The Soundwave rumours are in full swing for the 2011 run of the largest touring festival of heavy music in Australia, with more than a few sources predicting Big Four band Slayer and the return of Iron Maiden. If these turn out to be true (personally I don’t hold a lot of stock in them) metal fans are getting a second dedicated metal stage next year. The announcement of The Sword joining the tour is also welcome news.
There’s a tonne of big international shows coming up in the next few weeks to keep the summer festivals feeling too far out of reach. Let’s review <draws extremely large breath>
Testament are at the Manning Bar on Saturday August 7. Napalm Death are back again, this time with Dying Fetus and Extortion on Saturday September 4 at The Factory theatre down the bottom of Enmore Road in Marrickville, Sydney.
LA glamsters L.A. Guns are at The Forum theatre in Sydney on Friday September 3. Japanese sludge lords Coffins are at the Gaelic Club on Sunday September 19. Then we have Mayhem playing The Factory theatre in Marrickville on Friday September 24. Overkill play The Metro on Saturday September 25. Then Exodus play the Manning Bar on the Saturday October 2. Soilwork also play the Manning on Friday October 22.
All in all I expect to see a lot of longhairs either doing overtime or washing windows at the traffic lights in order to somehow pay for the accommodation, travel and merch expenses leading up to Christmas. Nuts.
On a local tip, Friday August 6 is the Dio Live Evil Tribute Show at The Basement which should be a big night to sink a few in RJD’s honour. Ignite the Ibex are looking for a new vocalist following Terry Crane leaving for a “life opportunity” in greener pastures. If you’re interested in fronting the tech death act, send an email to ignitetheibex@live.com along with recordings, Youtube links or any other evidence of your abilities [maybe keep it above the waist, though – AL].
The third Doomsday Festival is on again this year. To celebrate, the organisers have been scouring the globe for an international to headline, and fingers crossed it will be the formidable San Francisco three-piece Acid King. The dates for the two shows closest to us are on Saturday October 2 at the Bald Faced Stag from 3pm and in Melbourne at the Northcote Social Club from 7pm. Pod People, Clagg, Looking Glass and Summonus form the nucleus of the local contingent for most of the shows.
Halfway through 2010 already I thought I’d briefly reflect on a bunch of killer releases that have been keeping my ears warm this winter in case you’re looking for some new music or have slept on some of this year’s work. Abscess have been deactivated in favour of Autopsy’s reactivation, but Dawn of Inhumanity was awesome. High on Fire’s Snakes For The Divine is utterly essential. Cathedral’s The Guessing Game, Lair of the Minotaur Evil Power, Ufomammut Eve, Ramesses Take The Curse and Hooded Menace’s Never Cross The Dead are all worthy of your attention!
Josh – NP: Ufomammut – Eve Part III – Eve
