Another year has passed

And where did that year go? In one way it's been a very long year but it also feels it was a few weeks ago I was falling to pieces of excitement waiting for the Michael Schenker concerts in Stockholm and Malmö. That was in February and the first shows of the year. It was very strange since from the hell-week in early december 2015 with Judas Priest, Saxon, Motörhead and some more there was no shows at all until the Schenker ones. That is very unusal for me. But I did go to a lot of shows. In total I spent 72 days at shows or festivals, if an average of 3 bands per day, that makes it 216 bands... Might seem extreme but I know I have a lot of company here and I bet some of my friends have spent even more time seeing bands. It's what I like and there were some real surprises. Best show of the year was just a last minute decision... Also, at Festivals when there are clashes I've been try to select bands I haven't seen before or if it's a chance they won't come back which gave me both good and bad experiences. That I'll try to keep in mind, you can't know until you've seen it if it's worth seeing. And no concert has felt like waste of time... Ok, perhaps I haven't been super-thrilled about all opening acts but in general they have been ok too. 

I set a target for myself last year and that was to keep up with the concert reports, do 24 record reviews and 24 interviews. The concerts are all done, still behind with the Festivals though and I did far more that 24 reviews... Didn't do many interviews though so I need to get better there. I'll try to do the same this year, no increase in numbers or anything like that.

But yes, I've been listening to a lot of records and there were a lot of good ones. There were a few really standing out though, that really blew me away.

1. SALEM - Dark Days

The Hull laddies impressed me with "Forgotten Dreams" a few years back also but I got it too late so it didn't make it up on the top 10. I had this one for over 2 months before the review was due, for good and bad. I knew the record note for note writing it but it put pressure on me to write a review as good as I thought the record are also. I love it from start to end, the variation between really dark tunes and more classic hard rock songs is fantastic.
Favorite track: "Nine Months"

2. VICIOUS RUMORS - Concussion Protocol

First studio release with Nick on vocals and it is a full-hit if you ask me. I think Vicious Rumors could have used Nick more though but I love the mix between hin and Geoff and it is one fantastic album. It continues in the same vein as the previous two but it feels the band is boosted even more nowawdays. I listened to this one extensively also since it normally takes time for the Vicious Rumors records to settle for real. I thought I knew it but picking it up a few weeks after the release, for the shows it was even better than I remembered it.
Favorite Track: "Chasing the Priest" 

3. FATES WARNING - Theories of Flight

The best thing with Fates Warning is how much emotion they get into their music. It's not Hard, Fast and Heavy but it's still more intense and has a nerve few manage to create. Ray Adler does a fantastic job here and with the Old School shows featuring John Arch and these fantastic new releases it's the best of two worlds. I really don't want this to go away to have John Arch back in Fates Warning, love to see him perform though. On the other had, Ray too is fantastic.
Favorite track: "S.O.S"

4. GLENN HUGHES - Resonate

Quite a surprise for me even. I've admired Glenn for a long time and as a performer he is fantastic but his releases has been a bit to Funky for my taste. This one though is one Heavy piece without completely abandon his trademark sound, the songs have touches of soul and funk but it's not taking overhand. And the whole record is heavy as hell.
Favorite track: "Flow" 

5. SARASIN - Sarasin

I was lured by the cover, I think it is super-cool and when digging into the music that too got me hooked. I love the hooks and odd rhythms, sometimes it feels like it's not quite right just to realize it's a strange beat instead. I spent hours trying to figure out the as long as we're willing to let them lead us to the slaughter, it's crazy but damn cool Also the Heavy, gloomy and groovy songs appealed to me.
Favorite track: "In Our Image"

6. DIAMOND HEAD - Diamond Head

Wow, I realized I don't have any new bands on my list this year... Well, Myrath can perhaps be stated as new but as both Salem and Sarasin has their roots in the 80's, this year is definitely the guys with routine and experience that has dazzeled me. The self titled Diamond Head I bought because I was going to see them and it ended up in the stereo for weeks in a row, I couldn't put it down. It's vibrant, full of energy and damn good songs. Again it feels like the band has new energy and inspiration, can't be anything but since this record kills. 
Favorite track: "Shout at the Devil" 

7. ANVIL - Anvil is Anvil

It sounds like Anvil, it is Anvil and it sounds damn good. Both from a song and production perspective. And now when the buzz after the movie has settled people start to see that Anvil is good for real. Here Anvil has managed to capture the energy they have on stage, the joy and the fun in a bunch of very good songs. 
Favorite track: "Zombie Apocalypse" (Zombie? A Coffee Lips?)

8. MYRATH - Legacy

I picked up this promo as Myrath was opening for Symphony X and was excited about them being from Tunisia. Took ages before I could get my hads on the real CD though. Their Prog Metal with oriental melodies and rhythms sets them apart from most other bands in the genre and that Zaher Zorgati both sounds and look like a mini-version of Ray Adler is not setting this down. 
Favorite track: "Nobody's Lives" 

9. HELSTAR - Vampirio

Some years ago there was a style-change for Helstar and they moved to Heavier and Faster tunes. It sounded good but it felt like something was missing to get to the top. Now with "Vampirio" everything has fallen into place and this is a true smack in the face, fantastic riffs and fantastic songs. A true killer record simply.
Favorite track: "Repent in Fire"

10. DEATH ANGEL - The Evil Divide

There were many good Thrash Metal releases during 2016, Testament, Flotsam & Jetsam, Anthrax... But it was this one that struck the hardest for me. In general I've been a bigger fan of Death Angel live than on record but perhaps I haven't listened enough, with the shows during the last years and this record things changed and this is a record to put on when energy is needed to do something. The drive is fantastic and it holds a good deal of great songs:
Favorite track: "Lost"

And Peter's Top 5;
1. ANVIL - Anvil is Anvil
2. HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE - Dead Revolution
3. KANSAS - The Prelude Implicit
4. VICIOUS RUMORS - Concussion Protocol
5. BLAZE BAYLEY - Infinite Entanglement

The ones just outside the Top 10 list;
BLAZE BAYLEY - Infinite Entanglement
ETRUSGRAVE - Aita's Sentence
EVIL MASQUERADE - The Outcast Hall of Fame
HOBBS ANGEL OF DEATH - Heaven Bled
METAL CHURCH - XI
PARADOX- Pangea
SAVIOR FROM ANGER - Temple of Judgment
TESTAMENT - Brotherhood of the Snake
THE CULT - Hidden City
THEM - Sweet Hollow 

And the ones that could have made it if I would have gotten around and started listen sooner (or if they'd been released earlier in the year...);
AFTERSHOK - Detonate
ATTACKER - Sins of the World
FLOTSAM & JETSAM - Flotsam and Jetsam
GRAHAM BONNET BAND - The Book
HERMAN FRANK - The Devil Rides Out
MEGADETH - Dystopia
RAGE- The Devil Strikes Again
RUNNING WILD - Rapid Foray
SACRO SANCTUS - Ad Aeternum
SODOM - Decision Day

A new thing that we started to discuss last year was, what if albums, regardless of release year, that has meant a lot during the year was to be listed. It's of course hard to remember all and sometimes it's so many from one band the list would be endless. But it was a fun idea so why not give it a try...

Much is related to shows of course but looking at the playlist, Winger - "IV", Deep Purple - "Now What?!", MSG - "In The Midst of Beauty", Motörhead - "Overnight Sensation", Heir Apparent - "By Inheritance", Cage - "Ancient Evil", Black Sabbath - Eternal Idol, Deep Purple - Slaves & Masters, Blue Öyster Cult - "Imaginos" and Tempest - "Control the World" antology has been spinning A LOT, or for other reasons set me off.
One thing that I need to point out is how much I've been listening to Joe Lynn Turner, been digging up most everything I could get my hands on. He also played an acoustic set at the PH Cafeen in Copenhagen and even if it wasn't the same blow-away as Kip Winger it was still damn cool. Very cool to be able to stand 1-2m away from him listening to music and stories. Fantastic show of course and then I went shopping... That's my way of stalking bands and musicians, GET ALL THEY'VE EVER RELEASED!!!
Also Michael Schenker has been spinning frequently and basically his whole catalogue but it was "In the Midst of Beauty" that struck the hardes and when putting it on "Cross of Crosses" goes on repeat for a few times before I let it spin. It's the same with "Tales of Rock'n'Roll" also, then it's "Dreams Inside" and "Rock'n'Roll" that gets that treatment. 

Peter did the same and picked his ones;

He's been digging in the vaults and listed;
Winterhawk - "Revival", Blue Öyster Cult - "Club Ninja", Uriah Heep - "Fallen Angel", Kansas - "Audio-Visions" and Marillion - "Fugazi" 


As mentioned earlier, there has been a lot of concerts this year, a lot of good ones too and when standing there watching I can't for my life understand why people decide to sit home infront of a TV or computer instead of seeing bands live...

The one show that stood out the most though came as a real surprise. I love to be proven wrong but I also become a bit bummed with myself that I didn't realize a bands greatness sooner...

1. KIP WINGER - PH Cafeen, Copenhagen, Denmark

I wasn't even sure if to go to the show, I've never listened to Winger what so ever, also it was a very hectic week and I decided to rest instead. Next minute I'm panicking and buy tickets. And I'm glad I did, acoustic set and very intimate. How someone can create that dynamic with a sole guitar is beyond me. We missed train after train home but there was no chance we were leaving the show before it ended. He played for more than 2 hours and there was not a dull second.

2. VICIOUS RUMORS - Frimis Salonger, Örebro, Sweden

Vicious Rumors always kick ass, it's on stage they should be experienced. A classic set with a few new ones worked very well. Nick sounds fantastic in the old songs, he nails it flawlessly. The disappointment was the cancelled headline-show I had booked though. An opening slot is far from enough if Vicious Rumors.
 

3. SAXON - Trägår'n, Gothenburg, Sweden

The mighty Saxon, this was the fourth Saxon concert for me in 2016 and I was still looking at the possibilities to go to Ronneby the night after this one. Saxon at Trägår'n is special, they were on fire and so was the crowd. I think they added 4-5 songs compared to the Copenhagen and Malmö shows. 

4. Michael Schenker - KB, Malmö, Sweden

I would like to say the Michael Schenker Fest at Sweden Rock since that one featured Robin McAuley (and Graham Bonnet and Gary Barden) but it was the club shows that really set me off. It's amazing to be so close and see everything from the front. Michael's energy on stage these days are fantastic and the Temple of Rock albums kicks ass.

5.LETHAL - Up The Hammers, Kyttaro Club, Athens, Greece

I tend to forget between the times I see Lethal how damn good they are. No exception here. Fascinating was that Tom barely could speak prior to the show but still deliver something absolutely fantastic. It was also cool to have Dell Hull in the line-up.

6. FATES WARNING - Keep It True, Tauberfranken-Halle, Lauda-Königshofen, Germany

If I missed it completely or just surpressed it I don't know but it came as a complete surprise to me when John Arch came out on stage. Thinking about I should have realized that was to be the case. Still, the excitement the surprise brought made this show even better. It all sounded fantastic.

7. HEIR APPARENT - Keep It True, Tauberfranken-Halle, Lauda-Königshofen, Germany

Heir Apparent did great on UTH too but it seems all fell into place for the KIT show. Their dynamics was fantastic and it all sounded fabulous.

8. ANVIL - La Belle Angele, Edinburgh, Scottland

Anvil always deliver, it is always very good. But Lips was struggling with a cold for the first 2 of the UK shows. Here he was back to normal again and the energy was phenomenal. How they manage to do this night after night is beyond me.

9. CLOVEN HOOF - NWOBHM X MAS Rocka, 02 Academy, Sheffield, England

Lee Payne has drafted George Call and Danny White to the line-up and that sure is a perfect match. Cloven Hoof has always sounded very good but there was something missing from the last line-up. Now they look the part and their force won't be able to be stopped. The drive and intesity created on this small stage was fantastic, and this is just the beginning.

10. SYMPHONY X - Pumpehuset, Copenhagen, Denmark

Wow, it's amazing how such a "pretto" band can deliver so much rock'n'roll and still perform flawlessly. I mean, Prog-Metal bands normally focus on playing and frankly, the shows can be dull. It is Russel Allen that stands for most of the show but how the rest deliver and seem to have fun is amazing. Also, to hear the whole "Underworld" album live sure was a treat.

There's actually two more records that played a big part of last year (and the year before too for that sake) but for what they are I couldn't put them on the lists...
I'm realy super-proud of the Void Moon - "Deathwatch" records, the hours spent with the guitar paid off. It would have been so much fun to play more, visit places and just enjoy it but history wanted other things for the band.

  
And then also Assassins Blade - "Agents of Mystification". Not that I have much to do with it more than being a house-wife when Jacques recorded the vocals and then just listening to the ideas created with or without beers by David and Peter. A good one it is!

So, now I'm looking forward to a new year. It will be an odd one, that's for sure. It's confirmed that I'm affected by the lay-off's for Ericsson this time, 20+ years and I'm unemployed. But, I get up to 23 months payment (19 guaranteed which I keep even if I start working as soon as I'm out of the doors) so there's no worry what will happen. My biggest concern is if I should dare to take the summer off and start applying for jobs so I start in September or so? Or do I need to start right away... Don't know when I will leave yet but it should be end of March-April sometime. 
Then I need to decide what to focus on, a new Cult of the Fox record it will be. I'm also trying to set up a photo-page to have a gallery with better resolution pictures, posting on facebook kind of kills them, for not to say the ones posted through instagram. But both are very good to spread the word about it at least. And I need to save money to change my Canon EOS 50D too, it's just so frustrating to not have the same capacity as on the EOS 5D MkIII, especially when the lights are poor. Just as a sample, if using ISO 2000 on the 50, I can push the 5 up to 12800 or even 16000 before it gets as grainy as 2000 on the 50. So... A Canon EOS 5D MkIV is on my shopping list...Unless someone wants to buy me one! :O) (so, if I start working and get double salarys...)

And then the usual, food, drinks and work-out... I've actually been off sugar completely for a week now. The only thing I've had is 6 dades and the suger I use in the food but that's very little. I feel it! Let's see how long I can keep it up... Will HAVE to have some chocolate sooner or later...
One thing I realized is that how DAMN expensice beer and wine is on airports, trainstations & hotels. Also at clubs, so it's no promise to not drink beer, just a try to not buy it when the money spent on one beer could have gotten me another record or 1/300 part of the new camera... Ok, cutting out THOSE beers will not buy me the camera though!  

 
Cheers
E

NP: ARDUINI / BALICH - "Dawn Of Ages"

Out in the Cold

ARRRRGH!!! I'm so sick and tired of this cold now. But it seems a lot of visitors from the NWOBHM X Mas Rocka brought home the same thing. I thought it was going away but yesterday it took another turn and now I have a fever and the headache from hell, yes still. Feels like someone is baking on my forehead and pushing my eyes out from the inside every time I try to look down or basically just move my head. Snotty and of course taking care of that hurts like hell too.

But, the Festival was a blast, very good atmosphere and a lot of good shows. Cloven Hoof and Mythra being my favorites but Demon, Blitzkrieg, Persian Risk, Tokyo Blade, Tytan, Chariot, Stampede, Venom Inc.... Ok, now it start to be crazy, all did very good shows actually. Apparently since I almost listed the full line-up before even realizing it. 

I really don't want to plan so far ahead but with the latest additions with Satan and Desolation Angels added and Salem, Gaskin, Raven and Diamond Head already on the bill, not much to think about. Also, with the benefit of the discount on tickets offered...

But there are more things (I need to have something fun to think about now you know. I surely missed not going to Malta this year and with the line-up they presented the other day, COUNT ME IN.... Old Grave Fest is always so much fun but it's a bit ironic I have to go to Romania to see the good Swedish bands, not that I mind. It's always fun to hang out with RTMC people and the rest visiting the Festival.

And the NWOBHM France looks REALLY good... Ok, Salem and Cloven Hoof did the trick but the rest is cool too. And we'll definitely go to Storm Crusher this year to see Exciter, they always kick ass and there are some really cool other bands there as well. Tygers of Pan Tang are always fun to watch. 

Keep It True and Headbangers Open Air it will be, no doubt about that. And I really want to go to the Metal Assault too, until now I've never managed to get it into my schedule. And the same goes for Hell Over Hamburg. 

Of the major Festivals both Sweden Rock Festival and Copenhell is tempting, this year I had the opportunity to get press/photopasses for both. I hope I am as lucky next year too. Else, I really want to see Aerosmith one last time and we had the plans to get tickets for Copenhagen, but over 1000DKK for the cheapest ones felt a little much. 

And, the line-up for Up The Hammers is a killer as always. I'm not so sure I will enjoy Greece in May as much as I've done in Feb-March... Will it be too hot??? 

Well, it looks like 2017 will be busy too! It will be hard to make it to all Festivals that I want to but it normally is sorted out in the end anyway. And of course, there will be a lot of concerts also to squeeze into the schedule. 2016 has been a very good concert year, I've seen a lot and I've seen a lot of very good stuff. But more on that later.

And now, back to the Top 10 list of the year. I realized I've missed a couple of albums completely, some I should have listened more to... But I guess that's the case. I'm twisting and turning of the order of the first 9 and have another 5 that really should be in Top 10... Deadline for Metal Kaoz is Saturday (which mean I won't have time to listen to the new Attacker album for example, sounds awesome the samples available). There are a few more being released now also that I won't have time to listen to before the list is due which is a bit of a shame. 

Hmmmm, wonder if I have any Whisky here??? Need to check, should be a good cure for the cold, temporary at least. 

Cheers
Erika

NP: Glenn Hughes - Resonate

 

Raking the Lawn

Ok... This I'm going to feel tomorrow. Didn't think I would be that worn out by cleaning the winter away from the garden.  But it sure takes a lot of energy. Felt good though but my arms feels like spaghetti now.
It's just the big hedge left for tomorrow and the last part of the driveway. Hopefully the neigbours cat will hang around Tomorrow to watch also. It's nice to have her hanging around. And a good deal for a break also, to cuddle a little with the cat!

But it's great that there's nice weather and good to be outside, finally!
Tonight it's time for BBQ again so I stopped by Gunnaröds yesterday to pick up some eco Meat.

And next weekend it's time for Keep It True. Really looking forward to that!

Cheers
E

Easter full moon

The moon sure is impressive tonight. Of course, completely impossible to shoot and get a decent shot so I have to settle with looking at it. 
And it sure has been good with a few extra days off now. Not that I've had much time to relax though since Friday meant Void Moon rehearsal from 9:30 in the morning... (normal bands rehearse at night and take a beer, Void Moon rehearse BEFORE breakfast on occasion...) But ok, we got to have a BBQ lunch before the guys had to leave for their easter comitments and I had the afternoon to take care of other stuff. For some reason it feels like things are taking so much more time than they used to. I never had problems to squeeze in Rehearsal, fancy dinner, photo-editing, TV watching and a party in a day but that don't happen often now.

My plan was to catch up as much as I could with photo editing since I can't open the raw-files from my new camera in Elements 7 and I can't install creative cloud on my work computer. Need to see if the little red one can handle it so I'm not locked to editing on weekends only. There's just too few of them to manage everything that shall fit. But else I'm very happy with the new camera and my new toy... Yep, I bought the Canon L 8-15mm lens... Turns out rather crazy and it's not all that useful, but it is FUN!!! Also, I tried the Sigma 10-20 but it was too slow for the price so it felt right to add a bit more cash and get the really good one.

Perhaps a 10-20 would have been more useful since it the 8mm almost takes 180 degrees, the pictures are virtually round. And I assume it is stressful for the bands as well since it focuses on 15cm away from the target and fully opened, this is what it looks like from 2-3dm away from the fist dude on stage!!! I.e. I get AWFULLY close with it... :O)

But it was quite a challenge for a while. My main lens broke during the Satan gig in Gothenburg. I got it fixed but I was out of it for Sacred Steel, Sanctuary and Up The Hammers. As a backup I had a fixed 50mm and the 8-15. A BIT of a mismacth in the middle but it turned out ok. That VERY CHEAP fixed 50mm is still very good and stable but it's hard to not have the zoom, I've always had that and I'm used to it so it becomes rather strage with a fixed lens. Also, for the EOS 50D I had 17-50mm and for the EOS 5D I have 24-70mm which made me miss the mm's up to 50 more than above. 

 
It sure would have been good with a few more days home now. I've been away a lot lately, two weeks in Dallas felt like an eternity and prior to that we went to Katowice to see Overkill and of course Up The Hammers in Greece. So these days has been really nice even ifI haven't completed what I set to do. I doubt I will manage by tomorrow but who knows, I might wake up early (fat chance, nooo) and feel inspired and start right away.

Anyway, if I can keep the speed up with writing and editing the days I'm home I will be in a good position before the new Festival season start. And I'm sure looking forward to it. I got a report yesterday saying Exciter kicked ass at Defenders of the Old Festival. I'm really looking forward to see them at KIT together with Uli Jon Roth, Riot V and more... Great line-up as always. But first we're off to Ireland!

Cheers
E

NP: Riot V - Unleash the Fire

Heavy Metal

I really feel like going to a concert now! Feels like it ages ago since I last saw a band live. Anvil played in Trollhättan just over a month ago so it's not so bad...

It looks like it will be a good year fot Metal though. Good line-up's at most Festivals and a hell lot of them! KEEP IT TRUE, HEADBANGERS OPEN AIR, METAL MAGIC, BANG YOUR HEAD, UP THE HAMMERS... Have to see Vicious Rumors also when they come to Europe next time. I'm really looking forward to see SANCTUARY also!
Last but not least, the next Void Moon album should see them light of day during the year too...

Cheers
E

I know how men feel now...

Because I think I caught a man-cold... I feel very miserable and frustrated, sneezing and coughing like crazy. Also, I was stupid enough to not listen to Peter on Monday morning so I actually drove to work and now I'm stuck in my shoebox flat in Borås. No records and nothing in the freezer. And worst of all NO COFFEE in the morning... (The Horror)
Even if I'm not well I've decided to take a few meetings over phone for work, mainly because it's easier to live with that than to rebook all other busy people in the near future. 
But without coffee in the morning I felt like this;

(yes, I stole it from internet...)

Lucky for my colleagues they weren't close before I could go out and shop for a cup of coffee I tell you...

 

I've boosted up for tomorrow though to not have to go through the same thing again.

 

Anyway, I'm not completely out of Metal here even if the selection is very limited to what I brought to listen to in the car. New The Haunted, sounds amazing, disappears a bit in the middle though, songs just becomes a big mash but beginning and end of the record is kick-ass. Also, I think it needs more than 2 spins to settle so I shouldn't say to much about it yet. Same thing goes for Entombed A.D. and Wolf, that I shouldn't say too much but both sounds amazing and will easily make it to the selection for album of the year (the pile for that should be extensive this year and there's so much more to come).

 

Else I'm working hard on catching up. My new computer is installed at home with a new monitor and the Photoshop CC as well as Lightroom 5 handles .raw files from both my cameras. And damn there's a difference. 

 

Deep Machine from Keep It True with my old camera;

And Kansas from Gothenburg with the new one;

Perhaps not the best way of checking to add pictures adjusted for web to compare but the feeling with the new camera is so good. Also, to be able to push the ISO has showed to be very efficient for concerts to get faster shutter-speed and increase the sharpness in the picture. And no, the grain is not that huge pushing it as it was with my old camera. So of course the EOS 5D MkIII wins but I really like the EOS 50D still, the built in flash comes in handy still, since it is very dark in smaller clubs and flash is a necessity to get any pictures at all. Now, to complete my wishlist is to get a real fish-eye lens. Have my eyes on a Canon L 8-16 which can't fail but the guy at Rajala Photo really recommended the Sigma 10-20 also as a very good one and more usable (Peter still looked a bit bothered when I tried it out in the store though, camera was a bit too close to his face to be ok...) Price is half off on the Sigma compared to Canon so the main question is if I want the lens NOW or I can wait for next years Festival season and save some money and buy the Canon...

I really want this week to be over now, first because I hope that my cold will be gone to the weekend. Also that we have a Void Moon rehearsal planned. Dutch Doom Days are coming closer so we really need to get in shape NOW! Also, one big package from Pure Steel (Project Terror and more) and from TPL should have arrived until then!!!  

Now I'll go back to self-pity here!!

Cheers
E

NP: Serpent Venom - Of things Seen & Unseen

 

 

Festival Season 2014 starts...

Yep... Keep It True which is the first one is just two weeks something away now. I'm really looking forward to this Festival. As always, a lot of great bands and I'm sure I will meet up with old friends and get some new ones too! Again, as it always is! Another thing that really equals KIT is a Schnitzel in our Hotel Restaurant, Goldener Stern in Lauda. Gerhard and his staff serves great food with homegrown vegetables. Last year, I think it was, Gerhard and his regular visitors tried to sing a song for me, "A little flower called Erika". Hysteric! Fun and a bit embarrassing!!! It's going to be really cool to see HEXX, found them back in 1988 and the records still kicks ass. LETHAL too of course. TOXIC, JAG PANZER and METAL CHURCH... And, and, and...

We'll miss Heavy Days in Doomtown this year unfortunately. Nice event even if the line-up doesn't always fit my taste. But I've also seen some really cool bands on that Festival, bands I never expected to like prior to the show. Like PROFETUS. Maybe next year.

Muskelrock has become a tradition. Especially since I realized it's possible to stay at Hotel Rådmannen and skip camping, else I doubt I would gone back year after year. Even if it is a very nice Festival, similar atmosphere to KIT and always a great line-up, but if I have to be camping in the end of May in Sweden the line-up needs to be a killer. Not necessary now though! I'm really looking forward to see Uli Jon Roth, SATAN, PROTECTOR, ANGEL WITCH and a few more...

 
Then the big ones starts, Copenhell Festival. Even though it is big it's a very nice Festival. Nice atmosphere and killer bands. What's so cool with Copenhell is everything around that's arranged as well. Normally they have a Film Festival showing independent as well as classic films, last year they had a burning (smoking at least) church and open coffins in the center field!!!!

Metal Magic is the next one up! Even if the temperature allows camping I really enjoy the Festival where I can stay in a Hotel. So it is with Metal Magic, always great line-up, great people and very well arranged! And always a lot of cool bands, DARK QUARTERER, PORTRAIT, HÜRLEMENT, PARAGON and a few more will be great fun.

I'm not sure exactly how many Festivals it will be during the summer, not more than the ones already mentioned... But one of the highlights is absolutely Headbangers Open Air. The only Festival I don't mind camping for. Normally warm and nice and possible to build a camp, set up BBQ etc. That I like. This together with great people and awesome bands sure makes it a good vacation. WARLORD, DEATH ANGEL, RIOT, WHIPLASH, GRAND MAGUS, TYGERS OF PAN TANG, CAGE will be awesome and I assume the rest will be great as always!

Then what? Sure, I can't be out traveling all summer, need to spend some time at home too, to rest a bit. But when bands come to town it's hard to resist. I really want to see VICIOUS RUMORS too, they're coming over to Europe for a few gigs and I think I need to catch at least one. KING DIAMOND is playing in Berlin a few days after HOA, that could make a great end to the vacation!!! Busy busy!!!

And then the plan for fall!!! I'm not sure how I will have time to work anymore, and it sure will be a hell lot of travel with work as well!!! Exiting days.

Cheers
E

NP: MSG - Michael Schenker Group

 

Recorshoppers Anonymos #16

Well, things got very crazy when it got to shop for Records these last few weeks. But of course, when the opportunities comes, why not take them. For example, one Swedish online shop, Ginza actually started their sale at the same time as the sale for books started, which is at the end of February. I don't shop from them very much anymore since their webpage got quite bad after their upgrade, also the result when searching is really off. But, they are the best ones for Plastic covers for LP's and while I was getting that I thought I'd check out the sale as well... Ooouups! BIG BOX of CD's all for me! Also, Peter almost the same thought and bought a bunch for himself as well. For me it was a few MSG remasters, Grave, Thy Majestie, Holy Grail, Dr Livingdeath, Zombified, Deicide, Morbid Angel, Evil Masquerade, Vixen (yes, the US hair ones...), Seven Witches and a few more.
A package from TPL (Attacker, Blaze, Matlese Falcon...), some off of eBay (Access Denied, Lethal Saint...) and of course the visit at Keep It True (Legend, Toranaga, Artizan...). The collection of new ones then looked like something like this;

Sure, these are both for me and Peter but they're going into the same shelf no matter what.

And when starting checking eBay it tends to be rather expensive in the end... Perhaps not per record but in total it can run away a bit, but it's very rare that I actually regret buying any records.
When searching for Savatage or Vicious Rumors stuff on eBay, there are a few compilation album that always shows up. I don't know why I never checked them out before, should have been interesting enough at least. At least now, I took the opportunity to get them.
First the "US Metal Vol I-III". The first two are really cool, featuring songs (some unreleased) from Exciter, Vicious Rumors, Manilla Road, Vixen, The Rods and a lot more. The fun thing is that it isn't the bands that are listed for some songs, just the guitarplayers.
"Welcome to the Metalzone" is more standard but still a lot of good stuff. And since Savatage is featured, of course it is needed for the collection.

Speaking of collections, Peter started to do a homepage for his Anvil collection. Taking photos (multiple) for each unique record. And we are talking about a serious collection so it sure was a lot of pictures... A very cool thing to do and I got a bit inspired and started off with my Savatage stuff as well, but it won't be as many pictures. Not to start with anyway...

And while ordering, since the postage for one LP from US can be rather expensive and that most sellers combine shipping for multiple items it feels better to get a few extra so the postage per LP won't be as high!!!!
One of the choices was Tyton "Mind over Metal". Took it one more of a chance and damn, it was a surprise. The things I've heard earlier sounded great but that was from an earlier release. But apparently I've heard stuff from "Mind over Metal" as well. At the old Swedish Radio show "Rockbox" back in 1987 or perhaps 1988 Tyton's "Legacy" was played. I was completely sold on that song and I'm so sure Per Fontander annouced it as the new and upcoming Testament album. Of course I've never ever heard anything like Tyton's "Legacy" from Testament for obvious reasons so it was good to solve that mystery now 25 years later!

And yes, that package from TPL was massive. It felt a bit bad though, because all of it (Ginza, eBay stuff) showed up while I was in England for work so when I got home around midnight I just opened it up and check that all was in there, not more than that! The next day it was an early morning and away for Keep It True. And of course, a visit on that Festival ended up in another bunch of records. The TPL package got to me a bit late though, I would have liked to listen a bit to Air Raid prior to the Festival since it's always more fun to see bands after listeing a bit.

The pack on display above shows a selection of the latest arrivals, mainly from TPL but also from KIT (High Spirits and Eliminator 7"). The real stacks are much bigger, both me and Peter got one similar...

But back to the TPL package, the crown jewel is still to come... Damn, I would love all my favorite bands to do something like this. I mean the book, a lot of pictures on old (sometimes very odd) releases and old pictures. I'm of course talking about the Jag Panzer box set "Historical Battles". Hard to get stuff in a very nice package, that's great!

 

Since the plastic covers I got from Ginza was far from enough I dug into the sale ones more but couldn't find anything really interesting. Checking out some product it was either just a recomendation to check out something or something someone else had bought while getting something I was getting. Started to click around and found the Blue Öyster Cult Columbia albums, which is everything up until fantastic "Imaginos" plus a few collection and live albums, all in a nice package, 17 CD's plus a few free liveconcerts downloads. Really cool!

And then last but absolutely not least, the new Vicious Rumors stuff. Took the opportunity to get the CD and LP from Ginza. The japanese version of the CD arrived the other day as well...

So I know what I have to do the coming weeks!!! Need to go through all of it before the next TPL package arrives. I think the deal will be to pick it up at Muskelrock.
But before that we'll have a releaseparty for the Cult of the Fox album and Void Moon rehearsals. Gonna be nice but busy (since I need to practice quite a lot for the VM rehearsal), business trip again and we are going to catch a few Vicious Rumors shows down in Europe before Muskelrock!!!

Cheers
E

NP: COMMUNIC - Waves of Visual Decay