ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2018 – Rocking A Personal Reminiscence

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Amon Amarth, Black Sabbath, Blues Pills, Bolt Thrower, Children of Bodom, Come To The Sabbath, Elin Larsson, Headliner, Hellfueled, Jörg Litges, Judas Priest, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Ozzy Osbourne, Painkiller, Queen Of Spades Photography, Rock Am Ring, Rock Hard Festival, Rock Hard Megazine, Sodom, The Devil's Blood, Yorck Segatz

Blues Pills’ Elin in 2014 – On Sunday Morning

One morning in June some twenty years ago, I was…15 and this is a totally different story. It was the end of May actually some 14 years ago when it all started, my personal Rock Hard history. After the very first and supposed one-off event, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Rock Hard Megazine, the second coming came and would be my initial visit to what became and institution not just among the international Metal madness, but in my life as well. It was my very first “real” festival back then at the tender age of 21 – back in the days we didn’t have fucking facebook to keep up with what’s going on. Getting to know new people demanded to go to places and meet in person – it was a wild time and I loved it! The first two times as a more or less regular visitor and some time in between, attending Rock am Rind in 2006, being your typical broke student and a sick interlude, 2009 I finally had turned into one of those annoying media folks, attending RHF for ten consecutive years! 

Blues Pills in 2017 – Friday Headliner Bliss

It was that very year, 2009, that I immortalized myself as part of the Rock Hard history, performing on the main stage as a winner of the karaoke contest that took place the first few festival editions. And I hadn’t had it any other way than screaming my lungs out with the Judas Priest classic “Painkiller” – not to mention I would have needed some painkillers afterwards to sooth my sore throat from performing in front of a 6000 plus audience, let alone at an open air event! What a time to be alive. Just like the magazine, the festival itself has always been dedicated to a wide range of genres and as a support of the underground. We saw bands working their way up from tiny club shows to entering the charts on the pole position. Yes, this is the story of Blues Pills – a band I’ve always loved and that will have a special place in my heart forever and ever. I will spear your all the personal anecdotes for now.

Sodom in 2018 – Hairy Headliner For A Friday Night

Within the course of 14 years I had some of the best times ever, crowd surfing while Children Of Bodom played, banning my head hard for Amon Amarth and having my boobs signed by the Swedish sons of Ozzy Osbourne, Hellfueled, all in 2005. After a short absence in 2006, I also caught up with Bolt Thrower at their second time at RHF in 2012. And who could forget King Diamond‘s theatrical act in 2013, still gives me chills. But most memorable for me will be The Devil’s Blood, headlining in 2010, since no one wanted the stage after their blood-ridden ritual. Besides all these great bands, Rock Hard has always been a festival for families and friends and it really is and has been for me. Some folks I would just see once a year during the pentecoast weekend.

Partner in Crime & BFF – Queen Of Spades at RHF 2018

You’ve come a long way within the past 15 years, dear Rock Hard Festival and for the past ten years I couldn’t even imagine being anywhere else around this time of year, but now I feel that it’s time to move on. So much has changed and not all of it for the better. But I will always treasure my memories, specially of spending time with some of my best friends at the annual festivities. Most of all teaming up with my friend Susan at Queen Of Spades Photography in 2015 after the untimely demise of Jörg Litges, my former partner in crime of two years. And 2018 will always be a very special one to look back at as my former band mate Sonja joined in the fierce fun and my bestie Yorck made his debut as a real Rockstar and latest addition to Thrash legend Sodom. It might have been the last time for me for now, but it was one heck of a ride! Thanks.

Festival, Fun & Friendships – Rock Hard Festival 2018

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Rock Hard Festival Homepage

Rock Hard Festival Facebook Page

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COVEN – To Headline Roadburn Festival 2017

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Billy Jack, Black Sabbath, Blood Ceremony, Blood On the Snow, Buddah, Chris Neilsen, Coven, Farida Lemouchi, Ghost, Goth Queen: Out of the Vault, In Solitude, Jex Thoth, Jinx Dawson, King Diamond, Mercury, Mercyful Fate, MGM, NEVOC-All, Occult Rock, One Tin Soldier, Ozzie Osborne, Rick Durrett, Ricktor Ravensbruck, Roadburn, Roadburn 2017, Roadburn Festival, Roadburn Festival 2017, Selim Lemouchi, Steve Ross, The Devil's Blood, The Oath, Venom, Warner Bros., Watain, Wicked Woman, Witchcraft Destroys Minds And Reaps Souls

The Netherlands-based festival comes out of the gate with its first announcements for Roadburn 2017 and immediately proves why it’s like nothing else happening on this poor pitiful planet we happen to occupy. To bring Coven back to the stage for the first time in untold decades and for their first European show ever? Come on. I don’t care where you live, that’s worth getting on a plane for.

Coven will play their first show in decades, and for the first time ever on European soil. Devil Horns, the Left Hand Path, Satanic Rituals, Black Magick, Sexuality, and a seminal debut-album that has had a lasting appeal since 1969.  Coven’s Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls was not only ahead of its time, the iconoclastic troupe – helmed by high priestess, and the original wicked woman, Jinx Dawson – heavily influenced future generations of musicians, from Ghost to The Devil’s Blood, from Witchcraft to In Solitude, from Blood Ceremony to Lucifer, and even our festival.

We are equal measures excited, proud and overwhelmed to be able to announce that Coven will thrill Roadburn Festival to it’s darkened core on Thursday, April 20 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Jinx Dawson, and her unholy union will take their cult-ritual to the stage for the first time in decades – and for the first time ever on European soil.

Jinx Dawson commented: “Roadburn Festival’s intrepid ring master, Walter, hath stirred us from our Coven lair. We shall be performing a musickal ritual for the first time in many ages. We are wickedly delighted to travel to the Netherlands for this very special festival concert, and to bring our musickal form of Witchcraft once again to the live stage.”

Known by many classic rock fans for Jinx Dawson’s early seventies hit, ‘One Tin Soldier’, from the counter culture flick Billy Jack, the song was an anthem for hypocrisy and added more mystery to Coven’s occult imagery and aesthetics that laid the groundwork for hard rock and heavy metal.

The band’s diabolical mix of proto-metal paired with dark psychedelica and prog was dabbed in deeply occult lyrics, and has always been a celebration of all things Left Hand Path. Whether it’s the much sought after and talked about Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls, or the band’s third album Blood on the Snow, Coven’s output has terrified peers and audiences, as well as the moral-elite since their incarnation. Their extreme dark and shocking rites, thriving on a strong woman’s sexuality, was unheard of at the time.

Though Coven went clandestine not long after the release of Blood on the Snow, Jinx Dawson, and the band always remained a landmark within the metal community, and hailed as one of the 10 greatest heavy metal front women. Having battled with record companies, management, opposing religious organisations and law officials has only added to Jinx’s legacy to stay genuinely true to her own firm beliefs, based upon a very long lineage of Occult Adepts and Practitioners of the Ancient Arts.

With the release of 2003’s Goth Queen: Out of the Vault, and 2013’s album, Jinx, Dawson rightfully regained her throne as ‘the originator’ of the burgeoning occult rock scene – a movement that we have wholeheartedly embraced at Roadburn over the years, while offering a platform to her children of the damned.

Having the mysterious Jinx Dawson / Coven at Roadburn isn’t only a thrilling once in a lifetime event, it is also our way of paying a humble tribute to a woman that has been such an integral influence on the festival since its incarnation in 1999, and an inspirational heroine to many bands that graced our stages over the years. We couldn’t think of a more fitting ceremony, and welcome all of you to Jinx’s lair on Thursday, April 20 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands  – don’t break the circle, and join us.

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COVEN on Facebook

DEAF FOREVER – Love Metal! Hate Hypocrites! Make Money By Accident!

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Adramelch, Almost Famous, Armored saint, Ascension, Cirith Ungol, Classic Rock, Cover Story, Deaf Forever, Doom Metal, Enforcer, Europe, Fanzine, Goetz Kuehnemund, Hammerheat, Iron Fist, King Diamond, Kris Walker, Lemmy, melechesh, Mercyful Fate, Motörhead, Orchid, Party.San Open Air, Prog, Ranger, Secrets Of The Moon, Selim Lemouchi, Sorcerer, Terrorizer, That's Metal, The Devil's Blood

There’s some new kids on the block and they got some nice toys to play  with: Pen & paper, mind & soul, total conviction and no compromise! Though the name DEAF FOREVER might give somewhat of a “shallow” impression, taking the title of a MOTÖRHEAD track as a trademark. But no worries, this is not just about “the usual suspects”, this is the work of a bunch of passionate people and what more could you ask for in this world where a few major labels run large parts of the business and everyone becomes a whore when it comes to money…The debut issue featured a cover story of KING DIAMOND & MERCYFUL FATE, there’s been a Doom special in the second one and now it’s all about THE DEVIL’S BLOOD. One year has passed since DEAF FOREVER started and the readers have proven them right to not selling their souls to the music business. A great opportunity to have a little chat with the Leader Of The Pack, Goetz Kuehnemund, celebrating the magazine and true metal!

A bald man & a beer can – ⒸKris Walker

How long did it take from the very first idea to actually creating a new magazine and what was the greatest obstacle on this way?

It took about five months. this included forming a company, working out a concept, collecting money, looking for offices, selling subscriptions and advertisements in advance and producing the first issue. it all worked out really fast because there was so much enthusiasm.

I know quite some people who see DEAF FOREVER more as a fanzine and not as the result of proper journalist work – what is your opinion on this?

I take this as a compliment, thank you! „Music journalist“ is a 4-letter-word to me – it translates to „idiot“. I never saw myself as a journalist. I´m a metal fan who has the privilege to voice his opinion. „Proper journalistic work“ means selling your soul to the music business, writing about the stuff the record companies want to sell this week. There is no heart and soul in it – and I think people are fed up with this. Just look at the sales figures of all the „proper“ music magazines and you can see the proof.

Is anyone actually able to make a living as a music journalist nowadays is has this become a romantic idea portrayed in movies like “Almost Famous”?

If you have something unique and authentic to offer: Yes, you can. But as I said: „music journalists“ are idiots most of the time. They make their money on the back of musicians and record companies, and no one respects them. Rightly so.

How hard is it to stay true to oneself and you own beliefs – for some this might even imply staying “underground” to a certain extent – and still be able to make a monthly income with DEAF FOREVER?

We don´t even think about this. We can only write about what we personally love and care for. That´s why metal fans feel attracted to DEAF FOREVER and buy the magazine: They know it´s honest. And yes, „by accident“ we can make a living this way.

The anniversary issue displays a picture honouring the late S.L.

Regarding the current issue, featuring a cover story/special on THE DEVIL’S BLOOD: How important are the readers’ reaction for the magazine staff when it comes to chosing or maybe even avoiding topics?

There is no avoiding topics if we believe in something – no matter what anyone says. We write about what we like and what we feel strongly about – we can´t do it any other way. And I´m sure that´s exactly why the magazine sells well. Every issue outsells the previous one, no matter how „provocative“ some of the topics are.

One aspect of the young DF history is rather obvious. How much was this, specially for you, a “mandatory” decision or a step done out of pure conviction, saying you could have done something else rather than staying in the writing business?

There were interesting offers from festival organizers, management companies and (German) television – but why should I stop writing? I always loved what I do and I can´t see this changing – especially when I´m free to write about whatever I like. If there was any pressure on us (meaning we HAVE to do – or avoid – something), I would probably think about changing my „job“ as it wouldn´t be fun anymore. It might sound cheesy to some – but DEAF FOREVER is total conviction for all of us! I have the best team in the world by my side (by moonlight we ride, ten thousand side by side, with swords drawn held high, our whips and armour shine!).

A part of the DF crew at Party.San Open Air 2014 – ⒸSeda Tunca

At this point, would you say DF is still finding its own niche among the vivid competition on the market and that some of the columns currently featured might disappear in the cause of time?

No. We have found our niche and we are happy with the way things are shaping and evolving. Thanks to everybody out there who has helped along the way!

My first impression of the look was “very British”, has there been one or more established mags you took inspiration from, like British IRON FIST or TERRORIZER?

Maybe subconsciously, yes. I like IRON FIST a lot, but haven´t seen an issue of TERRORIZER in a long while. I love to read fanzines – and there are some very good ones around. The best German ones (right now) are HAMMERHEART and THAT’S METAL. Reading good fanzines always inspires me – as well as reading (English) Classic Rock  and Prog magazines.

DF just celebrated its first anniversary, so congrats on this! What are the plans for the near future and what general goals does the staff have in mind?

Thank you! The goal is to be able to continue the way we work without any compromise. The future looks very promising and interesting to us.

The first half of 2015 is pretty much over by now: What are your favourite new releases so far?

Oh, there are many! SULPHUR AEON  stands out – so do ADRAMELCH, ARMORED SAINT, RANGER, ENFORCER, SORCERER, ASCENSION, MELECHESH and (surprise, surprise) EUROPE. And right now, while answering these questions, I´m listening to the new BLACK TRIP album. After that I will put on new ORCHID, new MOTÖRHEAD or new SECRETS OF THE MOON. All exciting stuff!

Up the irons!

If you wouldn’t be a writer, is there any career you could imagine for your life?

I would probably (try to) write books. I´ve started three books in my life, but didn´t find the time to finish any of them. Don´t ask about the content – it´s all boring stuff. Metal is absorbing most of my life, and that will never change. I´m very lucky to have a metal girlfriend who fully understands (and regularly steals my CIRITH UNGOL vinyls).

Thanks a lot for taking the time to do this interview with Psychorizon. Is there anything else you would like to tell the world, cast a spell on anyone or declare love or war right now?

Love Metal! Hate hypocrites!

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DEAF FOREVER Homepage

DEAF FOREVER on Facebook

DEAF FOREVER on YouTube

THE VINTAGE CARAVAN & GRAND MAGUS – To Join Forces

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Alexander Örn Númason, Arik Roper, Álftanes, Óskar Logi Ágústsson, Bathory, Björklöven, Bullet, Crucified Barbara, Debut Album, Expand Your Mind, Fox, Free Fall, Grand Magus, Graveyard, Guðjón Reynisson, Iceland, Iron Will, JB, King Diamond, Ludwig Witt, Mercyful Fate, Orchid, Quorthon, Roadburn Festival, Sanda Karlsdóttir, Scorpion Child, Skellefteå, Skellefteå AIK, The Birch Leaves, The Hunt, The Vintage Caravan, Umeå, Voyage, Witchcraft

2013-11-06 03:00 – With the upcoming releases of both Swedish rifflords GRAND MAGUS and Icelandic Classic Rock newcomers THE VINTAGE CARAVAN scheduled for release at the beginning of 2014, the two trios now revealed news on mutual European Tour in March. Joining in as well for the “Rock Revelation Tour 2014” will be Norwegian Rock’n’Rollers AUDREY HORNE and German Blues Rock Newcomers ZODIAC.

GRAND MAGUS will be leading this tasty pack. The successor to last years‘ highly acclaimed output »The Hunt«, ” that entered the German album charts at # 42, will hit the shelves on January 31st, 2014.
Opening up the rock shenanigans will be THE VINTAGE CARAVAN. Their debut record »Voyage« will be out in early 2014. If you would like to get a hint on what to expect from those young fellas, check out their music video to the track ‘Expand Your Mind’ here:

Join in all four bands on the following dates:

18.03. FR Paris – Divan du Monde
19.03. DE Cologne – Gebäude 9
20.03. DE München – Backstage
21.03. AT Wien – Szene
22.03. CH Aarau – Kiff
23.03. DE Stuttgart – Universum
24.03. DE Berlin – C-Club
26.03. DE Hamburg – Markthalle
27.03. DE Frankfurt – Batschkapp
28.03. DE Geiselwind – Musichall
29.03. DE Essen – Turock
30.03. DE Nijmegen – Doornroosje

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GRAND MAGUS Homepage

GRAND MAGUS Facebook Page

THE VINTAGE CARAVAN Facebook Page

HOUR OF 13 – Album-Re-Release

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13, 333, Black Sabbath, Chad Davis, Debut Album, Demoncy, Earache, Father Befouled, Hour of 13, Mercyful Fate, Northern Silence Production, Pagan Altar, Phil Swanson, Profane Grace, Re-Issue, ritual, Seamount, Upwards Of Endtime, Vestal Claret

2013 is truly becoming the year of 13, with BLACK SABBATH’s epic new piece of work under the name of “13” and the re-issue of HOUR OF 13’s self-entiteld and completely sold out debut “Hour of 13”. To top things off and further the bands’ status of being one of the most noteworthy old school Heavy/Doom Metal acts in today’s scene, Northern Silence Production is also publishing an exclusive vinyl release of their “333” album.

Formed in early 2006 by multi-instrumentalist Chad Davis (ex-DEMONCY, FATHER BEFOULED, PROFANE GRACE) Hour Of 13 set out on a path of obscure and dark Heavy/Doom Metal. After vocalist Phil Swanson (VESTAL CLARET; UPWARDS OF ENDTIME, SEAMOUNT) joined in 2007, the debut album was recorded and unleashed to great acclaim.
Mixing elements of traditional Doom & Heavy Metal, Hour of 13 have crafted a sound well deserved unto them. Phil Swanson’s lyrics, dealing with the occult, black magic, Satanism and evil in general add to the obscure image of the band and go well with their traditional sound, creating a nostalgic aura and reminding the listener of the early 80s and bands such as PAGAN ALTAR, RITUAL and old MERCYFUL FATE.
After the release of two more critically acclaimed full lengths and several EPs and with the debut on both CD and LP being sold out everywhere since years, the time had come in 2013 to reissue this modern classic in an improved fashion, with the original recordings but totally revised artwork – the LP with gatefold cover and three different limited vinyl editions, the CD in 6-page digipack. Both formats come with classic black, purple and silver design, giving the whole release a darker and much more sophisticated appearance than the original versions, and making this a mandatory addition to every serious occult Heavy & Doom Metal collection.

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HOUR OF 13 on Facebook

HOUR OF 13 on MySpace

HOUR OF 13 on Northern Silence Production

COVEN – Wicked Witch of the Web

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Black Sabbath, Blood Ceremony, Chris Neilsen, Coven, Decibel Magazine, Farida Lemouchi, Ghost, Hexvessel, Jinx Dawson, John Hobbs, King Diamond, Legacy Magazine, Mercyful Fate, Metal Hammer, Ozzie Osborne, Press Clipping, Purson, Rick Durrett, Rosalie Cunningham, Steve Ross, Terrorizer Magazine, The Devil's Blood, The Occult Experience, Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats, Venom, Watain, Wicked Woman, Witchcraft Destroys Minds And Reaps Souls, Year Of The Goat

HELL OVER HAMMABURG – Metalizing The North

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Adrenaline Distractions, Amsterdam Recording Company, Anton Fingal, Attic, Christoffer Svensson, Dejan Rosić, Denial of God, Die Burg, DJ Krugi, Essenz, Gold, Harm Haverman, Hell Over Hammaburg, Henrik Petersson, High Roller Records, Igor Wouters, Interbellum, Jess and the Ancient Ones, Johan Berg, King Diamond, Kristina Karlsson, Markthalle, Marx, Mercyful Fate, Milena Eva, Nick Polak, Niclas Svensson, Peter Henriksson, Phoenix, Pieter Kloos, Rock Hard Magazine, Screamer, Slingblade, Sure Shot Worx, Svart Records, The Devil's Blood, The Scams, The Void, Thomas Sciarone, Tobias Ander, Vanderbuyst, Ván Records, Willem Verbuyst, Wolf Mühlmann

SCREAMER: Dejan & Christoffer – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

Word-of-mouth and online promotion was really big with the very first edition of HELL OVER HAMMABURG Festival, taking place on first saturday in march at Markthalle, Hamburg. It was even big enough to bring quite a number of metalheads from the Ruhrarea, among others a delegation from Rock Hard Magazine and the Rhineland all the way up to the north, bumping into each other as if it was any other weekend settled between Dortmund and greater Cologne-area. Turning out anything BUT usual, HOH is crowded with visitors from all corners of Germany and beyond. Several hundreds of people would even cause a bit of a jam in between sets, as the two halls of the venue has bands playing at the same time and the smoking area is placed right in the midst of them, thus delivering a true “Sold Out”-atmosphere.

SCREAMER: Anton & Henrik – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

Initializing the festival at its more spacious part of the venue, Swedish Metalheads SCREAMER prove to be just the best choice for an opener at this hour. Young and sparkling full of energy the four musicians from Ljungby and Malmö easily get the entire audience going along with their forceful action. With their latest record “Phoenix” just out for about a month and a handful of well-known tracks from the previous one “Adrenaline Distractions”, choruses echo through a few dozens of spectators, spreading even more joy between band and fans. SCREAMER are able to live up to their reputation as one of the most frequently touring bands, as well as a guarantee of full power and a damn good time. An extended review on the SCREAMER shows in Hamburg and Cologne can be found here!

Up next at the big venue are the highly acclaimed ATTIC, that apparently like to raise a lot of tension with their endlessly long intro. One word about ATTIC from my personal point of view: I have never been much into KING DIAMOND and/or MERCYFUL FATE, hence my slighty awkward feeling when it comes to ATTIC and their vocalist in particular. Their show is at least consequent with make-up and a seemingly sacral stage decor. But this won’t keep me lingering for the entire act.

GOLD Vocalist Milena Eva – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

Leaving early from the ATTIC show gives me the chance to make my way to the front row of the other venue hall called “Marx”, which has a capacity of about 300 and reminds me of some of the local clubs from the Ruhrarea, specially concerning the amount of oxygen available in the cause of a night…Breathtaking is an attribute one might use to describe dutch newcomers GOLD or rather their singer Milena Eva. If it’s not her hair or her nose that gets the audience’ attention, it is for sure her wiggling ass in those glitters pants! The colour perfectly matches with that of the drumset, turning the lower part of her body into an interactive lava-lamp, so to speak. Those who won’t get mesmerized by her siren-like voice will so by her loose pelvis. But enough about visual aids, GOLD are a great live band, which they demonstrate really well tonight in Hamburg. Former THE DEVIL’S BLOOD guitarist Thomas Sciarone, drummer Igor Wouters and bassist Harm Haverman as a reliable rhythm section and the latest addition, second guitarist Nick Polak totally jam the small stage. Their debut “Interbellum”, which was Recorded in the summer of 2012 by Igor Wouters and VANDERBUYST fronter Willem Verbuyst at Amsterdam Recording Company and Mastered by Pieter Kloos at The Void Eindhoven, was released via german label Ván Records, on December 7th 2012.

JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

After a much-needed break during the sets of ESSENZ and DENIAL OF GOD it is time for a little more Swedish flair in the allegedly most beautiful city of germany: Stockholm based quintette SLINGBLADE plays straight forward Heavy Rock led by the raw vocals of their leather loving female fronter Kristina Karlsson. Besides SCREAMER yet another protegé of german label High Roller Records to perform at HELL OVER HAMMABURG. Together with lead guitarist Johan Berg, bassist Niclas Svensson, drummer Peter Henriksson and a stand-in for the unavailable second guitarist Tobias Ander, who is currently touring Spain with THE SCAMS, SLINGBLADE truly manage to entertain the crowded that squeezes itself inside the Marx.

Headlining a new festival might be enough of a challenge or probably even burden itself, with no one knowing how well the all over spirit will be at the final show of one long day. Filling the most important position with just a debut album out and a follow-up EP recently published  – both available on Svart Records – could be called a risk organiser Wolf Mühlmann of Sure Shot Worx & Rock Hard Magazine and his team take. Having a band, that has never played in germany before concluding an event is verging on insane. JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES has become one of the most promising acts of the moment and expectations are above the roof as the finnish musicians enter stages this night. Even more so, they do combine all the factors named before and as good as their sound is, their stage acting is an edgy outbreak at best. After waiting to see JATAO for months, I am sorry to say that they could not fulfill the self-created rumors about rituals that have been spreading online in advance of HELL OVER HAMMABURG.

JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

Altogether a successful start of a new event, going on sometime until 2am, when DJ Krugi (“Die Burg”) shut down his modern-day turntables.
A major thanks to everyone working this day! Second edition of HELL OVER HAMMABURG will take place march 15th, 2014 at Markthalle, Hamburg. All information available at the festival homepage.

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2013 – All Loud On The Western Front

Tags

Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen, Ashes Of Ares, Attic, Audrey Horne, Desaster, Ensiferum, Fleshcrawl, Gospel Of The Horns, Graveyard, Hell Over Hammaburg, Horisont, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Mustach, Nachtmystium, Naglfar, Orchid, Orden Ogan, Rock Hard Festival 2013, Tank, The Devil's Blood, The Mouths Of Madness, Threshold, U.D.O., Witchcraft

Less than three months to come before this years’ edition of famous German ROCK HARD FESTIVAL will roll over the Ruhr area. Just about time, specially with the current return of winter, to start counting the days for it. First true highlight of the 2013 RHF is certainly going to be the appearance of MERCYFUL FATE vocalist KING DIAMOND. After trying to get him on the event’s billing for several years, the organizers are totally thrilled about his confirmation. And if this wasn’t enough, one of Germany’s most promising young acts ATTIC will also pay their respect on the rocking grounds of Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen. The Essen-based quintet just started in 2011, but its members are sure no newcomers to the local underground scene. Specially after hitting the road along side the recently disbanded THE DEVIL’S BLOOD, ATTIC will know how to convince tha audience. For those of you unwilling to wait till may, to get some piece of the action and catch a chance to see ATTIC, be sure to attend HELL OVER HAMMABURG Festival – also presented by Rock Hard Magazine.

And with the ongoing Retro Hype, it is no surprise that the present line-up holds two of the most highly acclaimed acts of this genre: HORISONT and ORCHID. The Gothenburg scene had their most important outcome GRAVEYARD, that are touring the US right now, playing at ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2012 – let’s hope the sun will have mercy with their townmates HORISONT. And to make the long journey worth while, ORCHID will not only release their long-awaited new record “The Mouth Of Madness” in April, but also do an extended tour with their genre buddies WITHCRAFT.

For all bands that are currently announced for ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2013, check the list below and keep checking Psychorizon for further updates on the running order, signing sessions and other news!

KING DIAMOND

U.D.O.

ENSIFERUM

THRESHOLD

TANK

NAGLFAR

DESASTER

ORCHID

ASHES OF ARES

AUDREY HORNE

MUSTASCH

FLESHCRAWL

ORDEN OGAN

GOSPEL OF THE HORNS

NACHTMYSTIUM

HORISONT

ATTIC

GRAND MAGUS – JB On His Infatuation With A Japanese Called Duke

Tags

Arik Roper, Bathory, Björklöven, Bullet, Crucified Barbara, Fox, Grand Magus, Iron Will, JB, King Diamond, Ludwig Witt, Mercyful Fate, Quorthon, Skellefteå, Skellefteå AIK, The Birch Leaves, The Hunt, Umeå

 – Yorck Segatz for Psychorizon –

“… when I was much younger, there were a lot of songs where I didn’t understand what they were about…”

I guess you get asked a lot of questions about the new album, so we’ll keep that one short! Can you describe „The Hunt“ in three words?

JB: True, powerful, metal.

What does the hunter who’s depicted on the cover stand for?

JB: Well, that’s part of the thing I want the listeners to find out by themselves. The whole album has got a theme and it deals with the relation between nature and mankind. All the songs deal with this in one way or another and people have to make up their own minds about what the artwork stands for.

How did you get Arik Roper as cover artist?

JB: We worked with him before, he did the cover for our record „Iron Will“, so we knew that he’s a great artist and totally understands the band and everything around it. It was pretty easy, we basically gave him the title, talked a little bit about certain things and the he came up with the perfect artwork for the album.

Could you describe (new drummer) Ludwig Witt in three words?

JB: Oldschool, professional, superdrummer!

Three words about Fox?

JB: Star quality, best friend. That’s it!

The title track features a line that says „there’s a beast inside of me“. Is there beast inside JB? If yes, how does it manifest itself?

JB: Well again, I’m not trying to be difficult, but I never go into detail about the lyrics, because I’ve always felt that when you listen to music, especially metal, music that has some kind of meaning just beyond „I love you“ „Let’s have a drink“ and things like that, the impact is much stronger when you find things out for yourself as a listener. When I listened to Mercyful Fate or Bathory when I was much younger, there were a lot of songs where I didn’t understand what they were about. When I finally found out, it became so much stronger than it would have been if for instance Quorthon or King Diamond would have said in an interview that for example A Dangerous Meeting is exactly about this and that…

But suffice it to say, I believe that mankind has gone too far away from its “animal instincts”… And I certainly feel that I have a very strong connection to animals. Sometimes much stronger than I have to other human beings. This is something I think many people need to realize for themselves, you know!

That’s certainly true! So, what would you regard as your best character trait and which one would be the worst?

JB: Wow… one of my best character traits is discipline. I’m very disciplined. And worst? Well… I worry too much!

Stereotypical Tourimpression: Grand Magus & Bullet

What’s your day-to-day routine like when you are not involved with Grand Magus at all?

JB: I usually work a day-job when we are not recording or touring, so normally I get up early in the morning and go to work. Nothing really special! But this is obviously only in periods when we are not on tour! Then it’s the same as with every other band: you just try to get through the day until you have your hour or so of fun in the evening… I like to have variation in my live. I wouldn’t want to be doing exactly the same thing every day. Touring can become really stereotype, you know. We’ve been on tour with bands of whom you could say to have a more boring live than working people do because every day is exactly the same! I don’t want to have a live like that.

I hear that from a lot of bands actually. Every day’s like: next city, next place to sleep… same shit, different crowd so to say!

When did you start singing or making music in general and are you still in possession of your very first instrument?

JB: Haha! No, I don’t have my first instrument. That was some very bad Les Paul copy, called “Duke”, I think it was Japanese, but none of the good ones! I guess it was alright, but the neck was fucked up. Got that from my older brother and I don’t know where it is now. I started playing guitar much earlier than I started singing. Singing I started very late actually, when we did our first album in 2001, I think I had only been singing for about four years or so.

What’s your opinion about the current European Heavy Metal scene?

JB: I don’t really have an opinion, because I’m mostly concerned with my own band and my friend’s bands. I’ve never seen bands as part of a scene. All bands that are really special, they are much more than part of a scene, you know?

We never felt part of any movement or any scene like that. We do what we do and other people do what they want to do. I’m a huge fan of many bands, but most of them have been around for at least ten years!

What do you think about women making heavy music? E.g. Crucified Barbara from Sweden…

JB: Well, that’s something I have never really thought about! We know the girls in Crucified Barbara, they’re a really good band. I don’t really care if it’s an all-girl band or whatsoever. Of course they have a different type of challenge compared to male bands. They also get attention because it’s not that common, but I don’t really care as long as the music is good. I think the most important thing is that you feel they do things for the right reasons, that they really believe in what they do. Then they deserve my respect.

The next Swedish Super-Group: Crucified Magus

A friend of mine and myself were trying to get some GM merch besides the tours, but we utterly failed! It’s really hard to get some cool stuff outside of Sweden… just two items for sale on your website… What’s the matter???

JB: We haven’t really sorted this out in the past, mainly because we’ve been so focused on playing music and merch wasn’t the top priority… It’s really our own loss, you can actually make a lot of money from that, but that’s never been the reason for us to start the band.

Regarding the website, we just don’t have people to run it, we do it by ourselves. I think it’s fucking boring, you know. But we’ll fix it, I promise!

Are you interested in football at all? I just got the latest Allsvenskan results on my desktop!

JB: Ok! Well, Fox is really interested in football, I’m more of an ice hockey person. Today the World cup starts, so that’s where I’m gonna be!

What’s your favorite team in the Swedish league?

JB: My favorite team is not in the top league anymore, they’re called “Björklöven”, The Birch Leaves, from my hometown of Umeå in the north of Sweden. My 2nd favorite team made the finals this year. they’re calles “Skellefteå AIK” (from Skellefteå, which is near Umeå).

Cool, I’ll keep an eye on that! That’s it for today. Thanks for taking the time, I hope you liked the not so obvious questions, too!

JB: That’s cool! I really liked the new stuff! Thanks!

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