^
Alky, do you have Oink? Download the BTBAM covers album, it really shows how versatile those dummies really are.

FUCKING SLAYYYEEERRR!!!

I do, and I probably will. I'm just afraid of hearing what they do to "Geek U.S.A."

I picked this one up almost completely because of Sask's positive words. Almost everytime I pick up an album because of him I end up completely satisfied, this time was no different. I was afraid I was going to hate it while listening to the first track, the cookie monster vocals were going to be a bit much for me. But by track four I was completely hooked, the instrumentation is wonderful and I love the guy's range. Really solid stuff.

I'm not sure what prompted me to buy this one, pure curiosity I think. I nearly lost my shit when the keyboards kicked in on the opening track, I had instant flashbacks to Europe. But really this is a pretty fun listen, although I'm not sure how it will stand up over time. I like how the lyrics note who is performing each solo, I like that touch.

^
Alky, do you have Oink? Download the BTBAM covers album, it really shows how versatile those dummies really are.

FUCKING SLAYYYEEERRR!!!

Holy Crap, what a show. I feel like I was beaten up for six hours. Limbs are sore, back aches, hearing is shot, and I know I'm gonna have some serious headbanger's neck in the morning. Ugh, and a five hour drive to boot. But it was so worth it.

Thine Eyes Bleed were okay, nothing special. Kind of like their album.

Mastodon sounded MASSIVE. March of the Fire Ants sounded awesome, as did the new songs (Circle of the Cysquatch and Crystal Skull), but the Leviathan tracks stole the set, especially Iron Tusk, Megalodon, and Blood & Thunder. It was cool to see Brann's Randy Rhoads drumkit...that dude's drumming brilliance is really driven home in a live setting, too. Oh, and the new shirt with the Blood Mountain artwork was the best out of all the horribly overpriced merch.

Children of Bodom were okay. Lots of rockstar posing by Laiho. The little guy sort of reminds me of a pale imitation of Devin Townsend, sans the humour. After Mastodon, COB sounded much more pedestrian, and didn't have anywhere near as much muscle.

Lamb of God dominated, as usual. I love this band...they play the same old stuff every tour, but I can't get enough of it (this was my second time seeing them). Ruin, Faded Line, 11th Hour, Laid to rest, Vigil...I'm a sucker for it all. The new song Redneck sounded ace, which was no surprise. It's a live staple in the making.

What Slayer really showed is how NOBODY in metal comes close to topping their live experience. They just elevate the music to a new level entirely. After the 22 year wait, I had to make tonight's show count, so I was right in the middle of the pit for the entire set, and it was glorious. Of course, it was the 80s material that had me flipping out the most, like Antichrist, Angel of Death, Hell Awaits, and Silent Scream. The one real revelation was War Ensemble, which sounded absolutely unreal...it made me see the song in a new light. Fave moment of the night was Chemical Warfare...it was the very first Slayer song I heard back in 84, and I felt like the only one shouting the lyrics to that one. One cool bit was the Ed Gein criminal file that was projected during Dead Skin Mask. Right when the line "Simple smiles elude psychotic eyes" came up, Gein's face suddenly appeared. Neat touch.

So yeah, well worth the wait. It was a performance of Postmortem short of perfect, but I'm not complaining!

Take care Sask and thanks for keeping the metal alive

'Different Worlds':
"The shortest song of the album is a catchy tune, it should make a single, but that's still to be confirmed"

'These Colours Don't Run':
"Epic title, with percussive/thundering drum parts. This song will surely go down great live apart from a little feeling of 'already heard this.' A big break towards the end till when the song finishes in a calm way. This last part of soldiers: 'For the passion / For the glory / For the memories / For the money / You're a soldier / For your country/ What the difference / All the same'."

'Brighter Than A Thousand Suns':
"Dickinson starts with a soft voice and hot screaming or in high tone and this is a common thing for the album. A huge and crunchy rhtyhm almost in Metallica style, not common for Maiden sound. Galloping rhtyhm, Bruce sings with rage and power, then a little calm part and then again the song explodes again with a huge refrain, awesome on the final. Then solo on a galloping rhythm part just before a second solo on a more calm rhythm section. A complex song structure. A song that talks about nuclear explosion. 'Iron fingers stab the desert sky / How we made God with our hands'."

'The Pilgrim':
"Celtic intro on an almost thrash rhythm section. Rage riff of the guitars. A more direct song than the previous two, but without an immediate and easy listening chorus. It's not really one of those song with a direct chorus that people will sing at the gigs. Celtic final part."

'The Longest Day':
"Probably inspired by the film The Longest Day, this song taks about the Normandy in the second world war. The song begins with a huge bass intro building up always more powerfully. Gloomy and sad song. Nicko Mcbrain plays his drums like they are cannons while bruce things tells his horror tale: 'From paper soldiers / To bodies on the beach' or also 'The water is red / With the blood of the dead'. Then drum breaks à la 'Charlotte The Harlot'. This is a song that will be fantastic live and probably maiden will try a scenography on this similar to 'Paschendale' or in that style. Fanstastic songs, really stands out on the album."

'Out Of The Shadows':
"Heavy tempo at the beginning in a power heavy ballad stlye. One of the most likely song to be chosen as a single. *difficulties on translating this song following part* . Double guitar breaks (probably acoustic). Surprising song, very interesting."

'The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg':
"Dickinson talks about this as the first single. This song start with a long intro, narrative intro sang by Bruce: 'Let me tell you about my life/ Let me tell you about my dreams'. Really heavy and huge rhythm, quite unusual for Iron Maiden. This songs talks about the reincarnation and mediums. 'I'm able to see things / Things I don't want to see.'"

'For the Greater Good Of God':
"Typical epic songs made by Steve Harris, we find this kind of composition almost on every Iron Maiden album. A feeling of already known sound, represent classic 'Arry composition. Celtic chorus, long instrumental parts. This songs talks about religions' abuses and bad things: 'Religion has a lot to answer for' or also 'He gave his life for us/ He fell upon the cross (...) / Tell me why.'"

'Lord Of Light':
"Another calm beginning before the song really kicks in. Once again Bruce is more soft with his voice rather than in a high register in the first part of the song. The result of this song is outstanding, superb and the construction of the chorus can bring back that of 'Where Eagles Dare'."

'The Legacy':
"Long acoustic intro, calm voice by Bruce.When the rhythm kicks in it develops a Black Sabbath wall of sound, Dio era. Multiple vocal parts,another great songs that encourages to mutual respect, and opening spirits: 'Why can't we treat our fellow man / With more respect'."

General Conclusions:
"This is an album that is far superior to Dance Of Death and symbolize a great union in the band. This is composed of very long and epic songs, probably inspired by 'Paschendale''s success. The main themes are war, denounced on songs like 'These Colours Don't Run', 'The Longest Day' and 'The Legacy': 'Sent off to war / To play little games (...) / Some strange yellow gas / Has played with their minds / Has redemmed their eyes.' People who love long songs will be very satisfied, probably less those who like shorter songs. There are no immediate songs like 'Killers', 'Be Quick Or Be Dead', 'Run To The Hill's. With this Maiden shows great courage and prove once again that Iron Maiden do just what they want. The sequence of songs is well thought and the album is the right mix of tradition and modern sound. (special highlights are rhythm and riffs heavier than in the past and a less conventional and standard voice of a superlative Bruce Dickinson who experiments a lot - awesome).

This album will require more than one listen to be fully understood."

As previously reported, Iron Maiden plan to release A Matter Of Life And Death on August 26th 2006 in Australia and August 28th in Europe.

Here's a good one. I've had the new Grave album lying around for a while, but only just got around to hearing it today. Much to my surprise, there's an absolutely CRUSHING cover of Alice in Chains' "Them Bones". It's a must-hear, so here y'all go:

Grave - "Them Bones"

i find it hard to get too pumped for a new maiden album at this stage in their career, but this sounds promising.

the last two didn't do much for me. i think i like x factor best of the previous 4 studio albums.

Due to copyright and trademark issues the band formerly known as Rhapsody has changed its name. The band members consider this a great new start, reflecting the emboldened and increasingly grandiose direction that their music has taken. “The power of the dragonflame will burn brighter than ever before,” says guitarist/songwriter Luca Turilli. Keyboardist/songwriter Alex Staropoli adds, “The name Rhapsody Of Fire better represents the energy that has always been present in this band and its music.”

That's a bold statement. X Factor and Virtual XI have to be two of the most maligned albums in metal history.
Some good material on those albums, though. "Sign of the Cross", "The Clansman", "Man on the Edge", and "Futureal" are four of the best songs the band has ever recorded. "Lord of the Flies" is solid, too.

There was even a surreal moment when they played the first minute or so of "Freebird," after Puciato got into this whole thing with a heckler who wouldn't stop screaming for the same song.

but damn, if the new Merrimack album is way better. They're from France, they do straightforward black metal, but the production on this CD is quite stellar, and the songs are well-arranged...monotony never sets in.

I hated, hated Blaze-era Maiden during the mid-late 90s, I practically renounced the band. It was Bruce's selling of both "Sign of the Cross" and "The Clansman" on Rock in Rio that made me realise just how great both those songs actually were, and I eventually came to like the Blaze versions.

There's some youtube footage of Blaze doing Bruce songs with Maiden, and he sounds absolutely abysmal.

Rock legend airlifts hundreds to safety

He's the frontman for one of the great metal bands of all-time. He was a world class fencer. Now, after helping to rescue scores of Britons from the fiery hell of war, he's a national hero.

Bruce Dickinson, lead singer for Iron Maiden, gets bored pretty quickly. He keeps himself busy with many hobbies and art projects. Years ago he was trained as a commercial pilot by friend Captain Phil Dales of British Airways.

When Dickinson got word that his countrymen were stranded in Cyprus after having fled the war in Lebanon, he leaped at the chance to help.

"He was only too keen to get involved and help. He has a strong interest in the welfare of people caught up in international conflicts and cares about what is going on," said a colleague.

Dickinson piloted a Boeing 757 down to the tiny island nation to pick up 200 Britons and return them to the safety to Gatwick Airport in England.

Now Dickinson will return to hosting his weekly radio show on BBC 6Music and resume rehearsing for Iron Maiden's fall tour opening at Budokan.

Sep. 07 - San Diego, CA - TBA
Sep. 08 - Oakland, CA - Oakland Coliseum
Sep. 09 - San Luis Obispo, CA - Pozo Saloon Amphitheatre
Sep. 10 - San Bernardino, CA - Hyundai Pavilion
Sep. 12 - Las Vegas, NV - TBA
Sep. 13 – Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre
Sep. 15 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA
Sep. 16 – Denver, CO - Coors Amphitheatre
Sep. 17 – Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
Sep. 19 - TBD
Sep. 21 – Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
Sep. 22 – Chicago, IL - Congress Theatre
Sep. 23 – Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
Sep. 24 – Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Amphitheatre
Sep. 25 – Toronto, ONT - Molson Amphitheatre
Sep. 27 – Montreal, QUE - Bell Centre
Sep. 28 – Nassau, NY - Nassau Coliseum
Sep. 29 - TBD
Sep. 30 – Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Center
Oct. 01 - TBD
Oct. 03 - TBD
Oct. 05 - TBD
Oct. 06 – Tampa, FL - St Pete Times Forum
Oct. 07 – Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
Oct. 08 – Sunrise, FL - Bank Atlantic Forum

Gigantour 2006 has been announced, and hoo boy, what a lineup:

Megadeth
Lamb of God
Opeth
Arch Enemy
Overkill
Into Eternity
Sanctity
The Smashup



Wish I could see this!!!

It's right in my back yard, I'll have to attend! Has 'Deth toured since Dave had the mishap with his hand?

Not sure if anyone has heard of this band. I was recommended them as similar to Isis, Neurosis, etc.

Swarm of the Lotus - The Sirens of Silence



http://www.youswarmit.com/transfer.php?act...B979E727D11E5BB

The link isn't working, and I've been dying to get this album...re-up please?!

Oh yeah, that's pretty much ancient history. New Megadeth album in October, too.

This tour's lineup destroys the first Gigantour, and it definitely won't be plagued by attendance problems like last year.

I'm noticing much smaller venues this time around ... at least in Chicago. Its playing the same venue I saw it at in Milwaukee last year, though.

Stylus weekly feature this week is on a bunch of metal bands that i've never heard of (except for Leviathan). If anyone here has any info or opinions on any of these bands, i'd be interested in hearing them. Some of these records sound interesting, but i'm not going to blindly buy any of them without hearing some more info.

I just found out that a flight to Chicago costs the same as a flight to Toronto. Hmmm, some serious mulling over to do over the next couple weeks.

If you're seriously going, let me know.

I've heard a couple of Arch Enemy songs on XM. That's the band with the chick singer, right? I wasn't thrilled with the vocals, but damn the music was hot! I need to hear more eventually.

Listening to "Crystal Skull" on Mastodon's myspace site at the moment (after reading the Pitchfork review of the single, I have to admit)