Hacride - Lazarus

Listenable Records

Metal is on the rise in France. Eco-warriors Gojira have paved the way to international recognition for a multitude of high-quality French metal bands. What Gojira also did, however, was raise the bar to a ridiculously high level, making it difficult for others not to stand in the its shadow. One of the contenders for a little spot of light is Hacride.

In 2007 Hacride released their second album Amoeba via Listenable Records. The album received raving reactions from the press and fans alike, and the band was considered by many to be the next Gojira. Just like their fellow countrymen, Hacride struck a good balance between progressive (and slightly exotic) music and music people can easily get into. Needless to say, expectations for Hacride’s new album were enormous, if not almost impossible to meet.

Mutiny On The Bounty - Danger Mouth

Redfield Records/Suburban

You probably don't know much about Luxembourg, but if there is one thing you need to know, it's that they have some great bands! One of their best bands is Mutinty On The Bounty. This 4 pieced band plays something in between indie rock, post-hc and screamo. They combine organic angularity with a taste for captivating melodies. If you like The Fall of Troy, Raein, Thursday or Minus The Bear, Mutinty On The Bounty is definitely something for you!

Gae Bolga - Drink 'till Death

Self Financed

Out of the depth of West-Flanders rises Gae Bolga, an old school thrash band who's embryonic phase dates from the late nineties. Since the notorious bandmembers John Berry and D.Copperwire founded the band many members came and went without having any repetitions. Why this happened nobody knows, but probably it had something to do with the drinks... Anyway, the history isn't that important, what counts is the present and the future. Finally they managed to find a stable line-up, write and record some songs.

Suicide Silence - No Time To Bleed

Century Media Records

Suicide Silence are definitely one of the frontrunners of the new wave of metal music. Their debut album "The Cleansing" sold over 70.000 copies in the US and after several tours with bands such as Behemoth, Parkway Drive and As Blood Runs Black they also convinced the European crowd of their qualities.

AC/DC @ Amsterdam Arena

After AC/DC postponed the gig in Antwerp (March 3rd), we could luckily exchange our tickets for the gig in Ajax' soccer temple.
We drove about 2 and a half hours, met many traffic-jams and road works, but eventually we arrived in Amsterdam. We parked the car in a much too expensive parking lot (12 euros) and we set of to the Arena. It looked impressive: so huge and so many people - 52000 tickets were sold! I had never seen that before.

Drive Like Marie, a Limburg band, opened the show. The Arena was already filling up. This somewhat older band - which origins in Bree - brought us a nice gig. Too bad the quality of the sound wasn't as nice (Were they sparing the speakers for AC/DC?).
Next band was The answer; who are actually on tour with AC/DC. The lead singer looks a bit like Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. This band brought a fairly calm gig, in my opinion. It was AC/DC we were waiting for, but it was a fine warm-up, anyhow.

Sonisphere 2009 @ Nijmegen

The first Sonisphere ever took place in Nijmegen, Holland. Of course, a line-up of that calibre obliged me to join in. The Sonisphere festival is realized by the 90s' Monster Of Rock festival organizers.
Originally, 9 bands would perform, but The Sword already cancelled the festival a few days ago due to a tight schedule. Unfortunately, Mastodon, too, cancelled for the same reason. They were to open the festival but had another gig yesterday evening so they could not reach Nijmegen in time.
Consequently, Pendulum, a somewhat electrical rock band, got to open the festival, and they did so splendidly. Their music immediately created a good atmosphere, which, along with a beaming sun, made forget the morning showers.

RAM - Lightbringer

AFM Records

There’s no doubt about it, the real heavy metal is conquering the World again. Real heavy metal…the term itself might be strange, but how to describe it? Isn’t death metal real? Or black? Or thrash? Of course they are real, but with real metal we try to describe the original stuff: 80’s, NWOBHM influenced music like King Diamond/Mercyful Fate, Iron Maiden and many many others used to play it. Has it this kind of music been dead? No not at all, some bands like Wolf kept the style alive, but now it’s reviving more then ever. Countless bands are redefining the old and beloved style, but with a modern angle.

Hysterica – Metalwar

Crong Records / Suburban

It took a while before I dared to put this record into the player. Just taking a look at the cover, the bandname and the album title are enough to let this product lie untouched. Ooh, had I only opened the booklet or looked at the back of the inlay… Four blonde females and one brunette holding an axe, a crossbow, blades and a sword, how more attractive can it get for a metalhead?

Týr – By The Light Of The Northern Star

Napalm Records

Although this band debuted in 2002 with How Far To Asgaard it lasted four more years before the Faroese Viking band broke through. That year Napalm Records rereleased their 2003 effort Eric The Red. The same year Ragnarok, their third record saw the day of light. Many gigs followed in small and bigger venues. The invested time and money paid off and after every release they got a better support slot, sold more records and their following grow bigger.
Now Týr released their fifth official record, which should be another step forward.

Crescent Shield – The Stars Of Never Seen

Cruz Del Sur Music

Classic Metal from the US is truly reviving with band such as Slough Feg, Seven Witches, Aska, Cage and many others. Also Crescent Shield is a band worth mentioning. This band, formed by guitarist Daniel Delucie (Destiny’s End) and vocalist Michael Grant (Onward), debuted in 2007 with the praised record The Last Of My Kind. They even got to play at the famous German Keep It True fest.