Iron Maiden’s body of work is one of the greatest ever seen in the world of metal. From songs like “Number of the Beast” to “The Trooper”, the band’s anthems are always at or near the top of any metal fans’ list.

Since [...]]]>

It wouldn't have hurt "Frontier" to be a bit shorter.

Iron Maiden’s body of work is one of the greatest ever seen in the world of metal. From songs like “Number of the Beast” to “The Trooper”, the band’s anthems are always at or near the top of any metal fans’ list.

Since Bruce Dickinson came back into the lead singer fold back in 2000, the band has released four albums that has helped re-energize the fan base and make Maiden as big as they were in the early to mid 80’s- not bad for a band pushing past 50 years old on average. But the band’s 2006 effort “A Matter Of Life and Death”, seemed slow and prodding at times and I probably wouldn’t rank it among the band’s best.

But since that time, the band celebrated massive success with their 2008 tour and got everybody pumped up for their new album, “The Final Frontier”, with a big time tour this summer. But the big question remains, does “The Final Frontier” meet the same fate as the last album, or will it go down as one of the band’s epic masterpieces? The answer: it falls somewhere in between.

The 8 to 9 minute songs are still there, and twist and turn in a few different directions, but “The Final Frontier” may be more exciting at times than the previous album. Most have heard the searing first single “El Dorado”, which shows Dickinson’s vocals at some of their strongest- which ends up being the highlight of the album. Tracks like “The Alchemist” and “The Talisman” successfully rebound from slow intros to provide the punch that Maiden fans come to expect. The musicianship is still there, and proves that the band hasn’t phoned it in over the years.

However, some of the same issues that plagued “Life & Death” plague “Frontier”. Most of the best Maiden songs weren’t 9 and 11 minutes long, and songs like “Isle of Avalon” and the opening “Satellite 15” take too long to get off the ground, and by the time they do- the listener is lost or disinterested in those songs.

If this does become Iron Maiden’s “final” album, it will be a quality cap to the band’s illustrious career. Even though it’s better than “Life & Death”, “The Final Frontier” is a mixed bag that will probably require more than one listen to fully get into.

In case you missed it, one of the most crushing death metal albums saw its release in February as South Carolina’s Through the Eyes of the Dead unleashed their fifth album (third with current label, Prosthetic Records), Skepsis, to the legions of metalheads. Skepsis [...]]]>

Is TTEOTD the longest anagram ever? Maybe...

In case you missed it, one of the most crushing death metal albums saw its release in February as South Carolina’s Through the Eyes of the Dead unleashed their fifth album (third with current label, Prosthetic Records), Skepsis, to the legions of metalheads. Skepsis is the follow up to the 2007 record Malice and stays on a similar vein musically as the previous record.

Skepsis does have one big change up from the previous record, as the band introduces new singer Danny Rodriguez to the fold. Rodriguez proves his worth with the band on cuts like “No Haven” and “Defaced Reality” in which the band, including guitarist Hank Henckel keep it brutal and keeps the pummeling sounds pretty consistent throughout.

Skepsis actually made an appearance on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart upon its release; something a lot of death metal bands can’t say these days.

The band was most recently on the winter tour with OTEP, but now switch gears to a tour with So-Cal death metallers Impending Doom that will last them through May 7^th. The band hits Detroit on Friday, April 16^th as they play the Magic Stick as a warm up date to the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival, played the next week in Worchester, MA.

So, if you are looking for a little mid-April headbanging, check out Through the Eyes of the Dead and be prepared to get in the pit.

Through the Eyes of the Dead play at the Magic Stick on Friday, April 16^th. Tickets are $10 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Additional dates and band info can be found at www.myspace.com/tteotd.

As they prepares to release perhaps their most anticipated record to date, Option Paralysis (out now), the New Jersey based Dillinger Escape Plan is definitely evoking the slogan “dare to be different.” For the better part of the past decade, Dillinger has been putting out [...]]]>

Greg and Dillinger pictured in 2007.

As they prepares to release perhaps their most anticipated record to date, Option Paralysis (out now), the New Jersey based Dillinger Escape Plan is definitely evoking the slogan “dare to be different.” For the better part of the past decade, Dillinger has been putting out albums that defy the usual metal archetypes and can go off in several different directions during the course of one song.

Dillinger received wild praise for their 2007 album Ire Works, but early buzz is showing that the new record could exceed that.

As my interview with lead singer Greg Puciato began, he shared his confusion of the odd and peppy hold music used while he was waiting. During the interview, we discussed the band’s new found record label freedom and how the band had rebounded from a lot of adversity early in their career. Here’s my interview with Greg:

AM: With “Option Paralysis” about to come out, what has the early reaction been from fans?
GP: I think it’s been the most anticipated album in our career, even more so than the pre-Miss Machine era. When you’re in the band, it’s kinda tough to see things objectively or from an outside the band perspective because you are so involved with it. There is lots of early fervor that we just didn’t see with the last record. I think most fans were waiting to see how the band sounded with Chris Pennie, and were pleased as it worked out.

AM: What is the feeling going into the new record, versus the feeling you had before “Ire Works”?
GP: I think this time around was the first time that the band recorded a record without inner turmoil. It seemed like every record before this one had some sort of personal drama or chaos as the band was making the album. We started to believe our own lie, thinking you have to struggle in order to make great art. While I totally agree that nothing good comes from being comfortable and content, we just didn’t need that much tension every time we put out an album. In the end, it was the easiest record we ever wrote and recorded.

AM: Do you feel the new album is more sonically diverse than the material on “Ire Works”?
GP: As far as diversity goes, we never intentionally try to be diverse on the album. I’m not sure if we have ADD or something, but the music always seem all over the place. For me personally, I think it’s a huge vocal leap for me and a willingness to go out on a limb. For this record, I think all of us stretched our personal boundaries. We’re one of those bands that if every band is doing one thing- we want to go in the complete opposite direction. We are grateful for our fans, but we never want to feel like we owe them anything. If we get into a certain sounding, they might expect something and get made when we try something else. We definitely don’t want to be pinned down.

AM: What do you feel was the easiest and most difficult aspects of running your own label?
GP: We’ve been doing this 12 years now and you learn what to do and what not to do in this industry. We are definitely not ignorant to being business savvy. With the mass disarray and chaos the music industry is in at this time, doing your own thing is the only make to secure control. When we were at our old label (Relapse Records), one thing we benefited from was a high level of control in all aspects of the band. But forming our own label was the logical progression of the evolution of the band. Probably the most difficult aspect is not having an outside manager to handle every day affairs. You have to handle every aspect on your own and it’s a lot of work and you really don’t relax. There’s much less free time but it is worth it.

AM: By playing more indie rock geared festivals, what is your overall attitude about going in and playing shows like that?
GP: (laughs) It never seems like we fit in anywhere. If we ever did an OzzFest, I am sure the people raised on just heavy metal would hate us. When we do a festival like Bonnaroo, people are naturally going to have one of three reactions within 5 seconds of seeing us: they look puzzled and they decide to walk away or they will absolutely love us or the third, which is more like a morbid curiosity, and they want to see what will happen next.

AM: The band has a reputation for busting out not so obvious cover songs- is there any plan to do this on the tour?
GP: We just did a tour of Europe and we were doing the Tears For Fears song “Head Over Heels.” We played it for the fans and for us. We were surprised because we usually think younger fans don’t go back that far into the musical past and hear songs like that, but a good portion of fans in the crowd knew it. We’ve been playing with Van Halen’s “Hot For Teacher” last year and we might bring it out again.

Dillinger Escape Plan headline at the Eagle Theater on Thursday, April 1^st. Tickets are $16 and are available at www.ticketweb.com. They also play the Warped Tour when it comes to Comerica Park on Friday, July 30^th. Additional dates and band info can be found at www.ireworks.net. The band’s new album “Option Paralysis” is out now.

Before the band gets into the studio to lay the final touches down on their upcoming record, the guys in Unearth must have been getting a little stir crazy and tired of winter- because they are now back out on the road, headlining the [...]]]>

Unearth headlines at the Stick this Saturday.

Before the band gets into the studio to lay the final touches down on their upcoming record, the guys in Unearth must have been getting a little stir crazy and tired of winter- because they are now back out on the road, headlining the Atticus Metal Tour.

The Massachusetts band is still riding high from the success of their 2008 album, The March, which was the band’s first album to sell over 100,000 copies worldwide, according to Billboard Magazine. The album, which included searing tracks such as “My Will Be Done” and the punishing title track, was the latest in a string of quality releases from the metalcore mainstays. Most recently, the band warmed up for the new album by recording a cover of Pantera’s “Sandblasted Skin” for the recently released Dimebag Darrell Metal Hammer tribute album.

Not much is known about details of the new album, other than we will see its release likely in the summer sometime on Metal Blade Records. But for now, the band will play with hardcore band Stick To Your Guns and death metallers in Carnifex, whose new album is fiercely titled “Hell Chose Me.” Also, Chicago’s Veil of Maya is on this very diverse bill of metal.

The tour started in early March, and will wrap up out east on April 4^th. But before then, Unearth head to Detroit, where they play the Magic Stick on Saturday, March 27^th. It will be a good chance for you to hear some of the new stuff Unearth has been working on this winter, as well as the songs you mosh in your living room to.

Unearth play at the Magic Stick on Saturday, March 27^th. Tickets are $16 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Additional band info and dates can be found at www.unearth.tv.

German music already sounds scary enough. In a country that considers Rammstein a mainstream, arena rock band, you almost have to wonder what passes for extreme metal in that country. Well, the Munich, Germany based band Obscura is here to show you what sort of intense sounds [...]]]>

Cover art for "Cosmogenesis"

German music already sounds scary enough. In a country that considers Rammstein a mainstream, arena rock band, you almost have to wonder what passes for extreme metal in that country. Well, the Munich, Germany based band Obscura is here to show you what sort of intense sounds can come from the Germans.

Lead by band mastermind Steffan Kummerer, Obscura debuted on Relapse Records in 2009 with their album Cosmogenesis. The ten song, fifty minute record shows a brutal sound with such tracks as “Orbital Elements” and “Incarnated.” The band recently released a video for their cut “Anticosmic Overload,” which shows the band’s flare for extreme technical metal.

Along with releasing a guitar tab book for the album (so the aspiring guitar gods can learn a thing or two), the band is re-releasing their debut album “Retribution” later on in the spring through Relapse. After touring with Cannibal Corpse last year, the band is currently out on a huge spring metal tour with the Black Dahlia Murder. The tour started February 24^th, and winds up here in Black Dahlia’s hometown of Detroit for a sure to be way packed show on Wednesday, March 24^th at the Magic Stick.
This is sure to be a good chance to check out the new crop of German metal before Black Dahlia ignites the pool hall into a frenzy that evening.

Obscura opens for the Black Dahlia Murder at the Magic Stick on Wednesday, March 24^th. Tickets are $13 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Additional dates and band info can be found at www.obscura-metal.com.

God Forbid has been quite the touring machine since the release of their February 2009 release “Earthsblood”. The band started touring with Lamb of God last spring and have continued well into 2010. The band was a last minute replacement for Throwdown [...]]]>

God Forbid at the time of the release of "Earthsblood"

God Forbid has been quite the touring machine since the release of their February 2009 release “Earthsblood”. The band started touring with Lamb of God last spring and have continued well into 2010. The band was a last minute replacement for Throwdown on the current Five Finger Death Punch tour and will be heading out on the road with Kittie in March. As the band was making their way to a show in Buffalo, I had a chance to talk with guitarist Doc Coyle about the less pessimistic tone of the current record and how their new guitarist has been working out. Here’s my interview with Doc:

AM: How did the band become a last minute addition to the Five Finger Death Punch tour?
DC: Originally, we thought we were on the tour. Our manager thought we were on the tour as well, so we were kinda pissed off when we found out we didn’t get the tour because it was already on our radar. We had planned another tour because we didn’t get the tour- but when the second opportunity came around, we jumped at the chance to get on the tour.

AM: What is the major difference between “Earthsblood” and previous records?
DC: I think with the previous two records, there was a more apocalyptic vibe, perhaps more reflective and focused on dire events. During the writing of those albums, we had a difficult world view around us and it showed in the music, which had more of a political slant to the music. With “Earthsblood”, we went for a more organic approach to the music and made it more personal. We didn’t focus in on apocalyptic material. You can call it upbeat, at least from the music standpoint, but I cant speak for Byron (Davis- lead vocals) as to whether you’d consider his lyrics more upbeat.

AM: Do you think there has been one album or one moment where the evolution of the band that has stood out?
DC: I think every album is a evolution for the band. But if I had to say if there was one point, it was between the albums “Determination” and “Gone Forever”. There was more melody put into the music at that point, and the band moved away from a more metalcore sound to a more thrash metal tone. But as time went along, I think the band has moved into a far more traditional metal band and took it from there.

AM: How has new guitarist Matt Wickland(ex-Himsa) worked out so far?
DC: After Dallas left last April, he knew Matt from just being a friend we were from being on tour with over the years. After he played with Himsa, he did some work with Nevermore. Matt’s a good player and really interested in always getting better as a musician. You get a good vibe from him and we’ve connected on a personal level with him. We started writing during the holidays and looking forward to seeing what we do in the future.

AM: How has the current state of the music industry and economy affected the band?
DC: Not much (laughs). We’ve been real fortunate to be on some big marquee tours. We did the Lamb of God tour, then the Mayhem tour last summer. We haven’t been affected as much as other bands. The industry and economy is struggling right now, and everybody is having problems. I think we may see some of the effects of this when we go on tour with Kittie, but I hope not.

AM: Will the band be touring through the summer?
DC: At this point, we aren’t going to tour in the summer. We are going to go back in to record the next album. We want to tour for a purpose and not just because we can. We’ve had a good run on this tour and look forward to the next record.

God Forbid plays with Kittie at the Hayloft Liquor Stand on Wednesday, March 17^th (yes, St. Patrick’s Day). Tickets are $15 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Additional dates can be found at www.godforbid1.com.

To say that February 2010 has been a troubling month is probably an understatement. With lead singer Howard Jones out for “personal reasons” (in which no further information still has not been given), the Massachusetts-based metal stars have vowed to forge ahead on tour in his absence.

Killswitch made their way to a quite [...]]]>

To say that February 2010 has been a troubling month is probably an understatement. With lead singer Howard Jones out for “personal reasons” (in which no further information still has not been given), the Massachusetts-based metal stars have vowed to forge ahead on tour in his absence.

Killswitch made their way to a quite busy, but not quite sold out show at the Royal Oak Theater and played a 70-minute set in which temporary fill in singer Phil Labonte of All That Remains gave the old school fans what they wanted with a majority of the songs from earlier days of the band.

Starting with the charging “Rose Of Sharyn”, Labonte and the rest of the band played a strong set that was definitely a crowd pleaser. Most of the material in the set was from their first three records, so songs like “Take This Oath” and “My Last Serenade” took precedent over newer songs, but most of the fans didn’t seem to care.

As a singer with All That Remains, Labonte is highly comfortable on stage, but with Killswitch, he still looks a little tentative and relied heavily on crowd participation to help him with the songs. As he plays more shows with the band, odds are that will change. It is quite ironic that Labonte is singing for the band, given that he originally tried out for the position when Jones got the nod. But his energy was enough to carry the band on this night.

Phil also fits in well with wild guitarist Adam Dukewitcz, who ripped on his friend to no end last night. Adam’s targets on most nights are most in the audience, but on this night it was geared at hazing his good friend Labonte. At one point, a chant of “Phil Is Short” erupted at Dukwitiecz’s command, which caused Labonte to mimic his friend. All in all, it was all good-natured between friends.

With Labonte leading the way, it was a solid but perhaps not stellar show. No one outside of the band knows what will come of this and what Jones’ timetable is for sure. A lot of questions will needed to be answered in the near future, but for now, Killswitch is gonna be OK, at least on stage.