Tag Archives: Rock

Metal Anarchy’s New Music Showcase: Exclusive Q&A With A Primitive Evolution

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Time for the next edition of Metal Anarchy’s “new music showcase,” the feature where I introduce you to bands that readers of this site may find interesting. This time I have an exclusive Q&A with A Primitive Evolution.

METAL ANARCHY: Tell me a little about your band:

A PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION: Hey, we’re A Primitive Evolution from Toronto. We’ve been working on this project for a long time and finally put together “Becoming” our latest release on Metropolis Records. It’s sort of the culmination of the ideas we had set out for the band. Took us a while to dial it in, but we’re really happy with where we ended up.

METAL ANARCHY: Who are your main influences?

A PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION: I think a lot of the bands we grew up listening to in the 90’s. Bands like White Zombie, Tool, Faith No More, Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Alice In Chains, Ministry, Nirvana, Killing Joke. There’s lots of great modern bands that have inspired us lately as well like Mastodon and Chelsea Wolfe.

METAL ANARCHY: What is your latest release and why should readers of this site check it out?

A PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION: The latest release is “Becoming’ I think your readers will find a nice blend of darkness mixed with rock and metal. The nice thing about this album for us is that I still like listening to it a year after its completion so I feel like that’s a good sign for the album’s lifespan haha. The record has a lot of depth to it, some heavy tracks, some epic tracks and a few more on the atmospheric side.

METAL ANARCHY: What can people expect when they go to your live shows?

A PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION: I feel like our live shows are a rawer experience than the record. We do our best to recreate some of the production from the album, but when we play live there is definitely an energy that changes the way the songs translate. Something about being in front of a crowd and playing off the energy there is really arousing.

METAL ANARCHY: Where do you see your band heading in 5 years?

A PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION: I think we will continue to make music, the process of creation is the most important thing to us so we will continue to harness that energy. We have some new music videos in the works right now and have also started writing the next album so that will take up a lot of time in the next year or so. Then back on the road as much as possible following that. Continue the endless cycle.

Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Korn, Disturbed, Etc. Set For 2020 Graspop Metal Meeting

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The lineup has been revealed for the 2020 Graspop Metal Meeting festival. The event will take place in Dessel, Belgium on June 18-21 and it will feature: Airbourne, Alcest, Alestorm, Alter Bridge, Amorphis, Anathema, Anti-Flag, August Burns Red, Babymetal, Battle Beast, Beyond The Black, Body Count, Boston Manor, Bury Tomorrow, Chelsea Grin, Creeper, Deep Purple, Deez Nuts, Deftones, Dimmu Borgir, Disillusion, Disturbed, Dog Eat Dog, Dool, Down, Dream State, Dying Fetus, Enter Shikari, Exciter, Fields Of The Nephilim, Foreigner, Fu Manchu, Gaahls Wyrd, Good Riddance, Heathen, Heaven Shall Burn, High On Fire, In Extremo, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Kadavar, Killing Joke, Killswitch Engage, Korn, Lagwagon, M.O.D., Mayhem, Me And That Man, Mercyful Fate, Mispyrming, Motionless In White, My Dying Bride, Naglfar, Obituary, Of Mice & Men, Opeth, Our Survival Depends On Us, P.O.D., Paradise Lost, Powerflo, Powerwolf, Sacred Reich, Sepultura, Shvpes, Silverstein, Slapshot, Soen, Steel Panther, The Great Old Ones, The Offspring, The Vintage Caravan, Thunder, Tribulation, Vltimas, Wayward Sons, and Wednesday 13.

Metal Anarchy’s New Music Showcase: Exclusive Q&A With Her Despair

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Time for the next edition of Metal Anarchy’s “new music showcase,” the feature where I introduce you to bands that readers of this site may find interesting. This time I have an exclusive Q&A with Her Despair.

METAL ANARCHY: Tell me a little about your band:

HER DESPAIR: We are HER DESPAIR – a six piece gothic rock band based near London UK, formed 2015. We comprise of myself, J, singing, Dan and Jord playing guitars, Vikki on bass, Lee behind the drums and Toby on keyboards. In 2015 we released our debut album “Hymns For the Hopeless,” followed by 2018’s “Mournography” EP.

November 22nd of this year sees our most exciting release yet – “Exorcisms of Eroticism.” There are two songs available online now entitled “Pandaemonium” and “The Exorcism” (which includes a superb accompanying music video, directed and filmed by Scott Chalmers), both of which come as instant downloads upon pre-ordering the release from our Bandcamp.

METAL ANARCHY: Who are your main influences?

HER DESPAIR: The singular main influence has always been, and will inevitably always be, the Sisters of Mercy. Since the moment I first heard them, music as a concept was utterly redefined for me. Other key influences would include Nick Cave, HIM, My Dying Bride, and a (possibly) surprising amount of punk rock.

METAL ANARCHY: What is your latest release and why should readers of this site check it out?

HER DESPAIR: “Exorcisms of Eroticism,” coming 22 November 2019, is the dark and dramatic collection of six new gothic rock anthems from HER DESPAIR. Designed to unravel the mysteries of the theologic and the erotic, each song is set to a storm of symphonic instrumentation; providing the perfect soundtrack for your sorrows.

We could not be happier with this forthcoming release. It very much continues on the styles and themes we have previously explored, but develops them much further. There’s more orchestration, everything sounds much bigger, and generally we feel they’re the best group of songs we have composed yet. We are confident that our fanbase will really enjoy it, and sincerely hope it also draws new people to the band.

“The Exorcism” and “Pandaemonium” have been exceptionally well received, and so far the press reviews have been very positive (except one, which absolutely crucified us). We’re really looking forward to seeing what kind of reception the release gets when it’s available.

METAL ANARCHY: What can people expect when they go to your live shows?

HER DESPAIR: Our live shows have always been suitably representative of our music, with heavy use of smoke machines and intense lighting. We’d encourage everyone to come and see us perform – our audience is usually a fairly diverse mix of individuals. We play goth music, but through the lens of punk. Our songs are sometimes slightly faster or “heavier” than some of our peers within the gothic scene, and that comes across on stage. It’s difficult for some of us to stand still when we’re performing.

METAL ANARCHY: Where do you see your band heading in 5 years?

HER DESPAIR: Record deal and world tour, if we’re lucky…

Silverstein To Release “When Broken Is Easily Fixed” Live Album

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Silverstein have announced that they will be releasing a new live album titled “LIVE: When Broken 15 Easily Fixed“ in digital outlets on November 18. CD and vinyl copies will follow in early December. The tracks on the effort were recorded during various stops on the band’s “When Broken Is Easily Fixed“ 15th anniversary tour.

“LIVE: When Broken 15 Easily Fixed” Track Listing:

01. “Smashed Into Pieces” (live in Anaheim, CA)
02. “Red Light Pledge” (live in Atlanta, GA)
03. “Giving Up” (live in Los Angeles, CA)
04. “November” (live in London, ON)
05. “Last Days Of Summer” (live in Atlanta, GA)
06. “Bleeds No More” (live in Orlando, FL)
07. “Hear Me Out” (live in Dallas, TX)
08. “The Weak And The Wounded” (live in Phoenix, AZ)
09. “Wish I Could Forget You” (live in Montreal, QC)
10. “When Broken Is Easily Fixed” (live in New Orleans, LA)

North American pre-orders can be found HERE and European pre-orders can be found HERE.

Attila’s Chris Fronzak Wants To Keep Vans Warped Tour Alive

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The Vans Warped Tour officially ended after several 25th anniversary events earlier this year, but it looks like Attila’s Chris Fronzak has a plan to keep it alive. He tweeted the following about that:

This news comes after Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman recently discussed the touring festival’s demise on Kerrang!‘s “Inside Track” podcast:

“‘Warped Tour‘ was not feeding my soul and my heart as much as you put in. Because ‘Warped Tour‘ was 90% about the community and 10% about the money, it really was.

And some people I’m sure will say bullshit, but it’s true. I built that because I wanted to keep people coming to see live music. I wanted to build a community… And I’d lost that, that spirit was taken out of me for multiple reasons.”

He also added the following about Attila specifically:

“And then people would come up to me and say ‘Well I don’t wanna be on ‘Warped Tour‘ cause Attila‘s on ‘Warped Tour‘. And I’d say ‘have you met the guys on Attila‘ [and they’d say] ‘No, I just don’t like their music. ‘suck my fuck’, what the fuck is that?’ I’m going ‘look we’re not here to judge each others music. The fans will judge each others music. Attila brings people. Do I personally run around singing ‘suck my fuck?’ No. Do you? No.’

But you know what… They’re good musicians and they’re not bad people. I’ve never seen them do a bad thing to someone. Some of the stuff he [Attila‘s Chris Fronzak] says, maybe, is just more stupidity [laughs.]

But if you sit with him, he has a reason because he says some things and it may not agree with your reason, but that was the… You could have diverse opinions and we’re only a microcosm of society now, because we can’t accept diverse opinions in the same room.”

[via The PRP]

UFO Announce February U.S. Leg Of “Last Orders” Tour

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UFO have added a February U.S. leg to their “Last Orders” tour. Here’s the dates:

02/13 Medina, MN – Medina Entertainment Center
02/14 Waukegen, IL – Genese Theater
02/16 Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater
02/18 New Bedford, MA – The Vault @ Greasy Luck
02/19 Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
02/20 Annapolis, MD – Ram’s Head Live
02/21 Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho
02/23 Atlanta, GA – Variety Theater (with Blue Öyster Cult)
02/25 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
02/26 Clearwater, FL – Capitol Theater
02/27 – 03/02 – Rock Legends Cruise

Kim Thayil Says “It Is Entirely Possible” That Soundgarden Could Release A New Album Featuring Chris Cornell

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During a recent interview on SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation LA Invasion”, Kim Thayil was asked about the possibility of Soundgarden releasing a new album featuring late frontman Chris Cornell. The guitarist responded by saying “it is entirely possible.”

Thayil said the following:

“It is entirely possible, because that’s what we were doing… We definitely have another record in us. Stuff that’s written, stuff that’s demoed and recorded — certainly. All it would need is to take the audio files that are available. I’d tighten up the guitar stuff that’s on there, add other stuff. Ben [Shepherd] does the bass. Matt [Cameron] is able to get the drums he wants. We can get the producers we want to make it sound like a Soundgarden record. And yes, we can totally do that.”

He continued after being asked if there are any obstacles that can stand in the way of a new record:

“There shouldn’t be — there really isn’t — other than the fact that we don’t have those files… And I think that will happen. It would be ridiculous if it didn’t. But these are difficult things — partnerships and property.”

He also added the following when asked if the band would ever more forward with a new singer:

“Reasonably, you’ve got a big part missing. So, I think in terms of the Soundgarden catalog, that’s still gonna be active as best as it can be. In terms of unreleased recordings, live material, I’m still gonna attend to that; that’s my gig. I love that. Let’s make records.

I do not see, given the commitments that other band members have, given our sentiments and love for Chris, I do not see us reconfiguring a tour or anything, as other bands have done in the past, without him.

This is really complicated, but I’ve known Chris since I was a kid, basically — we grew up together, our early 20s. You want to honor the work and legacy you did. Is it best to regard it with dignity and let it rest? Do you want to honor it by celebrating the music and work that he’s done?

This has been difficult for a lot of people in the family and the band, and I think our conclusion was that. I understand people are complicated, and experience and life is a bag of tricks, but… I don’t know. I think we reached a conclusion that we thought was correct. But then again, 20 [or] 30 years ago, we didn’t think the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was anything, but certainly, looking back, it’s an important part of our legacy — the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is — to acknowledge that, and now it’s important.”

[via Blabbermouth]