HERE ARE THE ROCK MATRIX MAIN HEADLINES THIS WEEK
(click on headlines to read full story)
MONDAY 08 to SUNDAY 14 MARCH
BAND QUEST 2010 EVENTS
This week the following bands battle it out for a chance to win a place in the semi-finals of this years Band Quest! With chances to win places at Festivals, cash prizes, and more, as well as a chance to be on one of this years compilation CD's!
So come along and place your votes (alongside the 3 judges)!
THIS WEEKS BAND QUEST HEATS:
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08/03/10 - Event 21, Essex Metal Heat 5
Acts playing: MERCILESS FAIL, FOR EVERYTHING A REASON, COURAGE OF THE COWARD
Venue: Edge Bar, Romford, Essex
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09/03/10 - Event 22, Kent Metal Heat 6
Acts playing: THIS ADDICTION, FALLING EMPIRE, INNER FIRE
Venue: Bull n Vic, Dartford, Kent
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10/03/10 - Event 23, London Alt Heat 4
Acts playing: ALAMODE, BEARTRAP, MISTAKES.IN.ANIMATION
Venue: Beercart Arms, Canterbury, Kent
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Entry for all heats is just £3.00. Advanced tickets are available from the bands as well as WeGotTickets website (click on the buy ticket image to the left).
Buy a ticket in advance and arrive before 9.30pm and be in with the chance of winning a £10.00 bar voucher.
Please check the website for more details: www.bandquestuk.com.
For those with no access to Facebook all the above events and more can be seen in the eventmatrix gig guide.
MONDAY 08 to SUNDAY 14 MARCH and BEYOND
NON BAND QUEST EVENTS
With most of our live nights coming from the Band Quest side of things over the next 3-4 months don't expect this section to be that big. This doesn't mean we will only be running Band Quest events, as the event below shows....
THIS WEEKS NON BAND QUEST EVENTS:
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08/03/10 - Romford Roxx
Acts playing: DEFERRED SUCESS, THE RAMJETS, HOLDFASTHOPE
Venue: Edge Bar, Romford, Essex
Link to Facebook event (this is upstairs from the Band Quest gig)
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SELECTED EVENTS BY OTHER PROMOTORS:
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11/03/10 - Katatonia + Swallow The Sun
Acts playing: KATATONIA, SWALLOW THE SUN
Venue: Garage, Highbury, London
Link to Eventmatrix event page
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11/03/10 to 13/03/10 - HammerFest II
Acts playing: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, BEHOLDER, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, ICED EARTH, SKINDRED, WHITE WIZZARD, SONDURA, PANIC CELL, ORANGE GOBLIN, NAPALM DEATH, MALEFICE, KATATONIA, GODSIZED, EPICA, DEVILDRIVER + many many more!
Venue: Pontins Holiday Camp in Prestatyn, North Wales
Link to Eventmatrix event page
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14/03/10 - Theatre of Tragedy
Acts playing: THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, WHERE ANGELS FALL, TO-MERA, PYTHIA, THE MARIANA HOLLOW
Venue: Garage, Highbury, London
Link to Eventmatrix event page
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26/03/10 - Unholy Club
Acts playing: DJ 69 + more
Venue: Scala, Kings Cross, London
Link to Eventmatrix event page
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23/05/10 - Bulletfest 3 (London Metal Fest)
Acts playing: MAN OF KIN, 9BLIND, KARYBDIS, MAXDMYZ, AFTER DEATH, GLASS ARTERY, HOSTILE THEORY, PHYREXIA
Venue: Scala, Kings Cross, London
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NEEDED
Want to be in a band?
Click on image above to go to the Rock Matrix home page
Band: COLT.44
Need: DRUMMER
Details: We will shortly be holding auditions for a new drummer at banana road studios in Erith. We are a signed band from Bexley, London. We've been about since 2007 and we play grunge/rock music similar to Staind, Puddle of Mudd, Nickelback, Seether. Our album 'One Horse Town' has had several reviews in Kerrang, Big Cheese and other international music magazines, as well as acclaim from bruce dickinson and puddle of mudd. No timewasters.
Contact: www.myspace.com/colt442
Link: Colt.44 Rock Matrix profile
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Band: I WISH I WAS AN ASTRONAUT
Need: DRUMMER
Details: Should be able to get to Dartford/Erith area on Sundays for practice. Influences isn't a big deal but we would say our main influences are Brand New, Alexisonfire, At The Drive-In, Refused, early Feeder. Age 18+, Driving is a bonus but no big deal. We wan't the drummer to be more than just a beat in the background.
Contact: lcarver73@gmail.com
Link: www.myspace.com/iwiwaa
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Band: FARADAY CAGE
Need: BASSIST
Details: Influences include Radiohead, DJ Shadow, Aphex Twin, Nick Drake to Jeff Buckley. We are 15 going on 16 we would prefer our bassist to be 14-16 (maybe 17). We also want someone who is devoted to practice quite frequently. We are from Welling and Abbey Wood and would prefer our bassist to be from around those areas.
Contact: faradaycageband@hotmail.com
Link: Faraday Cage Rock Matrix profile
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Band: STORM THE GATES
Need: DRUMMER
Details: We are about to form a new band from the remaining members of Storm The Gates. The name will change.
Contact: stormthegates2008@googlemail.com
Link: www.myspace.com/stormthegatesuk
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Band: TEMPEST LOVE
Need: GUITARIST
Contact: tempest-love@live.com
Link: www.myspace.com/tempestloveuk
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Band: COMETH OF SOLACE
Need: DRUMMER
Contact: andylittlebritain@msn.com or ring 07941865704
Link: Cometh of Solace Rock Matrix profile
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Band: PRINCE KATOCO
Need: DRUMMER
Contact: cmp5000@hotmail.co.uk or ring Chris on 07506 550 303 or spoek@tiscali.co.uk or ring Joe on 07738 820 290
Link: www.myspace.com/princekatoco
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Musician available: TOM FITZGERALD
Plays: MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST / SONGWRITER
Details: Based in Dartford with own equipment and studio, looking for others. Influences: A Perfect Circle, Soundgarden, Tool, Muse, Radiohead etc.
Contact: ring 01322 284 009
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Musician available: DARREN HOLMES
Plays: SINGER
Contact: dareneholmes@hotmail.co.uk
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GIG REVIEW
Band Quest Kent Metal Heat 4 @ Red Lion - 26/02/10
After seeing such a close call between Subversi0n last week, it was suprising to see an even closer call this week, demonstrating that there really is an overflowing abundance of talented metal in the area.
Into Exile (9/10) stormed up first and let rip a roaring set of modern thrash tracks. The drummer played complex, uncompromising beats and the riffs drives the songs forward at a stomping pace. The tempos changed seamlessly, the tight rhythmn section holding it together, while Darren stands shouting confidently through his hair. The solos had the same flavour as Machine Head's most recent material, but suited Into Exiles style well. The sound quality was decent and a mosh pit rioted in a fairly full room, despite this only being the first act. With all the experiemental acts in the area at the moment, it is great to see a band that sticks to their guns and delivers quality local thrash metal.
In the intermission I caught a glimpse of Tempest Love (6) setting up. The singer donned a gothic dress and twisted black and red hair. Very cool. I looked forward to their set with interest. The guitar and bass provided a decent rob zombie-style backing to some catchy, if basic metal. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had somehow turned on Scuzz to find a heavy metal single or two playing. The solos and breakdowns were simple, but brought the raw elements of some decent guitar playing While not having the most supportive of crowds (some kind of drunken barn-dancing could be seen where a mosh pit should be), the singer lacked confidence and seemed to shy from facing the crowd. Overall a good performance. With some new material and more gigging, this band could be one to watch in the not too distant future.
The night closed with Folk metallers Training Icarus (9). The Four-piece's set brought both Melodic and Powerful metal together, a love-child from the likes of Iced Earth and Epica. The singer sang and performed unflinchingly, while the guitar wailed, full of harmonics and catchy licks. A pre-programmed synth track played along, resulting in a very big and atmospheric sound for a quartet. The melodies were intricate and the synth and guitar latticed together to create some emotive lines. TI's playing was crisp and their timing impeccable and, though they didn't getting the crowd moving as much as the first band, they had definitely gained some new fans by the end of the night.
Review by Adam Evans
GIG REVIEW
Band Quest Essex Metal Heat 4 @ Edge Bar - 01/03/10
The previous week at the Edge Bar had seen some fine performances from the likes of hard rockers Killing With Style, so it was up to the 3 bands tonight to keep things on a high.
Not many acts taking part in Band Quest have anywhere near the history of trad metallers Snake Eyes (7/10) who formed over ten years ago. Starting life in Canada and having a video on Scuzz in the past is not on the radar of most unsigned bands. When you add the vocal talents of Paul Clarke to the equation it begins to look even more exciting. During his time with the South East London band Drakonis his vocals were never able to reach those heights that straight forward heavy metal allows, but Snake Eyes seems to be the platform 'the voice' has been waiting for.
The first half of the set seems to plod along, partly thanks to an atmosphere which can only be described as flat. 'Leather and metal' ups the game, adding a nice power-groove to proceedings. As the set moves into the closing stages the guitar becomes more prominent on faster tracks, the voice more powerful, creating a forceful Saxon style finally. This thirty minute set seems to have been only a hint of what Snake Eyes can do but was enough to move into the semi-finals with ease.
Next up were Legion (7) whose crushing riffs threatened to pull down the ceiling. The vocals from Matt Cooney are equally impressive, eventually handling the melodic parts with ease, allowing the songs to escape from an all out attack of heaviness. Each song is memorable in its own way, carefully crafted to hit out at the right time making this an interesting half hour of thundering metal.
If the evening needed a lift it was Rezinwolf (7.5) who injected the Essex air with a healthy dose of adrenaline. Their brand of old school thrash was a million miles faster than anything before them on the night and probably since Gama Bomb at the Hellfire Festival back in 2009. You can imagine hundreds of drunken metal fans in some dingy rock joint on a Saturday night going crazy over this but the Monday night crowd were slightly more muted. Maybe it was the bands desire to stick a little too close to their influences, with early Metallica and Municipal Waste-like riffs dominating the performance. Despite this when riffs hit the walls like bullets from a mad mans machine gun it's hard not get carried away with it all.
The evening may have been ruled by Snake Eyes but it was dragged into life by Rezinwolf.
Review by Alan Hicks
ALBUM REVIEW
The Faceless - Planetary Duality
Hearing nothing but praise and on a mission to quenche my thirst for extremity, I picked up 'Planetary Duality' the second release by technical death metallers The Faceless.
After a healthy mix of violent blast beats, bitchin' growls and a whirlwind of technical supremecy, my thirst was, without a doubt quenched.
As a lengthy period of spitting out teeth ensued and a wide grin spead its way across my face, I knew I picked up something, rather special.
The band that was forcing its way out of the speakers before me, was a band of such technical proficiency, it was hard to pick it all out in one sitting and just maybe, I was experiencing one of the freshest, diverse, and exciting new death metal bands in recent times.
The Faceless show off their techincal prowess at such blistering pace, it'll force the listener into submission.
Album opener 'Prison Born' wastes no time in obliterating the eardrums, making way for the violence that follows as raw guitars and pummeling drums drive the likes of 'The Ancient Covenent', 'XenoChrist' and closing two part title track into audible destruction.
The vocals here are also of a very high standard, Vocalist 'Derek Rydquist' brings earth shattering growls along with throat shredding highs, while fellow band memeber, Guitarist/Vocalist 'Michael Keene' breaks through the carnage with some mighty clean vocals, which is a suprisingly nice addition, death metal purists will indeed raise an eyebrow or two. Overall, vocally, the album is a very diverse affair.
'Planetary Duality' cooks up all the right ingrediants to create a very impressive death metal record, you'll soon be counting teeth after commiting yourself to what's on display here, the future of death metal never looked so promising.
9/10
Review by Jason Brett
METAL BLADE NEWS
BARN BURNER release new video! Song streams on Nike.com, Noisecreep, Bravewords!
Click on image above to go to the Metal Blade myspace page
Click on band links below for info:
Montreal, Canada's BARN BURNER are having a hell of start to 2010. Their album, Bangers, was released worldwide in February, their new video for Half Past Haggard is up and music is streaming now on Noisecreep.com, Bravewords.com and even Nike.com!
About Long Arm Of The Law: "It's a song about people judging me and this band saying, 'Oh, you guys are just beer drinking misogynist f---ing douche bags,'" BARN BURNER frontman and guitarist Kevin Keegan told Noisecreep about their song The Long Arm of the Law."
Read more of their interview with vocalist/guitarist Kevin Keegan on Noisecreep.com.
You can hear these songs at the following locations:
Exclusive premiere of Long Arm Of The Law on Noisecreep.com
Listen to Wizard Island on Bravewords.com
Listen to Holy Smokes on Nike.com!
The band has also released a video for Half Past Haggard, directed by Jenna Harkness. You can check it out now on the Metal Blade youtube channel. This will give you a good idea at the party atmosphere of one of their shows!
"Up tempo stoner rock like a cross between The Atomic Bitchwax, Fu Manchu and The Fucking Champs, excellent musicianship" Terrorizer Magazine
"huge groovy riffs that would make Phil Lynott proud." Craveonline.com
"Call it riff rock, call it stoner rock, call classic rock. Call it what you want - the band sports a unique and yet immediately familiar sound, full of feedback-drenched riffs and breathy, stoned-out vocals." Examiner.com
"nine-track bout of boogie- metal-infused fuzz rock and guttural punk is simply stunning. Pulling the slinky style of Thin Lizzy out to carouse with the craftsmanship of Mastodon and the steadfast groove of Fu Manchu, the album revels in everything from simplistic riffs to belligerent chugs." Fast Forward Weekly
"The first great album of 2010." Illinois Entertainer
VIDEOS/LINKS/EMAILS
Useful links and emails
VIDEOS OF THE WEEK:
BARN BURNER - Half Past Haggard official video
THE MARIANA HOLLOW - Come Undone video
RECKLESS LOVE - Beautiful Bomb video
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EMAILS:
Gig booking: annika@unifiedsounds.co.uk
Newsletter queries: alan@rockmatrix.co.uk
Reviews: alan@rockmatrix.co.uk
General: adam@unifiedsounds.co.uk
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LINKS:
Facebook group - Band Quest/Unified Sounds
www.myspace.com/rockmatrixpromotions
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