As the leading Hardrock- and Metal magazine in Germany, Metal Hammer started its own award ceremony ten years ago. After the initiation at Wacken Open Air 2009, the event found a permanent location in 2011 at Berlin Kesselhaus. For the ten years anniversary event, the evening featured all shades of black and a most illustrious guestlist.
Proper party people: Night Demon
On Friday, September 14th stars of the international Rock- and Metalscene gathered to witness new talents being awarded with the prestigious price after walking down the black carpet next to the likes of David Draiman (Disturbed), Attila Dorn (Powerwolf) and Phil Campbell (Motörhead). And of course an event like this would only be half the fun without some live shows. After opening acts Thunder And Lightning, as the local support and King Creature from Cornwall, co-headlining acts Night Demon (last years winner of the Up & Coming award) and Dirkschneider playing a final set with Accept classics, the night was on fire.
Metal Hammer staff cleans up nicely: Gernot Krebs & Thorsten Zahn
All recipients personally took home their awards, only Judas Priest, who received the Maximum Metal Award, were forced to send a laudatory speech via video. The legendary band is currently touring the US. Upon its 50th anniversary, the band thanked their fans. And even without winning any price, Berlin-based trio Kadavar joined the party as well – next year a new category could be created, honouring “Best Facial Hair”. The German trio would clearly be a runner-up for this one, coming in second after everyone’s favourite bearded bros, ZZ Top.
Every fan’s crazy ’bout a sharp dressed band: Kadavar
No better way to celebrate the midweek, than having of Psychorizon’s all-time favourite bands revealing a full run of tour dates, kicking off their live shenanigans at one of the most renowned venues of my town: Zeche Carl in Essen! The following statement has been posted by the band on their facebook page:
Good morning everybody. We’ve got some good news we wanted to share with you. As you may know we are currently working on our next album which will be released in september. And what else can you do when you are done with work in the studio? You take your good Dutch friends Death Alley and come to your town to celebrate with you.
There will be another band announced soon.
We realized that we have missed many of your faces on our last years autumn tour and we were shocked about the ticket prices too. We have decided that this is not the way we want to go again. so we’ve talked to the promoters and people involved to reduce the ticket price by about 10 euros to give everybody the chance to come and party with us again. Because this is the reason we’re all doing this.
Towering psych-metal trio KADAVAR will release its new and third album, “Berlin“, on August 21. Following its eponymous 2012 debut, “Kadavar”, which was hailed as “perfectly styled 70s psych-metal from a Berlin trio that cheated on LED ZEPPELIN with PENTAGRAM” by SPIN magazine and their 2013 sophomore attempt “Abra Kadavar”, which Popmatters rightfully claimed “takes us back to the origins of metal”, the forthcoming masterpiece was captured at Candy Bomber Studios earlier this year. Before “Berlin” will be out, KADAVAR recently premiered the officeal music video for the single track, “The Old Man”.
Furthermore, KADAVAR have announced a full headlining tour in November and December, kicking off on November 05th in Strasbourg and ending on December 20th in the Dutch capital, Amsterdam. Joining in Lupus, Tiger and Dragon on the road will be L.A. Psychedelic Rockers THE SHRINE as well as Swedish Rock five-piece HORISONT. Check below for all confirmed tour dates.
05.11. FR Strasbourg – La Laiterie
06.11. DE Cologne – Kantine
07.11. NL Nijmegen – Doornroosje
08.11. UK Manchester – Sound Control
09.11. UK Glasgow – Audio
10.11. UK Leeds – The Brudenell Social Club
11.11. UK Wolverhampton – Slade Rooms
12.11. UK Bristol – Marble Factory
13.11. UK Cardiff – The Globe
14.11. UK London – The Dome
17.11. FR Paris – Le Trabendo
18.11. FR Nantes – Stereolux
19.11. FR La Rochelle – La Sirene
20.11. ES Madrid – Penelope
21.11. ES Barcelona – Razzmatazz II
22.11. FR Bordeaux – Le Krakatoa
23.11. FR Lyon – Ninkasi Kao
25.11. CH Zurich – Dynamo
26.11. CH Geneva – L’Usine
27.11. DE Stuttgart – Wizemann
28.11. DE Munich – Backstage
30.11. DE Frankfurt – Batchkapp
01.12. DE Hamburg – Markthalle
02.12. DK Copenhagen – Pumpehuset
03.12. NO Oslo – Vulkan
04.12. SE Gothenburg – Brewhouse
05.12. SE Stockholm – Debaser Medis
07.12. FI Jyväskylä – Lutakko
08.12. FI Helsinki – Nosturi
09.12. EE Tallinn – Club Tapper
10.12. LT Vilnius – Propaganda
11.12. PL Gdansk – B90
12.12. PL Warsaw – Progresja
13.12. PL Krakow – Fabryka
16.12. DE Nuremberg – Hirsch
17.12. BE Brussels – Vk*
18.12. DE Berlin – Astra
19.12. DE Obernhausen – Turbinenhalle II
20.12. NL Amsterdam – Melkweg
Four months in the making, the third studio record of Germany’s hardest working Classic Rock trio, KADAVAR, is finally ready for take-off and will be released on August, 21 2015. An insight on the recordings has been giving earlier this year on Psychorizon.
Honouring their adopted city, the new album is called “Berlin” – an obvious choice, giving the history of all three band members, as drummer Tiger reveals: “When we moved to Berlin, almost ten years ago – independently from each other – we wanted to break free from home and do something new. It felt good to submerge in the masses for a while, just taking each day as it comes. All those long nights, people fully opposite to oneself and the chance to define yourself anew. We all have different characters and different stories, but somehow managed to create something together we all can release to. I think the Berlin lifestyle has influenced our band in many ways and thus works so well as an album title.”
Furthermore, KADAVAR have announced a full headlining tour in November and December, kicking off on November 05th in Strasbourg and ending on December 20th in the Dutch capital, Amsterdam. Joining in Lupus, Tiger and Dragon on the road will be L.A. Psychedelic Rockers THE SHRINE as well as Swedish Rock five-piece HORISONT. For all confirmed shows, please check the official KADAVAR facebook page and see below for the cover artwork.
Berlins’ finest Classic Rock Trio KADAVAR is finally working on a new studio encounter, follow-up of their 2013 output “Abra Kadavar”. The band just recently entered Candy Bomber Studios, located at the historic grounds of Berlin Tempelhof Airport to lay down further recordings in a most appropriate setting – the rooms were previously used by the C.I.A.
In 2014 KADAVAR released their first ever live record called »Live In Antwerp« as well as the »Abra Kadavar Special Edition«, the 2CD set includes the full tracklist of »Abra Kadavar« plus a bonus track, as well as a full live set recorded in Antwerp. »Live In Antwerp« which is available as a separate 2LP set and also features the full live concert recorded in 2013.
Just to make it quick, Freak Valley Festival wasn’t all just mud, rain and rather low temperatures – but if you’ve been there right from the start, you’ve seen it all. And Psychorizon for one did.
Arriving in the rain covered outer part of Siegerland, Northrhine-Wesphalia, building up stages and setting up entrance fences is still an ongoing process, as my arrival from Donzdorf happens a lot earlier than expected. The other half of this years’ two person Festival coverage team shows up about two hours later and wouldn’t you know: It’s still raining by then. After a quick journey on sight, figuring out where to get our passes at and how to walk to the campground, we end up driving – with both cars – to the destined grounds uphill some 20 to 40 minutes walking distance from the actual Festival, depending on what corner your tent is and how bad your level of alcoholic consumption will slow your speed down. Anywho, plans of actually putting up a tent are out the door due to the severe condition and muddy state of ground, besides a car is at least a bit warmer at night, or so we thought.
Tent, Sweet Tent
With the set up entrance awaiting and rain finally disappearing we find ourselves on a surprisingly long and crowded cue to get in. Having moved the cars once to our final temporary home with part of the Cologne/Bonn crew, we’re right in time for doors and the opening act of Freak Valley Festival 2014.
After a first intense check of the Festival sight and the welcome discovery of flushable toilettes, we decide to return and hang out on top of that hill where we spend most of this first day after a big disappointment of the highly acclaimed BLOODY HAMMERS who turn out to be highly overrated – at least as far as our opinions are concerned and agreeing upon RADIO MOSCOW not being worth hiking all the way down again. (kp) After the disappointing HAMMERS, I anticipated PAPIR from Denmark. The three musicians made a great start, but after a while, the strictly instrumental jam-tracks seemed to repeat themselves over and over. In my opinion, the show would be much more intense at a club rather than an open air stage. The same applies to the first headliner of the festival: RADIO MOSCOW. However, I’m quite on my own with my opinion, as the band is very well received by the rest of the audience. The blues-influenced music set aside, I have to admit that the background projections are quite impressive on a stage of such dimensions. After the encore, the mediocre first festival day ends and a long and hard ascend to the camp site opens up…(ys)
Inventors of the “Selfie-Booth”
Day two starts off pretty much the same day one ended: Its way to cold to be outdoors all the time and this time the entire gang is late for the first band of the day. After a half way decent breakfast/lunch or whatsoever, everyone is in a good mood and finally I find myself walking down again to the place where all the magic happens this extended weekend.Between a first inspection of the merch offerings, STUBB and THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN the sun also joins in. As of some serious busyness we miss both MOTHER OF GOD and most of MOTHERSHIP since we conducted an Interview with BLOOD CEREMONY bassplayer Lucas Gadke. The Canadian Doom masters are one of the first bands, Psychorizon met along the way and its a great feeling to be catching up at this uprising annual event. One private signing session and a few sips of booze later, we find ourselves witnessing this first true highlight of FVF ’14, which is of course BLOOD CEREMONY in all their enchanting appearance. The setlist covers songs from all three full-length releases: Their eponymous debut from 2008 (‘I’m Coming With You’), “Living With The Ancients” (‘My Demon Brother’) (2011) as well as the most current one “The Eldritch Dark” (‘Goodbye Gemini’) which was released last year via UK’s cult label Rise Above Record.
The Good Witch of the North-West
Though some of the magic of the Toronto-based foursome is hard to touch when delivered on brought daylight, the audience is turned into one celebrating ritual gathering by the songs, mainly focusing on Witchcraft, other realms and Horror. Not to mention vocalist, flutist, organist and frontlady Alia O’Brien is just one bewitching entity all herself and has everyone in front of the stage and her fellow band members, guitarist Sean Kennedy, the aforementioned bassist and newest addition to this sonic coven, drummer Michael Carrillo, under her spell. While the day is fading, I find myself slightly drunk and not fully capable of watching either WO FAT or SÓLSTAFIR in full and get a necessary break before the Saturday headliner gives a most amazing conclusion for the day. (kp) Iceland’s best kept secret, SÓLSTAFIR, were given the honour to perform at Friday’s sundown. The band’s ingredients cover Post-, Black and Doom Metal as well as atmospheric soundscapes. These Metal Dudes looked a bit out-of-place among all the other bands, but charismatic band leader Aðalbjörn managed to infatuate the audience right away. Definitely one of my personal highlights this year!
Coolness Incorporated – SÓLSTAFIR
Damdamdamdamdamdamdamdam dadadaadaadaaa dadadaada: One of the most recognisable riffs in recent years heralds the coming of today’s co-headliner, TRUCKFIGHTERS from Sweden. These guys never seem to run out of fuel and deliver an energetic performance. Their blend of riff-driven Stoner Rock and psychedelic parts fits a festival stage quite well, something other bands seem to have more trouble with. The set is well received by the audience, but the aforementioned song Desert Cruiser still remains their very own „Ace of Spades“, no matter how much more acclaimed their recent albums are. (ys) Aspiring Blues Rock act BLUES PILLS might seem to be a little young to fill in the position, but not only do they prove to be worthy but are fully blowing away all doubts about this being the rightful place for the Sweden-based band with multi cultural origins. Furthermore they are putting aside the worn-out argument of age for all nay-sayers as they sound more mature than many so-called established acts. Elin Larsson with her dark and soulful voice in the vain of the great Janis Joplin, French guitarist Dorian Sorriaux is handling his fretboard like an elderly Rockgod while Zack Anderson becomes all one with his bass and the new sticksman is hitting his kit as if there is no tomorrow. And while the world is still waiting for BLUES PILLS to finally put out their debut album they easily manage to give a full set, including everyone’s favourite ‘Devil Man’ and the new mandatory sing-along tune ‘Highclass Woman’.
BLUES PILLS heating up a cold night
Not to make this a habit, but also on the final Festival day do we miss out on the opening bands – 11:30 on a Saturday just ain’t right! Mobilising forces takes even longer and the first act we get to see is the ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE. (kp) After taking an exhausting trip through the quiet woods of the freakish valley in order to find a cash machine, I arrived just in time for ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE. The group is famous for its completely improvised shows and manages to take off into the midday sun with yet another trippy performance, led by the one and only Dr. Space. (ys)
With yet another promising act on sight, Rise Above Records got Hastings trio THE ADMIRAL SIR CLOUDESLEY SHOVELL or simply THE SHOVELL with their first ever show on German ground well-placed at FVF ’14, that also presented the first ever Germany show of labelmates and fellow countrymen UNCLE ACID AND THE DEADBEATS in 2013. Not only does THE SHOVELL clearly deserve the award for best style but also for the coolest sideburns of the entire event. Playing songs from their two albums “Don’t Hear It…Fear It” and “Check ‘Em Before You Wreck ‘Em”, guitarist Johnny, drummer Billy and bassplayer Louis become my secret headliner for the day. This clearly calls for more or to say it with the giant pin they’re selling at there merch stand: “You’ve Been Shovelled”! (kp)
Johnny & Louis – “Best Bell-Bottoms” and “Best Sideburns”
SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT were up next. Reduced to a three-piece due to personal reasons since April 2014, the German band put on a rock-solid show. Singer and guitar player Christian Peters seemed to be frantic about the fact that he had to play a JCM 800, the otherwise relaxed singer/guitar player even showed some real Rockstar attitude by kicking the full stack some time during the show. From my point of view (or should I say hearing?), the issues were not that dramatic, as the sound in front of the stage still kicked ass. SBE were followed by yet another promising trio: ELDER. Hailing from Boston, the band convinced with a heavy, Doom-laden approach to the Stoner genre: Sabbathian riffs clashing with psychedelic jams reminiscent of COLOUR HAZE, also featuring lots of headbanging action by guitar player/singer Nick DiSalvo. So far, the Saturday turned out to feature the strongest line-up, with the two major acts still to come!
„MOTORPSYCHO records are always something very special“ was my very first introduction to the co-headlining band of this year’s edition of Freak Valley. Ever since MTV host Markus Kavka spoke these words around 2001, I somehow missed each and every opportunity to see this band live. So my first encounter would be a two-hour headlining show with their very own stage set. Well, if Mr. Kavka would have talked about shows rather than records, he wouldn’t have lied either! A massive wall of sound, combined with an awesome light show carried me away right from the start and 120 minutes seemed to be over in a blink of an eye. (ys)
Purple Light Special featuring Lupus Lindemann
Featuring a German band on headlining position does not happen too often at German events, maybe cause people seem to shot off the greatness of their own country and the artists it provides. With Berlin-based Psychedelic Rockers KADAVAR the 2014 edition of Freak Valley festival not only has one hell of a headliner closing the final day with an extraordinary show, but also one of the most talked about and relentlessly touring acts we currently have at our fair scene. It only takes three men, subtle lights and two full-length records to create a kick-ass set and KADAVAR got it all. Proving to hold the title as a hardworking bunch that spends about every day en route, the trio just put out their first ever live record with the suitable title “Live In Antwerp”. A perfect blend of visual and acoustic live capture can be found at the lyric video for one of Psychorizon’s faves, ‘Goddess Of Dawn” – as seen below, enjoy! (kp)
Setlist KADAVAR
Liquid Dream
Living In Your Head
Doomsday Machine
Black Sun
Broken Wings
(Aqua Nebula Oscillator cover)
Eye Of The Storm
All Our Thoughts
Come Back Life
Goddess Of Dawn
Creature Of The Demon
German Classic Rock band KADAVAR are set to release their first ever live record called »Live In Antwerp« as well as the »Abra Kadavar Special Edition« on June 6 (Europe) and June 9 (UK & France) 2014. Now the Berlin-based trio has revealed the lyric video on the track ‘Eye Of The Storm’ on YouTube.
Check out this psychedelic trip of a clip here:
The 2CD set called »Abra Kadavar Special Edition« will include the full tracklist of last year’s success album »Abra Kadavar« plus a bonus track, as well as a full live set recorded in Antwerp. »Live In Antwerp« comes as a separate 2LP set and also features the full live concert recorded in 2013.
Furthermore KADAVAR have also announced additional European Festivalshows for summer and autumn 2014.
Don’t miss the chance to enjoy KADAVAR live at any of the following dates:
31.05. D Netphen-Deuz – Freak Valley Festival
09.06. D Essen Werden – Pfingstopenair
20.06. FR Clisson – Hellfest
24.06. FR Lyon – Boat Show
29.06. D Finowfurt – Roadrunner’s Paradise
05.07. D Münster – Vainstream Rockfest
24.07. SLO Tolmin – Metal Days
25.07. LUX Luxemburg – Food For Your Senses
26.07. IT Pesaro – Sunride
02.08. D Horb, Neckar – Mini Rock Festival
07.08. S Gasklockorna – Getaway
08.08. D Haldern – Haldern Pop
09.08. D Eschwege – Open Flair
14.08. AT St. Pölten – Frequency Festival
15.08. BE Hasselt – Pukkelpop
06.09. D Pinneberg – Ackerfestival
17.09. D Hamburg – Reeperbahn Festival
18.09. NL Tilburg – Incubate Festival
03.10. D Erfurt – Teenitus Festival
04.10. CH Pratteln – Up In Smoke
10.10. BE Antwerp – Desert Fest
18.10. D München – Keep It Low
14.11. D Würzburg – Hammer Of Doom
Words & pictures courtesy of Valerio Ciucci / IT’S ONLY MUSIC, BUT LIVE
SPACE CHASER had the task to open the sold out evening which saw only Berlin-based bands perform. The band, which released its new Ep “-” just few months ago, played an honest Thrash Metal, strongly influenced by the masters of the 80s. SPACE CHASER paid tribute to bands such as ANTHRAX and did it pretty well, with a fast and aggressive sound and full dedication to the Thrash Metal verb. The audience first rows went crazy, with people handbanging and supporting the band continuously. Many other people in the audience, though, were a bit confused, having a Thrash Metal band as opening act for KADAVAR. About thirty minutes to warm feet and neck, the show left open the question about the sense this kind of music has in 2013, and if we have to thank this kind of bands, which keep alive the sound.
Putting the Thrash (and beer) back in Metal: SPACE CHASER
KADAVAR is one of the most appreciated bands of the Berlin-based music scene. Three guys with beards and hair so long that one can’t really define the border between them. Three guys that one can easily understand the kind of music they play by just one look. After the omonimus album released in 2012, KADAVAR started gaining an increasing success, which led the band to release the new work “Abra Kadavar” last spring. The new album was warmly received by fans and critics, and allowed the band to embrace a never ending worldwide tour in front of large audiences.
Rocking off the old year with old sounds: KADAVAR
In a packed SO36, Kadavar came on stage accompanied by the roar of the fans: a combo of tracks from the album “Kadavar”, including some of the band’s biggest hits, immediately lit the audience up. A powerful 70s Hard Rock reworked with Stoner Rock and Doom influenced embraced the place. When listening to the first album it was possible to hear the BLACK SABBATH influences in every piece, while the new songs try to have a more personalized sound; the mix of those two aspects of the band worked perfectly smoothly during the live show. Christoph Bartelt made a great work behind the drum set while Simon Bouteloup created rhythmic bass lines in support of the guitar work by Christoph Lindemann, with the three of them blowing the audience’s mind off with. After 70 minutes of an amazing performance, KADAVAR left the stage. They didn’t offer any encore although the audience strongly called for it. KADAVAR sonorities are nothing new or innovative, but they do what they do in an excellent manner. As someone once said: “You can’t reinvent the wheel, but you can roll it!”
Berlin based Psychedelic Hard Rock trio KADAVAR confirmed to rock Freak Valley Festival 2014!!
Their sudden rise to underground fame stems from a combination of infectious riff-driven 70’s hard rock and doom-like undertones reminiscent of bands like Black Sabbath and Pentagram, with a spacey psychedelic edge likened to that of early Hawkwind and Can. Having released their 2nd album “Abra Kadavar”, Kadavar have been blowing minds, selling out shows, and cleaning up rave reviews everywhere they go. Now finally KADAVAR on stage @ Freak Valley Festival !!
———————————————————— FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 29th-30th-31th May 2014
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The FVF presale has started and the tickets are selling like Kadavar vinyls already!
Tickets & Infos: www.freakvalley.de | Only 55€ for 3 days incl. Camping!!
Kadavar – Blues Pills – Blood Ceremony – Samsara Blues Experiment – Radio Moscow – Wo Fat – Mos Generator – Mothership – Øresund Space Collective – The Heavy Eyes – Zodiac – Mother of God – Stubb – The Midnight Ghost Train – Ivy Garden of the Desert – The Lone Crows – Bone Man – Sun Preachers – more tba soon !!
Metal Hammer staff cleans up nicely: Gernot Krebs & Thorsten Zahn
Every fan’s crazy ’bout a sharp dressed band: Kadavar
