1. They Played a Concert in Antarctica Through Headphones

In December 2013, Metallica played a one-off show called Freeze ‘Em All inside a transparent dome at the Carlini research station in Antarctica. The audience? Just 120 people, a mix of scientists and competition winners who’d sailed there on a week-long cruise. Because Antarctic environmental protocols forbid traditional amplification, the entire gig was transmitted through headphones, essentially making it the most metal silent disco in history. The show earned them a Guinness World Record as the first band to play on all seven continents, and they did it all within a single calendar year.

2. They Once Played to 1.6 Million People in Moscow

On 28 September 1991, just weeks after the failed Soviet coup, Metallica took the stage at Tushino Airfield in Moscow as part of the Monsters of Rock festival. The free, open-air concert drew an estimated 1.6 million people, making it one of the largest rock concerts ever held. Footage shows Russian soldiers ripping off their uniforms to headbang alongside civilians. Lars Ulrich later described it as some of the most surreal footage the band has ever captured, with military helicopters hovering directly over the crowd as Metallica opened with ‘Enter Sandman.’

3. James Hetfield Was Engulfed by Flames Onstage

During a show at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium on 8 August 1992, while co-headlining with Guns N’ Roses, James Hetfield walked into a pyrotechnic charge during ‘Fade to Black.’ He suffered second- and third-degree burns to his left hand, arm, and part of his face. His double-neck ESP guitar actually shielded the right side of his body from the worst of it. Bassist Jason Newsted later said that if Hetfield had been breathing in at the moment the flame hit, he would have been killed. Hetfield was back onstage just 17 days later, on vocals only, with a stand-in guitarist. The incident then triggered a riot when Guns N’ Roses cut their own set short.

4. Dave Mustaine Was Fired Weeks Before They Recorded Their Debut

Metallica sacked their original lead guitarist Dave Mustaine on 11 April 1983, while the band were in New York preparing to record Kill ‘Em All. The reason? His drinking and behaviour is said to become too much, leading to repeated clashes with his bandmates. Kirk Hammett, then playing with Bay Area thrashers Exodus, was brought in as his replacement. Hammett learned the songs on his flight to New York and started recording with the band barely a month later. Mustaine went on to form Megadeth, channelling his fury into one of metal’s greatest rivalries. He also co-wrote several tracks that appeared on Metallica’s first two albums, including material on Ride the Lightning.

5. They Teamed Up with Lady Gaga at the Grammys and Everything Went Wrong

At the 2017 Grammy Awards, Metallica and Lady Gaga performed ‘Moth Into Flame’ together, a pairing that came about after Lars Ulrich met Gaga at a dinner at Bradley Cooper’s house just weeks earlier. The rehearsal was flawless. The live performance was anything but. First, presenter Laverne Cox forgot to mention Metallica in her introduction. Then, a stagehand accidentally unplugged Hetfield’s microphone just before the band took the stage. Left with no audio for much of the song, Hetfield was forced to share Gaga’s mic, which he later said actually made it feel more like a genuine collaboration. Still, Ulrich described Hetfield as the angriest he’d seen him in 20 years once they got backstage.

6. Cliff Burton Was Lost in a Tragic Tour Bus Accident

On 27 September 1986, while touring in support of Master of Puppets in Sweden, Metallica’s tour bus skidded on a patch of ice and flipped. Bassist Cliff Burton was thrown through a window and tragically lost his life. He was just 24. Burton’s influence on the band’s musical direction had been enormous. He brought a knowledge of music theory and an experimental approach that shaped Metallica’s sound during their most critically acclaimed period. Jason Newsted was recruited from Flotsam and Jetsam to replace him, and would go on to serve as bassist for 14 years.

7. The Black Album Is the Best-Selling Metal Record of All Time

Released in August 1991, Metallica’s self-titled fifth album, universally known as The Black Album, has shifted over 30 million copies worldwide. On 28 May 2025, the RIAA announced the album had been certified 20x Platinum, officially achieving double Diamond status after passing the 20 million sales mark in the US. That makes it the first metal album in history to reach that milestone. It’s also the highest-selling album of the entire SoundScan era, which began tracking sales in 1991. The album spent over 750 weeks on the Billboard 200 and spawned five hit singles, including ‘Enter Sandman,’ ‘Nothing Else Matters,’ and ‘The Unforgiven.’

8. Lars Ulrich Nearly Became a Professional Tennis Player

Before he ever picked up drumsticks, Lars Ulrich was training to become a professional tennis player. It ran in the family. Both his father Torben and his grandfather Einer were accomplished players, with the elder Ulrich representing Denmark at the 1924 Paris Olympics. Lars moved from Denmark to Newport Beach, California at 16 to pursue the sport, but after seeing Deep Purple live as a child, his passion for music had already taken root. He placed an ad in a Los Angeles newspaper looking for musicians to jam with, and James Hetfield answered it. The rest, as they say, is history.

9. ‘Master of Puppets’ Got a Second Life Thanks to Stranger Things

In July 2022, the season four finale of Netflix’s Stranger Things featured the character Eddie Munson shredding ‘Master of Puppets’ on his guitar in the Upside Down to fend off a swarm of demonic bats. The scene sent the 1986 track surging back up the charts, with on-demand streams increasing by over 650% in the week following the episode’s release. Metallica praised the Duffer Brothers’ use of the track, calling it an incredible honour. Actor Joseph Quinn genuinely learned the guitar riff for the scene, and the Master of Puppets album itself has since been certified 8x Platinum in the US.

10. They Sued Napster and Changed the Music Industry Forever

In April 2000, after discovering their unreleased track ‘I Disappear’ had been leaked on the file-sharing platform, Metallica filed a landmark lawsuit against Napster. Lars Ulrich even testified before a US Senate committee about copyright infringement. The case made Metallica deeply unpopular with parts of the internet at the time, but it fundamentally shaped the conversation around digital piracy and artists’ rights. Napster eventually filed for bankruptcy in 2002, and the legal precedent set by the dispute paved the way for the licensed streaming services we use today.

What’s your favourite Metallica fact? Let us know in the comments or over on our socials.

The post Metallica Played Antarctica and 9 More Wild Facts appeared first on RAMzine.

That moment tells you everything you need to know about Dominic Harrison. At 27, there’s arguably nobody in British rock moving at the same pace or with the same fearlessness.

So whether you’re already deep in the Yungblud universe or you’ve just clocked him performing ‘Changes’ at the VMAs and want to know what all the fuss is about, here are ten things worth knowing.

1. He Created His Own Festival and Kept Tickets at £50

While festival prices spiral into the absurd, Yungblud launched Bludfest at Milton Keynes Bowl in August 2024 and priced tickets at fifty quid. Thirty thousand fans turned up for a genre-smashing lineup featuring Lil Yachty, Soft Play, and punk icons The Damned. There was a ‘Make A Friend’ tent, a Yungblud museum, and a replica of Camden’s Hawley Arms pub. The whole thing returned bigger in June 2025, with Chase Atlantic, Denzel Curry, and Blackbear joining the bill. Dom’s dream? A Bludfest world tour. He’s already hinted at Paris and beyond.

2. Ozzy Osbourne Treated Him Like Family

Yungblud first connected with the Osbourne family through Kelly Osbourne, and when Ozzy and Sharon turned up to film ‘The Funeral’ in 2022, something clicked. Ozzy made Dom a salami sandwich before they even started shooting. From there, the bond only deepened. Appearances on The Osbournes Podcast, Sharon offering advice on launching Bludfest, and Ozzy telling Dom the words he carries with him to this day: “Never compromise. They’ll get it later.”

When Ozzy passed away on 22 July 2025, Yungblud posted a tribute that hit hard: “Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own.”

3. He Owns a Fan Space on London’s Tin Pan Alley

In August 2025, Yungblud opened Beautifully Romanticised Accidentally Traumatised at 20 Denmark Street, the legendary Soho strip where The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and The Sex Pistols once recorded and rehearsed. The venue is part store, part fan club, part community hub. You can buy merch, grab a coffee, take an art class, play pool on a leopard-print table, or just exist in a space built specifically for people who might not feel like they belong anywhere else.

Dom launched it with a surprise street performance, topless in a Union Jack kilt, naturally, belting out ‘The Funeral’, ‘Strawberry Lipstick’, and ‘Zombie’ to fans who’d queued around the block. His ambition is to open similar spaces worldwide.

4. His Album Idols Hit Number One and Earned Three Grammy Nominations

Released in June 2025, Idols is Yungblud‘s fourth studio album and arguably his most ambitious. Billed as the first part of a two-part project, it deals with self-reclamation before a promised second half dives into darker territory around mortality. It hit number one in the UK and earned nominations for Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song (for ‘Zombie’), and Best Rock Performance (for ‘Changes’). That’s not bad for a lad who was playing tiny venues less than a decade ago.

5. He Performed at Black Sabbath’s Final Concert

Tom Morello put the Back to the Beginning show together, and Yungblud fought for the slot performing ‘Changes’, Black Sabbath‘s 1972 ballad. As he told NME: “Give me the ballad. Trust me, I’ll bring the house down.” He wasn’t wrong. In front of 40,000 people at Villa Park, sharing a stage with Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, and Alice in Chains, the youngest artist on the bill led the entire crowd in a singalong that became one of the most talked-about moments of the night.

He later released the performance as a charity single, with proceeds going to Acorns Children’s Hospice, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Cure Parkinson’s. It debuted at number one on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.

6. The Smashing Pumpkins Collaborated on His Biggest Song

‘Zombie’ was always meant to be heavier. When Yungblud originally wrote it for Idols, he pulled it back because he thought it sounded too much like The Smashing Pumpkins. Then Billy Corgan got involved, and the track became what it was always supposed to be. It’s the first time in their entire career that The Smashing Pumpkins have featured on another artist’s recording.

The song, written about Dom’s late grandmother who died from alcoholism, has racked up over 100 million streams and remains his fastest-streaming solo single. Corgan compared Yungblud‘s trajectory to Elton John‘s. No pressure, Dom.

7. He’s Got an EP With Aerosmith

Yungblud and Aerosmith released a collaborative EP called One More Time in November 2025, featuring the track ‘My Only Angel’, the rock legends’ first original release in over 12 years. The kid from Doncaster is now making music with Ozzy Osbourne‘s family, The Smashing Pumpkins, Steven Tyler, and Joe Perry.

8. He Paid Tribute to Ozzy at the 2025 VMAs

In September 2025, Yungblud took the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards to honour the late Ozzy Osbourne. Backed by guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, he opened with ‘Crazy Train’ before slowing things down with ‘Changes’. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry then joined him for ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home’. The performance drew some criticism from The Darkness‘s Justin Hawkins, but Jack Osbourne publicly defended Yungblud, making clear that the relationship between Dom and his father went far deeper than outsiders realised.

9. His Book Went Straight to Number One

You Need to Exist: A Book to Love and Destroy, published by Happy Place Books in August 2024, became an instant No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller. It’s not a memoir or an autobiography. It’s an interactive journal packed with art, lyrics, poems, and creative prompts designed to help fans figure out who they are.

10. He Threw a Post-Grammys Party at the Rainbow on the Sunset Strip

On 1 February 2026, Yungblud won his first ever Grammy. Best Rock Performance, for ‘Changes (Live From Villa Park)’, his cover of the Black Sabbath classic performed at the Back to the Beginning concert with Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman, and II from Sleep Token. He accepted the award with Sharon Osbourne by his side, dedicating it to Ozzy in a speech that had the room on its feet: “We fucking love you Ozzy. I deeply love this genre, it’s all I’ve ever known. I wanna dedicate this to everyone in the guitar shop I grew up in and everyone in a guitar shop or a bedroom with a dream.”

Later that night, he joined Steven Tyler at the Jam for Janie Grammy Awards Viewing Party at the Hollywood Palladium, where the pair performed ‘Back in the Saddle’ together. Then, because apparently one legendary moment wasn’t enough for one evening, Dom headed to the Rainbow Bar and Grill on the Sunset Strip to celebrate with friends and fans. The Rainbow, of course, is one of rock’s most hallowed watering holes and the home of the Lair of the Hollywood Vampires, Alice Cooper‘s legendary drinking club where the likes of John Lennon, Keith Moon, Harry Nilsson, and Ringo Starr held court in the upstairs loft from 1972 onwards. It’s also the place where Lemmy, Slash, Ozzy, and just about every rock icon worth mentioning has propped up the bar. For a lad from Doncaster who grew up tuning guitars in his dad’s shop, ending Grammy night at the Rainbow feels like the kind of thing that was always meant to happen.

We’re gutted we missed that night out there. Next time, Dom.

The post Yungblud: 10 Things You Need to Know About Dom Harrison appeared first on RAMzine.

1. The Name Came From a Joke About Failure

The band’s iconic name originated from a quip by The Who’s Keith Moon and John Entwistle. When Jimmy Page was initially exploring the idea of forming a supergroup with Moon, Entwistle, and Jeff Beck, Moon joked that the project would go down “like a lead balloon,” a British expression meaning it would fail miserably.

Page loved the imagery but wanted something grander than a balloon. The word “zeppelin,” those massive, dramatic airships, seemed to capture the perfect combination of heavy and light. Manager Peter Grant suggested dropping the ‘a’ from ‘lead’ so international audiences wouldn’t mispronounce it as “leed.”

2. They Refused to Release Singles in the UK

Led Zeppelin pioneered the concept of album-oriented rock and famously refused to release singles in their home country. While Atlantic Records released some singles in the US against the band’s wishes, Zeppelin’s position was clear, their albums were meant to be experienced as complete artistic statements, not carved up for radio play.

Manager Peter Grant reportedly promised Atlantic a “limited edition Christmas single” that never materialised. “I think that was a cover-up,” Grant later admitted. “We never went in just to record a single. That was the golden rule: no singles.”

Robert Plant put it bluntly in 2005: “I always thought of the Stones as a pop group who made singles.” Led Zeppelin saw themselves as something entirely different.

3. ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Was Never Released as a Single

Despite being one of the most played songs in rock radio history and widely considered among the greatest rock songs ever recorded, ‘Stairway to Heaven’ was never commercially released as a single anywhere in the world.

Atlantic Records desperately wanted to release it, but manager Peter Grant refused their requests in both 1972 and 1973. Page explained to Rolling Stone in 1975: “We were careful to never release it as a single,” which effectively forced buyers to purchase the entire Led Zeppelin IV album.

The strategy worked spectacularly. By 2000, the song had been broadcast on radio over three million times, and it remains the biggest-selling single piece of sheet music in rock history, averaging 15,000 copies sold yearly.

4. John Bonham’s Kick Drum Technique Changed Drumming Forever

When ‘Good Times Bad Times’ opened Led Zeppelin’s debut album, drummers around the world were left stunned. John Bonham’s rapid-fire bass drum triplets were so fast and precise that many assumed he was using a double bass pedal. He wasn’t. It was all single-foot technique.

Bonham was heavily influenced by jazz drummers including Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, and Max Roach, which gave his rock drumming an unusual swing and sophistication. His signature “Bonham triplets,” played left-right-kick in rapid succession, became one of the most imitated licks in rock drumming.

Interestingly, Bonham once told Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice that he’d been inspired by something he heard on a Fudge record, though Appice later explained that Bonham had misheard what he was actually playing. Whatever the source, Bonham made the technique entirely his own.

5. Their Debut Album Was Made in 36 Hours for Under £2,000

The first Led Zeppelin album was recorded and mixed in approximately 36 hours of studio time, spread across several weeks in September and October 1968 at Olympic Studios in London. The total cost? Just £1,782, roughly £37,000 in today’s money.

Remarkably, the band didn’t even have a record deal when they made it. Jimmy Page and manager Peter Grant funded the sessions themselves, believing so strongly in what they were creating that they were willing to take the financial risk.

Page later explained to Uncut magazine: “[It] was a live album, and it’s done intentionally in that way. It’s got overdubs on it, but the original tracks are live.” That raw, immediate energy would become a Zeppelin hallmark. The album went on to sell over eight million copies worldwide and gross more than 2,000 times what it cost to make.

6. They Secured Unprecedented Control Over Their Music

When Peter Grant negotiated Led Zeppelin’s deal with Atlantic Records in November 1968, he secured terms that were virtually unheard of for a new band. Remarkably, Atlantic signed them without ever seeing them play live, on the recommendation of Dusty Springfield, who was friends with John Paul Jones.

The original contract, signed by Jimmy Page and Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun on 11 November 1968, was a three-year deal. The band received $104,100 immediately, followed by $51,300 in 1969 and another $51,300 in 1970. While often reported as $200,000, the actual documents (revealed by Led Zeppelin News in 2024 from court filings) show these specific figures. It was still one of the most substantial deals Atlantic had ever offered a new act.

But the money was only part of it. The contract gave Zeppelin considerable artistic freedom, including control over album contents and design. They formed their own company, Superhype Tapes, to handle their affairs. Intriguingly, the contract also gave Page the right to replace the other band members while retaining the Led Zeppelin name.

The contract was extended by two years in December 1969, and when it finally expired in 1973, they founded their own label, Swan Song Records, maintaining distribution through Atlantic but keeping creative control firmly in their own hands.

7. The Symbols on Led Zeppelin IV Were Chosen to Represent Each Member

Following lukewarm critical reception for Led Zeppelin III, Page made a bold decision: their fourth album would have no title, no band name, no track listing, and no text whatsoever on the cover. Instead, four mysterious symbols would represent the band members.

Atlantic Records were furious, but the band refused to hand over the master tapes until their demands were met. Page later recalled being told by a press agent that after a year’s absence from touring and recording, releasing an anonymous album would be “professional suicide.” His response: “We just happened to have a lot of faith in what we were doing.”

Robert Plant explained the selection process: “Each of us decided to go away and choose a metaphysical type of symbol which somehow represented each of us individually, be it a state of mind, an opinion, or something we felt strongly about.” Page’s “Zoso” symbol remains the most debated, with Page refusing to fully explain its meaning to this day.

8. They Formed From the Ashes of The Yardbirds

Led Zeppelin’s origins trace directly back to The Yardbirds, the legendary 1960s band that also launched the careers of Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. When The Yardbirds fell apart in 1968, Jimmy Page was left as the sole remaining member with tour obligations to fulfil.

Page recruited singer Robert Plant on the recommendation of Terry Reid, who had turned down the role himself. Plant then pushed for his friend John Bonham as drummer, though it took considerable persuasion as Bonham was already in demand with other artists including Tim Rose. Session musician John Paul Jones called Page directly to offer his services.

The new lineup initially performed as “The New Yardbirds” to fulfil those existing tour dates in Scandinavia. Page later admitted he used the name as a “cloak of invisibility.” Even the first recording session tapes were marked “New Yardbirds” because he didn’t want anyone to know the real band name until the official unveiling.

9. The ‘Whole Lotta Love’ Riff Had Been Brewing for Years

That instantly recognisable opening riff of ‘Whole Lotta Love’ didn’t appear out of nowhere. Jimmy Page had been tinkering with variations of the riff for years before finally committing it to tape for Led Zeppelin II in 1969.

The song became Zeppelin’s highest-charting single, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1970, despite the band’s reluctance to release it. Atlantic Records had released an edited version in the US that cut the track from 5:33 to 3:12, much to Page’s displeasure. When they pressed copies for UK release, Page refused to allow it. “I played it once, hated it and never listened to the short version again,” he told the Wall Street Journal.

10. Their 2007 Reunion Broke the World Record for Ticket Demand

When Led Zeppelin announced they would reunite for the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at London’s O2 Arena on 10 December 2007, the response was staggering. Over 20 million people submitted online ticket requests for approximately 18,000 available tickets, a Guinness World Record for the highest demand for a single music concert.

The website crashed almost immediately after the announcement, with ticket applications reportedly coming in at a rate of 80,000 per minute. Tickets that originally cost £125 were later appearing on eBay for up to £1,800. One BBC Radio 2 listener paid £83,000 for a pair in a charity auction.

With John Bonham’s son Jason on drums, the band performed their first full-length concert in nearly three decades. Jimmy Page reflected: “I knew it was going to sell out quickly, but the tidal wave of euphoria that preceded the gig, the anticipation, went beyond what I could possibly have imagined.” It remains the last time the three surviving original members have performed together.

Led Zeppelin did things differently. They refused to play by the industry’s rules, insisted on artistic control when no one else had it, and in doing so helped shape what we now understand rock music to be. Over fifty years since their debut, their influence remains as powerful as ever.

The post Led Zeppelin: 10 Facts – The Symbols Were Chosen to Represent Each Member appeared first on RAMzine.

Sumo Cyco

This is a given for most RAMzine readers, we’ve covered them a lot on these pages and if you haven’t caught them live yet, now is your chance! Think Gwen Stefani meets Skindred. Speaking of which, with Benji Webbe on site – the band could do their collaboration ‘Move Mountains’  properly this time. Now campaigning for a third album, this is a must-see for anyone who is curious to hear the Canadian punk-metal collective.

Recommended by writer/editing assistant Neale McGeever and editor/founder Victoria Purcell.

Catch them on the Avalanche stage at 13:50, Friday. As well as their acoustic set at Danish Quarter at 15:00pm, Saturday.

Lovebites

This band pretty much hit us out of nowhere in the past couple of years, and their star is rising. If you were at Bloodstock last year, you would have noticed they were upgraded to the main stage (switching with Suicidal Tendencies, who were running late) and drew a pretty big crowd. To describe how they sound? Imagine a female DragonForce. Like all female, not just the vocalists. Hailing from Japan, they make the kind of music you usually hear from Europe to introduce it to a different crowd. I can imagine them supporting Iron Maiden in the near future.

As recommended by writer and presenter Hywel Davies.

Catch Lovebites on the Dogtooth stage at 14:40pm, Saturday.

Last In Line

Following the death of the legendary vocalist Ronnie James Dio, the talented musicians who played with him in his namesake band decided to carry on as Last In Line. Now joined by vocalist Andrew Freeman (previously of Lynch Mob and The Offspring) and bassist Phil Soussan (replacing the late Jimmy Bain). As you can imagine these rock as hard as any band of any generation on the bill. This kicks off the ‘Monsters Of Rock’ style line-up of Last In Line, Tesla, Slash, Whitesnake, and headliners Def Leppard on Friday.

Recommended by writer Laurence Todd and photographer/writer/editing assistant Ash Crowson.

Catch Last In Line at 13:00pm on the main stage, Friday.

Power Trip

This band was recommended by our writer James Paul Matthews, and well, this is how he put it:

“Power Trip is the perfect marriage of hardcore punk and thrash metal, equating to an unrelenting crossover sound that will absolutely dominate the main stage on Saturday! If you haven’t heard these guys – get acquainted. After their unbelievable show at Camden Underworld and Bloodstock Festival last year, Power Trip is soon to be your new favourite band!” …well said!

Catch Power Trip at 13:10pm on the main stage, Saturday.

Municipal Waste

Similarly, James recommended MW:

“The perfect energy burst to close the festival before you go off and see Tool! What else can be said about the greatest party-thrash band on the planet? Oh yeah… MUNICIPAL WASTE IS GONNA F**K YOU UP!!!”

If they can beat their record they set at Bloodstock for most crowd surfers, in a tent like the Dogtooth stage: that is worth seeing alone.

Catch Municipal Waste on the Dogtooth stage at 19:50pm, Sunday.

Red Hook

Like me, you may not have heard of Aussie rap-metal-punks – or as they call themselves: Screaming rap-rock electro pop mutants fighting against the forces of darkness inside our own heads – until recently, but they are certainly a curiosity. Like Sumo Cyco they are playing Avalanche and The Danish Quarter. They have made waves in their home of Sydney, and now its time for the UK to embrace their stylings.

Recommended by writer/ editing assistant Neale McGeever.

Red Hook are on the Avalanche stage at 11:00am, Sunday, and 12 noon at The Danish Quarter, Saturday.

The post Download 2019: Bands you MUST check out – Recommended by RAMzine appeared first on RAMzine.

RAMzine have opened up the question to Bloodstock fan groups on Facebook: Which band on the line-up do you want to see, and why? The results are not disappointing. Here are a few answers from the fans…

Scott from Littlehampton says:

“King Leviathan because They are awesome A fantastic mix of old school thrash with a modern evil twist full of misery perfect to worship the old gods! always Put On a great show and are fantastic dudes!”

Bloodstock veterans may remember King Leviathan from the New Blood stage in 2015, as well as many other festivals like Mammothfest and Frankfest, among others. Their 2017 album Paean Heretica was received with much acclaim. If you like extreme metal with misery and ferocity, as well as speed – you must see King Leviathan on the Sophie Lancaster stage on Sunday.

Check out their track ‘The Shrine’ below:

Paul said:

“Voodoo Sioux are the main band for me . never thought I’d see em at bloodstock but so chuffed they are . they will definitely turn a few heads”

Hard rockers Voodoo Siox will feel right at home at Bloodstock, not because they will capture the spirit of the festival, but because they hail from the West Midlands. The band actually formed in 1991 and had a hardcore fan-base after supporting the likes of Terrorvision and Little Angels. After a twelve year hiatus, Voodoo Sioux supported Skin and Michael Schenker. As you can probably guess, the comeback kings touch both ends of the spectrum – and you’d be right. Check out Voodoo Sioux’ unique silence on the Jagermeister stage on Saturday.

Listen to ‘Damage’ below

Martin chooses:

“I want to see Hundred Year Old Man, first band of the whole weekend kicking off Thursday at about 5pm. Watched them last year on the new blood stage and was mighty impressed. Loved the moody intense post metal and since then i have been listening to their new album loads. Super stoked to see them kick off bloodstock. I cant get the vision out of my head of me supping a nice ale whilst listening and chilling to their incredible music. Superb ”

Indeed the Leeds post-metal ensemble are the first band to play the weekend, on the iconic Sophie Lancaster stage no less. HYOM are a huge super group made of members of The Final Sigh, Joseph, DSDNT, A-Sun, and Amissa. They even played the Hobgoblin New Blood Stage last year after winning the Scunthorpe heat of M2TM. Since then, HYOM have headlined a European tour and released the album Breaching in April this year.  Check out Hundred Year Old Man if you want to hear, and see, something totally different to kickstart the fantastic weekend.

The epic video fro ‘Black Fire’ is below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wfpcZobXV0

Craig from South Shields told us:

“Emperor, my reason being, the band saved my life from suicide. The atmosphere of the music keeps me alive and as do the lyrics. Also on my to see live tick list.”

Most metal fans won’t need an introduction to Friday’s special guests Emperor. For those who don’t, Emperor are known for their signature symphonic black metal sound. Their debut studio album In The Nightside Eclipse is considered a modern classic and they have never disappointed since. As Craig expressed – this band is extremely important to a lot of people, their rare performances are a must-see. Especially at this year’s Bloodstock weekend before the legendary Judas Priest on Friday.

See some of their performance from Wacken 2014 here:

Ruby has chosen:

“Wednesday 13! Been lucky enough to have seen them a lot before, but never at a festival. They’ve been my favourite band since I can remember, and over the years they’ve always been awesome!”

Wednesday 13 went ‘solo’ in 2004 after sharing the stage with members of SlipKnot and Rob Zombie as part of super-group Murderdolls. This carried quite a keen fan-base who have spread the word of W13 like wildfire. Wednesday 13 combines elements of glam, punk, thrash, and classic rock with his thrilling horror show. Following in the footsteps of Alice Cooper, Evil Scarecrow, and Ghost – Wednesday 13 will bring some true showmanship to Bloodstock. Whether this is your first or 101st festival, you need to check out Wednesday 13 on the main stage (Friday).

Wednesday’s video for ‘Cadaverous’ is below

Matt from Southampton says

“Alien Weaponry. Their debut album, Tu, came out last month, and it’s a fantastic union of New Zealand tribal music with thrash/groove metal. There are a ton of giant, Polynesian war chants with epic riffs and percussion behind them. One of the best albums of the year, and the band are only teenagers!”

Although Bloodstock is a metal festival, you can’t  say there isn’t much variety.  As Matt stated they are extremely young, but extremely talented. Like most other bands on this list, Alien Weaponry are a spectacle not to be missed on the Sophie Stage on Sunday.

Listen to the blistering ‘Kai Tangata’, here

Matt also commented…

“Voyager will be excellent too. An awesome band, heavy and progressive, who called it in London a couple weeks back. Australian prog deserves to be recognised on a worldwide scale for it’s brilliance and hopefully their set will help with that.”

Purveyors of modern prog, Voyager, have been making waves over  the past few years on these shores. Hailing from Australia, Voyager mix lessons learned from past prog rockers mixed with modern sensibilities. As Matt expressed: playing the Sophie stage on Saturday may be the perfect platform for them. It seems that lately a lot of the most exciting bands are from ‘down under’.

Check out their track ‘Ascension’ below

And finally Spenny from Dundee added…

“Judas Priest, one of the all time classic British metal bands finally headlining a decent festival; what more could you want?”

Simply put – they are Judas Priest. What more do you need me to say? For over forty years, Priest have trail-blazed metal as a genre bringing many bands with them. Ask any metal musician their influences and Priest will be in there in some way. Returning with their EIGHTEENTH studio album, ‘Firepower’, Priest are sounding as exciting and fresh in 2018 as they did in 1974. Headlining the main stage on Friday, this is the biggest draw for most fans at Bloodstock 2018.

Check out ‘Spectre’ from Judas Priest’s latest album ‘Firepower‘ below

Keep an eye on RAMzine.co.uk for more previews and news leading to Bloodstock 2018, which takes place at Catton Park on August 9-12. Click here for more information

The post Bloodstock 2018: Bands you MUST see – as chosen by the fans appeared first on RAMzine.

Cradle Of Filth

Be honest when have you been to a festival and not saw someone with the famous ‘Jesus Is A C***’ t-shirt on? COF are iconic to rock festivals. And just because the latest offering from Dani Filth and co. are easier on the ear, doesn’t mean they don’t rock as hard- or have forgot their roots. Now part of the Nuclear Blast Family – the Suffolk goth-rockers released their latest record,  Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay, last September. Filth has gone on record saying this album is influenced by Victorian Gothic horror. This may be an indication of what is in store for their Download set and upcoming album. Mix that with a few cheeky covers, and maybe a few guest spots, this is probably the best Sunday morning alarm clock you can get.

Track to listen out for: Nymphetamine Fix

In This Moment

You could say this is a victory for ‘girl power’ or something like that, due to Maria Brink being y’know – a woman. Alas, I won’t. Why? Because it’s 2018 and female musicians should really be front and centre anyway. Enough of that: why should we check out ITM at Download? For a start their live performances are known for their OTT theatrics, plus it’s very rare we see the ladies and gents of ITM so savour the flavour until their next tour. This performance follows the band’s triumphant sixth album, which sees the LA five-piece walk down a slightly more blues-y path at times. Plus Maria Brink’s vocal is something you need to hear to believe. A lot of people compare her to Lady Gaga but that’s just dumb, she’s much better than that. It’s also ITM tradition to have a guest collaborator for ‘Black Wedding’ at live shows, so who knows who they have up their sleeve: Andy Black? Dani Filth? Ozzy?

Track to listen out for: Roots

Avatar

No, not the film about skinny blue people (ha! Bet I’m the first journalist to make that joke…) this is the infinitely eccentric hard rock band from music’s sacred land- Sweden. The most obvious comparison is KISS, for their faces full of make-up and theatrical performances. Throw a little AC/DC, Queen, Faith No More, and even Pantera in there and you will get a close idea of how Avatar sound…almost. With their latest album,  Avatar Country, which depicts a fictionl country and it’s king – they are almost treading on the toes of fellow painted Swedes Ghost. If past performances and promotional material are anything to go by – it’s hard to tell where Johannes Eckerström and his circus of minstrels will do next. The video below for ‘The King Wants You’ is literally just the tip of the iceberg.

Track to listen out for: The King Wants You

DragonForce

The London power-metallers are scheduled (at time of writing) to play 40 minutes. Although their style is fast and furious – I’m not sure if you can fit over five DragonForce tracks in there. Whether you love or loathe them, you can always get your money’s worth from DF. A lot of fans discovered DF via their legendary appearance on Guitar Hero III but there is a dedicated fan base who have followed them since the release of their first record in 2003. Even if their music isn’t your cup of tea, their live shows are an EXPERIENCE. The fans bring customised Guitar Hero controls to their shows and the air guitars are insane as Herman Li’s actual playing.  Plus their latest album Reaching To Infinity is a tour de force in ‘power metal’ and no doubt this 40 minutes will be filled with ‘bangers’, as the kids say. Even if they can only fit in four tracks.

Track to listen out for: ‘Through The Fire And The Flames’

Thunder

In the best way possible, Thunder have always been the ‘bridesmaid’ and never ‘the bride’. By that we mean Thunder have had a comfortable career supporting the biggest names in rock, while still gaining a devout fanbase over the past 30 years. Thunder are a band the ‘real’ fans always love. Don’t get us wrong, Thunder have had a great career headlining tours, releasing stellar albums, and front-man Danny Bowes having his own Planet Rock radio show. Although they came to fruition in 1990, Thunder have always represented what hard rock should be: powerful vocals, great riffs, loud drums and all round awesome tracks. A spiritual successor to Led Zep or Queen in that manner. If you have never listened to Thunder before, this is your best opportunity.

Track to listen out for: She’s So Fine

Avenged Sevenfold

Although the Huntington Beach boys have headlined the festival once before in 2014, Avenged Sevenfold were always going to be a contraversial choice to headline the Friday night. Why? Because they aren’t grizzled old veterans? They haven’t crossed over in to the mainstream (yet)? They only appeal to ’emo kids’? Why should that matter when they were around, how well known they are, or who they appeal to? A7X have consistently released solid sounding hard rock albums, and proven they are headline material at all of their Download appearances. There’s a reason A7X were voted ‘All time greatest hard rock band’ on MTV2 (remember that?) and why they constantly get compared to GNR, Maiden, Sabbath and Motley Crue. ‘Avenged’, as the cool kids call them, are the perfect headliner for the first night. Also, the band have announced a new record for the end of 2018 – so this might be the first chance to hear the new material (don’t boo it) including the track they have recorded for Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4.

Track to listen out for: Bat Country

Black Stone Cherry

If you don’t like Black Stone Cherry – you are a certified grumpy pants. What’s not to love? They bridge the gap between Southern rock, American country, and metal. They sound like a band you need to be listening to live, in the sun, with a Bulleit Bourbon and ginger in hand. Is that not the ideal Download scenario or what? Thinking about it – BSC are like a fine bourbon: From Kentucky, they go down well with a lot of people, they improve with age. Funny that. This follows the success of their sixth album Family Tree, which made it to number 7 on the UK album chart. This is possibly the best time to see the Kentucky mother-truckers!

Track to listen out for: Burnin’

Marilyn Manson

The self-proclaimed ‘God Of F**k’ divides people both musically and culturally. Nowdays, the moral panic over his ‘contraversial’ music video and performances seem prett, well, pathetic. Especially when there are a lot more extreme and harmful musicians out there. Yet since the 1990s, Marilyn Manson’s front-man…Marilyn Manson (yes, that’s the name of the band too, like Alice Cooper) has come a long way as an artist (in the literal sense), style icon, and all round public figure. Now, more than ever bands are citing Mazza as an influence on their sound. Manson very rarely makes UK festival appearances or tours widely these days. So, similarly to other entries on this list, it will be worth taking the time out to see the spectacle and telling your kids, or grandkids, you were there. Plus his last album, Heaven Upside Down, was a classic.

Tune to listen out for: Tattooed In Reverse

Ozzy Osbourne

When Ozzy Osbourne announced his two-year farewell tour, there was a lot of doubters. Mainly because he’s done it before. More experienced readers may remember the ‘No More Tours’ Tour in 1992. Also, Black Sabbath only had a farewell tour last year. This tour is even dubbed ‘No More Tours II’ in certain parts of the world. Give the man a break! He is the pioneer of metal as a genre, has been in two of the best metal bands of all time (if you count his solo work as a band), and above all – he’s 69 (don’t giggle). He will have outlived David Bowie and Lemmy next year. He deserves a retirement after all he has been through: rehab, arrests, reality TV, career ups and downs, a quad bike accident and more! This is the last chance you will get to see the Prince Of Darkness in the flesh, and it looks to be a great set. With Zakk Wylde on guitar, Adam Wakeman on keys, Rob Nicholson on bass, and Tommy Clufetos behind the drum kit – it’s looking like a super group closing the 2018 festival.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnNWUUZ7cEA

Track to listen out for: Bark At The Moon

Guns N Roses

The tour this headline set is part of is called ‘Not In This Lifetime’, because we never though we would ever see Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagen playing side-by-side again. After almost 20 years of the touring GNR being the Axl show, along with other original members having success outside the band – it wasn’t looking likely. Alas, a few dates were announced last year for the original ‘Appetite’ era line-up to reunite (well, almost). Add that to the fact GNR have just released the ‘Locked N’ Loaded’ edition of the classic debut, complete with unreleased track – this set CAN NOT be missed. This is scheduled to be a near three hour set. THREE HOURS. This includes material from EVERY album the LA rockers. Including covers and new material. This line-up also features members from all different eras of GNR such as guitarist Richard Fortus, multi-instrumentalist Dizzy Reed, and drummer Frank Ferrer. GNR are known for also featuring a guest, or two, on this tour such as Angus Young, Pink, or Dave Grohl – so who knows who might show up!  Fun fact: Axl Rose wrote ‘Paradise City’ after visiting Sunderland for the first time. Actually that’s not a fact at all..it’s a massive lie.Obviously.

Track to listen out for: Paradise City

The post Download 2018: 10 acts you NEED to see on the main stage appeared first on RAMzine.

Andrew WK

Some may call Andrew WK a one-hit wonder, but there’s plenty people out there who will dispute and say that Party Hard is the least significant part of his career. From 2005 he has been a very popular motivational speaker, appearing at conventions and as a guest speaker at the Oxford Union. he has taken up writing – remember his column in FRONT (when it was good – yeah, I went there sister)?  He has since wrote a book, and contributes to Vice on a regular basis. You may have also seen Mr WK appear in many TV interviews in regards to all kinds of topics (once being credited as ‘masturbater’). Back to the music though: this guy knows how to rock. His most recent album, You’re Not Alone, which was released in January had a great reception with some journalists giving it a five out of five.

Track to listen out for: ‘Music Is Worth Living For’

CKY

Go back to 2001, what do you know about CKY? They have some connections to Jackass,  you heard that song on ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3′, and they have some awesome tunes. What’s changed? Jess Margera (Bam’s brother) is still in the band, 96 Quite Bitter Beings is still being played widely, and their tunes still bang like a barn-house door in a storm. Why see them at Download 2018? They have the same raw, rock ‘n roll intensity they have had for 20 years, plus they have made quite a comeback with 2017’s The Phoenix. If you have never listened to or seen CKY in the flesh, now is your time! And don’t blame us for the Jackass connections, the video below is pretty much a compilation of clips from the movie.

Track to listen out for: 96 Quite Bitter Beings

Body Count

Billed as ‘Body Count ft Ice-T’ on the poster, because there are still a few people out there that don’t realise Ice-T fronts a metal band. And has done since 1990! In fact T has done some of his most celebrated work as part of Body Count – Where do you think the ‘Cop Killer’ controversy comes from?

Ice-T’s contribution aside, Body Count have a lot to say in today’s rock scene. The genre known as ‘street metal’ (think bands like King 810) originates from the fusion of gansta rap and metal, which has also inspired rap-rock and nu metal. You could even say he is the OG (sorry, only older readers who listened to rap in the 90s will get that). Since their reformation in 2009, the LA boys have continued to make a statement with tracks like ‘No Lives Matter’. Certainly worth seeing even for T’s opinions on world affairs and even to check out any new material. We might even get a cover of ‘Born To Raise Hell’ in tribute to Lemmy.

Track to listen out for: ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’

Jonathan Davis

It was only a matter of time the Korn main-man went it alone. Not that there’s any trouble in Camp Korn (Kamp..?) but this many has so many ideas, some might not quite resonate with Fieldy and the lads.  His solo album Black Labyrinth, released in May, is a window in to the dark mind of the musician. With help from Wes Borland, and former Korn collaborators, Davis has created the lost Korn album we didn’t know we were missing.  Expect this performance to be classic “JDevil” style, with a few Korn songs in there for good measure.

Track to listen out for: What It Is

Greta Van Fleet

This band gained attention earlier this year for being the subject of an experimental YouTube video where ‘elders’ couldnt tell the difference between Greta Van Fleet and Led Zeppelin. And if you have heard Greta Van Fleet, you will know what I mean. I doubt I will see Led Zeppelin perform again but I am going to see Greta Van Fleet. Among the sea of AC/DC soundalikes in the hard rock sub genre, it’s good to hear something different. Albeit be a Zeppelin soundalike. Music legends have gave their blessing as Elton John chose Greta Van Fleet to perform at his Academy Award Party, and joined them onstage for a few songs. Ironically GVF are one of Robert Plant’s favourite young bands describing vocalist Joshua Kiszka as a “beautiful little singer. If that’s not enough endorsement, then I don’t know what is! GVF are a spectacle to be hold if nothing else.

Track to listen our for: Safari Song

Turbonegro

Similarly to the KISS Army, Turbonegro’s Turbojuged are the most dedicated and passionate fan-base in the world of rock. Turbonegro are also one of those rare bands that had a much better run second time round after their initial split in 1998. Since their comeback in 2002, the Norweigans have gone from strength-to-strength releasing records regularly and keeping their sound as fresh as it was back in 1992. For those who are unfortunate enough to have not heard of  Turbonegro: they are a perfect potion of Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, MC5, and even a dash of Nick Cave. All packaged nicely in an embossed denim jacket. Their break out track Fuck The World (FTW) is a great example of this. And yes, that’s what FTW actually stands for millenials!  This isn’t a band for easily offended types, as you may gather from their name.

Track  to listen out for: Sell Your Body (To The Night)

Parkway Drive

Because it’s Parkway Drive. Full stop.

Track to listen out for: Wishing Wells

Babymetal

Come on, who goes to a festival with Babymetal on the bill, and doesn’t see them? If you have been living under a rock for the past few years: Babymetal are an alternative metal band fronted by three Japanese school girls. That’s really all you need to know, except the audience will go FLIPPIN’ CRAZY at the fast paced tracks like ‘Gimme Chocolate’ and ‘Karate’. Seeing a sea of hairy, tattooed metalheads bouncing to these tracks is entertainment in itself. That aside, the ‘kawaii-metal’ pioneers have a new album on the horizon, lead by the single ‘Distortion’. A mysterious video posted earlier this year said we will see the ‘dark side of Babymetal’. What this entails will most likely be unveiled at Download.

Track to listen out for: Gimme Chocolate

Lawnmower Deth

If you have seen Lawnmower Deth at a festival, or even live in recent years, you know it’s not just a gig -it’s a party. Best damn party you will ever go to. Previous shows have involved sheep, members of Evil Scarecrow, throwing yoga balls to the audience, and everything in between. Time for the history lesson now, as I know some younger readers may not be ‘woke’ enough to have heard of Lawnmower Deth. In the 1980s, thrash metal was king. You usually hear about the North American bands, that sound completely different, but here in the UK we had our own version nearer to punk-rock. Think Acid Reign, Xentrix, or even Onslaught. Lawnmower Deth have always loved the ‘fun’ side of metal, and it shows.  Making their name in the early 90s with the aptly titled Ooh Crikey It’s Lawnmower Deth and a headbanging version of ‘Kids In America’, the Ravenshead rockers have had a huge cult following since. There’s no new album or tour but we don’t need it if their festival appearances are as good as the one at Bloodstock 2015. (apology about the low quality video below, they didn’t have many).

Track to listen out for: It doesn’t matter, just have fun.

The post Download 2018: 9 Bands you need to check out on Zippo Encore stage. appeared first on RAMzine.

8. Wayward Sons

“Carry on my wayward son/ For there’ll be peace when you are done/ Lay your weary head to rest/ Don’t you cry no more”

How ahead of their time were Kansas, writing a song about a band that wouldn’t form until at least 20 years later. Of course I’m kidding. This is the hard rock super-group fronted by Little Angels’ main man Toby Jepson. Yeah we know he has been in Gun and Fastway too but Wayward Sons is now Jepson’s own creation and he is doing HIS thing. This seems to be the way to go as they were voted ‘Best New Band’ by Planet Rock listeners this year, shortly after their debut Ghosts Of Yet To Come.
Track to listen out for: Until The End

7. Shvpes

Often mistaken for Pvris because they replace ‘A’ with a ‘V’ (I’ve never understood thvt either) – Shvpes have a modest following due to their diverse mix of influences. Sounding like a cross between Linkin Park, Head Automatica and even shades of old school rockers like Motley Crue. In a world of bands that love playing it safe, its refreshing to hear something that colours outside of the lines (or outside of the ‘Shvpes’ get it?) The Birmingham five-piece are releasing a trio of Ep’s entitled Mixtape 1-3 which is set to showcase their unique sound. Strike while the iron is hot, this could be their ‘Black Album’ moment. Oh yeah, vocalist Griffin Dickinson’s dad is in some band called Iron Maiden too.

Track to listen out for: Skin and Bones.

6. Massive Wagons

You’ve probably heard of this band before, probably from someone who has already seen them live. Yep, there’s a reason for that. Once you’ve heard them, you never forget them. I’m guessing there name is from the fact it hits you like a massive freakin’ wagon filled with hard rock. Expect shades of AC/DC, Def Leppard, and Saturday main-stagers Guns N Roses. Massive Wagons have made their name on the festival circuit as of late, especially in the HRH variety. This is definitely one to chug the festival beers to, in your cheap sunglasses and backward trucker cap.

Track to listen out for: Dirty Little Secrets

5. Death Blooms

Never heard of them? For shame! Death Blooms are one of the UK’s most exciting new bands and in the past few years have supported King 810, Insane Clown Posse, and Jonathan Davis to name a few. Like a lot of bands they don’t want to be pigeonholed but its safe to say they could be described as ‘street metal’ (if you don’t know what that is, it’s like the 2018 version of nu metal). You will hear influences from Korn, Slipknot, and of course Mudvayne in their tracks. Hopefully their place on the Dogtooth stage will gain them more fans and elevate Death Blooms to the next level. Ones to check out if you are a regular Download Festival-er and want to hear something fresh.

Track to listen out for: Sick.

4. Tesseract

Friday’s headliner are Milton Keynes prog metal favourites Tesseract. Like Forest Gump said “prog metal is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get next’ Well maybe not exactly that, but you get what I mean. Prog metal, much like it’s dad genre prog rock, can literaly go in any direction. Tesseract have made quite a career of this since 2003. It’s been said by the band themselves that they do not compose their music with polyrhythmic riffs in mind but play whatever fits the groove. Let’s not get into any debate about whether the style they play known as ‘djent’ is metal or not, but who really cares. The tunes are banging! Strangely enough there is a groove metal vibe to some of the tracks if the whole prog thing isn’t your cup of tea. Think of tesseract as a gateway drug to prog metal.
Track to listen out for: Nocturne

3.Emmure

STOP! Read on before you hit the comment section. The Connecticut four-piece have been misunderstood in more recent years. Every stage in Emmure’s career, they have been labelled with the latest subgenre fad (nu metal, metalcore, deathcore,etc.) Yet, like a lot of great bands, playing live is when they really thrive. When ever you read about Emmure, its most likely about the front-man and only remaining member – Frankie Palmeri. Generally about his “no fucks given” attitude. Is that a bad thing. Hell no. He is the soul survivor and driving force behind the band. His passion is something that needs to been seen while rock is still a thing.

Track to listen out for: 10 Signs You Should Leave.

2.Napalm Death

A band that needs no introduction. Kind of a crying shame the worlds most celebrated extreme metal bands is on one of the smallest stages at Download. Napalm are no legacy band though, Barney and friends are still releasing new albums to this day and continue to impress. Why are Napalm Death silver medal pick for The Dogtooth Stage? Other than their rich back catalogue, they hold the world record for world’s shortest song and music video at 1.316 seconds long. Most of their most well known tracks aren’t much longer either, so that value for money if nothing else. Plus festivals are best place for a rock and/or metal fan to broaden their horizons, Napalm Death are seen as the band who originated ‘grindcore’, if you have never dabbled in the subgenre – this is the best way to do it. If you haven’t listened to Napalm Death before, what are you doing with your life?

Track we look forward to hearing: Breed To Breathe

1. Zeal & Andor

If you know anything about Zeal & Ardor, you know they are one of the most bizarre acts in rock. Not only in regards to their avant-garde sound, but also the origin of the ‘band’. The story goes Z&A main-man Manuel Gagneux got the idea for this project from two response from 4chan. Yup, you can see how well this is going to go. One user suggest he fuse black metal while another used a racist term to describe another type of music. Gagneux, in actual fact, pulled this off as he fuses black metal with spirituals. That might not be the best endorsement for one of the most talked about acts in rock today but trust us: believe the hype. In layman’s terms, Z&A are pure metal with elements of blues, classical, electronica, gospel, hip-hop, jazz, and everything else in between (with a punk-rock edge). In fact, words cannot actually describe the Z&A experience, just see them. Read this again, and realise how many elements we didn’t even touch upon.

Track to listen out for: any.

Download Festival takes place at Castle Donnington, Leicestershire from Friday June 8th to Sunday June 10th. 

Check back for more features on Download Festival plus full coverage and interviews from the festival.

The post Download 2018: 8 bands you need to see on the Dogtooth Stage appeared first on RAMzine.

Some of RAMzine’s favourite albums this year…

[divider]

Machine Head – Bloodstone & Diamonds

Victoria Purcell

Machine Head have come back with their eighth album just in time. Sometimes when you really like a band you are scared of a new release because you never know if it’s going to be as good as their past albums. This album dose not disappoint at all, it’s a step-up, a progression whilst keeping with the times.

‘Bloodstone & Diamonds’ will be one of those rare new albums that I will keep on my personal playlist for a long time! I would also like to put Machine head up for best live band of 2014! Read about their tribute to Dimebag Darrell here.

[divider]

Marmozets – Weird and Wonderful

Neil Mach

‘Born Young and Free’ has frayed nerves and scattered sounds – plus the type of hazardous energy that makes you shield your ears. This is because it is more intense than you can possibly imagine. While the low moan of hazy guitar chords tears into the vocals – these reach a state of wonderfully shrill, yet perfectly raging, ecstasy.

‘Why Do You Hate Me?’ May be a painful romance – bitter right down to the depths of its putrid cortex – but it’s actually fun and quite punkish. The riff is the best you have heard in a while. It makes your toes curl and distort in agonised delight.

This album is filled with anxiety, anger, frustration … yes,  and pain. But all this is overshadowed by the sheer talent and incredible excitement delivered track-upon-track.

[divider]

Against Me – Transgender Dysphoria Blues

Stuart Iversen

A lot has been written about the punk rock nature of Laura Jane Grace’s life decisions and there is no denying that that woman has more punk rock credibility, than pretty much anyone else. However, all the attention would be worth nothing, if it wasn’t for the fact that ‘Transgender Dysphoria Blues’ is also one of the best album Against Me have ever released.

Full of Godzilla sized tunes, try and not sing along to ‘Black Me Out’, but never losing the punk rock fury that brought them to the ball at the first place. This is rock and roll at its simplest but also at its best. Against Me have always threatened to do something incredible and with ‘Transgender Dysphoria Blues’, they have certainly done that.

[divider]

Skindred – Kill The Power

Laura Philips

So much great music has come out this year, tons of great albums, loads of awesome EPs, picking one album to top a whole year is hard!

My album of the year is going to be Skindred, ‘Kill The Power’, followed by a hair’s breadth by Feed The Rhino’s ‘The Sorrow and the Sound’. Both bands have toured all over 2014 and continue to be two of my favourite acts to see live.

Kill The Power continues the Skindred theme we all know and love with a raw energy and a metric fcuk-ton of bounce. The album differs slightly from its predecessors, a touch more mainstream in places, but a little more experimental in other. But like those before it, Kill The Power is packed with anthems and will instantly will put a smile on the face of anyone who saw them perform live this year.

[divider]

Northern Oak – Of Roots and Flesh

Andrew Dowling

So the year has come to and end giving me time to look back at all the albums that I have reviewed. After much thought my favourite album of the year which, I have picked Northern Oak’s Of Roots and Flesh this album has shown me how a band can take several styles of music and make them work together.
I also haven’t listened to much folk metal until I asked to do this review, so it was both a discovery and a good benchmark for what I should hope to hear in the future.

I would like to say thank you to everyone for reading the reviews that I have written over the last few months and I look forward to bringing everyone more great music in the new year.

[divider]

Next year we promise you more amazing music from Deftones, While She Sleeps, Cancer Bats, Superheaven, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Parkway Drive and more!

More of our favourite releases from 2014…

The post Top Rock and Metal Albums of 2014 appeared first on RAMzine.

10. Cass Elliot and the chicken sandwich

Seeing as this is a rock ‘n’ roll top ten, Mama Cass (as she was better known) enters with a long told tale. The spherical singer in the 60’s hippy legends The Mamas And The Pappas has long had the myth that she died whilst choking on a chicken sandwich in 1974. Seeing as Elliot was a bit hefty it’s easy to believe that she may have had a chicken sandwich loitering in the fridge, however the best singer of the group simply expelled via heart failure rather than sucking down one bite too many.

9. Kurt Cobain was murdered

Cobain died in 1994, high on heroin, from a single blast of a shotgun, but some people claim that he was murdered due to him having taken three ‘hits’ of heroin which would have made it difficult to handle the shotgun, a rather questionable suicide note, and his credit card being stolen. Courtney Love was at the mercy of a lot of these conspiracy theories as well as a few documentaries and friends claiming that he wouldn’t have done it. I side with the rest of his band, he was suffering from depression, had tried it before and was a drug addict. Add this to the fact that case was never reopened and it’s a suicide.

8. Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil

One dark night a mediocre blues guitar player walked down a highway and came across a junction he didn’t know. Low and behold, the devil appeared before him and Johnson traded his soul in return for the mastery of the guitar. Sounds like a book or film huh? Actually this premise has been used for both, and although Johnson’s playing improved vastly in the three years he recorded, it was simply practice rather than a demon in his fingers.

7. Charles Manson was almost in The Beach Boys

The leader of the murdering cult and obsession of Axl Rose auditioned, and was almost part of The Beach Boys back in the 60’s. Now, Manson was an acquaintance of Dennis Wilson, and moreover a frustrated musician at heart, but when said band was being formed he was actual doing one of his stints in jail so this did not happen. On a side note though his music was covered by the whinging frontman of Guns N’ Roses in The Spaghetti Incident and its rubbish.

6. Marilyn Manson was in The Wonder Years before he was famous

Whilst I was growing up there was a rather moralistic show called The Wonder Years, where a prepubescent boy would go through life’s many challenges with the help of his painfully geeky, glasses wearing friend. Fast forward ten years or so, and Manson was shocking parents everywhere with his Satanic antics, BUT WAIT! The large nose and skinny frame… could it be that ‘Paul Pfeffier’ was played by Manson in a former career? Well, no. It couldn’t, because he was played by Josh Saviano.

5. Jim Morrison faked his death

Morrison was the breeding ground of myths, the snake hipped legend invited them, but is it true that he didn’t actually die fat and bloated in Paris, and there is actually someone else buried in his grave? Like most stories around Morrison – it’s a no. He did die drunk and depressed, and other than writing some incredibly pretentious rambling mystical lyrics, he did not kill someone and then have them buried.

4. Jimi Hendrix wore an acid infused head bandana 

The master widdler (like, guitar widdly, not… y’know… yeah) would apparently cut his own forehead and then wrap an acid infused bandana around it to make sure that during his solos he’d really go into Electric Lady Wonderland. To be honest, judging by some of Hendrix’s playing live and the fact that he would pretty much do what he wanted on stage, it’s easy to believe this one, but according to band members this was a very inventive legend. Shame!

3. Gene Simmons has a cow tongue attached to his own

I love this one. The Kiss bassist is famed for his rather large tongue, to the point that there’s even a Family Guy joke about it, so when Kiss broke out in the late 70’s there was a rumour going around that Simmons’ had recieved surgery to enlarge his tongue. Simply put, he went to a surgeon to attach a cow’s tongue to his own to make it really stand out when he did his waggling or had fake blood dripping down it. Firstly, this would have been medically stupid in any era, and had anyone actually bothered to look at it, you’d have quickly come to the conclusion it was all Simmons. It’s big but not cow big.

2. Stevie Nix, cocaine and her bum 

Fleetwood Mac legend Nix was well known for abusing the marching powder but apparently at one time was so immune to it that the only way that she could get off was to…well… have it blown up her bum. Although Nix was certainly a Hellraiser it is almost medically impossible to have cocaine blown up one’s arse and actually live, so that one is 50 shades of bloody stupid.

1. Led Zep, the mud shark and the groupie

Not for the faint hearted!

In their pomp the lads from Zeppelin stayed in a hotel in the late 60’s which had fishing available in it. [Editor – what self-respecting hotel doesn’t?] They then caught a mud shark, found a groupie and gave her, err, a whole lotta love. Biology lesson here: if you’ve ever seen a mud shark up close you’d know that they ain’t a tiny fish, so physically it wouldn’t…well you know! So this, in all it’s grossness is not true.

Scott Hudson –2013/03/10

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