DARBEX BAND QUEST 2008 – LAST WEEKS RESULTS
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WITHOUT REMORSE MARCH ON – CURSED AS ANGELS CRASH OUT
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1 METAL BAND AND 4 ALTERNATIVE BANDS NOW REQUIRED FOR DARBEX BAND QUEST

RESULTS FOR SUNDAY 03 FEBRUARY – Alternative

1ST – LIVE POLITICS

2ND – BLACKBIRD

3RD – GREEN PHOENIX

RESULTS FOR MONDAY 04 FEBRUARY – Metal to the Masses

1ST – WITHOUT REMORSE

2ND – SISTER KETAMINE

3RD – CURSED AS ANGELS

RESULTS FOR TUESDAY 05 FEBRUARY – Alternative

1ST – YOUR BROKEN EGO

2ND – MICROPHONE MACHETE

3RD – JASON OLVIERA

Last week saw an explosive start to the Darbex Band Quest. So here ago again – week 2 is go!

Local psycho zombies BILLY REBEL will aim to win this heat with their punk–a–billy come psycho–death–rock noise! LAMINA will counter that with some hardcore punk. DISTURBANCE WITHIN are also on the bill. DJ LIFEGUARD BUNNY spins during the breaks.

Darbex Band Quest – Alternative at The Drayman in Bexleyheath every Monday. £2.00 for loyalty card holders – £3.00 for everyone else.

PLEASE NOTE: The Drayman is over 18s for Darbex Band Quest – Alternative.

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

With bands eyeing the chance to play the almighty Bloodstock festival in August the Monday installments of the Darbex Band Quest should be very exciting indeed.

After stunning crowds both times they have played at this venue VIOLATION COMPLEX are back again in their quest to get on stage at Bloodstock. They are up against SIZEN who have been described as the best band in Kent by various souces. AS WORLDS COLLIDE will look to get in the mix! DJ GAMBLIN adds some tunes.

Darbex Band Quest – Metal to the Masses at The Drayman in Bexleyheath every Monday. £2.00 for loyalty card holders – £3.00 for everyone else.

PLEASE NOTE: The Drayman is over 18s for Darbex Band Quest – Metal to the Masses.

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

The Darbex Band Quest comes to Dartford. Hard rockers THE FREQUENCY come up against the post–hardcore delights of KIDS WITH CANNONS. NEEDS MUST are also on the bill.

Darbex Band Quest – Alternative at the Bull and Vic every Tuesday.

£2.00 for loyalty card holders – £3.00 for everyone else.

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

Are you ready for a bit of love n roll?

Go Mental! at the Zero Bar this week sees resident DJ DJ KING STEVE and DJ THE KEV churn out the big tunes and requests!! Remember the music and drink goes on until MIDNIGHT!

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

The UKs premier prog and power metal festival, Progpower UK III returns at the Anson Rooms in Bristol on a Friday and Saturday.

Here are the bands confirmed so far:

• EVERGREY
• POWER QUEST
• THUNDERSTONE
• BRAINSTORM
• SERENITY
• DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA
• VANDEN PLAS
• THY MAJESTIE
• ANDROMEDA
• CIRCUS MAXIMUS

For more information on the festival visit the Progpower website.

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!

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

• OPETH
• EVILE
• DIMMU BORGIR
• HELLOWEEN
• OVERKILL
• SOILWORK
• AT THE GATES
• PRIMAL FEAR
• TYR
• ELUVEITIE
• COMMUNIC
• MOONSORROW
• SWALLOW THE SUN
• KATAKLYSM
• CLOUDSCAPE

For more information on the festival visit the Bloodstock website.

WITHOUT REMORSE
CURSED AS ANGELS
SISTER KETAMINE

A nicely packed Drayman in Bexleyheath welcomed heat 1 of the Darbex Band Quest.

Sister Ketamine, to put it bluntly played like a band possessed. The energy filled set meant that nobody inside the Drayman could fail to notice that these guys were playing their guts out. The Killswitch-come-screamo melodic choruses sometimes failed to hit the mark but the power and sheer intensity of the performance made up for it. Easily the best I have seen them play (7/10).

Having seen Cursed As Angels on four or five previous occasions I was waiting for yet another fine set from last years TotalRock unsigned metal band of the year. It is rare to see an unsigned band who are so consistent and deliver one excellent performance after another - except for tonight. In truth they never seemed to get going. The vocals were not as dynamic as usual and the band sounded and looked like they were going through the motions (which I am sure they weren't). Having said that there was still enough quality to show that this band will get somewhere, with or without competitions like this (6.5/10).

What can you say about Without Remorse? After decimating the crowd at the Phoenix in Dartford last year they seemed to get better and better with every performance. Lukes vocal assualt is unrelenting but just when you think a particular song needs a little something extra Mr Andy Finney comes in with a monster riff. Without Remorse have made a habit of stomping through local venues but tonight they stomped over the competition. The scary thing is, I have seen them play better (8/10)!

Review by Alan

Having heard very little music from both these bands before tonight meant it was always going to be interesting.

After a few delays on the underground I was lucky only to miss half of the opening number from Grand Magus. Having recently become a fan of Spiritual Beggars who share vocalist JB, I was eager to see this Swedesh trio.

More doom orientated than the Beggars, Grand Magus projected their downtuned, colossal sound around the Underworld magnificently making the packed crowd shake their heads to every groove-laden riff. JBs vocals were on top form providing the music with a melodic outlet from the doom. with Fox on bass and ex Glenn Hughes man Seb on drums the music was concise, solid and at times spellbinding with 'Blood oath' giving us one of the musical highlights of the year so far. It's a shame they didn't have more time on stage (8/10).

This was Primordials' first visit to these shores in 2008, following up the the release of last years critically acclaimed 'To The Nameless Dead' album. This Black-folk metal troup from Ireland were welcomed warmly by the Camden crowd who surely drained any lasting drop of Guinness from the Underworld before the night was over. Like Grand Magus before them Primordials' music grabbed you and demanded you listen. This is despite vocalist A.A. Nemtheanga not really having the best of voices. At times it sounds like a cry for help, stepping over the line of melody to become a desparate struggle to project from within, but this is an important part of their sound. If anything it takes the music onwards and upwards, creating monumental soundscapes which will glide over tens of thousands of people at Wacken just as well as a packed Underworld crowd. 'Empire falls' causes roars of delight from those in front of me and like most of the set, it keeps the momentum going. The rest of the band provide a solid backbone, although never ousting the frontman from the limelight but at the same time are never just part of the background. A satisfying set (7/10).

Overall, a fine gig which I felt saw Grand Magus walk away with the honours.

Review by Alan

This is a gig that I have been highly anticipating for a few month now.

The support band 'A Day To Remember' certainly drew a crowd and even though their particular brand of melodic, emo-esque rock is not my particular taste, there were a lot of people singing and chanting along to their catchy tunes.

I am honestly trying not to sound biased but I really do think Maylene delivered something special. When you bear in mind they were down to two guitarists rather than 3 which is an important part of their huge southern sound. They also had two or three different members from the usual line-up, you would think that these factors may have put them at a slight disadvantage but seriously not so!

From the second the drum kicked in on 'Memories of the grove' they had the crowd in the palms of their hands. There were a lot of heads banging and a lot of hair flailing around. As it seemed the crowd really did appreciate their brand of heavy, groove based southern rock.

I asked them after the show if they had plans to pay us any more visits and thankfully they do have plans to come back this year. I will definately be there, wherever it is because in my opinion it could not be soon enough.

Review by Rob Gamblin

Metal Blade Records is proud to announce the signing of the German extreme metal outfit ANIMA. ANIMA formed in the summer of 2005 under the name of Metmachines, but soon after renamed the band into Today Heaven's Dying until they decided on ANIMA as a band name. The band has played a large number of shows until now, gaining a lot more experience. In the summer of 2006 the group started recording their debut CD entitled "Souls of the Decedents” at 138 Studios in Ellrich. The album secured the band their first deal with All Life Ends Records. "The Daily Grind" was the title of the next MCD to be released in the fall of 2007, which was set to include five songs recorded, mixed and mastered at Slaughter’s palace and Rape of Harmonies studios. However, the CD was never released. Shortly after posting the first songs on MySpace the band gained interest from Metal Blade Records to everyone’s excitement and amazement. "ANIMA is one of the most promising bands to rise from the European underground. Considering the quality of their songs it's hard to believe all the band members are just between 16 and 19 years old" comments A&R Andreas Reissnauer of the European Metal Blade department.

Obviously the band didn't hesitate long, signing a Worldwide contract soon after. Comments ANIMA: "We are over the moon and still can't believe we are under contract with Metal Blade Records. It's a huge honor and we hope that our collaboration will be of long continuance. We have reached one of our biggest goals and would like to thank everyone who supported us so far" Check out a few songs of the unreleased "The Daily Grind” MCD at the bands myspace-site . ANIMA plan to record their Metal Blade debut in spring, to be released in late summer.

You can find contact details by clicking on the band names. This will you take you through to the profile page of the band.

SILAS are looking for a vocalist.

SHATTERED ALLIANCE are looking for a drummer and a vocalist.

1 METAL band now required, 4 alternative – we need more bands to 'confirm' their intent to play.

We are doing this:

- 1x A Battle of the bands with a twist featuring show case events!
- 2x 20 track cds called 'scratch the surface' one heavy one light!
- 3x Magazine called Altascope, featuring all acts taking part and more!

We have now got 99 bands interested with 82 confirmed, so we are now taking on a reserve list and back up list in case any bands that have committed drop out or decide not to take part for what ever reason.

Therefore we ask 3 things of thee!

1. If you want to have a chance in taking part complete this application form
2. If you want to help make this a massive success come to any of the 3 launch events this Sunday 3rd/Monday 4th/Tuesday 5th – events are here: www.eventmatrix.co.uk/events/
3. Or just wish us well, this really could elevate bands form our local scene to something much more promising. Help by adding graphics to your site etc or reposting bulletins. Thanks for anything in advance.

We are deep in talks with festivals and promoters about getting our bands playing for them. We have £7000 of prizes already committed and 1 in 3 bands will win something.

There will be:

- 100 bands playing by the end of this comp
- 2 x 20 track cds launched to support the quest
- 3 Magazines called Altascope covering ALL local music activity
- Around 400 playing musicians and 100 professional people involved in making this work
- 45 events with over 6000 people attending
- 20,000 flyers hand to hand
- 500 posters
- 33 prizes worth over £7500
- Media, Radio, Record label support and coverage
- And a bucket loads of bloody great nights in good venues!

All further enquiries and questions will be answered only through darbex@rockmatrix.co.uk

PS. We would love to know if you are in a new band or have left a band we thought you may be in.

For FULL DETAILS see the full details blog.

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