99.9% of the time I’m listening and posting about bands that are more mainstream; more heard of. Over, let’s say the last two years I’ve learned of a lot of bands from blogging here. Some of those bands I had heard of before but was too ignorant to actually make an effort to listen to.

With that said, I would like some suggestions for bands that are out of the normal listening stream. Bands that have released good albums but don’t get the press or respect they deserve. However, I don’t want to hear any more bands from the “trendy” genres such as another deathcore or metalcore, mathcore, or any “core: band for that matter. Maybe some good progressive metal, death metal, doom metal bands that I’m not familiar with. Whatever you can think of that I won’t normally find in a chain record store or from a press release from a major or standard label that I normally post about (Nuclear Blast, Metal Blade, Prosthetic, Roadrunner, etc.).

I know I miss out on a lot of good metal that should be heard and bands that could use some good exposure. Even older bands that might not be around anymore that still have a good album or two floating around out there that never got the credit they deserved. So, let’s have it?

Here is an older post I wrote almost a year ago. It was about the record insustry and about all the metal/metalcore bands that are out there. My views on a lot of bands has since changed but I still feel there is so many damn metal or metalcore bands rather, that sound the same. Sure it’s a catchy, heavy mix of metal and hardcore but most of these bands wouldn’t know a real hardcore band or a hardcore way of life it it was shove up their asses. I can’t say that I know what it’s lie to grow up in the environment that a lot of real hardcore bands grew up in, but I love the music…and I hate fakes. Regardless, there are so many friggin bands out there plaguing the industry creating more scene kids and more swooped hair and it makes me sick. With that I give you this post.

The State Of Heavy Metal And The Record Industry

Repost from Nuclear Blast Newsletter:

Kolossus, the new album from Norwegian metallers KEEP OF KALESSIN, is available for streaming in its entirety at the band’s MySpace page. Due in Europe on June 6 and in North America on June 10, the CD will feature the following track listing:

01. Origin
02. A New Empire’s Birth
03. Against The Gods
04. The Rising Sign
05. Warmonger
06. Escape The Union
07. The Mark Of Power
08. Kolossus
09. Ascendant

In addition, Kolossus will include a BONUS DVD that will include live sets, album and band documentary, behind the scenes, and other killer material that only you’ll be able to watch by purchasing the album!

For more info on Keep Of Kalessin click on the links below

• Keep Of Kalessin Myspace
• Keep Of Kalessin Official Website

You can pre-order Kolossus Here

Image Source: Amazon.com

Buy at AllPosters.com

In the metal industry these days, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. What I mean is that metal fans are never satisfied one way or another. Through all the changes that have gone through metal over the year, there is always something that aggravates us as fans. Let me explain…

In the beginning all metal was created equal. Through innovation and evolution it has changed in order to keep thriving and satisfying the fans hunger for something bigger and better. As thrash and speed metal started to get big, a big fat, wet, cat crawled out of a trash can and glam rock was born. Glam rock took over the scene and metal as we knew it was put in the shadows for the moment. We still knew it was there and supported it but it wasn’t so much in the public eye. When it was it was always a bad thing like some schmuck off-ing his best friend while listening to his favorite metal band, while glam rock probably spread more STD’s than a big city crack whore. Men looked like women, pants were tighter than a most women’s, yet these guys were seeing more ass than a proctologist. Am I jealous? Nah. It was time for something new though. Even glam rock fans were getting bored and very tired of choking on Aquanet fumes.

Read more

The newest heavy metal band to hit the music scene is set to release their self-titled debut album, Stalingrad, on May 29^th, featuring their first single, ‘State of Hypocrisy.’ Filled with cutting edge lyrics and hair-raising music, Stalingrad can appeal to all senses.

In celebration, an album release party will be held at the Velvet Underground in Toronto on May 29, 2008 at 8pm, including an exclusive performance from Stalingrad. CDs and t-shirts will be available for sale at the venue.

Check out Stalingrad at Myspace

According to Blabbermouth.net Metallica’s upcoming cd will be mixed by Greg Fideleman. Lars also mentions a bunch of “nutty” stuff during a conference call.

METALLICA has tapped Greg Fidelman — an engineer/producer who has worked with current METALLICA producer Rick Rubin on albums for the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, SLIPKNOT and AUDIOSLAVE, among others — to mix its much-anticipated new album, due out in September.

During a conference call to promote Banaroo Fest Lars said all sorts of “nutty” stuff:

Read more

As I Lay Dying will be playing a bunch of Club shows after their Wacken Open Air shows. 9 of these shows will be played with Killswitch Engage. The video for Within Distruction (My personal favorite) from An Ocean Between Us is below and was shot from their February 1st show in Nebraska. Check it out!

Aug. 02 - Wacken, Germany - Wacken Open Air
Aug. 04 - München, Germany - Backstage Werk *
Aug. 05 - Leipzig, Germany - Werk 2 *
Aug. 06 - Prague, Czech Republic – Futurum *
Aug. 07 - Budapest, Hungary - Petofi Csarnok *
Aug. 09 - Maribor, Slovenia – Stuck *
Aug. 10 - Innsbruck, Austria – Hafen *
Aug. 11 - Rimini, Italy – Velvet *
Aug. 12 - Zürich, Switzerland – Rohstofflager *
Aug. 13 - Wiesbaden, Germany – Schlachthof *
Aug. 15 - Dinkelsbühl, Germany - Summer Breeze Open Air
Aug. 16 - Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop Festival
Aug. 17 - Derby - Bloodstock Open Air
* denotes the shows being played with KSE
Read more

I bought Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey the other day because I was tired of seeing bits and pieces of it on VH1 and I wanted to see it all the way through. That and it’s a nice thing to have around as a metal fan.

Why I love this documentary is because it shows just about every aspect of metal. I think it was Ronnie James Dio that said something like metal is so huge but it goes so unseen. Which is so true. As mainstream as it is right now, you can not deny the fact that it is still an “underground” music genre. Some see the popularity of it and try to jump on the wagon by marketing crappy bands to the tune of what they think is metal. But it’s so obvious that they don’t have a clue. It’s funny how the only time that Heavy Metal music ever gets any media coverage is when some stupid kid with problems shoots up a school or kills himself and then they want to blame the music. You don’t see the media trying to blame Michael Jackson’s music when some child gets molested or Country music when some some old sick dude rapes his daughter. Nope. It’s always metal that’s associated with the violent murders and such when a lot of Hip Hop has lyrics much more violent than most metal songs. Read more

Metallica’s Mission Metallica Beta website went live today for a few minutes and then went down from what I read. I think the official launch date is May 12th. Here is the teaser and traler from the site anyway. Enjoy?

Teaser

Trailer

Off to a late start tonight. Here is some significant metal news of the day. I’m linking to News from Blabbermouth.net for the most part.

• It looks like Down will be joining Metallica and The Sword on the

European Tour this summer

• Metal Hammer Magazine has announced their Metal Gods Nominees here
• Celtic Frost is pretty much done after the departure of Singer/Guitarist Tom Gabriel Fischer left the band due to some crazy ass irreconcilable differences, it sounds like a damn divorce litigation.
• Dethklok and Chimaira will be doing summer tour. Rumor has it that Chimaira will be opening for Dethklok so sorry, you’ll have to sit through that to see Dethklok.
• Dino Cazeres shot down any rumors of a Fear Factory reunion after being seen talking to Burton C. Bell and says everything is good with Divine Heresy and he’s proud of his newfound band’s success.
• If anyone gives a shit, Tom Morello is being awfully silent about further Rage Against The Machine studio rumors. Let me guess…they are going to scream about more political views, oppression and corrupt law enforcement. ZZZZZZZ