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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Operation Mindcrime

Even if it's nice to visit mom it's still really good to get back home to Peter and the Cats after a few days up north. Ok, Peter's actually away rehearsing with Goatess this weekend so me and the cats are having a party by ourselves in the Void Mansion. I miss him of course but it's good to get some time at home and not having to be social and just to clear out the Metal Kaoz stuff so I won't build another back-log. I still have a few things to complete but the progress is good.

It's always fun to do it also, and with the batch of records I have for review right now it's all just fun. And I actually didn't think so but I must say I really enjoyed the Soulfly, King Parrot & Incite gig in the beginning of the week. Picture editing for that tonight.

Right now I have Mightiest, Salem, Savage Master, The Temple, Anthrax, Ereb Altor and Mob Rules to dig into. It's quite many but the hardest is actually to sort out which one to listen to next. All really appeal to me so it's a pleasurable problem I have... I think Salem is the one that struck the hardest though.

But, it seems like it will be a very good record year this year too. Sarasin and Sleepy Hollow struck very hard when I got them, and now Salem. Then Metal Church, Martyr...
I've pre-ordered both in some nice bundles and hopefully they'll show up the coming weeks. I didn't take the pack from Rat Pak Records where Mike Howe is calling but the second biggest with an additional T-shirt for Peter and one Mike Howe shirt for me.

I'm also checking if it will be possible to see them at one or so of the dates in May. Z7 in Switzerland is very tempting since Riot V is on the bill there as well. Not the best day though since it's a mid-week show.

Then the Martyr pack. I really wish I could have gone to the release party but I guess I need to realize I can't do everything I want. There's just not enough time for it.

I also ordered the deluxe version of the Baltimoore collection. I have far to few of the releases but I do like the ones I have and on the rare occasion I've actually seen them or Björn Solo live it's been absolutely amazing. What a voice, what a feeling.

And then of course the Saxon 9-LP box. That one will be awesome. I think it's the fattest LP box I have... Perhaps Iron Maiden "First 10 Years" with 10 2x12"'s is bigger. But it sure is cool! 

So I for sure have a lot of incoming goodies now the last two weeks of march or so. 

And there's more to come... I've already mentioned Salem and to stay in the same genre I have to say I'm looking forward to the new Cloven Hoof. 

 

 And then of course Assassins Blade (ok ok, yes I've had access to this one for some time for obvious reasons but it's still cool when it's done and it's an actual product)

So it looks like the goodies will keep coming. 
Also when we're talking about concerts it will be a good year. Upcoming is Exodus, Symphony X, one more Dirkschneider / Anvil show, Overkill, Spiritual Beggars and some more. 
I bought a ticket for the Queensryche Stockholm gig today. I'm quite sure that Klubben will be sold out so even if I don't know I can make it I would like to have the opportunity at least.

I was about to get tickets for the gig at Amager Bio in Copenhagen as well but then I got a hint from a friend another damn cool gig the same day so I really need to decide what to do... We'll see what happens. One thing's sure, it will be a good concert year. It has already started off very strong with Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock, Manowar, Dirkschneider and Up The Hammers.

Another train ride to come to an end very soon!

Cheers
E

NP: Salem - Dark Days

 
 

As long as we are willing...

To let them lead us to the slaughter. Quite a tongue-twister for a chorusline but damn it rocks.

I finally could pick up my Pure Steel package from the post handout place. After some convincing though, apparently they'd miss recording it arriving. Nagging them a bit they started looking for the package. And there in the REK box it was. More than Sarasin it was in the package,  Sleepy Hollow, Destructor, Power Theory. Australian Underground Heavy Metal and East European Metal books. The latter is in German so that will be a challenge. :-D
So a good package it was.

Only brought the Sarasin with me this morning, and since I've only listened to MP3's until now it's always special to get the real deal. This record really blew me away. Never heard of Sarasin until I downloaded from Pure Steel for review and it kept spinning for weeks. Love the great and dark melodies, Heavy groove and cool arrangements.

Before Greece I got a big package from TPL and getting home I had one from Ginza and one from Discogs... Many records to listen to and so little time...

Cheers
E

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

Save yourself

It's actually very frustrating with internet and social media on occasion. No one can have missed that I was super charged before the Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock concerts and the actual shows took it too a freaky level almost. Ok, it's not that I become a stalker or anything I just keep posting and spamming the web with pictures, comments, likes and so on and buy a whole lot of records. There's always some new 7"'s, Japanese versions, rare printings, tour-books, promos, biography's, posters, expensive vintage shirts needed or something like that. There will ABSOLUTELY be a #RecordShoppersAnonymous post with Michael Schenker records towards the weekend. 
What kind of annoyed me the most though was that I got one like on the Schenker picture I posted on facebook while the nonsense pictures of the cats draw 50 likes or so each. Ok, the cats are adorable but come on. Mr Schenker is a legend, one of the best and most original guitarplayers around.

And yes, the shows were absolutely fantastic! Two didn't feel enough though so I'm on a constant lookout for another doze right now.

So, before I give up with the spamming, and since I got a lot of decent pictures from the show, here's another batch.

That flying M (double neck flying V) sure is cool! 

I do have a lot of fun things to look forward to also, especially seeing Lethal again at Up The Hammers will be fun. They've always kicked ass the times I've seen them and I'm sure it will be the same now. Heir Apparent I've never seen them so that will be extra fun. And just to get away from this grey cold weather will be so nice. And there are a lot of other bands as well on that festival which also will be a lot of fun to see.

I normally try to respect all musicians, even if I don't like the music. I don't want to take the art away from someone and I try to just ignore things if it's not my taste, or try to find something positive in it if I have to dig in anyway for a review or a report. But this is too hilarious to bypass actually. There are so many fantastic musicians out there who never get a chance to shine and others, with hardly no natural talent can be a star... In those cases, when it's so obvious and when biting a bit more than one can chew... You've gotta take it;

The video cutting is fantastic, makes it hilarious... And for one to even try to sing Bohemian Rhapsody take a lot of guts... And the complete outclass of Freddie Mercury when he's cut in. Awesome! 

Well, there'll be another long day tomorrow so I guess it's bedtime.

Cheers
E

NP: LETHAL - Programmed

Into the Arena

Ok, I don't think it's good to be this excited about a concert. I will most likely be disappointed. I doubt that Mr Schenker will do a bad gig, but the setlist. There're so many songs I want to hear that he need to do a Y & T kind of thing, 2 days a 3 hours at Rockland in Sala a few years ago, to cover all of them...

Anyway, I'm charged and stuffed! A Burger to go with the Murphys is perhaps not the best concert warm-up but it tasted very good!

Cheers
E

Working on that

So, Christmas vacation was also spent remaking the office. I just placed everything moving in and it has stayed like that ever since. Desk towards the window which resulted in headache every time I used it. No good with light right in the face.
So I moved the desk towards the wall and put the storageshelf infront of the window. Also bought myself a glass cupboard for my old cameras. Most of it I got from my dads collection though. My old film EOS 1, the Leica, chinon, box camera, super 8 with projector and everything. Lots of stuff. And nice to look at. Perhaps should take them for a spin some time? The Leica really needs a cleaning though. The really old ones I doubt I can find film in the right format though.
I also bought myself a good office chair to be able to sit comfortable. Which Peter almost stole right away after trying it out. He was good with his old one he said before I left for my shoppingspree. Not as happy with it seeing mine! :-D
I also bought a very good scanner and a new printer. And a light-table to be able to work with the negatives in a decent way. Merry Christmas to me!

Of course the cats got a fake sheep skin to sleep on too. Maddox LOVES it.

I decided it should be my inspiration room so I'm still working on the decoration. And I need to figure out a way to make the desk a little bigger, the cats flip everything over and kick the mouse and the keyboard off the table. And yes, they need to be there when they want to.

I'm really happy about it all, I enjoy working up there now and I feel good, no headache...
So hopefully this will help keep up with the Concert and Festival reports and all that. Maybe also inspire to do some editing to learn more about fotoshop, perhaps do some simple videos or so. Time is the only constraint really... Even with prioritization.

Cheers E
NP: SLEEPY HOLLOW - Tales of Gods and Monsters