ACE OF SPADES AT MR BOOGIE MAN
Motorhead tribute band Ace of Spades are playing at Mr Boogie Man Bar on Friday August 19 with Katana Cartel and Strangers In Town. As I write this I’m in LA for the week and I had dinner at Lemmy’s favourite place, the Rainbow Bar & Grill last night and they seated me under a big photo of Lemmy. The Rainbow is unveiling a statue of him there this month. Legend.
SUPERGROUP ALERT: SERPENTINE DOMINION
Featuring Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage), George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher (Cannibal Corpse), Shannon Lucas (ex-The Black Dahlia Murder), Serpentine Dominion release their self titled debut on Friday October 28 via Metal Blade Records. The origins of Serpentine Dominion can be traced back to 2009’s Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, which boasted a lineup that included Killswitch Engage, Cannibal Corpse, and The Black Dahlia Murder. During that fateful summer, Adam D made a proposition to Corpsegrinder: “George, I want to write you a record.” This is that record. And here’s another layer of awesome: KSE’s Jesse Leach wrote the lyrics.
NEW DARKTHRONE
Norwegian duo Darkthrone return with their first new studio material since 2013’s The Underground Resistance; the album becoming the band’s most successful release in recent years. Darkthrone’s new album Arctic Thunder is due for release on Friday October 14 through Peaceville/Rocket. A new heavy metal odyssey now awaits fans as Fenriz and Nocturno Culto once more show their mastery of the riff, demonstrating why Darkthrone remain one of the most respected and enduring acts in the history of extreme metal. With themes based around hate, contempt, and the inner mind and soul, and with the notable presence of Nocturno Culto on vocal duties across all songs for the first time in recent years, Arctic Thunder retains a grim atmosphere throughout the album’s eight tracks, with mastering once again handled by Jack Control at Enormous Door.
MOLLY SIGNS TO DUNE RATS’ RATBAG RECORDS
Ratbag Records have signed Danish punk-meets-alt-rock trio Molly for the release of their AU/NZ-exclusive self titled LP due out Friday September 16, led by the first single Bagu Bagu. After meeting Dune Rats on tour in Europe last year, the Copenhagen locals are the latest addition to their label, joining Byron Bay boys Skegss and UK prodigy Rat Boy. Heavily influenced by the American rock scene of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Molly quickly garnered attention in the underground scene after their formation in 2012. The band released their first full length album Peach Melba last year, followed by an appearance at Pop Revo and performances over two consecutive years at Roskilde Festival.
NEW DTP
Devin Townsend Project releases Transcendence on Friday September 9 via InsideOut Music. It’ll be available as a limited 2CD Digipak (featuring an extra disc of 11 additional new tracks), standard CD jewelcase & gatefold heavyweight 2LP + CD w/ etching (on various colours), as well as digital download. The follow-up to 2014’s Z2 double album (half of which was made up of the DTP full-length Sky Blue), sees the award-winning Townsend exploring a relatively new way of working, collaborating with the entire DTP band during the writing stages of the record. “The result of this process is a record that I truly think the intention of is special,” Townsend says. “I ‘found’ gas to put into the tank and am glad I did. I think the intention, the theme, and the participation of everyone involved allows this album to act like a fulcrum between the past few years and what I intend to do next with the symphony. I am very proud of it and everyone involved.”
THE HARD ACHES RELEASE NEW EP
Adelaide indie punk rock duo The Hard Aches is back with their new EP I Freak Out, set for release Friday September 9 and is available to pre-order now. Featuring the single Glad That You’re Gone, the lyrical elements of I Freak Out remain similar to the debut album but the sentiments have reached new heights, with singer/guitarist Ben David using the band as a cathartic outlet as he attempts to make sense of his own head, where he belongs within his native city, and the various human interactions that attempt to consume him. Recorded at Birdland Studios in Melbourne with the help of producer Lindsay Gravina (The Living End, Magic Dirt) over a week in February, I Freak Out was the first recording by the band to not be managed entirely by David and Upton themselves. Catch them at the following Victorian dates: Musicman Megastore on Tuesday October 18,Karova Lounge on Wednesday October 19, Barwon Club on Thursday October 20, Northcote Social Club on Friday October 21 and The Loft on Saturday October 22.
ARAKEYE RELEASE FIRST ATMOSFEARS SINGLE
The culmination of two and a half years of effort and production came to fruition for Melbourne hard rock four-piece Arakeye when they launched the first single off their upcoming debut full length ATMOSFEARS. “Protagonist asks the listener to break free from commonly held and widely accepted opinions, to become more perceptive to lies and half-truths,” the band says. “It questions the role that the media plays in setting the tone of current social climates in relation to elitism and corporate greed.” ATMOSFEARS is due for release in September.
