Metal Mike Rijswijk Talks Aardschok on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 467 - Aardschok

January 30th 1982, “Metal Mike” Rijswijk presented the first Aardschok festival. Like the launch of the long running magazine the festival was another major milestone in metal. The festival was last held in 1999 but the tradition in the Netherlands is carried on by Dynamo Open Air. Since none of us are going to enjoy any of the mighty festivals this year we figured we’d get “Metal Mike” on the show to talk about the history of the Aardschok Festival and it’s parent magazine.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Eric Peterson & Mike LePond on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 458 - Titans of Babylon

On April 3rd Testament released their 13th studio album “Titians of Creation” via Nuclear Blast. Founding guitarist (and only constant member) Eric Peterson joins us to give us all the updates on the album and everything else going on with the Bay Area thrashers. 

After that we talk once again with Symphony X bassist Mike LePond about his latest progressive metal effort DeadRisen with guitarist Rod Rivera. Mike remains an ever busy guy as he does press for this as he prepares to launch the latest Silent Assassins release “Whore of Babylon”. We haven’t talked to Mike since 2018’s Pawn and Prophecy so its a good time to catch up. 

A Taste of DeadRisen

Here's the first single off "Whore of Babylon" 

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Original Testament Bassist Greg Christian on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 440 - Dark Roots of Testament

“The Legacy”, “The New Order”, “Practice What You Preach”, “Souls of Black”, “The Ritual”, and “Low”. Original Testament bassist Greg Christian played on all six of these foundational records during his first tenure with the band. He also appears on “The Formation of Damnation” and “Dark Roots of The Earth”. This week Greg appears on a thrash filled Focus on Metal to talk all about the first six albums he did with Testament as well as what he’s up to these days with Trauma and everything else he’s involved with now.

Here's some Trauma for ya off their "As The World Dies" release

Greg kicking off the classic "Souls of Black"

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Alex Skolnick & Mark Tremonti Guest on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 388 - A Dying Majesty

Once again not one, but two returning guests this week. Alex Skolnick returns to give us the run down on the latest from Metal Allegiance “Volume II, Power Drunk Majesty” as well as some commentary on the 30th anniversary of Testament’s “The New Order”. 

Also this week Mark Tremonti is with us once again, this time to talk about the release of the limited edition book that was written to accompany “A Dying Machine”, the latest from Tremonti. He also gives us some insight on the new Alterbridge release “Live at Royal Albert Hall”.

Point your browser to MetalAllegiance.com/ for links to order your own copy of “Volume II, Power Drunk Majesty” or any of their other music.

Be sure to hit up MarkTremonti.com/  to order one of the limited first edition copies of “A Dying Machine” while they are still available.

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, EarPeeler.com or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Just posted: Alex Skolnick and Shawn Drover on this weeks Focus on Metal.

Episode 249 - Metal Defiance

A packed episode this week. First up we have Alex Skolnick giving us the latest on Metal Allegiance ( http://www.metalallegiance.com/ ) then we have Shawn Drover talking about the debut release from Act Of Defiance "The Birth And The Burial" ( https://www.facebook.com/actofdefiancemusic ).

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or on iTunes.

You can hear us Tuesdays on Platinum Rock Radio and be sure to check their schedule because we usually get a repeat run during the week.

You can hear us every Wednesday on these great stations:
Pure Rock Radio, Metal World Radio,  and now on The Indie Authority

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Cannibal Corpse confirms Latin American tour with Testament!

Cannibal Corpse have confirmed that they will be touring Latin America in November and December with thrash legends, Testament! The tour begins November 17th in Brazil, and concludes on December 2nd in Guadalajara, Mexico. The combined weight of these two bands will surely mean these shows will sell fast. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 10 at 10am ET at liberationmc.com/tours!

CANNIBAL CORPSE

TESTAMENT

11/17 Porto Alegre, Brazil Opiniao

11/18 Curitiba, Brazil Vanilla Music Hall

11/20 Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Circo Voador

11/21 Sao Paulo, Brazil Carioca Club

11/24 Buenos Aires, Argentina Groove

11/25 Santiago, Chile Teatro Caupolican

11/26 Lima, Peru Embarcadero 41

11/28 Bogota, Colombia Downtown Majestic

11/29 San Jose, Costa Rica Club Peppers

12/01 Mexico City, MX Pabellón Oeste Del Palacio de los Deportes

12/02 Guadalajara, MX Teatro Studio Cavaret

CANNIBAL CORPSE

European Summer Tour

06/10 Paris, FR Petit Bain

06/12 Kristainsand, NO Kick

06/13 Stavanger, NO Folken

06/14 Bergen, NO Hulen

06/15 Drammen, NO Union Scene

06/16 Trondheim, NO Blaest

06/18 Copenhagen, DK Copenhell

06/19 Dessel, BE Graspop

06/20 Rouen, FR 106

06/21 Clission, FR Hellfest

07/10 Paris, FR Le Petit Bain

07/11 Marseille, FR Le Moulin

07/12 Palma De Mallorca, ES Gremi

07/13 Valencia, ES Rock City

07/14 Malga, ES Trinchera

07/16 Viveiro Lugo, ES Resurrection Fest

07/17 Bilbao, ES Santana 27

07/18 Albi, FR Xtreme Fest

07/19 Milan, IT Magnolia

07/20 Bologna, IT Zr

07/21 Tolmin, SI Metaldays

07/22 Budapest, Hu Club 202

07/24 Bucharest, RO Arenele Romane

07/25 Sofia, BG Mixtape 5 Club

07/26 Thessaloniki, GR Principal Club

07/27 Athens, GR Fuzz Club

07/29 Belgrade, CS Dom Omaldine

07/30 Vienna, AT Szene

07/31 Wroclaw, PL Alibi

08/01 Wacken, DW Wacken Open Air

08/02 Malmo, S Kulturbaloget

08/03 Berlin, DE Postbahnhof

08/04 Munster, DE Sputnikhalle

08/06 Jaromer, CZ Brutal Assault Fest

08/07 Schlotheim, DE Party San Open Air

08/08 Leeuwarden, NL Into The Grave

08/11 Trier, DE Ex-Haus

08/12 Luzern, CH Schuur

08/13 Cologne, DE Werkstatt

08/14 Salzburg, AT Rockhouse

08/15 Dinkelsbuhl, DE Summer Breeze

A Skeletal Domain, the latest full-length from American death metal icons, Cannibal Corpse, debuted at an astounding #32 on Billboard's Top 200 chart, making it the highest charting record in the band's storied history! This is the band's thirteenth full-length album. It was produced by Mark Lewis (The Black Dahlia Murder, DevilDriver) at Audio Hammer Studios in Flordia. The record boasts twelve ravenous tracks of confrontational, meticulously-executed ill-omened brutality as only Cannibal Corpse can deliver.

Watch current and past videos from Cannibal Corpse on the youtube playlist HERE. Also, check out George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher and Orion of Behemoth as they play the new video game Evolve in the recently released video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6nFf2kOq5E

http://www.metalblade.com/cannibalcorpse

http://www.cannibalcorpse.net

http://www.facebook.com/cannibalcorpse 

Alex Skolnick is our guest on this weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 180 - Geek To Guitar Hero

Alex Skolnick is our guest this week. Besides his tenure in Testament and his other musical excursions into the world of jazz Alex also took time to write a very insightful autobiography "Geek To Guitar Hero". We sat down to discuss the book, Testament, and much more on this episode of Focus on Metal

Get insight into all things Alex at: http://alexskolnick.com/ 

Alex is also heavy user of Twitter. Follow him at: http://www.twitter.com/alexskolnick

Grab it now from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, The Cast Iron Ring or on iTunes

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

ANGER AS ART Announce European Tour Dates

Los Angeles Thrashers ANGER AS ART are set to invade Europe for a string of dates that include an appearance at Dokk'em Open Air in Dokkum, Netherlands alongside TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH, CRYPTOPSY and more. 

POWERSTROKE will be joining ANGER AS ART for the bulk of the tour. Confirmed dates are as follows:

6/14 @ Blue Devils Bar - Arras, FR

6/15 @ The Rambler - Eindhoven, NL

6/16 @ Verlichte Geest - Roeselare, BE

6/17 - 6/19 - TBA

6/20 @ The Metro - Waarchoot, BE *

6/21 @ Dokk'em Open Air - Dokkum, NL *

* - No POWERSTROKE

For details on Dokkem Open Air visit www.dokkemopenair.eu.

ANGER AS ART is touring in support of their latest rager, Hubris Inc. Called a "full-frontal, thrashtastic aural assault" by Bravewords' Kelley Simms, Hubris Inc. is one of the most aggressive and intense albums in ANGER AS ART's career. Order the limited edition picture disc or CD version of Hubris Inc. at shop.osmrecords.net.

"Hubris Inc. is largely an enjoyable release, and proves that Anger as Art

still has it in them to write some of the most energetic and catchy thrash material."

- Heavy Metal Tribune

"This is the fourth album by this four piece thrash metal band from Los Angeles, CA and you get fourteen songs that will blow your hair back. This brings back the memories of when there were a ton of great thrash albums out, and could slide in with those albums from back in the 80s with no problem." - Hails & Horns

"If you are looking for thrash/speed metal, Anger As Art is the band you want to be listening to." - Artemortifica

www.angerasart.com, www.reverbnation.com/angerasart, www.youtube.com/angerasart,    www.facebook.com/angerasart, www.myspace.com/angerasart,

www.osmrecords.net

Flotsam and Jetsam ink new deal with Metal Blade Records; on tour now with Testament

New album "Ugly Noise" to be released April 16^th, 2013

Flotsam and Jetsam, arguably one of the most influential and prominent acts from thrash metal's birth in the early 80s, has returned to Metal Blade Records to release their new album, Ugly Noise. The lead single/title track is available for streaming now on metalblade.com/flotsamandjetsam.

Ugly Noise is the band's eleventh full-length album, their first release on Metal Blade since 2001, and the follow up to their 2010 album, The Cold. The record also heralds the return of original members Michael Gilbert on guitar and Kelly David Smith on drums, who haven't recorded with Flotsam and Jetsam since High in 1997.

Flotsam and Jetsam's Kelly Smith comments on working with Metal Blade: "We have just inked a distribution deal for the release of "Ugly Noise" through Metal Blade Records. Ugly Noise will be released worldwide in late March/Early April of 2013. It was the obvious choice for us after our long-standing relationship and Metal Blades 30 year history of metal. You can't match what they can do with 30 years of experience behind them. We are excited and looking forward to working with MB in 2013."

http://www.flotsam-and-jetsam.com

http://www.facebook.com/flotsamandjetsam.official

https://twitter.com/Flotztildeath

http://www.youtube.com/webmasterflots

Testament/Overkill/Flotsam and Jetsam/4 Arm at the Palladium, Worcester 2/16/2013

  

   You have to hand it to the promoters at the Palladium, they have made it into the premier thrash and extreme metal venue in New England. Any decent tour doing the rounds eventually goes through the place and last night was no exception.

   I got there near the end of 4 Arm's set and the place was already packed. The band sounded ok but I would have to hear some more to judge them properly. They did go down very well though so maybe their trip from Australia is paying dividends.

   Flotsam and Jetsam to me were the wild card on the bill. Well known as the band who gave Jason Newsted to Metallica they amount to a lot more then this. Truth be told I don't have many of their albums but I was familiar with the 2 they did from No Place for Disgrace. A brief five or six song set with a promising newie thrown in.

  Next up were Overkill who I had never seen before. A band who continues to release really stong new material. They mixed up the old with the new opening with Come and Get It from the recent cd, heads down old school thrash. Other newies included Electric Rattlesnake and Ironbound and for the long time fans they got Elimination, Fuck You and Wrecking Crew. The set felt a little short and I would have liked to have heard more, maybe next time when they play a headline set.

   On to the main event. I saw Testament in the same venue just over a year ago on tour with Anthrax. Billed as a co-headline it was the east coasters who closed the bill so I was intrigued to see Testament on what is clearly their show. Let's get the bad out of the way and say that Chuck Billy had vocal problems which he alluded to early on in the set. The guy is a trooper and didn't want to cancel and he gave it his all helped by the boisterous and liquid refreshed mob.

   Now the good, everything else! Opening with Rise Up from the new Dark Roots of Earth cd the band played a fantastic sixteen or so song set cementing why they are one of the best thrash bands on the planet at the minute. They really do have a fantastic back catalogue and just look at some of the songs they slipped into the set that they didn't play the last time I saw them: Practice What You Preach, The Haunting, Trial By Fire and Burnt Offerings. Material of this quality would be a staple of most bands shows. The big surprise was 3 cuts from The Gathering which is the overlooked gem of the catalogue and one of the best metal cds from the late 90's.

   So a fantastic and very loud night. Great line-up and killer musicianship (Gene Hoglan has to be seen to be believed) all for $28. I don't know how many shows are left on the tour but you'd be a fool to miss it.

Richie

http://www.4arm.net/

http://www.flotsam-and-jetsam.com/

http://wreckingcrew.com/Ironbound/

http://www.testamentlegions.com/