70,000 Tons of Metal Adds The Haunted to Lineup

If you love metal, partying like an animal and you aren't a vampire then 70,000 Tons of Metal has to be the cruise of a lifetime and if you (yes, you reader!) happen to be going then I'm extremely jealous! Taking place January 27th - 30th, this cruise sets off from Miami across the Caribbean to Costa Maya, Mexico with 40 bands on board as well as other spectacular events taking place across the 5 days.

Bands on the bill include Carcass, Cynic, Dark Tranquillity, Death Angel, Death (To All), Fear Factory, Finntroll, Obituary, Orphaned Land (Note: I Love Them!) and Satyricon which in my opinion would already make this a holiday to never forget! However there are many many more amazing acts, one of which is Swedish metal act The Haunted. They have been through some changes line up wise and 70,000 Tons of Metal will mark their return to the stage. What a way to make a return!

Eye Of The Storm out 20th January in Europe, 21st in North America.

The Haunted are currently working on a new album, set to release in the summer and a taster of what's in store can be heard via their 3 track single Eye Of The Storm out January 20th via Century Media. You don't just have to get a digital copy as the single will be available on vinyl, although it is limited to 1000 copies. (500 black, 300 red and 200 white). 

Guitarist Jensen had the following to say on the new single and upcoming plans for the band:
“There aren't superlatives enough to describe how much the band has longed for these three songs to be released. We are sure fans have been anxious to know what the band sounds like today after all the turmoil and old members leaving and new members joining. We feel that these three songs represent the band perfectly. We are currently working on the new album, an album that will be filled to the brim with what we know to be "The Haunted". We'll start doing gigs this spring and we'll do festivals all over the place this summer. Get in touch with the festivals you visit (and behave like an animal at) and tell them to get us on the bill! The Haunted is back. Play it loud. No. Louder.”

The Haunted Are:
Jensen - Guitars
Ola Englund - Guitars
Marco Aro - Vocals
Jonas Björler - Bass
Adrian Erlandsson - Drums

Laid Wasted Quickfire Interview.

The last gig of 2013 for me was a Christmas spectacular of thrash metal and killer riffage put together by Solent's Metal and Rock Society (M.A.R.S) at the Firehouse in Southampton. Decaarta, Hands Of A Saviour, Roads To Nowhere and Laid Wasted all performed to what was a surprisingly full bar despite the abysmal weather and lack of money around because of the Christmas season.

I had a particular interest in seeing Laid Wasted, a local band who were playing for the first time with their new drummer and had the task of warming the crowd up! Laid Wasted are a death/thrash metal band formed in 2010, and while being relatively new they are making great progress, with new material being worked on for release this year. Their first demo came out in 2012, and they have already performed with more established acts like Dendera and Bloodshot Dawn.

The lineup is made up of Sean Walsh (vocals and a Joker look a like at times), Joe Long (guitar), Joe Tanner (guitar), Sam Whitbread (bass) and new addition Chandos Day (drums). I asked Chandos how he was feeling prior to his first live show with the band and how he felt after it was all over.

"I was nearly literally shitting myself before hand (a few nervous poos were had), but I settled down once I had 3 or 4 pints in me. After the show I felt fucking pumped, it was over with so quickly I just wanted to do it again! Also it was nice for people to say they didn't hear the fuck-ups, but they're probably just saying that! Can't wait to play the next show really, and THIS time I will be as tight as a drum. [Appropriate idiom.]"

During their set I filmed them performing A Brief Summary (links at the bottom of the page) and from that video, if you've never seen them before, you can get an idea of the energy they bring to the stage. They transformed from the regular guys I was speaking too earlier in the evening, into brutal metal animals.

There is no proof that I took this poster after the show and that it now lives on my wall.

I was able to catch up with a couple of the members in the New Year after all the chaos and commotion of the holidays had died down, to ask them some of my quickfire questions to help you get to know Laid Wasted a little better.

Cavemen or Astronauts? 
Joe Long: Cavemen
Chandos: Astronauts! Space is awesome! 
 
Pirates or Ninjas? 
J: Pirates
C: Pirates! 
 
Rugby or Football? 
J: Rugby
C: Neither, hate both. 
 
Any nicknames, either now or when growing up? 
C: Chandy, Chan, C Dog. 
 

Roses or Lilies?  
J: Roses
C: Roses, baby.
 

If you could master any instrument, what would it be?  
J: Guitar or Drums
C: Drums obviously.
 

Apples or Pears?
J: Apples
C: Pears 
 

Desert island situation…one album?  
J: Difficult to choose one album if stranded on a desert island, but Still Life by Opeth is my most likely choice. I could never get sick of any of their albums.
C: Protest The Hero - Volition

Summer or winter tour?  
J: Summer Tour
C: Summer
 

If you could bring back an extinct animal what would it be?  
J: I would probably revive the dodo! [laughs]
C: Argentavis  Magnificens!
 

Introvert or Extrovert? 
J: Introvert
C: Introvert
 
Anna Nicole Smith/Courtney Love?  
J: Can't say I care or am aware that much of Anna Nicole Smith or Courtney Love.
C: Courtney Love

To crowdsurf or not to crowdsurf? 
J: Too lazy to crowdsurf.
C: Crowdsurf! 

What did you have for breakfast? 
 J: I had a fry up.
C: Sandwich.
 

Gold or Silver? 
J: Gold
C: Silver, I no gangster.


I'm sure 2014 is going to be a great year for the guys, looking forward to seeing them live a few more times and speaking to them in more depth. As soon as there's news on their new material you'll be able to read about it right here.

For more information:
http://www.facebook.com/LaidWasted
http://soundcloud.com/Laid-Wasted
http://www.youtube.com/user/LaidWastedUK

Introducing Sinbreed

Another German metal quintet to be keeping your ears open for, Sinbreed featuring Marcus Siepen of Blind Guardian. They recently signed with AFM Records and are working on their new album, and while it doesn't yet have a name they are excited about the future.

"Now that we've got the new line-up ready and the new record is in production, we are really looking forward to working with such a strong and experienced partner, who is deep-seated in the metal scene. There are great things to come." - Flo Laurin

Sinbreed are: Herbie Langhans (vocals), Flo Laurin (Guitars), Marcus Siepen (guitars), Frederick Ehmke (drums) and Alexander Schulz (bass).

Their debut album When World's Collide came out in 2010 and did a great job of showcasing their brand and mix of powerful and melodic speed metal, so I'm expecting great things from their sophomore album.  

Adrenaline Mob - Men Of Honor

Adrenaline Mob consists of: Russell Allen - Vocals, Mike Orlando - Guitar/Vocals, John Moyer - Bass and AJ Pero - Drums.

 

This is one album of 2014 that I'm looking forward too, and thankfully I don't have to wait much longer. Adrenaline Mob are releasing their latest album, Men of Honor on February 24th via Century Media and if you can't wait you can check out the lyric video for the track Feel The Adrenaline right now. No word just yet on tour dates but word is they plan on touring 'extensively' during 2014. Hopefully this will include UK/European dates because East Coast America is a little far for me to travel.

Adrenaline Mob - "Huge riffs, slamming grooves and shredding playing..."

Men Of Honor track listing
1. Mob Is Back
2. Come On Get Up
3. Dearly Departed
4. Behind These Eyes
5. Let It Go
6. Feel The Adrenaline
7. Men Of Honor
8. Crystal Clear
9. House Of Lies
10. Judgement Day
11. Fallin' To Pieces

Caliban Tour + New Video

German based metal band Caliban have announced the launch of Devil's Night, the first video from their fourthcoming album Ghost Empire. The album is due out on the 27th January and you can view the video here. In addition to this they will be doing a European tour in May this year with The Ghost Inside, The Devil Wears Prada and Breakdown of Insanity.

If like me you're in the UK and want to see them, panic not as they are performing at the ever popular Slam Dunk Festivals also held in May. Slam Dunk takes place in various locations around the UK and Caliban will be appearing at the Leeds, Hatfield and Wolverhampton dates.

The quintet are by no means new to the scene, they were established back in 1997 and have played at almost every  European festival out there. They've also had a fair amount of international success, including a North American tour, a tour in Japan with Killswitch Engage and a spot at Australia's Gigantour which saw them alongside Megadeth and Soulfly . If the latest album is anything to go by you can see the worldwide appeal, they can hold their own when it comes to riffs and growling vocals but manage to seamlessly merge into catchy choruses more akin to Arcane Fire than Arch Enemy, making them popular across multiple genres.

Ghost Empire Track List
1. King
2. Chaos - Creation
3. Wolves And Rats
4. nebeL (feat. BastiBasti / Callejon)
5. I Am Ghost
6. Devil’s Night
7. yOUR Song
8. Cries And Whispers
9. Good Man
10. I Am Rebellion
11. Who We Are
12. My Vertigo

Bonus track ltd. Edition + digital: 13. Falling Downwards (feat. Matthew Heafy / Trivium)
Bonus DVD ltd. Edition: On Tour With Caliban 2013 (104min.)
 

SONISPHERE 2014 ANNOUNCE SLAYER, MASTODON, ALICE IN CHAINS...

This evening Sonisphere UK announced the first load of bands joining their headliners; Iron Maiden, The Prodigy and Metallica.The festival is set to return to Knebworth House on the weekend of 4th - 6th July. In addition to this two special guests are due to be announced shortly!

AIRBOURNE / ALICE IN CHAINS / GHOST / GOJIRA /
KARNIVOOL / MASTODON / SLAYER 

Mastodon will be returning to Sonisphere, having played at the last British date in 2011, and this will be the first chance for UK fans to see them play material from their sixth album which is due out in the spring.  

 “We are super excited to be playing Sonisphere Knebworth again!!! We had such a good time at the last one, this one will be even better!! We look forward to seeing you there!!” - Mastodon

Mastodon aren't the only ones returning for a repeat performance, Slayer of course graced the mainstage in 2011 as part of the Big Four along with Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth. With two of the big four now set to play 2014, it will be interesting to see if the other two will make an appearance. (Note: I have no idea, I'm just speculating!)

Infamous Swedish doom-rockers Ghost, led by Papa Emeritus will be bringing their dramatic stage show to Sonisphere as will French progressive-metallers Gojira who will be playing their sole UK festival of 2014 at Sonisphere. Alice In Chains have also declared Knebworth to be the only UK festival they are playing at this year, their latest album The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here was released last year which then led them to play a major UK tour, including their biggest-ever headline show at Alexandra Palace, London.

Perth-based Australian five-piece Karnivool are at the forefront of modern prog-rock, and their performance will be another UK exclusive for 2014 and will see them performing songs from last year’s critically acclaimed third album, Asymmetry. They won't be the only Australians there either, as the sensational hard rock band Airbourne will also be joining the line up. 

 

 "Us four guys are seriously fired up and chomping at the bit to bring the 'Black Dog Barking' Tour to Knebworth. With monumental metal juggernauts Iron Maiden and Metallica coming to shake Knebworth to the core along with Bruce Dickinson also announcing it will be the last concert of the 'Maiden England' tour this is a rock'n'roll event in time that can't be missed. We are deeply honored to have the green light for an Airbourne/Knebworth assault, to get out there on Knebworth's hallowed ground in front of that sea of heavy metal maniacs and give them every ounce of blood sweat and energy we got... And afterwards we'll grab a case of ice cold Trooper ale's and watch the best heavy metal bands of all time! See ya there!” - Airbourne

Voodoo Six UK Tour

Another show I'll be adding to my list this year. Following on from their successful release of Songs to invade Countries to, and their European tour supporting the mighty Iron Maiden, Voodoo Six have announced their own tour in March.

12 March - Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton

13 March - Sound Control, Manchester

14 March - Audio, Glasgow

15 March - Buskers, Dundee

17 March - The Cluny, Newcastle

19 March - Warehouse 23, Wakefield

20 March - Rock City Basement, Nottingham

21 March - The Underworld, London

22 March - The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes

23 March - The Joiners, Southampton 

More dates are due to be announced as is the main support.