FOR THE LOVE OF METAL
In late October Sean Palmerston had the chance to speak to Canadian vocalist Stu Block about his recent decision to join Iced Earth. Stu and Sean had a brief chat about how he came to join the legendary American power metal band band, about writing and recording the new Dystopia album, future touring plans for the band and that cool new mid-range voice that has come alive on this new album.
If you follow metal it’s highly unlikely you haven’t heard of Ghost. The group – led by an Undead Pope vocalist sporting Satanic vestments – might be the metal band of the moment. Their album Opus Eponymous, which mixes infectious riffs with 1970s trappings, received critical raves. Their shows are packed. They were forced to cancel an American tour due to visa problems and able to book their own headlining tour months later. Fans write Facebook postings offering to work as servants. Rabid detractors only seem to add to their publicity. It may be closing in on Armageddon but it’s a great time to be an anonymous Swede in a cloak.
Justin M. Norton interviews an anonymous member of Ghost.
“I think that with these two recent records, Deconstruction and Ghost – specifically with Deconstruction in my head, I can probably write this sort of Andrew Lloyd Webber-esque sort of absurdity that, if I was in a genre which afforded me the opportunity to really go for it on the level that they’re able to do with The Lion King or The Phantom of the Opera, it would be, in my opinion, just this completely free piece of work that has no creative limits and no boundaries, and that includes everything from like the most vulgar to the most beautiful.”
Laura Wiebe in conversation with the one and only Devin Townsend.
Ola Mazzuca in conversation with the Dominincan Republic’s premier death metal band ARCAIOS
Back in late October Hellbound Radio presented a show here in Hamilton by two great young thrash bands, Fatality and Untimely Demise. Here are some photos I took of both bands during their sets. Cheeeerz.
On July 10, 2011 Toronto heavy rockers Cancer Bats went through some changes. Liam Cormier, Scott Middleton, Mike Peters and Jaye Schwarzer were swept into a void at the Sonisphere Festival in Stevenage, England, and when they re-emerged they became… Bat Sabbath, a hardcore Black Sabbath cover band. The Bat’s set, which was meant to be a one-off post-Slipknot after-party, attracted 5,000 bangers. More importantly, it captured the imagination of promoters. As such, starting this December, inbetween recording sessions for their fourth full-length album, Bat Sabbath will once again emerge from that hole in the sky and perform 11 dates across central Ontario and Quebec.
Aaron Brophy interviews Bat Sabbath’s Liam Cormier about this upcoming December tour
Rodney “Anonymous” Linderman is on the phone. And he’s not sure he’s reached the right Hellbound. “I’ve looked at your website and I just see death metal bands” he says. “I don’t want to be a Justin Bieber in a group of Glenn Danzigs.” Hellbound assures him he’s reached the right publication and that we want to speak to him. And why wouldn’t we? As vocalist and keyboardist of The Dead Milkmen, Linderman played a key role in 1980s American punk rock and was among the first underground artists to be featured on MTV. He dissed Motley Crue when glam ruled metal and made subversive songs that somehow got radio play.
An eclectic line up was the order of the night in Toronto at the Wreck Room. Prog metal legends Cynic with 3, Scale the Summit and a recently added The Ocean were to play this showcase of musical talent.
Jason Wellwood reviews the new self-titled third album by Threat Signal and then interviews Jon Howard about the new album, touring internationally and their upcoming tour in 2012 North American tour with Children Of Bodom.
“Anthrax, Testament, and Death Angel on the same bill, you say? Only an hour and a half drive away, you say? Consider me there.”
Justin Richardson reviews the awesome triple bill of Anthrax, Testament and Death Angel when they performed in Charlotte, NC on November 5th