DENOUNCE / ZOCALO / SILENT DESCENT / WITHOUT REMORSE - VOTE FOR WHO WANT TO SEE AT BLOODSTOCK NOW!
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DARBEX ALTERNATIVE FINAL RESULTS!
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WE WANT MORE BANDS - WE HAVE A NEW THING COMING UP AND WANT EVERY LOCAL BAND INVOLVED!
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THRASH GALORE THIS MONDAY!

Firstly it's a great privilege to take you guys to this point of DarBex!! However now you are on your own. The band that gets through will go through on merit and by that I mean the fact is one band above all others will have the potent mixture of quality and drive over the next month to prove their worth!

Potential voters need to join the Bloodstock forum and place 'ONE' vote for their chosen act.

The link you need to join is here:

www.bloodstock.uk.com/community/index.php

The link to vote for the Bands of Kent is here - this takes you to our page:

www.bloodstock.uk.com/community/viewtopic.php

You have 30 days to get everyone you can to take part in the voting.

The band with the most votes wins!

If you are not sure which band you are going to vote for have a listen on their respective myspace pages:

A. DENOUNCE
www.myspace.com/denounce

B. SILENT DESCENT
www.myspace.com/silentdescent1

C. WITHOUT REMORSE
www.myspace.com/withoutremorse1

D. ZOCALO
www.myspace.com/zocalotheband

GOOD LUCK!

The Rock Matrix

P.S: The CD launch is set for the 29th June! We need at least 10 bands on the bill and at least one guest band. It's going to be a great day. More on that this week.

NEWS: The METAL 'Scratch the Surface' CD is coming out with an all-dayer on Sunday 29th June!

RESULTS FOR MONDAY 26 MAY – Darbex Alternative Final

1ST – MAD DOG

2ND – APOLLO WITHSTANDS

3RD – BILLY REBEL

4TH – STAND ALONE

5TH – BRAIN ACHE

6TH – CODES IN THE CLOUDS

7TH – DIRTY SAM

8TH – SEEKER

9TH – BLACKBIRD

10TH – YOUR BROKEN EGO

RESULTS FOR MONDAY 05 MAY – Darbex Metal Final

1ST – DENOUNCE

2ND – SILENT DESCENT

3RD – ARXIS

4TH – ZOCALO

5TH – WITHOUT REMORSE

6TH – SIZEN

7TH – DESIGNS OF CHAOS

8TH – VIOLATION COMPLEX

9TH – SCHIZOPHRENIA

10TH – CONQUEST

Sponsors:

DINGO JACKS MUSIC STORE | ELEPHANT MUSIC | DOGHOUSE MUSIC | ROADRUNNER RECORDS UK | MEDIA SOURCING | VICTORY RECORDS | DEMOLITION RECORDS | ORANGE & BLUE MUSIC STUDIOS

Partners:

BLOODSTOCK-METAL TO THE MASSES | ORE NET SERVICES | JIGGA JAM STUDIOS

Support from:

TGR 103.7FM | NEWSSHOPPER | BEXLEY COUNCIL | KN MEGA PIX | RICHARD MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY

This Monday will please all you thrashers out there! The contemporary heavy thrash sound of SCHIZOPHRENIA meets the old school vibe of INNER FIRE who feature Ritual Abuse man 'Gummby' on bass. GARY STAR GUTTER warms everyone up with some superb guitar playing beforehand. DJ GAMBLIN grooves it out between bands.

Metal Mondays at The Drayman in Bexleyheath every Monday. £2.00 for loyalty card holders and Metal Monday band members – £2.50 for everyone else.

PLEASE NOTE: The Drayman is over 18s for Metal Mondays.

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

Trashy rockmeisters THEIR STRANGE GATHERING entertain you this week along with LIVE POLITICS. JEREMY AYRE brings his acoustic sound with drums to the party.

Rock Night Live at the Bull and Vic every Tuesday.

£2.00 for loyalty card holders and those with flyers – £2.50 for everyone else.

What track would you really like to hear played by the DJs at Rock Night Live at the Bull n Vic? – Email us a request now!

Hair metal masters RATT visit London this Wednesday. If you love the likes of Motley Crue, Poison and Skid Row then get down to the LA2!

Price is £16.50.

NEWS: 5 YEAR annual party is 3rd July!

The Noisegate at the The Drayman in Bexleyheath every Thursday.

ROOM 1 – ALTA-SCOPE will concentrate on the lighter and eclectic side of the alternative music spectrum.

ROOM 2 – RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL will side with the heavier, sleazier, gothy and more extreme side!!

2 Pool Tables

Projection Screens, Lighting, Effects!

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

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

Drinks Promo's inc, 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

FREE entry for loyalty card holders – £1.00 for everyone else.

4 years and 9 months after starting the first Rock Night at the Kings Arms, we finally get a venue to give YOU what you wanted.

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

Time and Place Start Time: Saturday, June 7, 2008 at noon.

Location: Tommy Flynn's in Camden Town.

This is the fundraiser event which rose out of the MEL1000 facebook group. The intention of melfest1000 is to get all of Mels friends and anyone else who wants to come along together, to raise money and to have a good time remembering an amazing lady.

Bands playing the event are as follows:

SILVERSIDED
DEVIANT UK
ROB BLAKE(WHITMORE) solo show
CHASING STACEY
JENIUM
THE BROADCAST
THE PURPLE SOCKS

NABOO - FROM THE MIGHTY BOOSH(TBC)

MORE BANDS INCOMING!!!!

DEAD SEXY DOLLS - DANCE TROUP
PREACHER - DANGER AT ITS BEST!!!! SHOCK SHOW

The DJ's for MELFEST are DJ ANGEL, DJ BEN CHRISTO, DJ BLACKVELVET, DJ 69, DJ SIR MIXALOT SHARP

Come with your pockets full of pound coins because there will be a huge raffle, with some awesome prizes. Not just one or two prizes but loads. The list of raffle prizes will be posted up on this event page before the event so that you can see just what you could win.

There will be collection buckets at the bars for your spare change so feel free to chuck it in.

There will be NO GUEST LIST.

£8 ENTRY - FOR 12 HRS OF OF PURE CHARITY!!
RAFFLE £1 PER 2 TICKETS AND GREAT PRIZES!!!

The money we raise from MELFEST1000 will fulfill one of Mels last wishes. To help Stuart her husband with costs that have piled up over the last few months and costs yet to come, and to hopefully give Stuart a financial break so that he concentrate on coming to terms with the untimely loss of his soul mate Mel. This is a devastating time for Stuart so please show your support and come to Melfest1000 all dayer!!

This event page will be updated regularly so keep checking in and please feel free to invite as many people as you can.

CANCER RESEARCH ARE NOW HELPING TO PROMOTE THE EVENTS FOR LUCY*FUR AND THIS WILL NOW BE AN ANNUAL EVENT FOR CANCER RESEARCH AND A FITTING TRIBUTE FOR A GREAT LADY.

Bloodstock Open Air returns in 2008 and is set to be the biggest yet. Three days full of pure metal and a little bit more at Catton Hall!

Weekend tickets cost £85.00 and can be ordered from the Bloodstock website - Order Bloodstock Open Air tickets.

The Bloodstock team are pleased to announce that UK grindcore legends NAPALM DEATH have been added to the bill for Bloodstock Open Air 2008.

Napalm Death's origins stretch right back to 1982 when the band was formed near Birmingham by the duo of Nic Bullen and Miles Ratledge. Although the early line-ups gigged locally and recorded various demos, it wasn't until 1986 that Napalm Death - by then featuring Bullen alongside Justin Broadrick (later of Godflesh and Jesu) and Mick Harris (later of Scorn) - arrived at the high-speed, high-intensity sound with which they would take the music world by storm. 'Scum' - the band's debut album - appeared in 1987 and was compiled from recordings of both the Bullen/Broadrick/Harris line-up and of the new look band which then featured Bill Steer on guitar and Lee Dorrian on vocals. This 'classic' line-up was completed by the recruitment of bassist Shane Embury who joined just prior to a tour in support of 'Scum'. 'From Enslavement To Obliteration' followed in 1988 and continued the band's whirlwind grindcore assault, albeit with improved production, but the subsequent EP 'Mentally Murdered' - although one of the best things recorded by any Napalm Death line-up - heralded the departure of both Steer and Dorrian who went on to fame with Carcass and Cathedral respectively. The pair were replaced by guitarist Jesse Pintado and vocalist Mark 'Barney' Greenway.

After taking part in record label Earache's 'Grindcrusher' tour alongside Carcass, Bolt Thrower and Morbid Angel, the band added second guitarist Mitch Harris. The twin guitar capability saw the band change their sound to a predominantly death metal style on 'Harmony Corruption', a change which foreshadowed much of their future career which saw them blend grindcore and death metal styles in varying degrees. The following years brought continuing success to Napalm Death, despite the departure of Mick Harris, the untimely death of Jesse Pintado and controversial experiments such as 'Fear, Emptiness, Despair', and in recent times, albums such as 'The Code Is Red... Long Live The Code' and their most recent effort 'Smear Campaign' have proved their ability to get back to basics with some serious blast-beat laden grind. A new album is expected soon.

The line–up is far from complete but here are the bands confirmed so far:

• NIGHTWISH
• OPETH
• EVILE
• DIMMU BORGIR
• ICED EARTH
• HELLOWEEN
• OVERKILL
• SOILWORK
• AT THE GATES
• NAPALM DEATH
• PRIMAL FEAR
• DESTRUCTION
• TYR
• AS I LAY DYING
• ELUVEITIE
• COMMUNIC
• MOONSORROW
• AKERCOCKE
• SWALLOW THE SUN
• KATAKLYSM
• CLOUDSCAPE
• CROWNING GLORY
• MOB RULES
• SAINT DEAMON
• ALESTORM
• PRO-JEKT
• UNITING THE ELEMENTS
• KELTIC JIHAD

ALTERNATIVE KARAOKE RETURNS TO BOA

After many dragon filled battles and quests for grails, Alternative Karaoke has been confirmed to run what is now known as a legendary event! That's right depite other rumours and reports and things beyond even the Gods control, we have prevailed and are ready to give each evening at BOA the send off deserved!

For more information on the festival visit the Bloodstock website.

So it's finally over! Darbex Band Quest in both of its entities is finished.

Lucky for all of us the alternative final was an indoor affair, keeping us dry, warm and away from the wind.

Blackbird (6/10) began proceedings early on in front of the few people who had managed to tear themselves out of bed before noon. In the heat and semi-final Blackbird showed a mature and talanted side which helps highlight their skills as musicians and songwriters. Today, although the songs were there they seemed affected by the small crowd and rushed through their set.

Bringing a dose of energy to the day were Your Broken Ego (6) who's songs contain enough hooks to hang every coat in the building. Although they sounded messy at times they are armed with plenty of catchy tracks to carry them well into next year.

Dirty Sam (7) have been around a little longer and it can be heard from the get go. Their opening track is one of the best of the day, combining sweet melodic panache with a triple headed vocal display. The lead singers bluesy voice sits perfectly in between the cleaner backing vocals. The rest of the set struggles to reach these heights again but it goes down well with the crowd.

Taking melody and bending it into unthinkable shapes is what Codes In The Clouds (7.5) do best. They continue where they left off in the semi-final and grab the crowd and refuse to let go, even though a few would not know what to make of this instrumental attack on their senses.

A million miles away from the previous bands experimental shenanigans, Apollo Withstands (7.5) are loose, easy to listen to and the perfect band to stick on the middle of an all-dayer. With a handful of care free, southern influenced rock tunes they at times sound like Soundgarden bitchslapping Kings of Leon. With their groove-laden delivery which would sit comfortably in a heavier setting as well as today, the band deliver one of the better sets of the final.

Attracting a vastly different crowd are everyones favourite pscho-zombie foursome Billy Rebel (7). The Misfit-come-meteor songs have found their way onto TotalRock radio and various venues around London and today they deliver a energetic and event filled set. At times in the live environment the songs do seem to lose cohesion but that will surely be ironed out over the coming months.

If anyone can be trusted to deliver a solid set of catchy tunes aimed somewhere between punk and hard rock it would be Brain Ache (7.5) and simply, that's what they did! They kept the crowd bouncing with a collection of road worthy punk anthems with the vocals sounding almost like Hardcore Superstar at times. This helps highlight the mix of influneces within the band.

Seeker (7) on the other hand churn out 30 minutes of radio friendly hard rock. Their musicianship and tightness is a lesson to every other band on the bill. In their opening heat they were excellent but today they lack that little something.

Cabaret Doll (7.5) get the crowd going again with a grungey blues vibe which adds something different to the day while Stand Alone (7.5) nearly tear the place down with a sound that nods towards an indie band being eaten by several trad metallers. Some of the riffs and solos during the set are superb and it will be interesting to see this band develop this year.

At this point it is hard to imagine Mad Dog (8.5) not doing the business and with an air of predictability they deliver a set of quality hard rock anthems. Over the past two years Mad Dog have upped the game and judging by the venue being rammed to the walls they are doing more than one thing right! In the past their Audioslave and Led Zeppelin influences would shine through for all to see but now they these have been mouled, twisted and bent into the Mad Dog sound. Don't think anyone could argue they were worthy winners.

With the competition finished it was left to The Lovespuds (8.5) to entertain the tired audience and entertain they did. Their ska/punk attack of catchy song after catch song after catchy song just couldn't fail to keep the crowd moving for another 40 minutes or so. 'The Final Countdown' ended the day, the final and the Darbex Band Quest perfectly.

Review by Alan

THE ROTTED post first new song of upcoming album 'Get Dead Or Die Trying'!

UK's very own THE ROTTED (previously known as Gorerotted) have uploaded the first song of their upcoming album 'Get Dead Or Die Trying'.

Please click www.metalblade.de/mp3/ to check out 'Nothin' But A Nosebleed'!

'Get Dead Or Die Trying' will be released the 27th of June (D/A/CH/I) / 30th of June (rest of Europe)!

www.myspace.com/therotted

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