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

 

Night to Remember

It really doesn't matter what we're doing at home nowadays, there's always a cat in the middle of everything. Maddox mainly cuddles up and falls asleep while Tipton are very close when there's a chance to snatch something tasty. Eating Icecream is not the easiest thing anymore, he's absolutely crazy about is and was from the first second he got the smell of it. It's not that we're feeding them icecream... And the same goes for cheese but the thing that generates the biggest reaction is fresh fish... It was really funny when we bought a whole salmon, head and everything and while carrying it into the Kitchen two cats jumped like crazy trying to claw through the package.

Concertseason started off very nice with Michael Schenker, Manowar and Helloween. It continues equally nice this week with Dirkschneider and Anvil. Then home and change bags and off to Up the Hammers. So looking forward to this, so many cool bands both small and big, new and old... Lethal being the absolute high point but it will be very cool to see Heir Apparent also, and, and, and...

Then I think I have a few weeks break before it starts again. Exodus & Lost Society, Symphony X... Would love to see Royal Hunt also but doubt I can squeeze that into my schedule. We're also talking about seeing one more Dirkschneider and Anvil show. Then Doom Over Scania. I really want to go to the Killfest this year too. Overkill is always great and with Vader and One Machine the line-up is a killer. Was long since I last saw Steve Smyth play live.
The Goatess tour premiere in Copenhagen before The Skull and also Magnum in Gothenburg. Wonder how I will get this schedule to fly.

And in the middle of all I'm also going up north for a visit. Really need to sort all of that out soon so the tickets won't be that expensive.

Cheers
E

Power of the Night

There are occasions when I really start to wonder why one band is so appealing while I'm hardly interested at all in the next. What it is that makes me like music one time but on the other, just fade to infinity and remain in memory as something that sounded ok but not more. What is it I'm looking for in a record? It's very hard to pin-point these things and it's almost impossible to explain and even harder to understand when people don't feel the same about the things I like.

Peter bought a batch of records a while back which showed up by the end of last week so Friday was spent going through those and of course mixing it up with some Michael Schenker. I'm really excited about the concerts. Mr Schenker is one of my all time favorites, one of my guitar heroes. I've been hooked since first time I heard him. I bought Perfect Timing sometime in -87 or maybe -88. And the concert season has been very dry for me since beginning of December also which makes these shows even more exciting. 
But back to the bunch of records, one in the bunch really stood out. Canadian DAYS OF YORE, a rather complex concept album touching upon FATES WARNING, KING DIAMOND or so, type Progressive Heavy Metal. Of course with those references it's bound to be good. Given references are not always true though and it needs more than to just copy an act. But there was something really special with the record. From a production perspective it sounded ok, nothing special and not a catastrophe.   

And then, the next band that I've been nagging everyone about for some weeks now. Also a Canadian band, SARASIN who will release an album through Pure Steel in a few weeks. Everyone I've played it for has actually liked it so they're good. But for me, I just couldn't stop listening to the record. Time after time after time and for each spin it crept more and more under my skin and for every time the emotion it developed got stronger and stronger. It still is spinning and I'm really looking forward to get the real album in my hands!

And then I can be really pissed off over bands, even if they sound really good feel to forced into sounding like this or that. Perhaps not ripping off straight away but copying a bit too much. The really annoying thing is that these band normally get good response, so much cred and kudos while band that has a very original sound don't get anything at all.
I got STARBLIND's latest for review, and by all means, the record is decent. But if I want IRON MAIDEN, I listen to IRON MAIDEN. And for me it doesn't do much to get a band that sounds this much as something else.

As another music related topic a friend asked me if there was any bands left for me to see live. If I had something I really, really was urging to see that I haven't seen. Also, something that's realistic to happen as a twist to the discussion. Else, LED ZEPPELIN but that's not going to happen, SABBATH with Dio... But real things that can happen. One of the first that struck me was HELLION, I've only seen Ann Boleyn with DETENTE at Headbangers, she ruled and I love DETENTE also but HELLION was also one of the really early ones I found all by myself. On many occasions class mates or other friends recorded stuff for me on tape, but this one I bought and it kept spinning. The first EP that is, next HELLION I bought was "The Black Book" and this I hold as a favorite to this day. One more thing that I'm really looking forward to see is METAL CHURCH with Mike Howe. I liked Ronny Munroe as well but he didn't seem as inspired the last tour. Fan pack (regular one) pre-ordered of the coming album with an additional Mike Howe shirt! 

And now, since the dry season is over I'm looking forward to a very nice February.
First up is Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock, times 2. Both Stockholm and Malmö. I was aiming for Copenhagen as well (take back for lost times) but couldn't get the logistics to work around it.

And that's followed by Manowar, a quick visit to Stockholm.

And a few days break before Helloween hits Gothenburg.

And then there's actually a break before the last batch, which is good since I'll have some time to write and get the reports posted also.

Dirkschneider and Anvil makes it a short night and up in the early morning light to catch a flight to Greece Friday morning. Means I will miss the Warm-Up this year but I get to see all the goodies at the Festival.

And then February turns to March and winter should be over and it's time to look forward to the Festival season for real! Yey!

And CDON sent the package with the Michael Schenker record I didn't have already. Really disappointed with myself that I've missed the release completely. But ok, I think I took it for a collection as it's titled "Tales of Rock'n'Roll" and have a bikini-girl with a guitar on the front. Not that I have the time to listen to it before the first show though but at least I have them all after this!

Cheers
E

NP: Michael Schenkers Temple of Rock - Spirit on a Mission

   

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

Last days here...

Well, vacation is soon over and it's time to boost for a Heavy workweek again. Will most likely be very long days this week too since I have meetings from 8 to 18 almost every day. One good thing though is that I'll work from home on Friday. Then it's our live-rehearsal together with Stonegriff på prepare for Doom Over Scania. A gig in our basement for a few invited guests only. Gonna be fun!

But first, today I get to celebrate my birthday watching some cool bands at the cool Kyttaro Club. Really looking forward to see Wolf since it was long since I last saw them.

Up the Hammers was absolutely awesome. All bands did fantastic gigs so it's hard to pick a Favorite. Doomsword, Omen, Manilla Road sure was good as was Slauter Xtroyes...

I'm quite overwhelmed with all the birthday wishes... +150 on Fb alone. Very cool! Thank you all for that!!

Even if we're not home Peter brought me and gift to open here. Russian print of Hall of the Mountain King. Very cool! Not all that often I find new Savatage records these days.

Hmmm, wonder if it's time for some food soon? Start to get hungry and want to enjoy the local food as much as I can...

Cheers

Winter turns into Festival Season

But it's som damn boring weather now. Ok, today it's been snowing but it still is above 0 so it's kind of a slurpy outside and I guess it will turn into rain soon again and it will be dark and gloomy as it has been.

I've been good though and right now I'm 4 beers up towards workout, 120 min plus on training that is!!! So perhaps a party this weekend then!

One thing to look forward to is that the Festivals starts soon, first out is Up The Hammers and the prep has started! I've been listning alot to Titan Force and Slauter Xtroyes lately and it's absolutely time to start boosting some Manilla Road soon too!
But first I'm going to see Sanctuary in London, FINALLY I say since I've missed them on the few occasions they've been here. And again, before that it's Rocka Rollas and Sacred Steel in Sandviken... Gonna be fun. But first another month of dark long days in the office...

Cheers
E

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
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