ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2015 – A Road Trip To Hell & Back

Tags

Black Metal, Black Star Riders, Bobby Liebling, Bolt Thrower, Cronos, Death Metal, Deserted Fear, Entombed, Flash Point, Garage Rock, Kingdom Of Worms, Last Days Here, Motorjesus, My Empire, Obituary, Overkill, Pentagram, Queen Of Spades Photography, Rock Hard Festival 2015, Rock'n'Roll, Shake Electric, Space Rock, Spiders, The Boys Are Back In Town, The Order Of Israfel, Thin Lizzy, Venom

– Friday –

After pretty much THE WORST road trip of my entire life from the deep southern region of Germany to the Ruhrarea in the middle of the middle, I finally arrived at the sunny sight that will be my home base for the next few days. As I’m currently now living anywhere near the city of Gelsenkirchen, for once I’m actually forced to live through a campout among a dozen of eager young and middle-aged metalheats who might consider this the ideal vacation – while I’m taking this as an inevitable necessity. To regain at least a little strength I got my things unpacked quickly and tried to relax – being a person who likes it rather quite and secluded, this kind of surrounding clearly won’t do the trick.

A good view onto the stage from any angle

And while the sun was hardly setting yet, God Dethroned present their blent of blast-infected Death Metal, which would work so much better in a small club with little to no light…talking about that kind of location, today’s co-headliner would feel right at home in such a surrounding. Mainly because booze and drugs are easily available, I guess. They started off in the mid 80s with their eponymous debut “Pentagram”, but never really made it back then. Some 30 years later, specially young fans of the Doom genre seem to hail this band which has rising from its own grave in the new millennium. Some part of this newly found stardom is due to the notorious documentary “Last Days Here”, that portraits Bobby Liebling in the midst of fighting his severe drug addiction…But who am I to complain, Pentagram even released a new album and took The Order Of Israfel on tour as their support.

Setlist Pentagram

1. Sign Of The Wolf
2. Forever My Queen
3. The Ghoul
4. Review Your Choices
5. Starlady
6. Ask No More
7. When The Screams Come
8. All Your Sins
9. Dying World
11. Petrified/ Relentless
12. Be Forwarned
13. Last Days Here

Caught in a mosh during the Overkill show

Yet another band that lives off its own reputation and for naming a complete genre – and YES, Black Metal therefore owes a lot to these veterans – comes from the far north of the British isles. Venom have been around pretty much forever now and its seems there’s no end to their fame, generation after generation. Unfortunately mastermind Cronos looks like a  weirdly aged version of himself nowadays (specially that red tank top does not suit him too well….).

Setlist Venom

1. Rise
2. Hammerhead
3. Bloodlust/ Black Flame (Of Satan)/ Bloodlust/ Die Hard
4. Long Haired Punks
5. Buried Alive
6. The Evil One
7. Welcome To Hell
8. Antichrist
9. Countess Bathory
10. Flight Of Hydra
11. Death Of Rock’n’Roll
12. Grinding Teeth
13. Pedal To The Metal
14. Warhead
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15. Black Metal
16. In League With Satan
17. Witching Hour

The Boys Are Back In Town

– Saturday –

Kicking off day two with some good Old School Death Metal in the vein of Entombed, Bolt Thrower or Obituary is a save way to get people awake and cure even the worst hangover instantly. Deserted Fear are not only a fan favourite, but also a band that earned some praiseful words from Rock Hard magazine itself for their 2012 debut “My Empire” saying “…simply amazing how the whole albums offers it´s permanent hit potential. If it´s allowed to say so within the death metal world. Great start!” With their sophomore attempt “Kingdom of Worms” (2014), Deserted Fear are set to tear the place apart in a most brutal and joyful manner.

Setlist Deserted Fear

1. Forging Delusions
2. Battalion Of Insanities
3. Kingdom Of Worms
4. Nocturnal Frags
5. Wrath On Your Wound
6. Field Of Death
7. Mortal Reign
8. Bury Your Dead

Three years ago, another German band was opening the second festival day and to call them a “crowd pleaser” would be the understatement of the decade: Motorjesus have been enlisted by an independent voting, started by their fan club and delivered to the festival organisers and how could they ever say no to this much dedication?! It was the right choice and re-inviting them was a great decision. During all those years I’ve been at Rock Hard Festival, I can’t remember any saturday morning being so well-attended than the one in 2012. And today it seems like everyone just waited three years for the band to return to play a set of honest and handmade Rock’n’Roll. Way to go, guys!

Setlist Motorjesus

1. Motor Discipline
2. Trouble In Motorcity
3. Speed Of The Beast
4. Fuel The Warmachine
5. Fist Of The Dragon
6. King Of The Dead End Road
7. Return Of The Demons
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8. A New War

Swedish Space Rock in broad daylight: Spiders

– Sunday –

After missing the final opening act of the festival, I can’t wait to see Spiders again! With their positive energy and space Garage Rock these sweet Swedes are not only easy on the eyes. Catchy riffs and sing-along lyrics garnished with their stage appearance, mainly Ann-Sophie’s acting in those VERY TIGHT PANTS is simply irresistable – and I’m saying this as a woman. Equipped with their latest record “Shake Electric” (2014) as well as the previous release “Flash Point” (2012), Spiders got me rocking and dancing all through their set, making them my personal highlight of Rock Hard Festival 2015. TAKK ALLA!!!

Setlist Spiders

1. Hang Man
2. High Society
3. Mad Dog
4. Control
5. Hard Times
6. Only Your Skin
7. Give Up The Fight
8. Rules Of The Game
9. Shake Electric
10. Fraction
11. War Of The World

All pictures courtesy of Queen Of Spades Photography

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SPIDERS – The Easy Way To Rock With ABBA On A Cemetery

Tags

ABBA, Ann-Sofie Hoyles, Axel Sjöberg, Crusher Records, David Paul Seymour, European Tour, Festival Season, Flash Point, Graveyard, Heavy Tiger, Joakim Nilsson, John Hoyles, Jonathan Ramm, Matteo Gambacorta, Muskelrock, Ricard Harryson, Rikard Edlund, Spiders, Tiger Bell, Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats, Why Don't You

 – Yorck Segatz for Psychorizon –

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats teaming up with Sweden’s finest Spiders: Definitely one of the most exciting tour packages throughout the past year! The gig at club Luxor in Cologne, was just the right opportunity to discuss the latest development and future prospects with Spiders’ guitarslinger John Hoyles. The subjects range from jailhouse rock to hidden merchandise treasures… So read for yourself!

Hi John! Since it’s just you for the Interview, we have to skip the cross-introduction, so could you introduce yourself?

My name is John Hoyles and I play guitar in Spiders! We’re on tour now with Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats for about a month.

How’s that going for you?

It’s going great, a lot of people are coming to see the shows.

How did you organize the tour? Did you come up with that package?

No, their booking agent asked us if we wanted to tour with them. So we jumped at the idea. It fits very well!

During this year’s summer period, you did quite a lot of festival appearances and some headlining gigs on your own.

Yes, I think in may we were on tour for week or so, then we did loads of festivals mainly in Sweden. There are a lot of festivals coming up there lately.

Do you recognize an increase in popularity?

Yeah, all the time! It’s building up more and more, also since we’ve released our new EP “Why Don’t You”. People start to recognize us.

Did you write the songs especially for this release or were they unused material from the last album?

No, we wrote them especially for the EP. I had the idea for quite a long time. It has two of our own songs on it and one ABBA-cover.

That’s quite Swedish! You also released a video for one of the tracks.

Yes, for the title track. It’s a live performance from a former prison actually. It’s closed down since a few years and they turned it into a youth centre.

In January 2016, you will embark on a US Tour with Graveyard. How did that come together?

Basically, Ann-Sophie (Hoyles, John’s wife and singer/2nd guitar player in Spiders) and me were sitting in a pub when we heard that Graveyard would go on a US tour. I just told Ann-Sophie that I was going to send Axel (Sjöberg, Graveyard drummer, former drummer for Spiders) a text if they would take us along. The next day their manager phoned us and now we’re on the tour!

Wow, that’s easy!

Yes! Sometimes it’s helpful to know the right people. Especially when you’re not a bigger band.

What’s the most important thing/device in your suitcase on tour?

Tough question… Apart from my stage clothes I’d say my toothbrush! And fresh underwear. You don’t get to shower often, so you have to try and keep up appearances…

The band has been around for quite a while now. What has changed for you since the beginning?

Well, we’re making some money now, but we still have to work when we are at home. Fortunately, we have bosses that let us take time off from work in order to go on tour. It’s our dream to do this full-time, we’ll see in the future…

Do you still own your very first instrument?

I gave it to my brother, now my mother keeps it in the attic. It’s still there, but damaged, so you can’t play it anymore. I had quite a few guitars since then.

When I took a look at your merch booth, I noticed some different styles regarding the artwork. Who comes up with the ideas a how do you choose the artists?

It’s difficult, because one wants to have shirts that one likes oneself, but at the same time you have to sell. It has taken us some time to figure out the style that suits us. We’re big fans of Alan Forbes and this guy called David Paul Seymour, he’s very talented, too. We used to have some designs in the past where we were like “This is great!”, but it hasn’t sold anything…

So you have some precious left overs at home?

Yes, we have some at our rehearsal space. Maybe we’ll bring that on tour some day in the future…

A main topic with your last Interview for Psychorizon was of course the situation of female fronted bands. The interview took place in 2012. Has anything changed since then?

I think in Sweden it’s becoming bigger and bigger with women playing in rock bands. I.e. Heavy Tiger and Tiger Bell… But it’s still difficult and harder to break for a band if it’s female fronted.

I thought it was the other way round, because women attract more attention,

That’s what I thought as well!

I have one last question for you: If the band could star in a movie, what kind of movie would that be? Would you be the good guys or the villains?

Hm… I like war films and history… So it would be us playing the good guys in one of these!

Thanks a lot for taking the time!

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PURSON – Announce UK Tour & Album Release Date

Tags

Album Details, Astra, Black Sabbath, Blood Ceremony, David Bowie, Desire’s Magic Theatre, Electric Ladyland, George Hudson, Ghost, Jack Hobbs, Jess and the Ancient Ones, Jex Thoth, Jimi Hendrix, Justin Smith, Leaning On A Bear, Machine Elf, Purson, Raphael Mura, Rosalie Cunningham, Royal Thunder, Samuel Shove, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Spiders, Spinefarm Records, The Beatles, The Circle And The Blue Door, The Kinks, The Move, The Small Faces, Tourdates, UK Tour, Viper Room, Ziggy Stardust

PURSON welcomes you to Desire’s Magic Theatre… a technicolour trip through the mind’s eye of songstress / vocalist / guitarist Rosalie Cunningham, whose signature approach to her craft stands boldly centre- stage, blending progressive dexterity and cabaret romp into a compelling, multi-faceted rock ‘n’ roll show.

Photo by Peter Brenchley

Desire’s Magic Theatre draws inspiration from the rock operas of the late sixties and early seventies; musically, visually and lyrically, it touches on a variety of realms, including folk, prog, psychedelic, gothic & classic rock, making telling use of classical instruments and complex arrangements, and fully exploring the outer limits of reel to reel tape.

Says Cunningham: “Desire’s Magic Theatre has turned out to be everything I’d imagined and more! My world has been so consumed by it that I’ve barely been able to reflect on what it has become: a technicolour variety show, a playful display of the musical whims only briefly hinted at in our previous work; a psychedelic rock opera dedicated to our good friends Sarge Pepper and Zig Stardust.”

PURSON – Cunningham, George Hudson (guitars), Samuel Robinson (keyboards), Justin Smith (bass), Raphael Mura (drums) – have recently returned from a six-week tour of North America Special Guesting with GHOST, following on from a stint on the Kiss Kruise IV plus a sold-out Los Angeles debut at the notorious Viper Room.

Desire’s Magic Theatre is set for release on March 25^th 2016 under the Spinefarm / Machine Elf banner, supported by a headline UK tour plus selected European shows; summer festivals and visits to Australia and Japan will follow.

UK HEADLINE TOUR DATES
March 09 Bristol, THE LOUISIANA
March 10 Nottingham, ROCK CITY
March 11 Norwich, WATERFRONT STUDIO
March 12 Milton Keynes, THE CRAUFURD ARMS
March 16 London, 100 CLUB
March 24 Exeter, THE CAVERN CLUB
March 25 Plymouth, THE JUNCTION
March 26 Southampton, JOINERS
March 27 Brighton, THE HOPE & RUIN
March 30 Birmingham, THE SUNFLOWER LOUNGE
March 31 Manchester, NIGHT & DAY
April 01 Glasgow, AUDIO
April 02 Leeds, THE BRUDENELL

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German users please use this link to watch the video!

BLOOD CEREMONY – New Album Announced For Early 2016!

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Adriana Iris Boatwright, Alia O'Brien, Ann-Sofie Hoyles, Blood Ceremony, Carl McGinley, Chase Rudeseal, Crusher Records, Edley O'Dowd, European Tour, Exhausting Fire, Flash Point, Freak Valley Festival 2014, Jimmy P Lightning, John Edwards, John Hoyles, Kylesa, Laura C. Bates, Laura Pleasants, Let It Come Down, Living With The Ancients, Lucas Gadke, Matteo Gambacorta, Michael Carrillo, My Demon Brother, New Album, Phillip Cope, Rise Above Records, Sean Kennedy, Season Of Mist, Spiders, The Eldritch Dark, Ukulele Of Doom, Völur

Two years after the release of their third, most highly acclaimed full-length record “The Eldritch Dark” and several successfull live rituals – including their performance at the 2014 edition of German Freak Valley Festival and a European tour with Swedish Garage Rockers SPIDERS, Canada’s finest BLOOD CEREMONY now announce a new album to be out in early 2016. “The Eldritch Dark”was released via Rise Above Records/Metal Blade in May, 2013, to great response from both critics and fans alike.

by Ester Segarra

In the wake of its release, the band joined KYLESA on a six-week North American tour. After co-headlining Rise Above Records’ 25th anniversary show in London, UK, the band released a 7″ titled “Let it Come Down“.

BLOOD CEREMONY’s distinct style of flute-tinged witch rock evolves from an infernal marriage of occult-inspired acid folk and vintage hard-rock riffing. After a mind-numbing study of hundreds of trashy witchcraft films, the group began to pour their energies into crafting songs, transforming their fascination for horror into a profane musical vision.

Their sound bears witness to the heavy bands of yesteryear, fusing progressive rock elements with folk and an early ’70s downer vibe. Invoking the mischievous Pipes of Pan, BLOOD CEREMONY songs are distinguished by singer Alia O’Brien’s flute solos – accenting an instrument long-associated with a list of devilish figures.

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ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2015 – Retro In Reverse

Tags

Air Raid, Ann-Sofie Hoyles, Architects Of Chaoz, Avatarium, Black Star Riders, Channel Zero, Deserted Fear, Doro Pesch, Entombed, Flotsam And Jetsam, God Dethroned, Kataklysm, Kreator, Michael Schenker, Morbid Angel, Motorjesus, Overkill, Pentagram, Refuge, Rock Hard Festival, Sanctuary, Sinner, Space Chaser, Spiders, Temple Of Rock, Thin Lizzy, Venom, Voivod, Warlock

Pictures taken from http://www.rockhard.de

One month in counting before the annual pentecost festivities will take place with another outstanding line-up. Apart from some of the “usual suspects” such as Essen’s very own KREATOR who will be playing for the third time since Rock Hard Festival started in 2003 – originally planned as a one-off birthday-bash celebrating the 20th anniversary of German Rock Hard magazine. Also returning to the stage on the waterside, will be MOTORJESUS whose first appearance was mainly due to a readers’ petition in 2012.

VOIDVOD – Picture by Valerie Gagne

The German “Fräuleinwunder” of Metal, DORO PESCH will play a special set featuring songs from her early days…do I sense some WARLOCK tracks here? More reminiscence comes from the legacy of legendary Irish Classic Rockers THIN LIZZY. Their so-to-speak “Alter Ego” BLACK STAR RIDERS are up to pleasing fans of both bands this May. Classic acts seem to be somewhat of a Leitmotiv at this years’ Rock Hard Festival: Doom legends PENTAGRAM and Black Metal veterans VENOM will headline the first festival day, while Canadian masters VOIDOD deliver a nice mid-day Thrash fest on saturday.

Of course, there will also be fresh blood to share: Swedish foursome SPIDERS have overcome their newbie-status by now, with their laid-back Hard Rock sound driven by the voice of Ann-Sofie Hoyles. At the other end of the sonic scale, German trio DESERTED FEAR got what it takes to please your taste for death, blood & gore in the vain of the mighty MORBID ANGEL & ENTOMBED!

DESERTED FEAR – advertising for their idols

Friday – May 22nd

21:30 – 23:00 – VENOM
19:45 – 21:00 – PENTAGRAM
18:15 – 19:15 – GOD DETHRONED
17:05 – 17:50 – FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
16:00 – 16:40 – ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ
15:00 – 15:40 – SPACE CHASER

Saturday – May 23rd

21:30 – 23:00 – KREATOR
19:45 – 21:00 – DORO (Early Days Metal Show!)
18:15 – 19:15 – SANCTUARY
17:00 – 17:45 – KATAKLYSM
15:50 – 16:35 – AVATARIUM
14:45 – 15:30 – VOIVOD
13:45 – 14:25 – MOTORJESUS
12:45 – 13:23 – DESERTED FEAR

Sunday – May 24th

21:30 – 23:00 – BLACK STAR RIDERS (incl. THIN-LIZZY-Classics)
19:40 – 21:00 – OVERKILL
18:00 – 19:10 – MICHAEL SCHENKER’S TEMPLE OF ROCK
16:30 – 17:30 – REFUGE
15:15 – 16:00 – CHANNEL ZERO
14:05 – 14:50 – SINNER
13:00 – 13:40 – SPIDERS
12:00 – 12:40 – AIR RAID

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SPIDERS – Confirmed To Play Rock Hard Festival 2015

Tags

Alan Forbes, Ann-Sofie Hoyles, Avatarium, Axel Sjöberg, Blood Ceremony, Crusher Records, De:Nihil Records, Don Ahlsterberg, Graveyard, International Noise Conspiracy, John Hoyles, Josefine Larsson, Kemado Records, Kvelertak, Mad Dog, Motorjesus, Olle Griphammar, Pentagram, Ricard Harryson, Rock Hard Festival 2015, Shake Electric, Spiders, Sweden Rock Festival, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Vader, Valley King Records, Way Out West

SPIDERS was formed in Gothenburg in February 2010. A few months later the band appeared at one of Sweden’s most successful music festivals, Way Out West. It was around this time SPIDERS for the first time as a band stepped into the studio with producer Don Ahlsterberg (THE SOUNDTRADK OF OUR LIVES, THE INTERNATIONAL NISE CONSPIRACY) and started recording.

Photo by: Josefine Larsson

By the end of January 2011 SPIDERS released their debut record, a 10” vinyl EP on Crusher Records containing four tracks. The self-titled release was very well received and noticed in Record Collector as well airplayed on Sweden’s largest radio channel P3. In March 2011 those four previously released tracks came to be released in the USA as two separate 7” singles, one on Kemado Records the other on Valley King Records, the latter with an artwork made by well-known artist Alan Forbes.

Around this time drummer Axel Sjöberg, former drummer, left SPIDERS to work full time on GRAVEYARD and came to be replaced by Ricard Harryson. In May 2011 SPIDERS stepped into the studio for the second time recording a two track single to be released on vinyl by De:Nihil Records in August and digital by Crusher Records in September.

In June 2012 SPIDERS began recording songs for their debut album. In early October the very same year the album, entitled “Flash Point”, was released. The album immediately reached the Sverigetopplistan, the Swedish Sales Charts of most sold albums. In November and December SPIDERS went on European tour together with GRAVEYARD. By the end of the same year SPIDERS’ debut album was nominated by P3 Gold (Swedish Radio Award) for best Rock/Metal of the Year. In 2013 the band appeared on Sweden Rock Festival, toured Scandinavia, Spain and Portugal. Enter 2014 – On May 27th the new single “Mad Dog” was released on Reaktor Recordings / Universal Music. After touring in support of KVELERTAK in Scandinavia and BLOOD CEREMONY throughout Europe, SPIDERS have now been confirmed to play at Rock Hard Festival 2015, alsongside PENTAGRAM, AVATARIUM, VENOM, MOTORJESUS and many more!

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PURSON – To Play Desertfest Belgium & Freak Valley Festival 2015

Tags

Astra, Black Sabbath, Blood Ceremony, Danse Macarbe, Darkthrone, Desertfest Belgium, Ed Turner, Fenriz, Freak Valley Festival, George Hudson, In The Meantime, Jack Hobbs, Jess and the Ancient Ones, Jex Thoth, Jimi Hendrix, Justin Smith, Leaning On A Bear, Purson, Rise Above, Roadburn, Rosalie Cunningham, Royal Thunder, Samuel Shove, Spiders, The Beatles, The Circle And The Blue Door, The Kinks, The Move, The Small Faces, Tourdates, UK Tour

Named after a demon and fronted by the bewitching Rosalie Cunningham, PURSON is the latest psychedelic proto-doom band with a mesmerizing female vocalist to cast a spell over everyone who hears them.

With elements of ’70s progressive and heavy rock, PURSON is in league with BLOOD CEREMONY and JEX THOTH, conjuring visions of Hammer horror and pagan rituals. What sets them apart are the incredibly catchy pop-like arrangements inspired by former bassist and founding member Ed Turner and Cunningham‘s borderline obsessive love of The Beatles. It only took a couple of songs on Soundcloud / Facebook to capture the attention of illustrious Rise Above Records and DARKTHRONE’s Fenriz, one of metal’s favorite arbiters of taste, made them band of the week!

Furthermore with a UK tour and the release of their new EP “In The Meantime” only a few weeks away, it is time for a gentle reminder… Tickets are available online through several ticket websites and most likely from the venues themselves. They are selling fast so snap them up now or regret it later!

A first taste of the EP is already available with the song ‘Danse Macabre’. Stated the band on its’ Facebook page: “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages… We proudly present to you ‘Danse Macabre’ the first track to be taken from our forthcoming Extended Player ‘In The Meantime’. We hope you all enjoy…“

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BLOOD CEREMONY – Release Of “Let It Come Down” Announced

Tags

Alia O'Brien, Ann-Sofie Hoyles, Annick Giroux, Axel Sjöberg, Blood Ceremony, Cauchemar, Ian Blurton, Iron Claw, John Hoyles, Karmazid, Let It Come Down, Living With The Ancient, Loving You, Lucas Gadke, Matteo Gambacorta, Michael Carrillo, Nick Blagona, Ricard Harryson, Rise Above Records, Sean Kennedy, Spiders, The Eldritch Dark

With their European headlining Tour kicking off two weeks from today, Canadian occult revere Doom Rockers BLOOD CEREMONY have just announced to release of a new Single called “Let It Come Down”, following the success of last years globally acclaimed third album, “The Eldritch Dark”. The 7″ will be released on April 28 in Europe (North American release date to be announced soon!) via Rise Above Records and contains a cover version of “Loving You”, originally recorded by early 70s obscure Scottish proto-metal legends, IRON CLAW. “Let It Come Down” is already available at the Rise Above YouTube channel.

 

“Let It Come Down” was recorded by Ian Blurton, featuring a Cover drawing by Karmazid and design layout by Annick Giroux of CAUCHEMAR. Alongside BLOOD CEREMONY will we Swedish Rock outlet SPIDERS, who will be opening on most dates.

02 BRISTOL, UK – Temples Festival*
03 NOTTINGHAM, UK – Bodega
04 GLASGOW, UK – Stereo
05 MANCHESTER, UK – The Deaf Institute
06 LONDON, UK – Borderline
07 PARIS, FR – Batofar
09 MEZZAGO, IT – Bloom Club
10 RONCADE, IT – New Age
11 MÜNCHEN, DE – Strom
12 VIENNA, AT – Arena
13 WARSAW, PL – Progresja
14 PRAGUE, CZ – 007 Klub
15 BERLIN, DE – Magnet
16 COPENHAGEN, DK – Loppen
17 STOCKHOLM, SE – Debaser Strand
20 MOSCOW, RU – Volta*
21 HELSINKI, FI – Nosturi
23 OSLO, NO – BLÅ
24 GOTHENBURG, SE – Truckstop Alaska
25 HAMBURG, DE – St. Pauli Rock Café
26 FRANKFURT, DE – Nachtleben
27 ZÜRICH, CH – Hafenkneipe
29 GEISELWIND, DE – Out & Loud Festival*
30 NETPHEN, DE – Freak Valley Festival*
31 NIJMEGEN, NL – FortaRock Festival*

*BC only

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BLOOD CEREMONY – Announce European Tour with SPIDERS

Tags

Alia O'Brien, Ann-Sofie Hoyles, Axel Sjöberg, Ballad Of The Weird Sisters, Blood Ceremony, Crusher Records, European Tour, Festival Season, Goodbye Gemini, John Hoyles, Living With The Ancient, Lucas Gadke, Matteo Gambacorta, Metal Blade, Michael Carrillo, Nick Blagona, NOCTIS Festival, Oliver Haddo, Ricard Harryson, Rise Above, Roadburn Festival, Sean Kennedy, Spiders, The Eldritch Dark, The Magician

Canadian Doom Rockers BLOOD CEREMONY will finally return to the European Mainlands with a full tour schedule in May 2014. Alongside the Toronto-based foursome featuring Alia O’Brien (Vocals, Flute, Organ), Sean Kennedy (Guitars), Lucas Gadke (Bass) and Michael Carrillo (Drums) will be Swedish Classic Rockers SPIDERS!

Commented BLOOD CEREMONY on their Facebook page: “Attention all revelers, freaks & heads, we’ll be playing dates in the UK, EU and RUSSIA this May. Joining us will be Sweden’s SPIDERS. The confirmed club and festival dates are listed below. Shortly before the tour begins, some new material will see the light of day in the form of a 7″ release, details forthcoming. See you on the other side!!!”

02 BRISTOL, UK – Temples Festival*
03 NOTTINGHAM, UK – Bodega
04 GLASGOW, UK – Stereo
05 MANCHESTER, UK – The Deaf Institute
06 LONDON, UK – Borderline
07 PARIS, FR – Batofar
09 MEZZAGO, IT – Bloom Club
10 RONCADE, IT – New Age
11 MÜNCHEN, DE – Strom
12 VIENNA, AT – Arena
13 WARSAW, PL – Progresja
14 PRAGUE, CZ – 007 Klub
15 BERLIN, DE – Magnet
16 COPENHAGEN, DK – Loppen
17 STOCKHOLM, SE – Debaser Strand
20 MOSCOW, RU – Volta*
21 HELSINKI, FI – Nosturi
23 OSLO, NO – BLÅ
24 GOTHENBURG, SE – Truckstop Alaska
25 HAMBURG, DE – St. Pauli Rock Café
26 FRANKFURT, DE – Nachtleben
27 ZÜRICH, CH – Hafenkneipe
29 GEISELWIND, DE – Out & Loud Festival*
30 NETPHEN, DE – Freak Valley Festival*
31 NIJMEGEN, NL – FortaRock Festival*

*BC only

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PURSON – Rosalie Cunningham Inspecting Jazzy Horizons

Tags

Astra, Black Sabbath, Blood Ceremony, George Hudson, Jack Hobbs, Jess and the Ancient Ones, Jex Thoth, Jimi Hendrix, Justin Smith, Leaning On A Bear, Purson, Rise Above, Roadburn, Rosalie Cunningham, Royal Thunder, Samuel Shove, Spiders, The Beatles, The Circle And The Blue Door, The Kinks, The Move, The Small Faces

Hype, Retro wave, back to the roots – whatever one might name the ongoing tendency towards low-fi productions, vintage equipment and a pleasant way of reducing music to the essentials. Lessening their own possibilities, so to speak, many a band maybe finds a more immediate approach to its own skills. Among those PURSON seem to stick out, not so much concerning the fact that the band is led by a woman – the, both incredibly young and talented Rosalie Cunningham – but far more with their sound. Specially this kind of genre holds many female musicians and names such as BLOOD CEREMONY, JEX THOTH, JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES, SPIDERS, ROYAL THUNDER and many more come to mind. All of those are associated with the Rock/Metal scene, while PURSON seem to inhabit their own alcove, full of 60s vibes and bright colours.

To talk about a current matter at first: You have just been on the road supporting ASTRA, but had to cancel quite a few dates, among them your participation at this years’ ROADBURN in Tilburg. Do you want to tell the reason(s) for this?

We had a wonderful time on the road with ASTRA and would have loved to have joined them on the rest of the tour but we simply couldn’t afford it. With van hire, hotels and everything, we would have lost so much money.

PURSON (l.t.r.): Samuel Shove – Organ, Mellotron, Wurlitzer, Justin Smith – Bass, Rosalie Cunningham – Vocals, Lead Guitar, Jack Hobbs – Drums, George Hudson – Guitars, Backing Vocals  – Courtesy of Ester Segarra

Are there any plans so far to tour outside the UK in the near future?

We have a few things on the horizon but once again, that depends on how much we will be paid for the gigs. If we can’t cover our costs, we won’t be able to tour.

PURSON seems to be a band with a strong virtual concept – is this just my personal impression or do you actually plan in things like stage clothes, vinyl-colour ect?

We wear the same clothes on stage as we do off stage. We love to dress up, myself and Sam especially, and it’s part of the fun of being in a band for us. We get to live out our wildest wardrobe dreams as part of the job description! I think it’s important for the visual side to reflect the world we create with our music. The vinyl colour isn’t much to do with us… it’s something that Rise Above like to do.

Do you collect records and what do you think about this, let me call it, policy of Rise Above to publish things as very strictly limited editions that sell out so fast, most people won’t even be able to pre-order upcoming releases?!

I know that this policy upsets a lot of people and I have to agree, it doesn’t make much sense to me. I am not an avid collector, I have what I need. I am not concerned about having first pressings or a certain colour of vinyl. The music itself is far more important to me.

The Heavy Metal-scene has changed quite a bit during the last… I don’t know ten (?) years. There’s the heck of a lot of vintage sounding bands around right now. Do you think a band like PURSON could’ve been around ten years ago?

I was pretty much a child 10 years ago so I can’t say exactly. I have also never been involved in the heavy metal scene. I have liked certain heavy bands but have never considered myself part of any scene associated with it.

At best (or earliest) the 70s have been present in Heavy metal/hardrock music pretty much, but the 60s never seemed to be much of an issue – cept for HENDRIX – your sound (e.g. “Leaning On A Bear”) seems to have more of a 60s (pop) vibe than it’s common for bands outside the Garage-Punk-scene. How important is that period for you?

Debut album, “The Circle And The Blue Door” released 29th April 2013

This period is especially important for me in terms of songwriting. I was into 60’s pop before I was into anything heavier or prog. Bands like THE BEATLES, THE MOVE, THE SMALL FACES, THE KINKS and a lot of obscure pop psych bands are more of an influence for me and I will always appreciate a well crafted pop song more than any riff. I suppose that is what sets us apart from the other vintage sounding bands around.

There are two aspects about your music that might (judged from my experience as a record dealer) make it not that easy to sell your records to the average metal or even rock-fan; groove and female lead vocals in combination. A couple of buyers have already turned the single down when I recommended it to them. One reasoning it would be “too funky”.In my personal opinion the amount of shuffle is what makes the song cool. I love the short stop on the bass drum and hihhat during the chorus.
Would you consider Purson as being “funkier” than the average metal or rock band? And did soul music or jazz have any sort of influence on any individual in the band?

Haha, I’ve never thought of us as funky but I suppose compared to classic metal we are. We like to play with a bit of swing and groove which I think is quite typical of rock music… I mean BLACK SABBATH! They definitely have a jazzy feel sometimes, especially early stuff. I think the jazz influence comes more from things like that and other jazz-rock and prog rather than jazz itself, which I don’t really listen to.

Rosie Cunningham – Courtesy of Ester Segarra

(to Rosalie) You been referring to yourself as a ‘control freak’ several times. How far do you take that? And is that habit only related to music?

I’m pretty chilled out with everything else actually. The first album was made under very difficult circumstances and I was determined for it to turn out the way I had planned and so I did become a control freak there. I don’t compromise at all with my music. I do have a tendency to want to do everything myself but I’m slowly learning that it’s not how a band works…

Thanks a lot for this Interview – if there is anything else you want to send out into the universe, feel free to do so right now!

Not that I can think of right now…

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