Did you know that the foundation for our entire modern culture, on one level, was laid almost exactly 100 years ago? I bet you didnt. Its a conspiracy of silence Byzantine enough to make an illuminated Mason blush… Dan Brown may have been able to skirt around the dread Catholic Church to render his asinine Jesusspiracy into murderously clunky airport prose and a crap movie, but even he probably cant talk his publisher into letting him write an exposé about August 1908.
On Wednesday the 12th, the first T-Model Ford was built by Henry Ford on Mack Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. Two days later the first beauty contest was held in Folkestone, England. What else is modern life about? Sure, there are sidelines in sensational murders, people who eat the Queens swans and scaremongering about everything from pedophiles to Poles and viruses to post-natal vaginal muscles, but really, at the end of the day, its all about babes and cars.
Were all going to hell in a hand basket, so you might as well just sit back and listen to some music:
A monstrous noise tore through the sky
In the annals of stuff coming out of leftfield to conquer a niche in the collective unconscious, Lordis (SONY BMG) deserves an entry, with a picture. Who couldve foretold that the Eurovision Song Contest, home to oodles of pneumatic boobs and prefab eurodance trash, would serve as a launching pad for the ultimate monster rock band of the entire Universe. Now Lordi is set to spew forth a new album internationally in October. Lordis fourth studio album will be a raging slab of melodic hard rock and will feature a horror theme hairy enough to satisfy even the most ardent b-movie fan. Youve been warned. Previews will be available in August at Lordi´s official website.
This aint no rose with a thorn
Sensational Finnish goth metal masters Poisonblack (CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS) featuring former Sentenced-vocalist Ville Laihiala are back with a vengeance! Their brand-new album A Dead Heavy Day will be released via Century Media Records in August/September.
Watch part one of a studio report allowing further insights into the very Finnish recording sessions @ YouTube, just follow this link: Dead Heavy Sessions Part I
New Poisonblack tour dates will be announced soon, so stay tuned for that and prepare yourself for A Dead Heavy Day on the following dates:
Finland: Wednesday, August 27, 2008.
Germany / Austria / Switzerland / Benelux / Italy: Friday, August 29, 2008.
UK / France / Greece / Denmark / Norway / Rest of Europe: Monday, September 1, 2008.
Spain / Portugal: Tuesday, September 2, 2008.
Sweden / Hungary: Wednesday, September 3, 2008.
www.myspace.com/officialpoisonblack
and this aint no Stonehenge
Century Media Records and Finnish symphonic fantasy/folk metallers Kivimetsän Druidi (CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS) have signed a worldwide record deal. Kivimetsän Druidi, who played a massive European tour supporting fellow Finnish folkmetalheads Korpiklaani last October and November, have entered Noice Camp studio in Turku in order to record their forthcoming debut album due to be released at the end of October 2008.
Kivimetsän Druidi members are extremely pleased with the deal with Century Media Records whose impressive catalogue speaks for itself. It is great to be a part of the Century Media family with such awesome bands like Turisas, Strapping Young Lad, Lacuna Coil and Arch Enemy.
During the summer Kivimetsän druidi will play only a handful of festival gigs as they are busy recording their forthcoming album, but when the autumn comes they will tour extensively both in Finland and abroad.
www.myspace.com/kivimetsandruidi
Feline conflagration!
Turku band Cats on Fire (JOHANNA KUSTANNUS) have been the best kept secret in the Finnish music scene these last two years, garnering international praise for their debut album “The Province Complains” released in Europe last year.
UK media such as the NME, Q & Word magazine praised the band, and many a blog page worldwide have fallen for their indie charms. The band will record their second album for Johanna Kustannus late summer, with a release scheduled for early 2009. Having just returned from the US after playing the New York City Pop Fest, the only live shows from the band this summer are in Debaser Club, Stockholm Sweden, Bygdalarm Festival in Norway & two Hamburg shows in Germany.
www.myspace.com/catsonfiremusic
You can call me Tatarstan
KTU (Kimmo Pohjonen, Trey Gunn, Pat Mastelotto. HOEDOWN ARTS) just returned from FMM festival, Sines, Portugal and a sold out concert for 7000 people. This is their second performance in Sines after their 2005 concert.
KTU will travel to Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia for the Creation of the World festival on August 30, the festival taking place in the main square of the city. The festival will also feature Patti Smith, Keith Emerson, Justin Adams, Fairport Convention, Eddie Jobson and many others. It is expected to draw over 100,000 people. KTU will perform at B1 club in Moscow on Sept 3, in a double bill with Adrian Belew Power Trio, and return to Helsinki for a concert at Tavastia on Sept 4 and the mixing of their forthcoming album.
www.myspace.com/ktuband
Negative vibes in Europe: Karma Killer release
Finnish hard rock band Negatives (EDEL MUSIC) new album Karma Killer will be released through Edel Music in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on September 5th, and in France, The Netherlands and Luxembourg on September 8th.
Karma Killer reached #3 on the album charts in Finland, and the lead single Won’t Let Go spent over 10 weeks in the top 5 of the Finnish radio airplay charts. After the summer festival season Negative is getting ready to continue their tour with club and concert hall dates in Finland as well as the rest of the Europe. More info at www.negative.fi
Kymi Sinfonietta in China
The orchestra of two decidedly non-Dickensian cities (Kotka and Kouvola) recently toured China. For more details about the individual concerts, please read the press release here
Jesse (GAEA RECORDS) and the Devil trade places
If Finnish rapper Laineen Kasperi is to be believed, the Devil has left Moscow and is currently residing in the Sörnäinen area of Helsinki. Oddly enough, that is the mythical homeland of the band Jesse
Coincidence?
GAEA Records and Soyuz Music have started cooperation and Soyuz Music will release the latest albums of Finnish indie sensations I Was A Teenage Satan Worshipper, Pintandwefall and Jesse on the Russian market. The first one to go will be Pintandwefalls debut album Wow! What Was That, Baby? which will be released in August 2008 while Pintandwefall is also on a mini tour in Russia.
www.myspace.com/haistakaa
Juhani Aaltonen, Hungary for success
The Renewed Juhani Aaltonen Trio will perform at MOL Jazz Festival in Budapest on September 19th. The trio has performed in seven countries and at 14 festivals around Europe. Juhani Aaltonen Trio has received critical acclaim for its concerts and two released albums in the international press. Early this year, the legendary Finnish drummer Reiska Laine joined Aaltonen and bassist Uffe Krokfors in the trio.
Additional information: www.bmc.hu/jazzfestival
Medeias (FULLSTEAM RECORDS) Cult out in September
Medeia’s first full-length on Fullsteam, “Cult”, hits the stores on September 17th. Consisting of ten songs of Medeia at its best: gloomy, hard-hitting yet still melodic attacks of alternative death-metal, the album will be released in Finland, Sweden, Holland, Belgium and Canada.
The band was founded in 2002 with a clear mission from the very beginning: to concentrate solely on creating a brutal sound uncompromising in nature and rich in content. Their self-financed and self-produced debut “Quantum Holocaust: World Domination” (2006) received solely positive reviews and was rapidly sold out. During the on-going year, Medeia have also released a limited edition self-titled CD-EP.
Medeia’s current line-up got its form in early 2007 when Keijo Niinimaa (Rotten Sound) joined as the lead vocalist of the band. After that the band have showcased their aural battery alongside acts such as The Dillinger Escape Plan, Entombed, As I Lay Dying and Terror.
www.medeiaband.com
www.myspace.com/medeiaband
Boom bap a boom bap a Japan!
Finland’s finest hip hop label Kool Kat Records have signed a new track license deal in Japan. Infas Entertainment CO. LTD from Japan will license the Kool Kat Records artists
Recluse Crew & Synoptic Pressure track “Perfect Imbalance” from The Art of Raw Sound album. Perfect Imbalance will be included on an Infas Music compilation album called “Beautiful Mellow (Maybe)” set for release in August 2008 in Japan.
More info: www.koolkatrecords.fi
www.infas-music.com
Johanna Iivanainen: Loisto -The Collection (BACKSTAGE ALLIANCE with PERFECT SOUND / PRECENCE RECORDS) out 27.8.2008
The first collection of Finnish singer / songwriter Johanna Iivananen is set to release in the end of august. The album includes songs of her recordings from last 10 years, a lot of favorites, some rarities and also two new recordings and compositions: “Count The Waves” and “Old Country”. The release is a collaboration with Backstage Alliance and Perfect Sound / Presence Records and will be out in Germany, Austria and Switzerland by a German company Nordic Notes.
www.myspace.com/1nmusic
*********************
Bombs away! Were dropping rock bands!
- Live Finns
Höyry-klubi (Steam club) with its mobile sauna is on the move again
7-10.8. Höyry-klubi Beach Party, Ecekrnförde, Germany
15-17.8. Lowlands Festival, The Netherlands (www.lowlands.nl)
Disco Ensemble (FULLSTEAM RECORDS)
Keep tabs on how the band is doing (during the Warped tour in The States, for example) on their website: http://www.discoensemble.com/index2.php
More chances to see the band explode on stage coming up in August:
Aug 14 BEL Hasselt Pukkelpop
Aug 23 GER Horb A.n Mini-Rock Festival
Aug 29 AUT Wiesen Two Days A Week
Aug 30 GER Lüdinghausen Area 4
www.myspace.com/discoensemble
Lovex (EMI)
Lovex are due to return to central-Europe for a short tour in support of their new album, “Pretend or Surrender”.
Following a very busy summer-festival schedule, Lovex are looking forward to returning to mainland Europe for the
first time in almost a year. Tickets are already selling fast.
Oct 11 GER Dresden Beatpol
Oct 12 GER Berlin Magnet
Oct 13 GER Hamburg, Logo
Oct 14 GER Cologne, Underground
Oct 15 GER Ludwigsburg, Rockfabrik
Oct 16 GER Munich, Backstage Club
Oct 17 SUI Zürich, Dynamo
Oct 18 AUT Vienna, Szene
www.myspace.com/lovexmusicfinland
Pintandwefall (GAEA RECORDS): To Russia, with love
Pintandwefall is going on a mini tour to Russia on 7-9 August 2008. The tour includes 2 concerts in St. Petersburg and 2 concerts in Moscow. At the same time there will be a radio show on Pintandwefall in both cities. Pintandwefalls debut album Wow! What Was That, Baby? will be released in Russia in August 2008 by Soyuz Music.
Aug 7 RUS St. Petersburg, Zokol
Aug 8 RUS St. Petersburg, TBA
Aug 9 RUS Moscow, TBA, acoustic set
Aug 9 RUS Moscow, Chinese Pilot
www.myspace.com/pawf
Amberian Dawn (KHY SUOMEN MUSIIKKI) and Epica European Tour 2008
Finnish melodic metal band Amberian Dawn is touring all over the Europe with Epica for 4 weeks. Before the tour, AD will play their first gigs in the UK.
Here are tour dates:
Sep 26 UK The Underworld London
Sep 27 UK Birmingham, The Damess of Darkness Festival - Asylum
With Epica:
Oct 25 GER Essen, Turok
Oct 26 GER Musikzentrum Hannover
Oct 29 GER Colos-Saal Aschaffenburg
Oct 30 CH Pratteln, Z7
Oct 31 GER Karlsruhe, Substage
Nov 1 CH Monthey, Pont Rouge
Nov 2 GER München Backstage
Nov 4 PL Wroclaw, Firlej
Nov 5 CHZ Zlin, Masters of Rock Café
Nov 6 CHZ Prague, Rock Café
Nov 8 IT Bologna, Estragon
Nov 9 IT Milan, Alcatraz
Nov 11 FR Lyon, Transbordeur
Nov 12 FR Montpellier, Rockstore
Nov 14 ESP Barcelona, New Salamandra, Sala 1
Nov 15 ESP Madrid, Caracol
Nov 16 ESP ViktoriaAzkena
Nov 18 FR Toulouse, Bikini
Nov 19 FR Bordeaux, Rock School Barbey
Nov 20 FR Olympic Nantes
Nov 21 FR Paris, Elysee Montmarte
http://www.myspace.com/amberiandawn
Johanna Juhola (TEXICALLI RECORDS) in Norway
Accordionist Johanna Juhola will represent Finland in Folkelarm Oslo, 25 - 28 September 2008. In showcases you will hear Johanna Juhola’s music from her solo-CD “Miette” (TEXCD070) released by Texicalli Records, Finland, in 2006. Johanna Juhola will perform together with Roope Aarnio, guitar and Hannu Oskala, voice engineer.
www.folkelarm.no/
Warpaint and metal! Turisas (CENTURY MEDIA) in Europe
Finnish battle metal masters Turisas, who are currently busy working on their first-ever DVD set for release later this year, have been confirmed to support British power metal stars Dragonforce on their upcoming European headliner run from January to March 2009. As previously reported Turisas will also be the direct support for Dragonforce on their UK headliner tour in September/October 08.
Turisas wants you the fans to participate in their upcoming DVD, detailed info on how you can submit material can be found at www.turisas.com/dvd.html! Deadline for submitting footage is July 25, 2008!
See below for the bands complete itinerary and visit the following websites for songs, videos & more by your favourite Finnish metal warmongers!
www.turisas.com
www.myspace.com/turisasofficial
www.thevarangianway.com
Turisas /w Dragonforce
Sep 25 UK Oxford, Carling Academy
Sep 26 UK Manchester Academy
Sep 27 UK Birmingham Academy
Sep 28 UK Southampton Guildhall
Sep 30 UK Cardiff University Great Hall
Oct 01 UK Nottingham Rock City
Oct 03 UK London Astoria
Oct 05 UK Norwich UEA
Oct 07 UK Leeds University
Oct 08 UK Newcastle Academy
Oct 10 UK Glasgow Academy
Oct 11 UK Belfast Mandela Hall
Oct 12 UK Dublin Ambassador
Oct 13 UK Cork Savoy Theatre
Jan 28 NL Tilburg - 013
Jan 29 NL Amsterdam - Melkweg
Jan 30 BEL Hasselt - MOD (Muziekodroom)
Jan 31 FR Paris - Elysee Montmartre
Feb 02 FR Bordeaux - Barbie
Feb 03 ES Barcelona - Apolo
Feb 05 PT Lisbon - Cine Teatro Corroios
Feb 06 ES Madrid - Heineken
Feb 07 ES Bergara - Jam
Feb 09 I Milan - Alcatraz
Feb 10 CH Pratteln - Z7
Feb 12 HU Budapest - A38
Feb 13 AUS Vienna - Szene
Feb 14 SK Maribor - Stuk
Feb 16 GER Munich - Backstage Werk
Feb 17 GER Stuttgart - Die Roehre
Feb 19 FR Strasbourg - La Laiterie
Feb 20 GER Cologne - Underground
Feb 21 GER Hamburg - Knust
Feb 22 GER Berlin - Kato
Feb 24 DK Copenhagen - Vega
Feb 25 SE Gothenburg Brew House
Feb 27 NO Oslo - John Dee
Feb 28 SE Stockholm - Tyrol
Värttinä (REAL WORLD) keeps celebrating
Aug 1 Dranouter, Belgium Dranouter Folk Festival
Aug 22 Islas Azores, Portugal Mare de Agosto
Aug 29 Lubin, Poland Osrodek Kultury Wzgorze Zamkowe
Aug 30 Spain Folk Plasencia Festival
www.varttina.com
www.myspace.com/varttina
Kimmo Pohjonen (HOEDOWN ARTS) keeps huffing and puffing
Aug 30 Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia Creation in Kazan (KTU)
Sep 3 Moscow, Russia B1 (KTU, double bill with Adrian Belew Trio)
www.kimmopohjonen.com www.myspace.com/kimmopohjonen www.myspace.com/ktuband
Eternal Erection (EAT THIS MUSIC) tours Moscow!
Sep 5 RUS Moscow, Tabula Rasa
Sep 6 RUS Moscow, FM Club
Sep 7 RUS Moscow, XO Club
www.myspace.com/eternalerection
Faggotts in the East
Texas Faggott (EXOGENIC)will take over Japan! They are performing live at Japanese 6 Dimension Soundz´s label party 29.-30. of August.
Rotten Sound (SPINEFARM RECORDS) still touring
Aug 14 Knaack Berlin, GER
Aug 15 Dinkelsbuehl Summer Breeze, GER
Aug 16 Metal Mania, Komen SLO
www.myspace.com/rottensound
Sunrise Avenue (BONNIER AMIGO)
Aug 9 New Beach of Vlora Vlora SK
Aug 14 Budzogan Festival Terchova CH
Aug 16 Gambpel Open Air Gampel GER
www.myspace.com/sunriseave
Luomo (HUUME RECORDINGS)
Aug 8 ESP Mallorca, tba, Luomo live
Aug 9 ESP Andalucia, Creamfields Festival, Luomo live
Aug 14 IT Catanzaro
Aug 15 GER Cologne Vladislav Delay plays Kaurismäki
Aug 16 DK Copenhagen, Luomo live, Kulture-Box
Apocalyptica (ZOMBA)
Aug 5 US Colorado The Black Sheep Colorado Springs
Aug 6 US Oklahoma, Cains Ballroom Tulsa
Aug 7 US Arkansas, Village Theatre Little Rock
Aug 8 US Texas, Antones Beaumont
Aug 9 US Texas, Ozzfest Dallas
Aug 14 US Texas, Stufstock Festival Stufstock
Aug 15 HU Budapest, Sziget Festival
Aug 20 LT Trakai, Island Castle
Aug 23 GER Königstein, Festung Königstein
Aug 28 FR Paris, Rock en Seine
Aug 30 CHZ Straznice, Rock Of Straznice
Aug 31 GER Lüdinghausen, Area 4 Festival
www.myspace.com/apocalyptica
Nightwish (SPINEFARM RECORDS)
Aug 7 DK Skanderborg Festival Skanderborg
Aug 13 FR Foire aux Vins Colmar
Aug 15 CH Gampel Open Air Gampel
Aug 16 NL Lowlands Festival Biddinghuizen
Aug 17 UK Bloodstock Open Air Derby
Aug 29 US The Trocadero Philadelphia, PA
Aug 30 US The Palladium Worcester, MA
www.myspace.com/nightwish
Alamaailman Vasarat (BACKSTAGE ALLIANCE)
Aug 1 GER Nürnberg, Bardentreffen
Aug 14 HUN Budapest, Sziget Festival
Aug 15 CHZ Smrzovka, Eurion 2008
Aug 16 GER Bad Doberan, Zappanale
Aug 29 POR Festival Musicas do MarPovoa de Varzim
More info: www.vasarat.com
www.myspace.com/nightwish
Hanoi Rocks (BACKSTAGE ALLIANCE)
Aug 15 Metal Rock Festival, Lillehammar NO http://www.metalrockfest.com
http://www.myspace.com/hanoirocksofficial
Norther (CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS)
Aug 30 Loud From The South/Eindhoven, Netherland
www.loudfromthesouth.com
www.myspace.com/norther
The August genesis, fount and wellspring of modern life!
on 2008-08-06