FORTRESS OF TEARS

The Rapture

2011-06-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Put your boots on and rage against the system as The Rapture erupts on 24 July at Chapter 6 Studios (near Clarke Quay). Featuring bands such as The Killing Hordes, The Verge and Living In Gaps, this town isn't big enough to cage in the intensity this gig is about to unleash! Entry is free of charge and for information, contact Sean (Living In Gaps) at http://www.facebook.com/kalashnikovpbr

Line up:

TOO OPEN (Punk Rock) 3.00PM
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Too-Open/194779047199030

THE VERGE (Punk Rock) 3.30PM
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Verge/145663925469540

SHAWN IS DEAD (Metalcore) 4.00PM
http://www.facebook.com/ithinkshawnisdead

THE KILLING HORDES (Heavy Metal/Thrash Metal) 4.30PM
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Killing-Hordes/149327578445152

MASQUERADE (Rock n Roll) 5.00PM

ALONG THE SUBWAY (Acoustic) 5.30PM
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ALONG-THE-SUBWAY/102350263144104

THE LAST MINUTE (Metalcore) 6.00PM

LIVING IN GAPS (Post-Hardcore) 6.30PM
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Living-In-Gaps/165149893536789

Singapore Death Fest 2011

2011-06-22T07:10:00.000-07:00

The annual Singapore Death Fest has returned once more and it will be happening at the Fort Canning White Studio on July 9 with bands that will blow your ear wax off courtesy of pure teeth grinding metal! This chapter of an upcoming legacy features the likes of Truth Be Known (who will be performing overseas in September), Analdicktion (sluts of filthy grindcore), Wormrot (recently featured on Metal Hammer magazine) and many more stage warriors who will have no qualms in unleashing the brutality. The event starts at 3pm and you can get your tickets for $12 (presale)/ $18 (door). For updates in information on Singapore Death Fest, visit the event page at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154909667898578 and get ready to deathonate the park!

Deep Space Series: EML & Cosmic Armchair At The Substation Theatre

2011-06-19T06:32:00.000-07:00

Its twice the atmosphere and double the fun on July 23 as the Electronic Music Lab (EML) and synthpop duo Cosmic Armchair will both be performing at The Substation Theatre under the Deep Space banner. Ambience takes control on Deep Space 1 as EML puts their panache on the usual with their wicked blend of music with electronic dance music shifts the gear on Deep Space 2 as Cosmic Armchair launches into orbit with their setlist of originals that will leave you rooted and engrossed in their smooth compositions. Tickets are available through EML (electronicmusiclab@gmail.com) or call The Substation at 63377800 and for more information, visit http://www.cosmicarmchair.com or http://www.eml.org.sg

Venue: The Substation Theatre
Time & Date: July 23, 1630-1930 hrs (Deep Space 1), 1930-2000 hrs (Deep Space 2)
Price: $18 for either show, $10 (Students with student card), special promotion for attending both shows at $24 and $12 for students

I Am A Gummy Bear

2011-06-05T06:15:00.000-07:00

Joining forces with GridMMS, Wicked Productions is proud to present the seemingly cuddly but physically engaging I Am A Gummy Bear gig that will be held at GridStudios on June 18 2011. Featuring the likes of A Town In Fear, Ruins And Remains and many others, do your bid to save this delicacy from being extinct and bring a bag or two to spread the sweetness with everyone

Time: 1630 hrs onwards
Date: June 18
Venue: GridStudios (*scape Lvl 4)
Tickets: $8

For updates and information on the event, visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188696631182396

Hey! Ho! Let's Go! The Punk Rock Show Part Deux!

2011-06-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

Missed out on the first Hey! Ho! Let's Go! series at Chapter 6 or simply need your dose of locally produced music that never fails to get your juices flowing? Well its back once again and its time, the line up involves the likes of The Killing Hordes, The Verge, Too Open and Mary Go Round and the organisers The Misfit Ramones! Holding court at OMC for just $7, give the mid term break anything but rest as the boys are back in town to kick bins and make some noise!

Date: June 11 2011
Time: 15:00 - 18:00
Venue: OMC, Building No. 47, Level 4, Jalan Pemimpin (near Marymount MRT Station)
Price: $7

For more details, visit the event page at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=224017160941747

World Goth Day 2011

2011-05-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

The moment has come for us to converge together as a community and be united on World Goth Day 2011! Taking place at Hyde Bar this year (57B, Boat Quay), it will be the first time that the Singapore Dark Alternative Movement takes part in the annual global celebration and we would like you to join us on 21st May as we transform the floor into our domain and as the clock strikes 12, celebrate 22/5 with the rest of the world. Our DJs will also be at hand to unleash the fury with \VΛ (Dualtone), Cosmic Battlefield (Cosmic Armchair) and the aggrotech beast Murderfreak who will be headlining the event. So get your goth on and march your way towards Hyde on 21st May with exuberant spirits. Because its not skin deep, its in your bones

Venue: Hyde Bar (57B, Boat Quay)
Time: 9pm - 3am
Cover: $15 (inclusive of one free drink)
Directions: http://maps.google.com.sg/maps?hl=en&q=57b+boat+quay&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=2557l5441l0l5l4l0l0l0l0l350l1084l2-3.1&biw=1280&bih=620&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

For more information, you can visit our event page (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169534956437372) or read up more about World Goth Day at this website (http://www.worldgothday.com/)

The Misfit Ramones To Perform At Identitie (13/05)

2011-05-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

Together with Fall Of Mirra and Embrace Them Ghosts, the energetic punks The Misfit Ramones will be performing at the upcoming Identitie session held at Home Club on Friday 13th 8-11pm as they deliver their fusion of energy onstage with a mix of originals and covers consisting mainly of The Misfits and The Ramones. Tickets are at $12 and is inclusive of one free drink, visit the Identitie event page (https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=200160833354330) for updates and details on the event

Marching of the Days Election Remix

2011-05-06T07:55:00.000-07:00

With a potential milestone taking place on Saturday, May 7 2011 in Singapore, the stupendous Cosmic Armchair have released a remix of the song Marching Of The Days in conjunction with the elections that are taking place. Remember Singaporeans, the choice that you make will make significant progress towards the future of the nation regardless of the party that you support. Music however, is an everlasting love and the folks from Cosmic Armchair definitely did a good job with what they love!

For Better Endings at Unicorns And Butterflies (Videos)

2011-05-02T04:18:00.000-07:00

Singapore band For Better Endings recently did a show at Live Amp Studios for the Unicorns And Butterflies gig on Saturday and it was definitely an engaging set for both the band and the crowd who were lucky to stand toe to toe with the meteoric 5 piece. Comprising of Damian (Vocals) Keith (Guitar) Auji (Bass) Shaun (Drums) and Mark (Guitar), their songs are available on myspace.com/fbecore and for those who missed out on their set, here is the footage taken at the gig itself:

Grindhouse II

2011-05-02T04:09:00.000-07:00

Missed out on the Grindhouse II extravaganza? The photoset and write up can be found here on the Metal Horde page: http://metal-horde.tumblr.com/post/5128537862/as-the-smell-of-blood-permeated-in-the-air-and

Resurrection II

2011-05-02T04:02:00.000-07:00

Rudra, Nafrat and Zaganoth are just one of the many bands that were onstage at Resurrection II held in Home Club in conjunction with the Rudra album release. To view the photoset and read about what happened, visit the Metal Horde Singapore page: http://metal-horde.tumblr.com/post/5128058540/resurrection-ii-the-boat-quay-stretch-has-been

Rudra Video Shoot

2011-05-02T03:55:00.000-07:00

Singapore vedic metal maharajas Rudra are currently working on a music video taken from their single off the new album with Arv Ind (Mosh Party) directing and you can read more about it and view the photoset at the Metal Horde Singapore page: http://metal-horde.tumblr.com/post/5127641102/local-vedic-metal-heroes-rudra-have-been-on-an

HEY! HO! LET'S GO! (May 7th, Fourtones Studio)

2011-04-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

Time to get your punk gear on and create a revolution of your own as The Misfit Ramones, Blank Shot, The Verge and Random Arrival are set to shake the foundations! Taking place at Fourtones Studios (near Boat Quay) from 3:30, HEY! HO! LET'S GO! is a 3 hour intimate showcase where the audience and musicians are one of the same, singing along classic punk hits and even those created by the bands themselves. Dont be surprised if you are up onstage though, its part and parcel of the punk experience

For Better Endings In Contention For The Chariot Opener

2011-04-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

Talented Singaporean band For Better Endings are one of the contenders to open for The Chariot when they head to the island nation on May 9. You can show your support by going to the Bone Crusher page on facebook and click on the Like icon to cast your vote here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=499150295970&set=a.476484700970.289012.115292410970&theater#!/video/video.php?v=205329952830335&comments. Deadline is on April 15 and look out for their upcoming gigs on the For Better Endings Facebook page

Grindhouse II (23 April, Arthouse Chamber)

2011-03-19T23:41:00.000-07:00

The grittiness is back once more and if you thought the original Grindhouse was gritty, Grindhouse will deliver it in buckets. Holding court at the Arthouse Chamber, the second installment of the Grindhouse series features Truth Be Known, Cardiac Necropsy, The Corruptor (all eyes on the latest creation!), Analdicktion, Assault, A Bitter Affection and the main creature feature being Truth Corroded who are here as part of their Touring The Bled tour. Tickets are at $12 and you can find out more about the event (updates, merchandise sales, etc) at the event page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/login/setashome.php?ref=genlogin#!/event.php?eid=179498158762440 and RSVP your gruesome attendance while at it.

This post has been rated R. Minors and morons are prohibited

Rock For Japan

2011-03-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

Rock out and show your support at the same time as The Dirt Radicals, The Misfit Ramones, Moochie Mac & Superfriends plus other amazing bands put their heart and soul at the Rock For Japan gig which will be held at the Prince Of Wales pub from 4pm onwards. Cider bottles go for $6 and pints for $8 from 2-7pm and all sales from the gig (merch & drinks) will go towards the Red Cross to help out victims from the recent Japan earthquake. You can also make your donations at the merch booth and be sure to be there early for every person counts towards showing our unified support for those in need!

Punk Rock Open Mic Evening With The Misfit Ramones

2011-03-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

The quirky fun loving local punk rockers are giving you the karaoke cum Guitar Hero experience in the flesh and is this just another case of hype? Well, it definitely the real deal as The Misfit Ramones will be organising an open mic session on April 2 at Fourtones Studio where the audience will be the ones doing the singing! At only $5, prepared to be serenaded by songs from The Misfits, The Ramones and rather unusually, one coming from a bunch of erotic Scandinavians and to RSVP for the event, visit their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=190989724273318 to confirm your presence

Dualtone Performing At Mosaic 2011

2011-03-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Mosaic 2011 is shaping to be an interesting this year with a melting pot of international and local artistes being part of this annual event where both Lunarin and Aphex Twin stand shoulder to shoulder and administering their perception of the alternative. Also added to the mix this year are local band Dualtone and the duo of Iva Sadon and Effendi are tweaking the mood sensors at the Esplanade to deliver a soul enriching performance. Going from strength to strength and making appearances at Baybeats and Outbreed, being at Mosaic represents another feather in their cap. As a bonus, their show will have 2 sets on 18 March (8-8:40 and 9-9:30) so be there for both and be prepared to be blown away!

Campaign for a V1K1 Return!

2011-03-06T01:02:00.000-08:00

An aspiring local film maker, a group of determined students and a dream of a movie that went beyond abilities and boundaries. This is the story of the sci-fi short film V1K1 and Tzang Merwyn Tong who has been at the heart of the operation not just in the movie but also on other productions for several years and with the sneak screening of the premiere having taken place at The Substation last week, what is the next step for the film itself? An encore, naturally and this time, you have the power to show your support in making it happen once more. Simply log on to Facebook and go to http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=146649695398984&set=a.146643222066298.31870.146633188733968&theater#!/pages/V1K1-The-Screening-is-Over-No-Encore-Unless/146633188733968 to vindicate its resurrection while at the same time shower words of encouragement and suggestions. Believe in fairies, believe in the beautiful that is V1K1. Visit their website at www.v1k1.com to learn more about the film.

EML presents The New Rage: Asia Is The New Black

2011-03-06T00:34:00.000-08:00

An idea that was first mentioned in late 2010 is finally here as the energetic folks from the Electronic Music Lab are back once more with their newest project titled The New Rage: Asia Is The New Black. Taking place at the NUS Centre Of The Arts UCC Function Room 2 on March 18 & 19 at 8pm, Asia Is The New Black zooms into the musical progression of the continent and showcases the influences of Asian music that has worked its way into many musical genres of today, something that was unheard of back in the past. Through the use of various media and the surprise element the folks in EML are capable of, Asia Is The New Black brings the best of both worlds together with the experience gained being one its own kind. Tickets are at $10 and you can find out more about the event at their website (http://www.eml.org.sg) or through the facebook event page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=132926063436897)

Ruben Pang - Angels art exhibition

2011-02-27T06:51:00.000-08:00

A clip of artist Ruben Pang at the opening of the Angels exhibition held at Chan Hampe Galleries. You can read his interview conducted by the Singapore Dark Alternative Movement here: http://www.sdam.sg/content/interview-ruben-pang

Age Of Sinfonia - Divine Vehemence

2011-02-27T06:46:00.000-08:00

Singapore symphonic metal band Age Of Sinfonia performs at the Esplanade Waterfront as one of the acts for Noise Singapore 2011. The recently released EP Capriccio: An End And A Beginning is available in stores and you can visit the band at myspace.com/ageofsymphony

Singapura Uber Alles - X'Ho

2011-02-27T06:41:00.000-08:00

The rebel with a cause is back with a new album and this time, X'Ho is ready to strike where it beats the most: The ears of the disenchanted locals who seek the winds of change. Singapura Uber Alles is locked and loaded with guest appearances from Alfian Sa'at, Zai Kuning and Dino Vomit plus tracks that will stir your emotions with unadulterated passion such as S*** More, Fascist Glo Stick, Voted Off The Island and many more weapons of vocal construction. Available at all record stores and you follow X'Ho on Twitter (@xhosux) and Myspace (myspace.com/xhosux)

Age Of Sinfonia - Capriccio: An End & A Beginning

2011-02-05T00:02:00.000-08:00

The much awaited EP from Singapore symphonic metal band Age Of Sinfonia is finally here and with Capriccio: An End & A Beginning slated to launch on Feb 11 2011, I had the opportunity to receive a sneak peek on what to expect from the talented sextet that has been constantly performing and gaining recognition from their peers throughout 2010

For starters, the line up is comprised of Savvia Lenore (vocals), Rasen John (guitars) Andy Swift (bass), Elfie Corleone (drums), Dr Jackyll Hyde (keyboards) and JC (violin) and have been performing together as a band for a couple of years with Capriccio being produced by the folks from Snakeweed Studios and also in the form of Martin Pullan and Rupert Coffey of Edensounds. In a metal community where thrash and extreme music becomes the focal point for most listeners in Singapore, how does a symphonic metal fit into the scheme of things? In a very well orchestrated manner, to say the least. The opening track Fair- Weather Love has been played on a regular basis on their gigs and the album treatment of this familiar ode does not disappoint the ears as none of the atmospheric vibe and lush sounds are being compromised. Cradle Of Filth fans might find the introduction of Fair- Weather Love slightly similar to Nymphatemine and a little surprise midway through the song as Rasen John unleashes a solo that is brief yet complementing the music arrangement of the song with a touch of vintage warmth to the proceedings. The enthrallment does not end there as Unfrozen unleashes a blast from the past reminiscent of classic symphonic metal bands and providing the bridge for the epic finale: Forevermore. Combining metal, classical music and sprinkled with the element of folk, this track is undoubtedly the ace of spades for Age Of Sinfonia and cementing their position as one of the bands to look out for in 2011. The beastly appearance on Forevermore provides an unique facet with Savvia Lenore drawing out the contrast with relative ease

To sum it up, Capriccio: An End & A Beginning banishes the long held stereotypical mentality of what music must be like and introducing various elements to prove that experimentations to a core genre type can bring out the desired emotions if the heart is there to soldier on. Despite being an EP, Age Of Sinfonia has given listeners a glimpse of bigger things to come and could very well spearhead a new generation of music enthusiasts

Angels by Ruben Pang

2011-01-28T23:47:00.000-08:00

Budding prodigious visionary Ruben Pang will be putting strokes into his craft from Jan 31 to Feb 18 at the Chan Hampe Galleries located at Tanjong Pagar with his very own installation Angels. A graduate from the La Salle College of the Arts, Ruben Pang has participated in numerous art exhibitions and also spearheaded musical and art initiatives for the local alternative community in Singapore at an age that skirts between youth and adulthood. But what is absolutely certain is the sense of awe that Angels will deliver, a series of picturesque creations without the enforcement of a set concept and to find out more, visit http://www.chanhampegalleries.com

Age Of Sinfonia album teaser

2010-12-22T05:07:00.000-08:00

The wait is almost over: Age Of Sinfonia will be releasing the EP An End & A Beginning in early 2011 but for those who are eagerly anticipating the material of the Singapore based based, here is a teaser of what to expect from the band which can be found on their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=473430038018&oid=116825681663879&comments.The year 2010 has been a busy year for Age Of Sinfonia with numerous appearances onstage and working hard behind the scenes to ensure perfection of An End & A Beginning but with 2011 just around the corner, expect to hear more from this hugely talented band

Chugga Ritual 2010

2010-12-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

(Dalsix & Burhan Skullbanger, the man behind Chugga Ritual)

Held at J3 Studios and the brainchild of Burhan from the weekly RIA metal programme Vicious Volume, this edition of the annual Chugga Ritual show featured a well rounded lineup of BajoLoco, Musqkara, The Misfit Ramones, AGT and the headliner of the showcase, Chugga Ritual. Combing the various genres such as punk, metal rock and even hardcore, the 2 hour set was complemented by a supportive audience and even at one point, members of the crowd joined in the fun which gave the gig a cohesive feel and a testament to what music brings to the word unity. But it was the bands onstage that were the main talking point as AGT delivered their mystical blend of the Middle East meets Mastodon with the guitar being exploited for its worth, The Misfit Ramones stringing one infectious tunes after another and Chugga Ritual transporting the audience into the glorious days of metal along with their supporting guest performers. Who said that you have to wait until the 25th? Santa was there and delivered the present everyone needed this festive season: A mind blasting kick into the system!

Electronic Music Lab: Sonic Cities at The Esplanade

2010-11-27T06:44:00.000-08:00

(From Left: Benjamin Ang, K K Tan & Adrian Lo)

Held at The Esplanade Concourse over 2 nights on a breezy weekday, the recent installation from the Electronic Music Lab (EML) might have looked different judging from the picture as those who have attended previous shows would have expected tons of visuals and vigourous movements from the performers. As for onlookers watching the EML for the first time, their maiden voyage might have peppered with curiosity ranging from the relaxed stationary position of the performers to an unidentified object that resembled a remote control but that is the magic of the melodic think tank: The surface is anything but a teaser beneath it

Sonic Cities featured the trio of Benjamin Ang (one half of Cosmic Armchair), K K Tan and Adrian Lo plus an array of gadgetry which included a laptop, mixers and the unidentified object which was later made known as a Wii joystick. Impossible? That is when the boundaries begin to break down and like music archaeologists, EML dug deep into unearth valuable fossils and samples that complement together like a jigsaw puzzle completing a beautiful portrait or in this case, tracks that bring forth a myriad of tracks suffice to pump through your veins faster than an injection. From their depiction of what city life is all about to historical milestones, EML brought life into the enclosed semicircle of the Esplanade bringing a picture perfect standstill for 30 minutes and an anticipation of future performances soon after Adrian pressed the last button to bring Sonic Cities an end. Yet the buzz still resonates in the minds of many and given any time of the day, the creative suits in EML can stand toe to toe with the best

Mosh Party 6

2010-11-26T22:15:00.000-08:00

Its back once more and at a new location no less: This edition of the Mosh Party series will be held at *scape Lab on December 4 2010 and the line up includes the likes of Flawed Element, Metalgunz & Wormrot to obliterate the stage. As an added bonus, there will be guest performances from V.I.N, Thambi K Seaow featuring Shyam Raj and Merkmaid (Malaysia) Get ready to rumble in the city jungle and create some chaos with Mosh Party 6!

Meltgsnow To Perform At Sonic Forge Festival 2010

2010-11-19T11:15:00.001-08:00

Local goth metal ringmasters Meltgsnow will be creating chaos in a
foreign land once more as they are slated to perform at the Sonic Forge
Festival on December 4 2010. As Australia prepares to brace themselves
for a hard rock hallelujah from Lord Insanity and company, Meltgsnow is
the only foreign band in the all star bill featuring the likes of
Be'lakor, Okera and Thrall. 3 stages, 12 hours of music and an array of
bands that will gurantee you of a headbangers ball, tickets for the
Sonic Forge Festival are available at www.espy.com.au

Truth Be Known - Sucks To Be You trailers

2010-11-13T19:28:00.001-08:00

Taken from their recent release Aphyxihate, Singapore metal band Truth Be Known are in the midst of releasing their Reservoir Dogs styled video that will be released for your ferrous fix of furious finesse exhibited by the quartet comprising of Subash, Damien, Joshua & Gene. Get ready to raise hell, drink beer and sing along with the best this little red dot has got to offer!

Hellsurrection

2010-11-13T19:20:00.000-08:00

For those who have been pondering on my whereabouts and primarily absent from here, this should answer your queries:

But with that seemingly conquered and Halloween/getting old/etc out of the way, it is time for the fortress to whip up another maelstrom altogether!

ChthoniC Unleashes Painkiller

2010-09-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

(Click on the picture to access the video interview with ChthoniC and Meltgsnow)

Taiwanese black metal band ChthoniC have recently done a cover of the classic Judas Priest song Painkiller as a single and bringing out the motorcycles, leather and class at the same time. The 5 piece band are currently on a tour in the UK after their recent Mirror Of Retribution tour in Singapore with goth metal band Meltgsnow as the opening act and they are showing no signs of taking a break anytime soon! So rev up your engines and blast this song, available now at www.play.co.uk

Tenti-cally, Its Called Art

2010-09-19T06:34:00.000-07:00

Click on the image to view the photoset of Shadow Angelina's tattoo

Recently, the amazing Shadow Angelina from New Orleans, USA was in Singapore for a short holiday and just when you thought that her eye for detail was limited to just her photography skills that has seen the likes of Alice Cooper, Children Of Bodom and various dark alternative models gracing her page (http://www.drowningwoman.net), Shadow has a liking for tattoos and the stay was not going to be restricted to just watching the Hungry Ghost Festival (which by the way, she thought was unique)

Together with Murderfreak Shion, Jean Reiki, myself and my partner, we brought Shadow to the renowned tattoo establishment Visual Orgasm (http://www.visual-orgasm.com), opened by Joseph in 2005 and has won accolades and appearances in several tattoo conventions. Incidentally, Joseph himself will be the tattoo artist who is bringing Shadow's idea to life and from the looks of it, the final product seems like a tantalising prospect. Deciding on having an octopus being inked onto her right shoulder, Shadow was a picture of calm as Joseph was focused on wielding his weapon and overlooking every single detail of the artwork as the rest of us looked on in anticipation and after several hours, it was finally complete. The result? A menacing creature of the sea that strikes fear into the hearts of many while comfortably residing on the shoulders of a fantastic individual who was such an absolute joy to be around with

Photography: Murderfreak Shion (http://www.shionsosei.blogspot.com)

Cosmic Armchair - A Second Look now available on Amazon

2010-09-19T03:42:00.000-07:00

If you missed the opportunity to purchase their new EP A Second Look during their Baybeats 2010 set at the Chillout Stage, it is now available for download at Amazon! Consisting of 5 wonderfully serene tracks, the local synth pop duo of Cosmic Ben and Jane are back to provide the soundtrack to paving the path of bliss through their music. Click on http://www.amazon.com/A-Second-Look/dp/B004189QIE/ref=sr_shvl_album_2/175-4844973-2264951?ie=UTF8&qid=1284891772&sr=301-2 to get your hands on a copy of A Second Look and you will never want to turn a blind eye on quality music ever again

Baybeats 2010: Reflections

2010-08-31T03:36:00.000-07:00

(Click on the photo to visit the Dalsix Tumblr website)

Baybeats 2010 was anything but boring as a variety of acts from all genres converged together at the Esplanade to deliver a show that is spectacular and encouraged mass participation from the crowd at the same time. From today till Thursday, I will writing on my reflections about Baybeats on Tumblr and you can read all about Day 1 right here which featured Rudra: http://dalsixvisser.tumblr.com/post/1040988322?ref=nf. Day 2 and Day 3 will be released on Wednesday and Thursday respectively so look out for my heartfelt reflections and relive those moments once more

Meltgsnow Black Penance Album Release

2010-08-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

(Click on the picture to visit Mourningsound Records)

The insanity has arisen once more and after raising a storm at The Mirror Of Retribution concert opening up for ChthoniC and their epic performance at Baybeats 2010, Singapore goth metal band Meltgsnow will be releasing their much awaited second album Black Penance next month. Brought to you by Mourningsound Records, the album launch will be held at Scapelab on 25th September 2010 and joining alongside Lord Insanity and his dark knights are Fall Of Mirra, Lunarin and Age Of Sinfonia. To find out more about the event, visit http://www.fullbattleorder.com or visit Meltgsnow at http://www.myspace.com/meltgsnow666. Let the conquest begin with the shrill of the chief!

Suit Up With A Touch Of Kink

2010-08-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

(Click on the photo to visit Kinknology)

Need ideas to spice up your love life or simply interested in the art of BDSM? Then look no further as the wonderful Hendricka has the one stop solution to your needs in Kinknology. Like an anorak of sex, this website features from items to tips on enjoying this tantalising art form and with a history that goes all the way back to medieval times (though taboo and not mentioned much), Kinknology is simply an educational tool to explore your innermost desires

Strobe Like A Butterfly

2010-08-19T05:13:00.000-07:00

Strobe like a Butterfly is a visual and musical study of the industrial music movement of the 80s and 90s. The project explores arrangements, formulas and its relationship with the present popular aesthetic environment. By establishing pseudo scientific links and almost downright illogical transpositions of electronic music production into visual art; the team works towards an interpretation of the coveted visual and aural gratification demanded by the masses. The industrial phenomenon, despite representing a general dehumanization, is still born out of human needs. The grand (almost irresponsible) idea is to saturate and exaggerate the formulas and trends of both music and visual production ; bigger bass, louder volumes, more contrast, flashier images, subtler subtleties, stronger language and so on… Essentially, the experiment is that as much as it would lack that human feel, that grace that you would expect from visual-music collaborations, (theoretically) it will fulfill you. It is after all, despite our efforts to convince you otherwise, a rock concert.

The Substation's Address: 45 Armenian Street
Time: 8pm
Date: 23rd August 2010

Admission: Free

Meteoor: Cedric (Meza Virs)

2010-08-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

As Chien from Abyssal looks on at the destruction Cedric is about to create, click on the image above to read about what the Meza Virs frontman has to say in the August edition of Meteoor!

The Interview: Abyssal

2010-08-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

Its dark, brutal and above all, magnificent. In a interview conducted as part of Metal Horde Singapore, I managed to catch up with the nefarious Abyssal as they provide the sermons to your disorientated souls

i. What is the history behind the formation of Abyssal?

ZAHID :

Believe it or not, it all started with a birthday song. From there, we moved on to explore other genres that basically had movement or feel in any sense of the songs we played. As time passed, we got more and more confused and we didn’t know what we were playing till we suddenly landed where we are right now.

All of us happened to be in the same secondary school and we didn’t exactly start out on the right note. Chien and Hafiz were like bread and butter, Chien and Zahid were rivaling drummers, Zihan and Hafiz used to pick on Zahid, Zahid feared Bakar, Bakar picked on basically everyone else. Haha it all sounds like we were from a soap opera cast.

CHIEN :

Yes, the birthday song was the earliest trace of us writing a song together, but i would say

Abyssal truly began when ‘A Blasphemy Is Born’ was developed about 2 years ago. Prior to that, the band can be summarized as this:

80s Rock (Scorpions, Deep Purple) à Mandatory Metal (Metallica, Iron Maiden) à

Power Metal (Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Rhapsody, \m/ Blind Guardian!!! \m/) à

Going Heaver (In Flames, Opeth, Kalmah) à

Now (Everything from Doom, Black to various Folk music, whether it is going to be represented on the EP or not)

Basically, we met in secondary school, started to play music together (covers first), developed our taste(s) for music together according to the ‘timeline’ above, and began to aproduce songs as we discovered ‘new’ sounds and influences. Of course it (influences) varies with each individual, but the general summary is that.

We wrote a few 80s ballads and Heavy/Power metal songs, then upped the symphonic elements, added Melo-Death influences, then some Melodic Black and eventually arrived at ‘A Blasphemy Is Born’

singapore is/has a very kancheong society, so if you are typical and do not have time to pay

attention to details (which is a very sad thing) here is the summary in 4 bullet points.

-Met in secondary school. [Ancient History]

-Played covers of 80s Rock, Heavy/Power metal [Early Beginnings]

-Developed sound with symphonic elements, Melo-Death. [Formation Era]

-A Blasphemy Is Born. [Abyssal]

ii. Recently, we have witnessed the band sharing the stage with an orchestra (at the recent Clash Of The Titans showcase with the Fused Orchestra). How did this collaboration come about?

CHIEN :

A violinist at my school who leads the Fused Orchestra approached me (and

Abyssal) to play for the concert. They wanted to try out different genres for the second half, which included pop and Jazz and of course Metal. It was a good experience for both sides, as well as an opportunity for us to hear our how our songs will sound like with live strings.

iii. How does it feel doing a concert that is different from a metal gig?

ZAHID :

Well, for one, it was bloody VCH, so it was an honour to be playing at such a venue. Can’t say the same about the management though, but the stage was pretty and had so many lights so we were content. Also, there was more restraint for keeping the tempos and the volume so it was pretty tough.

CHIEN :

The first big difference would be the huge stage and dressing rooms.

The first big difference would be the restraint and inhibiting atmosphere/mood of the event.

Not an easy task trying to balance just the right amount of ‘metal’ to put into the performance. It is no mass ritual: we wanted to respect the organizers and the orchestra. However, it would have been unfair to both sides if we had toned down all the way and did it ‘peacefully’. We would have been posers, and the audience would have watched a lie. I’m quite sure the balancing could have been much better, but it was a rushed concert anyways.

iv. Prior to Clash Of The Titans, what other gigs have Abyssal been involved in for the year 2010?

Mass Ritual II, III which were our third and fourth gig respectively

V. Word has it that there is a disc coming out for Abyssal, would you like to talk more about its upcoming release?

Firstly, it is being produced at Inversion Studios with Cedric, and should be ready by late September/early October for release.

CHIEN :

This is more of a demo-EP for us. We are still heavily experimenting with our music and developing our sound*, but figured that it is a neverending process for any band, so we decided to produce a CD. The experience gained from the whole production, from recording to reviews and criticism, would give us new perspectives to work with for future materials/releases.

*This can be clearly seen from the disjointed nature of the five tracks. We have a blend, or mess, of

Symphonic/Melodic Death/Black, some Folk, some Doom, traces of ‘Classical’ music some Gothic elements even.

ZIHAN:

What is made has been with us for quite some time (for eg. ABIB 1 year+). We needed the right moment to start the recording, and i believe that as of now, the songs are

ready, and thus we decided to go into production.

Vi. The underground metal circuit consists mostly of extreme metal bands and being a symphonic metal act in the pack can be an eye opener to some. How do you keep the crowd engaged by offering a different dish to the table?

ZAHID :

Being symphonic doesn’t make us any less extreme or brutal, which is what we try to reflect in our songwriting and chants. We’ve made our chants a tradition in our performances and we love the responses we get from the crowd. One day, we hope to see our chants being echoed by anyone and everyone. It’s kinda like spreading our seed. yummyyummy.

CHIEN :

Symphonic?: A Preliminary

The label ‘symphonic’ has probably caused quite a few arguments since the times of Emperor. Labels were awesome in the past, because genres were still pure and straightforward. When you say Thrash Metal in the 80s, you know your neck is going to get snapped. When you say Black Metal in the 90s, you know a church is getting burnt. Nowadays, the genre(s) is(are) so highly developed, inter-influenced, confused, and misunderstood that it would take countless layers of sub-genres and an essay to define a band.

With all that said, I am not against labels and genres. They still serve as a (non-authoritative and non-definitive) guide for audiences. Also, anyone is entitled to label us as anything. Perspectives are astronomically diverse as of 2010. Hypothetical and extreme but: A pure Westlife fan would probably label Slipknot as Raw Black Metal. A pure Gorgoroth fan would probably label Sonata Arctica as Pop-Metal/Hard Rock. People from my grandmother’s generation would probably think that the speakers are spoilt when they hear Nile. And the thing is, all those views are legit. Views are never wrong, they are only formed. They key is to always look deeper, and never settle for a one word genre label, unless the band is indeed that. Exploration and discovery is one of beautiful things in music that has been neglected due to instant noodles.

In simple words, a symphonic band can be extreme, an extreme band can be symphonic. The raw materials are all laid out infront of us. Everything has been done before. What keeps bands and music going is the personal/unique way of rearranging and fusing these materials. Use labels as guides and as a descriptive medium, not as expectations.

‘How do you keep the crowd engaged by offering a different dish to the table?’

CHIEN :

Technically, we try to

Mix and match sounds that are already developed, which is what musicians have been doing for hundreds of years. Then we try to avoid re-creating a ‘blend’ that has ‘already been blended’, which is also what bands have been doing for decades.

Incorporate some of the rarer sounds (of which none are present in the EP, upcoming songs probably), like Renaissance music, rarer folk influences like Traditional Japanese. Also, we try to improve the quality of blend that is already common, like classical music and Middle-Eastern-ish stuff.

But, no matter how much we try

Someone else has done it before, and has done it better. So the only option left is to be as true to the music as possible, working with it as children and not products. If we enjoy our own music, there is a high chance other like minded people would enjoy it too.

FIZ :

Different dish? sushi or murtabak? hmm…its the appeal we have i guess…we engage the crowd through our sincere compositions and theatrics.

ZIHAN :

We are symphonic, but symphonies should not be the main focus of our sound. It may be the feature in some tracks, but generally, it functions as support and color in our sound, and should not be treated as prime. Even some may think that we are symphonic on first

impression, personally, to me, the thread that goes through all our songs is more of atmosphere and a fusion of melody and elements of Death/Black. To us, the scene and the genres do not pressure us. It is basically our enjoyment of our own music.

Vii. While most bands jump at the fastest opportunity to get their material promoted by various social platforms, Abyssal only has a myspace page to spread the word around. Too much of a hassle making multiple pages or refusal to cave in to instant gratification?

ZAHID :

We’ve seen countless bands dying before they’ve even started and even more so are doing it just to be famous and known in the scene. We just don’t like the idea of being seen as one of them. Although with the upcoming release, we will definitely be expanding to a few of those platforms.

FIZ :

Music is precious…and something genuine…not many can (truly) appreciate (true) music…its like a contamination…once good music is released it’ll spread around like wild fire…to spread good music, we have to engineer it to the best quality…its not easy to make good music. We wouldn’t want to rush…we want to make proper music with soul.

CHIEN :

We are still young and growing. Too much exposure may not be healthy. For example, we have Doom metal influences, which is not particularly popular locally. If we promote ourselves too much and receive many negatives, some of us would probably want to give up the genre. Not to say that we are not true to the music we make, but we have human blood in us, and it is, unfortunately, a natural reaction i would anticipate. Personally, we have to be confident in and assured of our own musical identities before engaging in these commercial and social aspects.

ZIHAN :

If the music is really of worth, somehow, people will be able to find the myspace page. Besides, it is time consuming to manage multiple accounts. The time and effort

can be put into improving our material.

Viii. Is there a power metal influence amongst your members?

ZAHID :

Indeed, most of us were listening to Power metal, trying to keep up with their ridiculous double pedals and solos. Trying to pull a Rhapsody falsetto. Hahaha it was hilarious but that was the genre that showed us our limitations during our youth and it contributed tremendously to our songwriting, especially in terms of strings.

FIZ:

Not me.

CHIEN:

I’m glad you managed to pick that out. Very subtle. Yeah we pretty much started out as a ‘Power’ metal band, Heavy/Power to be exact i think. Then from there all the symphonic and epic elements came in. Kalmah and to a lesser extent In Flames showed us the bridge from Power metal to more extreme influences.

ZIHAN :

All i can say about this is that from what i learnt about Death metal. All us have somehow liked or appreciates Power metal at one point of our lives. It is definitely more easy to the ears of those who just got into metal and stuff. Personally when i started listening to metal i hated bands like Opeth, CoB, Kalmah and stuffs like that mainly because of the vocals, blastbeats and also the weird time signatures. but as time progresses, we all managed to find the beauty of the art of growling, screaming, blastbeats etc and slowly, we start to leave behind our Power metal influences. Nonetheless Power metal is part and parcel of our roots as metalheads.

IX. Growing up, what did the members of Abyssal listen to and who were your musical heroes?

FIZ :

OPETH, Mikael Åkerfeldt.

ZAHID :

Zahid and Chien first started off listening to boybands, punk rock and nu-metal.

Hafiz started off with Limp bizkit and Eminem.

ZIHAN :

As for me, i started listening to Metallica as my first metal band with the song ‘Nothing Else Matters’. had to admit that although they are a thing of the past, they are still good musicians and will always be remembered as the ones who got me into the metal world. Though i’m now into Melodic Death/-Black stuffs, i cant deny the fact that there are other types of music that are worth listening to besides metal. In fact they are the roots to the creation of some of the riffs in our compositions..

X. What keeps the band going irregardless of the obstacles?

ZAHID :

(Law-ee Chee-an Tah-ee)

CHIEN :

A belief that this band’s (and music in general) worth and value is beyond the overrated achievements of o levels, degrees, wifes, children, buying a big house and cars and ___________ (insert whatever desires mediocre singaporean/human culture lusts after here).

ZIHAN :

It’s simple. Our devotion and passion for music. We enjoy playing music we like and we enjoy making music and getting ideas and inspirations from songs we cover or listen to. That’s what have been keeping us together.

XI. Do you have any plans to venture beyond the region?

ZAHID :

Well duh. singapore is too small. we’d like to spread our seed as far as possible. Dubai, Wacken, Stockholm.. nothing is impossible.

CHIEN :

Yes of course. It will be interesting to see/hear reactions from audiences from/with different countries, upbringings and cultures.

FIZ :

Europe

ZIHAN :

I’ll go for Finland. Sweden. Norway. Germany and any other places that appreciates our music. Even Malaysia. I’m not choosy. I’m appreciative.

XII. Any last words to your fans before concluding this interview?

FIZ : I LOVE U

ZAHID : Huh? We have fans?

CHIEN : Do not hesitate to dislike us, or the song(s), if we produce something that you don’t like. Don’t just be fans. Always let the music decide for you.

ZIHAN :

Hmm…I’m not sure if we really have fans yet but if we do, i just want to say thank you for appreciating what we’ve worked so hard for. Honestly, we never made a song to please others. All our songs are made

genuinely from our hearts and soul. It’s an effort to see how far we can go about composing songs that Abyssal band members would like. To me there is no point playing a song by your band that you don’t like. You become an outsider playing a cover song instead. So whatever Abyssal has came up with is what Abyssal’s all about. If it turns out to be accepted well by the people out there, then its a bonus for us as a band (knowing that we can produce things that people enjoy) And if that makes them happy, it makes us happy.

The Sounds Of The Future: EML

2010-08-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

Abundance of music festivals in August aside to appease your hunger for music, when was the last time you discovered something exciting without prior knowledge of the artiste? Like the little known gem that is waiting to be discovered, I was left enthralled and mesmerised by the R.O.J.A.K installation that took place this year at NUS and just when I thought that the Electronic Music Lab would produce something similar, all it took was arriving at the venue for the answers. Held at the University Cultural Centre, the EML showcase was part of NUS Centre For the Arts's House Party and from the moment I stepped onto the premises at the foyer, the crowd did not hesitate to join in the fun and groove along to the unique offering spun by the mixmasters with their cheering and clapping livening up the surroundings. It might have only been a brief setlist of 30 minutes and jostling for position with the other acts but the EML was outstanding in leaving an indelible mark and judging from the resounding ovation that they received, it will not come as a surprise to me if the group is being earmarked for greater things to come. It might have only been a segment for that night but come tomorrow, it will be titular show of their own at a bigger platform. Because when it comes to the beats, EML definitely knows how to come up with the potion to trigger the passion of the human mind

A Rock Salad Fit For Consumption

2010-08-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

It might been their last show before a short hiatus due to the fasting month for 2 of its members and the upcoming National Service enlistment for guitarist/vocalist Syam but The Misfit Ramones were not about to go off into the sunset with a whimper. In fact, the recently concluded Rock Salad provided a fitting way to give themselves a much needed break which has seen the punk trio performing at various gigs and making an immediate impact on an unsuspecting crowd with instant results. Held at Fyewerkz, The Misfit Ramones played a medley of covers and their original songs for 2 separate sets with their trademark enthusiasm and laidback candour complementing well with the music that they play. The Misfit Ramones have been steadily climbing up the digital punk charts and with songs such as Your Breasts Are Big and Sai Kang Warrior, it is just a matter of time before the band reaches new heights both locally and in the region. Who says that punk music has to be all about mohawks and anarchy? With a smile and great interplay, The Misfit Ramones brings positivity and rocks just as hard

EML Music Showcase at NUS (11/08/10)

2010-08-07T20:36:00.000-07:00

As part of the National University of Singapore (NUS) Centre For The Arts' House Party, the Electronic Music Lab will be putting up a showcase that will leave you amazed as original compositions from their members will be used for their perfomance. Like their recent installation R.O.J.A.K, the creative collective from EML has the natural ability to pull all of the stops in ensuring a good time and to find out more, visit the facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141965412497822. The event starts at 8.30pm and is located at the foyer of the University Cultural Centre

Absinthe Heart: Dark Skies Within The Beast

2010-08-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

As you enjoy Baybeats and the Youth Olympic Games this month, pause for a moment and ponder: What does this man pictured above have to do with local music? Simply click on the picture as Absinthe Heart swaps the usual poison for the Singapore Sling this month

Proost!: Age Of Sinfonia

2010-08-04T02:08:00.001-07:00

Formed in late 2008 by brothers Rasen John (Guitars) and Dr Jekyll Hyde (Keyboards), Age Of Sinfonia was formed while being inspired by bands such as power metallers Dragonland and symphonic goth metal band Nightwish with the latter carrying a huge influence on their style of play. After several auditions and line up changes, the band finally came into place with another set of brothers in the form of Elfie (drums) and Andy (bass)plus the addition of a permeanent violinist (JC) whereas vocalist Savvia Lenore was announced as their current frontwoman on 17 February 2010. Combining the sounds of metal and melody in the form of classical music, Age Of Sinfonia is a nice respite from the usual extreme metal acts that Singapore produces in abundance and with the country making great leaps into the global metal scene, Age Of Sinfonia provides a variety that amazingly ables to bring listeners to all genres together. This has been evidenced at their shows, including an appearance for the Singapore Street Festival and the upcoming Youth Olympic Games at *scape Youth Park stage on 21 August while Savvia has recently performed at the Dio tribute gig held in Blackhole 212. Fans of the band and those who are into symphonic metal take note: Their upcoming EP Capriccio will be released by the end of the year and there are possibilities of them doing promotional gigs and do not be surprised if you see their name in countries such as Greece. For a band that is well stocked with talent, Age Of Sinfonia are a testament to the Singapore music scene and could very well be the flagbearers of an emerging symphonic goth metal scene right here

An interview was recently conducted with the band and the article can be found here:
http://www.sdam.sg/content/meteoor-wishblaster-age-sinfonia

To know more about Age Of Sinfonia and listen to their tracks, visit them at:
http://www.myspace.com/ageofsymphony

The Misfit Ramones at Rock Salad

2010-08-04T01:49:00.000-07:00

(Click on poster to RSVP)

Missed their last gig for Toxic Toy? Then fret not as The Misfit Ramones will be performing at Rock Salad which will be at held on Saturday, 7 August 2010 in Fyewerkz Studio. From 4 - 6pm, catch the trio perform alongside acts such as Hatedrome, Scaphoids and Heaven as the melting pot of genres come to bring you a fun and exciting show. Tickets are at $6 and interested parties can contact targetfifty@gmail.com. It will be The Misfit Ramones last show before taking a break so don't miss out!

Truth Be Known - Asphyxihate EP Review

2010-08-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Read all about the Singapore version of Boyzone simply by clicking on the album art to Truth Be Known latest offering, the stunning Asphyxihate

Mass Ritual III: Thanks For The Blackhole Memories

2010-08-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

As you would have heard by now, the soon to be iconic Blackhole 212 will be closing down by end August and

The last band to be added to the line up, Humongous C did not show any signs of nervousness as they opened up for Mass Ritual III with Ashley Rozario (Stillborn) assuming mic duties whereas Raguram and Sean flanked side by side on guitars. Inspired by the duo Tenacious D, one would think that Humongous C would follow suit and emulate their source of inspiration but they are as different as chalk and cheese: Ferocious, thrash fused metal that will lacerate your face if you stand too close to the band and remarkably managed to gather a following despite being first in the bill, a rarity but for a good reason. Special appearances by Sathish (Stillborn) and Jaarvis (in an Osama mask) livened up the atmosphere and gave their setlist a Neapolitan twist to satisfy the licks of the masses. Never judge a book by its cover they say, for Humongous C has pages that will stick to you like an Oriental lady on a summer day

Its dark, gloomy and above all, in chains. The nefarious beings Abyssal have arrived and making an entrance that could turn skeptics into spineless heaps of nothingness. Samhain may be months away but on that day, Abyssal took the sun and swallowed it whole, unleashing the fire of retaliation against spoken hypocrisy that has plagued society. Last seen at Victoria Concert Hall performing at Clash Of The Titans, Hafiz and his priests of annihilation delivered on all counts with the middle of the Chan triplets Chien providing the background sermons and expertly stroking the fretboard with ease. The song Colder Than Life was one of the many tracks that caught my attention as the doomy goth masterpiece was a departure from the usual style that they have played and hopefully it will see the light on their upcoming EP

It was finally Jaarvis’ turn to take centerstage with his band Zaganoth and this time, he has opted for a modest pair of boxers with strategically placed tape along with his trusty fishnet stockings. But it was not just all flash and no dash, Zaganoth brought the latter without the need to compromise and somewhere in skanky heaven, GG Ailin would be smiling to himself while watching a metal version of unabashed scumfoolery being played out

Special mention to the rest of the bands who performed at Mass Ritual III as well (Chaosinfernos, Xanadoo & Fallen Thy Kingdom), for being part of a special occasion and powering the stage to life for the last time. Blackhole 212 will forever remain dear in our hearts and hopefully the management will take root in another place and live for another day. Because music binds us together and breaking the chains of conformity

Mass Ritual III at Blackhole 212 (31/07/10)

2010-07-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

(Click on poster to view and RSVP to the event)

Presented to you by the showstopping Jaarvis from Lights Out Inc, the third installment of the Mass Ritual series is being held at Blackhole 212 on Saturday 31st July from 5pm onwards and the line up alone is worth the ticket price! Featuring the terrorisers known to the metal community as Humonguos C, Zaganoth, Chaosinfernos, Abyssal, Xanadoo, Thy Fallen Kingdom and Wormrot, it is the last event to send July off into orbit until the next year. In light of the recent dark skies that has befallen the island nation with torrential rain, those seeking to get a tan will definitely get roasted in the pits of Blackhole 212 in the presence of the metalocalypse and they will not just bring the thunder, it will be ground breaking lightning served up by the best in Singapore!

Chronicles Of Reverence: Max Schreck

2010-07-25T05:11:00.000-07:00

This dapper European gentleman is one Max Schreck: An accomplished actor with the Munich theater and has a speciality for a certain genre. To find out more, simply click on the photo to access this month's Chronicles Of Reverence at sdam.sg

Absinthe Heart double feature: Chateau Of Grotesque

2010-07-25T04:59:00.000-07:00

Its dark, gory and nothing is spared: It is the Absinthe Heart double feature special with the Chateau Of Grotesque Volume 1 and you can read all about it by clicking on the picture to access sdam.sg

Meteoor: Wishblaster (Age Of Sinfonia)

2010-07-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

It has been undoubtedly a productive year for local symphonic goth metal band Age Of Sinfonia as the year 2010 kicks off with a change of personnel, constant gig appearances and most importantly, adding the final touches to their upcoming EP album Capriccio. In an interview conducted by Metal Horde Singapore, I had the opportunity to interview Age Of Sinfonia days after their performance at the Singapore Street Festival and present the questions that local listeners wanted to know about via email and social networking sites with the band eagerly giving their responses in return
Age Of Sinfonia

(From Left: Elfie, Dr Jackyll Hyde, JC, Savvia Lenore, Andy Swift & Rasen John)
Metal Horde Singpapore (MH): Congratulations on your recent performance at *Scape (as part of the Singapore Street Festival) What were the emotions that were running through your mind before going onstage?
Elfie: It was an emotional roller coaster ride. Though every gig makes us more confident and more prepared, I guess all of us have an added responsibility of not wanting to disappoint. For me personally, it’s more of getting all the co ordinations right. To ensure that all the parts we play and the delivery of the songs is right. Most of us are perfectionist and we do want to give our best with minimal mistakes on stage. All the co ordinations and running through the whole image with showmanship and interactions, it’s a daunting task. But when the whole set is over, I guess all of us were glad that we gave 100%. Playing at an open air event, its comfortable performing in front of friends and families, but its the task of performing in front of unknown people is where we find most challenging. It’s how we deliver to the audience and getting them feels our music that is difficult.

MH: It is heartening to note that fellow symphonic metal band Abyssal had the chance to perform at the Victoria Concert Hall and Meltingsnow slated to perform at this year's Baybeats festival. Is it time for Singaporeans to sit up and notice their local talents?
Andy: Definitely! Our local musicians have the potential to go further but the fact is that our country is small and resources are limited. It would have been different if we were all in Europe and America. Most bands would have made a living playing music. But there’s a remarkable support now as compared to a decade ago and Singaporeans are beginning to appreciate local talent. There are more gigs and enthusiast like yourself and Metal Horde trying to do things for local music. That itself is very forthcoming.

MH: Going back to basics: What is the history behind Age of Sinfonia?
Rasen/Jack: Jack and I were very into symphonic metal/power metal bands like Nightwish, Epica, Dragonland, Adagio and etc. We decided to form a band, play music that we like and write our own originals. Things weren’t smooth sailing as we had a lot of line up changes due to direction and commitment issues and that was until we found the best candidate for drums (Elfie). Andy (Bass) was the next addition when Elfie strongly recommended his brother to us. Jack had the idea of having a violinist so as to enhance our music. That’s where we roped in JC (Violins). We had Savvia as the latest addition with her stunning sopranos. That made us complete. The current line up has been playing together for four months.

MH: Savvia, did you have any experience performing onstage prior to joining Age of Sinfonia?
Savvia: I have been performing since I was young, throughout my schooling and non school-related life. I’ve been on stage as an emcee, an actor, a singer and a musician. It’s been quite while since I’ve stepped foot on stage though, so I must admit I’m quite rusty.

MH: Something that I have highlighted in my recent review of the band was the fact that the band only has one guitarist as opposed to two that is being employed by most bands to handle lead and rhythm duties respectively. How does guitarist Rasen John cope with doing both parts?
Rasen: When recording, I had the solo played over my rhythm layers. When playing live, some of the solos I had to improvise a little because I have to play the rhythm right after the solos. I have few patches on my effect to change between lead, rhythm, clean sounds and definitely as the only guitarist I would have to do more switching between my pickups and zoom effects pedals. Thank zoom for the fast switching between patches so I can conveniently handle the rhythm and lead.

MH: How does violinist JC bring her talents into the foray and at the same time bring balance between symphony and metal for Age of Sinfonia?
JC: The beauty of the Violin is that it can be either a support or lead instrument. In symphonic metal, we tend to hear a lot of strings in the background which can be created with the keyboards. Imagine an Orchestra - the violin creates a fuller sound to complement the layers of strings from the keyboards during verses, and adds to the build up at the chorus. Sometimes, Jack composes more structured classical styles, and other times we go crazy improvising with distortion effects using “Metal Zone” guitar pedals! I guess it really is up to us to create a sound befitting for Symphonic Metal.

MH: Tell us about your upcoming EP that was being played in its entirety at *Scape on Friday
JC: I won’t reveal too much for now but we hope it’s something different for local music in general.

MH: Is there a story or a subliminal message that runs through the upcoming EP?
Savvia: Well, the lyrics I write are inspired by things around and within me. Every song I write either tells a story or has a message behind them, but I wouldn’t consider them subliminal, that sounds too sneaky, haha. But I don’t think I want to reveal too much about what my message or stories are before the EP is out as that may alter the perspective of a first person listener. You guys enjoy it for yourself first and perceive it your own way. Besides, every song holds different meanings for different people. =)

MH: How do you deal with criticism, especially with the inevitable comparisons that are being made with your Western counterparts?
Jack: It’s nice to be compared to other Western bands but we do prefer to have our own identity and originality. Though we have influences from symphonic metal bands, we do hope that we don’t sound like any one of them. It’s for the audience to relate and appreciate. We will always do our best to improve on our shortcomings. I’m also glad that the boys and girls from AOS are one dedicated and disciplined bunch. We do practice hard to improve ourselves constantly.

MH: Juggling a day job and a passion is an uphill task, how do you guys find the time to play together as a band?
Savvia: Our sessions are usually at night to accommodate to our work and schooling schedules. But, I guess for us music is our sanctuary and so juggling the band is not really an “uphill task”. It’s more of a joy and a wonderful stress reliever; it’s what all of us look forward to at the end of our work and schooling day.
Elfie: Definitely stress relievers for all of us, because it’s escapism from the real world.

MH: What plans does Age of Sinfonia have in store for the future?
Elfie: For now, to release our EP, entitled Capriccio. We’re in the production process and we are working towards releasing it in July/August. Then maybe play a couple of promo gigs. Tentatively we have received an offer from Malaysia and Greece to release the EP, but we are keeping our options open. If things go well, we might do a short tour to Malaysia as well. Then it’s back to the drawing board, write new stuff and head back to the studios by the end of the year to complete our LP.

MH: Before wrapping things up, when is the next Age of Sinfonia performance going to take place?
Jack: Our next performance to date will the Youth Olympic Games at *Scape on August 21. Will keep everyone posted our on Facebook and Myspace accounts.
AOS: We would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the people from Metal Horde for interviewing us. It’s such a pleasure.

Much Love
Age of Sinfonia
Savvia-JC-Jack-Rasen-Andy-Elfie

Their upcoming performance will be at *Scape on 21 August 2010 as part of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) celebration which will begin at 4.30pm. Their upcoming EP Capriccio will be released on the same month and vocalist Savvia Lenore will be performing at the Stand Up And Shout Dio tribute gig on 24 July 2010 held in Blackhole 212. To find out more about Age Of Sinfonia, visit them at http://www.myspace.com/ageofsymphony

Forhekset: Stage Smoke And Inferno Mirrors

2010-07-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

After talking about corpse paint and death for the previous editions of Forhekset, it acted as a precursor on what to expect here and to put it succinctly: Unorthodox pleasantries. Giving my 2 cents worth on what my ears and occasionally the eyes pick up from the grapevine, this month takes a look into the seemingly huge issue of stage theatrics and how it has destroyed the reputation of extreme music

It all started with a performance from death metal band Zaganoth during Now Suffer and the mixed reactions from the crowd and internet anonytrolls alike when vocalist Jaar Vis decided to go onstage with his briefs and a stocking adorning his head throughout their setlist. While some were appalled by the shock antics and derided it as a tactic to climb up the metal hierarchy, others applauded the said vocalist for his ability to get the attention of the crowd while backing up with an impressive performance to complement the rest of the line up for the night. It definitely caught my eye no doubt but never did it raise an eyebrow since the likes of scum rockers The Dwarves and G.G Ailin have gone that route before so it is not unusual to see a performer onstage in his innerwear and showcasing his inner Manowar tendencies. What I could not comprehend however, was the blind negativity directed towards Jaar Vis and his band that had nothing to do with the quality of the music churned out but for the minor fact that his theatrics left a sour taste in their mouths. An irony of sorts given that part of the reason why these critics probably got into metal is due to the fact that their favourite band was appealing to their and to a subliminal extent, the image portrayed by them

From Eddie to pyromania at concerts, theatrics and image have become part and parcel of a band aside from their music which fundamentally forms the basis of their varied career lifespans. Metal purists will attempt to put down the notion and quickly insist that image is nothing more but a minor criteria in order to make it in the music industry and forming a fanbase but even the likes of Slayer resorted to corpse paint in the early years of their music career back when Kerry King had hair to rival Dave Mustaine. The black metal genre made the two tone death mask an iconic feature with the likes of Immortal and 1349 wearing the corpse paint until today whereas death metal prefers to say it with blood as evidenced in Carcass' album artworks and the regalia of Polish knights Behemoth. Let us not forget the pioneers of extreme metal as well, for it was the head of a goat featured prominently on Venom's Black Metal album (which also attributed to giving the grim genre its name)that pushed the envelope and gave bands the opportunity to use gimmicks as a tool to launch their material instead of being confined to watching Stryper delivering gifts of goodwill. Since then, masked men in overalls (Slipknot) Vic Rattlesnake (Megadeth) and skinned pigs onstage (Mayhem) are just one of the many ways bands are trying to get the attention of the download generation to skip the mouse and head to the record store instead

Back to the context of the local metal scene, the idea of having stage theatrics are being frowned upon by certain sections of the crowd who wholly reckons that it should be all about the music and nothing else. I beg to differ, having the element of surprise has become a powerful tool that does not exist online in order for a band to get ahead to the rest. The music should never be compromised but it doesn't hurt to make an impression on the crowd visually as well

Dalsix Joins Madness Magazine - Dalsix Visser's MySpace Blog |

2010-07-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

Dalsix has recently joined the ranks of Madness Magazine as their music columnist and giving readers a glimpse of what to expect from releases both new and the yesteryear and to break the ice, the Danzing album was put under scrutiny. Read more about it at the link provided below:

Dalsix Joins Madness Magazine - Dalsix Visser's MySpace Blog |

The Misfit Ramones Playing In Toxic Toy

2010-07-13T00:19:00.000-07:00

Its a non stop rampage from the Proost! featured artiste The Misfit Ramones as they are part of the line up for Malaysian punk rockers Toxic Toy at J3 Studios on 31 July 2010 along with Dropbeat Heartbeat, Frostymug (who also played at The Misfit Ramones showcase), Random Arrival, Morphrunt, Murder By Ska and Shoe Size Nine. Located at Jalan Sultan, tickets for Toxic Toy are going for just $3 and merchandise will be sold on that day as punk music is in revolt and The Misfit Ramones will not be bothered to go to work the next day. More updates to appear on The Misfit Ramones right here including a new track for your listening pleasure on Soundcloud this week after Your Breasts Are Big (I'm Gonna Sue You)

For more information about the gig, go to: http://www.myspace.com/toxictoypiyol

Thambi K Seaow at The Strip Show

2010-07-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Southern style Singapore rockers Thambi K Seaow will be performing at The Strip Show held on 31 July 2010 at the open field located in Merchant Loop just opposite Clarke Quay. Despite the initial postponement of the event, it looks set to go ahead as planned as promises to give both artistes and revellers alike the ability to express their emotions and passion with the likes of stand up comedian Kumar, Mark Bonafide and Wicked Aura making an appearance onstage. Tickets are available at www.tdc.sg and tickets.com outlets at all NTUC Malls for only $15 (inclusive of one free drink) and let the articles of restriction be removed by the madcap Thambi K Seaow!

Stillborn & Zaganoth To Perform At Causeway Chaos

2010-07-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

Its a full on war at Blackhole as 4 bands from Malaysia go head to head with 4 bands to defend local shores as Causeway Chaos prepares for a royal rumble unlike no other! Alongside Deus Ex Machina and Metalgunz are the meteoric death metal band Stillborn and the sadistic ballsy act Zaganoth as they pit their horns against Wynken Delirium, Controlled Issues, Predicate Not Defined and Maddame from Malaysia in a no holds barred contest and a crowd baying for metal ferocity. Organised by Jaar Vis from Lights Out, tickets are available at $10 (presale) and $12 (at the door) so do not hesitate and get your ringside tickets to see the main event before its sold out

(Contact Jaar Vis at 91443884 for details / ticket bookings)

Savvia Lenore (Age Of Sinfonia) Performing At Stand Up And Shout!

2010-07-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

With Age Of Sinfonia preparing the finishing touches to their upcoming EP, vocalist Savvia Lenore has taken some time off to lend her sultry pipes for the Stand Up And Shout! tribute gig for the late Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath, Rainbow) on 24th July 2010 at Blackhole 212. Starting at 5pm, the line up consists of Steel Damage, Maelstrom, Rocket Kingz, Aural Vibes, The Burning Shield, Greensleeves, Endless and Merrapes with Savvia slated to perform at 7pm with tickets going for $6 (presale) and $9 (at the door) For more information and RSVP, click on the poster above and get a glimpse of the steel lunged chateuse

Asphyxihate EP Launch (24/07/10 at *Scape)

2010-07-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Local death metal quartet Truth Be Known will be releasing their debut EP album this month at *Scape, 24th July 2010. Starting at 7pm (with tickets on sale from 6pm onwards), the price of $16 not only entitles you to a free copy of their EP (while stocks last) but also a full metal assault from the likes of Solemn (Taiwan), Bhelliom, Assault and rising death metal rangers Stillborn who will bring Orchard Road to their knees as they deliver the shots down your throat and burn up those veins! Performing both locally and overseas, Truth Be Known has won over plaudits with their full on brutality without the frills that pollute the subculture while wearing their old school death metal patches without any compromise. If you had missed their earlier shows at Blackhole this year, here is a great opportunity to experience the insanity of Subash and his crew onstage! To RSVP for the event, simply click on the banner and be part of the gag

For more information:
www.fullbattleorder.com
www.myspace.com/fullbattleorder

SchmerZ delays the release of Navegante!

2010-07-11T03:21:00.000-07:00

Industrial dark ambient band SchmerZ has delayed the release of the album Navegante!. Scheduled to be released on July 15, personal issues affecting DerWolf (the brainchild and sole member of SchmerZ)have pushed back the release of what could be a a fabulous album judging from the tracks that are being heard online on their page. To read more about it:

News from "Navegante!" - SchmerZ's MySpace Blog |

Dalsix on Carbonmade

2010-07-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

(Click on image to visit the site)

While I am usually accustomed to typing away at the computer and waxing lyrical on paper, there are times where I go behind the lens either to capture certain moments of a concert or bring back a piece of a country that I have visited. After being relegated to the hard disk or a bit part player on social networking sites, Beauty Through Broken Glass (aneyesettokill.carbonmade.com) showcases selected photos that I feel are capture at the right time and while the selection for now seems haphazardly, there will be updates every now and then whenever a wonderful photo has been captured on my digital camera. It might not be up to professional standard but it definitely tells a story behind those pixels

Pissing On The Ignition: Meza Virs

2010-07-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

The skies were hovering aroud in darkness and drops of rain were beginning to turn lush greenery into sludge as the crowd began to gather around to prepare for an experience unlike no other. If you think that it was going to be a hands on the shoulders and chiming choruses in Woodstock fashion then you were in for a huge jolt. Irregardles of genre and ancient folk, the storm has arrived and with thunder came the act everyone was anticipating in contrast to the dull monotomy earlier in the day as Meza Virs made their appearance onstage as the band brought out the chains and facecages to dominate and destroy to full effect. Taking some time off from working on their upcoming EP, Meza Virs did not look lethargic at the very least as they continue to set the benchmark for what a live performance should be all about: Stage presence, stunning visuals and the element of unpredictability and they definitely maanaged to do all of that while not compromising their crafted sound. Combining the snarling diabolical growls of Cedric and sweet comforting sounds of Jasmine along with the cohesive rhythm section that holds the fort with nary a gap in between, Meza Virs propelled through their 35 minute set with a medley of their original songs, a cover of The Cure in the form of Love Song and indication of how the upcoming EP will sound like. A special appearance in the form of Abyssal's Chien as Cedric's doppelganger had everyone seeing double momentarily but the Gemini effect definitely gave an element of surprise, much to the joy of the audience and also fans of Abyssal as well. Unfortunately, their set was cut abruptly by the organisers midway through Tragic Vendetta but disputes aside, the deserved credit to the band should not be compromised at all as it is always about the music first, above anything else. Meza Vir's appearance alone sparked a resurgence into the crowd and it was mission accomplished for the band for they have successfully set the stage alight and showed them how to ignite it right

For more information on the band:
http://www.myspace.com/mezavirs

Meza Virs- Love Song.mp4

2010-07-03T21:33:00.000-07:00

Metal lords Meza Virs took to the stage at the IGNITE! Music Festival with great aplomb and this is their rendition of Love Song by The Cure. Note that prior to this, Meza Virs used to do a cover of Du Hast by Rammstein but they definitely know how to give things a huge dose of metal injection!

Proost!: The Misfit Ramones

2010-07-02T02:36:00.000-07:00

Formed in 2008 by the trio of Syam41 (Guitar/Vocals), Justin Ramone (Bass/Vocals) and Mizar "The Miz" Ramone (Drums), the Singaporean bred punk band are not just your typical covers band despite the nature of their name that is a combination of horror punks The Misfits and brotherhood bonded The Ramones although renditions of their songs have been sung in The Misfit Ramones gigs as a form of tribute to their main influences. Sounding like a clash between an upbeat cousin of Turbonegro and early NOFX other than their main idols, The Misfit Ramones combine catchy hooks with tongue in cheek lyrics such as Your Breasts Are Big (I'm Gonna Sue You), local matters (Saikang Warrior) and personal misfortunes (Bird Shit) to a vocal and loyal band of followers in every gig that they have performed. This year alone, they have made appearances at Home Club, the Fade Of Blackhole tribute to Metallica and their very own standalone showcase at Chapter 6 with an upcoming performance at J3 Studios on 31st July together with Malaysian punk band Toxic Toy. A laidback candour, easy to sing songs that will hit you faster than a sugar rush and a mission to have fun irregardless of the occasion, The Misfit Ramones will definitely be singing Hey Ho Lets Go until its Saturday Night!

To find out more about The Misfit Ramones:

http://www.myspace.com/themisfitramones
http://www.reverbnation.com/themisfitramones
http://www.soundclick.com/themisfitramones

Meza Virs Performing At Ignite! Music Festival

2010-06-30T01:13:00.000-07:00

Catch the imposing symphonic black metal band Meza Virs perform at the Ignite! Music Festival this Saturday (03/07/10) at Republic Polytechnic along with the likes of The Analog Girl, The Marilyns, Plainsunset and many more during this 2 day festival. Their set will begin at 7pm but do turn up early and form the line of destruction as Meza Virs will put on a show that will make poseur scene teens quiver in their pants while the horde raise their horns in full glory

Age Of Sinfonia releases Unfrozen

2010-06-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of their upcoming EP release, symphonic gothic metal band Age Of Sinfonia have uploaded the track Unfrozen on their Myspace site and to hear how it sounds like, simply click on the image above and be prepared to be swept away

Now Suffer Gig Review

2010-06-29T09:27:00.000-07:00

The lights might have been dimmer than usual in Blackhole for Now Suffer but it was anything but below average onstage as Stillborn, Zaganoth, Xanadoo, Bhelliom and Oshiego put up fiery performances onstage that could rival the sweltering weather outside with the gauntlet being thrown from the word go and the crowd just as prepared

It has been a whirlwind month for rising death metal band Stillborn and despite being unable to perform for Damaged, the five man wrecking crew made up for lost time by channeling their pent up aggression onstage as the first band and while their cover of I Got Erection was not resurrected after receiving a rapturous response during Mosh Party 5, their original compositions was suffice to keep the crowd engaged. A slight stage mishap prior to their set was quickly brushed aside as tunes such as Words Of A Priest resonated clearly and the message was spread throughout the revellers for the evening, notching yet another feather to their impressive collection of caps

The brakes were not applied and bringing things to a halt just yet: In fact, Zagaroth stomped on the accelerator pedal and brought things to a new level not just musically but also in terms of appearance as vocalist Jaar Vis appeared onstage with what can be described as a cross between an executioner and a metal Chippendale beefcake. It definitely caught the eye of the audience and certainly a few catcalls as Zagaroth was bulging with extreme metal testosterone, ready to prick on its skeptics and unleashing the gates of hell at the same time with the rhythm section not being distracted by their main purpose and it was definitely an eye catching performance for all the right reasons in the end. Combining a variety of elements into their music and providing a refreshing respite, Zagaroth delivered an elongated shot to the metal system and the screams from the pit is a testament to their dedication

The best of the rest were definitely not forgotten as well with the remaining trio building up the successful momentum of Now Suffer as thrash infused heroes Xanadoo bellowed a commanding presence that has seen them getting rave reviews in recent months while special guests Bhelliom making a triumphant appearance soon after and justifying their cameo without any moment of doubt. The set for the night finally ended with local pharaohs Oshiego bringing down the house with the wall of death poised to portray their adulation. Just like what the papyrus indicated, it was nothing less than a vicious sandstorm with Oshiego made incantations in the form of their songs that comprised mostly from their recent offering Unending Carnage that was given away as a door gift for those who attended the gig. With the edicts being spread and a rousing applause for Arv Ind and his crew, Now Suffer was an extreme jolt from start to finish!

To listen more:
Stillborn http://myspace.com/stillbornsg
Zaganoth http://www.myspace.com/zaganoth
Xanadoo http://www.myspace.com/xanadoosg
Bhelliom http://www.myspace.com/bhelliomsg
Oshiego http://www.myspace.com/oshiego

Stillborn- Words Of A Priest (Now Suffer 27/06/10)

2010-06-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

With June coming to a rocking end, what better to end it than a clip of Stillborn performing their well known song Words Of Priest as performed in the recently concluded Now Suffer. With such ferocity and fervent fans backing them up, its easy to see why Stillborn are lauded as the next wave of local extreme metal bands that will whet your appetite!

Chronicles Of Reverence: Vlad III, Prince Of Wallachia

2010-06-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

What does Christopher Lee, Romania and impalement have in common? Chronicles Of Reverence column at the Singapore Dark Alternative Movement site looks into the life of one Vlad III, Prince Of Wallachia who is also known as Vlad The Impaler and a man whose love for blood led to the birth of a renowned fictional character. Who is it? Just click on the image above to find out more

Johnny Shameless And His Minions Slated To Perform At Good Music For Bad People

2010-06-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

(Click on poster to view the event)

Fans of Johnny Shameless And His Minions who craving for more shock, scum and cum, here is a chance to catch them live next month as they are slated to perform at The Stoned Revivals Good Music For Bad People gig next month at The Substation on 27th June 2010. Marking their 20th anniversary in the local circuit and bidding farewell to Slowjaxx, Good Music For Bad People features an all star line up which includes Johnny Shameless And His Minions, The Great Spy Experiment, Stellarium Moods plus appearances from Francis Frightful (OP), David Knight (USA) and members from The Stoned Revivals both past and present as they play their greatest hits. Tickets are at $10 and only available at the door

Saturday Night with The Misfit Ramones

2010-06-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

Currently on a roll following their recent appearances at Blackhole and Home Club in the month of June, local punks The Misfit Ramones are at it once again and this time, it was held at the cosy surroundings of Chapter 6 Studio with Frostymug opening up the set of their intimate showcase. The energetic trio of Syam41 (Guitar/Vocals) Justin Ramone (Bass/Vocals) and Mizar "The Miz" Ramone (Drums) were clearly feeling at ease performing a mix of their original compositions and covers from The Misfits and The Ramones (hence the name)plus some special treats along the way throughout their set which included an acoustic segment with Mizar serenading the supportive crowd and Syam swapping for an acoustic guitar, a door gift for everyone in attendance and finally an open mic session where guest performers got the chance to perform with The Misfit Ramones and this includes the likes of Beel (for Evergreen Blitzkrieg Pop), James Toh and birthday boy Sean Sundaran. Even yours truly had a role to play with the rendition of The Misfits song Die Die My Darling and just like the showcase in whole, it felt totally at home without the feel of being under pressure as The Misfit Ramones are a band that know how to have a good time playing their instruments with relative ease and ensuring that everyone gets a piece of the action with smiles on their faces while heading back home. Look out for more details here on their upcoming gig and on the Dalsix Soundcloud page very soon as the Merlion zombies are ready to go out and kill tonight!

Stillborn TV is launched

2010-06-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

Watch clips of local death metal band Stillborn on their channel in youtube as Tharenii, Sathish and crew are presented through film and into the comforts of your living room!

Forhekset: Cliff Hanging Eulogies

2010-06-20T04:50:00.000-07:00

Whether it was formed among a group of friends during high school or a merger between various bands, only a handful of these hopefuls attempting to live the dream and emulate their idols will go on to the desired path and play in festivals on a constant basis. Yet the road to stardom is strewn with nails along the way, threatening to burst their tyres and derail the band off their tracks with individual members leaving at some point of time or have their Fate being decided by the grim reapers of Fate and fickle music listeners. Is the death of a member both literally and metaphorically spell the end of a band? Or does it spur them on to continue their passion in memory of their fallen comrade?

With a long standing history which began at the tailend of the 80s and with a frontman in the form of Jon Nödtveidt who started out promoting black metal bands in native Sweden as a music journalist, Dissection was one of the pioneers in extreme music and spawning a host of bands which included At The Gates as the Scandinavian nation followed the likes of Norway and Denmark in establishing a strong foothold in Europe. Aside from Dissection, Nödtveidt also appeared in several other bands such as De Infernali, Terror and Opthalamia (under the guise of Shadow) just to name a few but despite a stint in prison after being convicted of murder, he did not waste time in going under the radar and quickly reformed Dissection and released an EP (Maha Kali) followed by a full length album in 2006 (Reinkaos) with the band looking poised to make a comeback and reclaim their spot as one of the foremost extreme metal bands in Sweden. Sadly, their promising return was nothing more but a brief flicker of hope as Nödtveidt ended his own life by suicide on 16 August 2006 with the remaining members of the band deciding to call it a day soon as Set Teitan and Thomas Asklund moving on to other projects. But Jon Nödtveidt was not forgotten in a flash as fellow Swedes Deathstars dedicated the song Via The End from their Night Electric Night in memory of him with bassist Nightmare Industries being his younger brother (Emil Nödtveidt) bequeathing a fitting eulogy. The same tragedy was faced with Damageplan as guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott was fatally shot onstage by one Nathan Gale just when he and his brother Vinnie Paul Abbott was about to begin a fresh start following the demise of their former band Pantera with Damageplan providing that opportunity to continue their love for music and sharing the stage together as siblings with bassist Bob Zilla and vocalist Pat Lachman completing the quartet. While their future looks uncertain, the likelihood of a subsequent record release is becoming near impossible as Bob and Vinnie Paul are currently busy with HELLYEAH while Pat is running his own music clinic. The hand of death also robbed a promising band of their most treasured member as drummer Witold "Vitek" Kiełtyka from Polish metal band Decapitated was killed in a road accident and died a few days later on 2nd November 2007 with vocalist Adrian "Covan" Kowanek going into a coma and while he was able to avoid death, his recovery was slower than expected and with Decapitated announcing the decision to go on hiatus, it looked as though the Grim Reaper added another fatality into his list by premature death

But the journey for Decapitated did not end just there despite taking 2 years before emerging from the depths of despair. Making up for lost time that was spent grieving over the loss of their members, guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka decided to gather up the shattered pieces and reassembled a new line up as part of his efforts to revitalise the once promising Polish band. Thankfully for them, their record label Nuclear Blast records and management company Hard Impact Music stood by their side in times of turmoil and the band has announced dates to tour in Europe and metal festivals with the intention to release a new album at the same time, showing their testament to continue the hard work in memory of Vitek. But they were definitely not the first band to continue working together in spite of tragedy as black metal icons Mayhem faced a spate of deaths throughout its tenure as a band with suicide and murder threatening to tear them apart. Formed in 1984, the Oslo based band from the Scandinavian nation of Norway, Mayhem's first brush with death came in 1988 when vocalist Per Yngve Ohlin (Dead) joined the band in place of Maniac who left the band due to depression but his stint with the band only lasted for 3 years as signs of his strange demeanour and onstage artillery of broken glasses and hunting knives providing a clear indicator. On 8 April 1991, Dead tried out the aforementioned knives but when it became apparent that it was blunt enough to penetrate, a rifle was used instead and the bullet to his dead provided the escape to the afterlife which Dead yearned for. Attila Csihar from Tormentor and Varg Vikernes (Burzum) were soon recruited with the latter in place of Necrobutcher who left soon after the death of Dead and it was Varg who became the cause of founder Øystein Aarseth (Euronymous) departure on 10 August 1993 as he was murdered Euronymous and was arrested soon after, spending 21 years in prison and Mayhem was on the verge of extinction. It was up to Hellhammer to hold the fort and continued carrying the burning torch as Maniac and Necrobutcher made a return to the band along with a new guitarist (Blasphemer) to record and release an EP (Wolf's Lair Abyss) followed by a full length album in 2000 (Grand Declaration Of War) while continuing to tour extensively and undeterred by the spate of incidents that have threatened to derail their progress. Despite the subsequent departures of Maniac (replaced by the returning Atilla Csihar) and Blasphemer (replaced by Morpheus), Mayhem continues to make nefarious music for the music and a blueprint for success in the face of tragedy and notoriety

As the wounds of the recent deaths of Ronnie James Dio, Peter Steele and Paul Gray remain fresh to fans and bandmates alike, it remains uncertain as to whether their respective bands Heaven & Hell, Type O Negative and Slipknot will continue to make music in honour of their deceased bandmate or to discontinue making music in that name to focus on other projects and respect the legacy that was made while they were around. But whatever the case is, it is certain that their impact will forever be embalmed and remembered in generations to come

Wishblaster: Interview With Age Of Sinfonia

2010-06-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

As promised earlier, the interview with local symphonic goth metal band Age Of Sinfonia is finally out on the Metal Horde Singapore site on Myspace with myself given the opportunity to speak with the extremely talented band which will be going place for the next few months. Read all about it by clicking on the photo below:

Meteoor: Scums Of The Earth

2010-06-16T03:32:00.000-07:00

Meet Patient Zzero, a nice family man who loves wearing a mask to entertain kids and walks in the park. But then again, that is what people expect of society and Patient Zzero along with his crew of henchmen that surround Johnny Shameless And His Minions are anything but nice. Click on the photo to access the article and be prepared to be spunked

Age Of Sinfonia at *Scape (Singapore Street Festival)

2010-06-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

(Credit: Kianyong Tan (Metal Horde Singapore). Click on the picture to access the album)
It has been a positive month for local metal music with numerous gigs to exhibit their undisputed talents and for symphonic metal, it has been given a huge leverage to ascent as evidenced in the recent Clash Of The Titans showcase featuring Abyssal and on Friday, the opener for the Singapore Street Festival featured yet another symphonic metal band with a gothic twist added into their petrol as Age Of Sinfonia displayed an explosive display at *Scape during their 7 song setlist. Along with 2 cover songs in the form of Evanescence and Within Temptation, Age Of Sinfonia performed all 5 tracks from their upcoming EP Capriccio with their new frontwoman Savvia Lenore spearheading the melodious sextet which also consists of Rasen John (Guitars), Andy Swift (Bass), Elfie Corleone (Drums), Dr Jackyll Hyde (Keyboards) and JC (Violin) and like the stage that was presented to them, Age Of Sinfonia made every inch count with their electrifying stage presence. It is interesting to note that the band actually has a full fledged violinist in their ranks and this can only be found in folk metal bands such as Korpiklaani or part of a full orchestra contributing to an album but utilising it as part of the band's set up and at some point giving lead guitar roles is a masterstroke move by Age Of Sinfonia but does this mean that the guitarist gets relegated to the background? Fears were soon allayed as Rasen John manages to avoid that manhole and displays his expertise without breaking into a sweat and coordinating well with the rest of the band. As for Savvia who recently joined the band, her second outing with Age Of Sinfonia deserved a rousing applause as she did not attempt to mimic the vocal styles of other contemporary gothic metal acts and went about her performance at ease as this dynamite definitely made an explosive impact at the Singapore Street Festival and one cannot wait until the next time this band makes an appearance on stage irregardless of the occasion as they bring their own wizardry into the foray and making it their own

(Look out for the upcoming Age Of Sinfonia interview on Metal Horde and the July edition of Meteoor at sdam.sg)

The Misfit Ramones Showcase at Chapter 6 Studio

2010-06-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

(Click on photo to RSVP for the event)

The origins of goth music stemmed from the roots of the punk subculture and while Siouxsie Sioux And The Banshees are hailed as one the founding members of gothic music, it was The Misfits with Lodi born lead singer Glenn Danzig that gave punk the element of horror in the form of B movie film influences, outlandish hairstyles and bandmates dressing up for daily Halloween. Not only is the Crimson Ghost logo became an iconic insignia for horror punk music, their music became a pivotal influence for many bands in the gothic music subculture today and come 19th June at Chapter 6 Studio, relive those childhood memories singing the likes of Last Caress and Saturday Night with The Misfit Ramones together with opening band Frostymug. As their name would suggest, covers from The Misfits will be featured along that of The Ramones plus few of their original songs and as a special treat for the audience in celebration of their 2nd anniversary, there will be an open mic session for the crowd to participate in so style those devilocks and kill the night with the Singaporean ghouls!

No Gaps, Just Cohesion: Damaged

2010-06-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

It is an uphill struggle to establish a local band in a country that is continually trying to establish a strong foothold in metal music in the face of international mainstream acts and musical fads favoured by teenagers but as evidenced at Damaged held in Blackhole 212, Singapore musical acts have enough quality in their ranks and even though these bands do not have adequete exposure in promoting their music in contrast to their European counterparts, the support received is just as fanatical. Chaos Infernos may be seen as just another black metal band and with a relatively young history under their bullet belts but to underestimate their talent onstage would be absolutely criminal. Combining the magic of vocalist/guitarist Kyle Ravin (who is coincidentally, a real life magician), musical fortitude of bassist Mizan and the mayhem of drummer Tharenii (guitarist of Thambi K Seaow & Stillborn), Chaos Infernos definitely lived up to its nefarious name by askewing overproduced modern black metal in favour of old school primitive black metal. The trio gave a proper lesson to the other bands in stage presence by maintaining constant contact with the crowd, taking in hellfire and unleashing hit after hit without distupting the momentum with their East meets West infusion and songs such as Chaos Rising that everyone was singing along to. It is a blast beat back to the past for black metal and with older bands going back to their traditional roots, Chaos Infernos makes it look cool but at the same time backing it up with music one can go on a rampage with

Tharenii was definitely a busy man for the night and even though Stillborn was unable to make an appearance due to conflicting commitments, vocalist Sathish and guitarist Lyon was among the crowds showing their support for their comrade onstage as he performed double duty for Chaos Infernos and dyed in the Merlion scales band Thambi K Seaow together with bassist/vocalist Burp and drummer Karan as the sarong clad thumpers bridged the musical gap and bringing an infectious demeanour which can be rather tough to appease a highly volatile crowd used to intense and extreme music. Then again, there is a reason why TKS is a band that is loved across all genres and platforms and as a first time audience member watching them live, it does not take much to endear to the band. In the absence of Shyam Raj who primarily does the vocals and injecting humour into songs that has become a TKS trademark, Burp stepped up to the plate like a breeze and the spotlight was nothing more than a huge naan that is being shared with everyone in a huge pool of dalcha. Easygoing candour, groovy riffs and quirky lyrics that is a true reflection of the Singapore culture, a typical TKS gig definitely makes one feel at ease and it brings you back to the days when hanging around at the void decks with an acoustic guitar at one hand and packets of hot beverage from the nearest sarabat stall on the other. If America can give the world a piece of southern rock in the form of Lynard Skynard then Singapore can send out TKS and their merry band of slipper wearing kakis to show the world what the island nation is all about and chances are, the world will take to them like fish to water. But for now, these 2 bands have won over the hearts of the audience at Damaged and that's no illusion for sure

Erecting Authority: The Stillborn One at Mosh Party 5

2010-06-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

Kicking things off in the month of June was the much anticipated Mosh Party 5 held at Blackhole on June 5th with a medley of genres being put into the mix including 2 bands from across the Causeway. While it took quite some time before a metal band was up onstage, it was worth the wait as that band in question happens to be the mercurial death metal band The Stillborn One and without any hesitation, they wasted little time in causing a huge shockwave across the walls into the crowds as they rabidly surged forward in watching the band upclose. It may be a busy month for the band this month alone with numerous gigs being lined up for them including the upcoming Now Suffer on the 27th but there were no signs of fatigue as it was business as usual for The Stillborn One with their frenzied vocalist Sathish brutalising the microphone whereas the rest of band released their unbridled fury with wild abandon, much to the rapturous response from the crowd. It might come as a surprise to newcomers who are watching the band for the first time that The Stillborn One was playing with a new personnel for only the second time onstage (the first being Grindhouse 2010) as bassist Ashley was fluidly in sync with twin guitarists Lyon and Tharenii while Jia-Ting launches the artillery from behind the drum kit. The highlight for the night definitely had to be their rendition of I Got Erection by death punk band Turbonegro with singalong choruses and an air of demented behaviour urging the crowd to shed their inhibitions

Special mention goes out to Flawed Element for putting out a stellar setlist and maintaining the quality of music right after The Stillborn One. Armed with a keytar player on tow, Flawed Element managed to dazzle the crowd and vindicated their credentials with little persuasion needed

Stillborn Announces Change Of Name

2010-06-10T17:24:00.000-07:00

With effect from today, local death metal crew Stillborn has tweaked their name to The Stillborn One and will perform under the new moniker at Now Suffer on 27th June at Blackhole. The Proost! band of the month announced the news yesterday evening and page links for their Myspace and Facebook accounts remain the same

Koil Launches Aku Lupa Aku Luka Video

2010-06-10T10:51:00.001-07:00

Indonesian industrial rockers Koil have released a new video from their Blacklight Shines On album and it is poised to be a hit with viewers from the start of the first frame directed by Rizal Mantovani. The four piece stompers comprising of J.A.V (Vocals) Donnijantoro (Guitars) Leon Ray Legoh (Drums) and Adam Vladvamp (Bass) have 5 albums under their belt throughout their 17 year history and the Bandung based band are influenced by the likes of Pink Floyd, Tool, White Zombie and Rammstein just to name a few. If the name Vladvamp sounds familiar to the gothic subculture in Singapore, it is simply no mere coincidence as he dropped by to assume DJ duties as the main headliner for the Singapore Dark Alternative Movement's Halloween party held at Hyde Bar last year and word has it that he might return sometime soon but with Koil on tow. Updates will be posted here on Fortress Of Tears on any official news but meanwhile, enjoy their latest launch right here:

(To find out more about Koil, visit them on their myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/koilkarat and on facebook)

Age Of Sinfonia & Abyssal double feature!

2010-06-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I will be interviewing members from local symphonic metal bands Age Of Sinfonia and Abyssal with the both of them sharing more than just an affinity for the same genre. Collaborating together with the Fused Orchestra for the recent Clash Of The Titans concert at the Victoria Concert Hall, Abyssal was able to seamlessly pull off an impressive setlist and ending off with a cover of Judas Priest's Breaking The Law to a rapturous reception from the metal community on that night while Age Of Sinfonia will be performing an one hour set for the opening of the Singapore Street Festival on Friday, 11th June 2010 at 9pm. So to anyone who are fans of the abovementioned bands, metal music or even casual observers wanting to know more about our local talents, here is a chance to ask your questions by Sunday 13th June and selected ones will be relayed to them as part of my interview session with them. Both articles will be published here and on affiliated sites (Metal Horde Singapore & SDAM) so send those questions in either by Formspring (Question box located on the navigation links) Facebook (via the Dalsix page) or at dalsixvisser@gmail.com

We Burn In Fire (Nevar Photography)

2010-06-06T16:29:00.000-07:00

(Click on photo to view article)

Read on what Nevar has to say about the photoshoot that I was in as her muse for the afternoon with the sun appearing just at the wrong time plus her other photography masterpieces with various models and perspectives on her site

Stillborn performing I Got Erection (Mosh Party 5, 5th June 2010 at Blackhole)

2010-06-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

Local death metal band Stillborn are in demand this June and judging from their cover of Turbonegro's I Got Erection, its easy to see why. With myself contributing my euphoria in the form of singing the first line of the chorus in this video, their set was the highlight of Mosh Party 5! Look out for the upcoming gig review with fellow metallers Flawed Element in it as well

Breaking The Law With The Wall Of Sound (Abyssal)

2010-06-06T15:53:00.000-07:00

To access the article, click on the photo above to read all about it at the Singapore Metalheads Portal

Making A Cameo in Room 101

2010-06-06T15:41:00.000-07:00

(Click on photo to access video link)

Appearing together with me on the debut episode of Room 101 featuring Johnny Shameless And His Minions are Serpentina and Sonia from Metal Horde, wrecking havoc and giving the contestants some grief. Look out for my upcoming interview with Kimotherapy and Patient Zzero from the band soon!

Proost!: Stillborn

2010-06-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

(Click on the photo to visit their myspace page)

(Stillborn: Jia-Ting, Tharenii, Sathish, Vishnu and Lyon in the first incarnation)

Despite the popularity of mainstream music genres in Singapore and the emergence of hardcore music in recent times, it is heartening to note that metal has been able to weather the rising tide and maintain its relevance right here without the need to commercialise in order to get an audience. Its akin to a secret society of good music where only the best are accepted and if there is such a group in existence then Stillborn wouldn't need to fill up a single form. In fact, they can simply walk in any event and rise to the occasion with minimal fuss and a testament to their talent is evident with the 3 shows that are being lined up for them in June alone namely Mosh Party 5, Damaged and Now Suffer. Formed in 2007, the death metal quintet comprises of Sathish (vocals), Lyon (guitar), Tharenii (guitar), Jia-Ting (drums) and newest member Ashley (bass) replacing original member Vishnu in April this year. Bonded by their common love of extreme metal acts such as Behemoth, Cannibal Corpse and Meshuggah, Stillborn wears their influences on their sleeves while onstage and interestingly, they seek inspiration from regional acts such as Rudra creating a unique sound without compromising on quality. Like a bull in rage, lead singer Sathish barges thorough onstage with tremendous impact that belies his wiry frame while guitarists Lyon and Tharenii playing off each other's chords with a calm demeanour as Jia-Ting works out a sweat and abusing his drumkit without sparing a thought for sympathy but then again, this is a genre that spares no expense in the pursuit for quality. Despite the setback that they faced earlier this year and the impending conscription for Sathish in August, Stillborn refused to back down under pressure and the naysayers were given a kick in a face with Grindhouse 2010 proving to them that what seems to be their fatality only strengthens the band further and Ashley's debut on bass is an indicator of progression for Stillborn. Yet at the end of the day, these guys go off the stage together and take time to hang out with each other and knocking back with a couple of beers, a testament that music is not just a hobby, its the bond that brings friends together no matter what the circumstances are

(The new line up onstage for Grindhouse 2010)

(Bull on a rage: Sathish giving the microphone his blessings)

Like what you see? Support the band at their page on Facebook and receive updates on their upcoming gigs. Stillborn are slated to perform at Mosh Party 5 (05/06/10), Damaged (08/06/10) and Now Suffer (27/06/10)

Dalif Roos Hurmuri Heilig likes

Stillborn

Create your like badge

The Misfit Ramones performing Last Caress at Fade To Blackhole

2010-05-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

Look out for their upcoming showcase with Frostymug at Chapter 6!

Day Of Atonement Slated To Perform At Trendy Bangsat Fest 18

2010-05-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

It has been a packed month for the Surabaya goth metal outfit and for a good reason as well. Not only did they perform at Transsounds held in their country Indonesia, their single Dead Man Whisper received airplay on the Meshradio programme Taste Of Darkness in Singapore and preparations for their upcoming album have begun as well. While that is being put at the back of their mind for now, Day Of Atonement are gearing up for yet another gig organised by Indonesian metal promoters Panzerfaust Division along with 23 other bands from various parts of Indonesia with names such as Titik Koma, Bersimbah Darah and Boroxide just to name a few. The 18th edition of Trendy Bangsat Fest will be held on June 6 at Gedung Srimulat, Surabaya (Indonesia) and tickets cost 25,000 rupiah for pre-sale tickets and 30,000 at the door with merchandise going for 50,000 rupiah. For those living elsewhere and would like to go for a short holiday, this is the ideal getaway to spend your weekend or school vacation with a festival that is being throughout the entire day. Day Of Atonement will be the 19th band onstage and will start their 20 minute set at 4.20pm so get your gothic power metal fix at Trendy Bangsat Fest!

Name: Trendy Bangsat Fest 18

Date & Time: 6th June 2010, 10.00am - 9.00pm
Place: Gedung Srimulat, Surabaya, Indonesia
Price: Rp 25,000 (pre-sale) Rp 30,000 (at the door)
Acts:
01. 11.00 - 11.15 CRUEL ANGEL - Surabaya Death Metal
02. 11.15 - 11.30 EVELYN VIOLETA - Surabaya Metal Core
03. 11.30 - 11.45 KORAK - Sidoarjo Hard Core
04. 11.45 - 12.00 ZORV - Surabaya Grunge
05. 12.00 - 12.15 PAK TUA - Surabaya Metal Core
06. 12.15 - 12.30 DEAD CRIMINAL - Surabaya Death Thrash Metal
07. 12.30 - 12.45 NEGARA BONEKA - Sidoarjo Metal Core
08. 12.45 - 13.00 BORN AFTER DYING - Surabaya Hard Core
09. 13.00 - 13.15 FREEDOM FIGHTER - Surabaya Heavy Metal
10. 13.15 - 13.30 DARK AGE - Jogja Death Metal
11. 13.40 - 14.00 AMERTA - Surabaya Gothic Metal
12. 14.00 - 14.20 CLIMAXETH - Surabaya Technical Death Metal
13. 14.20 - 14.40 VENDUZOR - Surabaya Death Metal
14. 14.40 - 15.00 THIRSTY BLOOD - Sidoarjo Black Metal
15. 15.00 - 15.20 VIOLENCE - Surabaya Symphonic Gothic Metal
16. 15.20 - 15.40 FEAR INSIDE - Surabaya Death Metal
17. 15.40 - 16.00 TITIK KOMA - Surabaya Death Metal
18. 16.00 - 16.20 DRY - Surabaya Blackened Death Metal
19. 16.20 - 16.40 DAY OF ATONEMENT - Surabaya Power Gothic Metal
20. 16.40 - 17.00 UNDER MY THROAT - Surabaya Death Metal
21. 17.00 - 17.20 JAGAL - Surabaya Brutal Death Metal
22. 17.20 - 17.40 BOROXIDES - Surabaya Ethnic Hard Core
23. 18.00 - 18.45 BERSIMBAH DARAH - Bali Death Grinder
24. 19.00 - 20.00 BESIDE - Bandung Melodic Death Metal

(For more information, contact Morgan at 0856.3180.485 or visit http://www.facebook.com/trendybangsat)

Coming Out To Play Tonight

2010-05-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

As someone who prefers the symphony of destruction from Dave Mustaine's guitar to James Hetfield preaching about St Anger, it took me quite some time before convincing myself to go for Fade To Blackhole on Thursday evening and had to find a way in justifying the $6 that I will be paying for entry.

So like any normal person would do, I decided to scan through the line up that was billed for the event and it did not take me quite long before having my sights set on watching The Misfit Ramones simply because of the name. As superficial as it might sound, I figured that since it takes half of its name from the renowned devilocked fiends, there should be a couple of The Misfits hits that will be played even though it is a Metallica tribute gig. True enough, the trio comprising of Syam41 (guitar/vocals), Justin Ramone (bass/vocals) and Mizar "The Miz" Ramone (drums) played One Last Caress and Die Die My Darling during their setlist which also included songs from The Ramones that were covered by Metallica with the crowd lapping up the frenzy onstage and off it. One might be skeptical that they look nothing like The Ramones or The Misfits in terms of appearance but they are not to be judged from the facade as their quality strums volumes to their showmanship and prominent basslines as opposed to having it relegated to the background instead with the drumworks of The Miz holding the rhythm section altogether.

With that being said, The Misfit Ramones are not just a cover band that can be found playing in pubs islandwide with balding men trying to bring back the glorious days of the past. What I have discovered at the end of their set was a youthful trio who wear their influences like a metaphoric badge on a leather jacket and with their 2nd year anniversary fast approaching with a free gig on June 19 at Chapter 6 studio (along with Frostymug). A band worth looking out for, the spirit of punk and horror still lives in this decade right here in Singapore and with the likes of The Misfit Ramones making their mark, hopefully there are more like minded bands who can churn out songs inspired by groups such as Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 and The Cramps, just to name a few

(Hey Ho, Lets Go!: Syam41, Mizar & Justin of The Misfit Ramones)

(One Last Caress: Justin Ramone giving the crowd a taste of his basslines)

Gigs Galore: Mosh Party 5, Damaged & Now Suffer

2010-05-26T01:03:00.000-07:00

Its a month ripe for some headbanging action as Mosh Party 5, Damaged and Now Suffer comes your way this June with local death metal band Stillborn being slated to perform in all of them alongside other known names in the local circuit such as Thambi K Seaow, Fall Of Mirra and Oshiego just to name a few (click on posters to view event page)

Mosh Party 5 (05/06/10)

Kicking things off in June is Mosh Party 5, an ongoing event that takes place at Blackhole in this edition features the rising force of Stillborn as the opening act along with the Malaysian Duo of Merkmaid and Proclaim My Victory. Fall Of Mirra (one of the opening acts for Shai Hulud in Singapore) and Flawed Element (seen in Baybeats 2009) are making an appearance as well and at just $10, it is worth the price. Even if Zooey Deschanel is not appearing for the gig. Starts from 4pm onwards

Line Up:

+ Stillborn
+ Merkmaid (Malaysia)
+ Proclaim My Victory (Malaysia)
+ Blindfold Hero
+ Ruins
+ Flawed Element
+ Fall Of Mirra
+ Her Silent Wish
+ Mouthful Of Air
+ Straightforward

Tickets are at $10. Contact Vin for details and presale tickets at 84286559

Damaged (08/06/10)

Held right after Moshparty 5 at the very same place on a Tuesday, the line up comprises of a variety of genres but keep a definite lookout for Haze Of Darkness, Stillborn, Ark Of Death, Chaos Rising and Rising Axe as they defend the faith and wave the metal flag high with wild abandon. Tickets are at $10 and starts from 6pm till 11.30pm so get your energy booster right here and be Damaged!

Line up:

+ Kid 13
+ Haze of Darkness
+ Stillborn
+ Capture me Dying
+ Ark of Death
+ Chaos Rising
+ Roosevelts Vengence
+ Rising Axe
+ Thambi K Seaow

Now Suffer

Wrapping up the month and an indicator for better things to come for the rest of the year is Now Suffer with a stellar line up of who's who in Singapore Metal as Oshiego makes a triumphant comeback and backed by the quartet of Panzer tanks with the intention to blast your heads off! Tickets are at $10 and it comes with an EP from Oshiego titled Unending Carnage so you will not leave Blackhole empty handed at the end of the night. Starts from 3pm onwards and for tickets, contact Vin at 84286559

Line Up:

+ Stillborn
+ Zaganoth
+ Xanadoo
+ Bhelliom
+ Oshiego

Chronicles Of Reverence: Siouxsie Sioux

2010-05-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

Born Susan Janet Ballion on May 27 1957 in London, she is famously known for being the frontwoman and center of attention for Siouxsie And The Banshees along with subsequent projects as a solo artiste and the band The Creatures throughout her singing career. Surviving a rough childhood with the loss of her father and a near death experience, Siouxsie first made her mark on the punk scene with her unique fashion sense fueled by the inspiration of bands such as David Bowie, Roxy Music and The Stooges which gave an inkling on her path in life later on with the formation of Siouxsie And The Banshees in 1976. Together with fellow founder Steven Severin, the band was fast selling out venues in its early days and eventually had their first single Hong Kong Garden released under Polydor which reached the top 10 of the UK charts soon after and subsequently released The Scream in 1978. Making guest appearances every now and then, Siouxsie's last discography came in the form of her solo album MantaRay and was last heard in the The Edge Of Love soundtrack singing Careless Love and is currently taking a break from touring

The Relevance Of Her Reverence

Everything that sums up the roots of the music subculture and her work with The Banshees provided the strong branch for subsequent goth influenced acts to grow from the punk subculture and taking a cue from her musical hero David Bowie by adding an element of glam with a drop of darkness that quickly spread through the waters and becoming a huge influence to bands such as Janes Addiction, Massive Attack, Garbage and even to bands that are just as acclaimed such as The Smiths whose lead singer Morrissey collaborated with Siouxsie at one point. Even to the bright lights of the fashion industry, Siouxsie Sioux is hailed as a doyen of her subculture by combining the elements of punk and goth seamlessly into her own wardrobe evidenced by the countless collections that have gone through the runway with her essence strongly felt from the make up to the raven hued articles. The Creatures era had some impact in the music subculture as well and despite not being a household name as The Banshees, it still managed to achieve critical acclaim and has influenced modern acts like PJ Harvey while MantaRay received the sign of approval from publications worldwide with Siouxsie's foray into solo territory looking to inspire the upcoming generations as she did with The Banshees and The Creatures and at 53 this year, Siouxsie is not resting on her laurels anytime soon. So the next time you listen to your favourite band and wonder why the melodic voices, fusion synthesisers and jet black apperance seems to strike a chord, it is simply because Siouxsie Sioux has influence in that artiste and its a statement that needs no verification.

To know more about Siouxsie Sioux:

http://siouxsiemantaray.com (Siouxsie Sioux)
http://siouxise.com (Siouxsie And The Banshees)

How I Met Dio (Sharyl Lidzhan Sapari)

2010-05-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

It was a typically hot afternoon in 1986. The sun was high in its full glory, casting blazing hot rays of light that seem to burn into your skin. The air was heavy with stifling heat and hot gusts of wind almost blind my eyes. With the nauseating smell of exhaust fumes, and the blaring traffic, I was thankful to my mum, for pulling my arm away from the sickly city bustle, and into the cool, air-conditioned arms of Joo Chiat Complex.

Mum was on her monthly shopping trip to buy cloth for her outfits at the shops with loud cloth salesmen hawking even louder coloured fabric. "Organza!" shouted one, *Thai silk!" shouted another. "Four dollars per yard!" another said. Mum was strong enough to resist the temptation just for a while as she dragged me to the barber shop at the back of the Complex.

It was called Sri Dewa, and it was a joint run by Malay rockstar wannabes with long unkempt hair. Even at that age, I noted the irony of it, but I didn't care. The guys were cool, gave me sweet candy, spoke to me like I was a man, and played the coolest music in the shop. I remember Metallica's 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' being blasted on the radio once, and Wings' 'Hukum Karma' on another day.

But it was a quiet day at Sri Dewa. Lead barber Ghani was almost falling asleep on the couch, his long, black hair falling lazily over his face. Fahmi, was sweeping the floor, with his thick, wavy, Bon-Jovi-esque hair flowing freely over his shoulders, his bangs falling over his eyes. Two scoundrel-looking, but good-hearted men ultimately, which is why mum didn't hesitate to dump me in their care as she went on to do her shopping.

"Oh and cut his hair while you're at it," mum said casually as she sped off to the waiting arms of retail therapy. Fahmi picked me up and plonked me onto the barber's chair, propped with a plank to get me to a comfortable height for him to snip my locks. To be honest, I quite enjoyed having my hair cut. I love the smell of powder and aftershave that lingers about like a house guest who never wanted to leave. Even without aircon it was always comfortable there. Maybe it was the laid-back vibe chilling out at the worn sofas. The black and white posters of models from the 60's with hair from the 50's that hung on the walls like shadows, or windows into a time where guys wore suits, and posed instead of just standing. I love the ticklish almost painful sensation of the electric razor on my skin, and the almost sadistic way Fahmi pushes my head into place for him to get the right angle.

Being a child at that age, I would get restless really quick. It was only a matter of time before I got used to the painful jabs on my skull Fahmi had to make to keep my head in place. But Fahmi, ever the mellow guy, never lost his temper, and never shouted at me. In fact, he indulged me as if I was his son. He would let me pick things up from the counter and always had an answer to my questions. And it was that day, when I picked up the album cover of Dio's Holy Diver album.

And I was fascinated by the image of a monstrous demon, showing the sign of the horns in one hand, and killing off a Catholic priest with the other. I couldn't take my eyes off the cover, and Fahmi was predictably elated that I was finally subdued. I asked him what is this, and he replied with a terse, "I don't think your mother would approve of you listening to these kinda songs boy."

"But she's not here what, she'll never know! Please please let me see what this is about." I implored.

So Fahmi threw the cassette in and soon enough the eerie, atmospheric one-minute intro to Holy Diver egan oozing out of the speakers in the barber shop. What followed next was five minutes of pure face melting, ear-impaling, fingernails pulling, bone crushing metal! I was stunned, and in awe of the powerful voice that commanded me to sit still and eat, drink, breath each and every word it sang. Complimented with the heavy guitars of Vivian Campbell, the fat bass of Jimmy Bain and the earth shattering drums of Vinnie Appice, "That my boy, is Ronnie Jame Dio, the greatest metal singers ever!" Fahmi said to me.

I sat back down on the barber's chair jaws gaping open at the sheer power and intensity of the song and Dio's voice. That gave Fahmi some time to finish off the haircut, before he stopped the player and pressed the forward button. I protested but he said, "If you like the last song, you will LOVE this next one, wait abit."

And he pressed play, and the player ripped into my consciousness with the intro to Rainbow In The Dark. And when Dio sang the first words of the song, "When there's lightning - it always bring me down Cause it's free and I see that it's me, Who's lost and never found" I felt goosebumps rising and a swell of emotion overwhelming me and I started jumping, banging my head and almost instinctively stuck my tongue in the air, and emulated the demon on the album cover with the sign of the horns. And when Vivian ripped into the solo I was floored! I was literally lying on my back with my body pulsating and shaking to every note of the guitar solo before I was pulled to my feet by the majestic voice of Dio.

Seeing how I was moved by the song, Fahmi took the cassette tape out of the player, and gave it to me saying, "Here you can have this, it will change your life forever."

And life was never the same again. Something about Dio's voice and music spoke to all of me. His words made me want to have a better vocabulary so I can understand what he sang, his music stirred my emotions and appealed to the beast within me. His voice was a soothing beacon of light in a tempest, providing with solace and succour in my darkest of times, the vilest of rage and in the ecstasy of love. The charisma, confidence and strength that is his voice lifted me higher more than anything else could.

I saved whatever pocket money I could to buy all of Dio's albums I could find, and with Fahmi's guidance, I ended up buying Sacred Heart, and also Rainbow's "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow" as well as "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll". Broke, and with nowhere to go after school and on weekends, I threw myself into the music sang by Dio. I banged my head to Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, danced to "Man on the Silver Mountain" and found tender, soul searching moments in "The Temple of the King".

Soon enough I discovered "Heaven And Hell" as I felt the very same swell of emotions rising up as the riff to Heaven And Hell tore through my earphones before Dio's voice came on to calm me down. Dio, as he always did, took my hand gently, and brought me along for a wondrous musical ride that lasted till today.

As time went by, newer acts came by that made me turn my head and appeal to my musical ears, but none moved me the way Dio did. And even as I became preoccupied with other big acts of the time, like the Guns and Metallica, and other big acts of yore like Slayer, Dio's Holy Diver, Sacred Heart, Heaven And Hell, Die Young, I, Long Live Rock N Roll, Temple Of The King never left my musical consciousness. Dio has always been a musical frame of reference, an audio benchmark for other bands vying for my fan-age, and while many failed to live up to the majesty of Dio, many have also come close enough. But none of them can ever be as big, unique and powerful as Dio.

Imagine how happy I was when it was announced in 2008 that Black Sabbath and Dio will be performing in Singapore. There I was, a 31-year-old man being transported back to the Sri Dewa barbershop in 1986 at the sound of Dio's voice. I saw a much older Dio than I remembered, but, as was I. And yet his voice still has the ability to empower me, to inspire me to do and be better than I am, and to move me.

At the end of the concert, Rachel and I decided to stake out the backstage exit as the band left. Tony Iommi shook our hands, Geezer Butler walked on by, Vinny Appice waved shyly, while Scott Warren cruised on by into the waiting van. Dio, ever the showman, strode out, screamed in his trademark metal voice, waved to everyone, showed the sign of the horns, slapped his hands on the small sea of palms waiting for a handshake, and brushed briefly on mine.

I know it wasn't much, but for a second, all that I am, all that I ever was, and all that I am going to be, converged into that one moment Dio brushed his hand on mine, and it made my year. It still makes my day when I think about it. And it always takes me back to that fateful day at the barbershop.

The day I met Ronnie James Dio.

So how did you meet Ronnie James Dio?

Rest in peace uncle Dio.

(The author is a liberal non-practicing narcoleptic who has had stints at Singapore Press Holdings, Singapore International Foundation and a contributor to the Singapore Kopitiam. Currently single, he is renowned for his exceptional navigational skills especially in Thailand and was last seen blastbeating to Holy Diver at Toa Payoh Swimming Complex in preparation for the YOG)

Day Of Atonement, Jean Reiki & Hendricka on Meshradio

2010-05-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

Alongside with myself on the Taste Of Darkness show on Meshradio on May 15th hosted by Saito Nagasaki is the lovely Hendricka from the Sg Dom Subs groups as guest hosts and watch out for the track Dead Man Whisper from the Indonesian goth metal band Day Of Atonement as they make it to the playlist so clear out the ear wax and listen intently, it's a start of many things to come for this talented band from Surabaya. But that's not all as the magical Jean Reiki puts out her wizardry on the same day on Fixation with beats that are so catchy, all you need is just her setlist to turn the comforts of your living room into a party!

To listen to Hendricka & Dalsix Visser along with Day Of Atonement's track:
http://meshradio.sg/taste/taste-season-2

Jean Reiki can be found at:
http://meshradio.sg/fixation/fixation-season-2 (Click on the May 15th show)

Meteoor: A Cosmic Blast By The Waterfront

2010-05-15T01:56:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought on how the sounds of the past and present can blend together seamlessly without detecting an obvious difference? Its akin to describing a generation gap where your parents prefer serene music played by the erhu while you opt for upbeat tunes churned out by a synthesizer but all it took was under an hour to debunk those myths and putting that question to the test. With the tranquil background of the sea and the Esplanade Waterfront providing the platform, local synth pop duo Cosmic Armchair and the Artssphere Chinese Instrumental Trio combined their musical wizardry together on Labour Day to marry their respective sounds in holy matrimony and for the whole of 45 minutes, the crowd were enthralled by the melodic compositions that were being played for the night.As the wonderful Jane lends her sultry vocals and Ben working in tandem with their partners in crime, it was definitely sweet music to the ears and one could feel as though the windows of their soul were being opened up and given a relaxing massage as a form of respite away from hectic life. Exquisitely executed and an evening worth spending, the Cosmic Armchair-Artssphere Chinese Instrumental Trio collaboration at the Esplanade Waterfront managed to tug the heartstrings of both young and old, bridging the gap together and being given a resounding applause for what its worth

To find out more about Cosmic Armchair, log on to http://www.cosmicarmchair.com

What's your favorite movie quote?

2010-05-14T21:46:00.001-07:00

Landon: I'm sorry she never got her miracle.
Reverend Sullivan: She did. It was you. (A Walk To Remember)

I am your GRO. How may I help you?

Nevar Say Never

2010-05-13T23:00:00.000-07:00

Finally being able to squeeze in a bit of spare time in between her hectic schedule, local alternative photographer Shirley Zhong (aka Nevar) has resurrected her own website which consists of her wonderfully taken shots ranging from the NUS Arts Festival to her own personal concepts which are a definite eye opener for anyone who has seen her works here and just when you thought its going to be something similar, Nevar conjures up a whole different rabbit out of the hat with impressive results. To see her collection, log on to http://www.white-wind.net/ and be inspired

Do you believe in angels?

2010-05-13T19:22:00.001-07:00

Yes and she's the one that possesses my heart right now, cradling its fragility with her loving arms :)

I am your GRO. How may I help you?

What was the best concert you went to?

2010-05-13T13:33:00.001-07:00

Initially, I thought that the Nine Inch Nails was mindblowing (don't get me wrong, it is and will forever be) but nothing beats the close intimacy of Amanda Palmer and her showcase at Stereolab. A woman army she was and definitely captivated my heart

I am your GRO. How may I help you?