Band Quest 2009 - Opportunity of a lifetime
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Live in Gravesend this Friday!
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Rock Matrix Top 50 Albums of 2008 announced!
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Top line-up this Sunday at OHM

What you Get and What you Give!

Platform: The Basis upon which we are inviting artists to play for unified sound during the next 4 months, including but not limited to the following;

What you get:

• The chance to win some of the £10k worth of prizes, inc £1000 cash or Slot at Bloodstock
• The chance to be part of a trio of compilation cd's 1000 copies per cd
• To Feature in programme and run 1000's of times
• Reduced Studio costs
• Reduced costs at local music stores
• Showcases for Festivals
• Free Loyalty Card worth £10 (min)
• Free Entry to Noisegate and reduced entry to Unified Sounds events
• Live Recordings of the shows you play (subject to equipment not going tits up)
• Free Newsletter featuring key & useful info to all bands
• Chance to win Best of Prizes at end of comp
• Supply of information to help your band
• Offers of Deals from CD Replicating Companies, Studios and Local stores
• A days recording for £99 mixed n mastered AND gets you in the Compilation CD's
• Coverage from a massive media-base including radio, newspapers, magazines & E-zines
• To play shows with our new lighting rig and Brand New Sound System
• To feature on all Unified Sounds websites
• Free drinks from selected bars
• 20% anything bought from Darkstore
• Free promo' CD upon becoming part of the Band Quest Platform

What you give:

• You agree to play 1 gig minimum per band (+2 more if successful in heats)
• You pay a deposit of £10 each per band member fully returnable
• You supply personal info to make you fully contactable
• You consider what this platform can become, beyond this year!
• You have some level of ambition and competence to take advantage of what we are offering and you understand the terms and condition upon entering.

There is NO catch, it's technically FREE ENTRY to the platform and comes with a feck load of stuff you can take advantage of. Its simply the best way to get your band noticed over the next 4 months.

The CD: A track charge of £5 per band member will be taken from the deposit if the band wished to be part of the compilations with a per track value charge of £1 per track # in reverse of the track 20, i.e. track #1 £20, track#7 £13, Track#20 £1 etc (Free if recording at Jigga Jam studios)

Deposits: Will be fully returnable (£10) or in part (£5 )of CD has been utilised by the band, this money will be in cash and can be claimed form the 1st June until 31st July at which point it will be donated to charity of our choice. (Last year we raised £1250 from the Band Quest via donations.)

All your support is very much appreciated – This could be massive next year so be part of the wind of change, we want the best for everyone guys!

Thanks from the Team at http://www.unifiedsounds.co.uk

Join the group on facebook now: Facebook group - Unified Sounds Presents BAND QUEST 2009!

AFTER THE ORDEAL bring a little progressive rock and metal to Bexleyheath this Sunday. CYPHAR also play while SKULLS 158 escape from their tombs just for you. DAVE COTTHAM supports.

Win a Reading Ticket and a Bloodstock Ticket as guests of the events in a Super Draw! Ask at the event for details.

Invite people to this event on facebook by clicking here

Hevvy Sundays at OHM every Sunday.

FREE ENTRY for Gold loyalty card holders, £2.00 for everyone else.

What track would you really like to hear played by the DJs at Hevvy Sundays? – Email us a request now!

Four acts are being lined up to entertain your little souls. DJ 69 spins the unholy heaviness between bands.

Invite people to this event on facebook by clicking here

Win a Reading Ticket and a Bloodstock Ticket as guests of the events in a Super Draw! Ask at the event for details.

Metal Mondays at The Drayman in Bexleyheath every Monday.

FREE ENTRY for Gold loyalty card holders, £2.00 for everyone else.

What track would you really like to hear played by the DJs at Metal Mondays? – Email us a request now!

A new year and a new venue! Yes, on Tuesdays we are now at the Darenth Suite, Acacia Hall.

A great night out with live bands playing on the night, along with raffles, karaoke, food deals, comedy acts, Wii competitions, pool competitions, crowd/band bingo, and lots more for everybody to enjoy!

Pop punkers SOUTHSIDE HEROES play this Tuesday along with other acts.

Invite people to this event on facebook by clicking here

Win a Reading Ticket and a Bloodstock Ticket as guests of the events in a Super Draw! Ask at the event for details.

Dartford Live at the Darenth Suite, Acacia Hall every Tuesday.

FREE ENTRY for Gold loyalty card holders, £2.00 for everyone else.

What track would you really like to hear played by the DJs at Dartford Live? – Email us a request now!

The Noisegate at the The Drayman in Bexleyheath every Thursday.

ROOM 1 (main floor) – Rock and Metal returns to the main floor at The Noisegate. Yes, you read correctly. Over the past few months there has been more and more rock and metal on the main floor, so expect a bigger mix of all things alternative.

ROOM 2 (upstairs) – Heavy stuff!!

2 Pool Tables

Projection Screens, Lighting, Effects!

7pm-Midnight - The whole night (Lower Floor) and upstairs (8pm-11.30pm) when open

BBQ and Patio (on the warm nights) or stating subject to weather

Drinks Promo's inc, Buy on get ONE FREE on bottles of wine, Vodka and Red Bull Mix £3, Fosters, Becks, Stella, Strongbow and selected house Spirits with Mixer £2.50, and '2 for 1 cocktails £5/£6 + More!

Staffed Door!

Special Promotional Feature Nights, with free stuff and Brand New Music!

Over 18's ID Essential

No entry after 11pm

GIRLS: We want girl dj's - why the hell dont they wanna play hevvy music? What makes you girls tick? So, if you can handle a night of tune picking, then you'll get a room to yourself to show what you can do and then we'll bring you into the main rooms we run. NO STALKERS ALLOWED though, kick ya man into touch and get Hevvy with us!

FREE entry for Gold loyalty card holders - £1.00 for everyone else.

What track would you really like to hear played by the DJs at The Noisegate? – Email us a request now!

A new year and yet another new venue! Yes, on Fridays we are now at the Red Lion.

The almighty Deep Purple tribute band PURPLE play in Gravesend this week. Expect all the classics played in style!

Invite people to this event on facebook by clicking here

Live At The Lion at the Red Lion every Friday.

£1.00 for Gold loyalty card holders, £3.00 for everyone else.

What track would you really like to hear played by the DJs at Live At The Lion? – Email us a request now!

Bloodstock Open Air returns in 2009 and is set to increase in size for the 5th year running. Three days full of pure metal and a little bit more at Catton Hall!

Weekend tickets are available and can be ordered from the Bloodstock website - Order Bloodstock Open Air tickets.

Here are the bands confirmed so far:

• AMON AMARTH
• SATYRICON
• SAXON
• KATATONIA
• TURISAS
• MUNICIPAL WASTE
• ENSLAVED
• THE HAUNTED
• CANDLEMASS
• WINTERSUN
• SABATON
• DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
• MILLION DOLLAR RELOAD
• BEHOLDER
• PYTHIA

For more information on the festival visit the Bloodstock website.

Twenty eight of the Rock Matrix employees, helpers, DJs, reviewers etc submitted their top albums of 2008. Here is the compiled list:

1) METALLICA - Death Magnetic
2) AC/DC - Black Ice
3) DISTURBED - Indestructible
4) TESTAMENT - The Formation of Damnation
5) OPETH - Watershed
6) AIRBOURNE - Running Wild
7) SLIPKNOT - All Hope Is Gone
8) GUNS N ROSES - Chinese Democracy
9) MOTLEY CRUE - Saints of Los Angeles
10) KINGS OF LEON - Only By The Night
11) CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, THE - Inflikted
12) DENOUNCE - Deep Wood, Shallow Grave
13) IN FLAMES - Sense of Purpose
14) AMON AMARTH - Twilight of the Thunder God
15) TRIVIUM - Shogun
16) SILENT DESCENT - Duplicity
17) GRAND MAGUS - Iron Will
18) BLACK STONE CHERRY - Folklore and Superstition
19) CHILDREN OF BODOM - Blooddrunk
20) DEF LEPPARD - Songs From The Sparkle Lounge
21) BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE - Scream, Aim, Fire
22) MOTORHEAD - Motorizer
23) BUCKCHERRY - Black Butterfly
24) MESHUGGAH - Obezen
25) DRACONIAN - Turning Season Within
26) THE SWORD- Gods of the Earth
27) BACKYARD BABIES - Backyard Babies
28) SCAR SYMMETRY - Holographic Universe
29) WHISPERS IN THE SHADOW - Into The Arms of Chaos
30) WHITESNAKE - Good to be Bad
31) HANZEL UND GRETYL - 2012: Zwanzig Zwolf
32) GOJIRA - The Way Of All Flesh
33) WEEZER - Weezer (The Red Album)
34) NFD - Deeper Visions
35) SATYRICON - Age of Nero
36) NINE INCH NAILS - The Slip
37) NICKELBACK - Dead Horse
38) THUNDER - Bang!
39) BEAUTY OF GEMINA, THE - A Stranger To Tears
40) THE TING TINGS - We Started Nothing
41) JOURNEY - Revelation
42) MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE - IF
43) SOULFLY - Conquer
44) FIREWIND - The Premonition
45) ALKALINE TRIO - Agony & Irony
46) JUDAS PRIEST - Nostradamus
47) BIOMECHANICAL - Cannibalised
48) ONE DAY ELLIOTT - A Vital Something
49) MISS CONSTRUCTION - Kunstprodukt
50) DRIVE BY TRUCKERS - Brighter Than Creation's Dark

BAND WITH NO NAME YET needs:

- Singer

Influenced by Tool, Killswitch Engage etc. Contact the band here: Nel on 07798640786 or nelcooper@hotmail.com or Joe on 07752519676.

DRUGDEALER CHEERLEADER needs:

- Bass player

Contact the band here: info@drugdealercheerleader.com or www.myspace.com/drugdealercheerleader.

CONQUEST need:

- Bass player
- Drummer

Contact this band here: leslie.clayden@ntlworld.com or admin@roystone.com or ring Les Clayden on 07832 235715.

UNTIL I BLEED need:

- Guitarist (with some lead ability)
- Bassist
- Drummer
- Female vocalist

Contact this band here: tombwibble@yahoo.co.uk

ROY STONE needs:

- All musicians

Contact Roy Stone here: admin@roystone.com or www.myspace.com/roystonelink.

Self proclaimed deathglammers the Deathstars release album number three.

Night Electric Night, complete with its slick production is just what we have come to expect from the Deathstars and contains little change from previous outings 'Synthetic Generation' and 'Termination Bliss'. Some may say a little experimentation would be welcome, but if it's not broken then why try and fix it?

Vocalist Whiplasher sounds even more like the sleaziest serial killer this side of Stockholm while the rest of the band and overall album is sonically bigger than before. The vocals are enhanced at times by some useful female backing vocals on the more melodic parts on the likes of 'Via the end', a song written by guitarist/keyboarder Nightmare Industries on the same night he found out about the suicide of his brother.

The album contains the usual selection of horror-stompers like the wonderfully named 'Blood stains blonde', first single 'Death dies hard' and the title track itself, where as 'Chertograd' is a mid-paced, almost cautionary opener. One of the album highlights 'The mark of the gun' has this eerie and foreboding sheen which does its best to hide a killer chorus of group chants and letter definition a la Marilyn Manson's 'Mobscene'.

There is little on offer here for those who already dislike the Swedish five-piece but existing fans will lap this up.

Deathstars continue to make music that is dark, depressing and sexy all at the same time. For that alone they deserve a sleazy pat on the back.

7.5/10

Review by Alan Hicks

Prepare for a pummelling from Metal Blade's brutal Brits!

Three of Metal Blade’s British acts cause aural chaos in April when they plow through the UK and Ireland.

THE ROTTED' Ben McCrow is looking forward to a eclectic mix of British talent:

"Anyone who's been to see us recently will have worked out we're a fan of pretty diverse bills, so while all the bands on this tour are at the HEAVY AS FUCK end of the metal spectrum, we each have a different sound and vibe so you won't see the same shit repeated 3 times in a row. Just 3 Metal Blade bands, all British, on the road together, showing the UK there's still an abundance of homegrown talent with some bollocks!" Ben McCrow / The Rotted

MALEFICE will be showcasing their 'DAWN OF REPRISAL' album that will be released on March 2, 2009

ANTERIOR break off from writing their anticipated new album and are hot from a UK jaunt with All That Remains and The Haunted.

Mean Fiddler and Factory Music in association with Terrorizer magazine present:

Metal Blade Assault 2009

The Rotted
Malefice
Anterior

1st April 2009 UK Kettering @ Sawyers
2nd April 2009 UK Liverpool @ Barfly
3rd April 2009 UK Dublin @ Fibbers Magee's
4th April 2009 UK Belfast @ Limelight
5th April 2009 UK Glasgow @ Barfly
6th April 2009 UK York @ Fibbers
7th April 2009 UK Birmingham @ Barfly
8th April 2009 UK Cardiff @ Barfly
9th April 2009 UK London @ Camden Barfly
10th April 2009 UK Southampton @ Joiners
11th April 2009 UK Brighton @ Freebutt
12th April 2009 UK Plymouth @ White Rabbit

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