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Manos Spanos

Report: Evile + Support Acts – Athens, Greece

Manos Spanos
What a great Saturday night awaits the whole of Athens Thrashers: a co-headlining show of great British Thrashers Evile and local Thrash heroes Suicidal Angels and Chronosphere. There was a good level of attendance at Kyttaro club even though it could have been a bit better organized and advertised. Yet everyone was excited about the event, especially a new generation of Thrashers with blood flowing wild through their veins. The first band to hit the stage was Chronosphere. Their style is close to Sacred Reich (vocalwise even though they have more of their own style) and Testament/Megadeth/Exodus musicwise. They took the crowd by storm and warmed them up for good with everybody stage diving, crowd surfing and moshing their hearts out. We heard songs from their amazing debut album "Envirusment" ("Genetically Determined", "Envirusment", "Hypnosis", "War Infection" being the set's closing track) and from their upcoming album two new promising tracks called "Brutal Decay" and "The Redemption" (the first instrumental they ever wrote according to their frontman Spyros Lafias). All in all they won even more people in the crowd wearing their t-shirts with pride. On a side note, Evile's drummer fixed a cymbal during their set. That's a sign of true respect and unity between the bands, any other band would put the drum tech to do that. Then we have the mighty Suicidal Angels. One may sometimes feel like witnessing a legend in its prime. You see old Thrashers talking about Sepultura or Slayer or Kreator (the list is endless) in their glory days that made them the monsters of the genre that they are today. That's how the writer felt about Suicidal Angels. With a kind of Star Wars related intro (correct the writer if he's wrong) "Athens...Let the bloodbath begin" and it did so with the title track off their kick ass latest album "Bloodbath". Then we had "Bleeding Holocaust" off "Dead Again" keeping the chaos level high in the moshpits. Their setlist was based around "Bloodbath" ("Chaos (The Curse Is Burning Inside)", "Morbid Intention To Kill", "Torment Payback", "Bleeding Cries", "Moshing Crew"), "Dhadead Again" ("Final Dawn", "Reborn In Violence", "Beggar Of Scorn") and "Sanctify The Darkness" ("Apokathilosis" being the classic closer, "The Pestilence Of Saints"). The new bass player was really enthusiastic and fit the Suicidal Angels image very well for his first live show and helped the audience enjoy the show even more. We should also mention two kick ass moments in their set: Nick coming down with the fans to headbang and play "The Pestilence Of Saints" and inviting people on stage for "Moshing Crew". That's how you actually connect with your fans! "Apokathilosis" brought the Suicidal Angels mayhem to an end with us waiting for "Divide And Conquer" (Chris Tsitsis stated some interesting stuff about it in the interview before this gig) to come out in early 2014.
05 min read

Video: Former And Current NIGHTWISH Singers Perform Duet At Belgium’s METAL FEMALE VOICES FEST

Manos Spanos
Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen performed a duet with the band's current vocalist Floor Jansen (REVAMP, ex-AFTER FOREVER) Sunday night (October 20) at this year's edition of the Metal Female Voices Fest at Oktoberhallen in Wieze, Belgium. The women joined forces on a cover version of "Over The Hills And Far Away", originally written and recorded by the Northern Irish singer and guitarist Gary Moore and previously covered byNIGHTWISH on the 2001 EP of the same name. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below. Turunen was fired from NIGHTWISH at the end of the band's 2005 tour by being presented with an open letter which was published on the NIGHTWISH web site at the same time. In the letter, the other members of NIGHTWISH wrote: "To you, unfortunately, business, money, and things that have nothing to do with emotions have become much more important." On October 9, Jansen and English composer and multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley(uilleann pipes, low whistles, vocals) were officially added to NIGHTWISH's permanent lineup. The band explained in a statement: "Originally we were going to wait until 2014 to make a decision about the future lineup of the band, but the past year has clearly shown us thatFloor and Troy are perfect matching pieces to our puzzle, and we are really grateful of the bond that has grown between all of us." Jansen made her live debut as the frontwoman of NIGHTWISH on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington following the abrupt departure of the band's lead singer of five years, Anette Olzon. Asked about the reasons for Olzon's sudden exit from the group, NIGHTWISHkeyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine: "I'm sure it came as a shock to everybody. We came out with a statement [regarding the split], which pretty much says it all. It still is a private matter, and that's all we wanna say about it, like, ever. It was an amicable divorce, so to say, and made in good spirit, and we are just looking to the future. There really is no reason to go back into all the details and all that. I mean, this is not politics, this is a rock band."
02 min read

ASTARTE Preparing To Enter Studio

Manos Spanos
Greek black metallers ASTARTE are preparing to enter the studio to record their sixth full-length album, "Blackdemonium", for a 2014 release. The CD will contain "9 or 10 tracks of black/death metal music with some thrash influences," according to a press release. The cover artwork will be designed by Maggot Meister. Maggot Meister had previously worked on cover artwork, logos and merchandise designs for such bands as MASTER, HIRAX, CHILDREN OF BODOM, 1349, AMON AMARTH, PAIN, EDGUY, VIOLATOR and MORTIIS. ASTARTE's lineup for "Blackdemonium" recording sessions: Tristessa - Vocals Nicolas S.I.C. Maiis - Vocals Ice - Drums Jim Harisis - Guitar/Bass ASTARTE's fifth album, "Demonized", was released in 2007 via Avantgarde Music. The CD was mixed at Tico Tico studios in Finland and featured guest appearances on vocals by MAYHEM's Attila Csihar, GOD DETHRONED's Henri Sattler, ARCH ENEMY's Angela Gossow and LLOTH's Nicolas S.I.C. Maiis.
01 min read

Video: SEPULTURA Members Join KORN On Stage To Perform ‘Roots Bloody Roots’

Manos Spanos
SEPULTURA members Derrick Green (vocals) and Andreas Kisser (guitar) joined KORN on stage last night (Saturday, October 19) to perform SEPULTURA's classic song "Roots Blooody Roots". Professionally filmed video footage of their appearance can be seen below (Note: Skip to around 47-minute mark.) Green wrote on Facebook afterwards: "What a cool surprise tonight rocking out 'Roots Bloody Roots' with KORN!! Too much fun!!" KORN singer Jonathan Davis was featured as a guest on the track "Lookaway" — along withMike Patton of FAITH NO MORE — on SEPULTURA's 1996 album "Roots". Speaking to ARTISTdirect, former SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera stated about the recording sessions for "Lookaway": "Mike Patton was on the song, and Jonathan's a hugeFAITH NO MORE fan. He was actually freaking out that Patton was there. He was really nervous, which was actually kind of funny. He kept chewing on his hair the whole time he was in the studio. [Producer] Ross Robinson teased him at one point and told him to calm down. [laughs]" He continued: "'Lookaway' came out of a jam. It's a really heavy riff. Patton started singing this Indian chant, and it gave me goosebumps in the studio when he did that. It was so intense. He showed up in the studio with a Samsonite briefcase. I was like, 'Mike, what's up with the briefcase?' He said, 'It's what I need to record.' It had an echo pedal inside for his voice and a bottle of wine. He opened the wine and we drank it. At one point, the three of us were on the floor of the studio going crazy and making weird noises and sounds! Jonathantook it to another level. He's singing about people with a fear of pussy, which is a crazy concept. It came out as a really cool, obscure song on 'Roots'."
02 min read

New TROUBLE Lineup Performs Live For First Time (Video)

Manos Spanos
Doom metal legends TROUBLE played their first show with their new lineup — featuring singerKyle Thomas and bassist Rob Hultz — on October 12 at the Day Of Doom festival in Barcelona, Spain. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below. Hultz is no stranger to the heavy metal, hard rock, and doom metal genres as his lengthy music resume boasts. While still in high school, he joined an East Coast hardcore band calledSOCIAL DECAY which served as his introduction to recording and touring. After a decade, he left with the guitar player to form the doom metal band GODSPEED and was signed to Atlantic Records. Their debut album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York and produced by Rachel Bolan of SKID ROW. The band was represented by Gloria Butler Managementand toured with iconic bands such as BLACK SABBATH, DIO and CATHEDRAL, to name just a few. In 1996, Hultz helped form SOLACE, another notable doom metal band, which was signed toMeteor City Records, and played large arenas, clubs, and festivals such as Roadburn andHellfest. Their last recording, "A.D.", was released on Small Stone Records in 2010 and voted Best Metal Album of the Year on iTunes. Since then, Hultz has lent his talents on projects for LETHAL AGGRESSION and DISEASE CONCEPT. Commenting on the band's decision to recruit Hultz, TROUBLE founder and guitarist Rick Wartell stated: "Bruce Franklin and I played the bass parts on 'The Distortion Field', with the exception of one song. However, as we began preparing to tour in support of the album, it became really important to choose the right person for the band. Rob is not only a great bass player but also a total pro with an impressive band history, and he's got the TROUBLEpersonality so he definitely fits in well. We look forward to him joining us on the road and being a bandmate for a long time to come." "The Distortion Field", the first studio album in six years from TROUBLE, sold around 760 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 25 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. Released in Europe on August 23 via FRW Records, the 12-song follow-up to 2007's "Simple Mind Condition" was helmed by veteran producer Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, W.A.S.P.,ARMORED SAINT, DARK ANGEL, SACRED REICH, CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, D.R.I.) and marks the recording debut with TROUBLE of lead singer Kyle Thomas following the departure of the group's frontman of four years, Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame). TROUBLE 2013 is: Kyle Thomas: Vocals Bruce Franklin: Guitar Rick Wartell: Guitar Mark Lira: Drums Rob Hultz: Bass
04 min read

ANNIHILATOR Involved In Bus Crash

Manos Spanos
ANNIHILATOR mainman/guitarist Jeff Waters has issued the following update from the band's current European headlining tour: "After the show in Madrid [Spain] last night, we left at night for Barcelona. Jasmina [Vrcko, Jeff's fiancée] and I were sleeping in the master bedroom in back if the bus. We were thrown on the floor, as a truck slammed into us from behind. The other guys were mostly sleeping, but were woken up with quite the impact. We (red car bus) were driving the speed limit for carrying a legal 3.5 ton trailer and, according to the Spanish police who shut the highway down, the driver of the truck that hit us was speeding and 'distracted'; I would guess texting, as he was speeding at a high rate down a 3-lane highway in the slow lane, and tried to brake a second before impact... "So it looked the entire police force was out! Very cool dudes and they helped us arrange tow trucks, checked for injuries with all vehicle occupants, escorted the bus to a truck stop when we finally untangled the trailer from the bus. Our bassist, Alberto, speaks Spanish and translated all night, then morning long. "We were all very lucky we had a large trailer, stuffed with a lot of backline (stacks of Hughes & Kettner Coreblade speaker cabinets saved us!!)... They and ALL our gear took most of the impact... The police said we would have likely had fatalities, if that trailer and cabinets/contents had not been there... Jas and I would have been the first to go!! "But enough drama! We are all OK. "We had a killer show in Madrid last night.. Best show and fans on the tour... But sadly and obviously could not make Barcelona tonight. We are (safely and legally!) racing to Lyon, France now, where we will get a truck for the gear (gear in way from accident location). That could be the only issue now is what gear/equipment is working and what is destroyed. But we will likely make it to Lyon and sort out what we can use there!!!
02 min read

GARY HOLT Will ‘Probably’ Record Solos On Next SLAYER Studio Album

Manos Spanos
Kevin J. Wells of Washington Times recently conducted an interview with EXODUS and SLAYER guitarist Gary Holt. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. Washington Times: Is there a new EXODUS record in the works? Gary Holt: Right now, I'm starting to compile riffs and get to that stage and I'm gonna continue writing while out the upcoming SLAYER tour as well. I pretty much have a break from the world of SLAYER 'til next April. So, I'm using this time off to make sure that I get that next EXODUS record done. Washington Times: Is SLAYER is also starting work a new record? Gary Holt: The recording for that should start sometime maybe by the end of this year. So, hopefully, then kill two birds with one stone and manage to keep both bands touring at the same time. Who knows? Washington Times: Will you do any of the recording with SLAYER? Gary Holt: It looks like I'll probably be doing solos on the record, but the songs are all written. Kerry [King] will handle all that stuff. My plate's kind of full anyway, so I'll probably be bouncing back and forth from L.A. to San Francisco. Washington Times: Tom Araya said that there are a few Jeff Hanneman songs that he was working on. Have you had a chance to hear them and has SLAYER done any work on them? Gary Holt: No. I know they have some stuff, you know, I think the bulk of whatever's left over was stuff that remained from "World Painted Blood", but I haven't heard it yet, so I can't comment on it. I'm sure it'd be super cool to have some of his last final works end up on the SLAYER album. That would be awesome. Read the entire interview at Washington Times.
02 min read

EDGUY: Six ‘Amazing’ Songs Written For Next Album

Manos Spanos
German melodic metallers EDGUY are working on material for the follow-up to 2011's "Age Of The Joker" for a tentative 2014 release. The band's mainman, Tobias Sammet, states: "We got about six songs now and they're quite amazing! Traditional stuff!" "Age Of The Joker" sold around 1,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD debuted at No. 21 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. EDGUY's previous CD, "Tinnitus Sanctus", opened with 600 units back in February 2009 to land at No. 88 on the Top New Artist Albums chart. "Age Of The Joker" was released in Europe on August 29, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Peppermint Park studio (SCORPIONS, PHIL COLLINS) in Hannover, which was previously described by the group as "a recording temple with a tremendously great-sounding room." The album features 11 songs with a total running time of over one hour. The limited-edition digipack contains a bonus disc with six additional songs.
01 min read

TESTAMENT Guitarist: I Don’t Hear The Metal In METALLICA As Much As I Would Like To Hear

Manos Spanos
The Great Southern Brainfart recently conducted an interview with guitarist Eric Peterson of San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. The Great Southern Brainfart: I have to congratulate you on "Dark Roots Of Earth". What a fucking masterpiece. You guys clearly aren't out of ideas but you have captured this kind of youthful. Where did that come from? Eric: For me, that second wind all started with [1999's] "The Gathering". It's been so long between records but "The Gathering" was the fire for me. It was fast stuff mixed with modern sounds. Definitely with [2008's] "The Formation Of Damnation", we came back strong and with the original lineup and "Dark Roots Of Earth" as well, I feel, was really strong. I think, in a way, we've come full circle with our sound and going back to our roots but not copying it. I also feel like technology has gotten so much better, you know? It's easier to record now and things like Pro Tools have made things a bit more simpler. The Great Southern Brainfart: TESTAMENT seems to have really found a good place to be musically and, as you said earlier, have come full circle. Is this a place where you're happy and how do you see TESTAMENT progressing from here? Eric: Well, we know what we want now. When we were younger, we just kind of went into the studio and let the producer get the sounds and we just played the songs. Of course, we gave our opinions but I don't think we knew then what we wanted as much as we do now. Now we know exactly what we want. Chuck [Billy; vocals] knows exactly how he wants to sound and I know how I want to sound. I know what I want the drums to do and everything. The Great Southern Brainfart: TESTAMENT has 25 years behind them now. Is it weird to look at yourself and say, "I'm a classic metal act now"? Eric: [laughs] Yeah, definitely. We both think that, don't we? [laughs] I think it's weird that time flies. When we were kids, we looked up to JUDAS PRIEST and BLACK SABBATH and those guys who are older, seasoned rock guys. Well, that's us now. [laughs] The Great Southern Brainfart: Looking back on TESTAMENT's 26-year career, is there anything you look back on and think, "I wish we would've done that differently"? Eric: Yeah, definitely. I think the production and some of the mixing on our past albums. I also wouldn't have rushed out "Souls Of Black" like we did. That album could've been something different. It is a classic record now, but it was just thrown together so quickly. The Great Southern Brainfart: You've said before that seeing METALLICA for the first time was what really drove you to put TESTAMENT (back then LEGACY) together and start doing this kind of music. What is your opinion on METALLICA's change in approach and sound over the years?
04 min read

DERRICK GREEN: SEPULTURA ‘Has The Right To Keep The Name And Continue On’

Manos Spanos
Live-Metal.net recently conducted an interview with vocalist Derrick Green of Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. Live-Metal.net: Is that at all surprising to you that it's taken so long for fans to accept you into the band, even after seven albums, 10-15 years, or whatever it's been. And is it still a challenge every day to win back these older fans? Derrick Green: It's not really that surprising. A lot of times in the world of metal when you're a fanatical fan of a band that you really enjoy, it's hard to see certain changes happen. There have been a lot of changes in bands that I have loved in the past and they made changes happen. But being an artist, I understand a little bit more that those changes were inevitable sometimes. It's just life. It's just constantly changing, and it's just something that you have to deal with. As an adult and as a human being, those things are going to happen. When you look at life that way and there are changes that happen for a reason, you can kind of get beyond living in the past. But instead a lot of people do, and I do the same because there are things I'm going to always love. But I love from that time period — that time period when I discovered SEPULTURA and "Arise", and I had a cassette tape that a friend gave to me and it was amazing. And I cherish it, and it can never be replaced. It can never go back truly to that time. It would be silly to even think that. For me, I think the challenge for us is the fact that we love what we do. We never walk away from this band, we have always stuck to it and we always stayed focused on creating new music. And music that we wanted to do. Everything was a process, and we knew that it would take time to evolve, to know each other, to get to do it together, to create music together. We needed that time to bond, and I think it was all a process of evolving for us. And we wanted to get better with each album, and I think we've been doing that since we've been together. And for us, that's always been our goal, to really focus on music and leave all the other stuff behind. A consequence of just focusing and doing what we do and the drive and not giving up has brought a lot of new fans that have never seen SEPULTURA in any period of "Chaos A.D." or "Roots" or "Beneath The Remains". So we have those new fans that truly appreciate what we've been doing since I've been in the band. And then they go back and listen to old stuff, and they have an understanding, but they're not really kind of dwelling on the past. And then there's the old fans that we brought back who had lost touch with the band and are not really feeling the changes. But they still have that hope and that glimmer, and they still like good music. So I think that we're able to produce some good music that people are interested in hearing, so it's great to see that mix. And I know that we'll never be completely bringing back all the old fans, but that's never been my goal. Our whole goal has really just been to create and write great music.
08 min read

Manos Spanos

Manos Spanos (Metalpaths' co-editor-in-chief), eight years in this site but still can't be characterised as a metalhead.