Scratch The Surface CD Launch All-dayer
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Bloodstock voting very close - Have you had your say?
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5 Years of Rock Nights - Massive Party to celebrate
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Denounce Album Launch Night - Metal Mondays

Scratch The Surface Metal CD Launch at Leos at the Red Lion in Gravesend.

Bands confirmed so far:

ARXIS

CIRCLE OF RAGE

CURSED AS ANGELS

REPUGNANT INEBRIATION

SISTER KETAMINE

THE FURIOUS HORDE

What track would you really like to hear played by the DJs at the Scratch The Surface Metal CD Launch? – Email us a request now!

The battle to play Bloodstock is so very close! Only a few votes separate the top two bands. You could make THE difference!

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

Darbex metal winners and Bloodstock hopefuls DENOUNCE return on the day of the release of their debut album. FLESHWOUND support along with contrasting solo guitar sets from inbred PAUL RELF and the fastest guitar player in the West ROY STONE. DJ GAMBLIN blasts out the grooves 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!

Bringing you a mix of totally original material, ranging from melodic rock, slow ballads, funky rock and vintage rhythm and blues are STRANGE FASHION. STAND ALONE bring with them a bizarre mix of indie and traditional heavy metal. Not to be missed. JASON OLVEIRA opens the night.

Bull n Vic 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 Bull n Vic Live? – Email us a request now!

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.

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

Yes 5 years! Some of you will remember how the little rock night at the Kings Arms from July 2003 gave Bexleyheath the biggest kick up the backside it had ever seen. This was followed by around 3 and a half years of legendary nights at the Rat and Parrot and Zero Bar before it moved to our current and possibly best location, The Drayman. Wherever the rock night has been held it has been the centrepoint of the local scene, outlasting bands, trends and virtually every other weeknight rock night in the country. Bands, relationships and even marriages have been forged on these Thursdays, not to mention being the catalyst for countless other rock nights starting (and finishing) locally. Now after 5 years we bring you the biggest rock night ever! Enjoy!

The 5 year rock night party at The Drayman in Bexleyheath.

- As part of the Party Night we'll be swapping the rooms in the Drayman
- there will be FREE FOOD for the first 100 people
- an Early Bird Drinks Special for the night plus lots more

ROOM 1 – RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL will side with the heavier, sleazier, gothy and more extreme side!!

ROOM 2 – ALTA-SCOPE will concentrate on the lighter and eclectic side of the alternative music spectrum.

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

What track would you really like to hear played by the DJs at the 5 year rock night party? – Email us a request now!

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 NWOBHM legends PRAYING MANTIS have been added to the bill for Bloodstock Open Air 2008.

Praying Mantis were formed by brothers Tino and Chris Troy in the mid '70s and they later became part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement which swept the UK in the late '70s and early '80s, producing bands such as Saxon, Def Leppard, Diamond Head and most famously, Iron Maiden. Pursuing a direction which was more melodic and AOR-orientated than most of their homeland contemporaries, the band issued their debut album 'Time Tells No Lies' in 1981 to widespread critical acclaim. Management and line-up instability, however, quickly undermined their success and after two further singles, the band temporarily split and remained inactive until 1991's comeback album 'Predator In Disguise' which featured ex-Iron Maiden guitarist Dennis Stratton. Since then, the band have continued to record regularly and play selected live dates and their forthcoming BOA show marks a rare opportunity to witness Praying Mantis perform on home turf.

Speaking out about playing this year's Bloodstock, Praying Mantis has issued the following statement: "We are really looking forward to playing Bloodstock this year. This is our first open air festival in the UK for a number of years but you can be sure that we will give you a set to remember. The stone faced rockers may well recall us from the crazy days of the New wave of British heavy metal, but no doubt will be surprised to hear the vibrance and vitality of the classic heavy rock sound as it is today."

"Look out Bloodstock, the Mantis is coming and will have your head off!!!!!!"

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
• PRAYING MANTIS
• 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.

Brazen emo-punks Bullet For My Valentine, continue to show off their Alexisonfire edginess and Thursday feeling from their rumbling and raucous second album 'Scream Aim Fire'.

With this 3rd single, 'Waking The Demon', the Welsh woe-wreckers use a formula of pleading then intense vocal spasms, thundering percussion, spiralling guitars and sturdy bass-lines to release frustration and bemusement. This is a well controlled song that mixes emotions and bears out despair, ensuring that Bullet’s profile will continue to wound the rock industry.

Rating; 3.5/5

Review by Dave Adair

Click here to check out the fourth episode of the entertaining AMON AMARTH video studio diary!

This time around see Johan Hegg explaining his vocals.

See AMON AMARTH live at DOWNLOAD on June 14th and METAL HAMMER GOLDEN GODS June 16th.

www.amonamarth.com

www.goddethroned.com

www.myspace.com/amonamarth

FACEBOOK:

Facebook group - The Drayman - Noisegate! The New Night With All Alt+Rock+Metal

Facebook group - Rock Matrix

Facebook group - Darbex Band Quest

Facebook group - Rock Matrix Loyalty Card Holder

Facebook group - Rock Night Live

Facebook group - Metal Mondays

Facebook group - Bloodstock

MYSPACE:

www.myspace.com/rockmatrix

www.myspace.com/rockmatrixpromotions