Gig Alert: Eye Of The Enemy
Spawned in the armpits of Melbourne, Eye Of The Enemy ripped their way into the metal scene in 2006 and haven’t stopped since. Show after show of unrelenting aggression and energy on the local scene, combined with the release of their incredible debut album Weight Of Redemption in 2010, led to tour supports with Amon Amarth (in 2010 and 2012) and Cradle Of Filth as well as sharing the stage with the likes of Dark Funeral, Cynic and more at Screamfest and At The Gates earlier this month. They’re at The Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood this Friday November 23 with guests Envenomed, Naberus and Hours In Exile. Doors at 8pm, entry is $12.
Sonic Forge Festival Turns 3
The Sonic Forge festival returns on Saturday December 15 with a killer lineup including Ne Obliviscaris, Be’Lakor, Death Audio (it’s their album launch – more on that in a second), Dreadnaught, A Million Dead Birds Laughing, Alarum, Gods Of Eden, The Levitation Hex, Decimatus, Envenomed, Hours In Exile and 20 more bands yet to be announced. The carnage rips apart The Espy on Saturday December 15. Doors open at 3pm and tickets are $22 plus booking fee, available now from the Espy and all Oztix outlets.
Extreme & Richie Kotzen To Tour
The mighty Extreme are finally returning to Australia in 2013 and they’re bringing with them one of my all-time favourite artists, Richie Kotzen, as support. Crunch readers will know Extreme as the hard-rockin’, groovy, chunky-riffin’, axe-shredding purveyors of classics like Get The Funk Out, Decadence Dance, Cupid’s Dead and Comfortably Dumb, courtesy of one Mr. Nuno Bettencourt. Kids know them as the guys who wrote that More Than Words song from The Glee Project. And Kozten is one of the greatest guitarists ever. EVER. Guitar nerds like me might like to know that in 2013 Fender will be releasing Richie’s signature model Telecaster worldwide, instead of confining it to Asia and Europe. But I digress: Extreme and Richie Kotzen are at The Palace on Friday April 19. Tickets via Ticketmaster.
Death Audio Want To Give You The Axe
Death Audio’s self-titled album about to hit the shelves, and to give your wallet a bit of a kick in the pants they’re offering the chance to with an LTD MH-50NT guitar and Maxon OD808 overdrive pedal by pre-ordering a signed copy from JB Hi-Fi. Get it quick though: Pre-orders close on the release date, Friday November 23. Check out the pre-order info at http://youtu.be/uLyZ-z1YcOI?hd=1 to see the axe in action (with a stormtrooper lurking ominously in the background – I like these guys’ style).
New Coheed & Cambria Album Descending
Coheed & Cambria will release part two of their The Afterman double album on Friday February 8 via V2. Titled The Afterman: Descension, the album picks up where The Afterman: Ascension left off. The albums mark the return of original drummer Josh Eppard, who left the fold in 2006. “This is without a doubt, the most honest record I’ve ever written,” guitarist/singer/songwriter Claudio Sanchez says. “Though all the songs can be interpreted through our main character in the story, they were initially written in a very spontaneous manner. In the past, I’ve always had a predetermined idea of what the story was going to be when I approached the songs. With ‘The Afterman’ being a new story within the (Amory Wars) arc, I allowed the events of my life to drive the concept, and therefore opened up the songwriting to a fuller degree.”
Gig Alert: Gay Paris
Sydney’s Gay Paris – they possess some of the filthiest friggin’ beards in Australian music history and they’ll be sunning and fluffing them in Melbourne on Friday November 30 at The Tote with Peep Tempel and The Stiffys. They’re gliding on the majestic wings of their single Hollybone, from their forthcoming second album The Last Good Party.
King Parrot Bite Your Head Off
Melbourne thrash/grind/punk maniacs King Parrot have been exploding across the country off the back of their acclaimed debut album Bite Your Head Off and as part of the Bastardfest national tour through October and November. There are two more chances for Melbourne punters to catch King Parrot in 2012. Sunday November 25 the band performs at Cherry Fest in AC/DC Lane alongside Eyehategod, Tumbleweed, Dern Rutlidge, I Exist and Frankenbok. On Saturday December 1, King Parrot launch Bite Your Head Off on vinyl at The Tote with support from Extortion, The Day Everything Became Nothing and Internal Nightmare.
Hatchet Dawn In The Studio
Hatchet Dawn have begun pre-production on their next release, following on from their 2011 Rebirth LP, which was mixed by Grammy-winning producer/engineer Neil Kernon (Sex Pistols, Queen, Cannibal Corpse, Nile, Hall & Oats and Judas Priest). Founder Howsie Noise says, “This next release for Hatchet is going to demolish any expectations and will redefine this band to a complete new level. Our new material is the perfect progression for us, while also staying true to our roots.” Cool.
