Blog

2003-11-26 | Hamburg | Germany | Sporthalle - Iron Maiden

2004-08-05 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Motörhead
2004-08-?? | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Saxon / Doro / Warlock / The Quireboys

2005-03-04 | Hamburg | Germany | Markthalle - Saxon
2005-07-01 | Leipzig | Germany | WFF - Slayer
2005-07-02 | Leipzig | Germany | WFF - Iron Maiden / Die Kassierer
2005-08-04 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Nightwish
2005-08-05 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Saeko
2005-08-06 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - HammerFall / Kreator
2005-09-30 | Hamburg | Germany | Markthalle - Saxon
2005-10-01 | Lübeck | Germany | Scream - Running Wild
2005-10-16 | Hamburg | Germany | CCH 3 - Motörhead
2005-10-22 | Rendsburg | Germany | Nordmarkhalle - Saxon

2006-08-04 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Children of Bodom
2006-08-05 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Gamma Ray / Motörhead
2006-09-13 | Düsseldorf | Germany | Philipshalle - Blind Guardian
2006-09-17 | Hamburg | Germany | Markthalle - Blind Guardian
2006-12-08 | Dortmund | Germany | Westfalenhalle - Iron Maiden

2007-02-18 | Hamburg | Germany | Markthalle - Grave Digger
2007-03-15 | Hamburg | Germany | Markthalle - Saxon
2007-06-22 | Dessel | Belgium | GMM - Sabaton / Joe Satriani / Grave Digger / Blind Guardian / Aerosmith
2007-06-23 | Dessel | Belgium | GMM - Iron Maiden / Heaven & Hell
2007-06-24 | Dessel | Belgium | GMM - Children of Bodom
2007-07-31 | Elmshorn | Germany | Elbmarschenhalle - Saxon
2007-08-02 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Blitzkrieg / Saxon
2007-08-03 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Grave Digger / Blind Guardian / Iced Earth
2007-08-04 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Rage
2007-08-15 | Hamburg | Germany | AOL Arena - The Rolling Stones
2007-10-26 | Kopenhagen | Denmark | Pumpenhuset - Iced Earth
2007-10-28 | Hamburg | Germany | Markthalle - Iced Earth
2007-12-02 | Bremen | Germany | Aladin - Gamma Ray / Helloween

2008-06-04 | Hamburg | Germany | Color Line Arena - KISS
2008-07-31 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Girlschool / Airbourne / Iron Maiden
2008-08-01 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Opeth / Children of Bodom / Avantasia
2008-08-02 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Kreator
2008-11-30 | Bremen | Germany | Pier 2 - Saxon / Motörhead
2008-12-12 | Hamburg | Germany | Markthalle - Opeth


2009-01-18 | Hamburg | Germany | Knust - Blackfield
2009-01-25 | Hamburg | Germany | Markthalle - Grave Digger
2009-02-08 | Hamburg | Germany | Docks - Saxon / Iced Earth
2009-03-11 | Bremen | Germany | AWD-Dome - AC/DC
2009-05-13 | Leipzig | Germany | Zentralstadion - AC/DC
2009-05-17 | Gelsenkirchen | Germany | Veltins Arena - AC/DC
2009-05-30 | Gelsenkirchen | Germany | RockHard - Angel Witch / Opeth
2009-05-30 | Gelsenkirchen | Germany | RockHard - DragonForce / Children of Bodom
2009-05-31 | Gelsenkirchen | Germany | RockHard - Bullet / Saxon
2009-07-12 | Hamburg | Germany | Fabrik - Gary Moore (Gary Moore!!!)
2009-07-31 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Running Wild / Heaven & Hell
2009-08-01 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A - Gamma Ray / HammerFall / Bullet For My Valentine / Motörhead
2009-08-02 | Wacken | Germany | W:O:A -
Saxon
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2009-12-12 | Perth | Australia | Metro City - Dream Theater

2010-01-19 | Perth | Australia | Challenge Stadium - Them Crooked Vultures
2010-01-31 | Perth | Australia | Big Day Out - Muse / Powderfinger / The Mars Volta / Lily Allen
2010-02-22 | Sydney | Australia | ANZ Stadium - AC/DC / Wolfmother




AC/DC:3x (4x)
Airbourne:
Blackfield
Blind Guardian
Blitzkrieg
Children of Bodom
Dream Theater
Gamma Ray
Grave Digger
HammerFall
Heaven & Hell
Iced Earth
joa satriani

So 2009 isn't quite over yet, but here is my top 40 artists chart for the past year, with short explanations for some of the artists:

1 Dark Moor: 569 scrobbles
Still my favorite band, the band that got me into power metal as well as metal in general.
2 Blind Guardian: 489 scrobbles
Maybe a bit artificially high on my charts because of the number of tracks in Nightfall in Middle Earth, but still deserving of a high spot.
3 Dream Theater: 468 scrobbles
Saw them in July in Asheville, and listened to Black Clouds & Silver Linings about a million times before the show.
4 Queen: 466 scrobbles
5 Helloween: 398 scrobbles
6 Nine Inch Nails: 390 scrobbles
I probably wouldn't have listened to NIN half as much if it wasn't for the fact that The Slip is free and Ghosts I-IV is really cheap. Thanks, Trent.
7 Led Zeppelin: 385 scrobbles
8 Opeth: 349 scrobbles
Everyone should listen to Opeth. Even if you don't like metal.
9 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: 342 scrobbles
Easily the most metal artist on my charts.
10 King Crimson: 298 scrobbles
11 Machinae Supremacy: 263 scrobbles
Another good free album, Deus Ex Machinae put this artist high on my charts.
12 Extol: 250 scrobbles
Listened to The Blueprint Dives a lot. If nobody told me, I would never be able to guess that they are the same band that made Burial, which is also great, but in a completely different way.
13 Tool: 247 scrobbles
14 Lacuna Coil: 245 scrobbles
15 Iron Maiden: 230 scrobbles
16 Holy Blood: 227 scrobbles
Of the bands I started listening to in 2009 for the first time, I think Holy Blood is my favorite. I can't wait to hear Oskord once they release something...
17 Nightwish: 222 scrobbles
18 Talking Heads: 206 scrobbles
19 Rush: 196 scrobbles
20 Rhapsody of Fire: 190 scrobbles
21 Yes: 188 scrobbles
There used to be an artist image of Chris Squire with a zebra stripe jacket and triple neck bass with a caption that read something like: "Scientists have determined that it is physically impossible to find a picture more prog than this." That always made me laugh.
22 Angra: 185 scrobbles
23 JT Bruce: 164 scrobbles
I have to say something for all the artists with free stuff - JT Bruce is great if you like technical instrumental prog metal. You can download three albums for free on Jamendo, and you can buy his latest (and best) album, Universica on his website.
24 Sonata Arctica: 163 scrobbles
25 Tourniquet: 153 scrobbles
26 The Allman Brothers Band: 146 scrobbles
27 Theatre of Tragedy: 142 scrobbles
28 Antonio Vivaldi: 141 scrobbles
I listened to a lot more "classical" music this year than I used to, which is something I'm happy about.
29 Cynic: 138 scrobbles
30 Narnia: 134 scrobbles
31 Ensiferum: 127 scrobbles
Saw them at Volume 11 Tavern in Raleigh in November (my car was hit and had to be towed along the way, forcing us to walk part of the way, but it was worth it).
32 Frédéric Chopin: 120 scrobbles
33 Depeche Mode: 118 scrobbles
34 NESkimos: 112 scrobbles
Their albums have tons of short songs, so they are a bit overrated on this chart. Video game cover bands are one of my guilty pleasures.
35 ZAO: 109 scrobbles
I've had The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here for years, but it wasn't until 2009 that I really started listening to it a lot. Usually I'm sort of turned off by metalcore, but I think Zao is pretty good regardless of their genre.
36 XOC: 107 scrobbles
Another video game band with lots of short songs and an unusually high number of scrobbles...
37 Black Sabbath: 106 scrobbles
37 VNV Nation: 106 scrobbles
39 Johann Sebastian Bach: 103 scrobbles
40 DragonForce: 101 scrobbles
DragonForce? How did this get here... I guess when their new album came out I listened to it a lot.

2010 predictions:
Jazz Fusion - I've been listening to Billy Cobham and I'd like to hear more of this. I've always wanted to listen to more Jazz, but I've found it inaccessible. I think I'll enjoy fusion a bit more.

Melodic Death - Since I like Ensiferum and Blackguard, I'd like to listen to more.

Thrash - I really enjoyed Gama Bomb (another artist with a free album available on their website), and I've never really explored thrash metal outside of Metallica/Slayer/Megadeth.

Less Power Metal - I'll probably keep listening to Dark Moor, Helloween, Blind Guardian, and the other artists I like, but I'll probably stop looking into new power metal bands in favor of some of the other genres I listed.

In no particular order:

1- Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition
2- Isis - Wavering Radiant
3- Freak Kitchen - Land of the Freaks
4- Transatlantic - The Whirlwind
5- Porcupine Tree - The Incident
6- Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings
7- Loch Vostok - Reveal No Secrets
8- Megadeth - Endgame
9- dredg - The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
10- Stream of Passion - The Flame Within
11- Flyleaf - Memento Mori
12- John Mayer - Battle Studies
13- Breaking Benjamin - Dear Agony
14- Kings of Convenience - Declaration Of Dependence
15- Pearl Jam - Backspacer
16- Phoenix Effect - Cyanide Skies
17- Pain of Salvation - Linoleum
18- Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
19- Chickenfoot - Chickenfoot
20- Alexisonfire - Old Crows / Young Cardianls


There are also 2 DVDs that I think everyone who's into heavy metal has to watch:
1- Iron Maiden - Flight 666
2- Pain of Salvation - Ending Themes


The albums that disappointed me a bit this year:
1- Creed - Full Circle
2- Lacuna Coil - Shallow Life
3- Queensryche - American Soldier
4- Stratovarius - Polaris


Overall I think it was a great year for heavy metal. I had a hard time putting in order the albums i liked so i decided to make the list randomly. It means that there were some really good albums this year :)

Looking forward to an even heavier 2010!

Cheers..

Live Review: Dream Theater @ Brisbane Convention Centre 3 December 2009 with Pain of Salvation

By: Hannah Collins
With the Majesty symbol out in force, The Brisbane convention centre slowly begins to fill as fans old and new await a set of mammoth proportions.

The venue is still relatively empty as support act, Pain Of Salvation (Sweden) begin to play. The 5 piece, consisting of Daniel Gildenlöw (vocals/guitar), John Hallgren (Backing vocals/Guitar) , Fredrik Hermansson (synthesizers) Léo Margarit (drums/backing vocals) and Per Schelander (bass guitar/backing vocals) announce themselves as “A Swedish band, with a French drummer… somewhat like Meshugga, but with notes”… an interesting analogy.

Their sound comprises of powerfully accentuated guitar work, progressive yet full, with a large and differential vocal range, being contributed to by the excessive use of backing vocals from three different members of the band. Although submitting to be a backup vocalist only, Hallgren seems to have a larger more substantial vocal sound, not only contributing to backup but taking whole sections of songs to claim as his own with his husky larger than life undertones.....

Read the FULL review at
LifeMusicMedia.com

http://lifemusicmedia.com/?p=5810

Well, I've now been to the last gig I had lined up for this year. So what have I been to this year?

Static X
Sevendust
Bloodstock (bands I enjoyed being Katatonia, Anathema, Moonspell and Sanctorum)
Prog Nation (bands I enjoyed being Opeth, Dream Theater and Bigelf)
Editors
Mew
Yes
The Enemy
Joe Bonamassa

It's not been that much of a metal year for me since moving back to Scotland.

So I've seen Opeth (my faves <3), Katatonia (who I've been waiting to see since the Last Fair Deal Tour back in god knows how long ago...), Anathema (who I'd been waiting since when I got into them back in 98/99 to see), Dream Theater (who blew me away and converted me to becoming a fan) and Joe Bonamassa (who is GOD).

But none of them won it for me. All amazing performances. However, the band who won it for me were:

MEW!

They just totally blew me away! I was so impressed by the fact Jonas could reach those high notes, the vocal harmonies were mind blowing, and the visuals they had were awesome. I couldn't fault them, other than them not playing my favourite song... Seriously amazing performance from them, just... Nah I don't have words, they were absolutely mind blowing!!!

Band of the Year

1. Mastodon
The first place goes to Atlanta, to an awesome band which released an awesome album and do have an awesome Homepage servise and a great relation to their fans. My band of the year !
2. Rise Against
Rise Against is my discovery of the year. And also my first concert ever :D
3. Pink Floyd
This pretty classic band gets the third place, because it's the band I loved the most to hear it in 2009. So much awesome albums ... this band is one of the most genius bands ever !


Album of the Year

1. Mastodon - Crack The Skye
2. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
3. Amorphis - Skyforger
4. John Frusciante - The Empyrean
5. Insomnium - Across the Dark

Other good albums 2009: Blue Record, Endgame, World Painted Blood, Chickenfoot, No Line On The Horizon, From Afar and many more

Most disappointing Album of the Year

Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings


Song of the Year

1. Chickenfoot - Oh Yeah
2. Volbeat - Call of the Warrior
3. Mastodon - Divinations
4. Ensiferum - Stone Cold Metal
5. John Frusciante - God


Clip of the Year

1. Arctic Monkeys - Crying Lightning
2. U2 - Get On Your Boots
3. Scar Symmetry - Noumenon And Phenomenon
4. Mastodon - Oblivion
4. Portugal. The Man - Do You
5. Rise Against - Saviour

Cover of the Year
1. Static Tensions


2. Blue Record


3.Dark Matter Dimensions


4.The Empyrean


5.Wavering Radiant

16 Second Stare
Ace Frehley
Deep Jimi And The Zep Creams
GCD
KK
Blaze
Eric Sardinas
In Flames
Foreigner
UFO
Marillion
Jon Olivia's Pain
Deströyer 666
Candlemass
HammerFall
Flogging Molly
Volbeat
Pain
Pilgrimz
Witchcraft
Sevendust
Torch
Deathstars
Innocent Rosie
Tracenine
Heaven & Hell
Electric Boys
Hindenburg
Europe
Journey
Impelitteri
Riot
Sabaton
Twisted Sister
ZZ Top
Dream Theater
Amon Amarth
Uriah Heep
Motörhead
Lita Ford
Poul Krebs
Bubbi
Eric Clapton
Ellen Kristjánsdóttir
Ingó og Veðurguðirnir
Duran Duran

Photo Gallery: Dream Theater @ Brisbane Convention Centre 3 December 2009

Awesome show and guitarist John Petrucci... amazing!

See the FULL Gallery at LifeMusicMedia.com

http://lifemusicmedia.com/?p=5795