For those who were either born too late or living in the wrong part of the world while music which has now become legendary was exploding from the Bay Area’s thrash metal scene in the early-to-mid 1980s, here’s your second chance to re-live history.
With a very special All Ages show marking the 10-year anniversary of former EXODUS singer Paul “Pavel” Baloff’s passing, “Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance” will take place at the Oakland Metro Operahouse on Saturday, February 4th, 2012 and features the evening’s headliners EXODUS plus POSSESSED, FORBIDDEN, HEATHEN, and MAD AT SAM on the Main Stage. Playing the Second Stage are ANGERHEAD, MUDFACE, THE VENTING MACHINE, HELLFIRE, and HYSTERIA.
The evening is well on its way to being a SOLD-OUT event and may very well turn into the second installment of the recent Bazillion Points book Murder in the Front Row (which can be purchased here), so don’t miss out!
Of the event, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt has previously stated:
“[We] knew it was high time we do something special to remember the legend of Paul Baloff, so we decided to put together a show the Bay Area will not soon forget. There are some nice surprises in store as well! It will be ten years and two days since the thrash world lost one of its greatest frontmen ever, and we will always make sure his memory lives on and is never forgotten. Long live The Destroyer!”
Advanced tickets for “Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance” can be purchased at this location.
EXODUS and FORBIDDEN are just two of the bands from the now infamous Bay Area thrash metal scene who will be performing at the special show marking the 10-year anniversary of former EXODUS singer Paul “Pavel” Baloff’s passing. “Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance” will take place Saturday, February 4th, 2012 at the Oakland Metro Operahouse.
States guitarist Gary Holt of EXODUS:
“With February 2nd being the 10 year anniversary of Paul’s passing, the band knew it was high time we do something special to remember the legend of Paul Baloff, so we decided to put together a show the Bay Area will not soon forget. We’ve pulled some of the Bay’s finest for this, bands who knew and shared many a stage and drink with Pavel. There are some nice surprises in store as well! It will be ten years and two days since the thrash world lost one of its greatest frontmen ever, and we will always make sure his memory lives on and is never forgotten. Long live The Destroyer!”
FORBIDDEN guitarist & founding member Craig Locicero adds:
“Everyone in FORBIDDEN is honored to have been asked by Gary and EXODUS to play this show marking the 10th anniversary of Paul Baloff’s crazy fucking life! I witnessed his insanity first-hand at the Mabouhay Gardens and Ruthie’s Inn. As EXODUS got bigger, Paul got crazier – in a good way. It was genius at work. He was the mold that all thrash frontmen cut themselves from, but he was also a pretty damn sweet guy. Always kind to those he liked, he’d be in the front row at FORBIDDEN gigs screaming things like ‘Why does it have to be so heavy?’ and my favorite, ‘Heavier than time!’ I’m laughing just typing this!
“At his memorial, I saw people I hadn’t seen in years. So much love, so many laughs. It made me happy in some strange way just to see that kind of respect displayed for Paul. We all really loved him. Luckily his legend has returned with a vengeance… and hey, Paul, you did it: You’ve become heavier than time!”
The Main Stage line-up for “Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance” includes: EXODUS, POSSESSED, FORBIDDEN, HEATHEN, and MAD AT SAM.
Playing the Second Stage are: ANGERHEAD, MUDFACE, THE VENTING MACHINE, HELLFIRE, and HYSTERIA.
Bay Area thrash legends HEATHEN have been pummeling their way through the U.S. and Canada on tour with the mighty Destruction. The North American Reckoning Tour 2011 commenced on April 26 in Vancouver, and despite some stressful bus issues and being forced to miss their Detroit gig, has successfully pillaged its way through nearly two week’s worth of dates with another week and a half to go.
Commented HEATHEN guitarist Kragen Lum from the road:
“Well, the tour got off to a rough start but despite the tour bus breaking down, having to get another bus, and barely making it to the Denver show things are back on track. All of the shows have been killer and we’re having a great time with the Destruction guys. We’ve got 13 shows left on the tour so come on out and get your thrash fix!”
In regards to the Detroit show, Lum added: “Apologies to any HEATHEN fans that came out to see us in Detroit [at Harpo's]. Unfortunately, the promoter for the show double booked the venue with two tours on the same night — the Destruction tour and the Cavalera Conspiracy tour — and then decided he couldn’t pay all of the bands. Consequently, we were bumped from the bill along with another band and did not get to play. We were at the venue and ready to go but the situation was beyond our control. Hopefully we can come back to Detroit in the near future.”
Despite being unable to play at Harpo’s, Lum has been joining Destruction onstage each night to play “Release From Agony.” Check out footage from Detroit HERE:
HEATHEN is touring in support of their critically-acclaimed The Evolution Of Chaos full length, which marked their first studio offering in nearly 20 years! Released in North American via Holland’s Mascot Records last year, the record reaped praise from critics and fans nationwide.
Today Bay Area legends HEATHEN kick off a long-anticipated North American tour with headliners/German thrash kings Destruction! The North American Reckoning Tour 2011 will commence at the Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver and ravage its way through 19 cities before drawing to a close at The Key Club in Hollywood. Warbeast will also be joining the trek.
Commented guitarist Kragen Lum: “We’re stoked to be going out on the road again with our friends in Destruction on the North American Reckoning Tour. Get ready for the chaos!”
HEATHEN will be touring in support of their critically-acclaimed The Evolution Of Chaos full-length, which marked their first studio offering in nearly 20 years! Released in North American via Holland’s Mascot Records last year, the record reaped praise from critics and fans nationwide. “There are hardly any weak moments on the album and this is as close as it gets to a modern-day thrash classic,” said Metal Underground in a 4.5/5 review. Added About.com in a 4/5 rating: “Oldschool thrashers certainly remember HEATHEN from back in the day, but their return will garner them a whole new generation of fans,” while Mind Over Metal noted: “There’s nary a boring moment on the album, and when combined with strong production and memorable artwork, you have a solid contender for one of the best metal releases of 2010. The band’s current lineup includes Lum (Prototype), David White (vocals), Lee Altus (guitar; Exodus), Jon Torres (bass; Angelwitch) and Darren Minter (drums).
HEATHEN “North American Reckoning” Tour
with Destrcution and Warbeast!
4/26/2011 Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC
4/27/2011 Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
4/29/2011 Oakland Metro Opera House – Oakland, CA
4/30/2011 The Boardwalk – Orangevale, CA
5/01/2011 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA
5/03/2011 Oriental Theatre – Denver, CO
5/05/2011 Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL
5/06/2011 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
5/07/2011 Harpo’s – Detroit, MI
5/08/2011 Maverick’s Bar – Ottawa, ON
5/09/2011 Foufones Electriques – Montreal, QC
5/10/2011 Bourbon Street Ballroom – Baltimore, MD
5/11/2011 Highline Ballroom – New York, NY
5/12/2011 Church of Boston – Boston, MA
5/13/2011 Jaxx – West Springfield, VA
5/16/2011 The Rail Club – Fort Worth, TX
5/17/2011 Mug Shots – Austin, TX
5/18/2011 Numbers – Houston, TX
5/20/2011 The Galaxy Theatre – Santa Ana, CA
5/21/11 Angel’s Roadhouse – Yucaipa, CA
5/22/11 The Key Club – Hollywood, CA
https://www.facebook.com/heathen.official
http://www.myspace.com/heathenmetal
http://www.mascotrecords.com
HEATHEN: North American Tour To Commence Today In Vancouver
Today Bay Area legends HEATHEN kick off a long-anticipated North American tour with headliners/German thrash kings Destruction! The North American Reckoning Tour 2011 will commence at the Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver and ravage its way through 19 cities before drawing to a close at The Key Club in Hollywood. Warbeast will also be joining the trek.
Commented guitarist Kragen Lum: “We’re stoked to be going out on the road again with our friends in Destruction on the North American Reckoning Tour. Get ready for the chaos!”
HEATHEN will be touring in support of their critically-acclaimed The Evolution Of Chaos full-length, which marked their first studio offering in nearly 20 years! Released in North American via Holland’s Mascot Records last year, the record reaped praise from critics and fans nationwide. “There are hardly any weak moments on the album and this is as close as it gets to a modern-day thrash classic,” said Metal Underground in a 4.5/5 review. Added About.com in a 4/5 rating: “Oldschool thrashers certainly remember HEATHEN from back in the day, but their return will garner them a whole new generation of fans,” while Mind Over Metal noted: “There’s nary a boring moment on the album, and when combined with strong production and memorable artwork, you have a solid contender for one of the best metal releases of 2010. The band’s current lineup includes Lum (Prototype), David White (vocals), Lee Altus (guitar; Exodus), Jon Torres (bass; Angelwitch) and Darren Minter (drums).
HEATHEN “North American Reckoning” Tour
with Destrcution and Warbeast!
4/26/2011 Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC
4/27/2011 Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
4/29/2011 Oakland Metro Opera House – Oakland, CA
4/30/2011 The Boardwalk – Orangevale, CA
5/01/2011 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA
5/03/2011 Oriental Theatre – Denver, CO
5/05/2011 Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL
5/06/2011 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
5/07/2011 Harpo’s – Detroit, MI
5/08/2011 Maverick’s Bar – Ottawa, ON
5/09/2011 Foufones Electriques - Montreal, QC
5/10/2011 Bourbon Street Ballroom – Baltimore, MD
5/11/2011 Highline Ballroom – New York, NY
5/12/2011 Church of Boston – Boston, MA
5/13/2011 Jaxx – West Springfield, VA
5/16/2011 The Rail Club – Fort Worth, TX
5/17/2011 Mug Shots – Austin, TX
5/18/2011 Numbers – Houston, TX
5/20/2011 The Galaxy Theatre – Santa Ana, CA
5/21/11 Angel’s Roadhouse – Yucaipa, CA
5/22/11 The Key Club – Hollywood, CA
For interviews + guest list requests, contact EarsplitPR.
Today Bay Area legends HEATHEN kick off a long-anticipated North American tour with headliners/German thrash kings Destruction! The North American Reckoning Tour 2011 will commence at the Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver and ravage its way through 19 cities before drawing to a close at The Key Club in Hollywood. Warbeast will also be joining the trek.
Commented guitarist Kragen Lum: “We’re stoked to be going out on the road again with our friends in Destruction on the North American Reckoning Tour. Get ready for the chaos!”
HEATHEN will be touring in support of their critically-acclaimed The Evolution Of Chaos full-length, which marked their first studio offering in nearly 20 years! Released in North American via Holland’s Mascot Records last year, the record reaped praise from critics and fans nationwide. “There are hardly any weak moments on the album and this is as close as it gets to a modern-day thrash classic,” said Metal Underground in a 4.5/5 review. Added About.com in a 4/5 rating: “Oldschool thrashers certainly remember HEATHEN from back in the day, but their return will garner them a whole new generation of fans,” while Mind Over Metal noted: “There’s nary a boring moment on the album, and when combined with strong production and memorable artwork, you have a solid contender for one of the best metal releases of 2010. The band’s current lineup includes Lum (Prototype), David White (vocals), Lee Altus (guitar; Exodus), Jon Torres (bass; Angelwitch) and Darren Minter (drums).
HEATHEN “North American Reckoning” Tour
with Destrcution and Warbeast!
4/26/2011 Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC
4/27/2011 Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
4/29/2011 Oakland Metro Opera House – Oakland, CA
4/30/2011 The Boardwalk – Orangevale, CA
5/01/2011 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA
5/03/2011 Oriental Theatre – Denver, CO
5/05/2011 Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL
5/06/2011 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
5/07/2011 Harpo’s – Detroit, MI
5/08/2011 Maverick’s Bar – Ottawa, ON
5/09/2011 Foufones Electriques – Montreal, QC
5/10/2011 Bourbon Street Ballroom – Baltimore, MD
5/11/2011 Highline Ballroom – New York, NY
5/12/2011 Church of Boston – Boston, MA
5/13/2011 Jaxx – West Springfield, VA
5/16/2011 The Rail Club – Fort Worth, TX
5/17/2011 Mug Shots – Austin, TX
5/18/2011 Numbers – Houston, TX
5/20/2011 The Galaxy Theatre – Santa Ana, CA
5/21/11 Angel’s Roadhouse – Yucaipa, CA
5/22/11 The Key Club – Hollywood, CA
For interviews + guest list requests, contact EarsplitPR.
As always, the top albums are for releases from 2010 that are full albums (no EP’s or demos). They also have to be new studio albums for 2010, not re-recordings, re-releases, cover songs, or live material. Below the combined TOP 30 are links to each staff members personal "best of" lists which besides the top albums contains such things as best new band, best DVD/Blu-Ray, disappointments of 2010, greatest hopes for 2011, personal metal discovery of 2010, and various other metal-related categories. Enjoy!
The Top 30 Heavy Metal Albums of 2010
(Click the album cover to read our review.
If no review is available the link it to the band’s MySpace page.)
1. Accept – Blood of the Nations
Wolf Hoffman’s reaction to the band’s #1 placement in our list was:
"Sensational!!! We are so happy about this reaction by the fans. This last year has been nothing short of phenomenal for Accept."
BLOOD OF THE NATIONS is a fantastic album, so fantastic that it very easily came out on top when we compiled our best of 2010 list! In the media, producer Andy Sneap said when he worked with the band he made them go back and listen to the 80’s albums, and it worked. Accept have delivered the album they needed to make. Accept reformed with a vocalist who is just as good as Udo Dirkschneider. Vocalist Mark Tornillo rages through the songs with power and charisma, without being a clone. Accept have proven to the world in 2010 they are still relevant, powerful, uncompromising and most of all entertaining. Welcome back!
2. Blind Guardian – At the Edge of Time
Easily the best and strongest Blind Guardian album since NIGHTFALL IN MIDDLE-EARTH with a maximum of variety and everything that has turned these guys from Krefeld into what they are today: one of Germany’s most successful and influential metal bands. With AT THE EDGE OF TIME, Blind Guardian returned to the fold in total triumph. This is an album to be enjoyed for numerous repeat listens. Newer fans should eat it up, and older fans should be appeased with the band’s renewed emphasis on their thrashy roots.
3. Ratt– Infestation
Ratt is Metal. Always have been and likely always will be. From their appearance on the very first Metal Massacre compilation in 1981 alongside the likes of Metallica, Malice, and Bitch, to the new 2010 album, Ratt have always been among the heaviest of the so-called "hair metal" bands. So despite what the revisionists may think, Ratt have a firm spot in the development and evolution of the Heavy Metal genre and have earned their spot in this year’s list. Sonically the Ratt Pack is back! The band had stated they wanted a real up-tempo record and distinctly aimed for the classic sound. They nailed it. It’s all there, the swagger and slight sneer of Pearcy voice, the fluid and fiery soloing of DeMartini’s axe-work, the complimentary work of Cavazo…it’s a beautiful thing to behold!
4. Triptykon – Eparistera Daimones
Thomas Gabriel Fischer (AKA Tom G. Warrior) has nothing to prove to anyone. As the principal architect behind Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, Fischer’s body of work is the reason that many bands exist today. Two years since Celtic Frost’s very public dissolution, Fischer could have easily opted to rest on his laurels and bask in the afterglow of his evil legacy, but nooooo. To the contrary, Fischer has assembled a new band and recorded an album of new material that’s arguably some of the best in his career. Triptykon is the band, EPARISTERA DAIMONES is the album, and yes – it’s as good as Fischer has promised it to be!
5. Melechesh - The Epigenesis
Black/Death/Middle Eastern "Mesopotamian Metal" extremists made a big impact this year. Originally from IsraHELL and now based out of the Netherlands, the band has been around in some form since 1993. That Melechesh are able to maintain the album’s early momentum through to the record’s dying moments makes what they have achieved with THE EPIGENESIS that much more remarkable. Unlike so much of what passes for modern-day extremity, every one of this disc’s eleven tracks bristles with its own identity and design. It will demand a lot of attention – this definitely isn’t the record to whip out at your next kegger – but the rewards far outweigh the investment. Absolutely superb in every way.
6. Helloween – 7 Sinners
Helloween are very comfortable right now. They are back on a major label, the line-up has been stable for probably the longest stretch in the bands history, and they have fallen into a great pattern of releasing a studio album every couple of years (right around Halloween naturally). Relaxed, confident and mature the band have nothing to prove but instead of delivering a complacent record, the band have delivered the fastest, heaviest album of their career. It’s their 26th release over and 13th full-length studio album of all-new, original material. Lucky #13 for the band sees a crowning achievement with 13 killer cuts spread across the hour. Helloween have delivered a masterpiece. It will quickly silence all the fans who couldn’t stomach UNARMED from earlier this year.
7. OverKill – Ironbound
The veteran New Jersey boys return with a compelling slab of unmistakeably old school thrash that is tinged with a fine mix of groove, progressiveness and melody that separates Overkill from the multitudes of carbon-copy thrashers out there. This is modern thrash the way it should be played: roots in the 80s but with its direction and ambition befitting a metal scene on the cusp of its 30-year anniversary. It’s a beautiful thing to behold: while most of their contemporaries have split up or sold out, Overkill are still doing their thing, updating and improving but never forgetting where they came from.
8. Nevermore – The Obsidian Conspiracy
Five years – that’s how long Nevermore made us wait for a sequel to the still awe-inspiring THIS GODLESS ENDEAVOUR. By modern-day standards that’s an absolute eternity, the length of which only the likes of Slayer or Metallica could reasonably be expected to get away with. Regardless of delay, the album is a perfect example of heavy metal in its purest, most intelligent and provocative form. As always the band defies classification with elements of power, thrash, prog, blended together into a mixture that is uniquely Nevermore.
9. Sabaton – Coat of Arms
Sweden’s war metallers, Sabaton, have been consistently moving to the forefront of the power metal movement in the last few years. COAT OF ARMS continues Sabaton’s fine tradition of power metal with bite. The band is in fine form throughout and do not disappoint. You listen to a Sabaton album for the pounding marches (“Uprising”) the fast assaults (“Midway”, “Screaming Eagles”), and the catchy hooks and choruses (every damn song!) and COAT OF ARMS has it all!
10. Halford – IV – Made of Metal
Finally! Halford was really overdue. Despite having a skeleton of a catalog, Halford really needed to put some meat on the bones of his solo career. MADE OF METAL is really only the third studio album of all new material in over 10 years. Sure the catalog looks impressive but in reality, live albums, demo albums, EP’s, digital only live albums and novelty Christmas albums are just filler. Halford needed to deliver the goods and we’re pleased to say he is still made of Metal. The album clocks in at a whopping 14 tracks at over an hour it is his longest solo album to date.
Number 11 to 20
11. Crazy Lixx – New Religion
12. Iron Maiden – The Final Frontier
13. Scorpions – Sting In The Tail
14. Immolation – Majesty and Decay
15. Avantasia – The Wicked Symphony / Angel Of Babylon
If one festival is now known as THE festival of classic heavy metal, it must be Keep It True. The tenth version of KIT was sold out in a few weeks. That should come as no surprise once you see the lineup. Everybody who has been there knows the deal, you never manage to catch all the bands, to buy all the vinyl, to drink all the beer, and to meet all your friends. But we tried, oh yes we tried I can tell you…
