CHIHUAHUA ROCK
Chihuahua Rock is a benefit gig for Chihuahua Rescue Australia so they can save and re-home more little dogs with big personalities. The event takes place on Saturday February 21 at Mr Boogie Man Bar. Bands playing are Kill TV, Agents of Rock, Snark and MisSsta. 7pm start and $10 entry with all proceeds going to Chi rescue.
THE RETURN OF URIAH HEEP
Legendary rockers Uriah Heep return to Australia next month. They’re considered one of the ‘Big Four’ pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s along with Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, and guitarist Mick Box is a man of many talents and even more road stories. They’ve sold over 40 million albums to date and they were last here for their 40th Anniversary tour in 2011. Catch them at Shoppingtown Hotel on Saturday March 21 and Chelsea Heights on Sunday March 22. Tickets available now from metropolistouring.com.
THE RADIO SUN RECORD FOOTY ANTHEM
Melodic rockers The Radio Sun have recorded an anthem titled Never Knock A Believer inspired by their favourite AFL team, the Brisbane Lions. You can find the full story and song at lions.com.au.
The Radio Sun will release a four-song mini EP on CD and digital in the coming weeks titled SpaceMan before releasing their second full length album (currently being mixed by Paul Laine – ex. Danger Danger) due mid 2015.
THE HAUNTED & INSOMNIUM TOUR!
There’s been a sharp influx of great tours coming to Australia in the last few years, but there has rarely been a bill featuring some of Melodic Death Metal’s finest on a double bill package. Patience has been greatly rewarded as two of the best in the genre – Sweden’s The Haunted and Finland’s Insomnium are teaming up for three very special shows in May. The Haunted (featuring Ola Englund, who also divides his time between Six Feet Under and Feared) is considered one of the benchmarks of the genre with a highly successful career spanning close to 20 years playing in front of millions all over the world. And Insomnium have made themselves a household name among the melodic death metal legions and have redefined and reset the boundaries of the genre and evolved constantly throughout their 18-year career and they are finally making their very first (and highly awaited) visit to Australia. They’ll be at The Hi-Fi on Friday May 15. Tickets are on sale now and VIP meet and greet tickets are also available for each band (separately).
CALIGULA’S HORSE ADDED TO THE OCEAN TOUR
Caligula’s Horse have been added as national support for the Australian tour of Germany’s premier post-metal act, The Ocean this April. Brisbanites Caligula’s Horse completed a hugely successful Australian headline tour last month with their new video A Gift To Afterthought premiering with Revolver Magazine. They’ve also signed with Josh Kline from The Agency Group (Trivium, Bring Me The Horizon) for North America bookings, confirmed an appearance at Prog Power Europe Festival in the Netherlands this October. They’re also releasing a new record later this year. Catch this tour at The Evelyn Hotel on Saturday April 18.
GOATWHORE & PSYCHROPTIC
The national Goatwhore/Psychroptic tour is rapidly approaching and tickets are still available. They’ll be supported by Aversion’s Crown on Friday March 13 at The Hi-Fi and at Karova Lounge in Ballarat on Sunday March 15, and then Whoretopsy at The Barwon Clyb in Geelong on Wednesday March 18and at Wrangler Studios in Melbourne on Saturday March 21. Attendees to the latter two shows would be forgiven for screaming “Psychropticgoatwhoretopsy!” on public transport for the duration of their journey to the venues. Tickets available now, and Psycroptic will be released on Friday March 13 via EVP Recordings.They’ve also just released Cold, the second video from the album.
NEW NIGHTWISH SINGLE OUT NOW
Nightwish have just released Élan, the first single from their new album Endless Forms Most Beautiful, which will be out in late march. The video for Élan was shot in Finland at various locations between September and November 2014, directed by Ville Lipiäinen. Nightwish’s Tuomas Holopainen says “Inspired by the untold stories of abandoned places around Finland, the video was nearly a year in the making and features some of the most loved Finnish actors and actresses. And also the legendary Nightwish symbol, a snowy owl (Bubo Scandiaca in Latin) called “Urho” (“Braveheart”). The album is the first to feature new vocalist Floor Jansen (Revamp, ex-After Forever).
