Rage – The Devil Strikes Again


rage the devil strikes again ghostcultmag

Twenty-two albums into their career (twenty-three if you include 1985’s Prayers of Steel (Wishbone) which was released when the band still went by the name of Avenger) and German trio Rage show absolutely no signs of slowing up. Latest album The Devil Strikes Again (Nuclear Blast) does exactly what you would expect. No surprises or strange left turns, everything about it is unashamedly Heavy Fucking Metal.

As with so much of Rage’s material, it’s probably not going to sit too long in the memory after leaving the stereo, but while it’s on it should keep you entertained and happily nodding your head. Fast and energetic for the most part, the band’s only remaining original member, vocalist/bassist Peter “Peavy” Wagner knows exactly what to deliver and does it in spades.

Although there’s nothing life changing, or even too substantial here, the album is nice and solid with some excellent performances. Guitarist Marcos Rodriguez plays like his life depends on it, his solos clear and precise with more than a hint of Iron Maiden about them, while new drummer Vassilios “Lucky” Maniatopoulos keeps things in the rhythm section pounding and thumping away nicely, the production really helping to showcase his work in particular.

Highlights include title track ‘The Devil Strikes Again’, ‘My Way’, ‘War’, ‘Deaf, Dumb and Blind’, and ‘The Dark Side of the Sun’, while ‘Back on Track’, and ‘The Final Curtain’, although certainly catchy enough, also sound a little lightweight when compared to songs like ‘Ocean Full of Tears’ and ‘Times of Darkness’.

For those of you who haven’t listened to a Rage album since Perfect Man (Noise) or Secrets in a Weird World (Noise), then this is as good a time as any to start reacquainting yourself with them. Mainly because most of the tracks have a genuinely mid-late ’80s vibe about them (just check out the Dokken-esque ‘Spirits of the Night’). A simple, no-frills Heavy Metal album with no aspirations other than to get people banging their heads.
Job done.

6.5/10

GARY ALCOCK

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Twisted Sister To Play Farewell Show At The Rock Carnival 2016


The Rock Carnival 2016 ghostcultmag

Rock legends Twisted Sister will headline the second Annual Rock Carnival in Lakewood, NJ. The event will take place will on September 30th, October 1st and October 2nd. Twisted Sister will play the first day of the event and the this will be there farewell show for the U.S. northeast leg of the tour

Twisted Sister guitarist JJ French commented:

As 2016 marks the end of our live performing career, Twisted Sister is looking forward to returning to the Tri-State NYC area for the final time to the Rock Carnival at First Energy Park in Lakewood, NJ on Oct 1, 2016. In celebrating our 40th anniversary and our farewell to live performing, we are bringing our “40 & F*ck It” worldwide farewell tour one last time to the area that created us!”

There will be other hard rock and metal acts that will be performing at the Rock Carnival as well, Overkill, Ace Frehley, Fuel, Monster Magnet, Tom Keifer’s Cinderella, Dokken,Texas Hippie Coalition, Doro and American Angel. There will be more Rock Carnival performances to be announced soon.

Rock Carnival producer John D’Esposito commented

“This year’s line-up far exceeds our expectations. The incredible new layout, amenities and resources are sure to enhance the Carnival experience for our fans and their families.”

Three-day general admission and reserved seat weekend packages for this year’s Rock Carnival are on sale now. Three-day “Early Bird” general admission passes start at $95.90 and weekend reserved seat tickets start at $119.99. Get your tickets at the link below.

Skyboxes, reserved seats, daily general admission and VIP experiences (presented by SoundRink) will be available on June 7.

The Rock Carnival online

The Rock Carnival on Facebook

The Rock Carnival on Twitter

The Rock Carnival on Instagram

For more information, visit http://therockcarnival.com/.


Rock N Derby Festival Features Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown, Halestorm And More


rock derby admat 1 2016

Upstate New York will be the site of the 2016 Rock `N Derby featuring three days of demolition derby action and killer bands. Sponsored by SLP Concerts and GameLoud , among the already announced lineup Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown, Halestorm, Megadeth, Sixx: A.M., Lamb Of God, Clutch, Anthrax, Ghost, Wolfmother, Sevendust, Dokken, Trivium, Memphis May Fire, We Came As Romans, Scott Stapp (Creed), Pop Evil, Thy Art Is Murder, Currents, Wild Throne and 40 more bands TBD. In addition to the derby fun, there will be wrestling, camping and 24/7 food and vendors too. The festival takes place at Schaghticoke Fairgrounds – 69 Stillwater Bridge Rd, Schaghticoke, NY, near Albany and tickets are on sale now, with packages and VIP info detailed below:

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS

WEEKEND GENERAL ADMISSION

Tickets

Prices start at $119.00

TWO DAY GENERAL ADMISSION

Tickets

Prices start at $89.99

CHILDREN TICKETS (12 and under)

*Children under 16 need a guardian to attend

SINGLE DAY $29.99

TWO DAY $54.99

WEEKEND $74.99

DEMOLITION DERBY GENERAL ADMISSION

Single Day (Saturday and Sunday) $29.99 PER DAY

ON-SITE CAMPING – PRICES & PACKAGES

2 PERSON (10×30) $120.00

4 PERSON (20×40) $180.00

6 PERSON (20×40) $200

6 PERSON RV (20×40) $225.00 (no hook up)

6 PERSON RV (20×40) $325.00 (with hook up)

ADD ONS:

ADDITIONAL PARKING $29.99

10×10 TENT w/ SIDES $150.00

COTS $65.00

SLEEPING BAGS $40.00

LOCKER RENTALS $20.00 PER DAY or $50.00 WEEKEND RENTAL

VIP PACKAGES (Powered by Soundrink, 21+ ONLY)

RV PACKAGE – $6,599.99 (11 AVAILABLE)

Six (6) VIP Weekend Passes & Lanyard

$250.00 in Stock Food & Drink (alcohol served to 21+ only)

Gift Box of Festival Merch

Access to Monster Energy Artist Bar’n

Artist Meet and Greet

Pre & After Party Access

6 Pit Pass for Demo Derby

Six Festival Sleeping Bags

CABANA PACKAGE – $3,499.99 (10 AVAILABLE)

Six (6) VIP Weekend Passes & Lanyard

Six Pack of Craft Beer Per Day

Gift Box of Festival Merch

Access to Monster Energy Artist Bar’n

Artist Meet and Greet

Pre & After Party Access

6 Pit Pass for Demo Derby

For more information on, including FAQ, directions, parking tips, hotel information, vending and more, please visit:

Rock’n Derby online

Rock’n Derby on Facebook

Rock’n Derby on Twitter

Rock’n Derby on instagram


Royal Hunt – XIII: Devil’s Dozen


ROYAL-HUNT_XIII-Devils-Dozen

It is hard to be distinctive in the frilly-shirted, leather waist-coated, hair-billowing-majestically-in-the-wind world of Power Metal. Yet, make your mark and you’ll find a dedicated, passionate and devoted audience willing to support you, smile benevolently at any missteps and devour anything approaching a return to form. Over the course of their twenty six year career, Denmark’s top exponent of the art Royal Hunt have witnessed all of the above, and with XIII: Devil’s Dozen (Frontiers) have rewarded once more their loyal subjects.

The return to the fold of DC Cooper in 2012 has ensured that the Royal Hunt continues to ride strong into the latter part of their career like a fine wine, as album thirteen rivals Paradox (Magna Carta) as their crowning moment.

Energized by the powerful pigskin pounding of Narnia’s Andreas Johansson, ‘So Right, So Wrong’ announces the commencement of the album in spectacular fashion, with a dramatic and rousing symphonic introduction that bursts out into rocking, roaring guitars. Cooper’s vocals add to the theatrical, Broadway feel before delivering the first, and biggest, of several big choruses.

While Cooper is an obvious and deserving focal point, once again it is Andre Andersen who is the conductor of majesties from behind the ivories (or whatever the keys of a synth are made of…), his songwriting exuding a joie de vivre that is infectious, with each track larger than life. ‘May You Never (Walk Alone)’ hosts everything that works about Royal Hunt, starting life as a piano ballad before exploding in a thunder of drums, power chords, bass runs and synth stabs, racing down the aortic valves fuelling the body.

A bombastic, ambitious, joyful, layered and uplifting album, Andersen knows how to switch it up; ‘Riches To Rags’ introduces a ridiculously catchy piped motif and a folk jiggery-pokery to proceedings, ‘Until The Day’ is over the top symphonic hard rock semi-balladic majesty while ‘Heart On A Platter’ bounces in with thick bass swagger and jazzy keys embellishments, that builds up to a Kamelot-meets-Whitesnake slip of the tongue.

We’ve all witnessed many an album of this ilk that descends into sterile, flaccid by-numbers staid song-writing. Despite each track touching the six minute mark, XIII never outstays its welcome. With flashes of Dokken and Stratovarius, Royal Hunt show, a quarter of a century into their career, how the marriage of power metal with symphonic and hard rock should be done.

 

8.0/10

STEVE TOVEY


Extreme, Tom Keifer, Sebastian Bach, Dokken, etc Confirmed For Cathouse Live


Cathouse Live

Riki Rachtman’s World Famous Cathouse will return to Southern California for one night as Cathouse Live At Irvine Meadows on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre (recently known as Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre) in Irvine, CA. Riki Rachtman created the original rock dance club that dominated the Hollywood scene from 1986-1993. The lineup confirmed for this evening include:

All-Star Jam
Extreme
Tom Keifer (Cinderella)
Sebastian Bach
Dokken
Faster Pussycat
Stephen Pearcy (the voice of RATT)
Saigon Kick
Gilby Clarke
Dangerous Toys
L.A. Guns
Junkyard
Trixter
Autograph
Black ‘N Blue
Tracii Guns
Enuff Z’ Nuff
BulletBoys
Bang Tango
Jetboy
Pretty Boy Floyd
Tuff
Little Caesar

Cathouse Live on Facebook
Cathouse Live on Twitter
Cathouse Live on Instagram
Cathouse Live on You Tube


Heavy Montreal Announces Daily Lineups


heavy montreal 2015 daily lineups

Daily lineups have been announced for the 2015 Heavy Montreal Festival, happening August 7-9, 2015 at Parc Jean Drapeau in Montreal, QC.

Friday, August 07th:

Korn (performing their self-titled debut)
Alexisonfire
Mastodon
Meshuggah
Lagwagon
Extreme
Arch Enemy
Neurosis
Strung Out
Periphery
Gorguts
Fozzy
Lofofora
Veil Of Maya
The Flatliners
The Acacia Strain
Moneen
Obscura
After The Burial
Cattle Decapitation
Nothing More
Toyguitar

Saturday, August 08th:
Faith No More
Iggy Pop
NOFX
Billy Talent
Testament
Abbath
Gojira
Lita Ford
Rocket From The Crypt
Glassjaw
Pentagram
Devin Townsend Project
Deafheaven
Dying Fetus
B.A.R.E.
Swingin’ utters
The Brains
The Agonist
Masked Intruder
Battlecross
Slaves On Dope
Intervals
Dig It Up
Mass Murder Messiah

Sunday, August 09th:
Slipknot
Lamb Of God
Bullet For My Valentine
Within Temptation
Warrant
Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg With Andrew W.K.
Nuclear Assault
Ihsahn
Asking Alexandria
Dokken
Coal Chamber
Pig Destroyer
Motionless In White
Sanctuary
Small Brown Bike
Insomnium
Jasta
Upon A Burning Body
Anonymus
Wilson
Omnium Gatherum
Dead Tired
Sandveiss


Slipknot, Faith No More, Korn, Lamb Of God On Heavy Montreal 2015


heavy montreal 2015

The 2015 Heavy Montreal Festival has confirmed their lineup, which will be happening at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal, QC from August 7-9, 2015. For those speculating about who will be on this year’s Summer Slaughter Tour, check out the post below.

Slipknot
Faith No More
Korn (performing “Korn” in full)
Alexisonfire
Lamb Of God
Iggy Pop
NOFX
Billy Talent
Mastodon
Bullet For My Valentine
Meshuggah
Within Temptation
Gojira
Testament
Arch Enemy
Lagwagon
Lita Ford
Marky Ramone and Andrew W.K. (performing a Ramones set)
Warrant
Dokken
Rocket From The Crypt
Asking Alexandria
Periphery
Deafheaven
Coal Chamber
Nuclear Assault
Dying Fetus
Glassjaw
Ihsahn
Pentagram
Gorguts
B.A.R.F.
Motionless In White
Moneen
Lofofora
Small Brown Bike
Pig Destroyer
Anonymus
The Flatliners
The Agonist
Fozzy
Upon A Burning Body
Nothing More
Jasta
Battlecross
Insomnium
Slaves On Dope
Ominum Gatherum
Wilson
Dead Tired
Toyguitar
Intervals
Dig It Up


Skull Fist – Chasing The Dream


Skull-Fist-Chasing-The-Dream-1024x1024

 

First point of order: calling yourself Skull Fist and having a album cover with a skeleton on it, you have to be heavier than this. You should be, well, shattering skulls with your fist. Massive slabs of heavy guitar and brutal vocals. You should sound like Nails (who probably never expected to be name-checked in a Skull Fist review).

 

Once the opening phaser effected into hammer on intro to first track ‘Hour To Live’ quickly establishes this isn’t a D-beat or crust, death or thrash combo and the expectations are reset, Chasing The Dream (NoiseArt) kicks in with its NWOTM (New Wave of Traditional Metal) bang, and Canadians Skull Fist are up and running on their sophomore release.

 

Straddling the middle ground between the more melodic end new thrash and the rebirth of more traditional metal, Skull Fist come across as the central point between Enforcer and Holy Grail, with a splash of 3 Inches Of Blood in there, too (so maybe 1 inch of blood…). While performing a retro style can be limiting, and lead to negative comparisons to those that strode the Earth before, Skull Fist do have a naïve and endearing charm to them, technically proficient but still performing with energy and undoubted enthusiasm.

 

Vocalist Jackie Slaughter is a strong performer, at times calling to mind late 80’s Sebastian Bach, at others Don Dokken and Marc Hudson of Dragonforce fame, though without quite the same distinctiveness and x-factor in his helium voice.

Tracks like ‘Bad For Good’ are enjoyable mash-ups of Skid Row and early Def Leppard, the title track calls to mind Dokken, while ‘Call Of The Wild’ brings out the Iron Maiden worship. All in Chasing The Dream is an engaging number that makes you smile and think fondly of it but isn’t one to hang your hat on or fall in love with. Kind of like a relatives pet cat.

 

6.0/10

Skull Fist on Facebook

 

STEVE TOVEY