Are we ready to rock! Oh hell yes! On the way to Wisconsin, both Lou Brutus and I, he’s first headed to Edgefest for Razor 94.7‘s big show today, where he jumps on the Sevendust bus to head down the road to catch up with me in Janesville for 94.1 JJO‘s Sonic Boom two-day extravaganza. It’s gonna be a blast seeing all our ole and new pals. Totally excited and congrats to our Sonic Boom winner Gary Wright (not the “Dreamweaver” one) who listens to X105.7 who will join us for the fun. More on all that next week!
Billboard reports a Nameless Ghoul from Ghost has revealed the band is already writing for their next album, the follow up to Meliora. I finally get to see the band live this weekend and will get more info as I sit down with a Nameless Ghoul myself. The band is very excited to have their Popestar become the very 1st EP debut Number 1 on the Top Rock Albums chart, the very first band to ever release an EP (not a full album) to go to Number 1 first week out. Very exciting time for the band. Now if only they will let me be one of the sisters on stage to serve drinks. I would LOVE that!
If you didn’t stay up or forgot to watch Metallica last night on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, you’re welcome. Bummed they didn’t bring them over to the couch. But they did perform their 5:47 song so I guess that was a nice chunk of airtime. Surprisingly, it wasn’t “Hardwired.” What I loved was when guest Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad) said she LOVES SLIPKNOT and has seen their shows! How awesome! Apparently the actress is a bit of a metalhead! She also professed of never seeing Metalllica live before, another band she loves, but she did last night!
As Lions, funny they don’t look like lions…..
Blabbermouth is reporting U.K. rock outfit As Lions will release its debut EP, Aftermath, on Oct 14 via Better Noise Records. The EP will be available digitally in the U.S. and physically in Europe. In conjunction with the announcement of the EP, the band has also unveiled the title track and first single, Aftermath. Watch the visualizer here.
Comprised of vocalist Austin Dickinson (son of Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson), guitarist and keyboardist Conor O’Keefe, guitarist Will Homer, bassist Stefan Whiting and drummer Dave Fee, As Lions is the evolution of British rock. Standing by their mission to create “the biggest, baddest hard rock we could, and on an almost cinematic scale,” the band has worked with award-winning producer David Bendeth (Of Mice & Men, Bring Me The Horizon) and Kane Churko (Papa Roach, Five Finger Death Punch).
The EP’s four dynamic tracks are a study in contrasts, mixing thick, grinding riffs and rhythms with majestically sweeping strings, stately piano tinklings and a hefty dose of atmospheric electronics, all shot through with Dickinson’s soaring vocals and introspective lyrics. Aftermath has Dickinson asking: “What have we created / what have we become?” as guitars churn and crash around him. “Conceptually it’s about trying to navigate your way out of disaster, be it personal, collective, or in the case of the video, a war zone,” Austin says. Another track, the crushing “Deathless” targets the Internet culture’s obsession with image.
Atreyu building Foundation
And lastly today, because I have to pack yet, California metallers Atreyu are hosting, curating, and headlining the first-ever Foundation Fest, a weekend of shows. Foundation Fest will be held at The Observatory in Santa, Ana, California ahead of the Christmas holidays. They plan for it to be an annual event.
The shows are scheduled to take place on Friday, Dec 16 and Saturday, Dec 17. Atreyu will headline both nights, with special guests on each bill. On Friday evening, they will play a special set featuring their A Death-Grip On Yesterday album, celebrating the record’s tenth anniversary.
“Foundation Fest is a way for us to have some hometown fun around the holidays and put together a lineup that showcases some of our favorite Orange County bands, as well as some great acts from around the globe,” said Atreyu guitarist Dan Jacobs. “We’re really looking forward to its debut year, as well as many more to come.”
Drummer Brandon Saller added: “The mix of old and new has us really excited. Having Adamantium reunite with original members to play songs off of From The Depths Of Depression, an album we grew up singing along to, as well as Death By Stereo, who we’ve listened to since high school, is amazing. Juxtaposed with some of the heavy music scenes best up and comers The Word Alive, Assuming We Survive, Capsize and Aeges, this is going to be a great event for music fans of all ages.”
The lineup for each show is below. Tickets for Foundation Fest go on sale on today, Sep 30 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.
Thanks to Blabbermouth and Pulse Of Radio for today’s news. Have a great weekend! I’ll return on later on Monday to fill in the blanks on all things rock.