First of all, I really should apologise for the lengthy gap between posts. Due to circumstances (mostly) beyond my control I haven't really had the spare time lately. Now on with the show.
2014 has been an interesting year in Heavy Metal.
Metalcore stars As I Lay Dying lost their front man Tim Lambesis. I say "lost". More like "sent to prison for trying to have his wife murdered"
Cynic frontman Paul Masvidal came out as gay, provoking some unpleasant comments from guitar maker Vik Kuletski, who in turn got a bit of a roasting from less-than-pleased fellow musicians.
Black Sabbath played a triumphant set at Hyde Park and then announced that they would be releasing another album next year, as well as a farewell tour.
Judas Priest delighted fans with new album,"Redeemer Of Souls" a welcome return to form after the overblown mess that was "Nostradameus" and despite having had their own "farewell" tour in 2011, plan to tour the USA in October. If they decide to slip in some UK dates, I won't be complaining, just as long as they play "Evening Star".
Angela Gossow stepped down from Arch Enemy for personal reasons, being replaced by Alissa White-Gluz from The Agonist. The Agonist in turn recruited Vicky Psarakis for the vocal slot. Everybody concerned seems to have been quite resonable about the whole thing, which is nice.
Sticking with new vocalists, Alien invaders GWAR unveiled their new singer as the female-but-still scary Vulvatron, replacing the late Dave Brockie. (RIP|)
Metallica were the controversial choice to headline hipper-than-thou festival Glastonbury but played a storming set. The best part about that was watching assorted Radio One presenters desperately trying
to pass themselves off as "Rock" fans.
Metallica then joined Iron Maiden and The Prodigy as headliners of the revived Sonisphere. Maiden's Bruce Dickinson treated punters to a WW1 dogfight display before his set. And the band everybody seemed to be talking about was a trio of Japanese teenagers singing about chocolate. Babymetal had arrived in the UK...
And finally, NWOBHM heroes Truffle were all set to play a reunion gig at Portsmouth Pyramids when the whole thing had to be scrapped due to flooding. Bugger.
Now let's have some music. As you've probably guessed, all six of these songs came out this year. Enjoy.
I make no apologies for starting with one of my favourite bands.
Judas Priest - Metalizer (UK)
Honour to: JudasPriestVevo
Johnny Touch - The Metal Embrace (Australia)
(A new band paying tribute to the rough & ready 80s )
(A slightly thrashier take on the 80s.)
Honour to: LeoEvilBanger
Salamandra - Metal Fever (Cech. Rep)
(Galloping Power Metal)
Honour to: Vasek Moch
Toxic Death - Speed Metal Hell (Norway)
(No nonsense Thrash)
Honour to: AlcoholicMayhem
If you liked any of these, please check out the channels I've listed.
Like, subscribe, you know the drill.
That's all folks.
Bicoloured Men - Metal Man (Italy)
(Meat & Spuds Metal with some nice tuneful touches.)
Honour to: Bicoloured Men
Like, subscribe, you know the drill.
That's all folks.
Not a post to be read or heard in a hurry! So I am bookmarking it, and I'd remember my life at the hostel all day long before I descend in the evening for the treat.
ReplyDeleteI really hope you find something you like.
DeleteMetal militia by Metallica
ReplyDeleteBlack metal by Cradle of Filth
Metal Heart by Dimmu Borgir (Accept cover)
Thanks for stopping by. And thanks for the suggestions. I'm always on the lookout for more so feel free to weigh in.
DeleteHi Big D,
ReplyDeleteDon't hate me - I quite like Nostradamus...
:-)
Cheers
PM
I think I'd have been more impressed if they'd pared it down to a single disc. There's some decent songs on there but way too much padding.
Delete