DARBEX BAND QUEST 2008 – LAST WEEKS RESULTS
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KING LIZARD RULE THE STAGE AT THE PURE RAWK AWARDS
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DOWNLOAD ANNOUNCE HEADLINERS – KISS / THE OFFSPRING / LOSTPROPHETS TO MUTED RESPONSE

RESULTS FOR SUNDAY 10 FEBRUARY – Alternative

1ST – BILLY REBEL

2ND – DISTURBANCE WITHIN

3RD – LAMINA

RESULTS FOR MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY – Metal to the Masses

1ST – VIOLATION COMPLEX

2ND – SIZEN

3RD – AS WORLDS COLLIDE

RESULTS FOR TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY – Alternative

1ST – THE FREQUENCY

2ND – NEEDS MUST

3RD – KIDS WITH CANNONS

This is the last normal heat week before the first set of semi finals take place.

Anybody up for some ambient experimental punk? If yes I WISH I WAS AN ASTRONAUT will quell your thirst while MR HOLLOWAY freaks you out with some dark acoustic tunes. JEREMY AYRE is 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.

This could be a close one as three top bands battle it out for a semi final place. Local giants ZOCALO bring their meaty riffs up against New Wave Of Bexleyheath Heavy Metals CONQUEST. DOWNFALL will hope to sneak through using their Disturbed Label Society influences! DJ GAMBLIN keeps things metal between bands.

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. Punky skifflers BENDER CRACK CORN take on F69 and SEEKER this week. DJ 69 keeps things interesting between bands.

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, DJ 69 and DJ KEVORKIAN churn out the big tunes, requests and new stuff!! Remember the music and drink goes on until MIDNIGHT!

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 Zero Bar? – Email us a request now!

MASSIVE EASTER PARTY APPROACHING ON THURSDAY 20TH MARCH!

This is the hardest decision we have ever had to make, but it is with great regret that we have had to cancel ProgPower UK III.

We have made no secret of the financial difficulties that have dogged our first two years, which is why we made a significant number of changes for year three. However, ticket sales have been extremely poor and, as a result, there is no way we can stage the festival without losing a substantial amount of money – again.

This decision has not been taken lightly and we are fully aware of both the disappointment and inconvenience it will cause. However, we simply cannot afford to keep pumping money into ProgPower UK and we can assure you that we are as disappointed about this as you no doubt are.

As a result of this, ProgPower UK LLP will cease trading with immediate effect.

Ticket holders who purchased tickets via cheque or Paypal through the ProgPowerUK website will be refunded by the method through which the tickets were purchased. This will be done within twenty–eight days.

If you purchased tickets at Bristol Ticket Shop, please contact them directly for a refund.

Please direct any enquiries to enquiries@progpoweruk.com. All enquiries will be dealt with, but please be patient.

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported us over the past three years, and also thank Rene Janssen and his team giving us the opportunity to make ProgPower UK a reality.

The ProgPower UK Team

Taken from www.progpoweruk.com/

It may be a far cry from the glory days of the Monsters of Rock festival but Download has continued to pack in 80,000 people every year since rock music returned to Donington Park back in 2003.

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

• JUDAS PRIEST
• KISS
• MOTORHEAD
• CHILDREN OF BODOM
• IN FLAMES
• ALTER BRIDGE
• COHEED & CAMBRIA
• HIM
• DISTURBED
• RISE AGAINST
• THE OFFSPRING
• LOSTPROPHETS
• INCUBUS

For more information on the festival visit the Download Festival 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.

VIOLATION COMPLEX
SIZEN
AS WORLDS COLLIDE

So we arrive at Heat 2 of the Metal for the masses part of the Darbex Band Quest. Without Remorse had set high standards a week before and now it was down to one of these bands to join them in the first semi final in two weeks time.

Having travelled up from the depths of Kent you would have forgiven Sizen for sounding a little jaded, but these guys are made of sterner stuff. The length of their tracks meant they only played a few songs in their allocated slot but this easily enough time to showcase the pure quality on show. Singer Max at times sounded like Filter frontman Richard Patrick but with a fuller, more welcoming resonance. Guitarist Paul drove each song to its inevitable peak, complete with highly listenable solos. Special praise must go to the rhythm section whose drummer and bassist both provide each song with intricate Tool like melodies on top of the most steady backing heard this side of Bexley. This immense progressive but grungy sound filled the venue and forced all inside to get up and take notice. (8.5/10)

As Worlds Collide fared less well recovering from their long journey. Looking a little vervous and unsure they began the set with a false start but the confidence quickly returned for the remainder of the set. Seemingly influenced by the likes of Atreyu and Bullet For My Valentine this was metal straight from the pages of Kerrang, and because of this they were never going to be the favourites in front of a mainly 'metal' crowd. Despite this the vocalist succeeds where so many of his compatriots fail in that he successfully mixes his vocal style well. The melodic vocals helped carry the songs at times and the screamo parts were powerful and punchy, although would have benefitted from being louder. The twin guitar assault was also impressive, even with the synchronised guitar swaying which left many smiling and cringing in equal measure - but if Judas Priest get away with it who are we to argue? (6/10)

Headliners Violation Complex have quickly made a name for themselves with their Mastodon-come-Opeth sound and rightly so. Each member impressed but it was their collective sound which really laid down the challenge to the other semi finalists. Their complex rhythems, melodic and death metal vocals helped take each song in multiple directions without losing the listeners interest. Like Sizen they filled the venue with their sound, drowning out any idle conversation taking place - meaning you watched on their terms. Drinks and chit chat could wait until after. A solid set which would not have been out of place at a certain metal festival..... (8/10)

Review by Alan

Croydon based Pure Rawk hosted there first awards night at the Marquee club in Central London on Friday. The night was a very homely affair with the crowd lapping up every note from the four live acts on show and enjoying the general happy atmosphere.

First up were Disarm (7.5/10). Little bit of sleaze, eyeliner and that touch of punk attitude a band needs to really pump the crowd full of enthusiasm. Tracks like 'The river city ransom death party', 'By any means necessary' and 'Faster faster kill' (which are all on their myspace page) are belters which in parts sound like Zico Chain on speed. Go see them now!

With a lead singer who sounds like a mix of pre-solo Gwen Stefani and Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeahs Nottinghams' Patchwork Grace (7/10) seemed to be an odd choice to play these awards which was mainly a sleazy hard rock affair. Despite this their cover of 'The lovecats' is mighty fine but single 'Soap' was a wonderful set highlight and it would have been a crime if it had not won EP/Single of the Year. The guitar solo during 'Zebra' will have NME pureists running for cover but the rest of listening with a smile.

A surprise solo acoustic set from Kitty Hudsons Richie Hudson (7/10) was, well a pleasent surprise! A short but enjoyable performance of maturity and underlining grit which can only be accrued by slogging it out on the road. Shame I missed Kitty Hudson when they played in Dartford last year.

King Lizard (8/10) are veterens of playing London and their performance was as natural as alcohol passing between Vince Neils lips. Their brand of 'Slave to the grind' era hard rock is nothing new, but when you are armed with an many good tracks as King Lizard nobody cares. With many top performances under their belts including festival appearances such as Bloodstock, an EP and more quality tracks appearing all the time all they need now is an album! Tonight they were energetic, tight and treated the awards to a headlining performance with the likes of 'Rock and roll me' and 'Hell yeah'.

In between the bands the awards were handed out by Miss Pure Rawk 'Nix':

Band of the Year – Kitty Hudson
New Band of the Year – Sign
New Breed Award – Disarm
EP/Single of the Year – Soap (Patchwork Grace)
Album of the Year – Milk Teeth (Patchwork Grace)
Stunt of the Year – Disarm going through 13 drummers before a major tour
Front person of the Year – Riche Hudson (Kitty Hudson)
Label of the Year – Trashpit
Gig/Tour of the year – Trashstock Tour (Riot Promotions)
Axe Hero of the Year – Crip (Patchwork Grace)

Overall, it was a good night enjoyed by all. I'm pretty sure everyone is looking forward to next years awards already.

Review by Alan

ANTERIOR, now with new bassist James Britton and former Mendeed man Steve Nixon on guitar will join Dying Fetus for a run of UK dates in June.

Dying Fetus + ANTERIOR + Burning Skies + Trigger The Bloodshed

June 2008

23rd LONDON – Underworld
24th PLYMOUTH – White Rabbit
25th GLASGOW – Ivory Blacks
26th MANCHESTER – Music Box
27th PETERBOROUGH – The Park

ANTERIOR will also headline the Avalanche Festival in New Delhi, India on February 22nd 2008.

Avalanche festival is the heavy music part of the 4–day cultural Moksha festival at the Netaji Subhas Institue of Technology (N.S.I.T.).

Upon return from India ANTERIOR hook up with Himsa and A Life Once Lost for three weeks on the continent. Unfortunately this does not include the UK section of the tour.

THIS AGE OF SILENCE is available on Metal Blade Records.

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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