Axel Rudi Pell is back with album, number 14. Well, what can we expect from this guitar wizard who has been making music for over 25 years? He has always been true to the Rainbow/Blackmore & Dio musical dogma. It’s impossible to change it now after so many years… and after all, his fans do not want any more… than the good hard n’ heavy songs and the wonderful ballads he delivers with each new release.

 

OHMphrey, a jamband supergroup, which features three members of the prog rock/veteran jam band Umphrey's McGee (keyboardist Joel Cummins, guitarist Jake Cinninger and drummer Kris Myers), and OHM guitarist (former Megadeth guitarist), Chris Poland and bassist Robertino Pagliari (a.k.a. "Pag").

 

Faithful to their two-year music appointment, at least during the last few years, Mad Max are back with their tenth studio work. The band, which started out in the early 80s, became more melodic with every new album. “Night of Passion” was released in 1987 and, I believe that’s the best work of the band so far. So, the title of the new album, “Another Night of Passion”, implies that this might be the second part of that release, 25 years later. Well, it’s hard to top that album… and also hard to reach it.

 

I was taken by surprise as soon as I heard (and saw the video) of the first full track of the album, “World Scum”… it was so fuckin’ heavy & brutal that I just couldn’t believe it. I haven’t heard something like this from Max in ages. It’s true that the new Soulfly is more thrash/death metal oriented than any other album before. At times I can’t help but think how amazing a new original Sepultura album would have been like.

 

Hey Joel… It seems that the third step is the more successful as yet… “Sultans Of Sin” is a wonderful album.

 

J: Thanks a lot! We are extremely proud of this album, and it really turned out like it was supposed to.

 

 

There are a lot of things going on with the band lately… so I’ll start from the fresh news. Tell us about Melodifestivalen 2012. How did you decide to take part and what happened? Was it worth going after all?

Cover artwork and track list have been decided for the new Gotthard album “Firebirth”, release date 1st. June by Nuclear Blast/Warnermusic (in Switzerland Musikvertrieb). A total of 13 songs will be on the CD, among them one with the title “Where are you”, which is dedicated to Steve Lee. In the past few days, in the band-owned Yellow House Studios in Ticino, music journalists from all over Europe were able to listen to the songs for the first time – and are euphoric about them.

 

LEPROUS, the extremely active and much acclaimed prog metal newcomer-sensations from Norway, are still nowhere near to be taking a real rest from promoting their current album "Bilateral", which was released last August via InsideOutMusic. 

 

After a highly successful 41 dates all across Europe supporting Amorphis as well as dates in Japan together with Ihsahn and The Haunted, LEPROUS are now happy to announce a full headlining run of Europe for October 2012, where the band will finally be performing their full set for their enthusiastic followers.

 

Drummer of Swedish Riff-Lords GRAND MAGUS Sebastian "Seb" Sippola has left the band in the run-up to the recordings of "THE HUNT".

 

Job and family preclude him from getting on with his drummer-activitys at Grand Magus. Above all he can't go on tour anymore because of temporally reasons. He leaves the band in close friendship and can't await to finally hear "THE HUNT".

 

The new man behind the drums is Ludwig “Ludde” Witt (SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, FIREBIRD, SHINING).

 

Shredlord Joe Stump has finished work on his 8th solo album whose title will be announced shortly.

 

On the new material Joe reveals, “This record is heavier, darker, more classically based and technical compared to “Virtuostic Vendetta”. With every record I try to step it up and challenge myself both playing-wise and compositionally, and I’ve certainly done that with this upcoming release”.

 

Fans of audacious fretwork keep an eye out for further news on Joe’s upcoming new release which packs a killer six string punch.

 

The Easter break is about to hit us and therefore the traditional Satanic Stop Festival takes place in Speyer (Germany). PLY will hand out a very special Summer Sampler on the Stomp with tracks of Demented Are Go, Bob Wayne, The Brains and Mad Sin. Watch out and grab it! More details at: www.satanicstomp.de.

 

Next week we continue with the PUNK & DISORDERLY Festival in Berlin, followed by the Groezrock Festival in Belgium in late April.