Hammer of Doom News Report 03.04.12: 'Jeff Hanneman is Japanese Spider-Man' Edition
Posted by Robert Cooper on 03.04.2013
News and thoughts on Metallica complaining about their music being used for torture, Slayer changing up their line-up again, the nominees for Revolver Golden Gods Awards and more!
Welcome ...transition...
THE CRIES FROM THE CRYPT!
Cradle of Filth U.S. Tour Canceled Due To 'Immigration Issues' and They're 'Banned' From Playing China.
Apparently this was due to visa issues, and as for China...is it any surprise? I'm not a fan of them by any means, but their tour looked pretty decent with bands like Decapitated and The Faceless on it. Plus,, they were coming to NC, unlike Mayhem Festival, those bastards.
Symphony X Drummer, Jason Rullo, Suffers Heart Failure; Full Recovery Expected.
On behalf of 411mania, I send best wishes to Mr. Rullo. I've read that his recovery is going to be 3-6 months, and I hope it is a swift healing process.
AC/DC Official Beer Now Available
You know it's not the Hammer of Doom without some stupid band branded alcohol, so here's AC/DC beer, because everyone's clamoring for it.
Metallica's 2013 'Orion Music + More' Festival Details Revealed
I'm disappointed that they don't have a pure metal stage like they did last year, but bands like Battlecross, Cauldron, Tomahawk, and well, Metallica are great bands. Though I find it funny that they have the 70s proto-punk band Death playing there; I know it's sending the death metal Death for a loop, judging by their official Facebook page's posts clarifying it multiple times.
Vomitory To Disband
This sucks, while I'm not very knowledgeable on the band, I know for a fact that they've been around for longer than I have. I sometimes wonder how you go for so long with the same band, and don't break up any sooner, but at the same time, I wonder why you would break up after so long. This leaves me something to ponder after this article is done...
Dark Tranquility Parts Ways With Bassist Daniel Antonsson
It was a good split, Antonsson wanted more time with his family and other things, and hopefully Dark Tranquility will have something better than the subpar EP they released last year.
Overkill Drops Off 'The Dark Roots Of Thrash' Tour
This news has come and gone, but it still stinks. Apparently the band got sick and Bobby Blitz has "walking pneumonia," and was told not to perform, or it'd get worse, so they had to drop those dates. It sucks, but I hope he's better by now.
Randy Blythe Trial Delayed, Returns To U.S
It will be started back by the time this article goes up (or at least, it will be March 4th then), but at the time of writing, Randy is back in the US after two key criminal psychologists were not able to make it, and a key witness was sick. I still think that he's served his time, and I know the dude feels like a sack of dung. So hopefully this will all be sorted out, and he'll be done with this, though I don't think he'll ever be.
Former Anthrax Guitarist Rob Caggiano Joins Volbeat
Well, that was fast, I knew that he was not exactly happy with Anthrax, but I'm surprised he jumped to Volbeat so fast, he's an exceptional guitarist, so it's a good snag for them, and he's apparently a good producer, so he also has that. Best of luck to them.
Century Media And Earache Announce U.S. Licensing Deal
Basically, they let their powers combine, and Captain Planet Metal came out. Century is going to be in charge of releasing Earache's physical back catalog, and Earache will keep releasing their own new and digital stuff. Sounds interesting.
New Amon Amarth Album To Feature Guest Vocals By Former Candlemass Singer
This isn't HUGE news, but I'm a fanboy of both bands, so I'm SUPER excited. Messiah Marcolin will be doing some vocals for the new Amon Amarth album, and nothing makes me more excited than that. (Okay, some things might, but for the sake of a statement, let's just stick with this is the greatest thing since sliced bread #2). Now with nothing to do with Sliced Bread, we all shall read from...
THE PSALMS FOR THE DEAD!
Since when did Slayer become Megadeth?
So, I'm sure that in my absence, you've heard things about Slayer, and if you haven't...oh boy. So first thing is first, Dave Lombardo has gotten a bit of a boot from Slayer. He announced it on his Facebook page last week that they are replacing him for the upcoming Australian tour. Apparently it is over business things, all about moneys and him not being paid and shit. So who is replacing Dave? Well, none other than their one time replacement drummer, Jon Dette. While I'm not SUPER familiar with Dette's stuff, but I know that it's good, because the drummers that he has replaced in Slayer alone are hard acts to follow, and I think that he can do it with no problem. Besides, I don't think that Crazy Uncle Kerry would give the drum keys to just any guy.
Speaking of Crazy Uncle Kerry, he says that what Dave is talking about is shit, and that he has been wary about Lombardo for a while. Tom didn't want him to go, but Kerry threatened to bitch at him, so Tom gave in. Overall, I hate this, because I love Slayer, and I can totally see what Lombardo is saying, but I really want them to be a big happy family. Though Kerry said that he wasn't sure when Jeff Hanneman would play guitar again. It really sounds like Jeff has secretly turned into Spider-Man (the Japanese one, of course, because Jeff Hanneman needs a giant robot), and Kerry is content with moving on, now I don't know if it's with Gary Holt or not, but I would interested in hearing what they're shelling out, to be honest. But I really want the original 4 Slayer members to be back together, can you do that for me Kerry Claus?
They do have an album called, 'Kill 'Em All', right?
Another thing that I wish I were here for on a weekly basis, stories like these. Apparently Metallica was used to interrogate prisoners in the Middle East, it'd soften them up, so the interrogators would have an easier job. The soldier telling this story said that Metallica called (or something like that), and didn't want their music being used in a manner that is hurtful or violent. So the soldier was like, "Didn't you have an album called, "Kill 'Em All?". And now Metallica have come out saying that they never said that at all, though they don't like their music being attached to such political things. Though I like what Lars said (about the Norwegian death metal bands (nice try, Lars)) that there were bands that made them look like Simon and Garfunkel. They need something extreme in the house, they need......THE BLACK SATANS!
Awards Shows, and Why there will NEVER EEEEEEEEEEEEVER be one that satisfies everyone.
There's the award show, something about Kelsey Grammer...oh sorry, it was the Grammys. It was Anthrax, Lamb of God, Marilyn Manson, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, and Halestorm all facing off to see who was the best in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Three guesses who won! It was Halestorm, I was fine with them winning, as probably was the man, the myth, the Jeremy Thomas (HI JEREMY!). While I would've picked Anthrax or Megadeth, those are my choices, and we all know to the highest seller goes the spoils, at least in these categories.
Besides, it's not like Jethro Tull won again (unless you ask Jason Bittner of Shadow's Fall, it is worse). Other award show news, The Revolver "SPOILER: Black Veil Brides Wins " Awards are back. This year, I can only bitch about half the nominees, so bravo guys. Here they are!.....
Best Guitarist
* John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON)
* Stephen Carpenter (DEFTONES)
* Alex Lifeson (RUSH)
* Misha Mansoor (PERIPHERY)
* Brendon Small (DETHKLOK)
* Kim Thayil (SOUNDGARDEN)
I'll either vote for Alex Lifeson, or John 5. Alex Lifeson is amazing, and still going strong after all of these years. John 5 is a very talented man, who impresses me greatly.
Best Drummer
* Abe Cunningham (DEFTONES)
* Mario Duplantier (GOJIRA)
* Arejay Hale (HALESTORM)
* Gene Hoglan (DETHKLOK, TESTAMENT)
* Roy Mayorga (STONE SOUR)
* Neil Peart (RUSH)
My heart says Gene Hoglan, he's by far one of my favorite drummers. But my heart says Neil Peart, because Neal Peart.
Paul Gray Best Bassist
* Rex Brown (KILL DEVIL HILL, PANTERA)
* Steve Harris (IRON MAIDEN)
* Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD)
* Geddy Lee (RUSH)
* Jason Newsted (NEWSTED, METALLICA)
* Sergio Vega (DEFTONES)
This is another hard category, every single nominee is great (I think the Deftones guy is, maybe...). I think I'll go with Steve Harris, but still, Geddy Lee, and Lemmy...this one is tough.
Best Vocalist
* Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA)
* Maria Brink (IN THIS MOMENT)
* Chris Cornell (SOUNDGARDEN)
* Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM)
* Chino Moreno (DEFTONES)
* Corey Taylor (STONE SOUR, SLIPKNOT)
Phil Anselmo, no question. Only vocalist on here that I roll my eyes at is Maria Brink, though she seems nice.
Best New Talent
* DEVICE
* GHOST
* KVELERTAK
* MISS MAY I
* OF MICE & MEN
* YOUNG GUNS
Of course I pick Ghost, the other choices are, a David Draiman side project that just released one song, a band that is on metal-archives that has 2 albums out. Then a bunch of other bands I could care less about (I've tried Miss May I, no thank you).
Most Metal Athlete
* Tom Crabtree (Green Bay Packers, NFL)
* Tanner Faust (Rally and drifting car racing)
* Clay Guida (Mixed Martial Arts fighting, UFC)
* Triple H (WWE wrestling)
* Geoff Rowley (Skateboarding)
* CJ Wilson (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, MLB)
I want Clay Guida to win, so Triple H comes out, sledgehammers him, and steals his award.
Best Live Band
* ANTHRAX
* FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
* HATEBREED
* LAMB OF GOD
* SLIPKNOT
* VOLBEAT
Anthrax, but that's bias, haven't seen any of them live.
Comeback Of The Year
* AEROSMITH
* THE DARKNESS
* QUICKSAND
* REFUSED
* SOUNDGARDEN
* TENACIOUS D
Soundgarden. It's not like Aerosmith and Tenacious D have been gone for that long.
Song Of The Year
* ASKING ALEXANDRIA - "Run Free"
* AVENGED SEVENFOLD -"Carry On"
* BLACK VEIL BRIDES - "In The End"
* DETHKLOK - "I Ejaculate Fire"
* HALESTORM - "Love Bites (So Do I)"
* IN THIS MOMENT - "Blood"
Dethklok is who I vote for, Halestorm is the only other contender I care for. (I really hate that In This Moment song).
Most Dedicated Fans
* BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
* BLACK VEIL BRIDES
* A DAY TO REMEMBER
* HIM
* RAMMSTEIN
* SLIPKNOT
I voted Slipknot, because every heavyset girl that dressed goth in my high school, had a Slipknot shirt (not saying every woman with a Slipknot shirt is heavyset, or goth, but it went with the territory back in my day).
Album Of The Year
* DEFTONES - "Koi No Yokan"
* GOJIRA - "L'Enfant Sauvage"
* HALESTORM - "The Strange Case Of…"
* MARILYN MANSON - "Born Villain"
* SOUNDGARDEN - "King Animal"
* STONE SOUR - "House Of Gold & Bones Part 1"
I vote Gojira....because it's the only one I've listened to, and it's fucking awesome.
If only they had a write in, because we know who should be voted in....SABATON!
Proof That Heavy Metal Will Never Die Vol.12
So this is pretty much the section where I run my mouth about how awesome metal has charted around the world. Suffocation's, 'Pinnacle of Bedlam' landed on the German Charts at Number 65, as well as Number 152 on the US Billboard Charts. Not to mention they got Number 2 on the Heatseeker charts. The album was great, so I'm happy that it got so far. Another band that I had never heard of, but still managed to do decently in Germany, is Pink Cream 69, their new album, 'Ceremonial' landed at number 83.
Next up, as the my esteemed 411mania Music Zone podcasting host, Mr. Mark Radulich would say, it's #TIMETOMURDERIT. Hatebreed's, 'The Divinity of Purpose', got to Number 20 in both USA and Canada. As Well as Number 28 in Austria, and Number 25 in Germany. A solid album, well deserving of all the sales, not to mention that Jamey Jasta is a swell fella. A band whose album I really want to listen to, but have yet to, Holy Grail, have a new album that hit Number 9 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, they're going to be on tour with Anthrax and Exodus this spring, so look out for that.
Finally, Helloween's new album, 'Straight Out of Hell', managed to make it all the way to Number 97 in the US, and Number 4 in Germany. I'll be honest, I was really stoked for this album, and it was good, but I was hoping for more. And last but not least, Voivod's 'Target Earth' sold 1,500 copies. I have no clue where that lands them on the charts, but the album was tremendous, and I loved every second of it.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHEAPASSES!
First off, we have a new track from the awesome Spiritual Beggars, so much cowbell!
Next up is the entire new album, 'Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy' by Rotting Christ.
(I hope this works)
Next up is a track from the swansong album by Cathedral, it can be found HERE!
Next up is a song for download by the band Colossus, the song features LG Petrov of Entombed, so it should rock!
Finally is a download of a little EP from Meshuggah, enjoy it, dudes and dudettes.
I hope I didn't overload your ears with the great music, we still need to meditate in...
THE TEMPLE OF THE DEAD!
So last month, I didn't listen to as much music as I should have, but I did my best to keep up with the big releases. The new Stratovarius album, 'Nemesis' was pretty good (best songs were, "Abandon," "Stand My Grand," Out of the Fog," and "Dragons"). As was the new Suffocation album, 'The Pinnacle of Bedlam'. (the best songs were, "Cycles of Suffering," "As Grace Descends," Sullen Days," and "The Pinnacle of Bedlam." The albums that weren't on Spotify that I didn't get to listen to bother me. I want to listen to the new Darkthrone really bad, and while I could probably find it on youtube, it's a lot more key pressing than I want (coming from the man writing a large article). I also want to hear the new Raven Black Night, Hate, and Raven Lord.
But at least next week alone will quench my thirst, new Enforcer, Krokus, Krypts, Omnium Gatherum, Rotting Christ, Soilwork, and Vreid. So I think that it will make up for the not that big on names 2013 that we have right now.
As for great albums that I listened to this month. I listened to
-'Heroes of Origin' by Hatriot (best songs, "Blood Stained Wings," "Violent Times of My Dark Passenger," "The Mechanics of Annhilation," and "Heroes of Origin.") It was some good thrash.
-'Species at War' EP by Rotten Sound, it was short, pick a song.
-'One Chosen By the Gods' by Aether Realm (best songs, "Hourglass", "Swamp Witch", "One Chosen by the Gods", "Odin will Provide"). Awesome band, they're from my neck of the woods, and seem like awesome guys, be sure to check them out sometime!
-'Coffinships' by Abomnium (best songs, "Taint", "Coffinships", "Horde", "Epoch"). Great underground black thrash.
-'Mysterium' by Manilla Road (best songs, "The Grey God Passes", "Stand Your Ground", "Mysterium").
-and finally 'Ragnarök'n'Roll' by Nidhoeggr (best songs, "Huter Des Hains", "Wiedersehn", and "Nidhoeggr"). They're a pretty great band, keep an eye out for them below.
I don't know if the Apocalypse Rocks and Rolls where we're going, but I do know that we are going to a place....
WHERE THE RUNES STILL SPEAK!
Last time I ran the column, I was slightly surprised that I only had two comments and a comment replay. But I probably shouldn't be, I have a feeling that it's going to be a long road to getting my readership back (though it'll be longer, because I won't be back on this column full time until after this semester, sadly).
Anywho, comment number one came to us from The A-Man
"Hogan being offered a role in Metallica is just bullshit. I don't believe a single word that dickhead says! has anyone heard Jaymz or Lars' thoughts on this?"Alan answered his question by saying "Lars denied it a while back."
Thanks for answering him, Alan. I always knew Hogan was full of shit, I just find it hilarious to mention it because for some reason Hogan seems to think he has a chance. Though I hear he is a decent musician.
The other comment was dj_bollocks telling me that he(I think it's a he), will investigate my suggestions.
Hey dj_bollocks, what'd you think?
Finally, is our Global Metal Song of the Week Month. I decided that it'd be best if I just keep going east, and then loop back to the British Isles on a later date.
I decided that Switzerland would be a cool place to go next, and in my searching, I found the band that I had been listening to earlier in the day was from Switzerland.
This is the folk metal band Nidhoeggr, their first EP came out earlier this month, and it's called, 'Ragnarök'n'Roll'. Enjoy their awesomeness \m/
Alright, so if you have any opinions on the column, some genre or country that you want me to feature in the global metal column, or if you just want to talk metal you can e-mail me at themetalcoop@gmail.com, tweet me at @themetalcoop or comment below!
Also, don't forget to check out Mark Radulich and I's 411 Music Zone podcast.
One more thing, don't forget to check out my tokusatsu podcast, the Sentai Rider podcast. Where my co-host Hunter and I talk all things Power Rangers, Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, and other things. You can find it HERE!
One other more thing, don't forget to check out the other Sunday night music article from the man with the colorful canvas, and vocabulary, Sean Comer. He writes the 3R's...GO READ IT!
In the words of my lord and savior, Chuck Schuldiner, KEEP THE METAL FAITH ALIVE \m/
