Then there was none...

And that goes for the megabit on our fiber broadband connection today... ARGH! Everything has been so slow today it's very frustrating to do anything. Ok, editing pictures of course doesn't require internet access but when I'm sending them in I need it. 
Still feel the buzz from the Symphony X show, damn that was good. I must admit I was a bit disappointed though that there was no photo pit at Pumpehuset. It all turned out ok in the end but it was impossible to get to some of the guys up on stage so the series of pictures isn't as varied as they normally are. Got the report and pics sent in after a lot of curse-words and a some freak-outs.

Next up is one more Exodus / Lost Society show. That will be fun since it was really good in Gothenburg. Of course I need to go to both when I have the opportunity. And there sure are a lot of things coming that I want to go to. 

This one for example, Ragnarökkr Metal Apocalypse

Winterhawk I missed in Greece, Satan's Host and Leather Leone I've only seen ones. And Leather was with the special show at KIT for Sledge/Leather so it really is a first. It's not that expensive to fly to Chicago either... Just the days off work that's the issue.
I also would like to see Metal Church and Riot V. They both play in Switzerland but that clashes with the above event. Metal Church plays in Hamburg which is very convenient and close... We'll see about that!

Then Muskelrock of course. And I REALLY hope it will be warmer than last year. It wasn't really fun to hang out and wait for Anvil to play the Headline slot on Saturday then...

Diamond Head, KAT, Neon Rose, Rock Goddess, Vardis (since they rocked hard at UTH), Tysondog and maybe most Salem. So it's a quite good year now also... Need to book the hotel though because there's no chance in hell I'll be camping ever again at that Festival.

And when Sweden Rock Festival announced that Michael Schenker will do a special show including 3 vocalist and one of them being Robin McCauley I have to go, or go somewhere else that thing happens. 
But for the big major Festivals it is Copenhell that's the deal. Takes about an hour to drive one way which it's worth instead of tryint to get on one of the busses back to city. Just have to see Black Sabbath once at least and the rest isn't bad either.

Metal Magic is tradition and it's damn much fun to hang out there. Also, the line-up is very good. There're some really good artists. Uli Jon Roth, Manilla Road...

In the same way Headbangers Open Air is tradition but I hope we won't end up neighbors with the Modern Talking fans again this year. Why go to a Metal Festival and play 80's pop hits all night???

Alcatraz Metal festival is always fun then... And, and, and.. Helloween is playing in Knislinge this year so I guess it will be another visit to that festival, at least on the day they're playing. 
And for the fall...

One I would really like to go to is the Frost & Fire Festival. It's a damn good line-up.

Malta Doom, Old Grave Fest... We'll see what happens with those based on all other things happening. I love going to both but it's the line-up that matters.

And the line-up of this one is purely fantastic... Sure need to get that one into the schedule also;

So I guess the last one is a must! And it shouldn't collide with any other Festival at least... But I'm sure there are other concerts and shows that will mess up the schedule. Vicious Rumors should get their new album out soon and that I have to go and see if they come for some gigs...

So many bands and so little time! What to do, what to do?

Cheers
E

NP: Symphony X - Paradise Lost

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Stronger than Steel

It feels like I finally starts to get warm again after last weekends Muskelrock Festival. Saturday was quite tough but of course worth the pain since there was some really cool and good bands.

Thursday we only saw Portrait and The Rods. Both very good and it was cool to see and hear Veronica Freeman sing the Dio/Sabbath stuff.

Friday started off with Tyranex who delivered as usual. Tyrant followed and they sure was the surprise of the Festival. Damn good and just a big party. One of the bands I was looking forward to see the most was Capilla Ardiente. When taliking to them before the show they'd started quite Heavy on the beer already and was discussing to start the real warm-up at hit the Whiskey. Don't know if they did but wouldn't be surprised since it was complete anarchy on stage, chaos and messy. Like a kindergarden class in a candy store but damn it sounded good!!!

After this treatment with Capilla Ardiente and Tyrant nothing felt very interesting so we watched some and spent the remains of the evening chatting away. Arriving at the hotel for an early night we met Chris and Lips and spent some time eating grilled sandwiches and watch Kill Bill... Odd ending of a great day.

And then came Saturday... Rain, cold and wind. The beer got colder halfway through and wine... Way too cold for that. Also the parking was destroyed in the rain so we had to park outside the area. But rather a walk than be stuck in the mud in the middle of the night. Peter took the wheel this time so I guess it's my turn next weekend for SRF! But Ashbury, Citron and Anvil made it worth it all. Tribulation and Horisont helped too. So it sure was a great Festival.

Next up Vicious Rumors and SRF! And then we'll see if next business trip will be in a week and a half or August...

Cheers
E

Ride into the Sun

It's so nice that it starts to feel like summer now. The garden is green and there's no need to wear a jacket anymore! That's a like!
Also, I've worked a lot lately so I'll have thursday and Friday off both this and next week. That's good, Muskelrock now with Portrait, The Rods, Anvil, Ashbury, Tyranex and more...
Next week it's first Vicious Rumors in Leiden. And if I would have checked a bit better before booking everything it would have been damn cool to see Helloween with Powerized opening for them. Two great bands for sure.
After that little trip we'll spend one day at SRF. Crazy good line-up for Saturday and I just realized Refuge plays that day too, another YEY!! Gonna be fun.

Then what? Having training sessions with the Pakistani team, my boss denied a trip there so we'll run sessions from 6am to 2pm Swedish time... Wonder if I'll be alive for that! :-P
And the week after, on-site Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Since online isn't an option. Hectic but interesting and sure more inspiring than days in the office.

I explored the Dead Sea products today also. Facemask, mud... Awesome! Really strange since it felt ice-cold the first 15 min on... Like it! The creams has been good too... Another expensive habit to the list. *s*

Speaking of that. Get to pick up a package from Ginza. So I need to be in Höör before 9 tomorrow night to pick it up!

And, Btw... Welcome to the Ball must be one of the best records ever...

Cheers
E

Finish what I started...

That seems to be very hard at the moment, at home, at work, everywhere. I have a lot of things that should be done or should have been done a long time ago. Ok, work has been rather smooth lately, it's just the last couple of weeks I can't find the peace and quiet time (or inspiration for that sake) to complete the documentation I should...
And of course, being away during the weeks makes it hard to work with pictures. Writing on the other hand is progressing, not finishing anything though... I'm also trying to finish the plans for this summer, which Festivals to go to and when to take some time off of work.

Muskelrock is first up now. That's going to be fun, a lot of good bands as always. I'm especially looking forward to see Ashbury again since I really enjoyed their show at KIT. Then Citron, Anvil, Tyranex, Portrait, The Rods, Ice Age and a few more.

I really hope the weather will be fine though since it can be damn cold in the evening at the end of may. No camping of course, Rådmannen in Alvesta is close and comfortable so there's no use suffering in a tent!!!

After Muskelrock we'll go to SwedenRock for one day, Saturday. The line-up is great and I have to see Exciter & Riot V again when they're as close as this. Then also Nuclear Assault, Ace Frehley, Judas Priest and a few more makes it worth the visit.

But, one more thing I need to squeeze in is a Vicious Rumors show. They only play a select few gigs and I have it hard to get it into my schedule. At this point Leiden is the one I'm aiming at.

Seems to be easy to get from Schipol to Leiden at least and it can be good for me to build some bonus points with KLM also. Plus they had very decent flights to Amsterdam... I just wonder how I should manage to squeeze in all work in between the Concerts and Festivals... 

The KIT weekend was great! So many cool shows it's hard to pick a favorite. That has normally been clear after each Festival but not this time. Riot V and Exciter are strong candidates but we'll see...

I've been trying to walk home from work on a few occasions lately when it hasn't been raining. I really hate the buses so an hour and 15 minutes walk is an easy trade. I get some time to listen to music. Today I picked up Vicious Rumors "Electric Punishment". It was a while since I last listened to that record and as with all Vicious Rumors records, when they've had some rest, I'm always surprised that they are better than I remembered. I think it has it all, the riffs, the fines, just as the classic albums. I'm really looking forward to some new stuff. I really liked Brian Allen but it will be very interesting to see what Nick can do. He sounded amazing live at least. Listening to music sure makes the walking easy at least.

Cheers
E

NP: Vicious Rumors - Electric Punishment

 
 

Armageddon

Gaah, busy days lately. After KIT I repacked my bags and went to China for a bit over a week, for work of course and came back home with a 50 points action list. Then one week at home to catch up with what I've missed while being away, prepare for the Void Moon rehearsal and arranging for shipping off my Peavey 6505+ and Peter's Marshall 3510 Bass Amp to the Amp doctor... Then back home again to repack and off to UK, for work again. 

Back home after a few days and another re-pack but this time for a well deserved break. Me and Peter went to Holland to see Vicious Rumors, on gig at Rocktemple in Kerkrade and then Baroeg in Rotterdam. Two awesome concerts with three fantastic bands. Apart from Vicious Rumors, The Order of Chaos and Iron Knights played as well. 

Vicious Rumors never stops to amaze me, always great to see them and they always kicks ass. James Rivera did a great job and it is great to see Thaen Rasmussen back in the pack, he sure sounds great together with Geoff! The report will be posted at Metal Kaoz in a few weeks.

Visiting Baroeg we found a very cool poster on the wall too...

Then, as one of many promos coming in for review to Metal Kaoz. One of the records I've been looking forward to the most this year (together with Vicious Rumors "Electric Punishment" and Black Sabbath's "13"). Jon Oliva's Solo album "Behind the Curtain"

I had no clue what to expect from this album. Of course Chris Kinder have been giving some hints during the recording but still... Without saying too much to spoil the impression... I think it kicks ass!!!!

01. Raise The Curtain
02. Soul Chaser
03. Ten Years
04. Father Time
05. I Know
06. Big Brother
07. Armageddon
08. Soldier
09. Stalker
10. The Witch
11. Can't Get Away
12. The Truth (bonus track) 

The suite with "Ten Years", "Father Time", "I Know", "Big Brother" and "Armageddon" is absolutely fantastic!!! The rest is really good too but those songs are damn good. Yep, it kind of sounds like JOP/SAVATAGE (and why shouldn't it???) but there are some differences... A candidate for album of the year, absolutely!!! So I'm waiting impatiently for the package with the real records which should show up around June 20th.

Next up is Muskelrock, it will be interesting to see what bands they have booked. Of course, rumors says a few names and Aria is officially announced. Eventime mailed today and said they should make it official at 8pm tonight. Still I can't find anything on internet though. Not that I want to know, but it would be good to know the first few bands for tomorrow to know in how much a hurry we'll be arriving in Alvesta. Anyone has a clue?

NP: IRON KNIGHTS - New sound of War

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

 

Recordshoppers Anonymous #9

It sure was one hell of a package that arrived from TPL Records the other day! Ok, Patrik kept the package a bit longer than normal just to get some more in from the distributors so it was a longer period between this and the one before than it normally is. Still I think this was the biggest ever and will be hard to beat (really time to sign up to RA now...). Still there's more to come and my (and Peter's, because some is his too even if the major part is mine) wish list keeps growing each day. Still waiting for a lot of Pure Steel stuff though, I'm really looking forward to the package with Halloween, New Eden and Sleepy Hollow (took a while for the last one to settle, but then it became a great album, last half is phenomenal)

Perhaps another bunch of Saxon records wasn't necessary but Back On Black does great stuff and all of them are on heavy 180g vinyl, Fold Out covers and lyrics. Really nice and looks very good in the collection (I went berzerk a while ago and bought all Saxon 7"'s I could find, think it's one or two missing now). The UDO vinyl's Peter bought, "Mission No X" is really neat, the print, apart from the X is on the plastic cover, the X is in the vinyl... I really thought it was a picture disc until I took a closer look at it. 

Widow, Pilgrim, Solitude Aeturnus, RAM, Seasons Of The Wolf, Pharaoh, Skyclad, Orange Goblin and Rage... I've waited long for the Seasons Of The Wolf LP, one of the coolest bands around I think. I love the Black Sabbath sound combined with US Metal and Horror Movies, really an odd bunch biy damn good. The RAM album is fantastic too and I was pleasantly surprised by both Pilgrim and Widow. Still haven't found time to listen to Pharaoh and Rage too much, so no opinion about those two yet. The package included Picture "Warhorse" also, another really good album so I'm really looking forward to see them at Muskelrock this summer. 

Then it might be so, that history repeats itself and I put Accept and Overkill in the top for List Of The Year. Again both bands has released fantastic albums. You never know, if bands gets to confrtable after such hits but not here... AWESOME!!!! But ok, there are about 2/3's left of this year so maybe it is too soon to say yet. Still it looks very promising for these two to make it to the top at least.

It has been kind of dry with concerts during the spring... Hm, spring I'm not sure is the right thing to say. It has been really cold and still is, even snowed just a few days ago. At least the snow doesn't stay these days. But it really started up again, last weekend it was Roadburn but more on that later...

Tonight Angel Witch playes at Truckstop Alaska in Gothenburg together with Enforcer and Witchgrave. That will be cool, I've heard a lot of great words about Angel Witch from the Stockholm concert. Still I'm not that fond of Truckstop Alaska. It's great because it is cheap but when it gets packed it is impossible to see anything of the concert. Also, beacuse it is cheap the level of drunk normally becomes really freaky. On Tuesday it is time for Judas Priest and Hammerfall in Linköping. And right after that Keep It True!

I have really high expectations about the Festival this year. I think the lineup is very good. I sure hope Sentinel Beast can repeat what they did the last time they played and blow me away again! Slogh Feg, Anvil and Psychotic Waltz will be awesome, can't think of anything else. Then it will be very interesting to see what Sword can do on stage. The same goes for Mystic Force and Witch Cross. Then I don't want to put my expectations too high for the Arch/Matheos gig. I know it will sound awesome and I'm looking forward to see John sing live so much... But what goes for the liveshow??? No matter what, I know it will be another great weekend. Hopefully it will be possible to hang out in the warmth of the sun while waiting for the next show to start this year too. Then Heavy Days In Doomtown, Paradise Lost, Ozzy & Friends (still really annoyed Iommi won't come and play but wish him a fast recovery of course) Muskerock... So it sure will be busy weeks to come!!!

Cheers

E

NP: ANGEL WITCH "As Above, So Below"

Recordshoppers Anonymous #8

That new vinylplayer we bought a while ago really gets to work hard these days. I really like vinyl of of course but another reason why buying more of it is that the CD-room is full. No more space in there to squeeze more CD's in... (where is that lottery win? I need a mansion, NOW) And ordering Vinyl from TPL is so convenient, they're actually cheaper than the big, commercial places like Ginza and CDON, better service too of course. I got a notofication of my wish list the other day just to make sure me and Patrik has the same view over what should be on there. Even if I've gotten huge packages the last months there's a whole bunch cool stuff coming in too! Will be a nice record year 2012!!!

But there are other places too to buy records. Around the corner from Peter's place in Malmö there is a recordshop called Rundgång. I've been in there a few times when me and Peter just met but then they most had these Indy Pop and other weird stuff. During Christmas, when I tried to take some time off from work I thought I'd check in once more. The same Pop stuff was still there but now they had a section of new Vinyl as well. Most was Black and Death Metal but I found the re-issue of SABBAT "History Of A Time to Come" and the BLOOD CEREMONY albums to a really decent prices. That was a surprise!

They also had a section of second hand vinyl. These days, at least in Sweden the second hand records are very expensive. All from the classic 70's and 80's stuff though Thrash and all of that. Rundgång har really decent prices of the second hand vinyl too, then it's fun to take a chance and buy some odd stuff... Kind of a lottery I think, somtimes there are diamonds in there. Sometimes it's just good laugh! ALIEN, WARRIORS, CHARIOT & BLOODLUST was really cool, STORM was ok so 4 out of 5 is not too bad. The rest I knew what I was buying but it still is nice to find records I've been looking for without having to cash up too much money.

So it has been a lot of listening to vinyls since christmas. I don't mind getting out of the couch flipping the record over one bit. In some way, I pay more attention to the records I listen to on vinyl compared to CD's or mp3 (the last one only ripped to be able to listen during travels of course). No matter what, there sure are a lot of music to listen to these days... Apart from all these newly bough records, the Festival season starts in a few weeks and I have a hell lot of digging into for Roadburn, Keep It True, Heavy Days In Doom Town, Muskelrock and later on Headbangers Open Air, Skogsröjjet, Rockstad Falun, Alcatraz Metal Festival... There's a small problem with the last two ones though, they clash... We'll see what appeals the most, CRIMSON GLORY in Falun or the ever so strong lineup that is a trademark for Alcatraz Metal Festival... Then I need to squeeze in a few of the JON OLIVA'S PAIN Mountain King gigs as well, that can't be missed but it will be club gigs, no more Festivals....

Cheers

E

NP: SEASONS OF THE WOLF - Lost In Hell