Strictly Metal (Vo.4)
Hello and a very warm rocking welcome back to the first Strictly Metal column of 2012. You’ll have to forgive the absence of any news/reviews over the festive period. Truth be told, this has been down to the fact that I’ve been mostly filling my face with food and partying like a drunken monkey up North for the past few weeks…. Anyway, without further ado, let’s get to it.
News this week
Bit of a shock this week as Killswitch Engage announce that frontman Howard Jones has said adios amigos to life with the band. The reason for his departure has not been disclosed but it does not appear to be acrimonious in any way. The band thanked Howard for his nine year tenure and wish him well in the statement released via their website. Rumours were rife within hours of Jones’ departure with the media speculating that All That Remains frontman Phil Labonte would be the number one choice to fill the vocalist’s shoes. Labonte has since wholeheartedly dismissed the gossip via his Facebook account. As you do.
There are some absolutely CRACKING albums to be released over the next few months. The first I am going to mention is Metallica’s 4 track EP titled Beyond Magnetic which will drop 30th January. This will contain the four rough (albeit blistering) cuts that hit the web just after the guys rocked their 30th anniversary gig in San Fran last month. The tracks in question are, “Hate Train”, “Just A Bullet Away”, “Hell and Back” and “Rebel Of Babylon”.
Corey Taylor is shooting the shit once again but this time it’s not a dig at any producers. He has been discussing the new Stone Sour album which is apparently, in the making! The band currently have 13 songs all done and dusted to go on to a possible double disc concept album. Taylor has described the newbie as “Pink Floyd’s The Wall meets Alice In Chains Dirt on steroids”. Now that I am dying to hear.
Virginian metal behemoths Lamb Of God have just posted a new song from upcoming album Resolution online. With riffs meatier than your local butcher’s window, I suspect “Desolation” is but a mere taste of what is yet to come on Randy Blythe and co’s sixth studio album. An absolute beast of a track. Not heard it yet? Check it out here:
Dave Grohl Sharing A Smile With His Latest Collaborators
Whilst we are on the subject of collaborations, 80′s hair rockers Ratt have revealed plans to record a song for nicest man in Rock Dave Grohl’s new project. Vocalist Stephen Pearcy and lead guitarist Warren DeMartini promise that it will be a totally original offering. Let’s hope it fares better than the band’s most recent album which is currently on it’s arse saleswise across the pond.
Canadian metallers Cancer Bats have just announced that they will be playing an awesome SIX gigs across five venues in London over the course of one day. The Pentagram tour (aptly named given that the five points of the chosen venues ACTUALLY form one!) takes place April 21st and tickets are a snip at £10. Front man Liam Cormier told Kerrang! Magazine: “We’ve already done three shows in 24 hours — that’s now old hat! April 21 is going to be one totally intense day!” Head to http://www.seetickets.com/
Albums to watch out for
Instead of the bog standard “Album Of The Week” choice, here are a couple of upcoming releases which I thoroughly recommend:
Lacuna Coil: Dark Adrenaline (Century Media)
I’ll make no bones about it. I freaking love this band and this is my number one, hotly anticipated album for January 2012. Don Gilmore is at the production helm once more but from what I have heard so far, this is looking more and more like a return to the, dare I say it, gothic and sensuously heavy yet melodic feel that was missing from previous album Shallow Life. The two singles that have already been debuted (Trip The Darkness and Kill The Light) both went down a storm on the UK tour in November so I have high hopes for this one.
Meshuggah (Nuclear Blast)
Oooooooh yes. Sweden’s pioneers of Tech metal are back. Meshuggah. The follow up to 2008′s opus ObZen is finally set for release on 27th March. There’s no title to share with you but that’s immaterial. If you like music that will put some hair on your ass then this is for you. Be sure to check them out and have your face melted right off when they tour in April too. The tour kicks off in Bristol on Thursday 12th April at the O2 Academy.
Single Of The Week: “Playing With Thermometers” by Enter Shikari
Another mashed up masterpiece from the St Albans boys. Taken from forthcoming album A Flash Flood Of Colour, it’s post-hardcore guitars spliced with some dirty dub wobbles accompanied by the obligatory yowls and cockney narrative. Smashing.
