ROB ZOMBIE AND MEGADETH ANNOUNCE CO-HEADLINING TOUR

ROB ZOMBIE and MEGADETH have just announced a co-headlining tour guaranteed to raise the temperature on the planet. The trek, which marks the first time the two bands have toured together, kicks off Friday, May 11 in Holmdel, NJ and encompasses high-profile appearances at several rock festivals, including Rock On The Range and Rocklahoma. Rob Zombie will headline Rocklahoma, co-line (with Incubus) Rock On The Range, and will close all shows on the Megadeth dates. The tour wraps Saturday, March 26 at Rocklahoma – a list of confirmed dates is below. To purchase tickets, visit www.robzombie.com. Read more

ROCK ON THE RANGE 2012 REVEALS MASSIVE LINEUP FOR SIXTH ANNUAL PREMIER DESTINATION ROCK FESTIVAL

PERFORMERS INCLUDE INCUBUS, ROB ZOMBIE, SHINEDOWN, MARILYN MANSON, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, SLASH, MEGADETH, CHEVELLE, CYPRESS HILL, MASTODON AND MORE

ROCK ON THE RANGE returns for its sixth year boasting a massive lineup covering the rock spectrum. America’s premier destination rock festival will be held May 18-20 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH featuring performances from Incubus, Rob Zombie, Shinedown, Marilyn Manson, Five Finger Death Punch, Slash, Megadeth, Chevelle, Cypress Hill, Mastodon and many more. Read more

Scott Ian of Anthrax

by Cameron Edney
Guest Staff Writer –

In the Pit with Anthrax’s Scott Ian

With thirty years of thrashing under his belt Anthrax’s Scott Ian knows how to deliver a mind-blowing album and it don’t get much better than the long-awaited Worship Music but it’s surely taken some time to get to this point! Having spent the best part of the last eight years on the road without releasing any new studio material Anthrax have had a roller coaster ride of ups and downs which seen the band change vocalist not once but twice before being rejoined by longtime vocalist Joey Belladonna. With Belladonna back fronting the band, New York’s favorite Thrashers hit the road as part of one of the most successful Thrash tours of all-time playing alongside Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica in what was dubbed ‘The Big 4’.

Anthrax also spent a lot of time working on the follow up to 2003’s masterpiece We’ve come for you All writing and re-writing tracks for more than four years before settling on an astonishing list of tracks which finally became Worship Music. Worship Music is now on the shelves and fans have praised the bands efforts with mostly positive reviews. Their latest album is a return to the bands Thrash sound from the eighties and features phenomenal tracks like ‘In the End,’ ‘Earth on Hell’ and ‘Revolution Screams’.

I had the pleasure of speaking with the coolest mosher of all-time Scott Ian about the band’s latest album, the possibility of touring Australia next year and getting advice from Iron Maiden. Here’s what Scott had to say!

Hardrock Haven: On finally releasing the long awaited Worship Music’…

Scott Ian: It’s obviously very satisfying to finally have the record out so we can stop talking about it and we can finally let the record speak for itself.

Hardrock Haven: What inspired the writing process this time around?

Scott Ian: Oh I don’t know… nothing changes in the way that we write, we just get in a room and start writing riffs, start arranging songs and they start coming together and then I start getting lyrical idea’s. That’s the same way that we’ve been doing it since ‘Spreading the Disease’ basically. I don’t know how it works, where the inspiration comes from, how we do it, other than we literally sit in a room and start playing, jamming and it just all comes together.

Hardrock Haven: Thoughts on the response ‘Worship Music’ has been getting from fans and media…

Scott Ian: It’s been amazing; people are hearing the record the same way that we hear it. It’s obviously really satisfying, we feel very strongly about the record and it’s really exciting to know that people are digging the record! I’m just happy that I hear from people that they love the record and that makes me feel good. I hope that people listen to it, because it deserves to be listened to and if people want to enjoy fifty minutes of really fuckin good [Heavy] Metal they should listen to it!

Hardrock Haven: When can we expect to see Anthrax back in Australia and what fond memories do you have from past visits?

Scott Ian: Hopefully the first half of next year sometime, that would be awesome. My favorite memory of touring Australia has nothing to do with Anthrax… when we were here for Soundwave last time, we got to go and see Ac/dc playing at Olympic Stadium in Sydney and that would be my favorite memory of touring Australia.

Hardroch Haven: What band do you feel you’ve learnt the most from whilst on the road?

Scott Ian: The first time that we toured with Iron Maiden back in 1988, I can definitely say that we learnt from them. They never told us anything, but just how well they treated us and the respect they afforded us as their opening band. We always felt like they treated us so well. Obviously we’re huge fans of Iron Maiden and we got to go on tour with them, they were unbelievably nice to us so we felt it was the way we should pattern ourselves as well.

Hardrock Haven: Scott any last words for our readers?

Scott Ian: We look forward to getting back down there and playing again. With the album out it obviously makes us really excited to get back down to play some shows!

Megadeth | Th1rt3en

by Alissa Ordabai
Staff Writer –

Instant classics on Megadeth’s aptly titled 13th studio release show that Dave Mustaine remains firmly grounded in his identity while refusing to abate after a three-decade career full of ups, downs and everything else in between.

Memorable, hurtling, tough barn-burners such as “Never Dead” and “Public Enemy No.1” are instantly recognizable as Megadeth songs, with their propulsive, biting riffs, Mustaine’s unmistakable vocals, Chris Broderick’s virtuoso solos, and – of course – the signature style of bassist David Ellefson who is now back in the band after an 8-year absence.

Instead of weighing on the band, the past is integrated with the present in a perfect equilibrium on this release. Ellefson’s presence adds to the band’s vintage sound, but the fact that Broderick has grown up on the Shrapnel Records virtuosos (and, actually, began following Megadeth in 1990 because Marty Friedman has joined the band) certainly helps to see the band’s history as a continuum.

One such example – the riff to “Never Dead” with its conscious nod to Rust In Peace-era Friedman – subtly shows how a sense of connection between guitar players of different generations can work wonders to sustain continuity within a particular band.

But despite Broderick’s fretboard exuberance, the album remains perfectly balanced with its spare, laconic production and avoidance of bombast or overkill. It is largely due to Mustaine’s rough-hewn, simplistic vocal melodies and his almost punky approach to singing that the record remains grounded in the classic Megadeth method.

Contrasted by vehemently propulsive grooves, space-rocking riffs and high-voltage guitar solos, Mustaine’s vocal parts are something that keeps those songs firmly planted on the ground. More than anything else, this shows that for Mustaine the honesty of what he needs to convey as an artist has always had priority over pseudo-intellectual or flashy diversions metal has always been tempted to take.

Instead of losing his message in overbearing technique, pretentious production or pompous lyrical affectations, this time – as ever – Mustaine has presided over a hugely entertaining, balls-to-the-wall album which confirms him as one of the most recognizable and honest voices in heavy metal.

Genre: Heavy Metal

Band:
Dave Mustaine – vocals, guitar
Chris Broderick – guitar
David Ellefson – bass
Shawn Dover – drums

Track Listing:
1. Sudden Death
2. Public Enemy No. 1
3. Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)
4. We The People
5. Guns, Drugs & Money
6. Never Dead
7. New World Order
8. Fast Lane
9. Black Swan
10. Wrecker
11. Millennium of the Blind
12. Deadly Nightshade
13. 13

Online: www.megadeth.com

Label: Roadrunner Records

Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10

Megadeth | PEACE SELLS… BUT WHO’S BUYING? 25th Anniversary Edition

by John Kindred
Staff Writer

For some people, 1986 seems like a long time ago, and, for others, it remains fresh in the mind. Can you believe that 25 years ago Megadeth released its groundbreaking PEACE SELLS… BUT WHO’S BUYING? studio album? Well, 2011 brings about the re-release and remaster of this landmark album by Megadeth. Capitol/EMI records has dug deep into the vaults to deliver PEACE SELLS… BUT WHO’S BUYING? in several versions: A two-CD lift-top box, digital album and a deluxe five Disc + 3 LP box set for fans to gobble up. Loaded with plenty of extras, these packages should entice fans to plunk down their cash on the 25th Anniversary re-issues.

The two-CD set features liner note from Dave Mustaine and commentary from Lars Ulrich (we must have died and gone to Hell). The original studio material has been remastered, and the second CD is from a 1987 concert that contains 13 songs.

Mustaine always has had plenty of angst, and, in his own words, PEACE SELLS… BUT WHO’S BUYING? is his story, which focuses on “my faith, my beliefs, my distrust of government, my work ethic, my integrity.” By now, we all know the story of how Mustaine was thumped out of Metallica. And you know what? Thank goodness that he was because the music of Megadeth has far exceeded the efforts of his former band. Maybe you can’t define the band’s success in overall record sales, as Metallica jumped on the mainstream commercial bandwagon way before Mustaine softened his approach, if ever so slightly. He never cut his hair; he never down-tuned his guitars to drop D; he never went WAH-WAH happy-go-lucky-crazy; and he never lost his angst.

The production of Megadeth’s sophomore release PEACE SELLS… BUT WHO’S BUYING? is like night and day when compared to their debut studio album Killing Is My Business and Business is Good!. The debut album has more of a raw edge that lacks punch, but certainly this is not a knock on the skill level of the musicians. Sonically, it’s hard to change what originally was recorded. The band must have had the same thought on the production quality of Killing Is My Business and Business is Good! because the CD was remastered and re-released in 2002. But on Peace Sells …, the evolution of the sonic dynamic delivery of Megadeth developed the way the band would be heard on future releases.

Thrash metal staples, including the title song, “Wake up Dead” and “Devil’s Island” are found here. The album, as whole, clocks in at 36 minutes and is only eight songs. Again, the autobiographical lyrical exposure of Mustaine’s mental state is heard on “Peace Sells.” If one song could sum up what the youth of ‘80s were rebelling against, well, this is the song. This ever-present forlorn commentary on the perpetual state of affairs in the U.S. and abroad should be evident to everyone. Election after election, decade after decade, the cries are heralded for change. Politicians claim to be the bringer of peace and prosperity. And yet the picture is the same as it was during the ‘60s. The only difference is that people only are up in arms when the Operating System doesn’t work on their latest $300 cell phone. Today, “Peace Sells” represent a call to arms that falls on deaf ears. After an undeclared “10-Year War” in the middle east, is anyone listening anymore?

Megadeth covers the Willie Dixon penned song “I Ain’t Superstitious,” which had been recorded by the likes of Howlin’ Wold, Jeff Beck, George Lynch, Tesla, The Yardbirds and many other groups. This song, although the second from the last song to appear on the album, breaks the continuity of the music and changes from a thrash metal groove to rhythm and blues vibe and is a heavy contrast to the band’s signature sound. Interestingly enough, the controversial song “The Conjuring,” which was made that way by Mustaine, now sticks out like a sore thumb. The song’s lyrical content is far removed from anything Heavenly, and Mustaine’s full-on conversion to Christianity has led him to spurn performing the song live. And if not for his vocal detest of his creation in the media, fans wouldn’t even note the self-made controversy.

It is interesting to note that during the ‘80s, MTV adopted the title track from PEACE SELLS… BUT WHO’S BUYING? as its theme song. The song opens with the bass groove played by Dave Ellefson, and MTV lifted the intro and used it whenever they promoted the television station and as the opening sequence of its news cast. MTV could have grabbed a snippet from any of metal’s most primal heavy metal bands of the time period. Bands like Metallica, Slayer and Black Sabbath, all great and relevant, were put on notice by the six-second opening riff by Megadeth.

PEACE SELLS… BUT WHO’S BUYING? Screams, “Metal is my business, But who’s buying?” The band has evolved through lineup changes over the years. With Mustaine being the ringleader, the band has produced three Top 10 titles on the Top 200 Albums chart and four Top 10 singles, “Almost Honest,” “Trust,” “Breadline,” and “Crush ‘Em.” Megadeth has had nine Grammy Award nominations; one double platinum album; six gold and five platinum albums; and three gold-certified DVD releases in addition to last year’s double-platinum concert DVD.

The additional CD truly is a bonus disc. Although it gives fans another reason to purchase the 25th anniversary edition of Peace Sells…, it really isn’t where we should focus our attention. With the landmark album written and recorded by Mustaine, Poland, Samuelson and Ellefson in ‘86, the question to ask yourself is, “Where would the band be today if they never released PEACE SELLS… BUT WHO’S BUYING?”

Genre: Thrash Metal / Speed Metal

Band:
Dave Mustaine (vocals, guitar)
Chris Poland (guitar)
Gar Samuelson (drums)
David Ellefson (background vocals)

Track Listing:

Disc 1 (original album, remastered):
Wake Up Dead
The Conjuring
Peace Sells
Devil’s Island
Good Mourning/Black Friday
Bad Omen
I Ain’t Superstitious
My Last Words

Disc 2 (previously unreleased 1987 concert):
Wake Up Dead
The Conjuring
Bad Omen
Rattlehead
Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good
Looking Down The Cross
My Last Words
Peace Sells
These Boots Were Made For Walkin’
Devils Island
Mechanix
Last Rites / Loved To Deth
Good Mourning / Black Friday

Label: Capitol/EMI

Web: www.megadeth.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10

Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer & Anthrax : The Big 4 or The Big Fail?

by Cynthia Gomez
Staff Writer

Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer & Anthrax : The Big 4 or The Big Fail?

Metalhead’s would do anything to see the biggest of thrash/metal bands play the same stage– pay $116 for the ticket, drive a total of 6 hours when gas prices average $4.15 a gallon, walk roughly 2 miles to the venues entrance, and even after all that spend half an hour searching for a parked car in a lot with other 500 cars with no lighting hoping it wasn’t stolen.

Yes, in order to see Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax make history– that’s what about 50,000 people had to go through Saturday in Indio, CA. For those highly devoted to the metal masses, going through all that seems pretty feasible, but for those who had to work that day or simply have a life, one question came to mind after the show, was it worth it?

Because of the 3-hour drive one had to take to get to the venue that a week prior hosted a copious amount of indie hipsters for the Coachella Festival missing Anthrax who went on roughly at 4 in the afternoon was at first the biggest discontent of the evening. Why was Anthrax first missed? Read more

Glen Drover Metalusion

by John Kindred
Staff Writer

Glen Drover’s return to music follows a career spent with the power metal band Eidolon, a stint with progressive metal’s King Diamond, and, most recently, he spent four years in the thrash metal band Megedeth. Leaving Megadeth in ’08 for personal reasons, Drover set into motion writing and recording what would become his first solo instrumental studio album, Metalusion. To be released in early April, Metalusion is a 10-song studio album that delves into elements of metal, jazz fusion, progressive and hard rock genres.

Drover is joined by Jim Gilmour (keyboards), Paul Yee (bass) and Chris Sutherland (drums). The album also features Jeff Loomis (Nevermore), Frederik Akesson (Opeth), Chris Poland (OHM, Megadeth) and Vinnie Moore (UFO).

Metalusion comprises of five new, original compositions and five cover songs that venture into territory originally discovered in the works of Frank Zappa (“The Purple Lagoon,” “Filthy Habits); Jean-Luc Ponty (“Don’t Let the World Pass You By,” “Mirage”); and Al DiMeola (“Egyptian Danza”). Drover weaves his original compositions with the cover songs without loss of cohesion for the duration of Metalusion. In fact, if you didn’t know that five songs were covers of other artists or if you never heard the original songs, you never would know they aren’t Drover’s creations.

Metalusion is a vehicle for Drover to showcase his virtuoso skills on the guitar. Throughout the album he incorporates the use of clean tonal guitar passages and the distorted fury of blistering solos. Utilizing exotic scales and fills makes the music unique and compelling. Rounding out his compositions with his rock solid rhythm playing which lays over the top of the underlying rhythmic groove, held together by Yee and Sutherland. Gilmour’s keyboard melodies and sonic textures are layered into the arrangements on a majority of the album. These additional textures help to set the mood and temperament of the music.

The album reveals the deeper intellect of Drover’s musical knowledge, and it provides the platform for Drover to unveil his art. It also demonstrates why bands like King Diamond and Megadeth featured him as a player in their perspective bands. Metalusion plays out as a symphonic journey best taken with your eyes closed and headphones on.

Band:
Glen Drover – Guitars
Jim Gilmour – Keyboards
Paul Yee – Bass
Chris Sutherland – Drums

Genre: Progressive Instrumental

Label: Magna Carta

Track Listing:
1. Ground Zero (Chris Poland and Vinnie Moore)
2. Frozen Dream (Steve Smyth)
3. Egyptian Danza [Al DiMeola Cover]
4. Colors of Infinity
5. Illusions of Starlight
6. Don’t Let The World Pass You By [Jean-Luc Ponty Cover] (Fredrik Akesson)
7. Mirage [Jean-Luc Ponty Cover] ( Jeff Loomis)
8. Ascension
9. The Purple Lagoon [Frank Zappa Cover]
10. Filthy Habits [Frank Zappa Cover]

Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10

Megadeth Live!

July 13, 2010 at B1 Club, Moscow, Russia

by Rodion Goloshchapov
Guest Staff Writer

At first it seemed like the infamous B1 club with its capacity of 3000 would not be able to hold Megadeth with their rowdy crowd of die-hard fans. But in the end both dates played by the band at B1 in Moscow this month couldn’t have passed better.

The local thrash-themed support act Arbitrator left no impression apart from their extremely young age and glaring unprofessionalism, but the imposing “supported Megadeth” line on their CVs is perhaps a fair enough compensation for having to bear the constant “Go home to your ma!” shouts from the crowd which accompanied their set.

An hour later, with the appearance of the Megadeth roadies on the stage, it became clear that Dave Mustaine was going to use Dean guitars, Dave Ellefson’s brand of choice would be Jackson, and Chris Broderick remains an Ibanez man. During the show Mustaine switched between three Dean Signature VMNT Flying Vs, just like Ellefson would switch between three Jackson basses, all three being Concert Bass SMG series. Chris Broderick remained faithful to his Ibanez RG7 axe throughout the set.

Amidst sweltering heat the atmosphere was becoming more and more agitated, when finally Shawn Dover came on stage walking straight to his drum set, followed by Broderick, and then by Ellefson and Mustaine himself. The first three songs (“Wake Up Dead”, “In My Darkest Hour”, and “She Wolf”) were played without breaks between them, while a fine, if not excellent, sound was gradually being shaped by the sound engineers.

Rust in Peace back-cloth was splattered behind the band, and even one of Mustaine’s guitars was decorated with the album’s artwork. Mustaine, Ellefson and Broderick were constantly switching places, allowing their fans (who have waited for almost 10 years to see the band in Russia again) to have a proper view of their heroes.

Mustaine, for one, looked imposing with his mane of blond hair and a white musketeer’s shirt – a true guitar hero and a heartthrob. His smiles and air-kisses directed at the VIP box looked elegant too, sincere and without a trace of flam.

Following a genius version of “Skin ‘O My Teeth”, Rust in Peace was performed in its entirety – in exactly the same sequence as recorded on the album. Broderick handled his lead guitar duties with lots of dignity, given that it isn’t the easiest of tasks to follow in Marty Friedman’s footsteps, as Rust in Peace to this day remains one of the most technically complex albums not only in the Megadeth catalogue, but of heavy music as a genre.

Broderick’s leads weren’t something that will suddenly change the world, but he is a competent, assiduous player who interacts perfectly with Mustaine, while carrying himself with confidence and poise. Mustaine soloed a lot too, and the interaction between the two was easy and natural. Plus Ellefson sounded like he’s never been away, given that 2010 sees him back in Megadeth for the first time after an 8-year break.

Toward the middle of the show a security guard decided it would be fun to pull down to the floor one of the crowd-surging fans, which made Mustaine act quickly and decisively. After seeing the lad being pulled down and hitting the floor, Mustaine leans over the side of the stage, slaps the guilty guardsman on the head, walks over back to his mic and says: “Don’t fucking do that,” to the ecstatic cheers from the crowd.

The ladies’ favourite “A Tout Le Monde” sounded truly impressive, and Mustaine showed that he is not only a virtuoso on the guitar, but is also an equally formidable singer.

After mind-blasting “Symphony of Destruction” it seemed like nothing else would take the audience onto another level of their natural high, but suddenly the band launched into “Peace Sells” which completely overwhelms the already overexcited crowd.

In the end Ellefson, Mustaine and Broderick throw their guitar picks into the audience, and after a light scuffle a 15 year-old kid emerges in front of me screaming, eyes popping with sheer joy, holding a green guitar pick which says “Megadeth” in his hand. Then Dover throws his drum sticks into the crowd, and they hit my buddy who stands next to me right on the forehead. A cracking good show.

Set list:
1. Intro
2. Wake Up Dead
3. In My Darkest Hour
4. She Wolf
5. Skin ‘O My Teeth
6. Holy Wars
7. Hangar 18
8. Take No Prisoners
9. Five Magics
10. Poison Was The Cure
11. Lucretia
12. Tornado of Souls
13. Dawn Patrol
14. Rust in Peace
15. Trust
16. Angry Again
17. Headcrusher
18. A Tout Le Monde
19. Symphony of Destruction

Encore:
Peace Sells / Holy War reprise

Translation by Alissa Ordabai

Photos courtesy of Mikhail Grigoriev

Angels of Babylon Kingdom of Evil

by John Kindred
Staff Writer

Angels of Babylon is a super group of sorts, featuring three veteran rockers; Rhino, David Fefolt and David Ellefson and newcomer guitar virtuoso, Ethan Brosh. Each of the vets have cut their teeth with bands like Manowar, Megadeth and Hawk, while Brosh’s first solo release, Out of Oblivion, was released in ’09 on the Magna Carta record label.

Their first album, Kingdom of Evil, is a compilation of music written by Rhino, who waited for the right group of guys to bring his vision to life. The album features 10 songs that fall in the vein of heavy metal and that also have a strong melodic feel. At times, the music pushes the envelope into the edges of power metal. With the use of keyboards and synthesizers layered over crushing palm-muted rhythm guitar arrangements, the band produces an epic and symphonic feel.

For some of older metal heads, David Fefolt’s vocals are going to sound awfully familiar. Back in the ‘80s, he fronted Doug Marks’ (Metal Method guitar instructor) band, Hawk. His vocal style is reminiscent of his previous works. He still has that metallic raspy voice that you will recall. You know what you are getting with quality musicianship of Rhino and Ellefson. The drums and bass are tight and heavy.

Newcomer Brosh shines through with brilliant solo work and solid guitar playing all around. It’s evident that he is a musician who can excel as an instrumentalist as well as a bona fide band member. His influences added into the mix of the music rounds out the band’s overall metal sound. Although he struts his stuff all over the CD, he tears it up with a blazing solo on the intro to the title track, “Angels of Babylon.”

Other great songs include the opener “Conspiracy Theory,” “Tear Out My Heart,” “Oh How The Mighty Have Fallen” and “Kingdom of Evil.” There seems to be Christian themes tied into the lyrical content of several songs. So whether this is a Christian release is unknown. Although they are not reinventing the wheel, their level of musicianship and strong song writing skills produce a well-crafted studio album.

The only real weak track is the instrumental track, “The Remnant,” which features a piano melody played against a synthesizer. It doesn’t fit the flow of all the other bombastic metal tracks. Landing in the track listing as song eight, it really could have been placed last, as metal heads are going skip over this one.

Web: www.myspace.com/officialangelsofbabylon

Line-Up:
Rhino (d)
David Ellefson (b)
David Fefolt (v)
Ethan Brosh (g)

Track list:
1. Conspiracy Theory
2. Apocalypse 2012
3. Night Magic
4. Tear Out My Heart
5. Oh How The Mighty Have Fallen
6. Tarot
7. Kingdom Of Evil
8. The Remnant
9. Angels Of Babylon
10. Second Coming

Hardrock Haven rating: 7/10

SLAYER, MEGADETH, TESTAMENT ANNOUNCE NEW DATES FOR THE “AMERICAN CARNAGE” NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

Slayer and Megadeth are thrilled to announce the new, confirmed routing for the American Carnage North American Tour, which will commence with the rescheduled Canadian Carnage East dates in Quebec City on Friday, July 23. Slayer will then head to Europe for a run of festival dates, returning to kick off the American Carnage leg in Albany, NY on August 11. Read more

Next Page »