HERE ARE THE ROCK MATRIX MAIN HEADLINES THIS WEEK
(click on headlines to read full story)
MONDAY 15 to SUNDAY 21 FEBRUARY
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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15/02/10 - Event 6, Essex Metal Heat 2
Acts playing: PAGESEND, IONISE, LAMINA
Venue: Edge Bar, Romford, Essex
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16/02/10 - Event 7, Kent Metal Heat 2
Acts playing: FATE BUILT REASON, ABANDON THE FAITH, ZOCALO
Venue: Bull n Vic, Dartford, Kent
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17/02/10 - Event 8, London Metal Heat 1
Acts playing: DIE KUR, SISTER KETAMINE, F.S.I
Venue: New Cross Inn, New Cross, London
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18/02/10 - Event 9, London Metal Heat 2
Acts playing: BRUTAI, THIS ADDICTION, SILICONE BULLET
Venue: Dirty South, Lee, London
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19/02/10 - Event 10, Kent Metal Heat 2
Acts playing: SPLINTERED SOUL, SUBVERSI0N, TEMPESTORA
Venue: Red Lion, Gravesend, 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.
MONDAY 15 to SUNDAY 21 FEBRUARY
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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19/02/10 - Live At The Lion
Acts playing: THE CONSPIRACY THEORY + more to be confirmed
Venue: Red Lion, Gravesend, Kent
Link to Facebook event (this is downstairs from the Band Quest gig)
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20/02/10 - A Night of Returning Legends - THE MOTHS!
Acts playing: THE MOTHS, THE RECKONING, DJ CYBERTRASH, DJ LAMINATOR
Venue: New Cross Inn, New Cross, London
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Romford Roxx
Romford Roxx will soon be returning to Essex on Mondays. While Band Quest takes place downstairs other bands will play upstairs adding a non-Band Quest twist to each Monday night.
Venue: Edge Bar, Romford, Essex
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SELECTED EVENTS BY OTHER PROMOTORS:
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17/02/10 - Help (Haiti Earthquake Live Performance)
Acts playing: THE ARCHIE WAH WAHS, PETE MOLINARI, THE DEALERS + more to be confirmed
Venue: Quarterhouse, Folkestone, Kent
Link to Quarterhouse event page
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NEEDED
Want to be in a band?
Click on image above to go to the Rock Matrix home page
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
Lacuna Coil @ Shepherds Bush Empire - 05/02/10
Lacuna Coil (8/10) have come a long way since they emerged in the late nineties. From gothic metal thoroughbreds on 'In a Reverie' and 'Unleashed Memories' to the polished sheen of their excellent breakthough album 'Comalies' and onto the nu-metalish exploits of 'Karmacode', each album opened new doors to success, albeit at the expense of support from some of the old guard. The diverse crowd at the Shepherds Bush Empire this evening indicated this process had continued with last years commercially successful 'Shallow life' album.
With bassist Marco Coti Zelati at home in Italy the band soldiered on as a five-piece, and in truth his absence was hardly noticed. You even got the feeling most of the crowd were unaware the band were a member short until Christina announced it. It didn't seem to change their sound much as opener 'Survive' crashed around the venue with the same might as it opens the current release. There was no question that this tour is pushing material from the 'Shallow life' album to the extreme, with no less than eight tracks thrown to the increasingly rabid pack that made up the crowd. The likes of 'Underdog', 'I'm not afraid' and 'I won't tell you' see both Christina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro excel in their dual vocal roles. Miss Scabbia's understated voice from the early years has been replaced over time with a fully confident and impressively powerful vocal style, which now sees her dominate most of the material, belting out the titanic 'Tight rope' with all the passion it deserves. It's hard to imagine Andrea Ferro fronting a band on his own but his vocals are part of the Lacuna Coil sound, the likes of 'Swamped' showing why he is such an important piece in this Italian jigsaw.
The nu-metal influenced 'Fragile' and 'To the edge' get fists of newer fans pumping but it was the classic Comalies tracks such as 'Heaven's a lie' and 'Swamped' which saw the fiercest pit action of the night. The Depeche Mode cover 'Enjoy the silence' again proves to be one of their more popular songs, and one which Lacuna Coil have made their own. This is impressive when you count the amount of goth and not so goth bands who have also attempted to cover this song.
The highly melodic encore of 'Not enough', a spellbinding rendition of 'Spellbound' and set closer 'Our truth' sends most of this London crowd home happy.
Even the hardest of pre-Karmacode fans would admit through gritted teeth that the current version of Lacuna Coil along with their pop sensibilities were tonight triumphant.
Review by Alan Hicks
GIG REVIEW
Bonecrusher Fest @ ULU - 05/02/10
Click on band or DJ links below for info:
On a rather mild Friday night, turning up to a bustling crowd in front of London's ULU, pulsating with excitement for the brutality to come, you know you've got a good night coming up!
Starting the night off like a xenomorph bursting from your chest, Britain's own Ingested (8/10), warmed up the floor filling onlookers, resulting in numerous circle pits, amusing spin kick mosh pitting and furious headbanging aplenty. The death metal crew are spot on, laying waste to the masses before them with their blistering, no nonsense modern death metal, the merch stands were indeed swarmed with satisfied fans. This was a promising start to a long night ahead.
Wasting no time for rest, Carnifex (7) storm the stage, cranking the brutality up to 11, throwing the crowd into a frenzy of fist flying bodies and ascending cheers, Carnifex decimate those in attendance, glowing with grit, energy and utter spite, they leave the salivating crowd satisfied and awaiting more punishment.
That punishment was not far away as US death metallers The Faceless (8) take the stage to a ravenous, pumped up crowd, unleashing a bombardment of technical carnage, The Faceless obliterate all in their path proving that the future of death metal is well indeed a promising one.
Playing a disappointingly short set, they make up for it in shades, playing numbers such as; 'The Ancient Covenant' and set highlight 'Xenochrist', the audience is left battered, bruised and utterly broken.
One of the lighter bands of the night, Germany's Obscura (6) unleash their brand of melodic death metal to a flurry of fist pumping and head nodding from the crazed up onlookers.
Sounding like a keyboard-less Children of Bodom clone, they struggle to match the ferocity of those before them, and feel like nothing more than a stopgap in the night's cranial shattering brutalities, this didn't phase the crowd however who lapped up their performance with satisfied cheers throughout.
After a lengthy set up, the night picked up the pace once again with Necrophobic (9), who ripped through a set of manic, relentless and devilishly infectious Swedish black metal, forcing the crowd into cyclone after cyclone of circle pit brutality and waves of fist pumping epicness.
Playing venomous numbers such as; 'Revelation 666', 'Nailing the Holy One' and set highlight 'Nocturnal Silence', Necrophobic proved that black metal is bitchingly heavy and their performance tonight only furthered their stand as black metal supremists. The night was theirs.
Next up are 3 Inches of Blood (7.5), who charge ferociously into their set to an ever increasing crowd, sing-along's and more fist pumping action ensue, their slice of uncomprising power metal is catchy, infectious and rather fucking good! Necrophobic frontman 'Tobias Sidegård' joins the trad metal lads on stage producing guest vocals for set highlight 'Night Marauders' which in turn whips up the crowd into a flurry of flying limbs, circle pitting, while masses of oldschoolers headbang ferociously.
A great set of heavy fucking metal that truly finds its mark tonight, a surprisingly missing live performance of 'Deadly Sinners' leaves some diehards disappointed, however that doesn't make 3 Inches' performance any less awesome!
Stepping onto the stage to a massive response, The Black Dahlia Murder (7) rage through a set of melodic death metal anthems, the now packed out floor is full of thrashing, moshing and headbanging fanatics who spin, twist and churn with utmost velocity, this is the band they've been waiting for all night and the wait is more than worth it, frontman 'Trevor Strnad' bounces around like a loon adding a humour factor to the band's already good performance, the crowd were beat down upon and they loved every minute, screams of appreciation bellow from fans and satisfied onlookers alike as the night comes to an end.
Overall a fantastic night of ear bleeding heaviness, where Black Metal was king! Bring on Bonecrusher Fest II!
Review by Jason Brett
GIG REVIEW
Band Quest Kent Alt Heat 1 @ Bull n Vic - 09/02/10
Upon arrival to the Band Quest, hosted by Rock Matrix, I found myself entering the sound check for headlining prog-rockers 'Strangers Lane'. I purchased a pint of Strongbow and eagerly anticipated the show to start. Various flyers for opening act 'Ghost in mirrors' lay scattered across the venue. The flyers included extracts from prior reviews proclaiming them to be the illegitimate offspring of 'Bjork' and 'Porcupine Tree'. This compelling analogy between two such prestigious bands was enough to engage me with the opening act 'Ghost in mirrors.'
Ghost in mirrors: The opening quartet assumed positions with an additional vocalist who would soon prove her worth along with the rest of these 'Rock Matrix' newbies. The set opened with an atmospheric use of keys before unfolding its darkly yet carefully woven portrait of textures and sounds. 'Ghost In Mirrors' struck the audience with ethereal sounds capes, which resonated throughout the set carving a truly tangible form of music, one in which a sound: touches, taunts and threatens its victims. The epic journey pursed when one engages with a band of this calibur is enough to leave any progressive rock fan awe struck (8/10).
The Hopeless Sons: The second act were a hard-hitting alternative band called 'The Hopeless Sons' who would obtain more receptiveness than their name may imply. Amidst the raw vocals and the adrenaline fuelled pace, 'The Hopeless Sons' roped in a couple of crowd members dancing while others were singing. These guys clearly have a following and quite rightly so when they shed they're hard rock skin into the more subdued yet well-coordinated territory of the bongo drum: revealing a warmth and charm that sets these guys aside from the other acts of the night. The closure of their set saw Alex wielding an acoustic guitar, as 'The Hopeless Sons' departure becomes a cathartic one at that: Truly a band who knows how to leave a long lasting impression, one that will keep fans coming back for more (7).
Strangers Lane: The headlining act serves as a tribute to 70's prog-rock and blues inspired by 'Almon brothers'. The quintet are the shipwrecked survivors of late prog rockers 'Equinox' and their unparalleled passion for the genre burns brighter in the revamped and more cohesive 'Strangers Lane': mastering a genre of music to this level of expertise not only rekindles one's appreciation of 70's rock; it also flares new interest from the Bull and Vic crowd. The band's affinity to the fundamentals of 70's rock reside with Daniel Murphy's slick and intricate use of soloing to Warren's husky and organic vocal tones. 'Strangers Lane' demonstrates clarity and precision: bleeding the past into the present taking us back to a time when 'The Eagles' soared high (8).
Review by Ben Spencer
METAL BLADE NEWS
MALEFICE to make US debut at New England Metal and Hardcore Festival
Click on image above to go to the Metal Blade myspace page
Click on band links below for info:
MALEFICE will make their US debut at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival on Saturday April 24th 2010 at the Palladium, Worcester, Massachusetts alongside label mates Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, Job For A Cowboy, Whitechapel, Cattle Decapitation and Rose Funeral as well as appearances from Mastodon, Skeletonwitch, Between The Buried And Me, 1349, Baroness, Cro-Mags and over 50 acts over the two days.
Prior to that the Reading outfit warm up for their appearance at Hammesfest II in Prestatyn on March 12th with a show in Tunbridge Wells. More dates to be announced shortly.
March 2010
10th (UK) TUNBRIDGE WELLS – Forum (with REASONABLE DOUBT in support)
12th (UK) PRESTATYN – Hammerfest II @ Pontins
23rd (UK) READING – Sub89 (with SKINDRED)
April 2010
10th (UK) BOLTON – Soundhouse
24th (USA) WORCESTER (MA) – New England Metal & Hardcore Festival
Check out MALFEICE's video for "An Architect Of Your Demise" on Metal Blade TV: An Architect Of Your Demise video
OTHER NEWS
Metal fans use the force to make Heavy Metal a UK religion - Thousands of metallers 'convert' in effort to follow Jedi into 2011 census
Click on image above to go to the Rock Matrix myspace page
The following message has been featured on countless websites so for those of you who have yet to reawaken your religious side... read on:
Thousands of rock fans have already promised to convert to the UK's latest faith, as they join a fast-growing internet campaign to see Heavy Metal recognised as a religion in the 2011 census.
Following an internet campaign before the 2001 census, 390,000 UK residents listed Jedi – the fictional Star Wars creed as their religion, making it the UK's fourth largest. Now, Heavy Metal enthusiasts are looking to follow the trailblazing Jedi's into the 2011 census.
Whilst the Office of National Statistics pointed out that Jedi's inclusion in census results did not mean official recognition, it was given its own census code and sat alongside Church of England, Roman Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu as a religion.
Despite kicking off less than a week ago, the campaign launched by Metal Hammer – the UK's best-selling Heavy Metal magazine - has already attracted nearly 10,000 followers to its Facebook group. As interest continues to grow with press enquiries from across the globe, high profile supporters are coming forward to back the campaign. Biff Byford, the legendary Saxon frontman was first to show support and will become Heavy Metal's "World Metal Peace Ambassador" if the campaign proves successful.
Heavy Metal was born 40 years ago, when Birmingham band Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut album. The scene developed, with the release followed by bands like Judas Priest, Saxon, Motorhead and the almighty Brit Award winners Iron Maiden. Creating a genre of music, a community and a way of life, Heavy Metal is amongst the UK's most significant cultural exports of the 20th century.
2009 was a highly significant year for the genre, with new annual metal festival Sonisphere coming to Knebworth Park and winning "Best New Festival" at the UK Festival awards, and US Rap-Metal band Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name Of" taking Xmas Number One, the most prestigious chart position in the UK's music calendar.
Now, with metal bands like Iron Maiden (who headline this year's Sonsiphere festival) and US favourites Metallica playing to sold-out stadiums across the world it has become a global phenomenon for millions of fans.
Alexander Milas, Editor of Metal Hammer said:
"Like a lot of good ideas, this one came about in a pub and the response online has been overwhelming. It only reinforces the belief that Heavy Metal remains strong in its UK birthplace and across the globe. If the Jedi can do it, then we can too. Our only requirement to join our campaign is that you listen to heavy metal, our commandment: everything louder than everyone else."
To join the campaign, please visit www.facebook.com/heavymetal2011census
VIDEOS/LINKS/EMAILS
Useful links and emails
VIDEOS OF THE WEEK:
COLT.44 - Knock it back (offical music video)
OVERKILL - Bring me the night (offical music video)
MALEFICE - An architect of your demise (offical music 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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