Map Of Metal is a totally addictive and endlessly entertaining interactive website, designed by Metal Historian Nick Grant and Graphic Designer Patrick Galbraith. The site traces Metal music all the way through from its 1960s beginnings to its latter-day mutation into crazily specific genres (Black Ambient, Mathcore, Crust Punk, Swedish Death Metal, etc ad infinitum). Continue reading Map of Metal
Tag Archives: heavy metal
Christmas Lights on House Syncd to Slayer’s "Reign In Blood"
Warning: Loudness Approaching
Oh my, this Slayer fan’s holiday display is definitely something to see. I bet the neighbors really appreciate his idea of Christmas spirit. Slayer!
Note: Unfortunately, since I posted this, I’ve discovered that the embed code is disabled by SONY on “select” browsers. If the above video won’t play for you or if it shows an error message, please click this upcoming link to Watch all the madness unfold on YouTube.
Thanks to Heidi Ellen Robinson Fitzgerald for the Tip!
KnuckleBonz Unveils Limited Edition Ronnie James Dio Collectible Figure!
Horns up, Metal Heads! KnuckleBonz is excited to announce its production of the Ronnie James Dio Rock Iconz® statue – an officially licensed product, approved and endorsed by Wendy Dio and Niji Entertainment. Wendy Dio remarked about the project, “Ronnie would be very proud.” KnuckleBonz is honored to be creating a tribute piece of Ronnie James Dio, widely recognized as one of the most powerful singers in all of heavy metal.
The Ronnie James Dio Statue, part of KnuckleBonz music-based sculpture series: Rock Iconz, is a hand-crafted sculpture of Dio posed flashing his signature devil horns, in a familiar crouched stance. A portion of all sales made from the KnuckleBonz site will be donated to the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund created in honor of Ronnie James Dio.
“We learned that Ronnie wanted to work on a statue project before he fell ill. We are honored that Wendy Dio and his management called on us for this project,” remarks Tony Simerman, President and Creative Director of KnuckleBonz, Inc. “It’s been a real pleasure to work with Ronnie’s family and the people at Niji on this project. I was a fan of Ronnie’s very early and owned all the original Rainbow records. I was fortunate enough to see him out in front of Sabbath. RJD was one of the greatest live performers I have ever seen,” adds Simerman.
The statue will be sold directly from KnuckleBonz Dot Com and through select retailers worldwide. Scheduled to ship in December 2010, The Ronnie James Dio Rock Iconz Statue can be preordered at This Link. Created at 1/9 scale, making the figure approximately 8” tall on top of a wooden display base, this highly collectible, limited edition statue was created in a series of 3000 pieces only. Priced at $115.00, each figure in the edition is hand-painted, numbered and includes a certificate of authenticity. Order now so you won’t be “the last in line” to get your hands on one.
Testament’s Chuck Billy Appears in Smithsonian Exhibit on Native American Musicians
Testament vocalist and Native American activist Chuck Billy is pleased to announce his inclusion in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian’s new exhibition, Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture. Of his inclusion in the exhibit, Billy said, “I’m humbled and proud to be recognized as a Native American contribution to the Arts and Music.” Continue reading Testament’s Chuck Billy Appears in Smithsonian Exhibit on Native American Musicians
Rad CD of The Week: Hawkwind’s Blood of The Earth
I was first introduced to the British metal band Hawkwind way back in the eighties when I was in College, and you were probably just an egg. The song I like best from that era of the band is called “Psychedelic Warlords Disappear in Smoke,” because I love song titles that are complete sentences on their own. “Psychedelic Warlords” – besides having one of the best titles ever – is also like the most mind-blowing acid trip to listen to. If you haven’t already heard the song, you will just have to take my word for it.
A lot of metalheads know about Hawkwind only because Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead was in the band at one point in the group’s 41-year history. In order to be a true, self-respecting headbanger you do really need to have that fact in your hipster cache of useless knowledge. But not everyone knows that the band is actually still recording. In fact, Hawkwind has a new CD due for release on August 10, 2010 (on Plastic Head Music) called Blood of The Earth, and it is just insane.
Blood of the Earth is the band’s first new album in five years, contains eleven songs and features special appearances from violinist Jon Sevink (The Levellers), BBC personality Matthew Wright and a posthumous performance from the band’s late keyboardist Jason Stuart. I cannot stop listening to this album.
Confirmed track listing for Blood of the Earth is as follows:
1. “Seahawks”
2. “Blood Of The Earth”
3. “Wraith”
4. “Green Machine”
5. “Inner Visions”
6. “Sweet Obsession”
7. “Comfey Chair” (note: I am hoping this title relates to the punch line from that great Monty Python Skit)
8. “Prometheus”
9. “You’d Better Believe It”
10. “Sentinel”
11. “Starshine”
I am not fronting when I say that the songs on Blood of The Earth will appeal to all genres of metal, prog and hard rock fans of bands as varied as Zodiac Mindwarp, Hendrix, The Pretty Things, Yes and Nine Inch Nails. Blood of the Earth will be available for North American fans on compact disc and limited-edition 180-gram, clear, double vinyl that includes a vinyl-only bonus track. Hawkwind are planning to tour later this year in support of Blood of the Earth. You know you gotta be there!
For rocking hard enough to crack a skull, The Worley Gig Gives Blood of the Earth Five out of Five Stars!