Two years have passed since Immortalizer, and American stoner rockers Valient Thorr are back with Stranger; which sees the five slow down a bit. The energy is still there, yet likely in the tune of the recent sludge trend they’ve cranked it down to a 7. It may be a natural progression for the band, especially with their place in the Southern rock and metal scene. Whatever the reason, it feels as if they’ve started to embark on a more generic direction than their past work may have one believe.

This isn’t to say that Stranger is a bad album. Valient Thorr are a group who seek to rock no matter what they do, and this shows on tracks like ‘Habituary’, ‘Woman in the Woods’ and even ‘The Recognition’; a curiously named drum solo. Barring any questions to whether the band are demanding respect for their skills, or even asking listeners to pay attention to real music in the New Media Age where technology seems to have taken precedence over proper musicianship; it stands that Valient Thorr know their craft and don’t want you to forget it. That said, it would make things more interesting if they tried to step out of the mould here a little.

5/10

ANN SULAIMAN

Shortly after the release of their crushing second album, On Divine Winds, Dutch old school deathsters Hail of Bullets have released a new music video for the song ‘Operation Z.’

The video clip features the band performing the song live, amidst black and white shots of Japanese news reels from the Second World War; where the album is partly set.

Based on the history of the rise and fall of the Japanese Empire, On Divine Winds has at present received mainly positive reviews from critics and fans alike, who have considered it to be a positive step forward in the band’s career both musically and lyrically, due to its immense energy and powerful performance.

ANN SULAIMAN

Feb. 14 – O2 Academy Birmingham
Feb. 15 – O2 Academy Newcastle
Feb. 16 – O2 Academy Glasgow
Feb. 18 – Cambridge Corn Exchange
Feb. 19 – Southampton Guildhall
Feb. 21 – HMV Hammersmith Apollo
Feb. 22 – O2 Apollo Manchester
Feb. 23 – Colston Hall Bristol

Similarly, Crowbar will be playing some rather intimate venues next January:

Jan. 14 – O2 Academy 2 Oxford
Jan. 15 – O2 Academy 2 Bristol
Jan. 16 – The Cockpit Leeds
Jan. 17 – O2 Academy 2 Newcastle
Jan. 21 – O2 Academy 2 Birmingham

I’m sure many of you are salivating at the prospect of live metal in 2011. In the meantime check out some of these videos:

Triptykon’s eerie new offering Shatter.

Crowbar’s classic All I had I gave.

Rob Zombie’s latest music video for Mars Needs Women taken from Hellbilly Deluxe II.

M WILSON

The organisers for the drives in America include popular websites Metal Sucks and Metal Injection, who will host the donation event for the NYC area, as well as a music showcase featuring bands such as Car Bomb, Baptized in Blood and A Life Once Lost. Should you be in New York City or any other area where there is a bone marrow drive, it is urged that you come along and make a donation.

To learn more about the events in the US, please contact: bewithoutfeatdrive@gmail.com
To learn more about how to donate bone marrow, please visit: www.marrow.org

ANN S

Four years have passed since Norwegian death metallers Goat The Head first unleashed their self-described brand of cave metal out onto the world, yet with this second full-length effort it seems that there are a few musical issues which could use more work. Interestingly, in the case of a death metal band, these lie more with frontman Per Spjøtvold’s vocals than any other element of the sound.

Despite their apparent leanings as a comedy-influenced band, as the prehistoric theme suggests, it must be said that Goat The Head display strong musicianship together. ‘Uncanny Valley Clan,’ ‘Salt’ and ‘Stirring the Enigmatic Appetite’ are good examples of this as the thunderous, monolithic drumming and solid guitar riffs are strong enough to stand out. In turn, one could presume that it’s with this part of the music nailed down that the group have chosen to explore where else they could go with the rest of their atmosphere.

On what seems to be a live track on the album albeit placed around the beginning rather than the end, third song ‘This Tube Is the Gospel’ features not only clean, female R’n'B-esque vocals but an attempt on Spjøtvold’s part to play around with his own sound. Even though it feels like a relatively decent effort here, it’s this decision to experiment that brings on the down points throughout much of the album. This is most noticeable when it sounds as if he is actually rapping along in his gravelly, full-throated vocals – at one point mimicking the funk pattern of Anthony Kiedis. Although it could arguably be for comedic effect, as the thought of a bestial caveman rapping is enough to get more than a few chuckles out of anyone, the end result is that it doesn’t really work. True, there is clearly no rule against performing at a fast pace if you’re a harsh vocalist. However in this case, it feels as if Goat The Head have brought us a reminder of how not to go about it, even if you just want to dick around with your friends in the studio.

3/10

ANN S

Chances are you haven’t, as it was only uploaded earlier today. So what are you waiting for? Click the link and let us know what you think.

The band have released this statement:
“Hail to you, dear brothers and sisters! We are so excited to announce to you that we agreed with our English friends an exclusive presence as special guest for the Bloodstock festival of next year in the UK! It will be our first live appearance ever on that wonderful ground and we are looking forward to playing our greatest songs and to have together a great time in the name of Rhapsody Of Fire’s epic cinematic music. See you soon!”

“I am about to write something I never imagined I’d ever write:

After 25 years, I have decided to leave Dream Theater….the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century.

To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision…it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so….

After having had such amazing experiences playing with Hail, Transatlantic and Avenged Sevenfold this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in Dream Theater…

Please don’t misinterpret me, I love the DT guys dearly and have a long history, friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them…it’s just that I think we are in serious need of a little break…

Dream Theater was always my baby…and I nurtured that baby every single day and waking moment of my life since 1985…24/7, 365…never taking time off from DT’s never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was “off” between cycles)…working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that most sane people ever would do for a band…

But I’ve come to the conclusion that the DT machine was starting to burn me out…and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my DT spirit hungry and inspired.

We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here & there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a “hiatus” to recharge our batteries and “save me from ourselves”…

Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather…I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be…

While it truly hurts for me to even think of a Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way…so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes….

Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that asked me about the future of DT and I talked about “always following your heart and being true to yourself”…sadly I must say that at this particular moment, my heart is not with Dream Theater…and I would simply be “going through the motions”, and would honestly NOT be true to myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I felt I needed.

I wish the guys the best and hope the music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to come…I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every show we played….

I’m sorry to all the disappointed DT fans around the world…I really tried to salvage the situation and make it work…I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)…but happiness cannot be forced, it needs to come from within….

You DT fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me….(and as you all know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future MP projects!)

Sadly…
Your fearless ex-leader and drummer,
MP”

Let’s hope that Dream Theater find an equally skilled replacement drummer, a tough task indeed unless Neil Peart fancies taking over whilst not drumming for Rush!

M WILSON

To watch the video for yourselves, go to Immortal’s official website:
http://www.immortalofficial.com/ASF/asf.html

ANN S

Check out the bizarre video here.