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.
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!
Metal heads of Dublin; prepare to get excited as EHT are bringing us three days of thrash and death metal this summer. Fibber MaGees will host the event that’ll see thrash metallers Gama Bomb and the mighty Overoth headline. There will also be an under 18’s day of bands for those that can’t make the first two nights.
Line-up’s for the three shows are available below and there are just a few acts left to confirm. Tickets can be bought individually or a two day pass can currently be purchased for E20. A three day pass is currently being considered and TT will let you know when details have been announced.
Goodbye livers and brain cells, hello THRASH YOUR HEAD OFF \,,/. With the Day of Decay coming up on June 1st at Fibbers, Club Carnage have now decided to make things extra gruelling; by announcing a mouth watering line-up of thrash metal for the day before.
Psykosis, Atominated, Animator, Visceral Attack, Exzeltic and Edenfire are all playing on the night and entry is just €6, doors are at 8.30 and there’s drink promos and late night metal galore. You’d be half psychotic to even think about missing this gig.
Just to note, this night will also serve as the launch night for Atominated’s new EP, ‘World Without Flesh. Praise The Lord for thrash metal \,,/
After conquering the world of blogging, Tickets There thinks its time for the big screen. That’s right, we’re building up to a trillion dollar budget, 7D – multi-layer affect full length feature that’ll make Avatar look like a penny flip book from the 1400’s. Before we embark on our Hollywood adventure, we’ve decided to post three clips taken at a recent shows of Overoth, Exzeltic and Psykosis. These will stay up until the bands threaten to sue me.
They catch the bands right in the thick of things. Here’s a short note on each poorly displayed clip.
Taken from a Fibber MaGee’s show earlier in the year. The date? Gone with the liquor that made me forget it. Oh, April 13th actually (it’s in the title :))
Forward all soliciter mails to ‘He Who Shall Not Be Named’, Tickets There Headquarters, Dublin, Ireland, The World.
Congratulations to OVEROTH, winners of the 2013 Wacken Metal Battle Irish finals. The Belfast lads will be heading to Germany to represent our wee island against 30+ other nations this August in the world final at W.O.A.
Overoth managed to fend off stiff competition from the other finalists Exzeltic, Killface, Zombified, 7DaysDead and Bakken to make it through. Killface ended up winning the audience vote that saw Overoth take second place. However, a unanimous decision from the judges made the final choice.
Previous winners of the competition include Coldwar (2011) and Warpath (2012). Tickets There wishes Overoth the best of luck in the final and congratulations to all the bands who played tonight. Ye were all excellent!
The time has come; this Saturday six of the country’s best metal bands will compete for a chance to represent Ireland at the world Wacken Metal Battle final! You know what that means? It means one of these bands will travel to Germany and reign holy hell down on the lousy competition other nations see fit to select and Ireland will conquer the world of metal as we know it.
Before all that happens – you, the great unwashed, must pile into The Pint and see these global leaders of the future before they get too big. Six bands, all very well known on the local scene and all well established and road tested – each one with a thirst for blood that would put Romania and Luis Suárez to shame.
[Updated] Stage times have just been announced, can be found below. Before that, let’s have a look at the bands who will be battling (pun intended) on the night in alphabetical order.
7 Days Dead: 7 Days Dead were, in my eyes, the surprise winner of Heat #2 of the finals. They fought off stiff completion from Dead Aeon and Beltbuckle Overdrive to make it through and deservedly so. After just two year’s together the band already sound and play like a tightly functioning unit. Their debut EP, Beyond Within, came out in February this year and displayed real talent and ability to diversify their sound.
Bäkken: Another Belfast band coming down to kick some Celtic arse. Bäkken are a ‘new'(not ‘Nu’) metal band who good for old skool metal tactics (NWOBHM), rather than letting the new stuff interfere too much (basically – no rapping or Chester Bennington impressions). With an album and a lot of expierence already under their belts, Bäkken are a must see for this final.
Exzeltic: Born in Dublin, raised by Thrash! Exzeltic are our favourites for this final. Formed in 2007, Exzeltic are still quite a young band and have come a long way over the past year since they last competed in the finals for this festival. They’re older, wiser, more fosued than before and their stage show is armageddon. Expect lashings of tracks from their two demos (Higher Forcesand Ground Zero) and hopefully a new tune or two. ‘Agents of Chaos’!!!
Killface: One of the acts we haven’t gotten to review yet, but their reputation speaks for itself. Killface have been synonymous with thrash/death metal for a few years in Dublin now and that standing is only set to grow. They are number 1 on my ‘bands to be drunk for’ list this Saturday and I will do everything in my power to ensure that happens – headbanging y’all.
Overoth: Now this is a powerhouse of a live band. Overoth are not to be f**ked with; especially since yer making them come all the way down from Belfast (maybe themselves, 7DaysDead, Zombified and Bakken will share a bus – that would be a hangover if ever there was one). Stage presence, performance – everything is nailed down tight by Overoth and the dry ice will ensure enough oxegen leaves your lungs so you get that wonderful euphoric feeling.
Zombified: Second on the list of ‘must be drunk’ bands – Zombified. Grindcore, so a change in pace from the rest of the bands playing on the day and yet another band from the grand auld North. They’ve been around a good long while but really came to full in 2010 when the cemented their current line-up. Let’s hav’ yeah – more fodder for the Zombies!
It all goes down this Saturday, April 27th at the Pint on Eden Quay,Dublin.Entrance is only €5 / Doors are at 7.30 and audience gets to vote; so get in early, avail of the drink promos and enjoy judging some quality Irish metal. There will also be a rock/metal covers band playing after the six competitors are finished – Under An Evil Spell so make a night of it.
STAGE TIMES
21:00 – 21:22 Killface
21:37 – 21:59 Exzeltic
22:14 – 22:36 Overoth
22:51 – 23.13 Bakken
23:28 – 23:50 Zombified
00:05 – 00:27 7 Days Dead
**************************
00:45 – 01:30 Under An Evil Spell (Rock and Metal Covers)
EHT Promotions have just announced a thrash metal bash to end them all. This August, GAMA BOMB, along with Psykosis, Edenfire, Exzeltic,Animator and Snowblind will take over Dublin’s Fibber MaGees for a night of full on bullet belt mayhem. It all takes place on August 16th with tickets costing €15. Doors are at six so get there early.
Gama Bomb are currently gearing up for the release of their fourth album, The Terror Tapes which is out this Friday. Earlier this month the first single, ‘Terrorscope‘ was released on 7″ after initially being released as a free download in March. The artwork for Terror Tapes was designed by legendary horror artist Graham Humphreys (Nightmare on Elm Street / Evil Dead).
Metal fans living in Dublin, drinking anywhere but Fibbers tonight are losing out (broke, sick, murderous fans excused), because when you get three bands like Psykosis, Exzeltic and Edenfire playing the same night together, it’s not something to skip. Club Carnage may not be the most packed venue of all time, but there’s a good strong crowd in to hear some of the best thrash metal Dublin has to offer. A night made even sweeter by cheap entry, cheap booze and more than enough room to mosh the Buckfast away \,,/
Edenfire are just getting warmed up when TT reaches the venue. Only the second group on and already there’s an impressive crowd gathered around the front of the stage. The band sound strong, playing tracks from their debut EP and displaying skills that only come from the vast number of shows Edenfire have been playing over the last two years. Getting better with each performance and definitely ones to watch over the next year.
Ever since seeing this next band sweep through last year’s Wacken Metal Final semi finals; Tickets There has loved Exzeltic. In fact I’d find it hard to understand anyone who likes thrash metal not liking them. Adam, Connor, Neil and ‘Giller’ are four of the most talented, energetic and ferocious musicians on the scene today. With a small arsenal of songs at their disposal, Exzeltic has masterfully wielded their tracks into merciless destroyers. Extended solos played with extreme precision and unrelenting riffs pack their unfortunately short set with more power than you’re likely to see from any of the greats. Their bruising ‘Agents of Chaos’ and cover of Megadeth’s‘Hanger 18 finish the night in epic style. Exzeltic are a new band with a lot to offer. Now we just wait until they’re ready for a full blown release. However tonight belongs to headliners Psykosis and they’re ready to light this place up.
I’ll be blunt – Psykosis are so good live its borderline ridiculous. This is the third or fourth time I’ve been able to catch them and each show sets the bar a little higher. They trump their excellent support bands in terms of performance, catalogue and skill together. Each song is delivered with flawless style and gut punching brutality. Yet the band still maintain and extremely relaxed, fun approach and are able to put on a stellar show without it seeming a challenge or like they’re going through the motions. Band interaction between songs and their best known hits saved till last (‘Toxic Fugitive’ and ‘Terror at 3am’!) complete a night of unbeatable metal.
What we got here…is some of the finest talent the Irish metal world has to offer; in the prime of their early days together. When these bands start releasing albums and touring extensively – there will be no stopping them. Anyone who like their Overkill, Megadeth, Slayer…etc, needs to get their asses down to the Pint, to Fibbers and anywhere else they play and support these bands before we lose them to the continent or the States. One incredible night from all involved.
Thinking of heading a long to Club Carnage for Thrash Assault tomorrow? (Psykosis, Exzeltic, Edenfire and Atominated all played), well make sure you pick up one of their brand new t-shirts. These bad boys will only set you back €10 and may not hang around for long. Plus, Zealot Cult and Warpath are the new black!
Fantastic lineup coming to Club Carnage @ Fibber MaGee’s this Friday. On April 5th. Psykosis will headline the Thrash Assault which also features Exzeltic, Edenfire and Atominated. It’s just €5 on the door and drinks promos all night. It all starts at 9 so get in there son!
The second semi-final of the Irish Wacken Metal Battle took place in the Pint on Saturday night and a fairly epic night it was with controversy, a packed house and a heap of metal to enjoy. In the end, Overoth, Bäkken and 7DaysDead rose to the challenge and carry on to the final, bidding Beltbuckle Overdrive (who came first in the audience vote, but were knocked out with the judges tally…..Tickets There may or may not have been judging this one J), September Cross and Dead Aeon goodbye for this year.
The winners will join Exzeltic, Zombified and Killface for the final which takes place on April 27th @ The Pint, Eden Quay, Dublin. Tickets There will be running features on each band before th27th so keep an eye out.
Congrats to Killface, Exzeltic and Zombified who move into the Irish Wacken Metal Battle final after Sarurday night’s semi final. The three bands beat out competition from Atheos, Twisted Wrath and Xeoncide.
The next semi-final takes place in March 23rd and features Bakken, Beltbuckle Overdrive, Dead Aeon, Eazy Tyger, Overoth and September Cross. Again, it’ll take place @ The Pint.
It’s back! The Irish leg of the Wacken metal battle returns to the capital next month with 12 bands all eyeing the chance to represent the Emerald Isle at Wacken 2013. Last year saw death metal juggernauts, WARPATH, go on to the world finals so who’s it going to be this time?
The 12 bands lined up for the semi-final rounds are Atheos, Bakken, Beltbuckle Overdrive, Dead Aeon, Eazy Tyger, Exzeltic, Killface, Overoth, September Cross, Twisted Wrath, Xenocide and Zombified .
The two semi-final stages and Irish final all take place at The Pint. Dates are below.
Wacken Metal Battle Ireland 2013 Semi-Final1: Saturday, February 16th 2013
Wacken Metal Battle Ireland 2013 Semi-Final2: Saturday, March 23rd 2013
Wacken Metal Battle Ireland 2013 Final: Saturday, April 27th 2013
More details will be shared on winners, dates, prices… etc closer to the dates. Please visit the official facebook page for more.
You have to love Christmas! On top of presents, time off and good food, you also have all the bands in the country looking for one last gig of the year. For fans, that means a good 2 weeks of solid gig going where’ll you’re likely to catch pretty much every local band going. This year is no exception and for thrash fans, that moment is arrived.
Local thrash metal bands Edenfire, Exzeltic, Toxic retribution, Specter and Damageflag have announced a Christmas blow out @ (you guessed it) The Pint!. On Friday, December 14th, these five bands will play the \M/erry Christmas Bash, Smash, THRASH celebration. Five bands in one night for the tiny, small price of €5. Doors are at 6pm and if there’s any more details.
Finding it unusually hard to find out what happened at the Dublin and Metal Molten Battle of the Bands Semi-Finals, but it appears Psykosishave triumphed in Dublin so Tickets There is sending out our congrats to the lads on a well-deserved place in the London Final. We know you’ll do us proud lads!
For those who don’t know, Psykosis are one of the most prolific thrash metal bands on the Dublin scene, easily tipping up there as one of the best in the country. Proper, full on riffs, tunes with fun, screaming and metal themes (like toxic fugitives and early morning terrors). They’ll be headlining the November Thrash metal Mania at The Pint so pop in and check them out along with the equally awesome Exzeltic.
Now this is what Tickets There has been waiting for, Thrash Metal Mania is hitting the Pint next month with a line up so tasty…well, you wouldn’t want to cook it. That’s called cannibalism (*wink).
Psykosis, Exzeltic, Atominated and Damageflag head up a bill that’s going to make your ear drums bleed and liver rot. There’ll be brutal riffs, shredding vocals, pounding rhythm and, if there’s time, a solo or two.
Seriously though, all four bands are well worth catching. TT will be there for a little ‘Terror At 03:00am’ and ‘Agent of Chaos’! Doors are at 20:00 hrs, price is just €5 (if you don’t want to pay that then you’re a dirty cheap b*stard) and there’s drinks promotions! Pints start from €3.60, all spirits with a dash for €5 and two cocktails for €10. Cheaper than Saorview, more fun than the couch – get yer ass out and see some quality Irish metal \,,/
Another one of the best new thrash bands to be found roaming the fair streets of our capital, EXZELTIC. Mass carnage, violent revolution, rampant anarchy and some balls to the wall solos. Every time I see them they get better and better and can be found in Fibber Magees on the 16th of this month headlining Metal Mania
Oh yes, for fans of all things thrash – Fibbers MaGees on Parnell Street have you sorted. On Saturday, September 15th they’re holding THRASH METAL MANIA featuring Exzeltic(Tickets There’s current favourite Irish metal band), Conjuring Fate and Damageflag.
€5 will get you in the door and knowing Fibbers there’ll be cheap drinks a plenty. Doors are at 9pm sharp. Exzeltic’s EP (Signs of Chaos) can be streamed in from YouTube and it’s well worth checking out.
The June Bank Holiday is looking better with a city stopping showcase of Irish metal. On Saturday, June 2nd; Dublin’s Edenfire launch their new EP and they’re bringing a few friends with them to get the job done right and proper.
Support on the night comes from Dead Label, Animator and Tickets There favourites; EXZELTIC. It all takes place at The Pint, June 2nd and entrance is only €5 on the door. CD’s of the new E.P. will also be available on the night for an additional €5.
Initially formed in 2003, after a few different iterations 2010 saw the best line up so far settled upon with Dan Monaghan (Guitar & Vocals), Tony Murphy (Bass & Vocals), Paul Murphy (Guitar) and Steven Maloney (Drums). Fusing a combination of melodic and thrash metal, Edenfire are a mainstay in metal gigs in Dublin. This is the first E.P. the band has recorded and it was made @ TrackmixTrackmix Studios earlier this year.
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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