Tickets There would like to wish all of our readers, commenters, followers and all the many amazing bands we love so much a very happy new year. 2013 was epically epic and 2014 is looking even stronger.
Before the first proper 2014 post (and yet another Tickets There reboot begins), I’d like to thank Psykosis, Warpath, Exzeltic, Overoth, Animator, Killface, Zombified, Dead Label, Gama Bomb, EHT Promotions, DME, Donnchadh from WMB Ireland, Dan and all the folks from Carnage, Slayer, Exodus, Death, Leonard Cohen, ASH, Black Sabbath, Def Leppard, KISS, Slash, Reckless Love, Crashdiet, Twisted Sister, Helloween, Napalm Death, Whitesnake, Danzig, Testament, Metallica, Jameson, Guinness, Jägermeister, Buckfast, Trooper Beer, Fibber MaGee’s, Gypsy Rose, McKenna’s Dun Laoghaire, everyone at HELLFEST, The Academy, all the cool folks in the Odyssey (except A-hole security and Stalin like measures of control) and my girlfriend (co-conspirator) Dee for an amazing year of gig going, good times and drunken shenanigans.
Metallica’s ‘Through The Never’ hit cinemas late last week and doesn’t appear to have been pulling in the punters in any great numbers. Suprising when you consider the size of the crowds James, Lars, Kirk and Rob can draw when they grace the shores of any country in the world. Despite this being a movie rather than live show, the experience is everything you’d expect from something with Metallica’s name stamped across it. Big, bad, bold and brilliant.
Through The Never is a mash of Metallica playing an incredible career spanning live show that brings back beloved stage props, tour incidents and classic songs. From Kill ‘Em Allto Death Magnetic– the boys bruise through sixteen of their crunchiest, heaviest, fastest songs while their young roadie/gofer treks through a war-torn city in search of materials badly needed by the band. The whole experience is presented in 3D, bringing the sweat from Lars back right onto your lap. The band sound incredible and each one casts an imposing figure on the screen – tearing through their set with extreme power. Add in a little humour and some incredible scenes featuring full on violence, death and anarchy – you’ve got Through The Never.
If you haven’t been to an IMAX screening before then I can assure you it lives up to every expectation you could possibly have. The IMAX screen in Cineworld, Parnell St. is beyond impressive, imposing and makes adults feel like kids in the cinema again and if you haven’t seen Metallica on IMAX, then you need to sort that quick! It . Book tickets now!
The criteria for storylines and starlets has apparently lowered in Hollywood. Nowhere is this more obvious than in VIVA! Hysteria which bounds to cinema screens across the world this week. Offering nothing to any discerning viewer and relying heavily on its Def Leppard laced soundtrack and a live performance by the band themselves. Almost every hint of the movie’s intricate plot and diverse and interesting characters is diluted to the point of near non-existence thanks to the director’s obvious David Lynch influence and Darren Aronofsky delivery.
For 90 minutes the viewer is required to carefully study thousands of faces, waiting to pick up on the disappointingly weak storyline that brazenly focuses on ‘two ladies’ quest to hog monitor time before being eclipsed by the man only known as ‘I keep my arm on the ramp dude’. The quality of the actors is on par with any academy award winning nominee from the past thirteen years, made more surprising by the fact that all the stars are all new comers; however the intrusion of the background artists and camera work levels their role in the film to mere ‘attendees’.
On the plus side, you are treated to a full performance of Hysteria, the major catalyst in the story by one of the world’s most beloved and distinguished bands, Def Leppard. Joe, Rick, Viv, Phil and Richard all play a blinder and despite this being a complex communist spy / art-house / independent / drug culture / hammer horror homage to Charlie Chaplin in story, the music ends up stealing every minute. Def Leppard well done – but unknown director, you have wronged the movie industry. Next time try some character dialogue. Fortunately Joe Elliott used his opportunities to keep a few laughs coming.
The true lords of rock ‘n’ roll are coming back! It’s been almost three years since The Wörld Is Yourshit the shelves and it’s been a long wait for something new from the mighty Motörhead; especially considering the horrible reports that came from Europe over the summer regarding Lemmy’s health. Well never fear, Lemmy is here and he has new tunes for you. There’s a great press release which I’m including below but..
Aftershockwill see the light of day on October 18th – 21st. Also Classic rock will be doing a CD/Mag dealie. NO IRISH SHOWS in the tour so you won’t find a listing of the other dates here. Yeah – that’s how it works, Motörhead or no Motörhead.
Silence, silence
Silence when you speak to me!
-Lemmy Kilmister
Like the juggernaut you prayed would keep on crushing you, like the friend that still royally pisses off your parents and like a loyal standard of crunchy, greasy, punky, bluesy, gutsy screw-you rock’n’roll, Motörhead stride out through their 38th year brandishing more swagger and attitude then your ears could begin to comprehend.
On Oct 21st, 2013 Motörhead will deliver their 21st studio album, an enormous and prophetic Aftershock. Recorded at NRG Studios in North Hollywood,it is a true leveller, a crushing confirmation of everything Motörhead stands for, marching from the dust storm to deliver 14 belting statements which see Motörhead in perhaps their best writing form for years. There’s swagger, there’s punch, there’s speed and there’s dirty filthy grooves, Lemmy Kilmister, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee showing clearly that Motörhead is not simply a band, it’s a genre!
That genre, more than ever, resonates with hearty independence and swashbuckle. Whether it’s “Heartbreaker” throwing hooks and riffs into your head, the double-kick concussiveness of “Paralyzed” with Campbell’s fuelled attack, or the thunderous ride-off-the-Rickenbacker Motörcharge of “Going To Mexico”, Aftershock takes gleeful twists and turns which re-announce the Motörlegend. There’s the smokey biker bar blues in the shape of “Dust And Glass”, Lemmy’s late-night vocals evoking last-call and melancholy, the pogo-powered punk-spiked stab of “Queen Of The Damned” and the deliciously steamy, humid mournful “Lost Woman Blues” which midway through decides to kick over the stool and stomp out the saloon door.
“Steal it if you must, buy it if you can!” says Lemmy, who’s pride in the album is so immense that guests to his home and dressing room in the last couple of months have been treated to extremely loud airings of the rough mixes, while Phil Campbell adds, “I really think the variation on the album shows that we’ve dug deep and produced some of our best work for a long time.”
“It is,” says Mikkey Dee, “a really, really strong Motörhead album, one that really does define everything this band stands for.”
He’s not wrong. Because Motörhead are Motörhead are Motörhead…and their Aftershock will be felt worldwide…
Aftershock: Track Listing:
Heartbreaker Coup de Grace Lost Woman Blues End Of Time Do You Believe Death Machine Dust And Glass Going To Mexico Silence When You Speak To Me Crying Shame Queen Of The Damned Knife Keep Your Powder Dry Paralyzed
In typical Tickets There fashion, we found an album we loved. We listed to the hell out of it and never bothered for one second to put a word down on paper. For years we’ve struggled to express the excitement about albums we love, but that stops now because Animator’sBlacklisted deserves the attention of every metal fan in Ireland.
In Blacklisted, the Wexford lads have accomplished a truly memorable album, perfectly mixing writing quality, tight musicianship; all densely ground together to create something very special. Their diverse musical backgrounds fully complement each other as their sound screams through and you’re confronted with a thrash / hardcore assault of riffs, political angst and speed. First up to get the hearts racing, ‘State of Emergency’. Sirens, a brooding build-up; composed of John F. Kennedy’s 1961 ANPA address, breaking new stores snippets and James’s scream, “The shit has hit the fan this time, our nations on the brink” sets the tone for this entire record. ‘Death From Above’strikes hard and fast, but its allure begins to pale when listed before the epic ‘In God We Trust’. A magnificent masterpiece of thrash metal. In God We Trust is reason enough to own this album, but it’s just one of several prime cuts.
‘Ultra 53’ 🙂 begins to express more personal anguish through a mix of swooping riffs, spiralling leads and surprise turns before ‘Dreadweb’ knuckles it’s way in to deliver some of the most balls out riffs and screaming solos of the whole album. ‘Taking the Liberty’ and ‘Electric Armageddon’ continues the punishing and lands yet another quality tune from this record. ‘Western Shadow’ adds little unfortunately for this review, the breakdown into scratchy bridges leads us astray, but the closing anthem of anthems (since In God We Trust), ‘When Duty Calls’ is the closing crown jewel on this incredible debut.
After months of listening, it’s hard to pretend there’s no prior judgements here. But six months ago I knew Animator as a name only. However, one or two listens of this album will turn any fans of thrash metal into Animatoriacs. This is a band with the talent, power and hunger to go far and all you need to do is press play. Well done lads!
No matter how much metal you’re into, you still need something anthematic for those Friday and Saturday nights. Vader and Deicide are great and all, but they won’t have your singling along with fists raised on the dance floor when the thirteenth Jägerbomb. No, in times like that you need to turn to something else and Reckless Love are increasingly becoming that band for yours truly.
Their third album, Spirit, hits shelves in the UK today and if you had any expectations about what the band was aiming for this time – you’re probably right on the nose. Spirit is chock full of anthems, hair-metal riffs, solos and great fun. Opening with the first single, ‘Night On Fire’, the album is set up for quality sing along fun, which wanes just a little bit on ‘Bad Lovin’. Not an awful song, but as Pierre said – probably should have stayed in Finnish. ‘I Love Heavy Metal’ pays homage to the classic Def Leppard Hysteria sound and tips its hat at just about every major band from the genre. Great tune and you know what? I love heavy metal too lads!
‘Favourite Flavour’ is fast, chorus filled and fun before ‘Edge of Our Dreams’ goes further down that old pop rock ballad road. Not something that would light my fire, maybe it’ll light yours. Everything gets firmly back on track for the classic ‘Sex, Drugs and Reckless Love’. Great 80’s KISS guitar up front, smashing chorus; a wonderful little number from the boys. ‘Dying to Live’ hints back at Mighty Leppard and ballad territory but avoids the overly poppy feel of ‘Edge of Our Dreams’. On repeat spins, the appeal only grows and you find yourself a cracking new RL tune to enjoy.
Here at TT we’re trying to move away from these song by song reviews so let’s cut through the red tape and say one thing – the second half of Spirit kicks ass! ‘Metal Ass’ is just brilliant for reasons that will become apparent when you hear it (damn heavy for RL), ‘Runaway Love’ is another attempt at pop ballad world and delivers another success for the band. Not a standout track, but enjoyable. The licked up ‘So Happy I Could Die’ is another winner before ‘Hot Rain’ stands up to become numero uno ballad of the album. For the first real time on Spirit the band deliver a soulful, passionate ballad and round Spirit off on a high.
Call them pop, call them wuss rock or a guilty pleasure, Reckless Love know how to write fun filled catchy tunes. If you’re too uptight, too serious or generally can’t acknowledge good fun music – then you need these guys more than anyone else. As for fans, Spirit is a winner. It’ll put a smile on your face, a beat in your heart and give you another reason to treat Reckless Love with some well earned respect.
Would you look at that! TT was so wrapped up in their bullsh*t to even notice Airbourne have gone and schedule a show at Dublin’s Academy on October 22nd. The dirty rockers are plugging their new album, Black Dog Barkingwhich came out back in May. Haven’t seen them before but it should be a great gig. According to the article I’m currently reading / stealing from, they’re well worth checking out.. so that’s good.
For this writer, I’ll be happy so long as they play ‘Runnin’ Wild’! Tickets for their show are on sale from today priced 25 quid.
The second single from their forthcoming album, Spirit, is here! Fans have been waiting with pained faces and bated breath for the follow-up to ‘Night On Fire’ and our favourite Finnish lads have delivered. ‘So Happy I Could Die’ is an excellent harder rock swagger than anything we’ve heard from the lads in a while. You can almost hear their Guns N’Roses era sound stream through as the song harks back to bad ass tunes like ‘Garden of Eden’, before propelling into one of their classic anthemic pop rock masterpieces.
Reckless Love are a band normally filed under guilty pleasures, but that’s not where they belong. We need more Reckless Love in our daily lives. Nightclubs, bars, bands, trains, planes and automobiles – everyone should be playing Reckless Love everywhere all the time. A phenomenal portal to fun, frolics and awesomeness. We need more Reckless Love and less everything else.
Spirit will see its official; release on August 30th. It’s the bands third album and currently shaping up to be their best! Dearest RL and DME, please find a way to return to Ireland this year. We need ye!
Still reeling from the news about DEATH playing in November? Well hold on those hats again because DME have landed another storming show for the same month. The great Rotting Christ are coming to The Pint on November 3rd!
The Greek black metallers are touring their most recent album, Kata ton Daimona Eaytoy, and will be supported by Twilight of the Gods (featuring Primordial’s Alan Averill) and Negura Bunget. Tickets are priced €25 and go on sale from all usual outlets next Friday, August 30th.
Hold onto your excited caps, legendary death metallers and widely renowned inventors of the genre, DEATH, have announced a European tour and Dublin is bang smack in the middle!
The band, thrilled with the success of their recent North American DTA tour, have decided to come and visit Europe and give fans the DEATH experience they’ve craved for so long. This show will feature most of the HUMAN line-up era and they’ll mostly be playing tracks from that album, as well as other DEATH classics.
This all takes place November 27th @ The Academy. Tickets on sale next Friday, Aug 30th for €27.50
Thank you very much D.M.E. This is a very special one!
DEATH – the legend lives on!!!
In 1998, “The sound of perseverance” – the very last studio album of progressive death metal icons DEATH from Florida – saw the light of day, and in 2001 their charismatic band leader, guitar god and sound pioneer Chuck Schuldiner tragically passed away. Many years later, the towering monolith of Chuck`s and DEATH`s testimony hasn`t even faintly started to crumble, and cult albums such as “Leprosy” (1988) or “Symbolic” (1995) remain untouchable!
Whilst older generations have their (live) memories to treasure, there`s a big bunch of younger death metal freaks who could get in touch with DEATH only via DVD or Youtube – and it`s about time we changed this! Earlier this year, the “DTA” tribute tour excited thousands of American fans, and in November 2013 this awesome trek will finally make it to Europe…
The DEATH line up consists of “Human” legends Sean Reinert (drums), Paul Masvidal (guitars) and Steve DiGiorgio (bass). Max Phelps – some of you will have seen him performing live with CYNIC – will step in Chuck`s footsteps. This amazing tribute line up will perform songs from every DEATH era!
Syphor are coming back! Next month the band will officially launch the followup to 2011’s Stained Glass Blasphemy, with the release of their second album, For What Remains.
Quite the night they’re shaping up as well. In addition to their headling set, they’re also bringing in Scylla, Atominated and Twisted Autocracy. Admission is just €4 in and there’ll be a cd/t-short package on ‘For What Remains’ at the show for just €10. All happens at The Pint, September 21st. Doors @ 8pm, First band onstage at 9. Keep an eye on the official event page for more.
Red Enemy seem to be a little bored of hanging around for their debut album these days. In order to combat it, they’ve put together one very tasty line-up in Fibber MaGee’s this Friday. Aside from themselves, their show will feature Two Tales of Woe (I thought they split up years ago?), Vile Regression, Hollow Truth and Leatspiders.That’s this Friday, upstairs in Fibbers. The price? Well Red Enemy want to see bodies packed in for a good time so they’re going with a ‘pay what you feel’ policy. So thrown in a couple of euro or a tenner, your choice.
Remember, bands and promoters who put on these free shows generally do it at a loss. If you want to see local talent going up the ranks then don’t be a cheap skate. For five bands throw in a tenner sher. it’s worth it and you get a full night of entertainment and free drinks. What more could you ask for?
I’m not 100% sure how to report this one as the details seem a little sparse, but this Thursday (Aug 22nd) in Fibber MaGee’s, some chap named John POPE Ryan will get shaved by a tattooist named Philie Ob to the tune of five live bands – and it’s all for charity. Oh, and as the headline says, the shaving happens with a cut-throat razor.
I’m afraid I don’t know about tickets or that, but playing on the night will be the legendary WARPATH, along with Kerouac, Hard Rockin Hobo, Little Brothers and Freddy And The Smokers.
Forge the powers of Canada, Brazil and Italy and this is what you get – Death metal fest 2013 (or pretty close). DME have just announced Kataklysm, Krisiun and Fleshgod Apocalypse are coming to the Pint in January as part of Kataklysm’s Waiting For The End to Come European Tour.
Friday, January 17th @ The Pint. Tickets cost €25 and go on sale this Friday (Aug 23rd). Bring on – le pain (that’s my French Canadian input…oh wait).
Well, old TT didn’t make their headlining slot at The Unleashed Fesatival this weekend (damn you Buckfast and wallet!), but we were able to catch Overoth’s Wacken Warm Up show in Fibbers back on July 26th and our desperate need for attention means we have to post something. Here’s a few very…..[honest]… unique pics from the night, plus a video and a snap taken of them live at Wacken (latter is not from TT). This was a great night out!
DME– obviously totally pi$$sed off with our original short post about Children of Bodom’s October show have gone and done something very, very special – Cleary to prompt a more meaty post from yours truly. Why else would they do it? To appease the great unwashed? I think now.
English legends and metal veteran alumni, Napalm Death, have been added as very special guests for the COB show on October 10th. Anyone that read the TT Report on this year’s HELLFEST will know we only really took note of ND a few months back and a chance to see them, again so soon is very, very welcome.
Also added to the bill are Insomnium and Medeia. All happens in Vicar St. on October 10th.
There DME, there you go. Are you happy now? Is that enough to finally end this? I can’t keep living like this and I can’t be expected to write big long drawn out posts that have little or nothing to do with music. You can’t expect anymore!
Congrats to the lads in Twisted Autocracy as they have completed recording of their new EP, Reinstate the Hate, at Resonant Evil studios. The EP should be available online over the next few weeks and the band are aiming for a physical release towards the end of the year.
In the meantime, check out a few of their previous songs below. If you like good, fast metal mixed with a little bit of hardcore, you’ll love Twisted Autocracy.
Guttfuck Promotions have changed their name to Beyond Decay Productions and announced a new show. In addition to the previously announced AMPUTATED show on November 29th, they’ve just conformed that Dutch metallers, Prostitute Disfigurement are coming to Dublin in early September to tear Fibber MaGees a new one (and people please, Fibbers has been torn several new ones this year. Won’t someone please consider the metal venue).
December 7th is the date and ..oh wait, we forgot support. Will no one special, only WARPATH, XENOCIDE and one more TBC!!!!!! For WARPATH and XENOCIDE alone there’s plenty to get excited about so this promised to be one hell of a night.
December 7th is the date and €14 will get you in. Doors are @ 20:00. Keep an eye on the official event page for more details.
Well would you look at this thing we’re about to tell you. New Guns N’ Roses material – you heard right, NEW. For the first time since 2008, a brand spanking new GN’R leak made it’s way online late last week and managed to stay up for a few days before vanishing under the traditional copyright infringement notice.
Titled ‘Going Down’, the song is a hark back to Illusion era country/blues/rock for the band. Apparently it contains input from Richard Fortus, Ron Thal and Buckethead on guitars while Tommy Stinson takes over main vocal duties with Axl adding harmony in the background.
The song is the first hint of new material since the release of Chinese Democracyand is suspected of coming from one of the two potential Chinese Democracy follow ups that are reported to form a trilogy of records. Well, they already had two Illusions, why not three democracies?
What is Ireland seriously lacking? That’s right, a proper metal festival – and some other stuff Tickets There doesn’t deal with. Unlike continental Europe and the U.K., Ireland lacks a serious metal festival despite obvious popularity for the genre. Perhaps M*D and @iken (I disguised their names ;)) are too flooded with Hip Hop/Hipster D4 elitists who lack the skills to see that almost every single metal show they host sells out, unlike many of their other ill-advised follies. So it falls to metal fans themselves to start things up and tonight, EHT have made a massive step in the right direction.
The Unleashed Festival is the first of what will hopefully become a much bigger annual festival. Three days boasting some of the best home-grown talent on offer. One day of the purest thrash from the meanest streets, one day of extreme metal and one day for the under-agers who need metal too. In essence, three days of metal that caters for everyone’s taste. Unfortunately this old fogey only managed the first night, but what a night.
Animator are first up for me tonight. It’s a special show for these guys as they officially launch their debut album, Blacklisted (review coming this week). Anyone that’s heard the record knows it’s bursting with instant classics and on stage, Animator have the chops to belt them out in perfect form. ‘In God We Trust’ steals their short set and sets the perfect tone for the night.
Exzeltic are up next and it’s special show for them tonight as well. Long-time guitarist, Connor Eustace has sadly parted ways with the band and has been replaced by Jamie Power. Despite this being the first major show for the new line-up, they pull it off with flying colours. Jamie steps up to the plate and delivers both new and older material with amazing technique. ‘Breaker of Nations’ and ‘Agents of Chaos‘ truly stand out and with new material now appearing, you can expect to see more of Exzeltic over the next year. Connor’s presence will be missed, but the lads prove tonight they’re not going anywhere but forward.
The cavalcade of who’s who in the world of Irish trash metal continues with Edenfire. The lads from Edenfire have been building steadily over the last couple of years, landing prominent support slots (including an opening slot with Exodus earlier this week) and raising their profile with every show. Live, they’re tight, focused and each one of them knows what they’re doing, a quality that is essential for thrash metal to work. Tonight is no different as they plough through a mix of tracks from their debut EP as well as other favourites. Edenfire are in the process of writing their debut album these days and it’s one well worth looking out for.
As the night rolls on, the large crowd swells, the pints turn to shorts and the terrifying, yet exciting sign of Buckfast begins. That perfect cocktail of merriness and early stages of ridiculous drunkenness serves as the warm welcome for the next band, Psykosis.
Taking the stage to a packed house, Psykosis produce a hail of riffs, aggression and fun for the gasping, sweaty crowd. Along with Exzeltic, Psykosis are also playing tonight with a slightly adjusted line-up as Rats from Dichotomy fills in for Tony Corcoran on guitar. Fans fear not – it’s just temporary, but man; Rats can certainly play. It’s incredible just how good these guys are. They blend everything that’s great about thrash metal and deliver it with youthful passion and fun. No sooner are the band on than the pit begins. Slowly at first before encapsulating the entire standing area. I’d love to give you the set they played but amongst the haze of Jameson and active pit participation, all I remember is bashing, ‘Toxic Fugitive’ and the best craic of the night. What a band and what a night. There’s only one thing left to do, enjoy tonight’s headliners GAMA BOMB.
Gama Bomb have long reigned supreme as the heroes of the Irish thrash scene. They have international acclaim, a massive arsenal of material from their four albums including this year’s incredible output, The Terror Tapes. On stage the band are on fire. They tear through their set with unrelenting power to a packed house. Build-up of quality throughout the night has been jaw dropping, but Gama Bomb display those additional years of experience and bring the night home in awe-inspiring glory. Moshing, stagediving, celling climbing and madness are this writers final memories before the madness spills into Club Carnage downstairs. A long awaited, but very welcome return to Dublin for Gama Bomb and hopefully they’ll return before the ringing notes of ‘Terror Tapes’ and ‘Hammer Slammer’ fade out from my ear drums.
Well done EHT Promotions, what a triumph of a night! All the bands outdid themselves and showed the how strong the Irish metal scene is. With debut albums pending for most of tonight’s line-up, you can expect a very exciting few years on the horizon!
Tickets There would like to wish all of our readers, commenters, followers and all the many amazing bands we love so much a very happy new year. 2013 was epically epic and 2014 is looking even stronger.
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