AUGUST RELEASE FOR NEW MOTÖRHEAD ALBUM
After 40 years rattling teeth, bones and ears, you might excuse Motörhead if they wanted to ease off, put their feet up and relax. But instead, Motörhead gleefully say a loud and hearty ‘bollocks’ to that sort of thinking with their 22nd studio album, Bad Magic set for release on August 28. Bristling with thunderous attitude, pioneering spirit and some of the fiercest rhythms and riffs you’ll hear this year, Bad Magic is a massive kick in the teeth. Written and recorded together in the studio – for the first time in the Kilmister/ Campbell/ Dee era – the live approach to creating Bad Magic has obviously paid dividends. The boys even enjoyed a guest appearance from Queen’s Brian May, who added a scintillating guitar solo to The Devil.
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN THIS WEEK!
Catch the mighty Yngwie Malmsteen, one of the world’s greatest guitarists and an icon of neo-classical rock, at 170 Russell this Wednesday June 10. Yngwie’s inimitable style has to be seen to be believed, as does his intimidating wall of Marshall amps.
BLIND GUARDIAN NEXT WEEK
Blind Guardian is a name that continues to have legendary and mystical qualities attached to it by encapsulating and engrossing a tremendously loyal cross section of fans from all genres. In 2015, Blind Guardian returns to Australia, for what may be their final time, for two exclusive shows in Melbourne and Sydney. Blind Guardian deliver live performances that are nothing short of breathtaking, with every show leaving the viewer spellbound and craving for more. Blind Guardian will perform tracks off their brilliant recent release Beyond the Red Mirror; they will also perform a comprehensive selection of fan favourite tracks. Catch them at Max Watt’s on Friday June 19.
THIS WEEK AT THE BENDIGO
Revival Booking proudly presents Chicago-based grind/ power violence/ hardcore powerhouse Weekend Nachos (plus a killer line-up of supports, including Outright, Cursed Earth, Overpower and Years Of Abuse) on Thursday June 11. On Friday June 12, catch Swidgen: formed in 2008 and united under the banner of tasty riffage, large beats and a love of HBO’s Deadwood, Sammy P Crawford (guitar/vocals), Fred Zerner (bass) and Richie Brown Lee (drums) began plying their trade in a back shed of Collingwood. With their only goal to write music that all three band members truly enjoyed playing, each song is a logical evolution from the previous with no regard for genre or pigeonholing. Also on the bill are the awesomely heavy, Clagg, plus Wildeornes and Master Beta.
A SKYLIT DRIVE TOUR
A Skylit Drive have been blasting their way through minds, ear-drums, and vocal cords since their formation in 2008. Having previously supported Dream on Dreamer right across Australia, A Skylit Drive are set to command the stage on their own headline tour of Australia and New Zealand this August. From Lodi, California, the band’s melodic, foot-to-the-floor post-hardcore sound has now ignited across four awesome albums, with the most recent, the incredible Rise, illustrating that A Skylit Drive aren’t slowing down. In March 2015, Brandon Ritcher (ex-Motionless in White) and Michael Labelle (ex-Of Reverie) joined the band, further intensifying their sheer power and aggression. For their upcoming Australian tour, A Skylit Drive will be joined by rising stars Polaris and A Breach of Silence — two exciting bands that are quickly gaining recognition nationwide. Catch them on Friday August 28 at The Corner Hotel.
NEW SOULFLY ALBUM REVEALED
On August 14 worldwide, metal icons Soulfly will release their tenth studio album, Archangel, via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. “I am so proud to be releasing Soulfly’s tenth album,” says vocalist/ guitarist Max Cavalera. “I feel it is my most mystic album since Prophecy. The guest collaborations have always been a trademark of Soulfly and Archangel is no different. We can’t wait to play this live for the worldwide tribe.” Those guests include Matt Young of King Parrot and Todd Jones of Nails, while Cavalera’s son Richie and brother Igor also make an appearance. The cover artwork was created by artist Eliran Kantor (Testament, Iced Earth, Hatebreed, Sodom), who says, “I’ve been a fan of Max’s music ever since discovering Beneath The Remains in high school. Max asked me to do a traditional piece depicting Archangel Michael, and I tried to go beyond the straight-up neo-classical style as that has been perfected centuries ago. So I mixed in Soulfly’s own visual world, hence the wings and spear being shaped like the Soulfly tribal icon; the cliff with the ocean view just like on the first record; and the Brazilian flag being the core of its colour scheme.” Archangel was produced and mixed by Matt Hyde (Slayer, Behemoth, Children of Bodom).
