If there was a band called Turkey Decapitation, we're sure they would have art work like this sweet illustration we found via a Google Image search that took us to the MySpace page for Street King Record.
Having ascertained an appropriate image for the holiday, we wanted to round things off with a video of a turkey strutting around decked out in heavy metal garb. Instead, we had to settle for a Turkish band strutting around in heavy metal garb.
Mezarkabul ("Pentagram" in Turkish) are a power metal outfit from Istanbul that formed in 1987 and have released five studio albums and two live records, including 1987, which came out in April 2008. In addition to writing songs that feature multiple rhythm and tempo shifts, Mezarkabul incorporate elements of Turkish Anatolian folk music within their virtually unknown songs.
Click "more" to watch the band's video for "ölümlü." Read more...
In this week's edition of "The Eye of a Clown," Slipknot percussionist and creative photographer Shawn Crahan discusses a scary portrait he took of a guy named Satone. If you're lacking some company around your Thanksgiving dinner table, why not keep your computer monitor on and have Satone join you for turkey and stuffing. Just remember to turn off the screen after the meal or he'll transmit his energy through your connective wires and possess your mother-lovin' soul. Speakin' of mother, if she's there, remember to give her a big hug -- even if she's that shriveled old corpse in your living room rocking chair. Happy Turkey Day, y'all (click "more" to see Clown's photo). Read more...
"Touring the world sucks... the food outside of the USA sucks... people overseas suck..."
That's all I ever used to hear from bands before I had the opportunity to tour outside of the United States. When I started touring outside of North America I thought I would really miss the comforts of our home culture. Couple that with the fact that the touring life sometimes sucks you down into the deep, dark vortex of sitting in the bus all afternoon, lounging in the dressing room all day, playing on the Internet, doing the show, drinking yourself to sleep and repeat.
Now, this works well for some people and I have experienced it myself on many tours, but found it ultimately unfulfilling. To each his own, I guess. However, lately I have made a conscious effort to tour in a new way and embrace the opportunity to explore the open road and see as many new things in as many of the cities we are fortunate enough to visit. Read more...
Maybe in order to prevent Gene Simmons from suing them, the makers of the cartoon series "Detroit Metal City" had to offer him a role in their blockbuster (at least in Japan) film. And while Simmons isn't nearly as good in Toshio Lee's "Detroit Metal City" in the role of Jack II Dark as he was as Dr. Charles Luther in 1984's "Runaway," the rest of the cast and the bizarro story make this import film an entertaining mindf--k -- a searing amalgam of Slipknot live, "Metalocalypse" and "Lost in Translation." The film revolves around a young musician, Soichi Negishi, who moves to Tokyo to become a cheesy pop star, but becomes embroiled in the turbulent world of death metal when he becomes the frontman of the the group Detroit Metal City.
The more he tries to escape DMC, the more popular they grow. With a blaring heavy metal soundtrack that's not half bad, the story becomes an internal battle between decadence, depravity and mega-cash vs. morality, ethics and sunny optimism. The movie was spun off the popular Japanese cartoon, which in turn was inspired by a comic book (manga) by Kiminori Wakasugi. click "more" to read the manga and watch the first episode of the cartoon. Read more...
The WTF story of the day goes to mask-wearing metal terrorists Slipknot and Dragonfly-riding prog-rockers Coheed and Cambria, which will tour together in the new year. And if we're interpreting the symbols correctly, this is certainly one of the seven signs of the apocalypse. Trivium will open the show and, perhaps, assume the role of lukewarm water between the fire and ice iconoclasts. Read more...
photo by t.klick, courtesy of flickr.com
Hooray for Guns N' Roses and all, but let's not forget AC/DC. Even if Guns are the comeback story of the year (though we're not yet sold on Chinese Democracy, and may never be), AC/DC's tale is just as praiseworthy -- maybe even more so. It's one of consistency, reliability and sheer professionalism, an epic that never seems to end and doesn't falter in its enjoyability. AC/DC are a microcosm of rock n' roll as fountain of youth. Angus looks like hell offstage (what is he, 90?), but with a guitar in his hands, he's the eternally mischievous teenager and ever-present rock God, and he and his bandmates still rock with the fervor of a newly signed rock group earning its stripes. Read more...
We grew up near Washington, D.C. and in our youth, a Sunday didn't pass during football season without us flipping on the TV to see how the Washington Redskins were faring against whoever they were playing that week. Those were the glory days of quarterback Joe Theismann (before Lawrence Taylor turned his leg into the handle of a manual pencil sharpener), superstar receiver Art Monk and wild beast running back John Riggins, a time when the Skins were bound to make the playoffs every year and a prime candidate for the Superbowl. Good times, indeed.
So, when we got a pitch from Cradle of Filth guitarist, Dave Pybus, to write a guest blog about his love for the Washington Redskins, we were doubly compelled. The idea of a Brit not only praising American football, but developing a strong allegiance to a single team seemed pretty Blogworthy. That he was singing the praises of our ex-love the Redskins only sweetened the deal. These days, having lived in New York for over 15 years, our allegiances have shifted and we're rooting weekly for the New York Giants (as it turned out, our timing couldn't be more perfect). But we've still got a soft spot for fan worship of the Redskin variety -- unless, that is, it comes at the expense of the Giants.
Click "more" to find out how Pybus became a Redskins fan. Read more...
It's not too late to put together a list of your top ten metal videos and head on over to the "Headbangers Ball Best of 2008 Countdown" page on MTV2.com.
Voting runs until December 15 and the final episode of the year will air on December 20 from 2 to 3 a.m. and will be comprised entirely of the winning vids. Winners will be announced on the Blog on December 19. Click "more" to vote. Read more...
The triple-disc Demon Hunter set, "45 Days," came out today. To celebrate the occasion, we've got an exclusive live video from the DVD, "Lead Us Home." The track is from the "Live in Nashville" section of the package. The other DVD is a tour documentary by Gale Glendening, and the set also includes a CD of live music. Click more to watch "Lead Us Home." Read more...
There are only three days left until Demon Hunter's new DVD, "45 Days," comes out. The three-disc package features a documentary, live footage and a CD of music from the film. To further whet your appetite, here's an exclusive preview. Click "more" to watch. Read more...
