German vocalist Doro Pesch is one of the best-known female singers in heavy metal, and she has earned the designation of Metal Queen. At first, Doro became known as the lead singer of band Warlock with whom she released four albums including the classics TRUE AS STEEL (1986) and TRIUMPH AND AGONY (1987). The band disbanded in 1989 and Doro then started her successful solo career which includes, so far, twelve studio albums. The latest album titled RAISE YOUR FIST was released last October and this time the tour arrived to Finland. I met the always joyful Metal Queen in the backstage of Club Nosturi and here are the results of our nice conversation. Read on!
Aerosmith’s latest concert film, Rock for the Rising Sun, will be released via Eagle Rock Entertainment on July 23rd. The group’s connection with Japan began in 1977, when the band first played to capacity crowds in the Far East. And as evidenced by Rock for the Rising Sun, the band-fan bond remains strong to this day. The director behind the release, Casey Patrick Tebo, is well-versed in not only his ‘smith (he directed their music video for “Legendary Child”), but has also worked with such renowned acts as Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest, Stevie Nicks, Lady Antebellum, The Avett Brothers, and Run-DMC, among countless others.
Tebo first began working with Aerosmith in 2006, when Steven Tyler and Tebo met through a colleague, and the singer invited the up-and-coming director (who was in film school at the time) to shoot a few of the band’s shows — for just the band’s personal viewing. Soon after, the band was so impressed with Tebo’s work that they hired him to start directing their live shows.
Fast forward to 2011, and Aerosmith was hard at work on their 15th studio album, Music from Another Dimension!, but took a break from recording to play shows in Latin America and Japan. Sadly, the Japanese dates occurred not long after tragedy struck the region, as the country experienced a massive earthquake, a monstrous tsunami, and the subsequent meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Despite warnings about possibly being exposed to radiation, Aerosmith and crew, including Tebo braved the risks and followed through with their visit to Japan. “I shot all this stuff and interviewed all these fans, and realized there is a love affair between Aerosmith and the Japanese fans that was like nothing I’d ever seen, states Tebo. “It was almost like Aerosmith was there helping people heal.”
What Tebo was able to create is a film that not only captures Aerosmith at their rocking best, but also, shows the group’s human side away from the spotlight. “I captured all this stuff, and when I got home to the States, I was like, ‘I know I can make something of this, I’m just going to start putting something together.’ While Steven and Joe were in LA, making an album with Jack Douglas, I rented out a theater, and emailed Steven and Joe, saying, ‘I need you guys to come to this theater. I’ve got to show you something.’ I played them the whole movie, and when the movie was over, Joe stood up, walked over to me, hugged me, and was like, ‘That was f-ing amazing, unbelievable.’ And Steven was really emotional as well.”
Tebo is confident that Rock for the Rising Sun matches up well to Aerosmith’s earlier classic home video releases. “There was a part of me – as a fan – loving these guys and seeing them live, that said, ‘Man, I would love other people to see this as well.’” Soon, fans will get to experience the legendary Aerosmith through the revealing lens of Casey Patrick Tebo.
“Steven and Joe once taught me a great lesson in life, it’s called “Dare to Suck” – it means, if you don’t have the balls to just go and do something then you’ll never know what great thing you might have missed out on. This movie was my ‘Dare to Suck’ moment.”
Tebo is currently in pre-production on his first narrative feature film, and has since directed other large-scale television productions, most recently CMT’s “Crossroads.”
Witches Mark’s 2009 debut album “A Grim Apparition” was a hard hitting release, quickly gaining popularity, and the attention of fans all over the U.S, and overseas. Now, a new, and extremely anticipated album is on the horizon…”Witching Metal Ritual” is due to release on July 15th, 2013 after four years without a new album, and the tension is rising. This is going to be no ordinary album, but a fuckfull of dark, fast, and even doom filled songs. You don’t think that’s enough? Ok, try having Ross The Boss Friedman, Martin Debourge, Jack Starr, and Jason McMaster all in one album…that’s right, they all made guest appearances on this upcoming Witches Mark release. Bottomline, these guys do not disappoint, on stage, or in the studio. I had the great pleasure of doing an in-person interview with the whole band, after a well played gig here in Austin, Texas. So grab a beer, sit your ass down, and watch the video interview and some added live footage.
“Ok, the new album has been recorded and now the mixing process begins!! This could be the best MC record of the Metal Church MK3 era!! Woohooo!!”
Metal Church are working on their 10th studio album and fourth with singer Ronny Munroe. The band had formally announced in 2009 that they were calling it quits but reunited last fall for the aforementioned cruise 70000 Tons Of Metal. Metal Church’s last album was 2008′s This Present Wasteland.
The original Dio guitarist posted an announcement saying that the surgical biopsy we underwent in March confirmed that he has Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, Campbell is determined not to let the cancer and chemotherapy get in the way of his career, as he will still embark on a summer tour with the band.
Heavy Metal weights RAVEN LORD announce their second UK show this summer to happen on 19th June 2013 at THE HAIRY DOG in Derby. The band states: “Derby, UK has been very good to RAVEN LORD so we decided to place a free and promotional show at The Hairy Dog in the heart of the city! Come on over and see us play June 19., 2013 at 20:30 or 8:30 PM“.
Some gratuitous shred footage from the RAVEN LORD rehearsals by JOE STUMP can be viewed below: http://youtu.be/fz1J4XlGHtI
Candlelight Records has premiered a special pre-release lyric video for HAVOK‘s latest single, “Give Me Liberty… Or Give Me Death,” taken from their forthcoming new album Unnatural Selection. The video is available now at the label’s official Facebook page.
The official trailer for MASTERPLAN’s brand new album „Novum Initium“ (released on June 14th in Europe / June 18th USA) is available now. It includes excerpts of all regular album tracks.
The 2013 installment of the The Power Of The Riff festival in Los Angeles is right around the corner, this being the fourth annual occurrence of the massive event.
Curated and organized by Greg Anderson and Sam James Velde, The Power Of The Riff honors fans and musicians of all ages from within all walks and lifestyles under the umbrella of the heavy music underground. Tapping into a lineup that represents forefathers, milestones and current touring acts, while shedding light on up and coming bands and local acts, The Power Of The Riff festival is an all-day, all-ages event. The festival also includes an on-location record swap-meet of local stores and features pop-up stores by independent record labels and vendors, DJ sets between performances, a gourmet food truck court with some of Los Angeles’ best purveyors of street food dining, and more.
The fourth annual The Power Of The Riff is spreading it’s wings a bit more this time around, this year adding a pre-party on Friday, August 9th at The Echo. The massive full-day lineup the next day, Saturday, August 10th, at both The Echo and Echoplex, offers another stellar lineup of classic heavyweights, and crushing newcomers. The combined events offer 26 bands in total. Read the rest of this entry »
The line up for ROCKAGEDDON is now complete. The show takes place on November 17th at Lucys Hednesford. We are proud to announced the addition of Swedish sensations Bai Bang to complete the days line up.
Swedish behemoths Amon Amarth will unleash their ninth studio album Deceiver Of The Gods June 25, just a few days before they invade American shores again to be part of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, where they will be first death metal act to be featured on the main stage lineup.
Amon Amarth have enjoyed a steady rise in popularity in the states since 2006′s With Oden On Our Side, cracking the Billboard Top 200 for the first time with 2008′s Twilight Of The Thunder God and the Top 40 with 2011′s Surtur Rising. And there’s no reason to see why that trend won’t continue.
Deceiver is the band’s most relentlessly aggressive album since 2002′s Versus The World, and continues their long tradition of draping the material in the violent, vivid lore of Norse mythology – all of which is driven home by the throaty roar of frontman Johan Hegg.
On the phone from Sweden, Hegg spoke of Amon Amarth’s signature, yet never static, sound, their gradual conquest of the American market and, of all things, half-term Alaska Governor/failed vice presidential candidate and professional – if often ill-informed – provocateur Sarah Palin.
Altus, Rabid Bitch of the North, Warcrux, Triggerman, Stormzone
@Limelight 2, Belfast
June 1st 2013
Reviewed by Melanie Brehaut
Photographed by Paul Verner
Aint cooperation a beautiful thing? It is, according to Mark Ashby; one of the organisers of today’s event. “This is what happens when the local scene works together”, he declared. ‘This’ is the inaugural Helfast ’13 (see what they did there?); an all day music festival staged in Belfast’s Limelight, hosted by Blink Management (Steve Simms), in association Paradise City and the Distortion Project (James Loveday).
Five different local bands were showcased, and there was even a merch stall (Heimdall Records) providing the relevant goodies! Read the rest of this entry »
German thrash overlords KREATOR have revealed the zombiefied artwork for their upcoming Dying Alive DVD on their official Facebook page.
The live DVD will be released in North America on September 3rd and features the band’s sold-out, hometown, December 22nd, 2012 performance in Oberhausen, Germany shot by 24 cameras plus guitar and mosh-pit POV cams.
In support of their thirteenth studio album Phantom Antichrist, KREATOR will co-headline the “Legends Of Thrash” tour this fall through the U.S. & Canada with New York thrashers Overkill. Opening each night will be California’s Warbringer.
