Machine Head Announce Additional Special One-off Shows in North America

The Machine Head crew have been busy working on their seventh studio album titled "Unto The Locust" (out September 26/27, 2011, via Roadrunner Records) for the last year. As they put the final touches to what is one of the most anticipated albums in Heavy Music for 2011. The band have announced a few special one-off shows, before they hit the road as part of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.

Machine Head will be performing on July 5th at Club Vegas in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as on July 7th in Reno, Nevada at The Knitting Factory. These dates will mark the first time the band has taken the stage since March of last year after a relentless three years of touring for the critically acclaimed album, "The Blackening".

These shows will be the only two U.S. headline dates in 2011 and both feature the band in an intimate setting, facilitating the kind of close connection with their fans that ignites the crushing live performances that so many of the band’s die-hard fans have come to expect. If you are anywhere near Salt Lake City or Reno, these shows are not to be missed.



North America Tour Dates:
7/5 - Club Vegas - Salt Lake City, Utah
7/7 - The Knitting Factory - Reno, Nevada

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL TOUR DATES:

7/9 - San Manuel Amphitheater - San Bernardino, CA (Los Angeles, CA)
7/10 - Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, CA (San Francisco, CA)
7/12 - White River Amphitheatre - Auburn, WA (Seattle, WA)
7/13 - Idaho Center Amphitheater - Nampa, ID (Boise, ID)
7/15 – Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion - Phoenix, AZ
7/16 - Hard Rock Casino Presents: The Pavilion - Albuquerque, NM
7/17 - Comfort Dental Amphitheater - Englewood, CO (Denver, CO)
7/19 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater - Maryland Heights, MO (St. Louis, MO)
7/20 - Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
7/22 - Comcast Center - Mansfield, MA (Boston, MA)
7/23 - Parc Jean-Drapeau - (Heavy MTL) - Montreal, QC
7/24 - Comcast Theatre - Hartford, CT
7/26 - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center - Darien Center, NY
7/27 - PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ
7/29 - First Niagara Pavilion - Burgettstown, PA (Pittsburgh, PA)
7/30 - Jiffy Lube Live - Bristow, VA (Washington DC)
7/31 - Susquehanna Bank Center - Camden, NJ
8/2 – Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach - Virginia Beach, VA
8/3 - Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek - Raleigh, NC
8/5 - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre - Tinley Park, IL (Chicago IL)
8/6 - DTE Energy Music Theatre - Clarkston, MI (Detroit, MI)
8/7 - Verizon Wireless Music Center - Noblesville, IN (Indianapolis, IN)
8/9 - Zoo Amphitheatre - Oklahoma City, OK
8/10 – Gexa Energy Pavilion - Dallas, TX
8/12 - Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood - Atlanta, GA
8/13 - 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre - Tampa, FL
8/14 - Cruzan Amphitheatre - West Palm Beach, FL

European Tour Dates:
- 02-Nov Wed: Norway, Oslo - Sentrum
- 03-Nov Thu: Sweden, Stockholm - Aren
- 05-Nov Sat: Finland, Tampere - Sorsapuisto-Sali
- 06-Nov Sun: Finland, Helsinki - Circus
- 08-Nov Tue: Denmark, Copenhagen - KB Halle
- 09-Nov Wed: Germany, Hamburg - Grosse Freiheit 36
- 10-Nov Thu: Germany, Dresden - Alter Schlachthof
- 12-Nov Sat: Austria, Vienna - Gasomter
- 13-Nov Sun: Italy, Milan - Alcatraz
- 15-Nov Tue: Spain, Barcelona - Razzmatazz
- 16-Nov Wed: Spain, Madrid - Riviera
- 17-Nov Thu: Portugal, Lisbon - Coliseum
- 18-Nov Fri: Portugal, Oporto - Coliseum
- 19-Nov Sat: Spain, Bilbao - Rockitar
- 21-Nov Mon: Switzerland, Zurich - Volkshaus
- 23-Nov Wed: France, Paris - Zenith
- 24-Nov Thu: Germany, Neu-Isenburg - Hugenottenhalle
- 25-Nov Fri: Germany, Munich - Tonhalle
- 26-Nov Sat: Germany, Ludwigsburg - Arena
- 28-Nov Mon: Holland, Eindhoven - Klokgebown
- 29-Nov Tue: Belgium, Brussels - Forest
- 30-Nov Wed: Germany, Oberhausen - Turbinenhalle
- 03-Dec Sat: UK, London - Wembley Arena
- 04-Dec Sun: UK, Birmingham - NIA
- 05-Dec Mon: UK, Glasgow - SECC
- 06-Dec Tue: UK, Manchester - Central

Visit their official website at www.machinehead1.com for a chance to win tickets, and stay tuned for more updates.

Related links:
Machine Head's Official Site
Purchase Locust on Amazon
Purchase Locust on Itunes

Machine Head Announce Album Title, Release Date and European Tour

As we all know, Machine Head is currently working on their seventh studio album and are preparing to embark on the Rockstar Mayhem Festival! After releasing the first cut from their album, "Locust", the Machine Head camp seem to be steering their new album to the right direction both sonically and lyrically. Their new album is set to be released on September 26/27, 2011 via Roadrunner Records and its titled "Unto the Locust". Here is the Official press release:

Off on the distant horizon what appears to be a massive cloud can be seen blackening the sky. As it gets closer it becomes obvious that the "cloud" is no cloud at all, but a massive swarm preparing to descend on the shores of Europe and the U.K.. "The Eighth Plague" tour will make land on November 2nd and rip a swath across the landscape with a magnitude heretofore unseen.

MACHINE HEAD, in support of their newest crushing release "Unto The Locust" (out September 26/27, 2011) will collide with the land and lay waste to every city in their path. Accompanied by very special guests Bring Me The Horizon as well as DevilDriver and Darkest Hour, "The Eighth Plague" tour promises to be the most exciting, hard-hitting tour in recent memory.

"This will no doubt be the heaviest show you're going to see this year" states Machine Head frontman and guitarist Robb Flynn. "A lot of the greatest shows of our last touring cycle were in Europe and the U.K., so the prospect of this lineup combined with these crowds has us extremely stoked to get out there and tear it up! New material, great venues, killer fans... we absolutely cannot wait!"

Adds Bring Me The Horizon vocalist Oliver Sykes, "We're proper excited for these dates with Machine Head! We were listening to them before we even started BMTH, so to be going on tour with them is blowin' our minds! These will be our last U.K./Euro dates before we take a break to record our next album as well, so it's gonna be mental! We honestly can't wait."

Says DevilDriver vocalist Dez Fafara, "We always love touring in packages that offer a diversity of styles of metal. This is yet another one of those packages. I would like to personally thank Robb Flynn for inviting us to the party. See you in the fucking pit."

"We are so excited to announce our upcoming winter European tour with Machine Head, Bring Me the Horizon, and Devildriver" exclaims Darkest Hour vocalist John Henry. "European audiences are true purists when it comes to their love for metal music and great metal concerts, so there's no better place in a world for this tour to go down. It will take us to cities we haven't been to in a decade, as well as a few new ones. Meeting new friends and exploring other cultures has always been something we enjoy as a band, and getting to explore some of these places with this great bill for the first time is both a great privilege and an honor. If you can make it out to one of these shows please do, you won't be let down."

After over a year hiatus from touring, busy writing, recording and crafting their newest masterpiece, Machine Head cannot wait to be back in Europe and the U.K. on stage before some of the most diehard fans metal has to offer. A relationship forged with years of relentless touring is about to be reignited. Tickets go on sale June 24th. Give yourself Unto The Locust or be left to wander aimlessly in the aftermath.

Tour Dates:
- 02-Nov Wed: Norway, Oslo - Sentrum
- 03-Nov Thu: Sweden, Stockholm - Aren
- 05-Nov Sat: Finland, Tampere - Sorsapuisto-Sali
- 06-Nov Sun: Finland, Helsinki - Circus
- 08-Nov Tue: Denmark, Copenhagen - KB Halle
- 09-Nov Wed: Germany, Hamburg - Grosse Freiheit 36
- 10-Nov Thu: Germany, Dresden - Alter Schlachthof
- 12-Nov Sat: Austria, Vienna - Gasomter
- 13-Nov Sun: Italy, Milan - Alcatraz
- 15-Nov Tue: Spain, Barcelona - Razzmatazz
- 16-Nov Wed: Spain, Madrid - Riviera
- 17-Nov Thu: Portugal, Lisbon - Coliseum
- 18-Nov Fri: Portugal, Oporto - Coliseum
- 19-Nov Sat: Spain, Bilbao - Rockitar
- 21-Nov Mon: Switzerland, Zurich - Volkshaus
- 23-Nov Wed: France, Paris - Zenith
- 24-Nov Thu: Germany, Neu-Isenburg - Hugenottenhalle
- 25-Nov Fri: Germany, Munich - Tonhalle
- 26-Nov Sat: Germany, Ludwigsburg - Arena
- 28-Nov Mon: Holland, Eindhoven - Klokgebown
- 29-Nov Tue: Belgium, Brussels - Forest
- 30-Nov Wed: Germany, Oberhausen - Turbinenhalle
- 03-Dec Sat: UK, London - Wembley Arena
- 04-Dec Sun: UK, Birmingham - NIA
- 05-Dec Mon: UK, Glasgow - SECC
- 06-Dec Tue: UK, Manchester - Central

Related links:
Machine Head
Purchase Locust on Amazon
Purchase Locust on Itunes

Premiere of Machine Head's "Locust"

The mighty Machine Head has a new song for your ears to indulge themselves with. Maybe they just want to tease your ear drums by making them excited about their upcoming 7th studio album, which is expected to be released this September via Roadrunner Records. The truth is that with the results of Machine Head's last two albums (Through the Ashes of Empires & The Blackening), the band is under a lot of pressure to deliver yet another masterpiece to their worldwide fan base.

"For the past two records [as well as] this one, we've really been writing for ourselves. And we don't really have a set plan; we didn't really sit down and even go, like, 'We had a bunch of long songs on the last record, we've gotta do a bunch of short ones.' We had some time off and we started itching to get back in and start writing — just whatever was flowing out. And it's killer, man; it's super-exciting. We're all really, really excited about what happened, what came out. We feel like we've got another kick-ass album on our hands and we can't wait for everybody to hear it." - Dave McClain

Without further due, here is "Locust"!



Related links:
Machine Head
Purchase Locust on Amazon
Purchase Locust on Itunes

Machine Head to Debut Brand New Track

This past April we had the privilege of interviewing Machine Head's frontman Robb Flynn and drummer Dave McClain, while at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards. During the interview (you can watch the interview below), we discussed their new album, which they had just started recording at the time. Here is what they had to say about it at the time:

"We've been in there for three days. Dave McClain's been laying down the drums, killing it, and we're getting going on the journey. In July we're out on the [Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival] tour, and then the record drops in September." - Robb Flynn

"For the past two records [as well as] this one, we've really been writing for ourselves. And we don't really have a set plan; we didn't really sit down and even go, like, 'We had a bunch of long songs on the last record, we've gotta do a bunch of short ones.' We had some time off and we started itching to get back in and start writing — just whatever was flowing out. And it's killer, man; it's super-exciting. We're all really, really excited about what happened, what came out. We feel like we've got another kick-ass album on our hands and we can't wait for everybody to hear it." - Dave McClain


Machine Head will debut a brand new song this June, here is the OFFICIAL press release:

"Normally, one would be wise to avoid a plague of locusts. Prophets warn about them and they occur in the Bible. However, in the Summer of 2011, metal fans and headbangers are going to happily succumb to a "Locust" in the form of a brand new track from Bay Area metal icons MACHINE HEAD.

The band, which released the back-to-back, modern classics, 2004's Through the Ashes of Empires and 2007's The Blackening, are aiming to unleash their third masterwork in a row on September 27th via longtime label Roadrunner Records. The as-yet untitled new album is being recorded at JingleTown Studios in Oakland, with frontman Robb Flynn producing, and it is sure to level anything and everything that happens upon its path.

Machine Head will prepare for the release of their new album by appearing on the main stage of the Rock Star Energy Drink Mayhem Festival for key dates (while headlining the Extreme Stage for others) this summer; the tour kicks off this July. This is the band's second tour of duty on Mayhem, as they appeared on the festival during its inaugural run in 2008.

An advance mix of "Locust" will be on sale at iTunes on June 14th and will be included on an iTunes Mayhem digital sampler. Download cards for the digital sampler will be distributed at every date of the REDMF so fans can redeem the song after being summarily kicked in the face by Machine Head's always devastating live show.

"We've been working on the record for a few weeks now, and when the opportunity to be a part of the free Mayhem sampler came up, we did not want to pass up the chance," said Machine Head vocalist/guitarist Robb Flynn. "We're so pumped for our fans to hear the new music that we're so proud of."

Flynn went a little deeper about the meaning of the song, saying, "'Locust' is a metaphor. Locusts fly in a swarm, but they can't control which direction they fly; they float on the wind, they land, cause massive destruction, and then float away on the wind to leave you in the aftermath. The song is a metaphor for a type of person that sometimes comes into your life and has a similar effect."

Musically, the song is the essence of what Machine Head have been doing for nearly two decades. "It feels like the culmination of what we've been doing for the last 17 years: power grooves, patented Machine Head harmonics, crushing guitars and dark melodies, but taken to a new level," Flynn said. "It's a natural progression from The Blackening, but different than anything on that record. In the past, when we debuted a new song, it was usually the fastest, thrashiest tune. This time we wanted to go with something just straight-up heavy."

The song is eight minutes in length, which is not unfamiliar territory for the band. Flynn even joked, "We still can't seem to write a damn song under six minutes. But Machine Head aren't writing music for the radio or MTV. This is for us. This is for the metalhead who let's music take him on a journey. This for the metalhead for whom music is the only thing that matters, to whom music is a savior. This is for the music fan who's going to study every detail of the artwork, go online and find the lyrics and memorize every word, and let it take them away from their f---ed up life for a while. It's for the music freak, who maybe just wants to get hammered, air-guitar and sing at the top of his lungs, and act like an friggin' idiot while starting a moshpit in their living room with reckless abandon. Because that's who wrote this song, and those are the only people we care about connecting with."

Flynn finished, "We know you'll be as excited about it as we are. So, Head Cases, on June 14th, check out 'Locust.'"

Machine Head rode a wave of incredible success in the '00s, one that is certain to carry them through this new decade. They were nominated for a Grammy for Best Metal Performance –their first-- for "Aesthetics of Hate" from The Blackening and were invited to tour with Metallica in the US and Europe, and also joined Slipknot, Slayer and Megadeth on tour dates. They have also headlined some of the biggest festivals in Europe, performing as a part of Wacken (Germany) and Download (England.)

"Locust" is a true metal anthem from these metal torchbearers, and it's erected upon the band's signature, crunchy guitar tone, pummeling riffage, a thunderstorm of percussion and Flynn's militaristic barks. "Locust" is one of those cathartic, "gets the red out" type of songs that will incite mosh pits across the globe and cause the listener to be purged of all their anger (and exhausted from rocking the hell out) once the last note fades out.

Prepare to suffer unto the "Locust" on June 14th and beyond."







Photo credit: Mitchell Damien Maurer

Related links:
Machine Head

TV Premiere of the 2011 Revolver Golden Gods Awards

Your television sets will experience a tremendous amount of Rocking and Rolling tomorrow Saturday, May 28, as VH1 Classic premieres the Revolver Golden Gods Awards at 10 PM Eastern. We suggest that you pick up a 12 pack of your favorite beverage, and that you crank up the volume as loud as possible! Then glue your eyes to your TV's, as Dave Grohl enters the stage at Club Nokia in Los Angeles and leaves you with the awesome Heavy Music (NOT!) of Justin Bieber! We are so lucky that Chris Jericho reacted immediately and...

Here is the OFFICIAL trailer:


Oh, wait a minute, you didn't think we were going to ruin the show for you, did you? What we can do is give you a rundown of who you can expect to see on national television tomorrow night and since its Heavy Music on TV, we'll do in analphabetical order just to get you in a chaotic mode:

- William Shattner: Received an award
- Wendy Dio: Presenter
- Volbeat: Performers
- Vinnie Paul (Pantera, Damageplan & Hellyeah): Performer
- Steve Jones (Sex Pistols): Performer
- Sebastian Bach: Performer
- Scott Ian (Anthrax): Presenter and performer
- Rob Zombie: Presenter
- Rammstein: Presenters
- Mötley Crüe: Received an award
- Max Cavalera (Soulfly & Cavalera Conspiracy): Presenter
- Lars Ulrich & Robert Trujillo (Metallica): Presenters
- Jerry Cantrell & Mike Inez (Alice In Chains): Presenters
- Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath): Presenter
- Corey Taylor (Slipknot & Stone Sour): Presenter and performer
- Chris Jericho (Fozzy): Host and performer
- Duff McKaggan: Performer
- Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters): Cameo appearance
- Brian Posehn (Comedian): Presenter
- Avenged Sevenfold: Performers and received an award
- Asking Alexandria: Performers
- Alice Cooper: Performer and received an award

Wait a minute, so out of all this badass amazing musicians which ones survived the final edit of VH1 Classic's version of the 2011 Revolver Golden Gods Awards?

- "School's Out" (Original Alice Cooper band)
- "I Only Want to Be With You" (Originally by Dusty Springfield, performed by Volbeat with Scott Ian)
- "Mouth for War" (Originally by Pantera, performed by Avenged Sevenfold with Vinnie Paul)
- "Electric Eye" (Originally by Judas Priest, performed by Loaded with Corey Taylor and Steve Jones)
- "Youth Gone Wild" (Originally by Skid Row, performed by Asking Alexandria with Sebastian Bach)

What we will never understand is why they didn't include the Black Flag tribute. Perhaps, the people at VH1 Classic don't understand how influential the Hardcore Punk Rock giants are to many Heavy Metal bands? Or did someone forget to press record? Makes no sense at all!

Now that we have that out of our chests, here are the GOLDEN GODS of 2011:

\m/ - Hunted: The Demon’s Forge® Golden God Award: Alice Cooper (presented by Rob Zombie)

\m/ - Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award: Mötley Crüe (presented by Corey Taylor of Slipknot/Stone Sour)

\m/ - Honorary Headbanger Award: William Shatner (presented by Scott Ian of Anthrax and The Damned Things and comedian Brian Posehn)

\m/ - Epiphone® Best Guitarists Award: Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance of Avenged Sevenfold (presented by Robb Flynn of Machine Head and Wayne Static of Static X)

\m/ - Drum Workshop® Best Drummer Award: Mike Portnoy for his work with Avenged Sevenfold (presented by Vinnie Paul of Pantera/HellYeah)

\m/ - Best New Band Award: Black Veil Brides (presented by Duff McKagan of Loaded/Velvet Revolver/Guns N’ Roses)

\m/ - Most Metal Athlete Award: Skateboarder Mike Vallely (presented by Chino Moreno of Deftones)

\m/ - Rockstar Energy® Best Vocalist Award: M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold (presented by Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless and Sebastian Bach)

\m/ - Samson/Zoom® Best Live Band Award: Rammstein (presented by Charlie Benante of Anthrax and Mike Portnoy)

\m/ - Eagle Rock® Comeback of the Year Award: Murderdolls (presented by David Coverdale of Whitesnake)

\m/ - Affliction® Album of the Year Award: Avenged Sevenfold (presented by Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez of Alice in Chains)

"I don't know what metal is anymore. I don't think we're it. Classic metal to me is Judas Priest and the first Iron Maiden record. Loaded plays a lot of European festivals, and we see a lot of [Extreme Metal]. Compared to that we're a little pop band." - Duff McKaggan

Here are some of our "Black Carpet" interviews:













Related links:
VH1
Revolver Magazine

VH1 Classic presents: The 2011 Revolver Golden Gods Awards

This Saturday, May 28, 2011, VH1 Classic will premiere their exclusive coverage of the 2011 Revolver Golden Gods Awards at 10:00 PM ET/PT. If you were not able to be there in person, this is your chance to experience the historic event that brought together various Heavy Music icons to the Nokia Club in downtown Los Angeles. Here is the Official press release:

"The 2011 REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS VH1 Classic special is hosted by Chris Jericho (Dancing With the Stars, WWE, Fozzy) and features performances from: Alice Cooper performing his classic anthem “School’s Out” with the living members of his original band, Avenged Sevenfold performing Pantera’s “Mouth for War” with Vinnie Paul (Pantera), Sebastian Bach performing Skid Row’s “Youth Gone Wild” with Asking Alexandria, Duff McKagan (Loaded, Guns N’ Roses), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) and Corey Taylor (Slipknot, Stone Sour) performing Judas Priest’s “Electric Eye,” and Scott Ian (Anthrax) and Volbeat performing Dusty Springfield’s “I Only Want To Be With You.”


The hour-long REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS special features winners and presenters including:

\m/ Hunted: The Demon’s Forge® Golden God Award: Alice Cooper, presented by Rob Zombie.
\m/ Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award: Mötley Crüe, presented by Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour.
\m/ Honorary Headbanger Award: William Shatner, presented by Scott Ian of Anthrax and The Damned Things and comedian Brian Posehn.
\m/Affliction® Album of the Year Award: Avenged Sevenfold, presented by Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez of Alice in Chains.


Other notable appearances at the 2011 broadcast include Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo, Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction), comedian Brian Posehn, Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler and many more."



Here is the OFFICIAL trailer:


NEW issue by Revolver Magazine:



Here are some of our "Black Carpet" interviews:













Photo credit: Justin Borucki

Related links:
Revolver Magazine

Machine Head defines the present of Heavy Music

The day we say the video for Machine Head's "Davidian", we immediately ran to the record store and purchased their epic album "Burn My Eyes". Ever since then we have been hooked on the power and heaviness that these Bay Area badasses deliver time after time. What we have always admired about Machine Head is that they are not afraid of taking measured risks, which ultimately has helped the band keep their music fresh, yet focused on their ultimate goal: kick everyone's ass through chaotic, precise and meaningful music!

Throughout their successful career Machine Head has gone through ups and downs, various lineup changes, and plenty of blood, sweat, and beers. Their discography is proof that the band has reinvented themselves throughout the years and their overall attitude makes it obvious that they will continue to do so. After the success of their legendary album "The Blackening", which scored them some epic tour dates with Metallica, the band has entered the studio to record their 7th studio album (due this September). The band plans to have the record completely done by July, which is when they will be part of the Rockstar Mayhem Festival alongside Megadeth, In Flames, Godsmack, Disturbed and more.

After talking to Robb Flynn (singer) and Dave McClain (drummer) at the Revolver Golden Gods "Black Carpet", we have no doubt that Machine Head will make ear drums explode when they release their new record. Interviewing them made it evident that they are at the climax of their careers and that they have plenty of fuel to burn for years. Here is the EXCLUSIVE interview, in which we discuss the impact of Heavy Music today! \m/





Related links:
Machine Head

Episode III of the Revolver Golden Gods Awards

Yesterday downtown Los Angeles was dressed in black for a Metallic freak show, in which the elite of Heavy Music was present for Episode III of the Revolver Golden Gods Awards. As soon as we arrived to the "Black Carpet" there were kids waiting anxiously to greet all their heroes and to perhaps get their idols signatures. Then add hundreds of reporters wanting to squeeze in an interview with some of the most prolific names in Heavy Music and you have a headbangers paradise.

The crowd went absolutely bezerk when Sebastian Bach arrived, which called the attention of those that were just passing by. Seeing their faces was absolutely priceless! Imagine you are having a family lunch and all of a sudden you see al these kids wearing black, looking like they came from war, and next thing you know Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, and Geezer Butler swing by. While those people had no idea what was happening, it was evident that for one day downtown Los Angeles was hell!

Here are some of the maniacs we got to interview while at the "Black Carpet":

- Alan Robert (Life Of Agony)
- Anthrax
- Chino Moreno (deftones)
- Chris Jericho (Fozzy)
- David Coverdale (Whitesnake)
- Duff McKagan (Loaded)
- Geezer Butler & Wendy Dio (Black Sabbath & Heaven and Hell)
- Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed, Kingdom of Sorrow, Jasta)
- Robb Flynn & Dave McClain (Machine Head)
- Shawn Crahan (Slipknot)
- Tony Campos (Static X)
- Vinnie Paul (Hellyeah)
- Wayne Static (Static X)

Once the "Black Carpet" was closed for business everyone rushed inside for the awards show. The event was hosted by Chris Jericho, who's band Fozzy kicked off the night of Heavy Music paradise. From there on, the large crowd who showed up at Club Nokia got a good cocktail of Heavy Music. Here are some of the highlights of the night, when it comes to the performances:

- The original Alice Cooper band played a ferocious set full of attitude, good music and were received with the horns up by all attendees. These guys proved that the older they get, the better they sound.

- History was written when Avenged Sevenfold brought on stage Duff McKagan to perform "It's So Easy" and Vinnie Paul to perform "Mouth For War" with them.The crowd lost their minds and are still looking for their sanity. We don't think they will ever find it.

- Devil Driver's tribute to Black Flag featuring skateboarder Mike Vallely, Brazilian musical terrorist Max Cavalera, and Hardcore legend Jamey Jasta, was absolutely insane. This was the first time the circle pit was in full effect.

- Duff McKagan's Loaded brought the masses the perfect segue to the more intense performances of the night, and delivered an epic cover of Judas Priest's "Electric Eye" featuring Corey Taylor and Steve Jones. In our opinion Corey stole the show!

- Asking Alexandria were joined by Sebastian Bach and were on fire while performing Skid Row's "Youth Gone Wild". Bach proved that he is one hell of a singer, and one hell of a guy!

- Volbeat brought their Danish power to the masses, and proved why they are one of the best bands to have recently shown their faces and fists in the Heavy Music world. During their set they were joined by Scott Ian from Anthrax and together they performed Dusty Springfield’s “I Only Want To Be With You”.

Now that we have that out of the way, here are the GOLDEN GODS of 2011:

\m/ - Hunted: The Demon’s Forge® Golden God Award: Alice Cooper (presented by Rob Zombie)

\m/ - Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award: Mötley Crüe (presented by Corey Taylor of Slipknot/Stone Sour)

\m/ - Honorary Headbanger Award: William Shatner (presented by Scott Ian of Anthrax and The Damned Things and comedian Brian Posehn)

\m/ - Epiphone® Best Guitarists Award: Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance of Avenged Sevenfold (presented by Robb Flynn of Machine Head and Wayne Static of Static X)

\m/ - Drum Workshop® Best Drummer Award: Mike Portnoy for his work with Avenged Sevenfold (presented by Vinnie Paul of Pantera/HellYeah)

\m/ - Best New Band Award: Black Veil Brides (presented by Duff McKagan of Loaded/Velvet Revolver/Guns N’ Roses)

\m/ - Most Metal Athlete Award: Skateboarder Mike Vallely (presented by Chino Moreno of Deftones)

\m/ - Rockstar Energy® Best Vocalist Award: M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold (presented by Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless and Sebastian Bach)

\m/ - Samson/Zoom® Best Live Band Award: Rammstein (presented by Charlie Benante of Anthrax and Mike Portnoy)

\m/ - Eagle Rock® Comeback of the Year Award: Murderdolls (presented by David Coverdale of Whitesnake)

\m/ - Affliction® Album of the Year Award: Avenged Sevenfold (presented by Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez of Alice in Chains)

Stay tuned for all of our EXCLUSIVE interviews! \m/

“Lady Gaga tweets about it. James Durbin brings it on American Idol. And our host Chris Jericho represents it on Dancing With the Stars. Metal is taking over the mainstream, and the Revolver Golden Gods is its biggest, baddest celebration. If you missed the party, punch yourself in the balls… Or pick up the Golden Gods issue of Revolver on May 24, tune in to VH1 Classic on May 28, and we’ll see you next year!” –Revolver magazine Editor-in-Chief Brandon Geist

Related links:
Revolver Golden Gods Awards: Episode III