
After making a disclaimer that he was "happy for them" and that A7X are a "good band" Flynn went on to make a list of jokes about Hail to the King. I wonder if A7X find it as funny as Flynn did (some were quite good, I'll admit).
Here they are, as posted by Flynn:
In A7X' defense, Machine Head's has also been criticized for sounding a bit too Metallica in The Blackening by a reviewer in Rolling Stone. And if A7X decide to be just as funny they could bring up Machine Head's rap-metal past..
Still, I have to give Flynn some credit for all of his efforts in coming up with that list. Some of it is pretty funny (number 6 is my personal favourite), and I didn't know Bush' "Machine Head" was about the band Machine Head!
In my earlier post on Avenged Sevenfold's Hail To The King, I remarked on how the album sounded a bit like a tribute album to the band's influences. Well, Machine Head frontman, Rob Flynn, went a little further and labeled it a "covers album" on the band's official Facebook page.
"Congratulations to Avenged Sevenfold on their latest 'covers album' coming in at #1, who knew re-recording Metallica, Guns N Roses and Megadeth songs could be such a worldwide hit!!?? Ba-dap Psssss!" he wrote.
After making a disclaimer that he was "happy for them" and that A7X are a "good band" Flynn went on to make a list of jokes about Hail to the King. I wonder if A7X find it as funny as Flynn did (some were quite good, I'll admit).
Here they are, as posted by Flynn:
Still think Flynn's a big fan of A7X?
In A7X' defense, Machine Head's has also been criticized for sounding a bit too Metallica in The Blackening by a reviewer in Rolling Stone. And if A7X decide to be just as funny they could bring up Machine Head's rap-metal past..
Still, I have to give Flynn some credit for all of his efforts in coming up with that list. Some of it is pretty funny (number 6 is my personal favourite), and I didn't know Bush' "Machine Head" was about the band Machine Head!
Hail To the King Is Number 1 in Six Countries
It's been a while since metal dominated album sales. But Avenged Sevenfold's (A7X) sixth album, Hail to the King, has done just that. The band's latest release has topped the charts in not one, but six countries.
According to the band's official Facebook page, among those countries include the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Ireland.
"We are honored that our fans have once again put Heavy Metal at its rightful spot of #1. Celebrate today because this victory belongs to you," the band said on its Facebook page.
Hail to the King marks a departure from the band's earlier metalcore sound and follows the hard rock / metal style of its previous album, Nightmare.
At times, Hail to the King, seems like a tribute to the band's roots - AC/DC, Metallica, Guns N Roses, Megadeth and Iron Maiden are among those that come to mind.
That being said, the band's signature sound - whether its M. Shadows gruff vocals or the twin-guitar assault - is prevalent throughout the album, making this very much an A7X record.
According to the band's official Facebook page, among those countries include the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Ireland.
"We are honored that our fans have once again put Heavy Metal at its rightful spot of #1. Celebrate today because this victory belongs to you," the band said on its Facebook page.
Hail to the King marks a departure from the band's earlier metalcore sound and follows the hard rock / metal style of its previous album, Nightmare.
At times, Hail to the King, seems like a tribute to the band's roots - AC/DC, Metallica, Guns N Roses, Megadeth and Iron Maiden are among those that come to mind.
That being said, the band's signature sound - whether its M. Shadows gruff vocals or the twin-guitar assault - is prevalent throughout the album, making this very much an A7X record.
Friday, September 6, 2013
Lamb of God Banned In Malaysia
No surprises here, really. The fact that the band was slated to perform in Kuala Lumpur (KL) on Sept 28 was the real surprise.
For the uninitiated, rock and metal bands don't generally perform here due to the fact that there are government agencies and bodies headed by people who generally view free speech, freedom of expression, choice, rationality, creativity and public discourse as threats to society.
Another big taboo is intelligence.
Most times, religion and "values" are used as tools to quell such threats. Remember how the Taliban banned music in Afghanistan? These guys would do it if they could.
Truth be told, it has been somewhat of a surprise that several rock and metal acts have made it into the country over the last five years. Among those who weren't denied entry include Metallica, Linkin Park, Smashing Pumpkins, Avenged Sevenfold, Slash, Deftones, Korn and Incubus.
Someone must have been sleeping on the job. Well, they made up for it by banning Lamb of God.
Here's a statement from Lamb of God's guitarist, Mark Morton via the band's official Facebook page:
As widely reported, Lamb of God’s concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia scheduled for September 28th has been cancelled by the government who refused to issue a permit for the show even though the concert had been on sale and had sold over 1500 tickets.
It is very evident (and a bit frustrating) that the groups, parties and powers that have taken the most offense to our music and lyrics, have themselves only made a passing glance at the content and meanings of those songs. We would invite anyone offended by our music to engage in a discussion regarding the true motivations behind our work, especially before publicly slandering us based on assumptions and shallow misinterpretation.
We sincerely apologize to our amazing fans in Malaysia for the cancellation. Many thanks to all who have spoken out in support of us through this.
We will still be playing the shows scheduled in New Zealand, Australia, and Thailand. - Mark
But in all honesty, its not just the government bodies who are guilty of shunning away good music from our shores.
Opposition party, PAS - which is just as conservative as the government - has worked just as hard in achieving this and was among those supporting a ban on Lamb of God's scheduled concert here.
PAS - who are pro-free speech when it suits them - has had a long history of opposing rock music. It most recently threatened to stage protests outside of Metallica's concert in KL last month although I don't recall seeing them there. Then again, with an estimated 35,000 fans in attendance and a sea of black t-shirts as far as the eye could see, it would have been pretty easy to miss a handful of those yahoos.
Nonetheless, PAS' anti-rock music rhetoric seems to have caught someone's attention in the government and to prove its own conservative credentials, it agreed with the former's lame generalisations about Lamb of God's lyrics and implemented the ban.
Goons: 1 Malaysia: 0
One last thing. Did I mention that Lamb of God has previously performed in Dubai?
For the uninitiated, rock and metal bands don't generally perform here due to the fact that there are government agencies and bodies headed by people who generally view free speech, freedom of expression, choice, rationality, creativity and public discourse as threats to society.
Another big taboo is intelligence.
Most times, religion and "values" are used as tools to quell such threats. Remember how the Taliban banned music in Afghanistan? These guys would do it if they could.
Truth be told, it has been somewhat of a surprise that several rock and metal acts have made it into the country over the last five years. Among those who weren't denied entry include Metallica, Linkin Park, Smashing Pumpkins, Avenged Sevenfold, Slash, Deftones, Korn and Incubus.
Someone must have been sleeping on the job. Well, they made up for it by banning Lamb of God.
Here's a statement from Lamb of God's guitarist, Mark Morton via the band's official Facebook page:
As widely reported, Lamb of God’s concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia scheduled for September 28th has been cancelled by the government who refused to issue a permit for the show even though the concert had been on sale and had sold over 1500 tickets.
It is very evident (and a bit frustrating) that the groups, parties and powers that have taken the most offense to our music and lyrics, have themselves only made a passing glance at the content and meanings of those songs. We would invite anyone offended by our music to engage in a discussion regarding the true motivations behind our work, especially before publicly slandering us based on assumptions and shallow misinterpretation.
We sincerely apologize to our amazing fans in Malaysia for the cancellation. Many thanks to all who have spoken out in support of us through this.
We will still be playing the shows scheduled in New Zealand, Australia, and Thailand. - Mark
But in all honesty, its not just the government bodies who are guilty of shunning away good music from our shores.
Opposition party, PAS - which is just as conservative as the government - has worked just as hard in achieving this and was among those supporting a ban on Lamb of God's scheduled concert here.
PAS - who are pro-free speech when it suits them - has had a long history of opposing rock music. It most recently threatened to stage protests outside of Metallica's concert in KL last month although I don't recall seeing them there. Then again, with an estimated 35,000 fans in attendance and a sea of black t-shirts as far as the eye could see, it would have been pretty easy to miss a handful of those yahoos.
Nonetheless, PAS' anti-rock music rhetoric seems to have caught someone's attention in the government and to prove its own conservative credentials, it agreed with the former's lame generalisations about Lamb of God's lyrics and implemented the ban.
Goons: 1 Malaysia: 0
One last thing. Did I mention that Lamb of God has previously performed in Dubai?
Thursday, September 5, 2013
NIN's Hesitation Marks Is Out!
Nine Inch Nails' (NIN) long awaited comeback album, Hesitation Marks, is out and available on iTunes. I've got a copy and it really is a brilliant album. While there are theories that Hesitation Marks is a companion to NIN's The Downward Spiral, don't expect to hear anything similar on the new record.
Musically, there isn't anything that ties the two albums together, which shouldn't come as a surprise to NIN fans (no two albums sound the same). If there are any similarities, it is perhaps in the lyrics and the narration of the album although Reznor's outlook on Hesitation Marks is a lot less bleak than it was on The Downward Spiral. It is almost as though Hesitation Marks is the story that follows The Downward Spiral.
If you haven't heard it yet, you can still stream the entire album here
Musically, there isn't anything that ties the two albums together, which shouldn't come as a surprise to NIN fans (no two albums sound the same). If there are any similarities, it is perhaps in the lyrics and the narration of the album although Reznor's outlook on Hesitation Marks is a lot less bleak than it was on The Downward Spiral. It is almost as though Hesitation Marks is the story that follows The Downward Spiral.
If you haven't heard it yet, you can still stream the entire album here
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| Photo Credit: NIN Official Facebook Page |
Soundgarden Premier's Video for Halfway There
Soundgarden has released the video for Halfway There, the band's third single from the critically-acclaimed, King Animal.
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