Hello 2009

I'm aware that I probably should have done an end of year summery type thing for 2008, alas, my memory is slipping in my old age. So I shall write something regarding the forthcoming events/releases of 2009.

As for events, you can expect reviews of Hellfest (French metal festival) and Bloodstock (my annual 3 days of drinking ale and eating Asda brand crisps). Yes, yes, I know this deprives you of my online company for 9 days (France is a long ways away) out of the year, but you'll just have to cope. Please, for the love of what ever divine being you believe in, don't expect anything covering all the main bands of the festival. You truly do not understand my level of laziness, it's something most of you could only dream to attain. Sure, seeing Manowar and Gama Bomb are going to be grand times for myself, but to be truly happy and content at a festival I need to be in a camping chair, have a crate of half decent booze near by, as well as a nice mountain of cheap crisps to gorge on without having to live the nightmare of standing up. If I were being paid to review the festivals or some how be granted free entry from a magazine/website, then yes, I would go and see all the key bands of the weekend, but as it happens I don't get paid, both festivals have been paid out of own wallet. More self-funded gigs are bound to pop up throughout the year.

I can hope that Zimmers Hole finally reach UK shores to do a headline tour or at least support a decent band (piss off am I giving money to Soilwork). 2009 will apparently be the final year that NIN (Nine Inch Nails, be ashamed if you needed to peer between these brackets) do big tours, fair enough (as long as I get to see them).

Nearly a year has gone past since I decided to enter this business, no pay offers have appeared (not that I expected one to so soon), but worry not, I plan at sticking to what I do for as long as I can. I'll be fucked if I'm spending the rest of my days wearing a suit (unless I get to be an Akercocke roadie) and handing out advice about a subject that I couldn't care less about.
I adore music, if it were to take the form of a female human I would happily ask it out on a date and not care if it slapped me in a face and gave me the 'last man on Earth' speech because I adore it that much. I would persist in following it even after all the stalking charges and court orders. I don't want to come off as one of those 'music is my life maaaaan' douche bags, but there are few things that I enjoy more in this world than going to concerts and listening to CD's.
Many will say that seeking happiness throughout your whole life is foolish and I can see why. But I don't aim to seek happiness all the time, I just desire to avoid soul crushing misery on a day to day basis. If you can't be happy with at least one large aspect of your life why bother living it?

Now, back to the music. Upcoming releases this year that will no doubt be on this site, or ones I work for will include:
Mastodon-Crack the Skye
After dismissing everything expect Blood and Thunder for nearly 3 years, I finally get this utterly astounding band.
Devin Townsend-Ki (hopefully)
My love for this man (not in that way) is unrivaled by any other musician. Although it nearly brought me to tears when I found out that he may never tour again, I still look forward to his new album as if it were a new kind of explosion I was Michael Bay.
Lamb of God-Wraith
I wouldn't consider it insulting if I called LOG a generic metal band, because they are a good generic metal band, just like Machine Head (even if The Blackening hype is getting pissingly annoying) but unlike Disturbed. The new song they released sounds very promising, a nice bit o' change to their style.
Pearl Jam-??? (hopefully)
There have been whispers circulating around the internet that the greatest rock band of all time is back in the studio recording a follow up to 2006's brilliant effort. Oh, and yes, a UK tour (tour! not single date exclusive to fan clubs members only!) is desired greatly.
Alice in Chains-???
'Oh no! Layne Staley isn't on vocals, it's not really AIC!' Shut the fuck up! You obviously didn't witness the greatest live musical event of the last 10 years at the Astoria in 2006. Mr DuVall is a damn good replacement for Layne, sure he hasn't got the iconic voice, but what he does, he does damn well.
On top of this little top 5 list there is also new material from Municipal Waste, Katatonia, Alestorm, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Rammstien, Sepultura, Napalm Death, Porcupine Tree, Cathedral and many others...

If you have been arsed to have read all this, well done and thank you.

Mark

Finnish Fire Tour Update

Both the review and the pictures are up now!

Review- http://rockpulse.co.uk/fftreview
Pictures:
Kivimetsan Druidi- http://rockpulse.co.uk/kivigallery
Battlelore- http://rockpulse.co.uk/battlegallery
Korpiklaani- http://rockpulse.co.uk/korpigallery

New gig!

Off to the Finnish Fire Tour tomorrow, shall be taking photots of Kivimetsan Druidi and Korpiklaani. You have to love Century Media's quality list of artists! (despite Korpiklaani being signed to Nuclear Blast...)

Review and photos will be up on rockpulse.co.uk.

Up now on Rock Pulse.....

Autons-Who Do You Think You Are Kidding? [album]
Marshall Law [interview]


More to follow, check this post again for updates.

Why the greats never come...

I'm a man of many musical tastes, I attend a fair few gigs each year, but why do my top 5's never arrive on my shores often enough?
I've loved Pearl Jam ever since I bought a copy of 'Ten', but then the relationship soured when Vitalogy entered my CD rack, a musical divorce case seemed immanent. It took a year or so for me to realise that Vitalogy wasn't that bad an album, as the years went on and wisdom entered my mind I eventually realised that Pearl Jam were one of those rare bands who do actually mature, their style changes in a logical and not so...shit way like some others (SOAD, I'm looking at you). The band hadn't graced the UK properly since 2001 (Binaural tour), but one day my post-grunge boat came in. Reading Festival 2006, a day devoid of atmosphere. Sure, Slayer and Mastodon were fun to see live (again) but there was unique feeling in the air, had people really paid £180 for a weekend of this? It was only when Interstellar Overdrive was played over the PA system did the mundane sky look like an oil painting to me, being high on an experience is an odd and wonderful thing. For over an hour my head never once looked down to my watch. Walking away from the main area, I felt as I was in that specific stage of drunkenness where you know you're shit-faced but you don't care at all, the thoughts tomorrow morning are far beyond distant and every step you take feels as if you are walking on soft sand (despite the ground being rock solid and soiled with litter). The night's set list was covered in amazing songs, including the highly desired 'Sad', but the only words that really stuck with me that night involved Mr Vedder apologising over and over again about how the band didn't deserve the orgasmic reception they were receiving because they hadn't been to the UK in a stupidly long time. A promise was made, Pearl Jam would return to English soil before the end of the next year. 'I'll fucking be there' was the exact thought that went through head at that very point.
2007 came and a single date at Wembley arena was announced... a single fucking date?! Goddamn it! Goddamn everything to hell! Oh whats that? Not only will tickets be extortionate because it's a London arena, but the entire standing area will be reserved exclusively for Ten Club (fan club) members. I've bought every single Pearl Jam studio album, I've bought every (non-bootleg) live album, I own all the DVDs. Why do I need to pay an annual fee to prove I'm a fan?
I'm pretty sure you can see where this rant is going. The fact is Pearl Jam tour their little country all the goddamn time. Eddie (Vedder) even does solo tours there, but what does the UK get? Nothing, goddamn nothing.
All I can hope for now is that Eddie and co like to google themselves and somehow stumble across this tiny smear of a blog on that giant boot that is the Internet. If Lady Luck takes a break from kicking me in the balls and decides to smile upon me for once I'd like an all access pass and support from Neil Young.

Thus ends one of probably many rants on this subject, Devin Townsend and Akercocke are bound to pop up at some point. But hey, if the Internet wasn't built for anti-socialites to project their opinions on everyone else, what was it built for? (apart than porn)

Up now!

www.rockpulse.co.uk
Wednesday 13 Halloween gig + pictures!
Days of Ruin EP review
Ghostfire EP review

Interview with Dave Martin of Marshall Law

The interview can now be found at www.rockpulse.co.uk